Des'Tai: Book Two

177: Tyron

Rune and I flanked Luna's sides as we waited patiently in the foyer for Artemis to return, the staircase at our backs. Faye was tucked safely away in our wing with Senna, while the rest of the household were where they were ordered to be. I don't think I'd heard the place so quiet since we'd moved in – I'm sure someone could drop a pin and we'd all hear it. It was eerie.

I caught Rune's side-eyed glance; he shot me a scowl and tapped at the thick, black wrist watch on his left arm. I could practically hear his voice in my head saying, 'how much fucking longer are we going to stand here?!'

I offered him a light shrug of my shoulders and cocked my head to the side, silently encouraging him to look straight ahead instead of gawking at me.

Suddenly Luna's back straightened, her shoulders squaring and her hands clasping together tightly in front of her. "They're here." She whispered to us.

A few seconds later, the air around us thinned out and with a gentle whoosh, Artemis materialised before us, but as expected, he wasn't alone. Eva was stood beside him, the casual jeans and blouse she'd had on when she'd left an hour earlier was now replaced by full Royal Guard uniform, all brown and black leather, with a light armoured arm guards and chest plate. Oren's Sigil of a burning sun blazed across the front of it.

The three males at her back wore the same.

As Eva dusted herself off, her comrades looked around at their new surroundings, before each settling on us. Rune notably stiffened, but my indifferent demeanour never faltered.

Luna and Artemis greeted each other, their foreheads touching, before Luna regarded her new, uninvited guests. "Welcome to our home, may I ask-"

"No," The tall, blonde haired male spoke, interrupting her rudely. He didn't have the manners to even look at her, instead his gaze continued to bounce around the wide foyer as he arrogantly removed his leather gloves. "I am not here to answer your petty questions, woman, nor do I wish to be in your home any longer than I have to be."

"Watch your mouth." I ground out, at the same time Eva snapped a quick, "Myka."

His deep blue eyes snapped toward me, a light smirk playing at the corner of his lips. He was looking at me like an adult would stare at an amusing child. "I suggest you tell your man not to speak to me with such a tone again, Artemis. I wouldn't want you to be one Watcher down."

Rune's hand stealthily moved to the hilt of his blade. "Try it, and your guts will stain our nice clean floor."

Artemis closed his eyes, a pained expression shrouding his normally calm face. "Can we control ourselves, gentlemen?"

Eva nodded tightly. "Perhaps we should get on with our orders, Artemis? Let's not delay this any longer than we need to."

The one Eva had called Myka continued to smile at us, his eyes bright with an unspoken promise. I didn't need to be a Seer to know this cocky shithead was going to be trouble.

Artemis stiffly agreed and led the way to the gardens. Luna had set up the Helath Orb in the greenhouse once more, like when Faye had returned to Earth; leaving Sybil and Blaise to guard it once they'd finished warding the ground floor.

With the Elder leading the way, Eva and two of her comrades followed closely behind, one sparing a glance over his shoulder when he noted Myka wasn't with them. He rolled his eyes and carried on.

Luna made a move to follow, too, but paused to offer the elf a soft smile. "If you'd like to follow us this way?"

Myka raised one pale slender hand to her, his blue eyes narrowing. "Be silent, female. I will follow when I'm good and ready. I do not need an Elders whore to command me to do anything."

"You need to start talking to her with a bit of respect," I took one tentative step toward Luna, blocking his view of her. "Or do they not teach you that in Seran?"

He blinked at me slowly, his expression a stone mask. "They teach us far more than they do in a cesspit like this. Amethyst Falls is the gutter of the region and all who inhabit here are nothing more than diseased street rodents. Working for an Elder?" He blew out a laugh. "Even worse, taking orders from his wench? How pathetic."

Rune stepped forward, but Luna was quick to raise her arm across his chest, halting him in his tracks. "Not now."

"I think you've been living in Seran too long; it's done something terrible to your brain," I tutted in faux concern. "Maybe getting out for a bit of fresh air might help, and then you can catch up with the rest of us."

I felt Luna tug at the hem of my jumper, urging me away from the tall guard. I wasn't afraid of this rude, cocky fucker and I wanted him to know that. If he thought he could come into our home and talk to us, especially Luna, as he liked, he could think again.

Myka's smile faltered, if only for a brief second, before it returned. "I do look forward to meeting you gentlemen again."

"As do we," I concurred, offering him a smile of my own.

With long, swift strides the blonde Guard left the foyer and headed down through the hallway, following the direction the others had left in a few minutes earlier.

"Fucking piece of shit!!" Rune exclaimed, slamming his foot into the bottom stair. "Who the hell does he think he is?!"

"Myka Sheerwood, a highborn family of Seran, they've served the crown for generations. He resembles his Darwen quite closely..." Luna mused, her aqua eyes misting as a memory overtook her. "He served the King before Oren for many years. He was such a kind soul, it's a shame Myka didn't inherit that, as well."

"A pureblood highborn doesn't mean shit here!" Rune raged. "I'm gunna teach that fucker a lesson in manners the next chance I get."

Patting his arm, Luna gave him a tender smile. "Time and time again you both prove my trust and loyalties are not misplaced. Thank you for defending me."

I looked to the hallway he'd vanished down. "He doesn't seem a fan of females with a voice, does he?"

"Pfft, then he'd love your Mate."

A smirk crawled to my lips at that. "She'd love him, too. Can you imagine how'd she react if he told her to 'be silent'?"

Even Luna chuckled at the idea of it. "My mamara would get herself into trouble with her reply, I'm sure."

Rune folded his arms in a huff. "Damn! We should have let Faye stand here with us. That would have been a hell of a good time."

Luna chuckled once more and waved us to follow her. We reached the greenhouse just in time to see a flash of green light burst through the glass walls, signalling someone had passed through the Helath Orb. When only Artie, Sybil and Blaise were inside, we knew we'd missed the Guards departure.

"To Hilara?" Luna asked her Mate aloud.

Artemis sighed. "Yes, they're going in search of the Polaris Orb. Oren believes someone is collecting them, so of course he wants to get to them first."

"So, when do we leave?" Rune asked him. "We can't let them get too far ahead of us."

I was surprised by the lack of urgency coming from our commanding Elder; hell, I would have expected him to send us through as soon as they'd vanished. Rune was right about not letting them get too far ahead of us.

"Relax, my boy, there is no great rush. Not tonight at least. I've typically placed them miles away from the capital, giving us a good two days to prepare for our own mission."