The Empath : The Alterealm Series Book 3

“I have to be honest, I’m a bit disappointed you picked the room on this side.”

I jolted and turned to see Chase leaning against the doorjamb grinning at me. I glanced around the room I’d been brought too when I’d been so ill. “This one has the closet mall.”

“I’ll have them begin building a mall on my side immediately to entice you to come over.” Straightening away from the door, he walked slowly toward me.

I could sense him trying to figure out my emotional state. “If you’re anticipating dramatics, you’ll be happy to know there won’t be any.” I shrugged. “Sudden life changes are something I’m very used to.” I motioned around the room. “Although I must confess, I’ve never had somewhere so vast to hide in on short notice.”

He walked slowly by the dresser and noted my belongings on it. “I pictured you having backup locations and safe houses scattered all over the world.”

I turned back to the case open on the bed. “Oh, I do, but most are just small places of no significance, easy to get to when the situation seems irrevocably dire.”

Chase stopped and stood beside me. Tucking his hands into his pockets he watched me take things out and fold them. “I don’t suppose I can have a list of those places.”

“For what purpose?” I set the shirt on the bed and looked at him. He had an odd expression on his face. Not a strange odd, but one of hesitation. “You think I’m going to disappear and move on?”

“The thought has crossed my mind, more than once since meeting you.” With a gentle touch he held my chin and searched my face. “Am I wrong?”

I couldn’t lie to him. “I have considered it a few times, but it’s different now. I know I’m not alone—in how I am. I’ve never had that before.”

“You’ll never be alone again, in any sense.”

Taking a deep breath, I held it momentarily then released it. “I don’t think that’s sunk in completely yet. It’s…” I gave him a wide-eyed look. “I suddenly have a father and people I care about.”

“And that I’m sure is something you had given up wishing for.”

“More like yearned for.” I grimaced. “I had my woe-is-me period during my sixties.”

He smirked. “Have I mentioned you are the sexiest young woman I’ve ever seen?”

I laughed. “I will never get used to knowing there are others so much older than I am.”

“We are children compared to some.” He dropped his hand away and put it back in his pocket. “We have some time until the others are back or awake,” he frowned, “I don’t even know who should or shouldn’t be sleeping at the moment.” Shaking his head, he gave me a tender look. “I thought we could go see your father, if you like.”

“Oh, he’s doing well enough?” My heart beats increased.

He nodded slowly, “I just spoke to the doctor and he believes his condition is under control now, so a short visit would be allowed.”

“I-I…” I held my hand over my heart beating faster. “Yes, I’d like to see him.”

He held out his hand, paused and reached to tuck his pendant I still wore into my top. “The doctor says not to ask too many questions at this point, just let him choose what he wishes to talk about.”

I took his hand and nodded. “All right. Honestly, I have so many questions, I wouldn’t know where to begin.” I looked up at him. “Speaking with my father was something I never thought I would be doing.”

“I know. I’m going to be there. The doctor may feel he’s under control, but I’m not taking any chances.”

I remembered Levi’s reaction the last time. “I am a quite nervous.”

Lifting my hand, he kissed it then winked at me. “I know. I can feel what you feel.”

I stopped abruptly. “That is odd, usually I’m the one doing that.”

Chase chuckled. “Emotion feeder, remember?”

We started walking again. “You could feel them before the blood bond?”

He smirked. “More like taste them, but now I feel them as well.”

I glanced at him for a second, before turning my attention to where we were going. “More for me to think about.”

“If I could get you thinking less and feeling more, I’d be a happy man.”

“Can’t always have it your way, your majesty.” I inclined my head in a mock bow.

“As you say, my Queen of Light.” he murmured teasingly.

Glaring at him, I offered no reply. I did, however, note that despite all that was happening he always made me feel better.

We stood outside my father’s room for several minutes. He was reading on a screen built into his wall. Chase explained he was now in what was considered the medical wing of the vast cells, and was allowed some privileges. I had to wonder if he’d been given special attention because he was my father. After all, he had intended to decapitate Daxx, something I’m sure her mate wouldn’t forget. He seemed more at ease than the last time I’d see him.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

I glanced to the man patiently standing beside me. “A moment more.” I whispered, still feeling far too much uncertainty to go in and speak to a man I’d never thought existed.

Chase did something on a panel beside the door and stepped into the hall. “I’ll be right back.”

I watched him go into the cubicle-sized room with my father.

“Mister Berg. Do you know who I am?”

My father stood slowly. “I do.”

Chase continued to stand just inside the door, looking very much a ruler at that moment. “Do you remember meeting your daughter when you were brought to the cells?”

A pained look appeared on my father’s face. “I-I do, vaguely. I thought I’d imagined her until I spoke to the Warden of Justice. Did I…” He frowned, “Did I frighten her?”

“She was upset.”

“I didn’t mean to, I was consumed with grief all over again.”

“We understand that, Mister Bergs, I may not know what you’ve been through, but I do sympathize with it, what you’ve been through.”

“Thank you, my king.”

“Am I?” Chase studied him for a moment. “Your king? Last time you mentioned my family, I do believe you said our kingdom would burn.”

My father bowed his head. “I don’t recall exactly what I said or thought then. I’m sorry, my king, I still have moments of little clarity.”

Chase stood there watching him for a minute. “How are you feeling right now, in terms of your clarity?”

“I am doing well today.” His voice was barely a whisper.

“Well enough to have a short visit from your daughter?”

My father’s head snapped up. “Yes. Yes I am. Please.”

Chase closed the distance between them. My father was only a few inches shorter than Chase, but lacked the confidence the blond king had, seeming more drawn into himself and much smaller. “There are a few things you need to understand before she comes in.” He paused and watched him. “Your daughter is an empath, so if you have another episode similar to the last time, you will cause her distress, and I will not allow that.”

Levi’s eyes widened. “She has an ability? That’s…”

“Do you understand Mister Berg?” Chase’s tone wasn’t allowing any doubt of who was superior in their relationship.

“Yes. Yes, I will control myself.”

“I will be staying in the room the whole time to ensure that you do. Your daughter is very important to me, and is under my protection.”

The expression on my father’s face changed to concern. “Is she in some sort of danger?”

“The faction you were working with is after her…”

“What? No.” Levi paced to the other side of the room. “No, you can’t let them near her.” He spun around. “You must keep her safe.”

Chase watched him carefully as he moved around the cell, returning to stand in front of him. “I intend to.” He waited for my father’s stance to relax. “At a later date, when you’re feeling better, anything you can recall to assist us in stopping them from taking other father’s daughters—it would work in your favor.”

I realized what he was doing. Knowing my father’s awareness of having a daughter brought new light to the situation. Having heard and felt what I had in the last few weeks, I couldn’t find fault in a king using any tactic available to him to protect innocent people.

“I will try to fit the fragments together, my king. Just please keep her safe from them.”

Chase nodded abruptly. “I’ll go get her.” He spun on his heel and left the cell. I watched the door close behind him. He came in and stood in front of me. “Ready?”

I glanced back at Levi. “He’s so much more lucid than before.”

“He’ll always require the medication. Losing your mate is a grief that never subsides.” He offered his hand.

I nodded and took it. “I know.” I whispered. The years with my mother would never fade from my memory. The desolate months with her barely existing—consumed with a grief that I had mistaken for mental infirmities.

He paused before opening the door. Lifting my chin, he kissed me softly. “If it becomes too much, let me know.”

I nodded, too anxious to speak.

When we stepped in, my father straightened and smiled. He motioned to the chair and little table in the corner. “Please sit.”

I went over and sat on the edge of the chair.

He quickly sat on his bed.

Chase remained in front of the door, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression a rigid warning.

“I don’t…” Levi shrugged, “I don’t know what to say. Where to begin.”

I offered a small smile. “Neither do I.”

His eyes were so much like mine, it felt like I was looking in a mirror.

“You have your mothers’ features, it’s haunting.”

“If it’s too much, I can go and come back another time.”

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s not unbearable.” He looked at Chase. “I suspect I’m being given a large dose of drugs to keep it manageable.

“Is it helping then?” I asked him.

He was quiet for a moment. “As well as it can, I imagine.” Placing his hands on the mattress, he leaned against the edge of the bed, looking at the floor and then back to me. “I have many regrets in my long life. The latest, of course, you’re well aware of.” He shook his head, his expression lightening briefly, “I didn’t feel it at the time, but now after much thought, I feel pride—the way you took me down in that underground cavern.” He sat there looking at me, the pride shining in his eyes.

A lump formed in my throat. I’d never had someone look at me that way.

The smile faded, “I will never forgive myself for leaving your mother behind.” The words came out fast, as if he had to say it quickly or not at all.

I felt tears fill my eyes at the emotion in his voice. A feeling of warmth filled me, and I knew Chase was helping me keep my own feelings under control.

“I’d like…” Levi blew out a shaky breath. “I would like to explain, if I may?”

I nodded, unable to find my voice.

“I loved your mother, with all of my heart.” He looked back to the floor. “Even before I realized we were mates. I courted her for months before we even held hands—” He closed his eyes, a small smile on his face. “Which is quite the struggle when fate brings you a mate.” He glanced to Chase then back to me. “Resisting instinct.” Exhaling slowly, his eyes searched my face. “We had been discussing her coming over with me, it was both elating and exciting—then things,” he looked uncomfortable, almost embarrassed, “took their natural course and I unintentionally marked her. We spent a few weeks after that planning. We didn’t do the blood bond because I knew it would cause too much discomfort to be separated so early in our mating.”

Levi stared at the floor for several minutes, many expressions appearing on his face during that time.

I could find no words to speak, so I waited in the heavy silence.

“When I came back here, I applied to bring my mate over, then quickly set about finding us a home…” He shook his head. “Many fell ill, in a matter of days—then it stretched into months.” He blew out a ragged breath. “My sister,” his eyes returned to mine, “your aunt, became sick.” His face filled with grief. “We lost her.”

A tear rolled down my cheek.

“My—your grandparents were devastated.” He sighed softly. “I think because of her vulnerable state; my mother became ill. She lived through it, but there were months for her to recover her full strength again.” His eyes connected with mine. “I didn’t want to risk bringing Eva over during the epidemic—I didn’t want to lose her.” He stopped and squeezed his eyes shut.

I could feel his pain as tears began to roll down my cheeks.

“Alona?” Chase inquired quietly.

“I’m all right, Chase.”

My father looked from Chase to me slowly. “I’m sorry. It still hurts me. I had no idea how bad it was where you and your mother were—I never would have left her there that long if I’d known.” He stood up and went to the small sink. Filling a cup of water, he sipped it for a moment. “Everyone we’d known in that neighborhood was gone when I went back. I don’t know if they moved or died…” He set the cup down and went back to the bed. “I had no way of finding her. I knew she was alive, I could feel it through our mark, but I couldn’t find her…you.” His voice cracked with emotion. “I traveled from city to city. I searched camps—records of the dead. I just—she—I-I couldn’t find you.” He kept waving his hand around, his voice getting louder with each word.

I could feel his emotions becoming more chaotic. These emotions resonated inside me, the same I’d felt from my mother for months on end. She’d go from melancholy to frantic, to barely moving for hours. My heart sped up. I looked to Chase, he was watching me, a serious expression in his eyes. He moved away from the door.

“Mister Berg, Levi, you need to settle down or Alona will have to leave.” Chase said it quietly, but there was no mistaking his authority.

“I know,” Levi looked at me. “I’m trying—I don’t think—” He took deep breaths. “You should go for now, my lovely daughter.”

I could feel him trying not to come apart in my presence. I got up. I wanted so much to comfort him, but I couldn’t when he was so upset, I would absorb it all. “I’ll come back in a few days…father.”

He looked at me, his face filled with pain. “Yes.” He said hoarsely.

Chase put his hand on my back and guided me out of the room. When the door closed, and my father could no longer see, he spun me and pulled me into his arms.

“It wasn’t his fault.” I whispered more to myself then him.

“No, it wasn’t.” Chase ran his hands up and down my back in a soothing motion.

I could feel waves of warmth filling me from him through the bond. “It changes everything I believed.” I said against his chest.

“I know. It’s going to take time to digest.” He kissed the top of my head. “How does a glass of wine and a hot bath sound?”

“What about meeting the others?’

He wiped the dampness from under my eye. “I’ll stall them while you have some quiet time.”

“How will you do that?” I was in no hurry to move further from his warm body, it was comforting.

He winked. “I can be very distracting and entertaining when need be.”

I smiled and looked up at him. “I have no doubt you can be.” I gently tugged his goatee. “It must be this flirty beard.”

His eyes went wide. “Behave, or I’ll move the meeting to outside your bathroom door while you’re relaxing.”

“You wouldn’t.”

He smirked. “Oh yes, duchess, I would.”