Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
KYELLA
Elijah was quick to respond to her question. “Worth going to war for? Kyella is human, why would she be important enough to the Emperor for him to wage war?”
I knew from overhearing his conversation with Kolvar on the boat that he didn’t even believe his words himself.
Elijah was also suspicious of there being something unique and different about me, so to hear him play that off to his ruler spoke volumes.
I couldn’t help but love that he was standing up for me.
A smile tugged at her lips. “Even if that were true, she admitted moments ago that she’s directly tied to the Emperor. You think he will take that insult lightly if he hears of us harboring his prized possession?”
Dakath let go of my hand and stepped forward next to Elijah. “To answer your question, Your Majesty, yes, Kyella is worth waging war for.”
My eyes widened at his bold answer, feeling breathless for a moment at the significance of it. I looked up at Kolvar to gauge his reaction.
“I agree,” Kolvar added, squeezing my hand.
This was insanity. I didn’t want anyone to go to war over me.
I couldn’t deny, though, that never in my life had I felt as valued and protected, even cherished, as I did right now.
These men barely knew me, yet they were willing to wage war to protect me from Malakai?
How could they feel that intensely over my well-being and future?
I paused at that though. I’d experienced the same intense reaction to them, hadn’t I? I just hadn’t assumed they would feel it on the same level.
The Empress diverted her attention to behind me as she spoke to Tristan, ignoring their statements. “Your family is welcome to stay here. We will find a home and jobs for you to sustain yourselves soon. For now, you are welcome to stay in a room within the palace.”
I turned back to the three of them, smiling at Bailey who looked on the verge of tears. Tristan offered the Empress a sharp head nod before offering me a small one, his eyes warm.
They were safe. Malakai wouldn’t get his hands on them.
“Yay! Thank you, lady!” Rina’s tinkling voice called out. I looked back to the Empress, noting the smile on her face.
“You are most welcome, young lady.”
Sniffles came from behind me, and I was certain if I turned back, I would see Bailey crying full happy tears. I imagined that the relief of knowing her family, especially her child, was safe from the clutches of Malakai was overwhelming. My heart soared for them.
“And what of Kyella?” Elijah asked, renewing my own anxiety.
“I need to think of the ramifications of both decisions that could be made,” the Empress answered. “Things are not as simple as they seem.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Elijah relented, bowing his head in acceptance.
In a way I was glad for her answer. I wasn’t prepared to hear her say that she wanted to send me back.
“In the meantime, please see that all of our guests are placed into rooms, Elijah. You can choose whichever you deem fit.” Then, turning to me, she said, “Please, freshen up and rest. We will meet for dinner tonight, and I will make my decision for you then, Kyella.”
Keeping my head held high, I nodded once. “Thank you for your hospitality and for allowing this family to stay here. I’ll forever be grateful to you for that, no matter your decision.”
I meant every word. I couldn’t have lived with myself if Tristan, Bailey, and Rina were sent back and executed because of my desire to escape. It was the heaviest burden I could’ve carried.
Barnabus made clicking noises at that, making the Empress smile. Could she understand him?
“Dakath and Kolvar, please stay behind to talk of the mission further while Elijah shows them to their rooms,” she requested.
Kolvar sighed, seeming disgruntled at the idea of leaving me, and turned to face me. “Are you hungry right now, or will you be okay for a little bit?”
He was asking if I needed blood, and I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but I found myself still full of energy and not gnawing hunger. “I’m good, I promise.”
“Come along,” Elijah called as he walked right past me towards the doors.
“His Highness calls,” I teased, flashing a smile at Kolvar. I shocked myself with my humor rising to the surface so easily.
It seemed to have shocked everyone else as well because the room erupted into laughter, turning the tips of my ears hot with the unintentional attention. The Empress’s voice floated through the air as her laughter finally faded. “Be careful, Kyella—he may begin to demand we all call him that.”
I loved her easy going manner, even if I couldn’t completely match it while my fate was up in the air.
It made me feel more hopeful about my future here, and it told me a lot about who she was as a person—how different she was from Malakai.
I could tell she was very even-tempered and cared about all those within this empire.
While I of course would be heartbroken to be sent back if that was her choice, I also couldn’t justify claiming that my own life was worth the deaths of many in her lands if it came to a war.
Dakath offered me a heated, almost possessive look, as I turned and he watched me hurry to catch up to the others, who had already exited the room.
Something about the way he looked at me made my skin feel like it was burning, like his energy was naturally wrapping around mine in a tight hold, that I was finding I loved.
Elijah led us up a spiral set of stairs, showing Tristan and his family to a suite down a formal hallway that was well lit and warmly heated. I didn’t get a chance to look into the space, only stealing a quick glance, but the squeal that came from Rina had me guessing it was beautiful.
As we left them to settle in, we moved down a second hallway in a slightly awkward silence. There was a lot I wanted to say to Elijah and so much I wanted to ask, mainly about why he was acting as he did…but I wasn’t positive how it would be met. I didn’t want him mad at me.
Coming to the end of the pathway after a few turns, Elijah stopped in front of a door and gestured towards it. “This is your room. Mine is across the hall, Dakath’s is next to mine, and Kolvar’s is the room directly next to yours. You will be safe here.”
While I appreciated his words, I wanted him to look at me again.
Boldly walking directly into his personal space, I tilted my head back to look up at him. “Elijah, why do you avoid looking at me? At times you seem to want to ignore my existence completely. Yet you chose to help us escape, you even pleaded my case to the Empress—I don’t understand.”
I didn’t understand him, but I wanted to.
I saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed and dipped his chin down to look at me. I didn’t think I would ever get over how beautiful his emerald eyes were.
Reaching out towards the door with his gaze still on my expression, which held an undercurrent of emotion I didn’t understand, he turned the knob. “You’ll find everything you need inside, but I’ll send a few maids up with hot water for your bath and some clean clothing.”
I was frustrated that he’d blatantly ignored my question, but his words had realization slamming into me.
“My bag! I can’t lose it!”
I turned to go back to the throne room, panic infusing my being at the idea of losing the few things I could claim were my own, but Elijah’s hand quickly snapped out to grab my wrist, yanking me back to him.
In any other situation, the idea of him touching me would’ve possibly been welcomed, but this touch felt controlling, and my blood boiled in frustration as I wrenched my hand free of his grip and took off.
Unfortunately, I quickly found myself falling to my knees as my vision blurred and my legs moved faster than I could keep up with.
Before I could make contact with the ground, Elijah scooped me into his arms, the world spinning around me. My chest heaved as I struggled to orient myself. One minute I’d been in front of my room, and the next I’d nearly smacked into the wall at the opposite end of the hall.
“I knew you were special,” Elijah murmured so quietly that I was sure if I didn’t have enhanced hearing now, I wouldn’t have heard it.
Glancing up at him, my mouth parted in shock. “I…I don’t know what just happened.”
He walked us back down the hall towards my room, chuckling softly as he went. So he did laugh. And it was an amazing one, at that, the sound warming my entire body.
“You almost face-planted into a wall.”
Rolling my eyes, feeling a bit dizzy still, I teased back, “Oh really, captain obvious? I meant I don’t know how that happened.”
As he crossed the threshold of my new suite, my mouth parted in surprise at the luxurious formal sitting room full of satin curtains and sheets. I blinked in shock, wondering if I was imagining it, and tried to focus on his answer instead of the space.
“You moved as quickly as a vampyre, Kyella,” Elijah answered as he turned to go through an open door, bringing us into the bedroom.
Lightly depositing me onto the plush mattress, I furrowed my brow in confusion. “That can’t be true.”
He reached out, pressing his finger into the crease in my forehead and smoothed it out. “Don’t overthink it. It seems we all have a lot to process. I promise I’ll get your belongings to you, okay? Just please do me one favor and don’t leave your room unless you’re accompanied by one of us.”
Examining his eyes, I saw only honesty. He would get me my bag. And now that he was holding my gaze, I felt far better. Like we were making small progress, baby steps.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“You aren’t a prisoner here,” he explained further as he took a step back from me, dropping his hand to his side. “It’s just abundantly clear that you’re unique, and I don’t want anyone here thinking they can take you for their gain. I trust no one with you, other than Dakath and Kolvar.”
His words were coated in a protectiveness that had that warm sensation of being cherished running through me, but before I could respond or thank him for bringing me here, he sped out of the room.
My head spun, sort of missing when I hadn’t been able to track them when they moved so fast. Now that I could, it hurt my head.
Heaving out a sigh, I fell onto my back, staring up at the ceiling and contemplating how much had happened in the past two days.
I must have dozed off, because when a soft voice called out, I shot up, blinking away the bleary haze of sleep. “Hello? Miss Kyella?”
I went on high alert, remembering Elijah’s warning to not trusting anyone else.
“Lord Elijah sent us with hot water for a bath for you. We’re going to fill the tub for you and then leave, unless you need anything else from us?”
The fact that they weren’t trying to come into my bedroom, respecting my space, calmed me a bit. Easing off the bed, I padded into the living room and smiled sheepishly at the three maids. “Hi there. Thank you so much for assisting me.”
They dipped into curtseys. “Of course.”
I stood to the side as they entered the bedroom and made their way into where I assumed the bathroom was.
I hadn’t even taken a moment to explore this new space.
I made a mental note to do that as soon as I was done with the bath.
I didn’t want to let their hard work go to waste and let it cool while I wandered.
Attempting to stay out of their way, I sat on the bed until they announced it was ready for me and that they’d placed some bottles of oil for me to choose from on the counter.
Thanking them once more, I stood to my feet and made my way to the bathroom once I heard the door to my room shut. The last time I bathed, it had been to force me to be clean for the party so that I wouldn’t repulse the Lords that were to feed from me.
My skin crawled, and a cold sensation washed over me at the memory of being at Malakai’s feet in a daze as fangs sank into my arm over and over.
I didn’t even want to look around the bathroom, needing to immediately feel the warmth of the water and soap washing away the ghost of their abuse from my skin.
Stripping out of my clothes quickly, I stepped into the steaming porcelain tub, sinking all the way under so that no air touched my skin. Holding my breath, I focused on the warmth of the water seeping into my muscles until the chills subsided.
I didn’t know how long I stayed under, but I remained until the last chill faded from my body.
It had to have been far longer than a regular human could’ve held their breath, but my lungs hadn’t even burned with the need to take in oxygen as I broke the surface and inhaled.
It was both alarming and interesting, but also far too much to wrap my head around this moment.
Instead of pondering the implications, I selected some lavender oil for the water and set to work with washing my hair and body. When I ran the sponge over my left arm, the bite marks I prepared myself to see…were completely gone.
Smooth skin stared back at me, free of any scars—even the old ones from Malakai. Dropping the sponge, I ran my fingers along the skin in disbelief.
I had healed completely.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I realized I wouldn’t have to carry around the physical marks of their abuse anymore.
With a shuddering breath, I allowed myself to cry until the water became cold.