Chapter 27

The next morning, Kellan and Nora awoke to a guard’s loud knock, with news Edward was awake. Nora leapt out of bed, rushing to the door. Kellan snatched her into the air and pulled her back before she could reach the knob.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“Reminding my wife she isn’t wearing any clothing.”

“Oh. Well, okay then,” she retorted.

Kellan chuckled and spun her towards the wardrobe. “You may want to get in the habit of opening this door first.”

“Hmph.”

Kellan laughed again, then clamped his lips together under his wife’s scathing glower.

Ignoring the snickers on the other side of the door, Nora dressed quickly. Kellan was waiting for her with an outstretched hand the second she finished lacing her boot.

They hurried down to the infirmary. Luckily, her embarrassment disappeared the second she saw her father sitting up in bed. He opened his arms and she ran to him immediately.

Nora was proud of herself for keeping her emotions together. She only shed a few tears in her father’s arms, which hung weakly around her shoulders. He was still feeble, but he told Nora his pain was minimal, thanks to whatever Rhona had given him.

Rhona gave Nora and Kellan an update on Edward and Foley, who were both on the mend. Foley insisted he should leave the infirmary today. Rhona insisted he wait until the healer arrive and Foley yielded. He would not win an argument with the former queen.

After having breakfast brought in and making sure everyone was comfortable, Kellan summoned Niles to the infirmary. He hated to cut short Nora’s family reunion, but it was time to discuss the situation they were in.

Rhona had already informed both men of what had happened at the castle. Edward had many questions when he regained consciousness and Rhona did not want to put him off, not about his own child.

Edward, who, along with Kellan, had hunted Sephtis Kenelm before, was prepared to do it again. He was in no shape to do anything about it at the moment, but after losing his wife, and almost losing his child, he would crawl to the ends of the earth, if necessary, to find the malefactors.

He also now had a third reason to eradicate the quartet. It was why he had left the Temple to come to Castle Burghard.

While Edward digested and stewed over his daughter’s ordeal, Foley became irate over what he learned of Agatha. Half of the reason he wanted to be released was because he intended to search for her himself.

By the time Kellan and Nora arrived, the men had calmed and were eager to discuss what needed to be done. Neither had any recollection of their minds being tampered with, or of the boar’s attack, aside from the brief recognition of a stranger’s scent that Foley picked up.

“Did you find anything of importance at the Temple?” Kellan asked.

Foley glanced at Edward, who was rubbing his face with both hands.

“Perhaps,” Foley hedged. He’d told Kellan little the night before. Nora had awoken before they could discuss much.

No one spoke, waiting for Foley to elaborate. When he didn’t, Edward cleared his throat.

“We didn’t find anything in the scrolls, but we failed to get through very many. I’ve read or heard them all, so it was more of an exercise to jar my memories, to see if I’d missed some sort of connection.”

“Did you seek Theron’s counsel?” Niles inquired.

“Yes. He helped us for a while, but then he was … indisposed.”

“What does that mean?” asked Nora.

Edward and Foley exchanged a look before Edward answered his daughter. “He had a visitor. From the East.”

Kellan leaned forward, his face hard. “One of the Prajna showed up at the Temple?”

“Oh, it wasn’t just one of the Prajna,” Foley cut in. “It was the Prajna. King Viktor himself. I believe he was invited by Theron. Everyone knows he meets periodically with someone from each ruling family. At first, we assumed it was a normal visit.”

“But it wasn’t,” Kellan surmised.

Foley shrugged. “It probably was, but then he refused to leave without … something he wanted.”

“What did he want?” Nora asked, looking at Foley, then to her father, whose mouth was now pressed in a thin line.

Neither one answered her question. Edward clenched both fists, growing angrier by the second.

“Father? What did he want?”

When Edward still didn’t reply, Foley answered for him.

“Your sister. He wanted Eden.”

Nora gasped in shock. “What do you mean he wanted her?” she demanded.

Kellan exhaled slowly, thinking of the implication. What would the Heartless King of Prajna, as he was known, want with Eden? If Viktor was part of the brotherhood, perhaps he would kill her. But Eden was of no threat to any throne.

He could use her as leverage, he supposed. But if the Vampire King had done something to harm Eden, Foley or Edward would have divulged the information immediately. Edward would have asked for help or sent for his troops. He did neither.

“Did he—did he abduct her?” Nora stuttered, fearful of the chance Eden had been kidnapped by those that wanted her dead.

“No,” Edward said sadly. “No, your sister went quite willingly.”

“What?! Why would she do that?” Nora screeched.

“Viktor promised to help us if she went willingly. He, ah, well, he believes Eden is his sieva.”

Kellan exhaled harshly and grimaced. This was worse than he thought. If it was true, Eden could soon be on the throne of Prajna—and a target of the Sephtis Kenelm.

Nora frowned at her husband, confused by his reaction. “What’s a sieva?”

The room remained silent. She was fed up with being left in the dark. Did she know nothing of importance regarding Imperium? Nora felt like a weight was pushing down on her.

“Kellan?” she beseeched, needing an answer.

“Vampire mate.”

* * *

Later that night, as Kellan held Nora in their bed, they discussed the significances of what Edward and Foley had told them. Shortly after hearing the news of Eden’s choice to leave with the vampire, Kellan called for the rest of the Council.

The King had not stolen her away, so there wasn’t much Kellan could do. Everyone on the Council agreed it would be unwise to cross the border on a rescue mission. One did not court the wrath of Viktor unless completely necessary. There was a reason he was known as The Heartless King.

Besides, Eden wasn’t a prisoner, and they didn’t even know where in the Eastland she was.

In the end, it was decided Kellan and Nora would send a message to Viktor, conveying their concern and desire to see her. The courier would take the letter to Theron who would know how to get it directly into the Vampire King’s hands.

They requested Eden be allowed to come here, to Castle Burghard. It was doubtful, but they would ask.

They also sent a second message to Theron, asking that Evelyn be allowed to stay at the Temple with some of her father’s men, as Edward had insisted. Kellan didn’t like Evelyn being on her own, but he agreed to send some of his wolves as added protection, and to help her as she continued combing through scrolls.

Nora was nervous for Eden, for the situation she was in with Viktor. She wanted her here, with her, yet Nora was afraid Agatha or the unknown vampire knew she might be the King’s sieva.

“I’m scared for her, Kellan.”

Kellan kissed Nora’s forehead and stroked her back. “I know. I am, as well. But it’s likely the brotherhood does not know. This is new information, so it hasn’t had time to spread.”

“Let’s hope that’s true,” she said, snuggling closer.

“Even if they do know, remember this,” he said, turning his wife’s face so she looked up at him from her position on his chest.

“Nothing is more important to a male than his mate. Viktor will not take kindly to any threat posed to the one being the Universe designed just for him.”

“Even if he’s the fourth member of Sephtis Kenelm?”

“Even then.”

“How do you know?” she whispered.

“Because, my love, lying here, with you in my arms, the one truth in my life, the one thing I know beyond all shadow of a doubt, is that you are my world. Nothing is more important to me. Not the kingdom, not my throne, not even my own existence. I’d give it all away to ensure you lived a full and happy life, without question.”

Nora’s eyes grew wet, feeling the love in his words. He was her world, too.

“Really?” she asked, knowing the answer but asking anyway.

“I vow it, Nora. With all that I am.”

“And the same for our children?” she asked.

Kellan grinned and rolled Nora to her back, settling between her legs.

“That’s a silly question, but why don’t we try to make one and find out?” Kellan suggested, entering her slowly.

Nora groaned in pleasure, all thoughts gone aside from the feel of her husband worshipping her body and his desire to plant his seed inside her womb.

Kellan spent the rest of the night making love to his beautiful mate, holding tight to the hope he would be able to keep his promise. If it came down to it, he would choose death if it meant Nora lived.

It was the way of the wolf.