King's Request

Chapter Two

2Chapter Two

Meikah stared after Rafe, not so sure the kiss had been a good idea. Her fingers brushed across her lips. She was more than a little tempted to want a second one. But he was right. A relationship between them wouldn’t work. She would never choose to become a vampire.

Kellan slipped past the plants, stopping in front of her. “Have you chosen?”

It took her a few seconds to answer. Her first thought had been to ask how he’d seen. She supposed when you could see in the dark there weren’t that many shadows for people to hide in. “No. I was saying goodbye to something that could never be.” And like Rafe, gaining a few regrets of her own.

Kellan grinned. “Does that mean-”

She held up a hand, taking a step backwards. “Don’t go jumping to conclusions.”

His smile didn’t dim. “I noticed you didn’t tell me no.”

He would have to notice that. She kept her expression stern, fighting the grin that threatened to escape in response to his. “We have other things to deal with.”

“Don’t we always?”

She noticed that he sounded pleased, not annoyed by the fact. “What did the Duke want?”

He patted his vest. “To deliver a letter to his brother.” He glanced in the direction Rafe had taken. “I take it Rafe wasn’t here just to give you a kiss.”

Her eyes narrowed. Before she could say anything, Kellan captured her hand, stepping closer.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t necessary. I have no excuse for acting like a jealous idiot.” He paused a moment. “Why was Rafe here?”

“Danton sent him to collect us.”

“Why didn’t you say?” Grinning, Kellan took a step towards the plants, drawing her with him.

“I can’t leave my grandparents here,” Meikah protested.

Stepping past the plants, Kellan beckoned a servant over. “Give us a few minutes to leave and then inform Harlen and Sirena that their granddaughter has left and there’s no need for them to do so.”

“My lord-” the servant’s protests ended abruptly when Kellan handed him some coins. “Yes, my lord.” He bowed before moving away.

“Kellan-”

He interrupted her protests. “Do you want to stand around here arguing or do you want to find out what Danton has to say?”

She sighed. It would have been nice to get through one day without a lecture. Although today’s lecture might be postponed until tomorrow considering how late it was. “I want to find out what Danton has to say.”

Kellan gave a single nod. “Good. So do I.” Keeping hold of her hand, he led the way through the castle.

They met up with Rafe out the front and strode down the road towards Fable. Meikah couldn’t walk as fast as usual in her finery. “Did Danton tell you anything about what he wanted?”

Rafe shook his head. “Only that he needed to speak to the two of you.”

Trying to walk faster caused her to stumble.

Rafe steadied her. “Do you want me to carry you?”

“I’ll be fine.” She thought wistfully of the boots she regularly wore, trying to ignore the memory of what it felt like to have Rafe’s arms around her.

The rest of the walk was done in silence, the streets around them empty. Livia met them at the front door, tugging Meikah inside the bookshop. The shelves were crowded with various sized leather bound books and there was a curtain across the doorway behind the counter. “Hurry. He won’t tell us anything until you’re here. Everyone is in the kitchen.”

Kellan grinned. “I was thinking of getting out of my evening wear first.”

Livia’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t even think about it.” She let go of Meikah to grab Kellan’s arm. “You can get changed after you find out why Danton received a letter from King Branok.”

Kellan came to a stop, pulling out of her grip. “This is something to do with the King?”

Livia nodded. “At least I assume it is since he sent Rafe to fetch you after he opened it.”

Rafe stood in the doorway behind Kellan, who was blocking the way. “That letter was from the King?”

Livia grabbed hold of Kellan’s arm again, tugging him forward. “I recognised the seal.”

Meikah looked back and forth from Kellan to Livia. “Why would the King send a letter to Danton? And not one to the Duke.”

“That’s what I want to find out.” There was a slight growl to Livia’s words. “Hurry up.” Livia grabbed hold of Meikah’s arm.

Meikah eyed Livia, half expecting her to shapeshift into her black mountain cat form. “Does he receive many letters from the King?” She took a step towards the curtained doorway, glancing at Kellan when he didn’t move.

“What does a letter from the King have to do with us? Or does Danton need to tell us he has to go away for a week or two?” Meikah stumbled at Livia’s side when the shapeshifter tugged her forward.

Livia drew Meikah around the counter. “He never goes anywhere. We’re the ones that get sent places.”

A thrill of excitement rushed through Meikah. She’d only ever been to the Arcton Mountains. “We’re going to the capital? To Port Mayren?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I want to find out.” Livia didn’t let go of Meikah’s arm until they were in the kitchen.

Meikah glanced around the room. The back door was closed and a pot of food bubbled gently on the stove, filling the kitchen with mouth watering smells. Everyone was there. Danton, Rafe, Shade and Mace. Even Amiel stood to the side, arms crossed over his chest and glaring at Danton. Meikah sat at the wooden table beside Mace, half tempted to ask Danton what was going on. But he would tell them when he was ready.

Kellan gave the letter from the Duke to Danton before he joined Meikah at the table while Livia dropped onto a chair opposite Meikah and next to Shade. “Now can you tell us what’s going on?” Livia asked.

Before Danton could speak, Amiel did. “Not Mace. It isn’t necessary.”

Danton met Amiel’s angry glare. “You would keep him locked away?”

“If you send him away, I go too,” Amiel stated.

“Mace gets to go to the capital?” Livia asked. “What about the rest of us?”

Danton looked directly at Meikah. “We can’t expect Meikah to travel there on her own.”

Meikah stared at Danton, not sure she’d heard correctly. “I’m going to the capital?”

Danton inclined his head. “The King requests your help.”

“How would he even know I exist?” It wasn’t like her family were important. If it wasn’t for Kellan, the Duke and Duchess probably wouldn’t know she existed.

“He didn’t ask for you by name,” Danton said. “He asked for the dragon touched. I informed the commander at our headquarters in Port Mayren that one of our faction is dragon touched.”

Meikah had no idea what to say. Her mind was blank. She stared at her hand where the outline of a dragon often formed.

“What has all this got to do with me?” Mace asked.

“Unnecessary plots to keep her identity hidden.” Amiel gestured towards Meikah.

At the venom in his tone Meikah was glad of the distance between them. She looked away from Amiel, turning to Danton. “You don’t want the King to know who I am?”

“There are others who shouldn’t know your identity. That you are dragon touched. They could use it against you and the dragons.” Danton glanced at Amiel. “Which is why I’ve come up with a plan to keep your identity hidden.”

“I don’t mind going to the capital,” Mace said.

“What about me?” Livia asked. “I could go to the capital.”

“I’m willing to go,” Rafe said.

“You went on the last mission.” Danton turned from Livia to Rafe. “Even if we didn’t need someone who can walk in the daylight, I need your help here to make sure all is well with the local vampires after what they endured while the Society Against Vampires was here.”

“Not Mace,” Amiel stated. “The deal included keeping him safe. He stays in Dreyton.”

“I can go.”

When instant silence fell at Shade’s words, Meikah glanced around the table. Everyone was staring at Shade. “Is there a problem with him going?”

Shade interrupted Livia’s protests over him going. “No one will know I’m there. I’ll be one more faceless Assassin Of The Dead.”