Page 59 of Zar

Zar quickly shot to his feet and caught her under her arms. “Callie?”

She tried to smile, but another dizzy spell swept through her. “I-I think I need to use the restroom.”

Flare stood and stepped off the platform. “I can take her, my king,” he offered, clearly trying to get back into Zar’s good graces.

Zar curled his lip at him. “I think you’ve done enough, regis,” he ground out as he kept his hold on Callie.

Suddenly the one called Larz was there, his brows drawn together as he watched her and Zar. “She looks unwell,” he stated. “Her face is very pale.”

Zar started to step off the platform and suddenly the room fell silent. Callie could see the commotion her little episode was inciting and moved to intervene. “If someone will just point to the restroom, I’m sure I’ll be right as rain soon.”

Zar wrapped her in his arms, steading her, then began walking her towards the far, right corner of the room. Larz quickly stepped in front of him. “There are many curious stares, my king,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “It might not be a good idea to leave the feast right now.”

As Zar’s gaze swept the room, Callie could see him hesitate. She moved to alleviate his concern by placing a calming hand against his chest. “You said Larz is Dyre’s top lieutenant. I’ll be safe with him, right?”

He stared at the other man, then nodded. “Stay with her at all times. No one goes near her,” he warned. “I will have your word.”

Larz placed a fist over his heart and declared, “My life for yours, my king. I vow the same for your ofelia. As Garra has willed it.”

The room moved again and Callie stumbled. Larz quickly took hold of her elbow. “I think perhaps the champagne is disagreeing with her.” He shot a look towards Zar. “May I?” He gave a curt nod, then Larz was leading her across the room.

“Definitely the champagne,” Callie grumbled as her stomach flip-flopped. In under a minute Larz was leading her through an open doorway. They walked down a short hallway until they reached a door on the right. He opened it and gestured for her to enter ahead of him. Callie saw several stalls. All were empty. Good, she didn’t feel like puking in front of an audience. When he released her, Callie nearly fell, but she caught herself on a black and white marble sink. She looked over to find him staring at her. The kindness she’d witnessed in the man before was gone. In its place was pure hatred.

“How pathetic you are.” His gaze traveled the length of her, lingering a little too long on her breasts. He licked his lips. “I didn’t want to believe that our king could be so weak, but seeing you proves it.”

Fear skated up and down her spine at Larz’s cold words. “W-What are you going to do to me?”

Larz laughed. “Don’t you see? You’re the bait. Naxon will use you to lure Zar to him, then he will cut his still beating heart from his chest. Naxon will take his rightful place on the throne. As it should’ve been from the beginning.”

“It’s you,” Callie mumbled. “You’re the mole.” His eyes widened and a hint of fear showed before he was able to mask it. Yeah, that’s right, asshole, they’re onto you.

He stepped closer and Callie tried to back away, but suddenly everything blurred. She shook her head to try and clear the fog enveloping her, but instead it sucked her in deeper until she felt herself falling forward. Strong arms caught her. She opened her mouth to scream, to alert someone to what was happening, but nothing came out and she realized she couldn’t move her arms or legs. Her last thought was of the champagne. The bitter taste. Delivered by Larz. Fuck it all to hell.

****

Dread skated along Zar’s spine. Something was wrong. His creature began to stir. All at once an agitated predator. Zar’s gaze went to the far side of the room where Larz had taken Callie. They’d been gone too long. He spared Dyre a quick glance to see him slowly getting to his feet. “Callie,” Zar ground out, unable to put into words exactly what was wrong.

Dyre motioned towards Brasius and Trask. “You’re with me,” he calmly stated as took up position on either side of Zar and at his back. Zar led them through the doorway. His pace increased when he reached the hallway. By the time he approached the bathroom he was running. He slammed open the heavy wooden door. It was empty. Callie and Larz were nowhere in sight.

“The window,” Dyre ground out as he raced towards it. It wasn’t large, but it was easily big enough to fit Callie through it and hand her off to someone waiting on the other side. Seconds later, Dyre turned, his face a mask of rage. “He’s taken her.”

Zar let go of the fury racing through his bloodstream and let out a roar loud enough to have the other men in the room flinching in fear. “He will die slowly and painfully,” Zar vowed as he slammed out of the room. He didn’t wait to see if the guards followed, his only thought was of Callie. She would be alone and terrified. Larz and Naxon could inflict so much pain by the time Zar reached her. She could be dead already. No! His creature refused to believe it. Still, they’d had twenty minutes with her at least. And Naxon was sick, his mind warped. Please, Garra, let her live.

He hit the great hall, just barely registering the shocked gasps from his people. He didn’t spare them a single thought. His creature was in full control now. And he would deal out a horrific punishment to the ones who dared to take his Callie.

When he reached the walkway in front of the building, Zar stretched out his wings and took to the night sky. Once he cleared the tops of the trees, he let his eyes change and began searching for Callie’s heat signature. He would always know her. Even for miles he would be able to find her. Movement to his left caught his attention and he realized his brothers, Flare, Dyre, Brasius and Trask were all with him. They flew in an A formation, ready to descend the second Zar spotted his ofelia.

He maneuvered to the east, heading towards the Darcous Valley. Larz had first told them he’d spotted Naxon there. Zar knew now that he’d lied in order to get Callie alone. Perhaps the place held some significance to Naxon though. The rogue Zenarian had breached their borders from that side of the mountain in the past. It was a long shot, but it was all he had to go on. He only hoped he wasn’t heading away from Callie.

It took five excruciating minutes for the hunting party to reach the area. Then Zar saw it, that beautiful glow that belonged to his Callie. It wasn’t as bright as when she was aroused, but it was no less beguiling. He dove fast and hit the ground in a crouch, pulling out daggers as he landed. Callie lay on the ground in the center of the clearing, unmoving, her eyes open wide in terror. Zar held his breath as he watched her chest rise and fall. She was alive. She didn’t appear to be harmed. He saw no bruising and her dress was still intact. His men hit the ground behind him and Zar hissed at Dyre when he began to approach Callie.

“Stay back!” he shouted, his talons extending. He spared a look behind him to see that Dyre hadn’t moved. Everyone went still and began scanning the area for signs of Naxon and Larz.

“A trap,” Dyre groaned, quickly catching onto Naxon’s plan. His gaze landed on Callie. “What the fuck did that bastard do to her?”

Zar’s gaze stayed on Callie. He ached to go to her, but he knew it could get her killed. If he approached it could trigger an explosive. Naxon had no honor. He’d used earth-born destructive devices in the past. Zar scanned the ground around Callie and didn’t see any sign of a bomb. Still, he knew some would give off a heat signature while others were undetectable. He couldn’t risk going to her. He couldn’t watch her lie there without offering comfort of some sort either though. “Easy, little dove,” he murmured. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“There,” Therius bit out. “To the south.”

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