Rebalance: Kiara Noir Mother Nature Series, #2

By Suz Eglington

Award winning Kiara Noir Mother Nature series continues with book 2 in Kiara's adventure to secure her position among the rulers.

 

Kiara Noir was a few weeks away for turning eighteen. With nearly a year and a half of queen college under her belt, a grandiose birthday ball ahead there was much to do.

 

Learn the customs, cultures, and names of each province representative. Learn how to dance. Learn how to ride a stag.

Try to understand why the fifth queen keeps scaring Kiara out of her wits, why old cousins are trying to bind to her, and why everyone of them are insane about the idea of freeing Meredith Hallow.

 

With a new sibling, a father she missed out on growing up, Kiara has to figure out where she stands in her family dynamics plus the transition from seventeen to another mile stone in her advancing to eighteen years in age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suz Eglington
• Release date: Dec 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224225347

Book preview

Rebalance

Kiara Noir Mother Nature Series

Suz Eglington

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.

—Robert Frost

Rebalance: Kiara Noir Mother Nature Series Copyright © 2023 by Suz Eglington. All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. 

Cover designed by Suz Eglington 

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. 

Suz Eglington

Visit my website at www.suzeglington.com 

Printed in the United States of America 

First Printing: Dec 2023

Independently Published 

CONTENTS

1. New Life

2. The Protocol of Homeland

3. Kaiden the Great

4. Family Meetings

5. An Invitation from the Queen

6. Master Talon’s Life Coach

7. Daddy Issues

8. Family Dinner

9. Dark O’clock Visitor

10. Bad Blood

11. Dark Arts of Meredith Hallow

12. Dance Lessons

13. Connecting the Lines

14. Permissions

15. History in Maps

16. Fire. Lesson One

17. The Power of Kahn

18. Bathroom Visitor

19. Next in Line

20. Training with the Masters

21. Both Sides of the Coin

22. Delivery of the Declined Invitation

23. Reflections

24. Shaping Fire

25. Natural Springs

26. Snow Queen

27. The Trouble with Relatives

28. Origin of the Family Name

29. Shimmery Patterns

30. Sunday Respects

31. Do’s and Don’ts of Riding a Stag

32. Information, Dreams, and the Power of Three

33. Sitting a Trot

34. Silence is Deafening

35. One Week to the Ball

36. A Calmer Dinner

37. First Guest

38. Connecting Cousins

39. The Power of a Petal

40. Ashes to Ashes

41. The Power of Multiplication

42. I Can Read Your Mind

43. Be Our Guest

44. Monday Meetings

45. Wonder Woman Starter Kit

46. One Big Happy Kingdom ... Not

47. Grandfather and Future Husband

48. The Gift of Life

49. Father Death

50. When is this Going to End?

51. Thursday Packing to Travel

1. New Life

Iam NEVER going to have a baby .

I watched as Mom paced the hall, groaning through the pain. Kahn stood nearby, hovering a few feet out of her reach. He had just experienced a grab so severe by Mom, even I winced.

Mom bent over slightly, groaning through gritted teeth, holding the bulge of her stomach. She jabbed her left index finger at the floor by his feet. You did this to me! She cursed between breaks in the breathing pattern she had adopted a few minutes ago.

I took in Kahn’s facial expression. His eyes were wide, and he held his hands out like he might have to dive and catch the baby.

I sat on the floor watching with my bedroom door wide open. My back against the wood frame, my left knee bent and foot on the floor. My right leg was braced at knee height up on the opposite side of the frame.

I didn’t want to be here. Mom insisted I remain close. This was the closest I was willing to be.

Rodney and I exchanged glances. I mouthed, No way in hell. His goat lips turned up into a smile as he whispered back, reminding me, It’s your fate to produce an heir.

I shifted my gaze back to Mom as I witnessed this whole labor thing unfold.

Mom paused before turning to pace back down the hall in the opposite direction.

She waited, bent over as far as her belly would let her, hands on her hips. She tilted her head to the side and strained her words, Kiara, the dagger. I need the dagger. Put it on the table next to my bed.

Kahn corrected her, Our bed.

She snapped, Silence! as if she were speaking to a servant. She blew out three quick breaths, making an O shape with her lips before she inhaled a deep breath. She repeated the pattern two more times and continued walking again.

Kahn swiveled his head in my direction. His lips pressed in frustration as I moved to stand on my feet. He stepped away from Mom, heading at me.

She snapped, Get back here! You are not leaving me. You did this and now you are going to stay right here. Both her hands rested on her baby bump. Her knees bent and she groaned.

He was blocking Mom’s view from where I stood outside my doorway. We were silently miming our argument. I shook my head for him to stop as I reenforced it with my palms up facing him. I pointed back to Mom, mouthing Go! as quietly and sternly as I could.

Kahn’s eyebrows furrowed; his jaw tightened. He jerked his chin down, staring at the floor frustrated as he let out a loud grumble.

I mouthed him an order to try to help his situation, catching his attention again. Kahn, talk nicely, soothe her. It was vocabulary completely foreign to him, judging from the confused look he was giving me.

Mom gritted out a cry. I speed-walked to her. Kahn was already at her side.

Kahn wrapped his arms around Mom’s shoulders to steady her and prevent her from falling to the floor as she blew out a sequence of breaths.

Mom was calling them contractions. The only experience I had with babies was what I had seen on television. If it got intense, I changed the channel.

I had never actually seen a baby in real life. Well, except animals. I loved baby animals.

Maybe it will come naturally once my new sibling arrives.

It had been over a year now living without the internet or electronics. There was zero ability to plug anything in. This was truly an off-the-grid world.

If Mom had shared more with me about this place, I would have at least printed a bunch of my photos and ordered books. Instead, all I have to go by is what was written by the older generations of queens.

The women in this kingdom are very vague about sharing important information like pregnancy and childbirth.

I, on the other hand, was journaling every day about the experiences I feel will be relevant to share.

Most important for the next generation which follows to have a better idea of the way it is now, and more information to go on.

My second reason was more selfish. There would be evidence to go by if someone killed me.

Etta, the matriarch of the family, wrote her childbirth experience on record for my mother and Jade as: They finally arrived, Gregory holding our dearest Willow, looking so proud as we wait for Jade’s birth. Something was happening. He had to leave. I begged him to stay. He placed Willow in the midwife’s hands. Jade was ready. She was coming. I started pushing. My eyes watched as the door slammed shut. No! There were complications.

I tried to ask Granny about the complications. She shut me right down, chastising me to never speak about that day again.

How was anyone to learn anything around here without being able to ask questions? Especially me. I was raised Topside. Colorado, United States.

I am the future queen. I need answers.

Mom gripped Kahn’s left arm. His lips parted and his eyes bugged out again as he looked up and to the right, turning his face all the way out of Mom’s view.

It didn’t matter. She was staring at the floor, squatting down. When she stopped groaning, she glanced up. Her face sweaty. She gritted out a very focused message to me, with her eyes concentrated on mine and voice forced, It is time. Bring the dagger to my room. Place it next to the bowl of lemon water. Go down into the village and fetch Astrid James.

Who is Astrid James? I didn’t know this woman. How was I to know where she was?

Midwife, Mom breathed out trying to calm herself.

Should I call Etta?

Mom insisted, No! Astrid. Go now. Hurry.

Kahn butted in, I know who she is. I will go. He was looking for any excuse to leave. He was also trying to help the only way he knew how.

Mom squeezed his arm again. No! Kiara is going. I need you here.

The painful squeeze on Kahn’s arm forced him to growl out better directions for me to follow. She has a stall in the village. She sells dried flowers. Go now. Be quick. And all he could do was take the pain Mom was inflicting on him.

I nodded, then shot a troubled look to Rodney, my goat guard. He flicked his horned head for me to come over. I knew he knew more than Kahn did about the villagers. I stopped as he clearly and quickly gave me directions to the midwife’s hut and a brief description of what she looked like.

I reached out in appreciation and rested my hand on his arm. Thank you. Then I ran off down the hall. The sun was just coming up, peeking light through the window, casting strange shadows which clashed with the lit candles.

Mom wanted to keep the birth a secret. I knew this baby was much-anticipated. Another girl meant my three cousins would be another heir farther away from the crown I would take over in three years, on my twenty-first birthday.

The last person I wanted to see this early in the morning was Granny. Yet here she was, standing as if she had been waiting for me at the end of our connecting corridor all night.

I tried to pull off the I-can’t-talk-right-now moment, but she stopped me in my tracks. Kiara!

I knew this tone with her. If I didn’t stop, she would snare me and cease my mobility altogether.

I slowed to a stop. I can’t talk. I must go get someone.

Astrid James?

I gulped, Ahhhh? not knowing how to cover information up. As a matter of fact, yes.

She is here in the castle.

I walked to Granny. I need her.

She corrected me, Willow needs her.

I am just doing what I’m told. Don’t shoot the messenger.

Shoot the messenger?

It’s an expression. I need to bring Astrid to Mom.

I will bring her.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. My eyebrows shot straight up. Mom was not going to like this at all. My mouth tightened and my lips formed an O. Noooo. I don’t think it’s a good idea.

She denied me your birth. I will not allow her to do this again.

I thought for a moment. Mom birthed me completely alone. I moved my head in the direction of our private wing. She doesn’t want anyone extra there. Just Astrid James.

Granny turned, jerking her body to the left, not saying a word, and I followed. My thoughts were not on convincing Granny to stay and let Mom do this alone. No, no, no. She had Astrid James kidnapped.

My thoughts were on how Mom was going to take this. It was a good thing she had limited range of motion, and I was faster than her right now, because this was not going to sit well.

Granny was in full control of the situation. I could hear each of her footsteps pinging off the walls as Etta’s heels touched the smooth stone floor.

My mind raced, playing out the argument Mom would inevitably blast me with when I showed up with Astrid and her mother. There was no reasoning my way out of this situation. I was at Granny’s mercy.

We walked, heading right, away from Etta’s private wing and to the common area of the castle. There sat a lustrous, carbon-black-haired woman with tight curls shaping her enormous head that fell to her jaw line. Her head was larger than I had ever seen on a person, unless I considered Granny in her tree form.

Astrid was a woman of color. I already knew this from Rodney. What I had not expected was her beauty equaling the marble sculpture from the atrium. She was stunning. Her facial lines both sharp and smooth. I stared, unable to look away from her beauty.

She was wearing an outfit similar to the training clothes I was in. She stood upon seeing Granny, her height equaling Kahn and Uncle Finn. Her eyes shifted to mine as I stared at her in admiration. I felt her harmony. Her peacefulness.

Why am I so short? This is so unfair. I am going to be the dwarf queen.

I started thinking about our situation again. Granny commanded orders for Astrid to follow.

Astrid still focused her eyes on mine. She was reading my I-am-so-screwed face. My lips twitched from side to side. Her smile was directed right at me. Those brilliant white teeth against her pale rose lips and dark complexion surged confidence inside of me. Serenity filled my heart. I instantly understood her message of hope.

Granny snapped at Astrid again, this time the way she does to all the other servants. We must go. My daughter is waiting. Granny turned, side-stepping me to avoid a collision as I remained motionless, still holding eye contact with Astrid.

The words came out of me even though she knew. I am Kiara, Willow’s daughter. Mom needs you. I stumbled with my thoughts. Please.

She walked to me and I tilted my head back to look up at her face. She dropped her chin to her chest, softly gazing into my eyes, looking down at me. I know, dear child. She reached her hand over and brushed my cheek. We shall talk later. Come, take me to Willow.

My spine tingled as her aura washed over my skin, my hair, everywhere. Her cool fingers caressed with a familiar feeling.

Have I met her before. I don’t remember it. Maybe at one of the dinners, or Mom and Kahn’s wedding? Maybe my formal announcement accepting the role as queen?

Inside my head, I was certain I knew this woman. I oddly wanted to hug her. I wanted to reach out and wrap my arms around her. I remembered the wheat, earthy scent on her.

Granny called out, Kiara! Willow is waiting. Astrid briefly rested her hand on my shoulder, then lifted it as she walked past me. I took a deep breath, recovering from déjà vu, or whatever I was feeling.

Astrid’s satchel moved in sync with her long, fluid steps. I realized I was still standing there, being left behind.

Mom. I’d better warn her. Off I ran past Astrid and Granny. There was no protest from Etta. A good sign.

I forgot to bring the family dagger to Mom’s room. There was no physical sign or vocals from mom right now. I was a few seconds ahead of Granny and Astrid. Rodney watched me running toward him and he swung my door open.

Where are they? I asked in a panic.

In their master bedroom.

Gran... I mean, Etta and Astrid are right behind me.

Rodney’s eyes grew wider. I darted into my room to grab the dagger. I heard him say, Wouldn’t want to be you right now, in an amusing, but concerned tone.

I answered, running out my room, dagger in hand, I don’t want to be me right now, either. I was still ahead of Granny. Wish me luck.

Rodney reached into my room to close my door. Good luck. A slight smile crept along his lips. We both heard Granny’s footsteps at the same time, and our heads turned in their direction.

There she was. Rodney stood straight, slipping on his poker face. I could see Granny. I called out to her, They are in the master bedroom.

I didn’t wait as I ran to break the news. I barged in. Mom was doing her breathing patterns, bent over the bed. Her left hand braced against her body. Kahn held her right hand with both of his. They both lifted their heads toward me.

Kahn asked, Did you find her?

I nodded yes. Yes, but about that ... I couldn’t get another word out.

Granny entered the room. Mom’s eyes peered at her mother, then she shifted and narrowed them further, directed right at me. She was mad. Astrid walked in around Granny.

Granny took full responsibility, This is not Kiara’s doing, Willow. I sent for Astrid a few days ago. I could feel you. We all can feel you.

Mom clamped her jaw shut as her scream came out in a high growl. Not from what Granny was saying, but from one of those contractions, as Mom called them.

Astrid strode right to Mom. It is time, Willow.

Mom shot a glare to Granny. Leave.

Granny found a spot where she would witness the birth. No. You denied me being there for Kiara. I will not leave you for my next grandchild’s birth.

I, on the other hand, had no problem leaving. I put the dagger where she told me to place it and announced. Dagger is on the table.

Granny recommended, Not a good idea.

Mom answered, If you won’t leave, then I must ask you to remain silent, Mother.

Mom then changed her tone as she jerked her head over to where I was standing. Thank you.

Good. She wasn’t mad at me. I pointed to the door. I’ll be right outside.

There was no way I was going to watch this. I knew she wanted me to be there with her, but right now it was a hard no for me.

Kiara, she woo-woo-heed her breathing. Stay close.

I confirmed, Just on the other side of the door, Mom. I tried to smile, but it was forced. My eyes darted to Kahn, who was trying to let go of her hand. He stared at me as I walked past Mom.

I will wait with Kiara, he announced. My eyes shifted to the door.

Mom commanded, You are staying right here.

But? I heard him try to reason. Mom was not allowing him to go anywhere.

I was safely outside in the hall. I could hear the suggestions coming from Granny, and Mom shutting each one down with grit and spite.

The baby was coming. The groans turned to screams. I could hear Astrid coaching her to push and Kahn telling her to breathe as she silenced him again. There was a hushed back-and-forth discussion between Kahn and Astrid.

Granny said something to Kahn I didn’t quite hear. I was trying to block it all out, as I covered my ears and sank to the floor against the wall. Again, I vowed to myself I would never have a baby.

It was quiet. Oddly quiet. I uncovered my ears and stood up off the floor. Panic waved through me. I stepped, ready to rush the door. Then I heard a cry. A tiny, little cry.

The door whooshed open and Kahn came rushing out, his face radiating happiness. He grinned wide, teeth showing and all. A true ear-to-ear smile. It looked as if his eyes were wet from tears.

He came straight to me. He grabbed both of my shoulders and bent to stare into my eyes. It’s a boy, Kiara! I have a boy! He was so proud. You have a brother. A boy!

He let go. I must tell everyone. He turned and sauntered down the hall. His hands reached up to his face and he broke into a jog. I could hear him announce to Rodney, A boy! I have a boy!

He was telling anyone and everyone as his voice faded down the hall.

Granny walked out, dejected.

My voice cracked as I asked, Is Mom okay?

She nodded. Willow and the child are well. She spoke the word in crushing disappointment.

I cautiously asked if something was wrong, Etta? Are you okay?

She walked to me and cupped my chin. At least I have one diamond. She released. I will speak with you later. Be in the Lark Room at our scheduled time.

I nodded. Okay. There were a few things on my mind I wanted to speak with her about. One was the over-the-top ball she was planning for me and Katana to celebrate our eighteenth birthdays. Also, I was thinking I was ready to visit the other provinces of the kingdom.

She touched my shoulder with her hand. Rest now, Granddaughter.

Rest? Was she serious? Did she mean she was giving me the morning off? The past three days were already granted by Kahn, with Mom in labor. But it was over. The baby was here and it was Tuesday.

I had my lesson session with Azalea Atwood, and I wanted to see Cole. I reached out, touching her on the back of her arm, Do I have the morning off?

She frowned, revealing her mood to me. No, your schedule will now resume. Rest your mind this is over. And get out of those clothes. Dress for your lesson today. I will see you cleaned up and in proper attire at breakfast.

Dang it. Oh well. At least the torture of witnessing a birth was over. I peeked in. Oh gosh! The sheets were all bloody. It looked like a murder scene. I side-stepped over and the messy situation and let the door block my view.

I called, Mom? I’m going back to my room.

She sounded so sweet, Kiara, come in and meet your brother.

I gulped. My head started to spin. Mom? Can I do it later?

Astrid stepped through the door, allowing me to back up away from the blood and gore. She watched my state of being as the queasiness invaded my gut. I needed to lay down. I touched my mouth with my palm as I held back a gag.

Willow, Kiara needs rest. This poor child has been up for days.

Mom called, Of course, love. Get some rest. You will meet him later.

I mouthed a thank you to Astrid. She tilted her head slightly, understanding it was more than my tiredness.

Kiara, visit me in the village. Invited Astrid.

I nodded, As soon as Gran... Etta lets me have time to. My schedule has been strict the past year. I barely have time off myself.

Her eyes softened as she reached to touch my shoulder. I understand. Soon, though?

Yes.

Good. She brought her hand to the side of my right cheek and rested it lovingly.

I don’t know why, but I automatically leaned into her touch. It felt natural for me to do this. She was warm. I was drawn by  her comfort as I closed my eyes, trying to remember where I knew her from.

She lowered her hand. My dear, sweet child. And just like that, she turned and walked back in with Mom.

2. The Protocol of Homeland

If I lie down right now, that would be it. I will go into a sleep coma.

The better decision was to stay awake. It would be easier on me if there were coffee in this hypocritical kingdom.

Tea was the only caffeine to jump-start my exhausted body. Astrid was right. I had not gotten much sleep the past few days.

I didn’t know what to expect or how a baby was born. The vague health class back in Colorado mostly covered body parts and sexual disease. I couldn’t wait for that class to be over. There were some serious flaws in the preparation-for-adulthood subject. Everyone should be made to watch a birth, and then they wouldn’t have to worry about pregnancy.

I was still worried about Mom, the baby, and what was happening. I was not volunteering for clean-up duty. However, being concerned from the stability of my bedroom was acceptable to me.

I’m so glad it’s over.

One long, rejuvenating shower later and I was ready to face the day. Mom added a baby boy to the family, so today I was wearing blue in the family Huntington honor to celebrate.

When I arrived at the breakfast hall, everyone was talking about Kaiden. Who was Kaiden? With the congratulations going around it took me a moment to understand Mom and Kahn had named the baby boy Kaiden.

I was taken aback they did not inform me first. I had only been in my room for about an hour and a half, and yet everyone knew the baby’s name except me.

Perhaps I should have stopped down to see Mom before coming to breakfast. I thought she would be resting.

The crowd was now moving around even more, with the food arriving on both sides of the dining hall.

The cooks had prepared the traditional morning menu of cooked animals and fruit, then added Mom’s new traditions of pancakes and scrambled eggs.

It took most of the palace residents a full year to come around accepting Mom’s cooking and her additions to the traditional meals.

Some still refused. But Aunt Jade was no longer turning her nose up at it. There she was, wearing a blue frock like mine. The entire family wore blue except Granny.

She was in black, as if someone had died. Interesting choice.

Petal, my youngest cousin, skipped over to me from across the room. She took both my hands and twirled us around. A boy! We have a boy in the family. I’ve never seen a baby boy. What does he look like? When can we see him?

I stopped us from spinning. I was dizzy. I don’t know what he looks like.

She dropped my left hand, still holding my right. You haven’t seen Kaiden yet?

I shook my head slowly. Not yet. I didn’t even know he had a name.

The room quieted down and Petal and I turned into each other and looked back at the entrance. There was Mom, Kahn by her side, both in the family navy blue. The baby was swaddled in Kahn’s arms in a lighter shade of blue.

I was no expert when it comes to all this baby stuff, but it seemed too early to make the baby’s entrance.

Petal squeezed my hand before she dropped it, gasping in delight as she rushed to Mom and Kahn.

Mom smiled down at Petal and gently stroked her hair. She nodded and met Kahn’s eyes. He mimicked Mom’s smile and tilted the little pointy-headed baby so Petal could see.

His head is cone-shaped? Is that normal? Mom caught sight of me and waved for me to come over.

I didn’t want to go.

Then Kahn’s booming voice announced the son of Kahn and Willow Huntington, "The birth of Kaiden Gregory

Huntington."

They used grandfather’s name. I glanced back over my shoulder to see Granny’s hard face soften a bit. At least she approved of one thing with this baby.

Mom waved me over again. I had better go. I don’t want to be rude.

I started walking toward them. I didn’t know what to say. Congratulations? Was that too impersonal? I focused on how radiant Mom looked. How are you feeling? was the first thing that came naturally to ask.

Like I could take on the world.

Again, I was no expert. I would think she should be in bed asleep. Is that normal?

It was when I had you, so it must be.

Hollywood has it all wrong, then.

What? She was staring at Kaiden.

I changed the subject, So, Kaiden?

She softened into my stare, Yes. I think all our children will be named with their father’s initial.

I smirked. How very Kardashian of you.

Mom stopped smiling. What?

I shrugged. Never mind.

Kahn and Mom started walking deeper into the room. She took my hand. Isn’t he adorable?

I commented on the pointy head, Is that normal?

She glanced to see what I was asking about. "His head? Yes, it will be normal