Page 10 of Zar

He shoved a hand through his hair and cursed. How could it be? She was earth-born. A human! And yet, the instant she’d touched him he’d known. He’d felt it. That ripple of pleasure that he’d heard others talk about when they found their other. Their ofelia. It had started the second she’d touched him. As she’d stroked his feathers, Zar had felt the tingling sensation ripple outward until his entire body had been on fire with the vibrations of pleasure that Callie’s single, innocent touch had evoked. No, that hadn’t been when it had started. It had begun the instant he’d seen her picture on the HealthTec website. He’d been drawn to her upturned nose and those expressive blue eyes. If he were honest with himself Zar would admit that was at least part of the reason he’d had Flare bring her to him. Then she’d touched his wing. Never in his lifehad he felt so much sizzling desire with a single stroke. He’d even accepted the fact that he was destined to always be alone. To rule his people alone. To die alone. He’d given up hope long ago of ever finding his ofelia.

Then Callie had landed on his doorstep.

She was strong for an Earth-born woman. Anyone else in her situation would be in a panic. She’d been thrust into their world unprepared. Seeing Seraphina take flight must have been terrifying for Callie. Anyone else would’ve been left with a fractured mind at the very least. Instead she’d woken and immediately defended one of his own people. She’d stood up for Flare and Zar had been unaccountably enamored of her. He had no problem admitting that he’d been intrigued.

It had been a rare occasion over the centuries when he’d encountered an earth-born and even more rare a female. Curiosity had gotten the better of him as he’d wondered at the differences between her race and his own. Still, when he’d felt her touch, when he’d known she was his other, everything took on new meaning. She’s earth-born. You cannot have her. His brain knew this, but his heart, his soul was already beginning to reach for her. Already missed her. And she’d only left the room to shower. How would he live when she left their society to go back to her life?

He was Zenarian. His people had come to Earth over a thousand years ago to begin a new life when their planet had been invaded by a warring race known as the Grasheem. They were a vicious, lizard-like people. Their only purpose was to exterminate the planet’s inhabitants and mine Zenaria of nighsis. A black gemstone that was unique to Zenaria. There were mountains of the beautiful stone. The Grasheem needed the nighsis for fuel and they had been prepared to do whatever necessary to get it.

Zar’s people had lived on Earth in secret ever since thanks to the gindier, an invisible shield that surrounded their mountain and kept them safe from outsiders. Safe from Earth-born. The barrier could only be seen by a Zenarian. Radar wouldn’t pick it up any more than it would pick up the mountain they called home. As far as Earth-born knew, the mountain didn’t exist. Their people didn’t exist. Only a Zenarian could cross through the gindier unharmed and walk into the world beyond their mountain.

Zar sighed. He was rybacia. A royal by blood. He ruled his people, kept them safe, kept the peace and upheld the six unbreakable laws. He was not supposed to have an Earth-born ofelia. His other half was supposed to be Zenarian. It was how it’d always been. But there would be no denying Garra. Their deity, and the creator of life, had chosen an Earth-born woman as his other half. It was not the Zenarian way to question. But how would his people handle it? Not well, he knew. Callie would not be a welcome sight. You are assuming she will have you as her ofelia. She wasn’t a Zenarian, and therefore knew nothing of their ways. She thought she was here for a meeting only. So had he, right up until she’d touched his wing. That single stroke from her delicate fingers had changed his world. Turned it upside down. A knock sounded on his door. He left the balcony behind and crossed the room. He swung the door wide to find Dyre standing on the other side. Zar moved aside to let his first in command enter the room. He held a pile of clothes in one hand and a tray laden with food in the other.

Dyre strode towards the kitchen and dumped the tray on the table, then he turned and handed the clothes to him, a frown marring his brows. “I must insist that the Earth-born be taken to the great hall. She can have the room in the back until such time that Flare takes her back to her home.”

Zar didn’t wish to have this discussion, but he could see no help for it. “She will not be taken anywhere. She stays with me.”

Dyre’s wings slammed against the tile floor, the only indication of his agitation. “She is not to be trusted, my king.”

Zar fisted his hands at his sides to keep from reaching for his whip. Dyre was only concerned for his safety. It was his job to keep the royal family from harm. He did his job well. Most days Zar appreciated Dyre’s vigilance. His complete dedication to his job as leader of the awe’rosa, the red guard, had always been above reproach. Today Zar found that dedication annoying.

“She is my ofelia,” he explained, keeping his voice soft to keep Callie from overhearing.

Dyre’s eyes widened. “You are certain?”

He sighed and sat down at the table. “There is no denying it. Garra has chosen Callie as my ofelia.”

Dyre cursed and began pacing the room. Zar was beginning to feel the start of a headache and the pacing wasn’t helping. Finally, Dyre turned around and faced him once more. “Perhaps Arwen will have some answers,” he said, bringing up the name of their healer. “Maybe there is a way to break the bond. It’s never been done, but—”

Zar stood, then came towards Dyre. He let his anger show as he unsheathed the two eight-inch-long talons hidden at the bends in the tops of his wings. “No one will attempt to harm my ofelia. It matters little that she’s Earth-born. She is mine and I will not give her up.”

Dyre’s face drained of color and he immediately kneeled before him. “I meant no offense, my king.”

Zar took a deep breath, then let it out. He sheathed his talons and held out a hand. “Stand, my old friend.” Dyre took his hand, then stepped backward out of reach. As if giving him a wide berth. Damn, he wasn’t handling any of this well at all. “My brain is still trying to catch up to what my soul has already accepted. Trust me, Dyre, I’m as confused as you.”

He nodded. “First we deal with the reason you brought her here. You still haven’t told me what that is, by the way. Later we can work out the rest of it.”

That was Dyre, getting down to the business at hand. Sometimes Zar worried about Dyre’s cold, calculating nature. He’d gone nearly as long as Zar without finding his ofelia. As the years went on, Dyre grew colder and more remote. It was unnatural for one of their kind to go without their other half. Three centuries. It was too damn long. Zar was tired of the emptiness inside him as he ruled without his ofelia by his side. The loneliness. Callie was here now. Fate had brought her to him. One way or the other, Zar would figure out a way to keep her.

---