Chapter Forty-Seven Siyala
Something is wrong . The feeling had overcome me on the second day of the journey back towards the Shifter Kingdom.
I excused it as nerves about returning home after four long years.
When the feeling persisted, I thought it might be the fact that I was surrounded by males on this ship.
But the sailors had left me alone, and the captain had waved away my coin when he took in my face, claiming I was too young to have gotten this far away from home.
By all accounts, the trip has been fine, but when the ship finally sets anchor and I trudge onto the fine sand of the island with my too big boots, the feeling of wrongness intensifies.
Keeping my satchel close, I begin the journey through Molsi moving slowly, attempting to take in everything that I can.
Though I know I had been to the city once or twice before I left, it still feels foreign to me.
Nothing about it looks or feels familiar in any way, and I can’t decide if it’s because of my hazy memories due to being a shifter for so long or if it is because of the disquiet that whispers after me.
After running through every possible reason for why I might be disturbed, I am only able to come to one conclusion: Something is wrong with Rhea.
I want to believe what Xander said. That it is impossible for her to be taken from the Mage Kingdom.
That she is safe behind their borders and with the mage prince.
Yes, I desperately want to believe it, but something urges me to double check.
To make sure that she is still there. With my decision made, I ask for directions and then run the rest of the way there, my boots loudly slapping against the ground.
Despite having never been to the palace before, it’s impossible to miss on the pathway, its pristine white stone walls and beautiful curved archways standing out against the foliage of the jungle.
I don’t know what to expect as I enter the royal grounds and then make my way up the steps to the entrance, but it certainly isn’t a complete lack of guards.
Neither is it the blood that smears across the floor in multiple spots. What the hell happened here?
“Ma’am!” A broad shifter with a bandaged arm runs up to me, hand lifted in the air as he draws my attention. “Can I help you?”
“I need an immediate audience with the king.”
“I’m afraid he’s a bit occupied right now.” He gestures around as if to say, as you can imagine. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Can you activate the spelled Mirror so that you can call out to another kingdom?” I ask, too tired and strung high with nerves to care about being polite.
His dark brows draw together. “Uh, no.”
“Then tell the king I must speak with him. Tell him my name is Siyala.” He hesitates, but I send him a look that I hope relays just how persistent I will be, and with a sigh, he leaves.
I stand in place and watch the servants pass, their voices low as they bow their heads to talk with each other.
So distracted by whatever happened here that they don’t even seem to see me.
As it’s done every night since we separated, my mind wanders towards Xander, and I picture what he might be doing at this moment.
If he is safe. If he might miss me as much as I miss him.
Until next time, shifter. I push down the urge to cry.
I had done enough of that on the trip here.
Pounding steps against the polished floors have me turning, and the male who greeted me earlier waves a hand. “He will see you.”
I school my expression, pretending my heart isn’t clamoring to escape my body as we make our way down a long hallway to a room with tall double doors, the sigil of an oryx emblazoned on the front of them.
The male turns back to look at me at the clomping sound of my boots before my scowl forces him to face forward again.
“Just through here.” He opens one of the doors, gesturing with a hand for me to enter.
The scent of iron is thicker in here, and my fingers curl into my palms when I detect three heartbeats.
But then my eyes connect with Kai’s, his towering presence the same now as it is in my memories.
Coming to a stop in front of him, I pull the hood of my cloak down before taking the other two females in.
To his right is a woman holding a spear, her brown curly hair in disarray and face swollen.
Gray eyes—like that of a mage—stare back at me, and confusion ripples through me before I turn and look at who stands to the king’s left.
Jahlee. At the shocked look on her face, I quirk a smile, her eyes glittering in response. “Hello, cousins.”