Page 136 of Shifter King
Her blood pulsed faster and hotter. She tightened the threads and started to draw them back.
* * *
Naatos tackled her,clutching her close and going to kiss her. "Amelia."
He'd finally found her. He would laugh if he had had breath.
She stiffened in his arms as she pushed away. "No! I have to do this. Naatos, stop! I have to do this." She ducked her face from him.
What was wrong with her? Why was she acting like she was afraid? "They couldn't hide you from me forever," he said. She had weight and warmth. She was here. His veskaro. He tried to channel healing energy into her, but the golden light sputtered, weakening even as he kissed her neck and her shoulders.
People started falling and gasping. Some screamed. A dragon roared for everyone to be silent.
She tore away, shaking her head as she tried to hide her face. "Don't look at me. Naatos, I have to—"
He trapped her against the wall, then thrust his mouth to hers. Her body went rigid as something hissed at him. The white eyes, headdress, red marks, and cloak fell away, and she collapsed in his arms with a ragged sob.
"Naatos," she started.
"It's all right," he said, holding her as close as he could. "You're safe. I have you now."
THIS KISS
As the souls snapped back, all of the Reskal Bealorns fell. AaQar gasped with relief, feeling almost as if he too had had his soul nearly snatched out of his chest.
Some of the Bealorns tumbled down the stairs or off platforms while others remained motionless, gripping the arms of their chairs or the half walls. Zorna struggled to pull herself back up on her throne, screaming and shouting for her warriors to defend her.
The prince picked himself up off the ground. Panting, he rubbed over his heart before three of Opotwo's guards placed him under arrest.
The Golden Fox cadre pounced as did some of the non-Reskal Bealorn guards, rushing in and seizing the fallen. Opotwo and Chiriese's warriors did the same, also without weapons. The Golden Fox cheers and whoops enlivened the somberness as the young Vawtrians slid over railings and scaled the platforms and walls.
They had won. Within minutes they had captured, secured, and herded into a corner all the Reskal Bealorns. The dragon forms weren't even needed. He released the form and returned to his state of rest, signaling for QueQoa to do the same. Naatos had Amelia, and it did not look as if he needed any help with her at the moment. WroOth had only returned to his state of rest and now stood, leaning against the railing of the second platform, grip white-knuckled on the stone. He put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "It's over," he said.
WroOth nodded, his expression pinched. "Barely."
Two guards seized Zorna and dragged her before the other Bealorn leaders who were present. She barely stood on her own feet, panting and clutching at her heart as she looked around the room to find some answer. "What happened? What was that? What weapon was that?"
Chiriese stepped forward, her hands on her walking stick. "You defiled our holy place with weapons brought for ill purposes. We the Megistal Bealorns do not recognize your leadership or your claim to the Neyeb." She gave the walking stick a firm strike against the marble floor. "Let the skinchangers deal with Reskal."
Opotwo stepped forward. He also set his walking stick firmly against the pale-marble floor. "We the Palki Bealorns do not recognize your leadership or your claim to the Neyeb. Let the skinchangers deal with Reskal."
Another woman with three braids coiled around the top of her head joined them and set her ruby-topped walking stick down with a firm click. "We the Jelsi Bealorns reject your leadership and do not recognize your claim to the Neyeb. We request the Second Rite."
One by one, all the leaders tapped their walking sticks or canes to the marble floor and spoke, announcing variations on the same thing. Not all recognized the "skinchangers' right to Reskal" and many asked for the Second Rite. Another old custom if he remembered it correctly. One which would allow them to speak to the person plainly and without causing offense. Whether they wished to speak to Zorna or Amelia had not been specified.
But somehow—somehow they had all made it through. He turned to WroOth and embraced him. "You look worn, brother," he said, laughing weakly. "It feels as if it has been an age instead of three days."
WroOth laughed as well, shaking his head. His voice was far more strained than usual, but he managed a smile that reached his eyes "An eternity."
QueQoa struck him on the back, grinning. "We're going to be training the Golden Foxes."
"Wonderful. First, I get to sleep for a week." WroOth glanced back to the far end of the room, then chuckled. "A moment. Our two troublemakers need some help." He gestured toward the back.
AaQar shook his head. Naatos and Amelia were still at the far end of the room. Naatos had her pinned against the wall, but no trace of the Ki Valo Nakar or the White-Eyed Death remained. WroOth strolled over near them, then pulled the tie on the heavy embroidered curtain so that it swept over them, hiding them from sight.
"A moment, AaQar." Chiriese strode alongside him, plucking at his elbow.
AaQar bowed his head in respect to Opotwo and Chiriese as they approached him. "Thank you for your help in this," he said. "We will contend with Reskal once this is concluded. I assume you will have requirements for that."
