Ryker, Ezra and Destiny

"That is enough for today. I am exhausted." Reginald told her and stood up.

Kara's eyes twitched. "No no no. You are not doing that to me. You won't just tell me I'm going to be a murderer and walk off into the sunset."

"Murderer? What are you talking about? Is this about Loid?"

"Yes yes yes. He was a variable, doesn't that make me sort of a liability. Plus we haven't talked about Hera. Are we just going to act as if it is normal for me to have another soul residing in my body?" She almost screamed.

This was tiring. A part of her felt guilty because Reginald looked frail.

"And why are you looking so... breakable today?" She sighed. "Plus you said something along the lines of your time is near. What do you mean by that?"

He stared at her, his lips parted as if he was about to say something then he closed it.

"Please just tell me the things I need to know, the things that affect me." She placed her hand on her chest and clenched it. "I know I told Destiny I don't want to know and accelerate things just yet but I'm tired. I don't know anymore. I don't know if I'd rather just be back at the orphanage but that would mean I'd still be in the dark about who I am. What I am. I'm not going to lie, you are all making it feel the same way."

Reginald reached out as if to comfort her but stopped midway when she stepped back. Blue eyes that begged him reminded him of his sister's. The wool that was their destiny was already being woven.

"Tomorrow. I'll answer your questions tomorrow. Know that everything changes. Just humor me for tonight, I'd like to read a book by the candlelight one more time before all hell breaks loose." He gave her a wry smile.

Her nose flared but she nodded okay and walked away. She felt him watching her but she didn't turn back. She found herself in the dungeons some minutes later, about to open Griffin's door. With a sigh, she did.

Griffin lifted its head to stare at her before lazily dropping it and closing its eyes.

"Well, hello to you too." She glared and closed the door behind her.

Kara noticed it had probably just finished devouring the thigh of some animal. Reginald was feeding it well, Griffin had put on some weight.

"You've gotten fat. Well, at least one of us is enjoying life." She bent down and curled up beside it.

It unfurled its wings and pulled her closer. Kara relaxed into its body.

****

Destiny observed the boys before her, austere expressions etched on their faces. She didn't expect less from the shadow prince and his dark horse... that was what she'd heard them being called. Young prodigies with fierce loyalty for one another.

"And you are doing this for Kara?" She teased, a playful smile on her face.

The prince averted his eyes and his companion's lips twitched.

"For both of them." He answered, a flush having crept to his cheeks. He cleared his throat. "So what did she say?"

He was too adorable. She decided to let him off.

"Give me your word that you've swept the area and no one is listening." She took on a serious look, down to business.

Ezra Knight nodded. "You have our word. No one will come close without us knowing."

She sighed. "Okay okay. The first part of the prophecy is hers. All up to the point where it says 'betrayed by its kin'."

Ryker closed his eyes for a bit. What a shame! Destiny thought he had really beautiful eyes. If only she was a couple years younger. She sighed.

Ezra leaned in. "He has that effect on everyone. Got all the good genes in the family."

"Must be hard being related."

"Dreadfully so."

Ryker opened his eyes and rolled it. "I'm standing right here people."

Destiny and Ezra laughed. She liked them. Liked them for Kara. For shadows, they had a welcoming air around them. Maybe their charm was their weapon.

"Did you tell her?" She asked.

Ryker winced and slide into a chair opposite her. "I can't exactly tell her 'oh hey the name is Ryker, I'm your mate. Pleased to meet you. I hope we get along fine.', now can I?"

Destiny chuckled. "Fair enough. But you'll have to tell her very soon. She can't keep avoiding the inevitable and you can't keep trying to protect her."

"She's still new to all of these."

"So was I once. She'll get used to it. She's already doing fine. You all should stop trying to control everything around her, she must be prepared for when no one can control the events. And that is sooner than you think." She scolded him.

"Told ya." Ezra mocked.

Ryker sighed. Definitely sooner than they all think. Things were moving faster than they predicted. Sanity for the first 18 years of her life was looking very bleak.

"Maybe Reginald was right, they shouldn't have kept her in the dark. She should have grown up here and gotten used to things here." Ezra thought out loud.

Ryker shook his head. "It wouldn't have made things better. She would have been a target all her life."

Two souls in one body, one vengeful and the other, powerful. If they couldn't control her, they would want her dead. Ryker understood that part very well, powerful people never want others to be better than them.

"Caramel has been quiet. Way too quiet." Ezra commented out of the blue.

They nodded in unison. Caramel was the shadow sister. Ambitious and at whatever cost.

"I feel as though there is something we are missing, something we've not thought about. The news about Kara should have spread by now, I'm sure some have figured her out." Ryker muttered to himself.

Destiny's phone rang and she walked out. Ezra came to stand in front of his best friend, brother and future king.

"She's wonderful." Ryker said with a childish grin.

Ezra rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "You don't know much about her."

"I know enough."

"Oh I forgot you stalked her all these years." Ezra smirked and they walked out of the library.

"Protected her."

"When will you tell her you were the one who broke the noses of her bullies?"

Ryker turned his head and glared at Ezra.

"Protection. Besides, I did THEM a favor." He explained lamely.

"Uh huh."