Page 29 of Taken By Fury
Aimee looked between Orien and him. “I’m not following?”
“Allow me,” Orien spoke up. “Lomara was my betrothed, but Zander conspired to have her for himself.”
“Conspired? You son of a bitch!” He ground his jaw. “Do you know what it was like to watch the female you love, the one destined to be yours, prepare for her wedding to your brother?” He dialed down his anger, but only because Aimee was standing right next to him, and Greydon was giving off vibes that said he was about to show Zander a new form of pain.
“I never touched her, Orien. I was faithful to you even though each day I breathed was like a sharp fiery blade in my heart.”
“Oh, Zander.” Aimee touched his arm, her eyes filled with unshed tears because his new sister had a heart of pure gold. She sucked in a breath. “I believe you may be right. I was able to trace the family in the home Sheila was in. The one with the portrait that looks so much like her.”
She took a step back and folded her hands in front of her. “That family fled here with the others, but I fully believe they are Sheila’s distant relatives.” She looked back at Greydon. “Your brother went back to your home and brought me all the scrolls and books kept in that time period before you were attacked. Bethany and I have poured over every piece of paper and managed to pull together somewhat of a timeline.”
“She is remarkable, my mate.” Greydon beamed with pride. “Everyone shall meet in the solarium in twenty minutes, and Aimee will share what she has found. As far as the doctor being Lomara, it is up to one of you to explain the situation to her. From there, the choice is her own. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sire,” the brothers spoke in unison.
“I will tell her.” Zander would be damned if he would let Orien tell her. He was bonded to her. She was his responsibility.
* * *
Zander had cometo tell her that everyone was meeting, and the queen had information that might lead to Sheila’s past. As she walked next to Zander, she was a bundle of nervous energy.
“Did she tell you anything?”
“Nothing more than she had learned where the family in the portrait had gone and was able to fill in some history between Atlantis falling and today.”
She gave him a nervous glance. Why did she feel like he was hiding something? “I feel like I’m going to hyperventilate.”
“Relax. You already know you’re a Valarian. The hard part is in the past.”
He had a point. Now it was only a matter of learning who she was and where she came from. They arrived at the solarium, where the king and queen sat with Fang and Bethany while Orien stood in a corner looking out the window into the garden. He didn’t even cast them a glance as they walked in and took a seat. Sheila wanted to enjoy the beautiful room, but her nerves were strung far too tight.
“I know you are both nervous and excited so I’ll get right to what I discovered.” Aimee shifted in her seat next to Greydon before she continued. “The family in the portrait is definitely your ancestors. They left here when Uuna had to hide the city. Their story ends there but thanks to my mate––” She offered him a smile. “He went and collected the information back in the world where he grew up. That collection of documents filled in a lot of blanks. Many of those who fled Atlantis went on to build villages that spread out across South America, which explains the ruins you and Zander visited. It’s highly likely your ancestors lived in that very building you were drawn to.”
Sheila looked around at everyone else, who seemed to hang on Aimee’s every word. Except Orien. He was still staring at something outside, and she had to wonder what it might be. Maybe it was nothing at all, but for some reason, she felt a pull toward him and hated to see him so distant from the rest of his family. Had Zolar done that to him?
“About six hundred years or so ago, many of the Valarians came together at the urging of Greydon’s father, who was king, and found it difficult to rule with his people scattered. That’s when they created a home away from the humans.” She looked at Greydon.
“My father created his kingdom in what you might refer to as the first level of Hell.”
She blinked. “Hell, as in the place where the devil lives and those who don’t get into heaven go to reside?”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that. There is no devil, as humans seem to like to think. Yes, there are seven levels to Hell. The seventh being much like you have been led to believe as far as being full of fire and brimstone. However, humans are not sent there to be tortured. It’s simply a home to different species, as is each level of Hell,” Greydon said.
She wasn’t sure what to think now. Nothing made sense anymore, but she nodded anyway, so Aimee would continue.
“Anyway, the king was able to bring many of his people to this new home, and your ancestors were among those who went. The years went by, and Greydon was born a little over five hundred years ago, followed by Orien and Zander. Also, around four hundred years ago, a female named Lomara was born. She grew up with the princes and it was her father that asked the king to betroth his daughter to the middle prince, to which he agreed.”
She felt Lomara was somehow important. “Is Lomara one of my ancestors?”
Aimee smiled. “In a sense, yes.”
Her gaze bounced around the room, and the discomfort was an entity of its own. “Why do I feel like there is something you guys are hiding?”
Greydon stared first at Orien, then to Zander. “Which of you are going to tell her?”
“I will,” Zander said. “But I will do it alone.”
“As you wish.” Greydon rose and so did everyone else except Orien, who simply stormed from the room. Once everyone was gone, Zander took a seat on the cushioned stool at her knees.
