Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Sierra
“Warn me?” I asked. “About what?” Surely the old woman was a little “touched by the Mother,” as they said in Providence. I didn’t know for sure if she identified as a seer or was just a spiritual leader for the Ongahri here, but whatever she was, she took it too seriously.
“How much do you remember about what you saw in the In-Between?” she asked, ignoring my question.
All I wanted was to sip my tea and go back upstairs to sleep next to Lucius. The nightmare had unsettled me, and now her strange, cryptic antics were ending the job.
“The In-Between?”
“During your rite. It’s where you went. In between your physical form and your soul one. What did you see?”
Shaking my head, I answered truthfully. “Hardly anything. Images. My mother, my watcher.” The words had me missing both with a vengeance. It was the night for it, after all.
One good thing about traveling to Ghypsom City was that I could finally get a letter to my parents. Surely the post was functioning in the mid-land. I could now, in good conscience, tell my parents I was a married woman. Just married to someone else.
Lost in my jumbled thoughts, I’d missed what the Sapera had just said and asked her to repeat it.
“I asked if you remember a snowy forest, a woman crying.” Her intense look had me staring right back at her.
I was about to shake my head, but then I remembered the song sung around the cerei on the Longest Night, the image of a woman crying, her tears freezing mid-drop.
“Yes,” I breathed.
“Thank the Mother,” the Ongahri elder said under her breath, her thin lips barely parting.
“What does it mean? Who is this woman?”
She tsked and waved a hand. “When you get to Ghypsom City, a woman will approach you. You’ll know her by her headdress. Give her this.” She pulled out a tiny sachet of purple satin tied with a red ribbon.
“The woman I saw?”
“Of course not, child. We should be so lucky.” She laughed but it was rueful. “Here, take it.”
“What is it?” I took it from her aged hand and felt its weight.
“Never you mind what it is, just make sure she gets it. She will have something for you. You must see that she gets that. There’s not a lot of time. If you were to stay with us, we’d be able to keep you safe, and what you’ll be required to do you can do here. With us. Your Sisters.”
I looked around for Farah, thinking maybe she could mediate between this strange woman and myself, but I realized she had disappeared. We were alone.
Setting down the sachet, I met the woman’s eyes. “Look, I don’t know what that rite meant, nor what it is you want from me, if anything,” I said with as much politeness as I could. “But you’re going to have to be more upfront with me. I may look young, but that doesn’t mean my head is in the clouds. So please, give me the respect I’m giving you and tell me what all this is about.”
She seemed to contemplate this.
With a nod, she folded her hands on the table. “Many centuries ago, a Sapera of the Trajan tribe had a series of visions. These visions haunted the woman day and night for years, until finally, she succumbed to them, dying at the age of sixty years. This was the time way before Houses and courts, our kings and queens. Back when the Old Ways was the only way. At first, she kept the visions to herself, then eventually shared them with her sisters in the delphia, the sacred keepers of the Ongahri’s Word. The women you met before your rite began are the Sisters of Delphi.”
She was throwing too much information at me, so I just nodded. I could process it later. “Go on.”
“After seeing that sharing her visions wasn’t enough to stop them, she then told the Trajan tribal leaders. Still the visions came, now growing stronger. Finally, she left the tribe, traveling all over Titus to share with anyone with ears. These visions became known as the Prophecy of Delphos.”
A chill passed over me, and I cupped my mug, seeking warmth. Her eyes became too intent, and I looked around the once-cozy space. The kitchen’s lighting, its absence of everyday society and use, now gave the area an ominous quality.
Now it wasn’t just my dreams that were haunting me, but reality as well.
“The prophecy says,” she continued, now growing animated, “that a winter unlike any other will fill the land, causing mayhem and death, starvation and war. And only with the appearance of the White Queen will there be hope. You, child, are the White Queen.”
I blinked, and the tea I had just swallowed threatened to choke me. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You are the foretold White Queen, the Heart of the Ongahri.”
“But I’m not of the Ongahri!”
The look she gave me, and this whole conversation, had laughter welling up inside me. The woman was mad!
Laughing in earnest now, I set down the tea. Just to indulge her, I pocketed the sachet into my robe as I stood, tucking the chair into the table. “It’s been a long night. Bad dreams—”
“Bad dreams…” Somehow, her hand was on my wrist, faster than I could blink. “What did you dream?”
“How dare you lay hands on my wife,” Lucius said vehemently, entering the kitchen like a storm. “I told you not to speak with her, woman. How did you get in here?” He marched up to me, eyeing the room as if searching for a battalion of assassins, and grabbed me around the waist.
The Sapera released her hold and stood, smiling at the two of us as if amused. “My apologies, Chieftain. I mean no harm.”
“You are not to go near her,” he spat. “I don’t care if it’s some secret woman ritual or not. Do you understand?”
“Your dreams will get worse before it’s time, Sierra,” she said, ignoring Lucius completely.
The woman had gall, that was for sure.
“I have always had strange dreams, ever since—” I stopped when I felt a horrible panic come through the bond. Lucius was losing control. The woman needed to leave. My hand covered his, at my waist, hopefully assuring him I was all right.
“I see.” Apparently whatever she saw made her relax. “Well then. I can’t blame you for thinking all of this sounds—”
“Fantastical? Something worthy of tales told around a fire?” I offered dryly, growing irritated once more.
But her smile was kind, her blue eyes soft. “Time will tell all,” she said. “Again, I mean your mate no harm, Chieftain. On the contrary, I was trying to advise her.”
“She needs no advisement, woman.”
With hesitancy, Lucius let me go. The tension in the room was too much, so I smiled and took the woman’s hand. “Let me show you to one of the guest rooms, grandmother. It’s too late and cold to be walking outside in this weather.”
She eyed Lucius, who looked like he was ready to throw her out with his bare hands. “I think I’ll take you up on that.”
After seeing she was settled on the second floor, Lucius and I went back to his bedroom. He had calmed considerably now that we were alone. I took off my robe, shaking with cold, and considered adding more wood to the dying fire. But I was too chilled even for that. I quickly got into bed and snuggled close to my mate, who had joined me without a word. When my cold hands and legs found his heat, he pulled me in close, murmuring my name, and promptly fell to sleep.
I, however, wasn’t the least bit sleepy as I thought over the conversation I’d had with the Sapera in the kitchens. The White Queen. How ridiculous. The only thing that I had in common with that title was my white skin and hair.
Thinking of queens made me think of Goth Mor Helle and the throne room I’d seen in my dream. When I had gotten a tour of the manse with the headmistress, the throne room had been off limits to me at the time, as it was in court that day. So the dream version of that room had been strictly conjured from my imagination, which meant the rest was as well. That fact comforted me, as I surely didn’t want to start thinking it was a vision.
It made sense, what I had dreamed about. I had been thinking of Fadon before bed, had been intimate with Lucius, who also happened to be a king in his own right. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe the animosity between the two strong alphas was imaginary. Indeed, their hot-headed natures grew exponentially whenever they were together.
Sighing, now feeling warm, I shut my eyes and wondered where Fadon was right now. Had Mari dealt with the Owl by now? Was the prisoner, Servant Sarbo, still alive? Did they even arrive at Goth Mor Hell yet?
And why hadn’t Demos returned to Ordelpho? Was he all right?
As my mind threw unanswered questions at me, I finally drifted off to a blessedly dreamless sleep.
When I awoke, the sun was shining. I smiled and rolled onto my side, snuggling in deeper into the warm blankets.
“It’s time to wake up now, my lady,” Farah said with a flash of ire.
That’s right, I thought. We had to be up early this morning. We were leaving for Odessia.
I scrambled out of the bed and looked around. Judging by the light, it was mid-morning. How long had I slept? “What time is—”
“It’s late. Breakfast is over. I packed while you kept on sleeping,” she bit out, her arms crossed.
“Oh gods, I’m sorry.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing at her expression. For someone so young, she could rival any old woman with that grumpiness of hers.
She gave me a droll stare. “Get dressed. You’ll have to forgo the bath. There’s a plate of food on the vanity. You’ll eat while I do something with that white nest of yours.”
This time I did laugh.
Once dressed, combed, and fed, I kissed her cheek. “I’ll miss you, you spitfire.”
Her eyes softened. “I guess I’ll miss you too, my lady. You be careful and try not to get yourself killed. Or worse.”
“What’s worse than getting killed?” I asked, amused.
“There are no limits on worst case scenarios.” She looked at me sagely. “Now, hurry. The Chieftain is waiting downstairs.” And with that, she helped me into my cloak, then pushed me out the door. I hurriedly went down the hall and to the landing.
Lucius stood at the foot of the stairs and smiled up at me. “Come on, sweet lady. We need to head out.”
My boots thumped down the stairs, and I greeted him with a kiss. “Sorry I slept so late. Is Ander ready?”
“He is. He’s on the ship already.” He looked me over, took a deep breath, and grabbed my hand. “Are you ready? For this new adventure, I mean. I know it’s something you didn’t plan, but we’ll return, I promise. Just not for a while.” The way he was looking at me, unsure and eager, made my heart flutter. His concern always came out of nowhere. There was still so much I had to learn about him.
“Where you go, I go, Lucius,” I told him sincerely.
Those silver eyes danced, almost darkening with a trace of lust, and judging by his scent, that trace was confirmed.
“I like that.” He touched my cheek. “Finally, I’ll have you all to myself, no interruptions.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s go board the Freedom, my queen.”
For an instant I froze. Just a terrible coincidence, him saying that, I thought. I swallowed down the unease as we made our way out of the manor and headed to the docks.
The wintry wind beat at my cheeks. I thought over all that had happened between now and the last time I had set foot on the Freedom. At that time, I had no idea what lay ahead. I’d been in love with two very different men, men who I’d been so afraid of committing myself to. I had been fully prepared to take tonics for the rest of my life if it meant that I would have a chance at living as a free woman, choosing who my heart and body wanted, not letting the Omega in me choose for me. And of course, seeing my first glance of this untamed land of fog and verdant forest had been like staring into the void—unknown and much too deep to trust falling blindingly into.
And now? It turned out that Ordelpho was a home my soul never knew it wanted. I would truly miss it.
Yes, I was still in love with Demos and Fadon, and I still wanted the freedom of choice. But the biggest change of all, I thought as my boots clapped across the deck of the Freedom, was the man beside me, who held my hand, and what he’d come to mean to me. A wild man from a wild land. A man my body knew like my own. A man whose past I knew nothing about.
So my mission on this journey was to get to know Lucius better. No longer would I have to worry about heats or claimings or potential mates. It was finally going to be a voyage I could enjoy.
The deck was crowded with people. I searched the many faces and spotted Neil and Ander. With a squeeze, I let Lucius know I’d catch up with him later before relinquishing his hand. I walked over to the lovers, feeling tears already threatening to fall from my eyes.
Neil took one look at my face and pulled me into a hug.
“Oh gods, I’m going to miss you,” I said, hugging him tightly. He smelled like mint and fresh grass, and I buried my face into his shoulder. I’d never in a million years thought Cornelius would be considered one of my best friends. That was exactly what he was. How funny life was.
“Ah, sweetheart. The time will pass quickly, I imagine.” He hugged me back just as hard until he grabbed my hands and pulled away so he could meet my eyes. “I will miss you, too, my lady. My mornings will never be the same.”
“Ha!” I laughed and cried at the same time. “You hate lugging me around everywhere, Neil. Now you’ll be able to get more work done without me asking you fifty-thousand questions.”
His rosy cheeks lifted as he grinned. “Nonsense. I love being told I’m an old boot when it comes to ingenuity.” He kissed my cheek. “I wish you joy, my dear. You deserve it.”
“And you do as well. I promise to return Ander to you as soon as we get to Odessia.”
We all said our final goodbyes—Ander touching Neil’s cheek in a very heated moment that left me embarrassed at the raw emotion between them—and then, with a smaller sendoff below, drums beating, horn calling, the anchor was drawn up and we set off, leaving the harbor and heading south.
We stayed on deck only long enough to wave goodbye to Ordelpho and those who had come to see us off, then went below. No matter how much our blood kept us warmer than the average person, the temperature outside, especially out on the water, was just too cold to tolerate for long.
Lucius and I headed to his cabin, which was far warmer. He busied himself with chieftain business—honestly, I had long ago given up on feigning interest in what exactly he did with his time—while I unpacked my things. The cabin was three times as large as my old one, with a sitting room area, Lucius’ desk, a large bed, and several bureaus.
A late lunch was served in the dining room, and Pateus, Ander, and I chatted over hot stew, talking about Ghypsom City. I had heard of the place, of course, but seeing it in person was something I was very curious about. Both Ander and Pateaus had been there many times, as it was a major trading hub, mostly catering to merchants and the wealthy for the exotic textiles they were known for.
Since Port Minerva was the one and only “city” I had ever visited, I was eating up all their descriptions and stories they were telling me about the City of Silk and Spice.
“Definitely take her to the silk factory,” Pateus was saying, scraping his spoon into his now empty bowl. “They both weave and dye the silk on the premises, and also have their own clothier shop. Every year the place apprentices out. My niece was taught there.” His proud smile made me smile right back at him.
I didn’t know much about Pateus, but I enjoyed his soothing company. He was polite, pleasant, and had a great sense of humor.
“Oh, I will,” Ander replied, patting his vest pocket. “I have a list of things Neil wants me to purchase while I’m there.”
Just then, Lucius came into the room. I noticed right away his hair was wet, and when he glanced at me, I raised an eyebrow.
“Issue with one of the lines,” he explained as he took the seat next to me. He tucked in his chair, and his hand immediately went to my thigh in a proprietary grip. I could smell the cold sea on him, along with that comforting yet tantalizing summer musk.
Just feeling his touch had my heart racing, and I caught his eye. His lips parted before turning into that lupine grin of his.
“Give me five minutes,” he whispered in my ear. “Go to the cabin and undress. Wait for me on the bed.”
The others were still in conversation about Ghypsom City, thankfully, but I felt myself blush nonetheless. “Okay.” He squeezed my thigh hard enough for me to squeal in anticipation, and I quickly stood up and left the room without a goodbye.
Lucius’ chuckle followed me all the way to his cabin.