He then moves over to his niece and nephew.
He stands in front of Katana, those haunting eyes, well EYE, of his scan over her like he's trying to figure out who she is. His hand strokes her cheek, she doesn't even move as she stares at the wall behind him. I remember the way she talked about him on the mountain, how nice and kind he was to her growing up. So, why all of a sudden, she's stoic and stiff around him, it makes me wonder. "Katana, my kitty kat. It's been years. You have the look of your father, and the beauty of your mother. How is Yuki, by the way?" His voice tender, like he's talking to a small child.
She looks at him, her eyes warm over his face. "She's back at home in Almeeria. It's nice to see you again Uncle, it really is." Maybe I'm just seeing things, I know how hard it is for her to show feelings sometimes. It's probably nothing.
He pinches her cheek and walks over to Kai. "When I heard my eldest brother was having a son, my heart jumped over the moon. It's nice to meet you, Kai. I would have loved to have been there when you were born, but things were different back then. I can see Yuki in you, her sweetness." He pats Kai on the shoulder and walks in front of me.
"When I heard that there was a Zastitnik in the western regions of my Kingdom, my blood froze. The last time Nygaard had a Zastitnik, she killed the king and over thousands of innocent men and women. Almost a hundred years later, here we are. Since your existence has come to light, my people have been scared. Children clutch to their mother's breast as men board up the houses." His fingers fiddle with the loose curl that dangles on my forehead. "A little thing you are, so tiny." His eyes squint. "Who knew something so small could cause a tsunami of fear."
He turns away from me as he directs his attention to the pictures on the wall. Katana speaks up saying, "We didn't travel here to cause problems or fear."
"But you have, even if you didn't want to." A chair is pulled out and he sits in it. A servant, who I didn't even know was in the room, hands him a glass cup of a brown liquid and then disappears. He chugs it and the glass clanks against the wooden table. "So, tell me, who ratted you guys out?"
"What?" Kai speaks. "Why is that necessary, we've already been found out."
His leg crosses around the other. "It matters because I don't like living in a city of snitches. Lots of things rustle in the wind, and groan beneath our feet, as King I must know these things. Know the whispers and groans to protect my people. So, tell me, who snitched on you?"The stiff air around us starts to choke me from the inside out. I want to scream to him, MOENA. IT'S MOENA.
Katana speaks up, "We don't know who-."
I cut her off, "I know who it was." Her eyes dart to me, daggers shoot through me and makes me squirm a little.
"Oh." He's intrigued now. "Tell me, then."
I simply say, "No."
"No?" He eases a bit out of the chair.
"No, I will not disclose to you who it was. . .unless you give me something in return."
He crosses his arms as he leans back in the chair. "I don't make bargains with killers." My body stiffens.
"Then you won't get the information you want." I snap.
Silence seizes the room; I rock back and forth on my feet. "What do you want?" He asks.
"A cure for Alexander." His lips tighten, then he lets out a boisterous laugh. He walks away from the table as he leans against it. Kais fists tighten as Katana looks lost in thought.
"She's serious, Uncle." said Kai. Sternness laces his voice, with a bit of bite.
"Oh, I know she is nephew. Do you know how much of a fool I would be to just HAND over the cure to you? After what you and your mate did, I'll look like a fool in front of my court."
"I didn't know you cared so much about what your court thinks. Shouldn't Kings not care what others think?" I lift my chin, showing him, I can to play the game.
"I shouldn't, but my court can boot me out as King and put my son on it. He's nowhere near ready to lead, he's too balls deep into girls." Kai coughs, holding back a laugh. "I'll do this, you tell me who snitched on you, and come to the ball that's happening in two days' time and I'll ponder on the thought on giving the cure, but this must stay between us."
"A ball?" Katana asked surprised. "The whole point is to keep Quinn hidden, putting her on display in front of a court of werewolves, who hate her by the way, is pretty dangerous."
He eyes her, "No one will dare hurt the Kings' guest, you'll be fine under my care. It's the week of Selene, celebrating the woman who created us. Surely you cannot decline this offer, declining the opportunity to celebrate the women who brought your mate to you. Can you?"
I ponder on the idea of being his guest at a ball. What would I wear? How will the people treat me? If I don't do this, I won't get the cure for him and he'll die. But all those eyes that will be on me, whispering evil words to each other as they stare at the person that makes their children fear going to sleep at night. It's one night, I can handle that for one night. And maybe if no one is looking I can duck out.
"You've got a deal, Your Majesty." From the way the air around Katana shifts, she didn't approve. I will do anything to get this cure, she can't be mad at me for that.
Can she?
"Fantastic. Ben!" The King screams.
The guard, who I now know as Ben, comes through the door. His face is plain, but his stance makes him alert. "Your Majesty." He bows.
"Take my guest to their rooms. They will be staying in different parts of the castle, have the servants draw them a bathe and bring clean clothes. It smells like a barn in here." He scrunches his nose up.
"Sir." He shows us to the doors, Katana and Kai walk in front of me. Before I walk out, he calls my name.
"Yes?" I speak.
"Welcome to Nygaard Quinn, hope you enjoy your stay." Then, the doors shut, blocking me from seeing him.
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