Two full cars, a crowded private jet, and two hours later, the crew settled into a room in the Alpha King’s Palace. Zira wanted to be excited to be here, in the home of the Alpha King, but her current situation only made her nervous.
I hate waiting, Zira thought, constantly looking at the double doors closed down the hall. Isaiah made sure someone had brought her a plate of food. He knew she got snack-ish when she was nervous, but even this plate full of assorted cheese, fruits and bread wasn’t helping.
Lana left with Isaiah to inform the Council they were here. Now they were waiting to be summoned. To what? Zira was anxious to find out. She tried to keep her attention on Arias, who decided he was too old to sit in her lap.
“I sit myself,” he said, struggling to climb up on the bench and sit next to her.
“Of course, Bugga. You’re a big boy now.”
She couldn’t help but smile as she watched him, making sure not to intervene with his progress.
“Our little pup isn't so small anymore,” Nina said. “I refuse to miss any more time with him.”
“Agreed,” Zira said, feeling a sense of regret about how much he had changed without her.
Arias situated himself next to her and began to play with the crystal around his neck that Zira fashioned into a necklace. Sometimes, it seemed as if the crystal glowed, and suddenly she would feel calm. Though it was gone as quickly as it came when she glanced at the closed doors down the way.
Her parents sat next to her with Isabella and Bella sipping tea on the other side of the table. Hunter and Jace were leaning against the wall, watching Percy, who was leaning against the double doors. Zed and Mary were in their own little world and when Zira asked why they were coming on the way to the jet.
“Just want to see how much trouble you get in this time,” Zed told her when she asked.
That thought alone made her stand up. She was tense and something was bothering her in the back of her mind. Nina, as usual, was no help and everyone around her was looking at her as if she was one second from blowing up.
"Z-bug, try to relax," Gerald said, patting the seat next to him.
"He's right, sweetie. No point in getting worked up," Zelda offered.
Zira declined the offer to sit. Her body wouldn't let her even if she wanted to. Her eyes remained on the closed doors down the hall. She wished there was a way to hear what they were saying.
"I feel a lot of anger, confusion, and a little sexual tension," Percy said with a laugh, taking his hand off the door. "I'm guessing you don't have many fans in there," he smiled at her, but Zira didn't return it. Instead, she groaned, placing her forehead on the wall.
"They have a personal vendetta against me," Zira said. "They're going to try to kill me. Again!"
“Zira,” Zelda exclaimed while covering Arias’s ears. Zira looked at her apologetically.
"Again," Percy asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Stop being so dramatic," Zed teased her before Mary punched him on the shoulder.
"She has every right to be dramatic," Mary said defensively. "The Elders aren't known to have sympathy. They proved that last time."
"I'm just saying we don't know for sure why they asked her here this time. No point in fretting if it's nothing," Zed countered.
"What did you do to piss them off," Percy asked.
"I don't want to talk about it," Zira snapped at him, regretting it instantly. "I'm sorry. It's just…one of many mistakes I made in the past."
Percy could see that whatever that mistake was bothering her to the point he was even getting nervous.
“Hey, Zira.” She turned to him. “If you want, I can calm your nerves."
“No, I’ll be okay. Thanks Percy,” Zira smiled, but soon that fell when she noticed who was walking towards them. It was none other than Councilman Faulkner and his flunkies.
“Well, if it isn’t the little wolf that stayed alive,” he said with a mocking attitude. “You seem to have the perseverance of a cockroach.”
Percy stepped in front of Zira. “Hey, that was rude, and I don’t like your energy, sir.”
“Watch who you’re talking to, pup,” one of Councilman Faulkner’s aides said, glaring at Percy. “Disrespecting him is like disrespecting the Alpha King himself.”
“I highly doubt that,” Zed said, stepping to the other side of Percy.
“It’s alright, Gregor. She will need support if she is to make it out of here alive,” Councilman Faulkner said, walking past them and into the dreaded room down the hall.
What did Councilman Faulkner mean by that, Zira wondered. She knew what he was trying to do, and it was working. Her nerves were threatening to take over.
“Zira,” Percy said, holding out his hand. “Let’s relax.”
Zira looked hesitant for a moment. It wouldn't be the first time he had done something like this for her, but every time it made her nervous. She looked at the closed doors then thought about what Councilman Faulkner said before nodding at Percy. He took both her hands in his, and they heard a growl behind them. Both Hunter and Jace grabbed Percy.
“Woah, woah, woah. I was just trying to help.” Percy looked at Zira.
“Hunter, it's fine. He just wants to help,” Zira reassured them.
“Are you sure about that,” Hunter asked. “We don’t want a repeat of the other night, especially here.”
“Hunter, Jace. Let him go,” Zira said with a bit more force. “If Isaiah has a problem, then let me deal with it.”
Jace looked at Hunter, who was staring at Zira, but she knew he was mind-linking Isaiah. A second later, they released him and went back to lean against the wall.
“No funny business,” Hunter warned him.
Percy nodded as he grabbed Zira’s hand tentatively. He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, they were glowing silver/blue. Everyone stared at them in awe as Zira's eyes turned the same glowing color as Percy's.
A sense of calm flowed through her. It felt like a breath of fresh, cool air. She allowed it to completely take over her senses. Relaxing every muscle and erasing every bad thought she was having. She forgot how intense Percy's feelings could be. She felt calm, happy, and in love…
“Zira,” Percy said with too much breath. “There’s something lurking in the back there. Like lus...”
"Wow," Zira said, quickly pulling away from him. "That was…I forgot how intense that could be." She avoided his stare, wiping her sweaty palms and looked at her parents. "He can feel and transmit emotions," she explained to them.
"Yeah,” Percy smiled, “with one touch, but I'm still learning how to control it. It can be a bit draining after a while.”
"That is fascinating," Mary said. "So, if I touch you, you can tell what I'm feeling."
Percy nodded as Mary reached up to touch Percy, but Zed pulled her back to him.
"Let's just take his word for it, babe," Zed said, casting a wary glance at Percy, who only smiled back at him.
"Zira, are you…"
"Feeling better," she said with a smile, but soon that disappeared when they heard the doors down the hall open. Isaiah stepped out holding the door open.
"They're ready," he said as he stepped to the side.
You can do this, Zira. Just don't piss them off, she thought to herself as she mentally pictured Nina laughing at her.