Chapter 32
32
“ S he called him what?”
Timmohn circled the chaise lounge her mate reclined on. “Bondrah Miah.” Her eyes lit up with anticipation. “Do you know what that means?”
“Of course, I know what it means.” Barohn rose from the chaise and stood. He was tall for a Muiraran, over seven feet. His statuesque frame never seemed to disappoint her. He was all sophistication and power, always had been.
“You know Bartrol would approve of our plan,” she pushed.
He looked down his nose at her. “Bartrol is destroyed, or have you forgotten, mate?” He clasped his hands behind his back, his long white hair now pushed against his buttocks. His hair was his crowning glory, and fell almost to his knees.
Barohn paced slowly back and forth, his light purple colored bejeweled robes rustling as he did. “Bondra Miah,” he mused. Barohn turned to her. “Did you have time to examine her?”
“No.” She frowned. “Our grandnephew nearly ripped my head off.”
Barohn raised a single eyebrow at her. “Hmmm,” was all he said.
“She stopped him.”
Barohn smiled. “Did she now? Excellent. She is soft of heart.” He turned to her. “So, he is a true Alpha. He can rule beyond the stars.” He let go a long sigh. “It’s a pity we’re stuck on this worthless rock.”
“He could command the Time Masters to get us out of here!” She heard the desperation in her voice and quelled it. “That is, if we had one or two more.”
“Which we do not, mate.” He brought his hands in front of him and tapped his fingers against each other. “Although, with a Beta and an Enforcer to draw power from, our new Alpha could enhance the power of our Time Masters. It might be done.” He returned to the chaise and regally sat. “Timmohn, you crafty witch, work your magic on this female of Melvale’s. Gain her trust. If we can control her, we can control him.”
She smiled wickedly. “Your thoughts are my thoughts, mate. I will comfort her, spend time with her. Guide the weak little animal and train it.” Her smile grew. “By the time I’m done with her, she will do anything we want.”
Barohn smiled. “As will our grandnephew. He always was an idiot. How the Creator could have chosen one such as him to wield such great power, we shall never know. But at least we have something to work with.” He reclined. “Do this well, and do not get caught. You know what will happen to us if you do.”
She gave him a single nod. “I will act with the greatest discretion. His little female won’t suspect a thing.”
“You are sure you sensed nothing from her?” He examined a fingernail. “Nothing at all?”
Timmohn shook her head. “No, nothing.”
He smiled at her. “You feared for your life.”
She met his gaze. “For but a moment. I could have controlled him.”
Barohn flew into hysterics.
Timmohn sighed and waited for him to collect himself. When he did, he stared her down. “Concentrate on his female, make sure she knows she is not worthy to be his mate. Make her desperate.”
She thought of the girl’s big blue eyes. They were full of curiosity, not fear when Melvale brought her out from behind him. That meant he still trusted his great aunt. Good. “She will bend to my will soon enough. But you must do your part.”
His eyes narrowed. “He will sense me out. No, she is our best path to controlling him. Become her advisor. Make her love you.”
She gave him a slight bow. “As you wish, mate.” Timmohn stood straighter. “I am hungry. My heart needs to feed.”
He gave her an appreciative smile. “As does mine.” He stood, approached, and looked her up and down. “In fact, I’m rather ravenous.”
She arched an eyebrow and smiled back just before he backhanded her across the face.
Her head snapped to one side, and when she looked at him, her lips parted for the brutal kiss that would come next. When it did, she bit him, hard, and their feeding began.
“Where is he?!” Jaireth snapped.
“I have no idea, Your Majesty,” Zerbe said. “A guard came upon them just as the door Time Master Kwaku opened was closing. He said wherever they stepped into was dark, he couldn’t make out anything.”
“He is your son, can you find him?” Jaireth asked. He was going to punish Kwaku when he returned. But then, if Melvale used his Alpha powers on him, Kwaku had no choice but to do as he was bidden. “When you do find him, you’re going to have to have a talk with that boy.”
“He is no longer a boy, Your Majesty,” Zerbe pointed out.
Jaireth sighed. “You are right. He is not.”
There was a commotion in the hall outside his office, and the door opened. His youngest Mykhal poked his head in. “Father!”
Jaireth came around the huge desk. “What is it, my son? Has something happened?”
The boy entered, he was six and a half, and a mischief maker, but Jaireth would have him no other way. “She’s coming! You must hide me!”
The door opened again and Alasdair, Time Master Dallan’s young brother, who was no older than Mykhal, burst into the room followed by Vyn Mosgofian, the son of the Lord Councilor. “She’s right behind us!”
“Who is behind you?” Jaireth asked. “Speak!”
Mykhal’s eyes widened as a smile curved his mouth. “That human. We ah… are playing a game, Father.”
He exchanged a knowing look with Zerbe. “Kindly play it elsewhere, my son.” Jaireth bent to him. “I am working.”
Mykhal frowned. “You are always working.”
He straightened and looked down at the three boys. “Ruling takes a lot of time, child.” He eyed the door and sighed. “Very well, into the cabinet.” Jaireth glanced at Zerbe, who gave him a single nod.
The Muiraran judge went to the ornate cabinet behind him and opened a door. The high shelves were stacked with Jaireth’s precious books, but the lower part was open. The three boys hurried into it, giggling, and Zerbe closed the door. “You should not indulge them.”
Jaireth smiled. “This time I must.” He held up a finger. “Wait for it…”
They heard the clickity click sound of a Sarian’s taloned feet followed by the creature coming to a skidding stop. Jaireth wagged his finger at the door and went behind his desk. Zerbe stood before the cabinet as stoic as ever.
The door to the royal office slowly opened and Kitty Morgan poked her head in. “Oh! I’m so sorry!” She ducked out.
“Miss Morgan!” Jaireth barked. “What is the meaning of this?”
Zerbe arched an eyebrow at him as stifled giggles came from the cabinet. Jaireth watched Zerbe give it a little kick with his foot to quiet them before he continued. His judge knew better than to deny his king a little snack.
Jaireth gave him a hint of a smile. “Enter.”
Kitty poked her head back in, gulped, and stepped into the room. “Forgive me, your Majesty, but I was… um, babysitting.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”
“Cari Mosgofian, she had to run an errand or two, and I volunteered. Actually, you volunteered me, I hear.”
He sat back in his chair. “If you wish to remain in the palace, then you need to make yourself useful. Keeping an eye on my son is useful.”
“But all three?” Kitty snapped her mouth shut.
“I would think you capable of handling three small boys,” he retorted then leaned across his desk. “Where are they? You seem to have lost them.”
She gulped again. “We were playing hide and seek and they gave me the slip.”
He sat back. “So, they’re hiding are they? Well, you had best find them before they get into trouble. Your job was to keep them out of it.” He slapped his hand on the desk for good measure, making her jump.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” She curtsied, then bowed, then curtsied again before she slipped out the door. “Essie, they’re not in there!”
“But I can smell themsssk!” came the Sarian’s reply.
The door closed, and Jaireth laughed. He’d not laughed at all since they discovered Melvale was an Alpha. He needed this, as did his heart. He feared for Melvale and didn’t want anything to interfere with the two sides of him merging.
“Mykhal, come out,” he called.
Zerbe opened the cabinet door, and the three boys tumbled onto the floor. He smiled as they scrambled to their feet and after exchanging the same mischievous look, bowed to the Muiraran king. “Thank you, Father,” Mykhal said. “You have saved the game.”
He arched an eyebrow at him. “And you have allowed my heart to feed. I thank you.”
Mykhal bowed again. When he straightened, he ran behind the desk and tackled Jaireth, hugging him with affection.
Zerbe smiled at them, reached down, and ruffled Alasdair’s hair. “Where is your brother?”
“I do not know, Judge. But we can check his quarters.”
Vyn went to stand in front of him. “Have you lost Melvale?”
Zerbe looked at Jaireth as he frowned. “Were you boys eavesdropping?”
“Nay, Yer Majesty,” Alasdair said. “But ye canna help hear a few words when yer about to run into a room.”
Zerbe chuckled and shook his head. “What is to be done with them, my King?”
Jaireth ran a hand through Mykhal’s auburn hair and sighed. “You need to go easy on the human I put in charge of you. After all, she is your sister Shona’s best friend.”
Mykhal made a face. “She is annoying.”
“Ha!” Vyn said. “Then why are you always plotting jokes against her?”
Jaireth looked his son in the eyes. “Plotting jokes?”
“You do it all the time, Father,” Mykhal whined in protest.
“I am feeding my inner heart.”
“Well, maybe my heart will feed on the same thing when I’m old enough,” he said hopeful.
Jaireth released a long sigh. “Have some pity on the poor girl. Find her. Then make her hide from you.”
Mykhal’s eyes went wide. “Oh, we had not thought of that!”
Jaireth let Mykhal slide off his lap and rejoin his friends. “Behave,” he said ominously and narrowed his eyes to boot. “That is a command.”
The three boys bowed and scurried from the room. As soon as they were gone, Zerbe closed the door behind them. “You are a good father, Jaireth, King. But I must agree with your youngest. You do not spend enough time of late with your family.”
Jaireth leaned back in his chair, ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “You are right. But now it is crucial we protect our Alpha and our Beta. Once Melvale comes into his full power, Markhel will follow. Tell me, with your sons in such a position, would you have me grow slack in my duties as king?”
“I would have you find balance, my King.” He bowed low. When he straightened he looked to the door. “I will send Time Master Dallan after Melvale. I think we both know where Melvale had Kwaku take him.”
“To his mate’s home?”
“Where else? She seeks comfort, the familiar. Naturally she would want to return there. If only for a time.”
“Send Time Master Dallan and my daughter then. Have them make sure Melvale and Pari are kept safe. But I want them back here within forty-eight hours.”
“Pari and Melvale may protest and command the Time Masters to stay with them for however long they wish to stay,” Zerbe pointed out.
Jaireth’s eyes narrowed. “Melvale will not yet disobey a direct order from his king.”
“Then perhaps, Your Majesty, you should go with Dallan and Shona and give it to him yourself.” Zerbe smiled, bowed, and left Jaireth’s royal office.
He stood, came around the desk, and sighed. “Yes. Perhaps I shall. But first, he needed to speak to Kitty Morgan.