Ona was out of the palace in her dark
purple dress decorated with tiny purple crystals walking around to admire the
whole kingdom with its people. Her eyes caught three ladies walking up to her
and she suddenly smiled.
"You look so beautiful queen," one brunet
said.
"Yes, she's telling the truth, you are a
beautiful queen." The one with freckles all over her face and brown skin tone
uttered with admiration.
"And your necklace, it's so – shiny and
inviting." The blonde with ocean blue eyes complimented Ona's necklace Zephyrus
made for her.
Ona this time made her hair slicked back,
tucked over her ears, and fell at the back to the base of her back – exposing
her glowing, oval-shaped face and the gorgeousness.
"Thank you so much," with a smile to each
of them and they passed her with whispers. She didn't know what to feel about
those compliments.
Well, she continued her journey. She was
looking for some inspiration in the kingdom to put her imagination into the
painting.
She encountered children playing on her
left side some greeted her with smiles and she greeted back. Few people stared
at her with admiration, some smiled and some showed fear of respect, that's not
what she wanted. Ona wanted to be one of them, not like how she was in
Calanthir Kingdom, however, royalty seemed not to want to leave her.
Gosh…
"Sky, I need water," she said as soon she
stepped into Skylark shop and found him with Nia showing each other something
inside the book.
"Okay Queen," Skylark hurriedly poured
water for her inside a glass well decorated with flowers.
Ona welcomed it and gulped.
Since Zephyrus left, Ona's body had been
acting oddly and it's only been a few hours and she was trying so hard to
ignore the feelings inside her.
"I love this one so much, gosh, you can
also design for men!" Skylark's voice was audible over the counter.
Ona wanted to indulge in whatever the two
were showing each other but her body was acting somehow that she remained on
the chair facing the two.
Nia was wearing a fawn tight dress exposing
her medium body with her elbow resting on the counter facing Skylark and
focused on the book.
"And this one, I just sketched this one,
this morning…. What do you think?" Nia said.
Nia seemed so happy and settled but even
though she was, her heart was aching and crying for Zyphyr. She and Zyphyr made
love more than normal people would and she still felt a need to be around her
mate, something she never felt with Kael.
She and Kael would spend hours without
seeing each other in the Calanthir kingdom due to their work and yes she would
miss him but not like how she was missing Zyphyr.
"Ona, you would be good in this one," Nia
said turning to Ona. "What's wrong baby?" she asked after finding Ona shut her
eyes.
"It's nothing, I think I walked long in
these heels and under the sun… I just feel tired," she said and gestured for
more water. Skylark poured her one. "I was just looking for inspiration for my
painting."
"Ooh, so you paint… I would love to see
some," Skylark said walking up to her with a glass of water.
Ona grabbed it and started drinking then
said, "I haven't started yet, but I would love to show you some. Come to the
palace one day when you're free."
"Oh yes, we would love to have you there,"
Nia quickly agreed too.
Ona was a queen, so Skylark knew that he
had no means of saying no, so he gave her a nod and smile.
"Perfect, I'm leaving now."
****
Ona found Clio in her yellow flower dress
matching her hair pinned with silver hair clippers in the kitchen going through
some recipes.
"Clio, do you have food in there?" Ona
gently asked.
"Yes, Queen," Clio turned herself and
agreed.
"I'm not a queen Clio, don't address me
like that, I'm Ona…" Her voice was weak and Clio could feel that.
Clio didn't allow Ona to make herself food.
She stopped her from going to the pots on the stove.
"Queen, I'm sorry I can't call you by your
name, allow me to make you some food while you rest, please." Clio stern her
last words watching Ona's reluctance to go and sit on the couch or chair.
Ona was weak and a bit sweaty. Clio was
making food while stealing glances at Ona. Her hands were shaky because if Ona
collapsed in front of her, what was she going to do?
The kingdom had a hospital but Clio was
scared of Zephyrus no matter how much she thought Zephyrus was a good King. His
presence was loud and exuded his rule of the kingdom.
She was done dishing up the Queen and
walked up to her with food and water inside a long glass and put them on the
table.
Ona was frustrated, she felt hunger and now
that the food was in front of her, her appetite vanished out of the window.
"Please cover them for me, I'm going to the
painting room," she grabbed a glass of water and brought it to her lips to gulp
twice.
"I'm going with you," Clio had her arms
crossing her stomach and playing with her fingers nervously with a kitchen rug
crossing her shoulder.
Ona stood up, not in an upright pose and
her motion was slower, and said, "I need to be alone."
"Where is Nia?" she hurriedly asked.
"Female shop," Ona said and walked slowly
away from Clio.
Clio didn't know what to do but she knew
that she had to run to get Nia as soon as possible.
She walked out and thank god, the whole
house was guarded with warriors outside.
"Hi, can you please go to Sense of Female
Boutique and call Nia for me?" The warrior she pled gave her a nod and started
walking away. Clio hurried back into the house to Ona at the back.
She stayed at the painting room door and
listened to all the noises Ona was making inside proving that she was still
conscious.
****
Zephyrus was with the king of Valtira. King
Gerome. King Gerome was told by two other kingdoms about Kalus and Gideon
claiming they were from his Kingdom that they were bred, worked there, and also
left their families there.
Zephyrus showed him the faces of the two
thieves and he did not even recognize them. Zephyrus read his thoughts and
truly he never saw or knew them while Zyphyr and the rest were out of the royal
palace and searching for Kalus in the kingdom.
"We can offer you some sleep and food to
continue your journey tomorrow," the king said.
King Gerome looked old, over 70 years with
no Queen he lost last year due to illness.
Zephyrus agreed to the generous offer. He
was not tired but he had to think of Zarek and the two.
Hours went by, they were offered food while
eating with the king at the same table with few men.
Zephyrus's mind was no longer there, he
needed his Queen right in his arms to feel her under him, smell her scent, and
admire her beautiful face.
He wasn't aware that time was moving when
King Gerome was speaking to him.
"Your rooms are ready, these ladies will
show you the way," King Gerome said.
"Thank you, King," Zephyrus said and
followed the lady in stylishly torn leather dress exposing her back and walking
with arched back and seductively not knowing Zephyrus's mind was reeling of Ona.
She stepped in first and said, this is your
room." With a seductive voice and smile.
The only seduction that could turn him on,
was Ona's seductive chuckle.
"Close the door after you," Zephyrus firmly
said.
She watched the lady making a murky face.
He stared back showing no interest whatsoever. She walked to the door and
closed it after her. All the ladies met in the hallway with sulky faces.
Not this gentlemen ladies.
Zyphyr was annoyed with how that lady was
rolling her eyes like she was some sort of animal hungry for anything. If she
knew that he would do anything to go back to his Nia he would, but he also knew
that looking for Kalus and Gideon was the only way to give everyone closure and
they had to embark on the journey.
****
In the dawn, the Zystyria men were already
out of the Valtira kingdom in the forest and heading to the North as their
kingdom was from the south and walking since the only way to teleport to a
certain location, was for a mind to know that location and paint it in its head
but where they were heading, Zephyrus and Zyphyr it was their first time
heading there.
The Valtira Kingdom packed them some water
and food as Zarek was already eating, just after a few hours of walking.
"There," Zephyrus said seeing a small
Kingdom.
The Kingdom was so small, hidden, and
surrounded by long trees and bushes while Zephyrus was hoping maybe Kalus and
Gideon were hiding there.