Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

felt like he’d had too much to drink. The feeling warmed his insides and melted his mood. Each care flitted away like dandelion spores on the wind.

Moved by the slow, delicate melody, Kai swept Rayna into his arms. Around her neck, her emerald teardrop crystal hung on a silver chain. “How did you get the chain already?” he asked.

“Orin brought it to me,” she responded softly. “He can fashion one for you as well.”

Lost in her deep brown eyes, Kai guided her around the floor. This was their first real dance. For the first time in their relationship, they were free to be open with their affection. There was no class divide, no betrothal to separate them.

The melody folded around them. In his mind, nobody else existed but them. Kai felt his heart swell with passion, and his eyes turned green. Rayna's brown eyes sparkled in the golden light. Without asking, he lowered his face to hers and kissed her. They had only kissed a few times over the years, yet none compared to this.

When he opened his eyes. Rayna gazed at him. He was sure if the lights were brighter, she would be blushing. “This is our first dance, you know.”

“Do we not count the dances in front of my house?” she asked.

“You mean with your parents watching and a two-foot space between us? No, I cannot say that counts. Plus, that was not romantic.”

“True,” she agreed.

One tune blended into the next, and they continued to dance, their conversation light and happy. When Kai and Rayna tired, they stopped for water and food, both of which helped clear his intoxicated mind.

While they ate, Kai felt a presence. Someone was watching him. Around the edge of the room, he caught a hint of a man. One moment the stranger was there; the next, he was gone. Dim lighting made it difficult to know if the man was real or imaginary. It made Kai wonder if he were more than a little drunk.

Diverting Kai’s attention, Rayna pulled him back to the dance floor. Sweet music lulled him into her arms. Then he felt it again. A presence was calling to him. He scanned the room as best he could. Each time Kai swirled around, he thought he saw someone, but then they were not really there. He squinted towards a decorative pillar. Again, he saw a man leaning against the column, dressed in dark blue with long sandy blond hair and a sharp goatee.

This time Kai stopped their spin and swayed in place. He stared at the man. The stranger had a maturity in his eyes. Upon closer inspection, Kai noticed a few gray hairs. Then the man slowly blended into the stone and disappeared.

Shocked by what he saw, Kai focused. Even with gleaning, the man was not there. How is that possible? Kai wondered. Then the man was back. The stranger pressed his hands together and bowed to Kai. With a coy smile, he vanished from sight.

Kai combed the room, both with his eyes and his mind. Determined, he focused and pushed a pulse to find the face he saw. As he searched the crowd, people turned and looked around. They had felt his energy wash over them.

Determined to find the invisible man, Kai continued to search. In the archway, Kai saw the faint outline of a man—a splash of light illuminated his face. A smirk tugged at the corner of the man’s mouth. Again, he gave Kai a bow. The stranger reached out with his hand, pulled and twisted, drawing his fist in toward his stomach. The stranger absorbed the energy into himself and disappeared.

A grin formed on Kai’s mouth. To become invisible, you absorb light, draw it into your core. Thanks for the hint. Not that it told him how, but it was a start. Kai was unsure, but he wanted to believe the man might be his grandfather, Benmar. The features and coloring were indeed a match for his own—and for the vile marauder Keegan.

Kai resumed his spin around the room, Rayna nestled against his shoulder. Fewer and fewer people danced. Seated groups began to collect their belongings and depart. Many were gathering around the arches.

“I think the party is winding down,” he said. “I have no idea where we will be staying while we are here.” They stopped dancing, and Kai gestured toward the arch they had entered. “We should wait there for Haygan. We also need to find our clothes.”

Under the archway, Kai leaned against the stone wall. Rayna mingled with people saying goodnight. From a distance, Kai enjoyed watching her. Her tan skin was a sharp contrast to the white dress she wore under the green silks the women had given her. Even in the moonlight, he could see her soft aura still in bloom without gleaning.

As a face crossed in front of Kai’s view of Rayna, he beheld Lucca. His grandfather looked young, thirty-five or forty tops. Not a strand of gray hair. The years did not add up. There was too much wisdom in the man’s eyes. “Lucca.” Kai acknowledged his mother’s father with a polite nod.

“Kai,” Lucca nodded, his expression neutral.

Although the man tried to appear relaxed, he stood with his hands in his pockets. Kai had the impression the man was avoiding their history. Their real connection. It was difficult not to notice Lucca’s dark brown eyes; they reminded him of Mariana.

Unsure how to feel, Kai held his breath. He did not know this man. Not to mention he could only assume that Lucca stood against him and pushed the Guardians to fight to keep him and Rayna out. As one of the few Lumens, he himself could have helped block Kai’s ability to glean. Now he was trying to play nice. No. Lucca was a stranger. “Can I help you, Lucca?”

Lucca raised an eyebrow. “I wanted to see how you are doing.”

“Do you really care?” The hostility in Kai’s heart vomited out his mouth without thought.

Lucca seemed taken back.