Page 79 of Blood Bearon
Rachel’s eye’s wandered to the bodyguard. “Does he feel vulnerable in a place like this?”
The woman snorted. “Knox? Vulnerable? Heavens no, I would assume not.” She giggled and took Rachel’s arm, forcing her to walk along. “It’s me he’s worried about.”
“I wouldn’t worry, my Queen, if you didn’t take such large risks,” the same burly guard muttered unhappily.
Kaelyn just rolled her eyes. “Knox here would have me locked in a tower if he had his way.”
Rachel giggled nervously, not entirely sure how to react.
“Thank you for helping Khove, by the way,” she said. “I really do appreciate that. I was more worried than I let on about sending him out alone, but just couldn’t spare more men from here. I had hoped one of my guards working on his own could perhaps do better than a dozen soldiers rampaging around Plymouth Falls trying to track down that evil bastard Korred!”
The vehemence in the woman’s tone was so powerful Rachel leaned away, lest she get caught up in it.
“Sorry,” Kaelyn said. “I didn’t mean to unleash that upon you. I just finished touring the lines, and it pains me to know many of them will be dead before this is settled. All because I couldn’t spot a traitor operating under my very nose. A man I trusted!” She snarled, clenching her free hand into a fist. The other remained casually draped on Rachel’s arm.
“Now I must sit hidden behind layers of my family, doing nothing, because it’s best for the House. I know that here,” she said, tapping her head. “But not here.” Her hand came to rest over her heart.
“I understand,” Rachel said softly. “I want to help. I really, truly do. I feel impotent. Quarantined, even. Like I’m too fragile to be of help, when that’s the farthest thing from the truth. I was trained to help protect the innocent. It’s what every fiber of my bodyscreamsat me to do, even now. Yet what am I doing? Wandering the hallways looking at artwork.”
“You don’t appreciate art?” Kaelyn teased gently.
“I don’t even see it right now,” Rachel replied. “My frustrations are outweighing anything else. I just want to be of help.” She bit her lip, then continued, since they were already being open with one another. “I was given looks that I know many other women would like. Iknowthat, and I am grateful for it. But I just wish that didn’t preclude me from being taken seriously. I’m not some helpless damsel in distress. I can handle myself. I’ve fought most of my adult life to be taken seriously. I just wish I knew how that could be applied here.”
“You really do want to help, don’t you? Even though you barely know us?”
Rachel laughed sharply. “Trust me, I understand. I’m having a hard time adjusting to all of this, despite apparent outward calm. People that can turn into bears. Apparently, werewolves exist as well. Mages. Faeries. I’m a little strung out up here,” she said with another laugh, tapping her head. “But like you, I knowhere, that helping you is the right thing to do.” She finished by resting a hand over her own heart.
“Does Khove know?” the Queen asked gently as they approached a pair of great copper-colored doors.
“Not yet,” she admitted. “But if he really is my mate, then I need to do something to help. Who else is going to ensure his dumb ass doesn’t die before we can explore whatever’s going on between us?”
The Queen burst out into laughter. The doors slid open silently as the guards shuffled past and placed a palm on either, arms flexing. Rachel nodded in thanks, trying to collect herself, the giggles being contagious and all.
“Khove believes you two are mates, does he?” Kaelyn asked at last, the Queen wandering into the vast open room in front of them, leaving Rachel to marvel at it.
“I guess. I still don’t know how I feel.”
“You should feel the same,” another voice said, and it was then that Rachel realized they weren’t alone.
“Who are you?” she asked cautiously. Neither the Queen nor the guards responded to him with alarm, meaning he wasn’t a threat, but there was something off about him.
He approached, and Rachel gasped as she realized his eyes were glowing golden-yellow.
“I can see them now,” the man said, a soft smile gracing his full lips. “Brilliantly clear, even.”
“Between her and Khove?” the Queen called from across the room.
Rachel walked over to her, the man with the golden eyes following.
“Oh yes,” he said. “It’s marvelous. Brilliant even. The brightest I have ever seen. It’s wonderful.” His voice trailed off as he stared at her. “Beautiful.”
Rachel shuffled uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.
The man blinked several times and then his eyes changed to a blue so light it was shot through with gray. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said, the wonder and awe in his voice gone. Now it was just a gravelly base. “But I must steal the Queen away.”
Rachel put her hands up and backed away. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry for intruding. I didn’t know.”
The Queen brushed it off. “Nonsense. You couldn’t know. Besides, I brought you with me.” She smiled. “Thank you for the chat, Rachel.”
