Page 96 of Bruised MC Bear
2
Kiera
Kiera straightenedup in her chair. “Good morning, your Eminence.”
The Regent stopped at the prep table a few feet away, keeping his icy gray eyes fixed on Kiera as she finished her glass of milk. His critical glower made Kiera wonder if he still thought of her as a child. Maybe it was the way he towered over her, casting an ominous shadow as he stood silently.
“Kiera, I have been waiting for you in my study. Did we not agree to have a chat before you leave to meet with Commander Oslo?”
Kiera hurriedly rose from her seat, aware of her cheeks burning from embarrassment. She should have remembered that the Regent had a way of evoking guilt in the most innocent of persons without raising his voice or causing a scene. “Yes we did, Regent,” she answered. “My sincere apologies. I meant to come to your study as soon as I finished my meal.”
“Let us speak while we walk.” The Regent turned with a great swooshing of his blood red cape, and walked out of the kitchen using the door closest to his private study.
“Yes, of course.” Kiera threw an apologetic glance toward the cook for leaving her dishes on the table, and received a kind nod in return. Everyone knew there was no refusing the Regent. She and Coco hurried behind, almost unable to catch up, given the Regent’s customary long, purposeful strides.
“Are you prepared?” he asked.
Kiera fell out of step with Coco and jogged forward to his side. “I believe I am, your Eminence,” she replied. “Do you have any final suggestions?”
He stopped at the door of his study and turned to face her. “I’ve taught you everything you need to know. Now, it’s up to you. I can facilitate these meetings if you’d like, but Commander Oslo and I are not on the best of terms, so my presence may not help. I will be in my study. Should you require any assistance, have one of the guards call on me. I’m sending five of my personal guards to accompany you to the Great Hall. They understand the…situation, and will be at their post outside the meeting room.” As though noticing Coco for the first time, he gave her a stern look before returning his gaze to Kiera. “You also have your familiar with you. She will keep you on the right path.”
Kiera let out a short laugh before she could stop herself, then quickly covered her mouth. Coco was skilled in witchcraft, and had centuries worth of knowledge and perspective. She would keep Kiera safe, but as for being diplomatic or keeping on the straight and narrow, Kiera knew better. Coco was not one to censor her words, and lived for action and the unexpected. Never mind her enjoyment of seducing men just for entertainment.
The Regent just stared at the two of them. He could probably read the reluctance that overtook her mind. He had powers Kiera could only hope to one day possess. Acting like an immature and impulsive child today of all days would not serve her well. Finding her composure, she smiled and nodded. “I have every faith this will be the first of several fruitful and beneficial meetings with the Commander.”
“Excellent. It’s rare for him, meeting with the Chosen witches of my coven, as you know,” he reminded her for what felt like the hundredth time. “Keep your words brief and as to-the-point as possible. He is strong-willed, so persist in reminding him of his place. You have the authority. He may be the leader of the Boundary Protection Unit and alpha of his kind, but shifters will never rise to the same level as witches, or even to that of normal humans.”
Kiera nodded. She did not agree, but knew to keep her opinions to herself. It always struck her as odd and unfortunate to hear the Regent say such things. It was the Regent who cast the first spell to transform all men with the 236-k gene into polar bear shifters so they could serve on the Boundary Protection Unit. This gene was only found in a select number of people, and the spell used to transform them would only turn them to polar bear shifters. The Regent’s core coven of witches had worked with scientists years ago. They had found that the presence certain genes could turn men and women into different types of shifters, but only the presence of the 236-k gene allowed a person to be transformed to a polar bear shifter.
For the Regent, these shifters in particular were crucial to Sector Two. Only polar bear shifters had the physical strength, ability to swim in icy waters, and defensive characteristics required to fight the ravagers. As individuals, witches and humans were no match for the ravagers. Not even the Regent or his personal guards could take them on. These shifters were the saviors of Sector Two, strong, skilled and fearless, putting their lives at risk every winter to defend the Sector against the ravagers. Yet in the Regent’s eyes, becoming warriors for all those living in the Sector relegated Xander Oslo and his men to sub-human status.
“Best of luck to you, Kiera,” the Regent offered in closing.
“Thank you, your eminence.”
Taking a step backward, Kiera took her leave of the Regent and returned to the kitchen with Coco.
“You handled yourself well,” Coco said, patting Kiera on the back.
“Except for the little outburst when he mentioned you. Sorry about that.”
“He is right, though. I will make sure your time with Xander is a success…even if it means slathering on the charm.”
Kiera stopped in the middle of the kitchen and turned to Coco, frozen with newfound fear. “Goodness, please do not do that. We cannot afford a catastrophe today. Promise me you will remain professional.”
Coco smiled demurely. “Relax. I will behave…nicely. I promise.” She looked at the table where they had been eating breakfast. “It appears that the staff put our food away. Are you still hungry?”
“No. I will be all right. I think we should leave now.”
“Fine with me. Let’s go.”
Aleena had already brought their winter cloaks from upstairs, so Kiera and Coco headed to the main doors of the fortress. Their five guards were already waiting. Two of them led Kiera and Coco to the horse-drawn covered carriage outside, and three followed behind. It was a cold day, with a distinct chill in the air, the sort of chill that packed its own bite and promised a long, icy, treacherous winter. Kiera shivered with dread from the prospect.
One of the guards helped them aboard, and then joined the others who climbed up on the outer seats at the back. With a click of the carriage driver’s tongue, the horse took off at a slow trot, passing human villagers and a few children in the market beyond the fortress walls. Crossing a large clearing, they took the shortest route to the Great Hall, a wooden bridge over the shipping canal.
The Great Hall was a large brick and plaster rotunda, usually reserved for community events, town hall gatherings, weddings, funerals, and the annual shifter transformation ceremony. Today, only Kiera, Coco, and Xander would be inside, at a single table at the center of the space, behind closed doors. For reasons, Kiera still did not comprehend, the Regent had advised that privacy and confidentiality were critical today, so no one else was invited. After they had arrived, Kiera took a breath to steady her nerves. Worst case scenario, she had a few spells she could use if anything happened, and Coco was even more resourceful, but hoped she could avoid any conflict.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kiera stepped inside, followed by Coco. Xander was already waiting. He was early. Probably to size her up. Or maybe his discipline as a leader led him to be prompt. She drew closer, pausing briefly at the end of the long table set with two chairs on one end, and one where Xander was sitting. He got to his feet and nodded at them. As he did, the light coming in from the high windows connecting the wall to the dome helped her get a good look at him.
