They’d only been at the creek for a few minutes, but Lydia was already undressed and in the water. The small fire provided ample light for them to see while the shadows of the trees kept them hidden from Octavion’s view—or at least that was Kira’s hope. He’d promised to keep a fair distance so they could have their privacy and Lydia insisted he would be a gentleman.
Kira had taken off her shirt and was unbuttoning her pants when another image came to her mind. One of Luka’s men hid behind a tree watching them. Lydia, be still and cover yourself. She tossed one of the towels in her direction.
Lydia quickly sank into the water up to her neck and pulled the towel over her.
Kira pulled her shirt back on before picking up her bow. She slipped an arrow from her quiver and took aim at a tree a short distance away.
What is it? Lydia asked.
Call Octavion. We have an intruder. “Show yourself,” Kira yelled.
Before the man had time to respond, Altaria stood beside Kira, the drenched towel wrapped tightly around her body—her sword in her hand.
Octavion appeared, took one look at their stance and where Kira’s arrow pointed and took off running in that direction. The man pushed away from the tree, but only took one step before Octavion was on him. It was not a fair match. Octavion tossed him around like a rag doll, finally grabbing him by his neck and forcing his back against the tree.
“Luka!” he roared.
Within seconds, both his cousins appeared. Luka glanced at the girls standing near the creek and then at the intruder. Octavion didn’t give his cousins time to ask questions. He took the man and tossed him at Luka who stepped aside, allowing the man to fall to the ground.
“Keep your men in check,” Octavion ordered. “I catch them near these girls again and I will slit their throats.”
Luka bent over and grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him to his feet. “You won’t have to. I will have already done the task.” The man turned to look at Kira. He glanced up and down the length of Altaria’s half naked body then looked directly into Kira’s eyes. He grinned, and for a split second, she saw his eyes turn black.
Kira dropped her bow and cowered to the ground. The evil of his empty stare ran through her veins like cold water as she tried to control the fear that invaded her core. When Octavion came closer she drew further into herself, trying to imagine an invisible barrier between her and everyone else.
“Kira, what is it? Did he hurt you?”
She’d closed her eyes and couldn’t find the courage to look at him. She shook her head. “Make him leave—just make him leave.”
“He’s gone, Kira. Cade took him back into the forest. Now tell me what’s going on.”
She slowly raised her head and opened her eyes. Luka still stood a few feet away watching her.
“Why did you bring them?” she asked Luka.
He looked confused at first, but stepped closer and tried to explain. “They won’t hurt you, Kira. Zerek is somewhat unruly and made a bad choice, but he would never hurt you. I trust him.”
“A bad choice? That’s what you call this?” Octavion asked with a sharp edge to his voice. “Look at her. She’s scared to death.” He turned his attention back to Kira and pulled her close. “I have never seen her shake this bad. Not even when Bastian tried to kill her.”
Luka’s expression suddenly held more compassion. His demeanor softened. “I am sorry you had to go through that, Kira. I have seen what he can do.”
“It was Zerek’s eyes—the evil I saw in them . . . that’s what scared me.”
Octavion tensed. “What about his eyes?”
“They’re black. Didn’t you see them?”
Octavion released Kira and rose to his feet. Luka stepped back. “You brought Darkords to this place?” Octavion exploded in a rage. “You are a fool, Luka!”
Luka straightened—his fists clenched. “They’re fearless—they will not stop till the enemy is dead.”
“And who is the enemy? The Darkords have alliance with no one. They kill for sport and stop at nothing.”
Their voices grew louder and Kira saw Luka’s eyes begin to change. Octavion’s back was to her, but she knew by his stance that he was transforming as well.
“Which is exactly why I brought them,” Luka said. “You said you needed help. Zerek and Nigel are trained to take orders and I trust them.”
“I will not have them here. It is difficult enough to protect these girls without having to worry about your friends turning on us. I want you to collect them. They are going back.”
“I will not. I know these men and trust them. If I fight, I want them by my side.”
“Do you trust them with your life?” Octavion roared.
“I do.” Luka snarled, letting out another long rumbling protest before turning to walk away.
“Luka?” Kira said. Her voice frail and shaky.
Luka stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“Would you trust them with Cade’s life?” she asked.
There was a long pause as he took in a deep breath and let it out slow. “I will bring them to your lair.” And then he was gone.
When the argument started, Altaria disappeared into the bushes. At some point she’d changed back to Lydia and gotten dressed. Now she sat on a rock, lacing her boots. “I told you those guys gave me the creeps.” She gathered her wet towel and flung it over a branch. “You’re turn, Kira. I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
Octavion hadn’t moved. He still watched the place where Luka’s mist melted into the night air. “I will wait here,” he said with his back to them.
Kira didn’t argue, but she couldn’t bring herself to bathe either. Instead, she just washed up the best she could and asked Octavion to take them back to the clearing. She barely remembered dragging her tired limbs into her shelter before she fell asleep. She woke some time later to Octavion and Luka going at it again.
“What do you mean they are gone?” Octavion shouted.
“We have searched the entire mountain and there is no sign of them,” Luka said. “They must have overheard our conversation near the creek.”
Kira pulled her curtain back enough to see them standing by the fire. Cade quietly watched from a distance.
Octavion paced. “Then we will count them as our enemies. You have tipped the odds in Shandira’s favor, cousin. If we are defeated, it will be on your head.”
As they continued to argue, Kira heard Lydia moving around in her shelter.
Lydia, are you awake?
How could a person sleep? I’m waiting for the battle to begin.
I need to ask you something. What is a Darkord and why are they so bad?
Did Octavion tell you about the Curse of Panthera?
Yeah, but he didn’t mention anything about Darkords. Kira released the curtain and snuggled back under the covers.
The conditions of the curse were that the men had to be faithful to the king’s daughters. A few years after he cursed them, one of them had an affair. As a result of his transgression and to prevent another Royal from making the same mistake, the king of Panthera punished his daughter’s husband and promised the same for anyone else who committed adultery. Because Royals are half man, half beast, the part of the soul that is the cat is taken, leaving them with half a soul. That’s why their eyes are black. When they are up to evil or no good, their eyes reflect their darkness. It’s like looking into an empty abyss.
That’s what I felt when I saw Bastian’s eyes—pure evil. Kira cringed at the memory.
“What?” Lydia said aloud. The curtain of Kira’s shelter flew open and Lydia scooted in beside her. “What did you say?”
Kira pulled herself up and leaned her back against the wall of the lean-to. “Bastian. When he was at the house—he had black eyes.”
“But that’s not possible.”
The argument between Octavion and Luka stopped and they turned their attention to the girls. <
br /> “Octavion,” Lydia called, as all three moved toward them. “Kira, tell them what you just told me.”
“I thought you knew.”
“Knew what?” Luka asked.
“When Bastian attacked me at the house, we were face to face for a moment and his eyes were like Zerek’s. They were black.”
Octavion stepped closer. “Kira, are you certain? Could it have been a reflection or because you were so frightened?”
“I was beyond scared, but I know what I saw.”
Octavion ran his fingers through his hair. “I have known him for years—surely I would have seen something. How could I not know this?”
“Why does it make a difference what he is?” Kira asked. “You already know he’s your enemy.”
Octavion began to pace again, forcing Luka and Cade to step out of his way. “It makes a big difference. I have always thought it was Shandira that convinced Bastian to turn against us. Now I am not sure. He could have been influencing her for years.” He stopped and looked at Lydia. “She did not have a chance.”
“It’s not your fault.” Lydia stood and went to him. “You didn’t know.”
He shook his head. “But I should have. You know the things I can see. How is it possible that he kept this from me?” He drew his dagger, flipped it into the air just enough to spin the blade around so he could catch the tip, and hurled it across the clearing and into a tree.
“Grab your weapons, cousin,” Octavion growled. “We are going hunting.”