Page 40 of Bear Protector
She was sure he kept his answer neutral for a reason. For a split second, she read the flashes of the thoughts at the forefront of his mind. It was not a thing, or a person, but rather, a location in the fortress. A long-closed section of the building’s lower level, beside the dungeon. It had been empty for the past nine years, as far as she knew. Then again, if it had crossed the man’s mind, it had to be important.
The Chancellor stood up from his seat on the bench. “Should you have more concerns, please do come and speak to me.”
“I will.”
“You are playing a pivotal role in ensuring our survival. You should be proud.”
After he had left, Kiera knew what she had to do. Pushing the door open, she waved Coco back inside.
“What did he want? Wait, let me guess. The same thing that all controlling men in power want…more power.”
Kiera nodded, picked up the top sheet of a stack of paper she had been using to record her observations for the spells they cast. “Can you take a message to Xander?” she asked her familiar.
“Sure.”
She wrote a short note and folded the sheet of paper. “I have an idea.”
15
Kiera
That evening, Kiera found Reena neatening up in the laboratory. She demanded answers. If Kiera had to, she would scour and hunt through her friend’s mind for the truth. It was a stroke of good luck that she walked into the lab when she did, because Reena was on her way out.
“Hold it.” Kiera held out her hand, placing it on Reena’s chest. “You are not going anywhere, miss botanist. We need to talk.”
“About what? Another date with Xander?” Reena joked, giving her a wink.
“I want answers about what you’re working on.”
“I already told you I can only share when it’s time.”
“Not anymore, dear. We have five days until the ceremony, so you will tell me now.”
Reena stopped scrubbing the countertop, straightened up, and crossed her arms. “Or what?”
“Come on, Reena. You can trust me.”
Reena shrugged, arms still folded. “I know I can trust you, love. The thing is I’ve been sworn to keep my mouth shut on this. You don’t know yet, but you will. I promise.”
“This time, keeping it from me is just not good enough.” Kiera poked her head out the door, making sure nobody was coming down the hall in either direction, then turned back to Reena and whispered, “I know it is about the destroyers, that there are other ways to stop them. Proven methods that already work.”
Reena didn’t respond, but something changed in her face. Her eyebrows lowered, her cheeks went slack. She might as well have admitted it.
“That’s not such a big guess, is it, Kiera? You know I’m always working on spells and potions to keep them out.”
“Except that my source is ironclad this time.”
“And who is that?”
“The Chancellor.”
“He told you?”
“In a way.”
“Why do I get the feeling my best friend in the world is baiting me?”
“Trust me when I say I am not.”
