When Zane was on his way back to Kyra's room, he took a moment to ponder the avian. He found it quite difficult to believe how terribly her family had treated her in the few minutes he'd witnessed. He was concerned about his soon-to-be Naga because of said treatment; it had to have left some form of psychological scarring on the eagle. He never would have guessed that his former enemy would treat the true heir like one of the Serpiente. He sighed his confusion out as he opened her door.
Zane froze when he saw her. Kyra was wearing an outfit that exactly mirrored his own—it must have been provided by the Disa. She wore black slacks with an iridescent sheen to the mile they were some form of animal skin and a black silk top. She was gazing out the window longingly at the sky.
"Did you know that they once tried to clip my wings in order to keep me from being seen in my other form?" she asked quietly, not taking her eyes off of the sky. "I managed to fight my way out but not without a price."
That was when Zane noticed the long, thin scar down the back of her neck, disappearing into her hairline. He could only imagine how it looked in her other form.
"They learned that an angry eagle is not so easily controlled." Kyra finally turned to look at Zane. "In a way, I have to thank you for getting me away from them."
"Had I known they were treating their own as such, I wouldn't care if you were supposed to be my enemy; I would have gotten you out of there sooner." He replied earnestly. "My mother and sister are waiting for us; we need to go." Zane said after a few moments' silence as he handed her the circlet.
Hiding those bright red eyes from his sight once more, Kyra donned the gold band. "Lead the way." She ordered, allowing a small smile through the reserve she hid behind once more as she held her arm out to him.
"But you navigated here last night with no trouble," he pointed out, putting her hand around his arm on his bicep.
"Ah, but no one knows that."
"You love the false weakness angle, don't you?" Zane asked. He began leading them to the entrance of the Mistari palace.
"The element of surprise is a good tactic for someone like me." She shrugged.
"How very Serpiente of you," he teased.
"Look! I'm already blending in."
"You are a very unusual avian." Zane chuckled. "My horse is right in front of us."
"I know; I can hear it. Help me up."
A few minutes later, the pair were seated semi-comfortably in the saddle of the rather tall horse. Kyra was in front while Zane was behind with the reigns in his hands. His arms were lightly wrapped around the eagle.
"It is an honor to have such a fine young woman as part of our family." Zane's mother said, sounding rather genuine to Kyra's ears.
"Thank you. Your son has already made me feel more welcome than Nacola ever did." Kyra replied. Her head was facing slightly down so the python Naga couldn't read her expression. "My people have been so wrong for all these years."
"About what?" Irene asked curiously.
"The Serpiente are very kind, generous people if its leaders are anything to go by.
"I am very flattered." Charis said with a smile. "I hope that we can base the same conclusion off of you."
"You can't." Kyra said bluntly. "My people would never give you the chance. I have a different perspective than most avians given my . . . unique circumstances."
"What do you mean?" Irene inquired.
"That can be discussed at length once we're back home." Zane spoke up as Kyra lifted her head as if to watch the path ahead of them.
"I think you're right, Zane." Charis agreed. "Kyra, dear, are you feeling well?"
Kyra shook her head "no." "I did not sleep well last night; I rarely do."
"Hopefully that will change how." Irene said optimistically.
"Why don't you try to get some rest now? I doubt my son will let you fall."
"He'd better not." Irene threatened, sending a glare at the Cobriana prince with red eyes a few shades darker than his.
Zane rolled his eyes. "I won't let anything happen to you, Kyra. Get some rest."
"I don't—"
"Relax, little avian." Irene teased. "We won't tell anyone that you let down your precious reserve."
"But—"
"Kyra, you and I are going to be mated tomorrow; I don't believe it's a great crime tfor you to get some rest while riding a horse with me."
The eagle sighed. "You're right."
She proceeded to remover her circlet, put it on the saddle horn, and shift into a more comfortable position. Kyra was now leaning back into Zane's chest with her head tucked into the hollow where his neck and shoulder met. Before long, she sank into a dreamless sleep.
"She fits with this family better than I expected." Charis said quietly, gazing at her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
"For a bird." Adelina scoffed rudely.
Zane ignored her to respond to his mother. "From what I've observed, she is very unlike the rest of her people."
"She has obviously had a harder life than we thought the Shardae line were capable of." Irene agreed.
"There is much we did not know about their elder princess." Zane agreed, looking down at her.
Once again, he was struck silent by her peaceful beauty. When Kyra was asleep, the tightness around her eyes where she subconsciously tried to see—even when the circlet was on—relaxed.
"You are already falling in love with her, aren't you?" Adelina asked, voice quiet with the sorrow of losing her lover.
"I . . . don't know," he replied honestly, still gazing at her.
"Well, it's a good thing if you are." Irene said seriously. "I don't want my brother to be alone and loveless, especially considering the rumors of how avian mates love."
"That is not a rumor based on what Eleanor tells me." Zane said.
Avians and their Alistairs slept separately from each other except to procreate. Serpiente—especially the Cobriana—almost always slept with another, be it as a lover or just for the company of another. They thrived on the company of others.
"But, in response to that sentiment, I will do whatever it takes to uphold this peace." Zane admitted.
"You don't have to change what you are because of me." Kyra's sleepy voice drifted up to him. "I know all too well how that is. I do not mind sharing a bed with you; it is your nature to have another with you."
He was honestly shocked. "Thank you."
This eagle seemed to never stop surprising him.
She opened her eyes just enough for him to see the smile that resided there. The other two Cobriana could not see her eyes from their current position. He returned her expression with a smirk.
"You truly astound me."
"It's what I do." Kyra replied before closing her eyes again.
"Go back to sleep, Kyra," he said gently.
"Sweet dreams, dear." Charis smiled at the exchange.
She was glad at the fast-blooming relationship between the two heirs. Zane had never taken to a woman this quickly before—Adelina included. Kyra was truly a unique individual. It would prove interesting to have her around the palace. Charis was amazed at how well Kyra handled herself despite her blindness.
"We are lucky to have such an understanding little hawk in her midst." Irene said, gazing at Kyra fondly.
Zane didn't think it was his place to correct her on the species.