[P.O.V. King Jared Woods]
Setting out in the earlier morning, I reached the moon goddess kingdom by the evening. The white SUV I was riding in pulls up in the castle gates. The car comes to a stop at the front steps. My cousin Gabriel, his Queen, and their son stand at the top to greet us. Getting out and helping Karen out of the car, Francisca jumps out of the car and runs up the steps.
"Tanner!" Francisca squeals as my cousin's little boy and her run towards each other. Francisca and Tanner were best friends. Tanner was two years older than her. They hugged each other tightly.
"It's only been six months since we last saw each other. Did you miss me?" Gabriel says sarcastically.
"In your dreams that I missed you." Replying. Climbing up the stairs and getting to the top, Gabriel and I shook hands, then gave each other a quick hug.
"It's nice to see you again Jared." My cousin mate Courtney says. She was a pretty woman with tan-colored skin, dark brown hair, and her eyes were sky blue.
"It's nice to see you as well." Giving her a brief hug as well.
"Well, let's go in," Gabriel suggests.
"My dearest. Karen, the little ones, and I are heading to the gardens," Courtney tells her mate.
"Alright, my little dove." The women and children leave me and Gabriel. We both went to his office. It was incredible, as I remember it to be.
They built the castle exactly where the old packhouse used to be before father became king. When the old packhouse was torn down, they salved everything they could, even the old stained window that told the story of the moon goddess choosing her king and queen.
"Please have a seat," Gabriel says as he closes the door behind us. Gabriel hands me a glass of bourbon while sitting on a couch, then sits across from me on another couch. "You sent me an urgent letter so urgent that you used magic to get it to me. But you didn't mention why you were coming here. As much as it's nice seeing you, why the hell are you here?"
"You know that I have been looking for Riley and my father for some time now. My scouts finally found where Riley is." Replying to him.
"Really? And where is he?"
"His here in your kingdom on the very outskirts in a small town called Howling Moon." Gabriel takes a drink of his bourbon and has a firm look on his face.
"Why do you have that look?" Asking him with a serious tone.
"I know of the place you speak of... It's just that town is on the borders of my kingdom. And with all the wars and battles that have been going on. That town is one town in my kingdom that is known for high-risk attacks from rogues..." He tells me, then I cut him off.
"What's your point? We can take some men to defend us so we can go get him."
"No, we can't Jared."
"Why in the hell not?"
"Because that town no longer exists. That town was such a high-risk attack area that the rogues have wiped the entire town. It happened two days ago." Two days ago? That means my scouts got the news two days before they wiped it out. They weren't able to report back to me till yesterday.
"Why didn't you say that?"
"I was saying it before you rudely interrupted me."
"Dammit.." Sighing really heavily, I take a drink of my bourbon. I was so close to finding my twin.
"However, all survivors went to the next town that was closest to them."
"How many towns are closest?"
"Three. We can send out some of my men to scout out for him in these three towns."
"Fine, but I'm joining the search. I want to be there for every search of these towns."
"If that is the case, then I shall join you."
"Why do you want to come?"
"Riley might be your twin, but he is my best friend. I have been just as worried about him as you have." He got me there growing up with Lenard and Gabriel. Riley and Gabriel became close the same as Lenard and I became close.
"Fine.." He nods his head with a smile. He finished his bourbon, and so do I. We got talking about other subjects that needed to be discussed.
For the next few days, we searched the three towns carefully and everywhere. Right now, Gabriel and I were searching in the last town. We were walking down a marketplace. There were a bunch of small booths everywhere down this road.
"Jared," Gabriels says my name with urgency.
He points to a place in front of us. Looking where he points I saw a man that looks identical to me. He looked different from the last time I saw him. Instead of wearing a nice suit, he was wearing normal clothing. His beard was a little longer, and he had two small gold hoops in both of his ears. He even had some tattoos covering his arms and had a couple going up against his neck. The only thing that helped me recognize him was the twin bond we shared.
He was standing next to an African woman, laughing and talking with her. The way she was acting with him, they look like they might be more than friends. My twins look towards me and I didn't see it until he did. There was a scar on his left cheek. It looked like some kind of claw mark. All I could wonder is what has happened to him in the last three years? He looked at me like he had anger in his eyes and said something to the woman. She looks at Gabriel and me, then back at my twin. They separate and move away from Gabriel and me.
"I'll chase Riley. You go after the woman." Telling Gabriel, he nods his head and we both start chasing them.
Riley picks up the paste and starts running, as do I. I knew he was upset with me, but did he have to run from me? Running even further, it has been about good fifteen minutes chasing him. My lungs were burning. While running, he kicks something from underneath a stand. All the pots and pans on the stand come crashing down on the ground. Unable to slow down in time, I ended up tripping on them.
"Dammit!" Cursing while I look where my brother continued to run and got away. Apologizing to the stand owner and helping them clean up, Gabriel found me.
"Looks like Riely got the best of you," Gabriel says, amusingly. Sighing with irritation from his mocking.
"Did you have any luck?" Asking him while putting the last pots and pans back on the stand.
"Yea, I did actually."
"Did you catch the girl?"
"I didn't have to." Looking up at him, he had a big grin on his face.
"What do you mean?"
"The girl didn't run from me. Instead, she let me catch up to her so we could talk."
"And?.." Why would she stop?
"She said she will take us to your brother, but first we have to meet with her."
"When?.." Why would she go behind my brother's back? From what I saw, they were close to one another.
"Right now she is sitting in a cafe back this way." He points behind him.
"Then what are we waiting for." Saying to him as I walk past him to where he pointed.
Going inside the cafe where the girl was going to meet us. I spot her in a booth drinking what looked liked coffee. Taking a seat in front of her, Gabriel takes one next to her.
"Good afternoon your highnesses." She says calmy.
"Why are you helping us?" Asking her bluntly. Gabriel kicks me underneath the table.
"Sorry for my cousin's rudeness. What he means is why do you want to help us?" Gabriel says to her a little more nicely.
"Before I answer that question, I have to ask one."
"What is your question?"
"After all this time, you finally come look for him. Riley told me everything that happened between his brother and him. And I got to say after everything he has done for you. You toss him away like he is nothing. So my question is, why do you want Riley? give me the answer I'm looking for, I will help you. Give me an answer I don't like, I won't." She says as she sips on her coffee.
"Can we have a name?" Gabriel asks her.
"My name is Shanta."
"Well, Shanta, the reason we need him is for the good of this kingdom. After all, he is a higher prince, and we need him to come home to help with some things. Their private royal affairs." Studying her, I could tell she had information.
"You know why Riley ran from me, don't you?" I ask her as I study her some more.
"I know why and it's not the reason you think."
"Then why is he running?"
"It has something to do with the prophecy that involves you two." Riley found information about the prophecy about us? Is that what he's been doing this whole time? "Before we continue, are you going to answer my question? The Alpha King has given me his, so what is your answer, Higher King?"