Ruby let out a sigh and stayed there for a moment. “All right. Fine. Was that it?”
She started to get up, wiping the dirt off her and I wanted to scream.
“What?”
“Don’t look down.” I muttered.
Scared with curiosity, Ruby did anyway and she became just as heart stricken as me. Her bright red braids were no longer red anymore but a light brown and she started to hyperventilate in a slow pace. “What did you do?”
“You have to ask that? Really? Oh, yeah. It says good idea all over it for you to walk into the city with an obvious difference. That would just get us into trouble.”
“But—but—but—”
“Is that what your natural hair color looks like?” Zayden asked.
Ruby just looked up at him and her face was stunned speechless.
“Ah, actually, you’ve already seen her natural hair color.” I said.
“That red?” Troy wondered. “We’ve only heard of it, not that it was natural.”
“Inherited it.” Adele said. “Her mother had it and she’s now the only person in the world with hair like that which is why I had to do it.”
“I get it.” Ruby replied. “But—but—but—”
“You’ll get it back. We just have to be far away from here first.”
Ruby’s face looked saddened rather than mad and Darius stepped closer to her, touching the new color. “I’m going to miss it too.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I have to ruin Jaylyn’s day as well.” Adele said.
I quickly turned with a loud screech. “What?!”
“Just hold still. You have an obvious difference too.”
I held completely still and Adele brought her hand up to me. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, preparing myself for what might happen like getting stabbed or thrown back but nothing did.
“Okay.”
I slowly opened my eyes, looking down at myself. “What did you do?” I couldn’t figure it out. My hair was the same and my clothes didn’t change. “Really. What did you do?”
I looked up and Ruby laughed. “Look at you! You look so weird!”
“What?” I turned my head back and everyone else was just staring at me like they did with Ruby. “What?!”
“Your eyes.” Troy said, stuttering. “They’re—they’re—blue.”
I gasped and pulled out one of my ring blades, holding it up high so I could see my reflection in the shining blade. “Adele!”
“Sorry. This is Seni. Their blondes all have blue eyes. Look at Zayden.”
I did and Ruby laughed again. “You could be his sister!”
“Oh, shut up. It looks like you stuck your head too close to a horse’s rear end.”
Ruby smile was completely gone and she huffed to the insult.
“Get over it.” Adele cut in, walking through us.
“Actually, there’s probably more you should do.” Zayden said.
Adele stopped and looked back with a sigh. “What?”
“I’m sorry if this upsets you Jaylyn but hopefully you’ll see my reason. You can’t stand in front of my father with a simple eye color change if you look like your brother.”
Ruby’s eyes widened. “You know Trever’s been here?”
“You knew?” I asked.
“I know a lot of things.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Zayden said. “What matters is, I don’t want him recognizing you.”
I whimpered, shaking my lower lip while I turned to Adele. “What are you going to do to me?”
Adele looked over at Zayden for a suggestion.
“The opposite of what she looks like now. Darken her hair to black and give her brown eyes.”
I whimpered again and lowered my head when Adele raised her hand towards me. My hair turn black in my view and I didn’t look at anyone. “I hate you.”
“I’m sorry but—”
“I hate you because you actually listened! You listened to Zayden!”
“If I didn’t, I would have to disagree that he was wrong and I don’t. Don’t blame me. Blame genetics.”
“But I liked the way I looked and now—I feel gloomy and evil like you.”
Adele took my head in both hands and spoke softly while trying to get her point across. “You’re nothing like me. You’re better. Now, how about you try on a smile.”
“I can’t smile.”
“Someone of the male species please tell her she’s still pretty.”
Darius had the biggest smile. “Of course you’re still pretty. She didn’t change everything. Your body is still completely doable.”
I finally shown my smile but not everyone’s reaction was so pleasant.
Troy immediately collided with Darius and they tumbled to the ground.
I was surprised when they started fighting each other but Zayden didn’t seem to be. He just stood back with a sigh. “They’re like big children and I’m always the overly stressed out father.”
Ruby smiled and vaguely glanced over at Adele. “So, you have experience being a father? That’s good.”
“Shut up.” She muttered.
“It’s okay.” Zayden said. “We’re not going to.”
“This is my fault.” I said.
“Kind of. Troy is very attached to you and Darius, well, let’s just say he’s a male version of what you would call a slut.”
Sounded like a handful but I liked hearing that Troy was very attached to me. It felt nice.
“Wait!” Darius let Troy go and Troy set his glance east. “Zayden.”
“What?”
“Horses.”
Zayden’s eyes turned black instantly. “Shit. Just what we need.”
“How many?” Darius asked.
“Four but I only feel one rider.”
“It’s true.” I said, feeling useful by using my own senses. “One human.”
“Looks like we won’t have to walk anymore.” Darius said. “They’re clearly for us.”
“Yeah but that’s not exactly a good thing.”
Four beautiful white horses came galloping into view with reflecting reins of silver and it was visually confirmed for everyone that there was only one rider.
“Stay still and don’t say a word.” Zayden muttered through his teeth.
“What’s happening?” I asked, getting this feeling in the pit of my stomach that this wasn’t something that was normally done.
“We don’t know. Just stay quiet.”
Darius and Troy took a defensive stand in front of us with Zayden as the horses approached.
“Your majesty. My lords.” The rider stopped several feet away and bowed his head. He was carrying a crossbow setting across his lap, not aimed at anyone specific but the arrow was facing our way. Funny how my eyes caught that immediately.
“Yes?” Zayden took a small step forward.
“Forgive me. I didn’t expect to run into you so quickly.”
“We were just returning. What news do you bring?”
“The King requests your mission to be canceled. He wishes you to return home for something more important.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t have all the details, your majesty but he requests I give you this message that explains everything.” The rider held out a folded piece of paper with a symbol stamped into blue wax.
Darius walked closer with Troy and Troy took the letter while he took the horses.
“Thank you.” Zayden said. “Get back and tell him we’ll be arriving today.”
“Yes, your majesty.” The rider said while bowing his head again. “But there’s just one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Move!”
Chapter 41
Adele
My heart raced at the slightest adjustment of that crossbow and I sprang into action. I moved my hands out in front of me, pushing everyone aside but myself and the arrow launched.
By then, I was the only one in the way. I leaned to the left and the arr
ow grazed the side of my neck. I flipped to the side and kicked the end of it so it turned around before it passed and sent it back towards the rider with an even greater force than when it was delivered.
It hit him so hard on his left side that it threw him down off the horse and the horse went running back east.
I took out a single dagger and tossed it up in the air, catching it by the blade and threw it towards him.
It stopped just before touching the skin between his eyes as he made it all the way up to his feet but I didn’t stop there. I lightly smiled and brought up my left hand to my lips and kissed my fingertips. Then I held out my hand and blew the kiss to him with that very smile.
The whole length of the blade disappeared in his skull and he fell dead to the ground. It happened so fast that no one had time to react to my actions until it was too late.
“Adele!” Jaylyn came right over to me and was already ready to heal my wound. “How did you know that would happen?”
“Lucky guess.”
“Let me see.” She moved my braid to the other side to get a look at the cut on my neck. “You’re tough-shit-crazy. Did you know that?”
I tried holding back my laugh while she started to heal me.
“Why?”
I looked up and Zayden was stepping closer with this displeased look about his face. “Someone had to do something. Did you know that someone’s trying to kill you?”
“It happens on occasion but we still don’t know who’s behind it and won’t if the one making the attempt dies.”
“Well, sorry. Maybe I should have just let it hit you to get it over with.” I pushed Jaylyn’s hand away from me and started walking away.
No one followed.
I approached the body of the rider and took my dagger back, making a place to bury him with my gift.
“Uh oh.”
I looked over when I finished and Troy had the letter from the King open in his hand, his eyes gazing down at it.
“What?” Zayden asked.
“Ah, nothing.” He hid the letter at his side. “You’re really stressed out enough.”
“Troy!”
He backed away from Zayden and tossed the letter to Darius. “Don’t let him see it!”
Darius tried his best to keep the letter away from Zayden while also trying to read it. “No way! This is seriously going to ruin your day.”
“Could it really get worse?”
“Yes, actually, it really could.”
“Let me see it!”
I walked up behind Darius, taking the letter from him while he tried keeping it away from Zayden. “You’re acting like a bunch of children.” I stomped one foot and created a high pedestal from the ground I stood on and sat at the top of it so no one could reach me.
“Wait!” Darius said. “Don’t read it!”
I laughed. “Why not?”
“You’re not going to want to know.”
I didn’t think it really could have been that important but I wanted to read it anyway. With every word I read, my smile faded from my face until it was gone and I wanted to truly die. I kept these emotions hidden from everyone as I folded the letter back up and the pedestal slowly started to move down. I stepped off it and pressed the letter up against Zayden’s steel chest. “Congratulations.”
Zayden touched my hand as I pulled it away and he read the letter to himself. His grip on the paper got tight, almost ripping it. “What?!” He crumpled it up and dropped it to the ground.
“What happened?” Jaylyn asked me with a whisper while leaning in.
I had my eyes in Zayden’s direction, watching him react to the news and spoke with an expressionless tone. “He’s getting married.”
Jaylyn gasped with Ruby echoing her and Zayden looked at me. “No, I’m not. He can think he’s going to force me into this all he wants but it’s not going to happen.”
“I honestly don’t think you have a choice.”
“We’ll see about that. Let’s go.”
They each got up on a horse and Ruby and Jaylyn were helped up behind them while I stood looking at Zayden’s hand.
“Get on.”
“Move back so I can.”
Zayden laughed. “The only time I’m going to be behind you, we’re not going to be on a horse. Now get on before I make you.”
I sighed when I had no choice but to take his hand and he helped me up behind him. I even refused to place my hands around his waist and just crossed them over my chest. I needed to stay as far away from him as possible. The reasons why only kept growing.
Chapter 42
Ruby
Adele being Adele. Figures.
I don’t know how she could keep refusing him. I’m sure that’s what happened down there. She made excuses on top of excuses about why she shouldn’t instead of looking at all the reasons why she should.
It annoyed me but it was worse when we rode that day. We kept on our trail east and Adele kept her eyes north, not to look at any of us. She was so profoundly stubborn it was irritating but it was clear there was nothing we could do. We would have to put up with her in this mood for however long we would be here and I would have to deal with it for much longer like the rest of my life. She’s going to have regrets once we’re out of here. I know she will but it’s going to take her that long to figure it out. I hoped that maybe when we reached this great city I’ve only heard about in tales that she would—
Whoa. What was that?
We reached a hilltop and could see the city in the distance on a hill of its own. It was beautiful; everything was white and stood out in the sun.
The city had a wall around it like most cities do but this one also had another. It was twice as high as the one around the city and stood farther out from it.
“What is that?” Jaylyn asked. “I don’t remember tell tale of another wall around Randal.”
“It’s new. My design.” Zayden said confidently and proud. “Finished it last year. Last defense for the city if an army could miraculously get passed the three of us. We placed the new military base at the western gate so they’re always there.”
“Oh, great.” Adele sighed.
“Well, you should enjoy it. It’s full of guys.”
I held in any kind of reply of my own and watched Adele just be her natural self, huffing like it was a joke. “It’s different. They’re probably all sober. That would be rape. If I wanted that, I would have just let you do it.”
“Quit tempting me.”
“I don’t recall ever doing that.”
“Please. You got naked right in front of me and never once told me to leave. What do you call that?”
I probably had the widest of eyes. That sounded much more like something I would have done, not Adele. She probably did it on purpose just to get to him and I was wondering if maybe she was playing her own game.
“Didn’t have to watch, Zayden.”
“A woman couldn’t have looked away, Love. You expected me to?” Adele just sighed, making Zayden laugh. “Okay, look, just stay on the horse and you’ll be fine. Nothing will happen.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, this is a base. These men don’t go home to their wives at the end of the day just because they’re this close to the city. They’re on a time rotation. Some have been here for weeks and others since the wall was built almost a year ago so there may be some conflict when they see the three of you and remember how appealing a woman can be.”
My smile was instantly gone and Jaylyn looked over at me with wide eyes. I wasn’t completely worried, maybe only a little. We knew how to defend ourselves but with so many, we may have seemed too good if we were able to hold them all back. That surely would have brought up questions and it was much too early for that.
“If you don’t want us killing anyone then I suggest that you don’t leave me.” Adele unfolded her arms and got a good grip on the back of Zayden’s armor with one hand and rested her other hand at his waist.
“Nice try but we’re not even considered friends, remember?”
Zayden laughed, keeping the smile on his face as we approached the gate.
Soldiers on the wall saw us and immediately signaled for the gates to be opened. It was a nice respect. I had to remind myself that. They were probably respected quite greatly.
A long crack came from the large doors then they slowly begun to open with a loud rumbling sound. It took only a moment to calm the horses from the noise then light started to shine through and we rode in.
I took immediate notice at everyone’s attention on us while we slowly made our way through the base.
Whispers were coming from every corner and the tension of our presence as women was tightening. Jaylyn confirmed it when I watched her hold onto Troy tighter. I was able to keep calm. Yes, it was obvious what everyone would have been thinking but I didn’t want to show my thoughts for it. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone either or tried. There were so many and they just seemed to be everywhere but it wasn’t all nerve-racking. They would bow their heads as we passed and the respect was just greater than I expected. We never got bows while walking through streets at home. Most people tried avoiding us but here it was different.
“Your majesty. My lords. You have absolutely splendid timing.” Someone finally stopped us and I hoped we wouldn’t be staying here too long. This was making my scheduled alone time with Muscles much further in the day than I wanted.
“Have some good news for me?” Zayden asked. “I could use some.”
“Well, we’ve just finished the evacuation plan and the offensive strike, if you want to classify that as good news. All it needs is your approval. Could you spare a moment?”
“Of course. Just a moment.”
“Good.” The man was handed two bundles of papers and started to open one.
“Wait!” Zayden jumped down off his horse in a hurry. “Maybe we better take this inside.”
He glanced over at Muscles and Troy and they too got down, leaving us up here.
“Zayden, you said you wouldn’t leave me.” Adele muttered in the lowest possible voice.
Aligning Stars (Fate's Intent Book 1) Page 23
