Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

" The universe is a big place. There might be more of you out there," Derek said.

She shrugged. " I hope there are, but it isn't as if they can get to me. Or me to them. I've searched everywhere for another on Zora . There isn't anyone but me."

There was a way. He just didn't know what it was. And if he did? Telling Kora would pit him against Villette and destroy any chance of the dragons gaining their freedom. But if he could get Villette to move soon against those holding his kin, he would then be able to stand with Kora . His loyalties wouldn't be divided.

It was a good, solid idea. But it wouldn't work. Nothing he'd said or done had pushed Villette to move forward yet. She always had a reason to postpone the attack, always had a new strategy that would ensure victory. By the time she finished talking, he wanted to wait. That lasted for a few weeks, but the more time he thought about the dragons' suffering, the more he wanted to go immediately. He would've done it alone if he'd thought there was a chance of success.

Why hadn't he? Why hadn't he done something ? Instead of waiting, lingering. Planning .

Derek looked over Kora's head at the palace. Whenever he grew frustrated and antsy—which was often— Villette reminded him that the continued survival of the dragons rested with him and the eggs.

" You don't actually believe that."

Just when he'd thought he had shut the woman up, she returned.

" How many times have you tried to free the dragons?" When he didn't reply, she snorted. " Exactly "

" You know nothing," he replied.

" I know far more than you. I could give you all the answers. About the dragons, about Villette , and about those lost memories."

" As if I'd believe you. You'd say anything to get free."

" And you'll blindly follow another just because she says the dragons need saving."

" They do!"

Her laughter filled his head.

Derek saw Kora glance at him, a worried expression clouding her features. He realized he was clenching his jaw and forced his muscles to loosen. " Do you plan to remain here?"

" I'd like to look around more, but I can't get to the areas I need to see."

He could take her. He could bring her anywhere she wanted. Right to Villette , even. All he had to do was say the words. She would even take him up on the offer. It wouldn't be until later that she'd ask how . Then , all his secrets would come out. There would be fear in her beautiful brown eyes instead of desire. The thought of that was like a vise around his lungs, squeezing painfully.

Fuck . He was in a right fine mess. All of his making. He hated lying. He'd never needed to before. Oh , he might sidestep the truth or ignore something, but he never outright lied. Yet he had found himself being dishonest with Kora multiple times. The lies sat awkwardly and offensively on his tongue.

He wanted to scoop her into his arms and take her far from Stonemore . Far from Villette and anything else that could hurt her. He could find a place where it was just the two of them. Somewhere they could bask under the sky and give in to their passions whenever they wanted.

Somewhere their pasts didn't matter.

He slid his attention to her. The top of her head came to his shoulder. Dark locks swayed as she walked, her back straight. Regal . He saw men run appreciative gazes over her. Kora was a formidable magical creature. Fierce and strong. Much like the dragons.

Derek hadn't understood what'd drawn him to her, but he suspected it was the fact that she was a hellhound. Maybe the magic in him sensed the magic in her. Though he'd never had such a strong attraction to any other magical being. Perhaps it wasn't because she was a hellhound. Maybe it was something unique and extraordinary that only Kora had. He'd walked away and forgotten others without hesitation. But not her. She had gotten into his blood.

" Shall I walk with you back to the inn?" he asked.

Her brown gaze cut to him. " Where are you going?"

" Aksel awaits me at the temple."

" It's a mistake for you to go," Kora said.

He glanced at the palace once more. " It'll raise suspicions if I don't."

" I'm going to remain here a bit longer." Kora stopped and faced him. " I don't want you to go, but I understand. Please , be careful."

Derek tucked a strand of hair that danced near her eyes behind an ear. He caressed his fingers along her jaw, tilting her face up to his. " I urge the same of you."

" I'm merely observing. You're walking into a viper's nest."

" It won't be the first time."

Her gaze softened as she sidled closer so their bodies brushed. " I'd rather be there to watch your back."

" I don't want you anywhere near them again."

" That's a little difficult as long as I'm in the city."

He looked at her lips. " All the more reason for us to leave."

" It's tempting."

His gaze met hers. Would she leave if he asked her? She had to feel what was between them. The way she touched him, kissed him, told him she did. Derek didn't want to lose whatever this was. But even as he tried to hold on to it, he felt her slipping away.

His head lowered until their lips were mere breaths apart. He imagined what kind of life they could have together and allowed it to fill his mind completely before pressing his lips to hers. She melted against him, and he wound an arm around her waist, holding her tightly as their tongues slid sensuously against each other.

By the time he ended the kiss and lifted his head, reality intruded. Kora wouldn't stop hunting Villette , and he couldn't halt his progression to the goal of freeing the dragons. That left them precisely where they had been when he woke this morning.

Derek reluctantly loosened his hold and stepped away. His hand lingered on her before falling to his side. " I'll meet you at the inn."

He walked away, leaving her staring after him with lust-darkened eyes. Derek's strides ate up the ground as he made his way out of the garden and back to the road in front of the palace.

" Tread carefully with the priests, Derek ."

" They can't harm me."

" Those priests answer to only one. Villette ."

The soldiers opened the gate and allowed him to pass through on his way down to the next level. " You tell me nothing I don't already know."

" You see much, but not nearly enough. Open your eyes fully."

" If you have something to say, say it," he said with a growl. " Stop speaking in riddles."

She sighed. " Come back to the palace. The farther away you are, the harder it is for me to hold this connection."

Derek stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around. " Tell me who you are."

" Free me, and I will. I'll tell you everything."

" I'm not going anywhere near the palace until you tell me who you are."

" Fine ," she bit out. " My name is Miena ."

He had hoped the name might trigger a memory, but there was nothing.

" I can help you," she said.

" Help me do what? Free the dragons?"

" Find the truth."

He hadn't expected such a reply. It unsettled him. " Why should I trust you?"

" I'm not the one who took your memories."

" So you say."

" I'm not the one lying to you either."

Derek snorted. " All you want is freedom, and you'd say anything to get it."

" And all you want is the dragons. What have you done to get to them?"

He started walking again. To his relief, Miena's voice didn't return. Yet her words disturbed him. By the time he reached the temple, he was in a foul mood. Mainly because she had created suspicion against the only one who had ever tried to help him.

That wasn't true. The suspicion had begun long before now, but he had shoved it aside. Coming to Stonemore with Kora had forced him to see things he hadn't before. It shone an unflattering light upon Villette and her intentions. Miena just added to everything. It had the same effect, however. His ire was swelling.

And resentment brewed.

Derek soon stood outside the temple, gazing up at the pointed roof that soared high above all others. Villette had never hidden her quest for power. She claimed the dragons would help her achieve domination over the humans who had wrought such destruction upon Zora . That was why she agreed to free them. He hadn't given a second thought to the deaths of the humans. In fact, he had been the cause of many.

But everything was different now. It didn't matter why— Kora , being in Stonemore , or Miena's voice in his head. Maybe it was a combination. He didn't just feel different. Things looked different, sounded different. Smelled different. Like he had been walking around in a fog, and it was clearing.

He was being dramatic. There had never been a fog. He had always seen things just as they were.

Hadn't he?

His suspicion wasn't just on Villette . He was growing suspicious of himself and the implication that his memories had been wiped. What if everything he believed was a lie? What if everything he had done was based on propaganda perpetrated by another?

Derek squeezed his eyes shut and halted those runaway thoughts. He could drive himself insane with such contemplations. He opened his eyes and looked around him. The hatred of all things magical wasn't new. He had heard and witnessed it in other villages. But Stonemore took it to a new level. For one crazy instant, he contemplated shifting right where he was just to see how the priests and residents would react.

How long would it take the soldiers to come pouring out, their swords raised and arrows nocked? How many armored priests would stand before him, demanding he leave? Would Villette venture from the palace to reprimand him? What about the residents? From the wealthy to the poor, how many of them would run in terror simply from his existence?

Derek could wipe the priests and soldiers out in seconds. He could topple the grand temple and erase every instance of the priests. He could rise against Villette and set the city ablaze.

But it wouldn't stop the people's aversion to magic.

It would only generate more fear and animosity.

He couldn't be himself and not start a war. Just as he couldn't tell Kora the truth and not lose her. How had he gotten into such a sticky position? More importantly, how did he get out of it?

" There you are."

Derek lowered his gaze to Aksel as the priest made his way through the crowd to him. Derek glanced at those nearby to see people quickly averting their gazes in fear at the sight of the priest while others drank him in.

Aksel turned to stand beside him and gazed up at the temple. " It's a thing of beauty, isn't it?"

" It certainly stands out."

" Everyone needs to be able to see it. It beckons all to the calling." Aksel grinned. " Come . Let me show you inside."

Derek walked with him to the door. Armored priests milled about outside, and all looked at him curiously. Even suspiciously. Derek stared down a few before entering the temple. There was a hush inside that not even the racket of the outside could disturb.

Three giant pointed archways greeted him from the vestibule. They walked beneath the middle one and came to the enormous main room. The ceiling soared thirty feet above them. Various colors splashed the stone floor as light flooded through the pointed, arched stained-glass windows. There were more pointed arches on either side of the nave. Ornamentation graced the columns, the arches, around the windows, and even the floor, but nothing compared to the altar.

" We chose not to have seating," Aksel said as they strolled. " It allows more inside. Though not everyone can fit. Most remain outside. But they come. That's the important part."

" Is it?"

" Of course."

Derek stopped before the altar, which was entirely too garish. " They call you Hebronians , don't they?"

" That's right," Aksel said, seemingly impressed. " We follow Innus , the one god. There are three main gods and many lesser ones, but Innus rules them all. He created this beautiful realm and handpicks who to send to Zora as infants in order to fulfill a destiny that will wipe out magic once and for all."

Derek clasped his hands behind his back lest he throttle Aksel . " If that were so, why does he continue to bring children with magic?"

" He doesn't. The Evil One imbues those individuals with powers in an effort to defeat Innus through us."

It was a good thing Kora wasn't there. Derek imagined she would've launched herself at the priest. And he wouldn't have held her back. In fact, he would have joined her.

" It is a great honor to be a Priest of Innus . Those of us in armor are hand-chosen by the Divine ," Aksel stated proudly. " We protect the temple and the priests above all else. Even the Divine ."

" Were you soldiers before?"

Aksel nodded. " We give up everything to take this position. All family, coin, and personal items. We are dedicated to Innus ."

" Have any changed their mind and wanted out?"

Aksel chuckled. " That isn't a choice. Once chosen, you follow orders. That's what soldiers do."

" What if you get tired of fighting?"

" A priest always fights, whether they wear armor or not. We're fighting against evil. Both physical and metaphysical."

Derek faced him. " You believe all magic is evil?"

" Of course. If we were meant to have it, everyone would. We don't have wings because we aren't meant to fly."

" People don't have gills, but they swim."

Aksel laughed and shifted his feet, a hard glint in his beady eyes. " Not quite the same."

" So , you will remain as you are until death?"

" A few who wear the armor will eventually become priests. All of us aspire to that status, but there are only so many positions. Soon , however, groups of us will venture far from this glorious city to spread the important word about Innus and the fight against magic. The wars have put people in dire straits, and it's a good time for them to turn to the only thing that can help."

" Your religion."

Aksel's smile was still in place, but it tightened. " Ours is the truth."

" All the priests stay in the temple?" Derek asked to change the subject.

" Most of us. A few are housed at the palace near the Divine ."

Derek looked at the ceiling. " I'd love to see what's on the higher floors. Maybe take in the view."

" Only those in the order get that privilege."

Derek lowered his gaze to the priest. " I heard talk today of a slaughter on one of the lower levels the priests were involved in."

" Ah , that. A child with magic was found and was being taken, as is our right. Someone attempted to interfere. We had to set an example."

Derek recalled how the priests had attacked anyone near them. They hadn't cared if they had magic. They had only wanted to kill. " I'm curious how you know who has magic and who doesn't."

" That is also only for those in the order."

Of course, they wouldn't want the truth getting out. The priests wanted everyone to come to them. It was all a ploy.

" Anything else you want to know?" Aksel asked.

Derek tried to smile. He wasn't sure he was successful. " I like to gather details when I'm learning something new. I had never heard of the Priests of Innus until I entered Stonemore ."

" Soon , everyone will know of us. We will be the dominant religion, snuffing out all other impostors. Stonemore will be the capital of the realm, as well as the home base of our faith. Village by village, city by city, we will take control and send the abominations running until we corner them and end them and their evil once and for all."

" What if one of yours has magic?"

" That is simply impossible."

" How do you know I don't have magic?"

He lifted his chin, his smile gone. " We have our ways."

Once more, Derek had the urge to shift, just to prove Aksel wrong and see his expression.

" Have I answered all your questions?" Aksel asked.

" For the time being."

" Then I will see you at service the day after tomorrow."

Derek looked at the altar.

" Attending service is required of all those within our walls."

Derek slid his gaze to the priest, anger churning at being forced to participate in a religion he didn't believe in. " Perhaps the guards should make that known before anyone enters the gates."

" Consider yourself lucky you're inside. Others are being turned away," Aksel replied.

All traces of humor were gone. Apparently , Derek hadn't done a good enough job of hiding his disdain. Not that he cared. He wanted information, and he had gotten more than enough.

" Thank you for your time." Derek turned on his heel.

He got a few steps away when Aksel called his name. Derek paused and tensed. Depending on what the priest tried, he might be shifting in the temple, after all. Slowly , Derek looked over his shoulder.

" Be sure to get here early," Aksel advised. " You'll want to be inside for the best experience. I'll look for you."

Derek didn't bother answering. Thankfully , he wasn't stopped again. He couldn't get out of the temple fast enough. The longer he was inside, the more he felt a crushing weight pressing down on him. He felt the priests' eyes on him long after he walked out of the temple. He caught two following him. It wasn't in his nature to allow such a thing, but he had no choice this time. If he caused a scene, they would take a closer look at him and Kora . That could lead to her being connected to the incident the night before, as well as outing her as a hellhound. He simply couldn't allow the things he was keeping carefully hidden to be exposed.

He returned to the inn. The moment the main door closed behind him, he paused to scan the dining room for Kora . The tightness in his chest loosened at the sight of her. She sat near the hearth, her gaze on the flames dancing within. He couldn't cross the distance fast enough as he drank in her beauty. The moment he reached her, he pulled out a chair and sank into it.

Her head swiveled to him, and she looked him over carefully. " Well ?"

Derek swallowed and motioned for Ada to bring ale. He needed to wash away the vileness of the temple. " You don't want to know."

" I don't, but I need to."

After Ada set the tankard down, Derek looked around the room. It was early yet, and many tables were empty. He leaned forward and waited for Kora to do the same. Then , he conveyed his conversation with Aksel .

Horror shuttered her face. " That's …"

" I know," he muttered before downing half the ale.

She slowly sat back in her chair. " They have to be stopped."

" I don't think taking on two opponents at once is the answer."

Kora shook her head sadly. " Those with—" she began but suddenly stopped and furtively glanced around. She cleared her throat. " Those like me need to band together and rise up before it's too late."

" I'm not sure anyone will do that."

" It's either that or die."