Dawn of the Hunters - book 7

Chapter 6 – Gathering at Riocht

RHETT

Riocht’s palace came into view as we wound down the road that ran through the Morngord forest. A forest that no matter how many times I rode through still gave me the creeps. It was indeed haunted and with Morgan’s gifts, being able to raise the dead, having a haunted forest surround a palace made for good defenses.

As far as I knew, and I had no idea why, Aodh’s hellish monsters would come nowhere near Morngord or Riocht. It was one of the last safe places in this realm.

I pull the bike to a stop outside the main gates, Dana pulling up beside me. “Wow!” She gives a low-pitched whistle as she takes in the beauty of Riocht’s palace.

Lamia and Mathias had built a new road, bypassing the Southern Lycans village. The guardians, as they had called themselves, had remained hidden for centuries. Tucked away from the cities and the technology that had survived the Lycan wars. Like the northern Lycans, they were now packs of peace.

In truth, After the great war two and half centuries ago, Lycans dropped off the face of the realm. Rumor has it they regressed leaving the rest of the shifters to pick up the pieces after they destroyed our realm and almost killed off the human race.

There were so little humans left that they were taken advantage of. Used, sometimes abused. The shifters saw themselves as the superior race and the old realm mindset had stayed with most packs. They forget that it was the humans who built the realm, kept the factories open, built cars, worked the oil fields, and kept cell towers and communications working. Without their labor, the shifters were never able to maintain all this realm once had to offer.

It took centuries to create a realm that is now lost. And only three years to destroy it according to history. It’s no wonder the Lycans went into hiding. Only emerging in the past five years when Lamia and Mathias took Riocht.

As I looked at the grand white palace, taking in the statues that guarded the entrance and lined the outer terrace, my eyes settled on the one that depicted Inanna. Lamia was indeed her reincarnation; the resemblance was uncanny. So was that of the great king Conri to Kellen.

It always baffled me as to how Lamia took everything in her stride. She rarely lost her temper, but when she did, it was a sight to fear. And the way she always managed to believe in fate and the path her moon goddess had laid out for her… I didn’t understand it. Especially in times like these.

“And I thought New Moon was impressive.” Dana quipped, climbing off her bike and throwing her hands on her hips as she took in the magnificent palace.

“If you think this is impressive you should see Eririat’s palace,” I tell her, remembering my time on the second continent. I haven’t been back since then. Even though troops from Riocht and New Moon had been deployed out there to fight the dark army, I had been tasked to stay and fight the monsters that plagued this continent.

“I hear it’s all dirt and sand in Asiarian?” Dana asks.

I stand from my bike and unfasten my packs. Slinging both over one shoulder I wait for Dana to grab her gear before we head for the main gate and up the steps.

“Welcome! Good to see you again Mr. Rhett.” Lucien’ jovial voice has Dana and I turning our heads to the side to see him bounding down the terrace toward us. A huge smile on his face.

Lucien was the leader of the Guardian Lycans who watched over and protected Riocht for hundreds of years. Maybe even thousands. I guess you could say he was their Alpha, even if the blonde-haired tall figure that rushed towards us didn’t use that term.

The southern Lycans were all blond-haired with a natural glow or tan to their skin. Unlike the northern Lycans, that had darker features.

“Lucien,” I greet once he is standing before us. “Are we the first to arrive?”

He shakes his head and looks Dana up and down, “No Mr. Rhett, You are the last.”

I thought for sure I would have made it here faster than Mike.

“This way,” Lucien motions. “Your usual room is already set up and I set your friend up in her own room. Unless…”

“Dana will be sleeping separately,” I informed him. Knowing that look he had given me. He thought Dana was my woman.

“Very well.” He gives us a curt nod and motions for us to follow him. We follow him through the open courtyard that sits in the middle of the palace walls. It seemed strangely desolate for a usually busy palace.

In the past when visiting Riocht there would be elite guards, maids, and civilians wandering around. Now it just seems eerily quiet. “Where is everyone?” I ask Lucien as we cross towards the guest suits. The gravel crunching under my boots.

“Mathias has been grumpier than usual.” Lucien gives us an excuse. Even though Mathias being a grumpy old man wasn’t new, this was. “He has been less than cordial with almost everyone. It seems to be getting worse in the past few months. He misses Queen Lamia terribly.”

“Don’t we all,” I mumble under my breath, casting my eyes around.

“Once you are settled King Mathias and Miss Morgan would like everyone to meet at 6 pm sharp. Dinner will be served.” He adds once he has brought us to our rooms.

This was going to be so much fun if Mathias’ attitude was getting worse. I could see him now; he was going to be difficult in this meeting. Whatever the meeting was about.

Lucien leaves us and I tell Dana to shower and rest up. I would come to get her when it was time. I leave Dana and enter my usual room with the white walls, white sheets, and grey marble flooring greeting me. I had always hated the guest rooms at Riocht. They were too clean. Too crisp. I was always afraid to touch something in the event I got it dirty.

Just as I was sliding off my boots - thinking I should probably get washed up too when a soft knock came at the door.

I cross back over and pull open the oak-framed door expecting to see Dana or a maid. Instead, I’m greeted by my sister who is holding my daughter in her arms. “Ria…”

She pushes past me roughly entering my room and coming to stop once fully inside. She whirls around with a glare in her eyes. “I thought you might like to spend some quality time with your daughter.” She says, ignoring my surprise.

I close the door and come to stand in front of her, my eyes shifting between the two and finally settling on Angelica.

“It's been months Rhett. I love my niece more than anything but…” She holds out my little angel shoving her towards me, and I reluctantly take her.

“Dada.” The little tyke says with an unsure look.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, ignoring the frustrated tone in her voice. “Where is Xander.”

“I came with Xander and Finn. For this reason, only. She needs her father, Rhett.” Ria lets out a sigh and her body relaxes. I watch as her hands gently go her to stomach and a small smile creep over her face.

“Are pregnant?” I asked half shocked, half excited, and shifted Angelica on my hip.

Ria’s head bobs and she eyes me with a light in her eyes. “I am and the doctor says so far so good with this one.”

I frown only because I hope it's true. She had miscarried twice already. The clan doctor had explained it was difficult for a human to carry a bear shifter's child. “Congratulations?” I say with a question.

“I hope so,” she says with a wishful look. “As a den mother, it’s my responsibility to produce an heir.”

“Who’s telling you this? Is Xander putting pressure on you?” I growl thinking she was getting flak from her mate. Even though I should know better. Xander would never put pressure on Ria, he worshipped her.

“Don’t be silly.” She laughs. “I want a child. You know this. Xander would love a little him running around but in one way would he ever risk my health for the sake of bearing him an heir.”

Her words put my mind at ease, and I pray that this time she can carry the child for the full seven to nine months and bring a healthy cub into the realm.

Angelica coos in my arms and her hands start playing with my hair. Little fingers grasping tightly and then letting go making it stick up even more.

“You like daddy's hair,” I smiled at her.

“Dada got big hair.” She giggles back with her big green eyes staring at me.

“Right,” Ria says, hands on her hips and lips pursed. “Spend some time with Angle. I will watch her after dinner when you guys hold your grand meeting.” She stretches her arms open dramatically and rolls her eyes.

“You won't be sitting in on the meeting?” I asked, kissing Angelica and pretending to bite her.

“Nope. Vivian and I are on kid duty.” She smiles and crosses the room to the door.

“Who's here from New Moon?” I ask before she can run out the door.

“Mike, Lyric, Tala, and Rogue.” She pauses and I can feel the conflict rolling off her. “Tyron is taking care of things there. They also brought both kids with them.” I couldn’t see her face, but I could tell she was frowning.

“What's wrong Ria?”

“I’m not sure, but for some reason… and please Rhett, this is between you and I.” She turns to face me. Eyes immediately landed on Angelica. “I may not be a hunter, but I have a bad feeling. I don’t know what Morgan’s plan is or what she has seen in her visions. But my gut is telling me you need to be cautious.”

Ria was right. She wasn’t a hunter. She didn’t have enhanced abilities like sight, smell, or speed. But she had always had a sixth sense. Could sense when something wasn’t right. So, if she had a bad feeling, I was going to heed her words.

“Let's see what they have to say first. I think we are all on edge still.”

“I want Lamia back too but not at the cost of you or someone else we are close to.” She says solemnly. I reach out and bring her to the side where I'm not holding Angelica. Tucking her under my arm and kissing the top of her head.

“I love you, little sis. Everything will be fine.” I promised her. Knowing I had no right to promise something like that. As soon as the words left my lips I cringed. It's never okay and as soon as you promise something like that, something is bound to destroy that idea that things could be peachy.

Ria leaves. Leaving me with Angelica.

“Well, shit.” I think out loud. Not wanting to put her down as I showered. I sit down on the bed and plop Angel next to me. “Hi, sweetheart. Daddy has missed you.” I told her. It's not a lie, I have missed her, yet my words are empty because if I truly did miss her wouldn’t I have come home to her sooner?

The fact that I didn’t even think about seeing her or calling Ria to see how she was, speaks volumes about my character. Out of sight out of mind… kind of. But now she is here with me, and my eyes linger on the toddler I can't help but feel almost whole in her presence.

“Dada been gone for too long.” She mumbles fussing with the covers. “I turned three!” She holds her chubby fingers up.

“Not yet Angel but soon,” I say knowing her birthday is only a few short weeks away. “What do you want for your birthday? Daddy will get you whatever you want.”

“Mommy.” I almost choked on my splutter at her one word.

“I don’t… I don’t…”

“Auntie Ria say you need wife and I need a mommy.”

“Did she now,” I scowl wondering what my sister had been filling my kid's head with. I would have to ask her about it later.

There’s a TV on the wall across from the bed, I grab the remote and turn it on, noticing there are several discs on a ledge below it. I look through the old movies and pick out one that seems suitable for a child. Something about a water horse. I look over it carefully hoping whatever kind of horse is in this show is nothing like the nightmare horses we hunt down.

“Can you watch the show, Angel, while Daddy takes a quick shower?”

“You stinky!” She wafts her tiny hand in front of her face, and I chuckle. Xander was rubbing off on her.

I left Angelica sitting comfortably on the bed, already absorbed in the show that was playing on the screen, while I quickly showered. Once done I dressed, throwing on a pair of the cleanest cargo pants I had and a long-sleeved shirt.

When I opened the door to the bathroom Angelica was passed out, her tiny frame sprawled in the middle of the white sheets contrasting with her dark red hair.

I took a moment, propping myself against the door frame and crossing my arms, to watch my sleeping Angel. Her little chest rose and fell with the light breaths she took. I’m not an emotional man. At least not anymore. But I felt the heavy weight of tears glaze my eyes as I watched her.

I needed to do better. To better by her. To be more present in her life. It was just so hard when I had a job to do. The realm needed me and the INE to rid us of the monsters.

Angelica should be my first priority. And she was but how could I raise her in a realm that wasn’t safe? What kind of life would she live surrounded by the things that go bump in the night.

No. Hunting needed to come first so I could make the realm safe for her to grow up in.

‘She would be safer with us by her side’ That niggling voice in the back of my head whispered. I was always at war with my conscience. Arguing about what was the right thing to do, but never coming to an agreement with myself. I was doing what I thought was best. Not just for my little girl but for the realm.

It's what Lamia would want me to do.

That little voice in the back of my mind speaks up again, this time hissing ‘She would want us to look after our Angel.’

I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing the strained threat of tears back, and straightening up. Shaking off any emotional feelings that were starting to build.

I gather Angelica in my arms, who doesn’t stir, and bury my nose in her red locks. Inhaling her scent. To me, she still had that new baby smell. I had missed her. And It was only now I realized just how much.

With my Angel still sleeping, I made my way out of the room, passing Dana’s and giving a swift knock. She cooed at my daughter as we walked the balcony and headed to the main part of the palace.

“After dinner, would you stay with my sister and help with the kids?” I ask her lowly as we make our way. Dana was not privileged to attend this meeting Morgan and Mathias had called for.

“Yeah, I can do that.” She says, her finger lightly threading through Angelica's hair as we walk. “Will Ria be there, or will she be at the round table?”

I look at Dana confused who just rolls her eyes, “You know the old legend of the king and his knights around a round table?” She chuckles when I don’t get it. “Never mind.”

I brush it off and file her comment away for another day. “Ria and Vivian will be in charge of the children, so they could do with help.”

“Very well. It will be nice to catch up with your sister anyway.” She replies. We reach the main part of Riocht’s palace and enter, two guards acknowledge us as we pass through the large double oak doors.

We thread the halls until we come to the large dining room where everyone is already gathered. There wasn’t much chatter, but the room fell silent as we entered, and all eyes were on me. Making me feel somewhat uneasy.

Angelica woke at the right time, her eyes adjusting as she looked around. Once she spotted Tala she scrambled out of my arms and raced to her aunt with arms wide open screaming her name at the top of her little lungs. Effectively breaking the more than uncomfortable silence.