“It’s funny… that was precisely why Lazar created the elixir.” I held his gaze. “He wanted to crack the elixir so that Vysanthe could find peace again, on a planet with no death, no sickness, no injury. He thought everyone would give up on violence when they realized there was no point in a battle that nobody could win. I’m not sure what he thought the queens and rebels would do, but those were his sentiments, too.”
Jareth smirked. “And that, dear girl, is why my brother is a lesser creature than I. He lacks the intellect to understand consequences and collateral damage. I am certain he will have blindly believed those thoughts, thinking himself correct, unable to see the flaws in his argument. Now, I imagine he has scurried into some hole, realizing too late that he was wrong—that these rebels want anything but peace, unless they can seize it with a worldwide massacre.”
“Lazar planned to give the elixir to everyone.”
“By now, you know these rebels better than anyone,” Jareth replied coolly. “Do you really believe that is their plan? Perhaps they will give the elixir to those they deem worthy, but those who reject their leadership… you can count on this ending in bloodshed. It has already begun.”
“In that case, you creating this anti-elixir is our priority,” Navan interjected.
“I agree, but in order to devise a solution to the immortality problem, I must know the source of the elixir’s power.”
So, we weren’t going to get away with not telling him everything. I hated to admit it, but he had a point. The anti-elixir would undoubtedly have to be formed from the very thing that had caused it in the first place. My heart wrenched at the thought of putting Nova through more discomfort, but what choice did we have?
“There is something you should see,” Navan said, flashing me an apologetic glance.
He walked over to his father and released him from his bonds, the older coldblood stretching like a cat. Even now, I could see he had no idea who he was about to meet. Nova was a unique creature, but I had no clue how Jareth would view her. Would he think her an abomination, like Ezra did? Or would he find her fascinating, the way Lazar had? We’d find out soon enough.
“Do you have vials of the main ingredients stashed away?” Jareth asked, as we left the cockpit and headed through the hallways of the ship toward the room where Nova slept. Lauren and Seraphina were keeping an eye on her, my coldblood friend already enamored with my child. I wasn’t sure if it was the maternal instinct in her, brought on by her own pregnancy, or the uniqueness of my little girl, but Seraphina had been in awe the moment they had met. Still, we had kept her from Jareth so far.
“Not exactly,” I remarked, opening the hatch to the bedroom.
Nova lay cradled in Seraphina’s arms, breathing softly through a nap, and I marveled at how perfect the woman looked, sitting on the edge of the bed in her vastly pregnant state, holding a baby in her arms. Motherhood suited her.
“Father, I would like you to meet your grandchild, Nova,” Navan said, taking our daughter from Seraphina and bringing her over to where Jareth stood.
“You had a lovechild with Seraphina?” Jareth looked baffled. “When did this occur?”
I shook my head. “She is our daughter—mine and Navan’s.”
“Impossible.”
“Apparently not,” I replied with a wry laugh, stroking Nova’s cheek.
“She has red wings… I’ve never seen red wings before,” Jareth murmured, as though to himself. “And her skin isn’t quite gray, is it? There’s a sheen of gray but only in certain light. She is truly a mixture of you and my son?”
I nodded. “She is.”
Jareth stared at her as though she were the most wonderful creature he had ever laid eyes on. It was clear that he was floored by her existence, but there was something in his manner that surprised me. I’d more or less expected him to be disgusted, the way Ezra had been, but he didn’t seem to be appalled at all. Instead, he seemed fascinated by her.
“She is remarkable,” he said breathlessly. “A true bonding of alternate genetics. I knew hybrids were possible, but I did not think she could be possible. The Vysanthean DNA is so complex and harsh. I wouldn’t have thought any other genetics capable of combining with it. This child… that you have created… she is the finest creation I have ever witnessed.”
He stepped closer, raising a tentative hand to touch her tiny fist. The way he looked at her was the way a crusader might have looked at the Holy Grail. It was like all the possibilities in the universe were clustered within her small frame, and he was figuring out how he might utilize her potential. As long as he didn’t try anything funny, I didn’t mind his awe of her. And yet, there was a hunger in his eyes that worried me. A leopard never changed its spots, and I wasn’t sure Jareth could change his.
“May I?” Jareth asked.
Uncertainly, Navan reached over and placed Nova in his father’s outstretched arms. A flicker of elation rippled across Jareth’s face as he held her, cooing and humming in a way I had never expected from a man like him. It was easy to forget that he was a father of ten, who undoubtedly loved his children despite everything he had done. Maybe, at one time, he had held them and cooed at them like this, soothing them in his arms. It was a hard picture to conjure, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t happened. To become a grandfather wasn’t a trivial thing, and Jareth’s delight was evident, though I remained dubious about the motivation behind it.
“We are about to set down at Sarrask’s place,” Ronad interrupted, appearing in the doorway of the bedroom. He flashed a cold look at Jareth, his gaze flitting to Nova.
“We’ll be right there,” Navan replied, hurriedly taking our daughter back.
“What should we do with her while we check on Sarrask and Kaido?” I asked nervously. “What if Sarrask isn’t there, and the house has been taken over?”
“I can stay with her, if you want me to,” Seraphina offered.
I smiled at her. “Thank you, Seraphina. We won’t be long, I promise.”
“I do not mind. I was rather enjoying the practice.”
After handing Nova to Seraphina for safekeeping, we hurried out into the main space of the ship, with Lauren and Jareth in tow. A few moments later, the vessel set down on the ground with a jolt, before the engines fell silent. Ronad and Bashrik came out of the cockpit, with Angie appearing from the opposite side of the ship shortly afterward. Stone staggered into the space a second later, yawning and looking bleary-eyed. The ship hadn’t been in the air that long, but the ambaka had a knack for falling asleep whenever he could.
“We arrived?” he asked, halfway through another yawn.
“Looks like it,” Lauren replied, as the main hatch slid open, revealing the quaint, chocolate-box façade of Sarrask’s cottage.
“We should probably leave Jareth behind, in case he spooks Kaido,” I whispered to Navan.
He nodded. “Father, it would be better if you remained here, until we know that the coast is clear.”
Jareth shrugged. “That suits me just fine.”
“Aye, but ye ain’t stayin’ here by yerself, so don’t be getting’ any ideas now,” Stone interjected. “I don’t know ye too well, but I know ye by reputation. I’ll be stayin’ with ye a while, makin’ sure ye don’t get up to no mischief. See, this eye, it can freeze ye in a second, so no funny business—ye get me?”
“I have no idea,” Jareth remarked, gaping at the ambaka.
Lauren nodded. “I thought I might stay too, to keep an eye on things.”
“That sounds like a good idea. We’ll come back for you when we know that everything’s okay,” I assured her, amused by the way Jareth was staring at Stone.
With that, we exited the ship. I glanced around as we made our way toward the front door, taking in the devastation that surrounded the house. It looked like the area had escaped most of the barrages, but there were still a few neighboring homes razed to the ground, debris floating on the glittering surface of the nearby lake. In the distance, I could
see something smoldering, black smoke rising up. No birds sang here anymore, the trees singed and barren. War had touched this place, though it had not yet destroyed it.
“I’d forgotten how freaking cold this place is,” Angie complained as the door opened. “I might sit this one out. Just come and get me when you find the rest of the Idrax clan, okay?”
“Are you sure?” Bashrik sounded worried.
“One hundred percent. I’m not freezing my ass off for some dude who might not even be in there. I’ll give Seraphina a hand with the ankle-biter.”
She hurried back to the ship and lingered on the threshold, while I pulled my jacket tighter around my body. A bitter wind whipped up, gnawing at my vulnerable skin. I focused on the house up ahead, determined not to let the harsh climate beat me.
“Thought I could warm you up a bit,” Navan said, moving up to put his arm around me. I nestled into him, trying to push away the icy wind that nipped at my bare flesh, stinging my cheeks.
Ronad was the first to reach the door. He turned on the step, smiling uncertainly. “Now, let’s see if anyone is home.”
He rapped on the front door, the thud echoing within the house… but there was no answer from inside.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ronad knocked again and again, but the door remained unanswered. “I guess nobody’s home?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Navan replied, taking a running start at the door and launching the full weight of his body against it. It cracked, the wood splintering. Running again, he thudded hard into it, and the wood shattered in a spray of fragments. With one final kick, he busted it off its hinges, the door hanging limply to the side.
Tentatively, we moved forward, entering the silent house. Everything was draped in darkness, plants scattered about, their long fronds tangling amongst one another like a jungle. Most were contained in the glass chambers that Kaido had constructed, giving off a faint glow of luminescence, but some had been left to grow wild. That didn’t seem like Kaido at all, to leave them here to fend for themselves. If he’d left them behind, then what had happened to him?
Fear gripped my heart, making me wonder what might have befallen the two Idrax brothers. I’d asked them to run if they could, so maybe that’s what they’d done. I hoped so—with all my heart, I hoped so. For all the bad blood that had settled between me and Sarrask, especially after the unwanted kiss, I didn’t want anything bad to have happened to him. And Kaido… I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to him.
I wandered toward the archway that led into the lounge. The plants were everywhere, making it even harder to see where I was going. They formed shadows all over the place, tricking me into thinking there were people standing in the way, watching us.
Staggering over some roots that had crisscrossed over the floor, I stepped into the lounge, my eyes unaccustomed to the gloom. A shadow shifted close by. The next thing I knew there was an arm around my neck, bending me into a fierce headlock that I couldn’t escape from. Whoever had me, they were strong, choking the air from my lungs.
“If you please, I should like you to prove your identity,” a familiar voice demanded. “You are trespassing upon my property.”
“Kaido,” I rasped. “Kaido, it’s me, Riley.”
“You say that is who you are, but how can I be sure? How can I be certain that the enemy queen or these rebels have not sent you in disguise, masquerading as a face I recognize? Riley departed this planet a long time ago. Prove your identity, if you would be so kind.”
I reached for his arm, trying to pull it away from my throat. “You sat me in your chair in the lab at your home in the South. You fed botanicals into my mind and experimented on my brain patterns. You sent me away with a serum you’d created, to make me stronger. I asked you to get away from here and stay safe.”
Kaido released me a split second later. “You are indeed who you say you are, unless these rebels have discovered a way to steal memories and download them into the minds of clones. Although their alchemists are advanced, I do not believe they have the technology to do so just yet, so I must satisfy myself that you are who you say you are.” He stepped away, looking relieved.
“It’s me, Kaido. I promise you.”
Kaido nodded uncertainly. “Then you must allow me to apologize for my actions, though they were entirely warranted in the case of your smashing down the door. It is a natural protective response to defend oneself—that is all I was doing, though I am sorry if I caused you harm. My headlocks have been known to hurt.”
“Why did you think I might not be me?” I rubbed my throat, soothing away the pain from his grip.
“I have been forced to deal with rumors of rebel shifters impersonating acquaintances as a means of gaining access into private homes. There have been countless occasions of such events, though I have not witnessed any for myself,” he explained. “I have a very high-tech security system in place, and though I saw you all approach on my cameras, I did not wish to run the risk of trusting you outright. One can never be too careful. My work is exceptionally important—it is only a matter of time before these people figure out my excellence and come in search of my notes. Neurobotany is not as ridiculed as it once was, now that this sleeping mist has proven a success.”
Navan stepped up beside me, an angry look on his face, but I put my hand out to stop him from doing anything he might regret. Kaido was only defending himself. In times of war, I could understand his need to be overly cautious. Besides, that was Kaido through and through—always careful, always cautious, always thinking ahead.
“The sleeping mist? You know about it?” I asked.
He nodded. “Why yes, of course I know about it. I have been residing here while you have all been gone. Did you forget?” It was a genuine question. It was going to take some time to get used to his peculiarities again.
“No, we hoped you were still here. We just weren’t sure if you knew about the sleeping mist,” I explained. “I thought it might be one of the queens’ alchemical creations.”
Kaido smiled. “A common mistake, but I would not expect you to know the difference. Your mind is unaccustomed to the nuances between the Vysanthean sciences,” he said. “The sleeping mist is laced with neurobotanicals that attack the brain, causing the inhaler to fall into a catatonic state. It is based on a design of my own, though those notes were stolen some time ago. I do not know if these royal neurobotanists have copied my design, though it seems unlikely they could have come up with such a complicated system themselves. They are ill-equipped for ingenuity. Anyway, I was not at the house to defend my work when it was taken, which is why I have resolved to remain here constantly, observing everything through my cameras. They shall not rob me of my thoughts again!”
I stepped toward him and wrapped my arms around him, feeling him stiffen in discomfort. “It’s good to see you again, Kaido.”
“If you could refrain from the embraces,” he urged. “I had forgotten how dearly your species enjoys physical contact.”
“I’m just happy you’re safe,” I said, letting him go.
He flushed a little. “In truth, Riley, it is a pleasure to see you alive and well, also. I hoped you would not be in pieces somewhere, having been exploded by the queens’ bombs, or the rebels’ artillery. It happens so often these days that I would not have been surprised, but I am glad it has not happened to you.”
“Thanks… I think.”
“You are most welcome.”
“Where are you hiding our other brother?” Navan wondered, looking around the plant-covered walls.
Kaido frowned. “I am not hiding anyone, Navan. This is not a safehouse. Unless you mean Bashrik? In which case, he is standing over by the sink, meddling with a very rare plant that he should not be touching.”
Bashrik retracted his hand as though it had been stung, turning to Kaido with a sheepish expression on his face.
Navan chuckled. “No, I meant where is Sarrask? Is he here?”
“Ah, I understand now,” Kaido said, hesitating for a moment. “Sarrask is… he is not as you might remember him, although I have been trying exceptionally hard to correct his recent changes. His behavior is much altered. I have made some headway with serums and the like, but I cannot fully determine whether his injuries are purely physical, or there are some inflicting his mind that I cannot see.”
“What happened to him?” I cut in.
“Sarrask was injured in battle.”
Ronad frowned. “He went to the front line, then, like he said he was going to?”
“He did. Did you not believe he would go?” Kaido sounded genuinely curious.
“No, I thought he would go. I just hoped he’d be smart enough not to.”
“That does not make any sense, Ronad. If he said he was going to go, then you had his assurance that he would do so.”
He laughed. “I suppose you’re right.”
“There is no supposing about it. I am indeed correct. Sarrask said he was going to fight, and so he did. That is where he was injured, as I have said.”
Realizing that Kaido was getting confused, I stepped in. “Is he here in the house?”
“Yes, he is, though he does not like to be disturbed.”
“Well, I’d very much like to speak with him about something,” I said softly, bringing Kaido’s focus back to me. “First, I’m just going to run outside and let the others know that I’ve found you, and everything is okay, and then we can all get settled.”
Kaido frowned. “Others?”
“We have some friends with us.”
“And you plan to stay?” He looked horrified.
“We have to stay here for a short while, yes.”
He shook his head rapidly. “Oh, no, that will never work. I am afraid there is not enough room. My plants require a great deal of space, and I shall not have their growth compromised by being trampled on by too many visitors.”