"No time for that now. Let's get out of here. Daxin is waiting with the carriages and there is only so much time before someone decides to come down here." Kyera warned them as the other shifters nodded, the cat keeping watch was even more attentive with Kyera's words.
"Why is it everyone that is close to you seems to be a shifter?" Vivian asked and Kyera winced at her words. It was the one little detail she had never told this woman. Would she even agree to leave with them if she knew the truth?
"Because, the entire Frost Royal family are shifters, my mother and Myself included." Kyera added and then a thought passed through her mind. "Where is Grace?"
"He took her. Said she was a symbol of power for our kingdom and gifted my Grace to that vile woman. She was my tigress… my dearest friend and he just gave her away because that creature fancied her." Tears filled Vivian's eyes as she spoke. Kyera frowned as her heartbeat quickened.
"Get the Empress out of here." Kyera told the others trying to control her voice. There was a hard edge to it that was almost terrifying.
"What about you?" Kia asked realizing that Kyera intended to go on alone. The scales on his neck seemed to itch suddenly. This was never a good sign for a serpent.
"I am going to go rescue my mother." Kyera replied her voice hard and cold. She never dreamed she would say such things. That woman had abandoned her but she would not do the same.
"We can't go back without you, Daxin will kill us." The Wolf reminded her shaking his head. She flashed him a bit of a dangerous smile.
"Who is your Princess, Koda?" Kyera asked pointedly. There was something more in those words than the words themselves. He knew better than to question her but he also didn't want to abandon her. He knew the stories, he had been there when Daxin had raised that lost little white cub into a beautiful warrior Tigress. There was nothing for him to do, but agree. Her words made it clear he had already lost the argument before he said a word.
"You are, My lady." Koda replied his wolf ears flicking slightly as he realized the point of that question. He nodded and turned so his back was to Vivian. "Get on, it will be faster. Once we get to the dragons, it won't matter what anyone does. You will be safe. We will come back for you, Kyera."
"No, you will not. You will wait 4 hours. If I do not return by that time you are to go. Take this." She handed Vivian the purple jewel from her ear. "Present this to the Storm Twins, they will leave with you, but do not lose it, My lady. I will see you soon, but until then, Go." Kyera demanded, her tone left no room for discussion, even though no one felt secure in her orders. There was a certain unease in the air, one that none of them were truly sure what to think of. They had to make a decision, and they had to make it now. Would they obey their Princess and rescue the Empress Dowager or risk all of their lives and stay with Princess Kyera? Koda made the decision and left, Vivian holding onto his neck.
"Kyera…" Cian began and Kyera shook her head. She knew what the boy wanted to say, he was so much like his sister, his jeweled eyes spoke volumes of his emotion and unrest.
"Go. If they run into trouble, use your venom. Thank you, I know how much you disagree with my mission after what happened to Cora." Kyera whispered and nodded before turning to climb the stairs.
"Cora did what she believed was best. I just wish she lived long enough to see her Queen on the throne." Cian called after her and Kyera nodded. She transformed into her tiger form and began to make her way deeper into the heart of the castle.