“But I see you…and you are alive,” Kala said, with calm logic. “That is what is most important.”
Their love affair had been brief, but she’d come to recognize what he was to her, and what another would never be. He was her warrior, her partner, her strength as well as her weakness and she had walked away. He would always cloak her with layers of protective violence if she allowed him to do it. When she would find forgiveness and administer justice, he would deliver pain and vengeance. And upon her death, which would be inevitable for her
kind was not immortal, he would slaughter.
“Let’s go. We need to find proper clothes and connect with those loyal to our house.”
It took them hours, but they carefully made their way through the network of caves, pausing at intervals to seek the enemy, Shilah with her telepathy and Kala with her foresight. They made their way down the caves and ice tunnels for miles until they spilled out onto the lawns behind the building of the Senate. Shilah could have covered the journey in minutes while carrying Kala on her back, but she wasn’t ready to reveal her new abilities just yet, not even to Kala given they would soon be around other telepaths. Shilah saw the sweat glistening on Kala’s skin and heard her increased heart rate, but the journey had felt like a stroll to her. She felt like a predator roaming her jungle, aware of everything, she could even feel the subtle changes in the atmosphere as the sun dipped behind the mountain to herald the night.
The large white building loomed several meters away, climbing four stories tall, and it was the only place in Dxyriah not modernized by their advanced technology. It was not allowed within the walls of the Senate or on the grounds, and the round structure with its many round Corinthian columns and balconies had the same design that was displayed in their history books. Prince Quan had only been able to attack her coronation for it had been done in the temple of the high priestess, another place where no technology was allowed.
“There is no one ahead.”
They sprinted across the open lawns to the side of the building. Shilah stayed low, sticking as close to the side of the building as she could. In the far distance, their once vibrant city was quiet, only a few hovercrafts zipped through the skies, and only one rover craft rolled over the steel-plated road. Unable to resist, she peered up at the mountaintop which loomed high behind the Senate to Castle Ashmir, her home. Seemingly built into the rock atop the highest mountain of Dxyriah, her castle was like a small city unto itself, with at least six hundred men and ladies of the court residing there. It boasted large glass structures with sweeping terraces and turrets, gleaming pyramids, statues, and columns.
Taking a steadying breath, Shilah lifted her chin. “The map leads to an underground bunker of olden times beneath the Senate.”
“The bunker the rebellion used?”
“Yes.”
Kala closed her eyes, and energy buzzed around her and then a smile burst on her lips. “My power can be handy,” she said with a low chuckle. “Rah Blevinstoke is in that bunker now, with several loyal supporters. I see a clear path, follow me.”
Tension seeped from Shilah’s veins, and she allowed Kala to lead the way as she used her vision to guide them to a side entrance, then down the underground drains for a few minutes, and then to an iron door.
“They are in here.”
“Can you see why they are here?”
Kala closed her eyes again. “No.”
Shilah nodded, flared her powers, brushing against the mind of everyone inside the bunker. Thirty-nine people in total. She found Rah’s thread and brushed against his mind, a stirring of warmth. She felt his alarm, his hope, and his fear. Carefully by-passing the thread, he had connected with the hive Psychic Net, sliding with deft skill through his various synapses, she spoke.
“Rah, it’s Princess Shilah. I am here.”
A loud groan sounded, of iron grinding against iron as the blot of the massive door slid back, and there he stood. Ignoring protocol, he drew her into a fierce hug, his thoughts of relief and joy spilling to her.
They stepped into the upper floors of the spacious bunker, which had been designed to hold eight hundred of their people. A large table was in the center with various maps, scrolls, and legal books strewed about. What she saw of the resistance force so far was made up of several army generals, a few of their scientists, and even a senior member of the Senate, Prince Novar— her former consort.
She faced them, so many feelings burning through her. “Thank you all for being here. I fled Serange because—”
“We know why you ran, princess,” Rah said, his gaze jumping from one member to the other. “Your home was viciously attacked, and you lost people you love. You saved your life, and Princess Kala’s, and now you’ve returned to us. That is all that matters. If you had stayed, you would have died, for none of us, expected or was prepared for the prince’s action. Now we are prepared, and we will only look forward, not behind.”
A lump formed in her throat. Her people stared at her with varying degrees of emotions—shock, relief, joy, and pain. Still, at the heart of it all, she was surrounded by trusted friends and supporters, and the air filled with camaraderie, with acceptance, with belonging.
Megladine stepped forward, scanning behind Shilah before relief wilted her shoulder. “I’ve been tormented with visions of darkness ravaging our city, Princess Shilah,” she said huskily. “A decision was made that has changed something, and I am glad for it.”
Shilah’s knees went weak. “You no longer see this slaughter?”
“All I see is hovering darkness waiting, but I do not know for what it waits. But I prefer such an outcome than the pain and death I saw before.”
The small crowd parted as she made her way over to the table. “What is all this?”
“We have been making plans while we awaited your return. We had every confidence both of you would come back,” Rah said. “The Senate declared you both dead at Prince Quan’s insistence. We will slowly spread the word that you’ve returned and put pressure on the Senate to convene immediately.”
“They will demand proof,” Baron Shaffer said, stepping forward.
“And the proof will be provided when you appear at the Senate meetings,” Prince Novar said, his eyes warm and sensual. “Prince Quan has demanded the Federated Coalition of Senates to assemble, and a date has been set for six days from today. We suspect his greater agenda will become known at the meeting, so we must meet with our Senate before then.”