"It can't be," Rath muttered under his breath, staring off into space as he paced the room with some agitation. Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he paused his harried trek and turned to fix the soldier with a contemplative look, scratching his right brow absently. This wasn't the news he was expecting when the man came into camp today.
And yet, it made perfect sense.
"I assure you Rath, she is bonded to the Granilith," Ren replied, squirming under that intense, stoic gaze that was far too close to another's. It was one that had put the fear into many a man, whether it shone out of the eyes the king or his arch nemesis – the general in front of him. It had to be eerie to know your biggest enemy was another incarnate of yourself. "I watched the King carry her back to her room after it happened. The mark on her arm was unmistakable."
"This whole time…" The tall, sandy haired man whispered to himself, scrubbing his hand over short, spiked hair, forgetting the other man's presence completely as his mind whirled at this new development. He knew that there had been something about her when he saw her all those years ago; had definitely felt a spark when their lips met, but he set it aside as nothing more than physical attraction.
"General?" Ren queried hesitantly, uncertain if he should interrupt the man's distracted pondering and see if the man still needed to speak to him further or if he was dismissed to return to his post at the other camp. Shifting uncomfortably, he held his peace when the other man seemed not to hear him and turned to his dark-haired companion, meeting cool green eyes in appeal.
"She was rights in front of me the whole time," Rath mumbled, rubbing one hand over is jaw thoughtfully, the other resting on his hip as he stared out into the night, a faint trace of excitement and desire stirring through his blood. Damn, he knew Sweets was special, she had to be with the way the others gravitated to her, but he couldn't figure out why he hadn't sensed presence. "Why didn't I feels it?"
"Rath," Khivar commanded firmly, drawing his second-in-command out of his preoccupied thoughts and looking at the soldier pointedly, implying that it might be best to have this conversation without his presence. He didn't trust any man that was willing to betray his own side and wouldn't have been surprised if he were playing both sides.
Rath's head snapped to Ren with a scowl, annoyed that he let himself get so caught off guard that he nearly slipped up and said too much in front of the wrong person. No need to show all their cards before they were ready.
"Dismissed," he ordered, waving his hand at the blond man impatiently and watched him leave the room before turning back to his superior with a piqued expression, cocking a brow at the other man's cool continence.
"I should have felts her," he continued as he walked toward the window and stared out at the darkening New Mexico desert, his thoughts churning a mile a minute. They'd been looking in the wrong place the entire time. "That kiss…"
Had haunted him for years. Everyone thought he'd done it just to be a perverse bastard and make waves, and well, he couldn't deny he got a hell of a thrill twisting King Maxie's panties in a bunch. But that had only been a perk. Really, the moment he walked up to her, her energy thrummed over him like a warm caress, rubbing against a part of him he thought long dead.
He had to wonder how his dupe had been able to tolerate being near her and never being able to hold her in his arms. Duke must have some serious shields or else he avoided her at all costs. Which actually, come to think…he did recall the way they danced around each other. Suddenly things fell into place far too neatly. What a mess.
"You know what this means," Khivar rumbled, breaking through his thoughts once more, his brow furrowing only the slightest at the other man's preoccupation and worried slightly. The last thing they needed was for him to get distracted and blow their mission over the little brunette.
"Her family suppressed her presence," Rath responded, turning back to the other man as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the windowsill. This new development meant they'd have to revise their plans. No way could they go forward with their attack with her in the camp. "They know of their ancestry but why doesn't she?"
"Her Grandmother died before she came of age," the raven-haired man countered, shrugging his shoulders as he studied Rath, slightly puzzled himself at why she wouldn't know; unless they wanted her to have as normal a childhood before facing her destined office. Yet it was far too convenient that her grandmother didn't get the chance to tell her anything. "And the gift is known to skip generations, so her dad may not know anything about it."
"Right there," Rath reiterated, shaking his head that he could have missed something so important. That must mean the Granilith had been there the entire time, if her family were the current keepers. And suddenly the location of the other four pods made more sense. "Damn it…I knew something was up with sweets, but…"
"But?" Khivar prompted, his brows rising in question and feeling a little thrill that the were close to obtaining their goals and might just defeat The Council yet. All they had to do was get their hands on Liz and the Granilith; they might be able to take down those corrupt bastards yet.
"I figured it was because she had been healed." He admitted, his self-disgust evident in his tone and the set of his body, back and arms coiling with tension. He'd pulled a Zan, completely missing what was right in front of him. This wasn't good. He was supposed to pay attention, be far more aware than this. "I didn't realize she was…"
"One of us?" his companion finished, thinly veiled dark humor coloring his tone. It certainly explained a lot about her status in the group as well as both kings' draw to her, not to mention Rath's obsession as well. At least Michael's and Rath draw was explainable given their heritage.
"Makes sense actually," Rath agreed, growing pensive and quiet for a moment as the information set in and he quickly assessed all the signs that should have pointed him in this direction a long time ago. In particular, the flavor of her power and the fact that Duke hovered over her obsessively. "Jesus, she's part Antarian. The imprint was always there. Max didn't change her, he awakened her."