Page 51 of Zar

She let out a long breath and her hand went to the dagger strapped to her right leg. “I know he’s losing his grip on reality. I know you need to tighten your security.” She looked at Callie and frowned. “And I know you need to keep your little earth-born very close.”

Zar stiffened, his wings flexed and stretched across the room. “Is he planning something tonight at the festival? It’s why you came, isn’t it? The timing did not escape my notice, Lyria. I know you were already in the area.”

Lyria’s own wings flexed and contracted. She was every bit as on edge. But why? “I think he might be planning something. I have…dealings with Naxon, but he doesn’t take me into his confidence.”

She spoke the truth, but not all of it. Zar knew there was something Lyria wasn’t telling him. “Then what makes you think he’s planning something?”

“Because he’s staying in the area,” she quickly answered. “Normally he stays close to my mountain. He has a home there, but when we last spoke and he told me what he’d done, I knew he hadn’t left the area. He’s still close to your mountain, Zar, and that means he’s planning to move against you.”

Zar thought of Callie’s assumption when she’d met Naxon. She’d thought he was a sibling. “Why does Naxon hold such hatred for me and my brothers?”

Queen Lyria clenched her fists at her sides and stood. Raine quickly moved to protect her back, effectively ending the meeting. “That is not my tale to share,” she shot right back. “You want answers, get them yourself. I came here to warn you and I did.”

Zar stood. As if of one mind the entire counsel stood as well. “I appreciate you telling me this. I will not forget it.”

Lyria looked at Callie, her gaze zeroing in on the band around her throat. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Zar arched a brow. “What day?”

She smiled at Callie. “That the king of Zenaria would take an earth-born as his ofelia.”

Zar held out his hand towards Callie. She took it and stood next to him. His right wing wrapped around her in a protective hold. His creature was pleased when Callie reached out and absently stroked his feathers. “I am not my father, Lyria,” he softly stated, as his gaze went back to the queen. “I do not hold onto the old ways with an iron fist.”

Her lips twitched. “She wears pants, Zar. I can see the old ways are about to go up in smoke.”

Callie looked down at her clothing. She sighed. “Who knew a pair slacks could bring down the monarchy.”

Queen Lyria and Raine both chuckled. It was the first he’d heard Raine laugh. The woman could win in a frowning contest with Dyre even. They were actually concluding the meeting without coming to blows. All the credit went to Callie and her sarcastic wit. She’d diffused a very explosive situation with limited effort. And he knew exactly how to thank her later when they were alone.

Zar stepped forward and clasped Queen Lyria’s arm. “Thank you for warning me, but if Naxon comes after what’s mine, then he will die by my blade.”

“I would feel the same way,” Queen Lyria muttered as she glanced at Callie once more. “She will change everything, Zar. And that is worth protecting. At any cost.”

With that mysterious prediction, Lyria and Raine left. Silence filled the room for several seconds before Callie finally muttered, “Please tell me that we’re cancelling the festival.”

Zar looked at Callie and knew a sense of foreboding. “If it were within my power to put a halt to the celebration I would do so, but it’s too late for that.”

Dyre stepped closer. Zar knew the head of the guard was already working out the security measures. “I’ll put extra men around the perimeter and we will tighten security at the great hall as well. Also, I propose we send a regis to follow the queen. I want to be sure she intends to leave the area. And if Naxon is staying somewhere close by as Queen Lyria claims perhaps we should send out scouts. Not to engage, but to search and report back if they find anything suspicious. I’m uncomfortable with knowing he’s out there ready to strike. I want to be better prepared.”

Flare cleared his throat and all eyes turned towards him. “The strategic move for Naxon would be to get Callie alone. He will not approach, that would be suicidal, but he will have his mole at the festival. If there truly is a plan to get to Callie, then all we need do is keep her close. No one gets near her with the exception of the seven of us.” Flare pointed to each of them. “And she goes nowhere without one of us as an escort. Agreed?”

Zar nodded. “She will not leave my side.” He spared a look at Dyre. “Send your scouts but inform them that it’s only a search and report mission.” His gaze landed on Flare. “I want Brasius following Queen Lyria but tell him to keep it discreet. I want to know the instant she returns to her mountain. If she has other plans or she’s helping Naxon in any way I want to be prepared.”

Therius cursed. “Those two working together gives me nightmares.”

Zar shoved a hand through his hair. “They’ve always had an alliance, but I don’t know that Queen Lyria would agree to launch an attack on us. She values the truce we’ve formed as much as we do.” He spared a look towards Zadoc and noticed him frowning and staring at the floor. “Peace was hard won and we all want it to continue.”

Zadoc crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze moved to Callie and stayed there. “Naxon will have to get through us.”

“This is all sounding really freaking scary,” Callie bit out. Zar didn’t think it was a conscious thing on her part when she shuffled closer to him.

Therius smiled and patted her on the arm. “The festival is all about having fun, Callie. You need not worry about Naxon.”

Zar’s hand went to her neck, directly over the band. “Trust us, little dove. Naxon has had many plans in the past that we’ve managed to thwart. This will be no different.”

Callie’s arms wrapped around his middle. “I swear I’m normally much braver than this, but Naxon scares me. He isn’t right in the head, Zar. There’s something just off about him.”

Unable to help himself any longer, Zar leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She let out a breath and he took the advantage and sank his tongue into her mouth. She tasted like home to Zar. Her fingers slid up his back, digging into the material of his shirt. Zar wished like hell they were alone and naked. He ached to feel her scoring his back with her nails. He forced an end to the kiss and pulled back enough to stare down at her. He allowed his eyes to change and her heat signature glowed pure and bright all around her. He heard someone speak and Zar looked over Callie’s head to find Kade staring at Callie.

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