The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(61)

Luca agreed. The man knew the area better than he and knew what his men were capable of. He liked the idea of getting Kit and Taheesha to the village. He liked that a lot. Within minutes, Christoph and his men had melted into the trees.

“Sire?”

Luca smiled at Gabriel, who stood before him with a book open. “Every time I see you, you are reading.” The young wolf had spent a lot of the journey practically buried in the scrolls and books he had got from Hendrick’s cellar. “What is it?”

“It’s a discrepancy,” Gabriel said slowly, “but it’s something I think you should be aware of.”

Luca paused. He needed to go, but he remembered the last time Gabriel had tried to tell him something and he hadn’t listened. “Tell me.”

“Well, you know we were always taught that Aristaad died and then Oliver shortly after? But then I found something that said Oliver disappeared?” Gabriel said in a rush. “I’ve found some mention of a huge earth tremor.”

Luca frowned. “Earth tremor? Askara hasn’t had an earth tremor in...” Luca had to think. “Has Askara ever had an earth tremor?”

“Only the ones you cause, Sire,” Sam added dryly, coming to stand close. Luca suddenly found the whole conversation bizarre and smiled, but Gabriel wasn’t laughing. He looked worried.

“We have old history books mentioning them but nothing in any recent years,” Sascha put in.

“It’s just, I’ve found some writing that seemed to suggest that it was Oliver who died first. Even perhaps as a result of an assassination attempt. Then there is mention of a huge earth tremor and Aristaad also dies,” Gabriel said. “There are stories that the tremor was so large, huge buildings were levelled and many people lost their lives.” It seemed odd, but so much of their history had been buried it was no surprise. “As you know, a lot of our history has been deliberately altered to hide things, but I’m not convinced there isn’t some truth in this one.” Gabriel hesitated. “Sire...if this is true, If Oliver was murdered, Aristaad’s grief may well have caused the earth tremor.” Luca was silent, shocked. His temper flared so much since he became King, and there was only Kit who could calm him. “I am hoping I can discover more when we get to Neira,” Gabriel said eagerly.

Luca gazed at Gabriel. “You’re wondering what there is left in the great library, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry. I know now isn’t the time, when it’s likely you may face a battle.”

“Actually,” Luca said, “history might stop us making the same mistakes that led us to war in the first place.”

Gabriel looked up eagerly. “Exactly, Sire.”

“I think you may have a decision to make soon over your father’s pack,” Luca teased.

Gabriel smiled sheepishly. “I have many cousins, Sire.”

“Then when we are established in the capital, you need to speak to your father when you go collect Danni.”

“Luca.”

Luca turned and smiled at his sister, and Gabriel stepped away. Taheesha looked up at the snow as Luca wrapped his arm around her.

She took a breath. “You know Kit’s had a really bad backache?”

“I know.” He looked over to where the humans were clearing the camp away. “He says it’s from sitting for so long in the cart.”

Taheesha nodded and squinted up at him. Aylin, Askara’s moon, reflected sharply in the snow. “I don’t think it’s just from that.” Luca looked at his sister, and the chill that ran through him had nothing to do with the weather.

“I spent a lot of time with Molly, and backache can be just that, and yes it’s hard for the ladies to get comfy, but Molly also told me it’s a sign their bodies are getting ready for labor.”

“Labor,” Luca repeated woodenly.

“So yes, it could be backache, but it also might mean Kit is going to have this baby earlier than anyone is expecting.”

Luca looked over at where Kit was standing. He was leaning back slightly, both hands on the bottom of his back as if he were trying to get the kinks out. “But wouldn’t he know?” As soon as the words were out of Luca’s mouth, he realized how stupid they were.

Taheesha grinned. “I’m only thirteen, but I bet I know more about having babies than both of you two put together.” Luca didn’t doubt it for a second.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Don’t let Kit lift anything,” he added.

He turned and found both Sam and Asher staring at him. “You heard?” Sam and Asher both had dumbfounded expressions. “Do we have anyone who knows anything about giving birth? Seen it even?”

“We’ll ask, but Sire, I don’t think so,” Asher said. “I know Henry and Attica’s got at least one kid but whether they were there or not I would have to ask them.”

“Quietly,” Luca ordered. If Kit was unaware, as Taheesha thought, he wanted him to stay that way. Luca would worry enough for both of them.





Chapter Eighteen



The first pain woke him up around five a.m.

Kit lay wondering what had woken him up for a few seconds. He could hear Luca and Sam talking quietly outside. He had fallen asleep after the carts had been pulled off the road, only about two hours after they had set off. In the end, Luca had no choice but to stop and pull the carts as far as they could into the shelter of the trees. The horses couldn’t get them through the deepening snow and Darrin was getting worried for the animals. They used the tents as a huge awning so the horses had some shelter. The shifted wolves would manage under the awning as well, but Luca had directed all the humans to get in the other cart. It would be crowded but he was more concerned they wouldn’t freeze to death.