The Empath : The Alterealm Series Book 3
Chapter Eighteen

Daxx came back out after walking through my entire apartment.

She smirked and leaned against the back of the sofa. “So, living here is a real hardship, huh?”

I shrugged. “Oh, I’ve had my share of dives.”

She snorted. “I guess I didn’t live long enough to get past the dive part of my life.”

I turned to look back out the window. “I think you’ve moved a few steps up, living in royal chambers now.”

She came over and stood beside me and looked out at the lights in the city. “It has its perks. I still miss having my own place to hide when I need quiet.” Shrugging to my curious glance. “Team bad found it, and Crissy and I haven’t been allowed back over here unescorted to replace a new place.”

“You’re both welcome to hide here if you need peace.” I hugged myself and watched a car go down the street.

“Cool. Criss has her tower in the realm, but she does need the internet over here to search…”

“About that,” I turned and walked toward the kitchen, “I’d like to help in that search.” I went to the fridge to see if I had any wine chilling. Grabbing the first bottle I came to, I pulled it out and waved it around. “Much like with those children tonight, I’d like to set up a safe haven, for others, like myself.” I got one wine glass and then held one up toward her, she nodded. “I have the financial means and knowhow with the markets to fund a place like that,” I poured the wine, “for many years to come.”

She took the glass I held out. “That’s awesome.” She took a sip, and it was clear from her expression wine wasn’t her favorite spirit. “We’d have to work out the security and all that, but having somewhere safe over here, that also helps those like, and to learn what they are… that’s…” She blew out a breath, “an amazing thing to do.”

I leaned against the counter and took a sip, thinking that through for a moment. Before I could reply, Sith appeared by the entrance. I scowled at him. “I told Chase I don’t want his guards.”

He shook his head. “I’m not here because I was ordered to be here, I’m here because I want to be.” He shrugged. “I don’t trust that Lou guy and…” he smirked. “I have a puzzle to finish.”

I studied him for a moment and then smiled. “I do need help with that puzzle.” His expression was sincere. “Does Chase know you’re here?”

Shaking his head, Sith kicked off his boots and came over. “No, it’s my downtime and the king…” he glanced to Daxx, “is too busy yelling at your king.” Daxx straightened. “Don’t worry Night King is yelling back just as loudly, and few of the other brothers have joined in too.”

Daxx sighed. “Just as long as they’re not beating the hell out of each other again.”

I gave her a startled look.

She grabbed the bottle of wine and motioned to the sofa. “Come, sit, let me tell you a story that will make Chase giving you a pendant seem trivial.”

Sith chuckled. “I’m going to do the puzzle while you do that.”

Daxx looked over her shoulder at him. “Coward.”

He paused and shook his head. “No. Just a man that knows when to be elsewhere.”

Laughing, she set the bottle on the table and sat down.

The bottle sat empty on the table by the time Daxx was finished telling me about her introduction to the world of Alterealm. I sat there speechless. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

She snorted. “Exactly.”

Looking at what was left in my glass I shook my head. “I’m a bit stunned.” I smiled at her.

Waving her hand around, she huffed out a breath. “I was pissed, not stunned.” She laughed. “I think…” She pointed to the bottle, “where I was going with this, until that hit me, was Chase is being…” She frowned, “very, noble? I think is the best way to explain it to you. The way he went about it may not have been clear to you…”

I sat back. “I see what you mean though. Chase was able to stop from marking you… where as your mate couldn’t.” I shook my head. “Which is surprising, he seems so unmoveable.”

“Not that time he wasn’t.” She laughed. “I can still see the look on Quinton’s face when I stomped by him in the hall carrying my raptor and wearing a sheet.”

I laughed, picturing that. “But is it because Chase wasn’t your true mate?”

She sobered. “No. I think he was as intended as much as Troy…” She frowned. “I don’t remember what that damn book said.”

“The book of prophecy?”

She nodded. “Yeah.” Her eyes widened. “But I know who can probably rhyme it off for us.” Pulling her phone out of her pocket she typed on it. “Crissy read it and has been studying it, comparing it to things she saw in the past to see if there are clues to lead to the other mates.” She pointed to her back as she stared at her phone. “She saw my tattoo and the rune that’s on her back now to stop the magic…”

I wasn’t sure if it was the wine, or she just wasn’t making any sense now. Something told me it wasn’t the alcohol and there was still plenty I didn’t understand.

“Oh good.” She tapped the screen on her phone and then set it on the table. “It’s on speaker.”

“Hello?”

“Crissy, it’s Daxx and Alona. Where are you?”

“In my tower.” Crissy mumbled, “sorting, processing… I can’t get this cow out of my head.”

Daxx shook her head and then waved a hand. “We need to know what the prophecy said.”

“Oh.” There was a pause. “Which one?”

Frowning, Daxx leaned closer to the table. “You’ve read more than the nine sons one?”

“Yes. There are so many…” There was another long pause. “Do you want me to tell you the whole thing?”

With eyes wide, Daxx shook her head. “No. I just can’t remember what it said about me.”

“Oh, that’s easy.” She said.

Daxx rolled her eyes. “For you.”

“Yes.” She sighed. “So, which part about you?”

“Just start and I’ll tell you to fast forward if it’s not the part I want.” Daxx leaned back and nodded while looking at me.

“Okay.” Crissy cleared her throat. “When the marking unveils between her shoulders the sundial will validate she is the true and waiting to be found…”

“To the next part, about the king’s mate or whatever it is.”

“Um, okay… True mate to either twin King if the bond be made, she must select one or the other that can hold her heart right. The Huntress’s reign alongside her King will change the realms forever controlling the evil of both sides and bring peace to the sun and moon.”

She pointed at me. “There see, it could have been either of them.” She snorted. “I mean seriously is that a bitch or what, choosing between twins?”

I opened my mouth to answer and then decided a comment wasn’t needed.

“It could have only been Troy though.” Crissy said sounded distracted, which I’d come to know as her main state.

“How do you mean?” I asked her.

She chuckled. “Because of Chase. If he’d been chosen by Daxx then the part about the other king makes no sense when it comes to Troy.” Her tone more or less said ‘duh’.

“I don’t remember that part.” Daxx said frowning.

“For our King not chosen, a mate lies in wait, born of human blood. She will rule over his compulsion as no other could, and bring him lifetimes of eternal peace.” Crissy rhymed off without pausing to recall it.

“Oh.” Daxx sat forward again and stared at the phone. “You’re right. That wouldn’t have worked with Troy.” She made a sound of annoyance. “Too bad you weren’t around to point all this out when I was losing my mind.” She turned to me, an odd look on her face. “So, what part are they talking about with Chase, Crissy?”

“His compulsion?” Crissy asked.

Daxx nodded. “Yeah.”

There was long silence. “I don’t see much to know Chase and all the bits that are him.” She finally said.

Daxx blew out a breath and looked at me. “You know he gave Alona his royal pendant, right?”

“Yes. I asked Victor and he explained what it meant.” She sounded very excited.

“So, if Chase knows Alona is his mate, what is the prophecy referring to?”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to know any of this, but part of me was seriously curious.

“He’s got a thing with short skirts and tall boots.” Daxx said with a smirk while looking at what I wore.

Crissy giggled. “I don’t think that would be enough to prophesize.”

Daxx frowned. “He is an emotion feeder and Alona is an emotional sponge.” She snorted and looked at me. “Sorry that came out all wrong.”

I smiled. “And yet it is true.”

“That could be it… oh my gosh, that fits!” She blurted out.

“What does?” Daxx was on the edge of the cushion now.

“Victor said it was disturbing that Chase was feeding from prisoners now…”

“What?” Daxx’s eyes went wide. “Seriously? Since when?”

“I don’t know.”

Daxx shook her head. “That’s so not his M.O.”

“How do you mean?” I asked, curiosity winning.”

She opened her mouth and then closed it, looking at me for a moment. “The reason Chase and I didn’t work out…” She waved a hand around, “later we realized it was the excessive blood he’d given me to save my life that made us think we were…” She closed her eyes, like she’d lost her train of thought briefly. “The reason we didn’t work out was because of his feeding preferences. I couldn’t live with it… but now he’s feeding from prisoners…”

I leaned forward and gave her a hard look. “I’m not following.”

“Me either.” Crissy said, startling me, I’d forgotten she was on the phone.

Daxx sighed loud. “He prefers to feed off females and his emotion of choice is…”

“Oh.” I sat back.

“Is what?” Crissy asked, then she chuckled. “Never mind I know.”

Daxx moved over so our faces were close. “Has he fed off of you?”

I shook my head. “No. He said he couldn’t or he would lose complete control. I had no idea what he meant, I thought he was talking about sex.”

“Dammit, why couldn’t Troy be like that?” Daxx scowled. “Even Victor was strong with Crissy, although everyone was afraid to go near him until…” she waved her hand in the air again and looked back to me. “You’ve broken our Chase.”

“Or fixed him.” Crissy added.

Daxx glared at the phone. “That’s what I meant Criss.”

“Oh, but you said…”

“Never mind what I said.” She still looked at me. “So is there… sparks between you two.”

I snorted, which I normally didn’t do. Looking at the glass in my hand I set it on the table. “It is quite heated…”

“I felt like I was on fire when Victor was near, but he wouldn’t have sex with me… then I explained why I wore the gloves and he was…”

Daxx cleared her throat. “We get it Criss.” She looked at my hand and shrugged. “I didn’t know enough to keep the palm of my left hand covered, so Troy couldn’t mark me.”

I looked at my hand. “Is that how?”

“Well, there’s more that goes with it… I’m sure you can figure out that part, but yeah, if the flesh can’t connect then he can’t mark you.” She pointed to the phone. “Trust me Crissy tested it out often and it works.”

“It does, but when Victor took me to the field of butterflies, I knew…”

I looked down at Daxx’s phone then to her. “Is that a metaphor?”

Dax shook her head. “Nope. He found a field where the monarchs migrate and took her there.”

“That’s romantic.” I frowned, the Victor I’d seen didn’t strike me as even knowing what romance was.

“I know, right,” Daxx grinned at me. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“A flower. Oh. I have to go there’s more pieces.” Crissy hung up before Daxx could respond.

She looked at the phone. “Cows and flowers. This should be interesting.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand most of what she says.”

“It takes time to translate Crissy-speak. I’ve known her for five years though, so I’m the expert.” She laughed and then sobered quickly and looked at me. “So, you are Chase’s mate. He’d know.”

I looked at my hand and turned it over a few times. “I can’t do it.” I said quietly and then motioned to her marked arm. “It worked out for you and Crissy. Victor better not hurt her, or I’ll stab him, but…” I shook my head. “You’ve seen how my father is, and I watched my mother go insane and then wither and die…” I inhaled slowly. “There’s an attraction with Chase, I can’t deny that, but I will never agree to be his, or any man’s mate, in that sense.”

Daxx glanced over my shoulder and then her face blanched.

I turned to see Chase standing by my door.

He cleared his throat. “I came to apologize… in person.” His voice was very rough. “I would have called first, but thought you’d say no.”

“I’m going to go see how Sith is doing with that puzzle.” Daxx said and got up quickly and went down the hall.

Chase watched her leave and then took a cautious step toward me. “I spoke to Arius a few minutes ago. Levi has been moved to the medical area and the doctor has sedated him for the time being.”

I stood up.

“Once he’s settled some, the doctor feels he’ll be able to help him…”

Daxx came back out and ran over and picked up Sith’s boots. “We’re just going to pop out and grab a burger or… munchies. Sith says Alona only keeps girly nibbles in her cupboards.” She shrugged and ran back down the hall.

Chase gave her an odd look and then turned back to me.

“Will the doctor be able to help him for the long term or… I don’t know enough about this…”

Tucking his hands in his pockets, he made no move to come closer. “He’ll always remember, but medication can help make him more… functional, is the term I was told.”

I clasped my hands together and nodded. “Good.”

“You understand he’s always going to be in custody…” He titled his head and watched me. “He did intend to cut off Daxx’s head when you stopped him…”

I exhaled a short breath. “Yes, I understand that.”

“Once he’s more stable, you will be able to visit him, if you wish.”

I hugged my arms around my waist, trying to stop the shaky feeling that filled me. “I would like that.”

He nodded abruptly. “Michael is looking for his parents, your grandparents. We hadn’t realized they were still alive…” His eyes held mine, as if he were assessing what I was feeling. “At the time, we had only focused on replaceing him for you…”

“I think…” I blew out a nervous breath, “I think, eventually I’d like to meet them.” I shook my head. “The very idea that I have relatives is somewhat overwhelming right now.”

He took a few steps toward me and then stopped again. “I imagine it would be.”

“Thank you for telling me in a more personal way.” I sighed. “I’m afraid the whole texting thing still fails to enthuse me.”

He nodded. “I don’t think they have emoticons for what I had to say.”

I smiled briefly. “I’m sorry for being rude, earlier.” I waved a hand toward him. “It was all very…”

“Heartbreaking.” He said softly and moved closer. “I should have told you.” He shook his head. “Finding out that way was not the right way.”

I cleared my throat and studied him. “I suppose it seemed right to you at the time, considering the false hope of before.” I motioned to where Daxx and I had been sitting. “Daxx explained her becoming acquainted with all of this.”

Chase looked surprised. “I’m sure that was colorful.”

I shrugged. “It was interesting, to say the least.”

We both stood there looking at each other neither moving nor speaking for several minutes.

“If you need it, I can have Arius come help you go out and feed…” His brows were furrowed as he spoke. “Until we’ve dealt with that Lou person, your safety is still at risk.”

He was being careful with each word he spoke. I tried to feel, but it was like a wall surrounded him.

“I’m fine tonight. I’ll be going to sleep shortly.” I glanced toward the window to see it was still night.

He nodded, but didn’t move. “Your father, he loved your mother, it wasn’t just mating… he looked at you with adoration on his face.” Chase’s chest rose and fell in a silent breath. “A child born that was made without love, after these many years…” He motioned to me. “He wouldn’t have looked at you that way.”

I felt a tear roll down my cheek. “I have no doubt my mother loved him as well. She remembered every detail in the way he spoke, moved…” Another tear followed the path down my face. I wiped it away with an unsteady hand.

Making a soft noise in his throat, he moved over quickly and stood in front of me. With a shaking hand, he wiped the dampness off my cheek. “I’m sorry, duchess, I should have told you sooner…” He held my chin lightly so I would continue to look at him. “I wanted to be sure.”

I could finally feel emotions from him, and it wasn’t what I expected to feel. It was pain and sorrow. I stepped back, even though I knew I couldn’t distance myself from them. How could I when they mirrored my own? “I’m sorry I can’t be what you’d hoped.”

Dropping his arm, he put his hand back in his pocket. “I will make sure you are kept up-to-date with regards to your father.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

He studied me for a moment, his hazel eyes moving over me softly. “If you need anything, please call.”

I nodded, not knowing what else to say at this point.

Chase stood there a few seconds more just looking at me and then he was gone.

I went over and picked up my phone and the device from the counter and went down the hall to my room. Setting the device on the table by my bed I messaged Daxx.

It has been a horrendous day. Thank you for the company. I am going to bed now.

I sat on the bed and stared at the phone.

Okay. Try to get some sleep. Sith says he’ll work on the damn puzzle tomorrow. Yellow smiley face.

I set my phone’s ringer to silence and put the phone on the table.