Chapter 9 Kailia #2
“There are a few places nearby. I can show you where they are. I can’t stay long, but—”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you,” Kailia cut in. “You can simply point me in the right direction.”
“It’s not an inconvenience,” Wren said. “They’re just a few streets over.” Kailia nodded, falling into step beside her. She didn’t miss the glance down, so she wasn’t surprised when the female asked, “Do you need footwear as well?”
“No,” Kailia said simply.
Wren only lasted a few seconds before she was filling the silence. “Sorry about Jarek and Bram. They are good males despite… Well, their manners.”
Kailia hummed. She didn’t care about the males or their manners. She never had high expectations of males to begin with.
They were turning a corner, and suddenly there were fingers at her elbow. In the next breath, Kailia spun, shoving the person up against the window of a small pastry shop, her lip curled back in a snarl.
The female’s eyes were wide, and she held her hands up, trying to placate her. “I’m sorry!” she cried. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was only trying to get your attention.”
“It’s okay,” Wren said gently, as if she had experience talking someone down. “That’s Marissa. She owns a crystal and jewelry shop with her sister.”
Kailia looked back at the female, recognition dawning. She’d spoken to her last night.
Suddenly realizing she was still holding the female against the wall, Kailia dropped her hands, taking several steps back. Patrons of the pastry shop were all watching, sugary treats and steaming cups of tea forgotten.
“My apologies,” Kailia murmured. “I don’t… I apologize.”
Marissa’s tight smile betrayed her nerves, but she said, “It’s okay. I wanted to give you this.”
She slowly reached into her pocket, pulling out a necklace. Black leather cord. Blue crystal dangling from it.
“I remember you admiring it last night at the festival,” Marissa went on, her confidence growing with each word. “I wanted to give it to you.”
“Why?” Kailia asked. She might not understand social situations, but she did understand that nothing was free. There were always strings attached.
“It’s just a gift,” Marissa insisted, holding it out to her.
When Kailia didn’t reach for it, her smile faltered.
“I truly mean no ill-will. I was packing up my stall and saw you across the way at the same moment I was placing this necklace into a pouch. I trust the signs the Fates send my way and believe you’re meant to have it. ”
Unsure what to do, Kailia glanced at Wren, who gave her a small shrug. Which was not helpful in the slightest.
Marissa was still holding the necklace out to her, and Kailia just wanted this interaction to be over. Reminding herself to move slowly, she took the necklace and offered a tight smile. “Thank you.”
Marissa’s face lit up. “You’re welcome,” she cooed brightly. “I just know it’s meant for you.”
Then she practically skipped off back to her stall, and Kailia was left holding the necklace awkwardly.
“They really are kind females,” Wren offered, stepping closer. “Want me to help you put it on?”
“Have they ever gifted you jewelry?” Kailia countered.
Wren laughed. “No, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t genuine. May I?”
She reached for the necklace, and not wanting this to get any more uncomfortable, Kailia nodded, handing it over.
She pulled her hair over her shoulder while Wren secured the necklace, clearly taking care not to touch her.
The blue crystal sat on her chest above her breasts.
It was cool against her skin, and she could swear it was pulsing faintly.
But she didn’t dabble in the ways of Witches and their gifts with plants, crystals, and the stars. They were too close to the Fates, and she wasn’t about to question their ways. The only fates she cared about were hers and her enemies.
Wren started walking once more, and Kailia followed. It wasn’t even a few seconds before Wren said, “You know, I never did get your name?”
It was kind and subtle enough, and what did she have to lose at this point? The king already knew her name.
“Kailia,” she answered.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kailia,” Wren replied. “I’m helping with the Fae that are relocating to Aimonway, so if you need anything— Wait, Razik said you’re not Fae, but you are new in town. So if you’re staying and need anything, just let me know.”
Kailia could hardly keep up with the female as she prattled on, but she’d homed in on the subject she was interested in.
Razik.
“How does Razik know I’m not Fae?” Kailia asked, knowing that the swirling in her eyes should make it more than obvious. Either Wren was oblivious, or Kailia made her that nervous.
Wren huffed a laugh and rolled her eyes. “He spends hours in books researching everything and anything. I truly don’t know how he remembers half the things he’s read over the centuries.”
“And you’ve been with him that long?”
Her eyes went wide, and she glanced over at Kailia. “By Anahita, no. I’ve known Razik for a little over a decade, and I’ve been his Source for nearly as long.”
“His Source? By choice?”
She nodded. “He’d never force a bond. Not with his past.”
“His past?” Kailia asked, those two words sparking her interest.
Wren’s brow creased. “Is not mine to tell.”
“Understandable. So you are his Source and his partner?”
Her features smoothed out, mirth entering her eyes. “We share a bed from time to time, but we are not bound to each other in that way. We do not share a Union Mark or a bond outside of the Source bond.”
“My apologies. I just assumed…”
“Most do,” she reassured, clearly not taking any offense. “Razik lets them assume because he doesn’t care.”
“But you do?”
She paused then, and Kailia immediately wondered if she’d said the wrong thing. This whole time she’d been mentally congratulating herself on carrying on a normal conversation. She was pretty sure this was the first time Wren had let silence extend longer than a few seconds.
“He’s very protective,” she finally said, flashing her another bright smile.
Kailia wasn’t sure how that answered her question.
“So you are Razik’s Source, and he is…what to Cethin?” Kailia ventured, hoping that was an okay thing to ask.
“Nothing,” Wren said with a shrug. “Just the way he likes it. He’s part of the Cadre, and his uncle is the Commander of all the Avonleyan forces.”
“But he was in the castle at the breakfast table. Surely he’s more than that?” Kailia pushed.
Wren stopped, turning to face her fully. “You were also in the castle at the breakfast table. Was Jarek right? There is more to it?”
Kailia stared back, familiar irritation creeping up her spine.
This female was… Well, she was very good at making someone feel at ease to get information.
Kailia used manipulation all the time. Apparently, so did Wren.
If it weren’t so fucking clever, she’d be impressed.
Instead, she was annoyed at having missed something so obvious.
Wren didn’t push for an answer though. Instead, she flashed another warm smile before turning and pulling open the door to a shop.
She didn’t wait for Kailia, and it wasn’t until she peered at the shop window that she realized they’d come to a dress shop of sorts.
Judging by what was on display though, Kailia knew this was not the kind of shop she was going to find anything in.
It was all lace and frills and corsets. Nothing she could move freely in.
Sighing, she pulled the door open once more, a bell jingling faintly as she stepped inside. It smelled inviting—vanilla and spices—and Wren was already talking to a female at the counter.
She didn’t really need a dress. She had plenty at the flat where she was staying. The entire purpose of this was to get information about Razik. Instead, it had become a fiasco of sorts.
But she needed to know about the male. It had taken everything in her to hide her utter shock when he’d strode into the dining room that morning.
Because she’d seen him before, and not just since she’d stepped foot in Avonleya.
Well, not him exactly.
Before she’d come to Avonleya, she’d been stuck on the continent across the Edria Sea. There were far worse places to be confined. She would know. She’d been trapped in such a place for two decades. But while she was on the continent, she’d found her way to an Oracle.
Each continent had an Oracle. They were bound to their continent as part of their role, and they were regarded as highly as the gods were.
Maybe even more so, considering you could at least try to see an Oracle.
It was excessively difficult to summon a god or goddess to this realm.
Kailia wasn’t even sure it was possible.
The Oracles of the realms were often sought when one was desperate for answers or guidance. Or she sought you out when you were running from truths and destinies. Either way, if you encountered an Oracle, you were going to be given information that left you with a choice to make.
But to even get to the Oracle across the sea, she had to come to you, or you had to try your luck in the Witch Kingdoms. The High Witch was vicious and formidable, and with her various covens throughout the kingdoms, most never made it past the borders of their territory.
More than that, Kailia assumed the Oracle was female because most Witches were.
But that was where the conundrum came in.
Not many knew what their true identity was.
In fact, so few had seen an Oracle, that some considered them to be myths of old.
If you found yourself in the Oracle’s presence, they appeared to you as something other.
A person from your past. A creature that would greatly impact your future.
Someone or something that would play a crucial role in your life—for better or worse.
She knew the Oracles were real because she’d dared to venture into the Witch Kingdoms. Dared to square off with the High Witch.
Dared to request an audience. And when she’d finally wandered into the dark passages of the Oracle’s home, she’d been met by a tall male with piercing sapphire eyes, unruly brown hair, and a muscular build.
She hadn’t known who he was—had never met or seen him before—and until recently, had never seen him again.
Even then, he was scarce, and learning information had been difficult.
Beyond his position in the Cadre and his name being Razik Greybane, she didn’t know much.
She’d been here half a year, and she’d only seen him from afar a handful of times.
She certainly had not expected to find him strolling into the dining room this morning.
The Oracle had appeared to her as Razik, and now she was desperately trying to understand how a member of the Avonleyan king’s forces was going to have such a profound impact on her future and the outcome of her plans. Was he going to help her? Hinder her? Did he have information she needed?
“Kailia?”
She blinked, finding both Wren and the shop owner staring at her. “Yes?”
“Fiona asked if you were looking for something in particular,” Wren said, her smile pointed.
“No. I mean, yes. Black, but I just remembered I need to be somewhere,” Kailia said, backing towards the entry door. “I appreciate your time. Both of you.”
“Kailia, wait—” Wren started, but she didn’t get to finish.
Kailia was gone, wrapped up in smoke and ashes. The scent of her power was like coming home, and she relished the freedom. She’d go to the flat she was staying in, put on her usual attire, and plan—
Except something was wrong.
The ashes yanked on her, wrapping around her wrists and ankles as if they were manacles. Her power thrashed and bucked against a force that was pulling them elsewhere. She’d never experienced anything like this. Never had her magic take over. Control her.
But she was being pulled through the air, spinning so quickly she couldn’t get her bearings.
Not as she was deposited beside a lake in a heap of limbs.
She quickly straightened, brushing at her pants and tunic as she took in the sunny sky.
The sparkling blue waters. The phantom figures floating above the ground, gold swords in hand. Numerous warriors with weapons drawn.
And across the way stood Razik Greybane with the Avonleyan king at his side.