ALARIC
Kaye has just finished overseeing the first class of the morning when I come looking for her. I knew she would still be here and I am not disappointed. I do not think I would have liked to go about searching for her some more. No. My wolf is far too restless, far too murderous to stay much longer away from his destined soul mate. In the past, I would disappear into the realm belonging to the Goddess of War. There I would gorge myself on the adrenaline of battle - on the metallic taste of blood and then ever present feeling of death. It's how I've always calmed his bloodlust and mine - with blood.
But now, there seems to be a cure.
Her.
She is his off switch.
I cross the field with long strides. As it is with most of the people sworn to me, the instructor has a healthy dose of fear swirling in her eyes as I approach with a confidence born of the surety that I am king here. Anyone in a position of power needs to hold a certain amount of fear and respect to ensure that they are not challenged or disobeyed easily. She approaches too, meeting me halfway to afford us some privacy.
"How is she?" She asks plainly.
"She'll live and I want to know why." I say, jumping straight to the point.
She frowns, "Wouldn't it be best if we discuss this with the princess?"
I simply stare at her until she shifts uncomfortably and continues, "Very well."
"She is what is known as a Basileum." Kaye says and I find myself recognizing the word.
Basileum. That's what the fire bender said when he attempted to kill her.
"It makes sense. Everything is making perfect sense now, especially why the princess's wolf is so weak for a highborn. She is so much more than a beast beneath."
I lift a brow at the instructor, not that she can see it. I found myself wondering the same thing about her wolf. She didn't show a single sign of the beast beneath her skin even as Sayla beat her. Even with the lack of training her wolf still should have fought to defend them. It never occurred to me that something could be blocking the wolf.
"I would be interested to know exactly what you believe she can do."
"I would have to test her to find out. They are rare, exceedingly so. And usually power houses in the supernatural world. Not to mention revered amongst the Bending Nation. The entity of the royal family is Basileum. And if one is found outside the palace, they are almost always arranged to marry one of the royals."
I needed to blink a couple of times to wrap my head around that. I've heard very few favorable things about the Bending Nation's royal hazards even in comparison to the Werewolves and this is keeping in mind that Lazarus is the Prince of our nation.
"The Mathias family only has one surviving heir, isn't that right?"
"Only because the cruel prince murdered the rest." She sounds bitter but even I know that it's only gossip that she is repeating. There is no evidence that supports the accusation.
"Do you care about the girl?" She asks suddenly.
I straighten my back only slightly at the unnerving question. Why would she ask that? Why would she even think that?
I choose my words carefully, "I have an invested interest in her continued well being."
"I suppose we won't be seeing Sayla again then." Kayes says guessing correctly.
I don't respond. A look of sadness passes the instructor's features, however, I still do not regret my choice. After all, she made her bed, I simply made her lie in it.
"Very well, you should know that this can only go two ways if she were to be discovered. Either Cassian will come looking to marry her or kill her."
Just the mention of Lyra married to someone else has my wolf howling in anger. The unruly, jealous beast. He could come to kill her too. My wolf likes that even less.
"Why would the prince kill her?" I ask in confusion.
"Isn't that what he did to the rest of his siblings?" Kaye asks and I'm struck by the implications of her words.
She goes on, "Cassian is not well liked with the ghosts of his family haunting him. And for a Basileum not to be liked, they really have to warrant disapproval. If there were another option, another possible heir. Someone worth backing, someone like Lyra. Well… he might find himself in competition for the crown. She would definitely get the public's support and then one would also consider her last remaining Agron brother. It's a powerful combination, one Cassian will not appreciate unless it gives him a powerful bride."
She would be a threat to him, at least until Cassian secured his position. Until then, there would be a giant red target on Lyras back, then more so than now. I think of the fire-bending assassin. There is nothing that can be done about him. I can only hope that his account of the incident does not reach the Mathias family.
"Send someone to find Kario. Don't let anyone else leave until he is finished wiping their memories. No one must remember that she was here. He'll have to see the healer Zelmaria as well." I ordered.
Kaye bows her head in acknowledgement of the command, "Very well. Consider it done Sigma."
"He'll wipe your memory too. I must insist." I say sharply when I see her start to argue against my decision.
The words die in her mouth. I consider my next action and decide that Kaye will be needed one last time before she loses all recollection of this situation and this conversationall together.
"First, we will have to see Lyra." I say, already forming the story in which we will tell her.