Scandalous Heroes Box Set (188 page)

Rym’s king stepped forward, away from his queen’s side where he had been standing. “Tell me, how it is possible that you were even captured when there was no report of any vessel entering our atmosphere.” Arms folded over his massive, broad chest, he waited.

“My people do not need to use physical methods to transport things or people from one place to another.” Krysteena spoke up, her hand pausing for a brief second while she spoke.

“How is that possible?” His mother leaned forward, eyeing Krysteena hard with both rage and curiosity filling her gaze.

“Argonians are majji, mother.” Even though he replied to his queen, he made sure that his voice was loud enough to carry throughout the room.

Whispers and more questions filled the chamber.

“Everyone out! Clear the room!” That booming directive came from their father and king and no one hesitated in departing from the scene.

Rymingten took hold of Krysteena’s hand and was prepared to exit as well.

“You two sit.”

Rymingten watched as his siblings and their mates kissed the queen on her cheek one at a time before walking out. Once the last person stepped through the automatic panel and it sealed behind them, Rymingten expected his father to open up on what he was thinking. His king’s features were set in a blank mask, not giving away any of his inner thoughts.

“What issue lies before us, Dylin?” His mother rose from the seat across from him and Krysteena and glided up beside her mate.

Turning to his mate, his father cupped her cheek. “The caves of history.”

Rymingten saw his mother’s features go from confusion to bewilderment. Not comprehending the hidden communication that transpired between his parents, he just continued to hold Krysteena’s hand, offering her his comfort, and watching.

“Who would have conceived that after so many millenniums it would even be possible,” his mother gazed over at them.

“I’m not sure if anything can come of it…alter the way things are, but I have to find out, in case there is cause to warn the people.”

“Warn them?” Rymingten released Krysteena and rose. “What is going on, father?”

Moving to him, his king placed a hand upon his shoulder. “As the youngest of my cats, this is something you would have never been privy to. For generations what I will show you has been the deepest and most precious secret of every king as far back as can be remembered. Your older brother will know as time grows closer for him to take the throne and one day his oldest and so forth.”

A heaviness swelled inside of Rymingten and pressed down in his gut. For the first time since his abduction and trying to return to his planet, he wondered if he should have returned at all, maybe he should have just stayed gone. Let his family believe him dead.

“Tell me, my king.”

His father reached out and clutched his forearm. “It is better that I show you.”

~YH~

“I never even realized this entrance was here.” Rymingten stood with his father and Krysteena at the narrow mouth of a cave at the top of the highest mountain—Madul Peak. Madul could be clearly seen from anywhere in the city, but few ever journeyed to it. And definitely not this high up.

He and his father could have shifted and run it. He could easily have allowed Krysteena to ride his back. However, they had traveled in a small heli vessel to ensure quick arrival.

“That is the point. No one but Kings discuss it or have directions to it.” Holding out one of two flat disks his father had carried from the craft, the king pressed his palm against the center until it started to glow. He gave it to Rymingten and then performed the same act to the second one that he kept. “Let’s enter.”

Rymingten allowed Krysteena to follow his father first. The passage was slim but still wide enough to allow them to go in with ease, space on the sides to spare. Kitcy was already cooler than Argona but inside the mountain the temperature dropped several degrees and it was damp.

“Are you all right, Krysteena?” He slipped an arm up her spine and over her back when he saw her shiver.

“I’m all right. Just takes a little getting used to. Argona is always hot.”

Yes, it is. He could deal with it, but his cat would always prefer the milder climate. If he could think of a way to have them stay on Kitcy he would discuss it with her. Besides, she was the next in line to rule her planet, where he was the youngest child and would never lead the people. However, he could not see ever going back into that
collar-
like ring again.

“It will be warmer once we get further into the mountain.” The king held his light disk out before him illuminating the rocky walls around them.

Even though the entrance was obscure, inside was wide, high and spacious. When Rymingten added his beam to it, all of the various corridors were revealed.

“What is this place?” Krysteena moved around the open area.

“This is first home to all Kitcy cats. The pride lived within this mountain from the beginning until things changed.”

Before he could ask his father to clarify, the king was headed forwarded through one of the hollowed ways.

They journeyed down into the depth of the mountain, following the path around one twist and turn to another. They passed various large coves along the way that his father explained were areas where mates and families slept.

Primitive. That was the thought that went through Rymingten’s mind. Knowing the sophistication in which Kitcy people lived now, even more advanced in technology than Argona.

“Here.” His father brought them to an area with a bubbling spring, it was warmer as he promised.

“You wanted to show us a water well?” His brow drew tight as he stared at his father.

Krysteena’s expression appeared just as distorted as his own felt as he attempted to comprehend this journey they had taken.

“Not the water…” His father shifted so that his light shined along the wall.

That’s when Rymingten beheld the carvings on the wall causing him to become speechless.

“Oh, my,” Krysteena whispered.

“This is the story of us.” His father moved closer to the action depictions on the wall and brushed his fingers along the various scenes almost reverently.

“Of the Kitcy people?” Krysteena drew near.

Following suit, Rymingten started trying to understand the schematic before his eyes. It seemed to be showing an event. There were groups of cats and groups of people. “What does it all mean?”

“The Kitcy as well as the Argona people.”

His father’s words drew both their attention away from the wall to him.

“What say you?”

“Father, how can we and the Argona’s have history together? We are so vastly different.”

His father directed them to a circle of boulders that sat by the wall. Placing his light on the floor he sat on a rock on the other side of Krysteena, all of them facing toward the side.

“A long time ago. There were a group of people who had to depart their own planet. They had been invaded by a savage group of rogue galaxy mercenaries. They enslaved, brutalized and left them no other option but to flee their home or be wiped out completely.” His father tapped the rock below a sketched group that look like females as he turned and eyed Krysteena. “This was the Argonians.”

Krysteena slowly shook her head from left to right. “This cannot be. We are not only majji but we are warriors. More than enough power to fight and defend ourselves.” 

“Not at that time. Your numbers were few. And even the greatest can be overtaken if done right.”

Rising, she traced the images with the tips of her finger. “So, we came here?”

“Yes. Your queen at that time, Isa, believed the planet was only inhabited by docile, unintelligent creatures. Our King wasted no time in leading us down from the mountain to show the Argona that our world wasn’t up for the taking.”

“Was there a war?” Rymingten didn’t want to discover that he and his mate’s people were mortal enemies.

“No. Tension, but no war. Both sets of leaders came to an agreement once we understood the situation on their planet. We aided them in building structures. Both people lived in relative harmony.” His father pointed to the scene of cats and people and habitats. “However, the Argona struggled during the colder season and yearned to return home.”

“What did we do?” Pulling her gaze away from the wall, she looked at his father expectantly.

“Knowing that there would be a long and arduous battle to secure their world, they requested our aid. They offered to use their sorcery to give the Kitcy a second form. One that could wield a sword while fighting by their side.”

Getting up, Rymingten went to the drawing on the wall showing male Kitcy and Argona females sparring against each other…training for war. “You all worked together.”

“For long into the next season. Ensuring everyone had skills and was equipped. Especially since the Kitcy had to adjust to the new form. Soon we boarded the Argona vessels and journeyed to take back their home.”

“You all were successful. No one on my planet even whispers about a time we didn’t inhabit it. And as far back as I can remember we have had the shield up around our skies.” Krysteena stood beside him now. “Anyone that is on our planet
we
bring there.”

And imprisoned in a forced marriage and their powers restrained by a ring.
His neck still felt the burning pressure of the object. However, he was starting to understand the Argonian way more now.

“Well once everything was secured the Kitcy returned home. With our second form we left the mountains permanently and began to restructure our way of living. Built on and around the facilities left by the Argona females. A few seasons after the change, the current king began to take note that more males were being born and the female offspring were dwindling. The gift to shift was both a blessing and perhaps a curse.”

“The Argona are having a simil—”

“Ah!” Krysteena grabbed her head and her legs appeared to give out as she dropped to her knees.

Rushing to aid her, Rymingten wrapped his arms around her before she descended any further. “Krys, what’s wrong?”

For a moment she appeared to be in some sort of trance. Her head was tilted back and her eyes were blank, locked on to something she could only see in her mind.

He could feel the pain and anguish of the emotions rocking through her.

“Krys!” He rubbed her face gently, attempting to bring her consciously back to him.

“Is she going to be all right?” His father kneeled down beside him, concern filling his voice.

“Yes,” he told his father, but truthfully he wasn’t sure. He had never seen her like this before. “Krys…come on my mate…return to me.”

Finally, she gasped, sucked in a deep breath as if she had been kept from gaining air. Her lids shut and she sat there in his arms for a moment as waves of tremors shook her body.

“Are you cold, again?” He didn’t see how that was possible being in the center of the mountain with a hot bubbling pool behind him.

“I must return home.” Slowly opening her eyes she gazed up at him, piercing his heart with the intensity in them. “I am sorry you will have to leave your family so soon.”

His heart sank. They had barely been there even half of a Kitcy day. “What is going on?”

Krysteena sat up then stood to her feet quickly. “There is trouble on Argona…we have been invaded.”

“How is that possible? You said there was a shield around your planet now,” his father stood as well, his features tight with concern.

“I don’t know. All I can see is more and more vessels landing on the planet. I must go now!” In her haste she moved out of the light’s arc and headed toward the path that led to the hot spring.

She stumbled in the dark and would have fallen in if it wasn’t for Rym’s swift cat reflexes and strong night vision. He pulled her back toward him with an arm around her waist. Holding her close whether she wanted his support or not.

“It’s going to be all right,” he whispered, his lips pressed against her ear. His chest ached with the depth of the pain she was feeling. Even though they were mated in all senses of the word now, with them being from two different planets he should not experience her emotions—but he did.

“I need to get there.” Her body shook as a cry broke from her.

“I know. And we will. With clear heads we will think of the best way to assist. Together.” He stroked the side along her ribs.

As she glanced back at him over her shoulder, he could see the skepticism swimming in the watery pools. “How can you desire to help after…after all that I have done to you? Taking you from your people, the collar,” her voice broke. “Making you subservient to me.”

“You followed the law of your people…how can I lay fault at your door for that?” Kissing her softly on the lips, he continued, “You also allowed me my own honor among my people.”

She leaned her forehead against his. “I feel helpless. What if we are too late? And that wall becomes the truth for Argona again.” She gestured toward the pictures.

“We will not allow that to happen.” It was the Kitcy King that spoke up.

His father had been standing so silent, giving them space, that Rymingten had forgotten about him.

Taking her hand, he moved back into the ring of light to his father. “You will help her people?”

“Yes.” One word and a sharp nod and the King had set a decree. “Let’s go. There are many warriors and ships that need to be gathered swiftly.”

The three of them made haste out of the mountain. He and his father shifted so that they could climb the rocky surface with more speed and ease. Rymingten proudly rode his mate on his back. He loved the feel of her circling his thick neck and enjoyed the press of her face below one of his ears as she leaned into him. He followed his father whose sure paws knew every twist and turn that would lead them out.

Dashing out of the cave they were quick to the secondary form and soon they were in the heli vessel and lifting off.

~YH~

“What can you see now?” Rymingten spoke over her shoulder, his chest pressed to her back and his arms secured around her in the center of her pod.