Werzo and Mae tumble through the open water, independent of their Millix who swim in protection around them. I’m about to ask Lalu why they’re unable to just remount them, when I notice a flock of stray Millix approaching. There are about half a dozen, all grouped together and eyeing Werzo and Mae curiously. Maris and Qippert race to the tumbling Mae and Werzo, attempting to grab them, but their circling Millix prevent the help. They simply circle each other’s riders, waiting for them to climb back on.
Werzo attempts to reach for his, but the Millix makes it difficult, racing past too quickly for him to get a hold. Mae flails about, obviously terrified of the impending dozen who seem to be focusing in on her. Her Millix circles her protectively, but like with Werzo’s, it moves too fast for her to catch. She’s trying desperately, clutching at everything, but she gets nowhere and the stray beasts are moving closer.
Can we help them, Lalu?
It is not certain.
Will they be okay?
It is unknown.
Maris and Qippert attempt to put themselves between the two groups but the impending dozen aren’t deterred. They’re focused on Werzo and Mae, a vicious gleam growing in their narrow red eyes. Their mouths retract, revealing wide rows of dagger teeth. Mae and Werzo continue grasping for their circling rides but the Millix refuse to slow down. They fly under their flailing legs, trying to slide between them but with their speed, they only end up flipping Mae and Werzo around more.
Lalu, we have to help.
There is nothing we can do.
Why not?
I must protect you.
There’s no way she’ll help unless I’m in need of rescuing. And the thought hits me. It’s the only thing I can do to help Werzo and Mae, who look like they’re about to be devoured by the suddenly voracious Millix. With my heart racing, I do the only thing I can think of.
Releasing my grip on Lalu, I push myself from her, swimming straight for Mae and Werzo. The horde of approaching Millix pause at my sudden appearance, especially as Lalu races behind me, suddenly joining the other two circling Millix. Reaching Mae, I grasp her flailing arms, holding them still. Turning her to face me, I find her petrified eyes darting around. She doesn’t see me, too terrified to recognize what I’m doing.
“You need to let your Millix pick you up,” I say, pointing to her legs.
“H-how?” her voice trembles.
“They’ll swim under you. When they do, grab on.”
“They’re going too fast.”
“Grab on quickly.”
“Fallon…”
“You can do this.”
Before she has time to reply, I’m swimming towards Werzo, hoping to dispense the same advice. Except as I do, Mae’s Millix flies past me, sweeping to pick her up. The speed sends me spinning through the water and I’ve lost direction. I’m instantly displaced, trying to find which way is up, everything a dizzying blur. Werzo’s flailing somewhere in the distance, the flock of Millix racing for us.
This was a dumb idea. Now it’s Werzo and I set to die.
Not Mae and Werzo.
Trying to right myself again, I’m yanked back by my arm, colliding into another body. Reid is here, worry etched across his handsome face as his eyes flicker between mine, reading their momentary safety. With him, Jace appears, and Tucker and Booker. They pull Werzo closer and suddenly Qippert is here too. And now, seven Millix circle our small lot, the stray pack immediately halting.
Lalu and the rest of our Millix rear their dagger teeth, hissing as they circle, making an impenetrable shield around us. The stray pack waits, watching as Maris, Mae and Pratt keep to either side of the rounding herd, also ready to pounce. Finally, the wild Millix retreat, hissing away into the dark depths.
“You need to get back on,” Maris indicates to our circling Millix. “Now.”
Reid frowns and begrudgingly releases me, his eyes still searching mine. My heart is heavy at the sight and I freeze under the look. But Lalu swims between my legs and I grab onto her neck, pulling myself on as the rest of the group mounts their Millix.
We head for the surface again, my heart racing with the last few minutes. The journey up takes a little longer than our descent but I don’t mind. I need a moment to recount everything—Mae and Werzo’s near death…my own… and of course, Reid appearing at the crucial moment like always, his fear and concern burning through me.
Finally breaking the surface, Maris and Qippert lead us back to the shore, leaping off of their Millix and onto the beach.
Thank you, Lalu.
Are you leaving?
For now, but I’ll see you again.
Goodbye, Fallon.
Lalu lowers her neck to the sand and I climb off. The rest of the Millix do the same, bringing their necks to the beach so their riders can dismount. Mae is still shaking. Pratt and Maris hold her, helping her move inward some, Qippert following right behind them. Werzo doesn’t seem as phased, just out of it, like he’s still trying to figure out what happened.
“You alright, man?” Reid claps his back, the other Rogues gathering around.
Werzo nods, green-faced. “I’d kill for a Tums.”
“Just take a moment,” Qippert turns, “and breathe. The first time riding a Millix can be a challenge.”
“Does it typically come with a near attack?” Werzo bends down, hands on his knees, his breath coming in ragged breaths.
“No,” Maris shakes her head, helping rest Mae on the sand, “that was very unusual. Un-bonded Millix will travel in herds looking for food, but rarely do they venture this near the city. Someone must have been seeking new merchandise, otherwise they would not be this close.”
“Merchandise?” I ask.
“To distribute,” Maris explains. “Millix are wild creatures, so they must be brought to the city and tamed before a bond can be completed. To bond with a wild Millix is highly rare.”
“So you purchased Shaya?” Tucker asks.
“Not purchased. There is no purchasing. We each have our roles, and the Gatherers seek Millix for Pryncbia, procuring them so every mayan and miyon can select theirs and bond with them at the proper age.”
“What about the ones we rode today?” Pratt asks. “Are they on loan or something?”
Maris shakes her head. “They are tamed Millix who have not bonded. If a Millix has not bonded, it remains for the city’s use. But when paired off, they will still protect their riders. It is instinct for them.”
“And what about the stray pack from earlier?” I ask. “Will they go back to the city?”
“Not likely. They shy away from the lights. We traveled a bit from Pryncbia. It was just an unlucky coincidence.”
“Unlucky…” Werzo murmurs.
Maris and Qippert exchange glances before Maris returns her focus on us. “There is a bit more I was hoping to cover, but with the recent events, perhaps a break is in order. Fallon,” she turns to me, “you are meeting with Perio later, yes?”
I nod.
“We shall adjourn for the day, then. Tomorrow, Qippert and I will take you around Pryncbia and give you an in-depth tour of the city. For now,” Maris glances over us, “let us retire. I believe the Fychu would like you to remain in your quarters until later.”
Everyone heads inwards when Reid clears his throat.
“Fallon?” he says. “Can I uh… talk to you for a sec?”
My heart skips. “Sure.”
“Just…” he motions to a slab of limestone wall, away from everyone. I start to follow as Qippert stops the group.
“Shall we wait?”
“No,” Reid pauses, glancing at him. “We’re fine—we can make our way back.”
“Maris believes the North Shore has been cleared of all remaining Vermix but to be on the safe side, make it quick. If you have not reached the Docking Station in ten minutes, I am coming up to check.” Qippert narrows his eyes and with Maris, leads the rest of the group past the entanglement of limestone boulders and through the thick walled s
hrubbery.
Refocusing on me, Reid motions for the wall and I follow again, my heart thumping radically in my chest. He reaches the boulder and stops, removing his helmet and wedging it between his arm and side. He eyes the ground and as I approach, I unhinge my headgear and prop it on my hip like his. Reid looks up and I’m frozen, lost in his gaze.
“You sure you’re alright?” he keeps a foot of distance between us. “With seeing Perio?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
“You want me to come with you?”
“Um…” my skin flushes with heat.
“I’ll go if you want me to.”
“It’s fine,” I shake my head. “I don’t think Ariana wants a big crowd.”
His mouth tightens as he nods. “Okay.”
“We’re only going for a few minutes. Just long enough to get the information.”
“If he has any.”
“You think he won’t?”
Reid shrugs, “Could go either way. My guess is he won’t talk about any of that with her around.”
“Why not?”
“I understand why she wants to go, but it’ll be the last thing he’ll discuss.”
“He can’t dodge her questions.”
“He won’t dodge them. He’ll reinterpret them, into a conversation about them instead. If Perio’s as clever as the princess thinks, you’ll get very little information.”
“Well… what do you suggest?”
“Unless she’s willing to use his feelings against him, she needs to get to her point quickly. As soon as he starts digressing, just leave. Then he’ll tell her anything she wants to keep her there,” he starts to move past me. “So just uh… let me know if you change your mind about me going.”
“Do you really want to go?” I turn.
“Not particularly,” he pauses with a glance to the grouping of limestone walls ahead. “But I will. If it makes you more comfortable facing him… I will. Just let me know.”
I nod.
He glances to my helmet, then to the tunnel leading up to the Holding Station. “We should probably get back.”
“Reid?”
“Yeah?”
And suddenly I’m fumbling. What did I want to say? Or maybe I didn’t want to say anything at all. Maybe I just wanted to keep him here with me, a mere second longer. Chickening out, I grip my headgear in front of me and make for the empty shore. “We can beat them back.”
His eyes flicker to the ocean, then to me. “They left.”
“Did they?” I pose, strapping my helmet on as I reach the edge of the beach. Closing my eyes, I focus on her.
Lalu… are you nearby? Can you take me to the FH’s Docking Station?
“They’re long gone by now,” Reid’s next to me, applying his own headgear. “Qippert will be back any minute.”
Suddenly, a long, periwinkle neck emerges and we both step back as Lalu brushes up to the shore.
I am here, Fallon. I can take you.
“You were saying?” I toss Reid a grin.
He rolls his eyes with a smile. “Fine. You win.”
“Call yours. What’s her name?”
“Palli,” he closes his eyes and after a moment, a second purplish-blue neck emerges, just next to Lalu. The two Millix nuzzle one another a greeting, Reid and I standing awkwardly as we watch. When they’re finally done, we head for them and like before, they lower their necks so we can climb on.
Patting the back of Lalu’s neck, I kick my heels under her fins.
“Ready?” Reid grips Palli’s bairs.
I nod and they submerge, Lalu and me right behind them. It only takes seconds to reach the city’s blinding gold lights and before I realize it, we’re back at the Docking Station, reemerging into the vast emptiness.
Thank you, Lalu.
I climb off and Reid dismounts Palli.
Goodbye, Fallon.
The two Millix sink into the pool and disappear beneath the dark water, leaving Reid and me alone again.
“Well that was quick,” Reid removes his helmet.
“You heading back to your room?” I follow along, unbuckling my headgear.
“Yeah. But I’ll walk you to yours first,” a lump rolls down his throat, “if that’s cool?”
My heart skips, my focus dropping to the ground. “Sure.”
We take off for the tunnel to the Great Hall, Reid and I walking in silence, keeping our sights on the end of the passage ahead. When we reach the giant space, I direct him down the tunnel for the East Wing and he’s on my heels, keeping inches behind me. Nearly to the corridor’s end, I slow, turning toward him.
“Thanks.”
He nods, refusing to move. “So…” he gestures to the opening behind me, “what do you think about them?”
“What?”
“Your quarters. Better than Harrizel?”
“Roomier,” I nod. “Definitely roomier.”
“Well you only have to share it with Pratt and Mae right?”
I nod again.
“That’s what I thought. I have all the Rogues, Sampson, Clarence, Qippert and the chancellor in mine. It’s a little stuffy.”
“I can imagine.”
We stand for a minute in silence, glancing around the golden glowing tunnel.
“I’m just going to…” I gesture to my helmet, then to the bed and Reid nods. Walking into the room, I place my headgear on the circular bed and exhale. He hasn’t even touched me and yet, my blood boils under my skin. With a deep breath, I turn around and find Reid peeking in the room, his eyes set on mine.
“Is it the same as yours?”
“Pretty much,” he fleetingly scans the space, pausing on the pile of clothes on the floor. “Except, no shelled bras.”
“Good thing. You look better in a loincloth.”
“Yeah?” he smiles.
I blush, my heart picking up, thumping through my chest, paralyzing me all over again. Reid enters the room, moving methodically slow, closing the distance between us. He’s focused on me, his body a sleek, smooth machine that sets fire to the pit of my stomach. Pausing as he reaches me, we gaze at each other, lost in this hanging moment.
After what feels like forever, Reid lifts his hand and brushes a curl behind my ear. I force myself to remain still as he traces a finger down my cheek, traveling toward my jaw. My skin tingles with his touch, especially as he runs his thumb over my bottom lip. He’s watching it intently, running his tongue over his own, lost in some image.
“Reid…” I whisper and his hungry eyes fly to mine.
His chest expands, deflates, and expands again—he’s breathing hard. A large lump rolls down his throat as he slowly leans in, his intoxicating scent overwhelming me. My heart is a ticking time bomb at his nearing proximity and I think my knees are going to give out. Any second. Any second and I’ll be gone. But he doesn’t seem to notice. He’s focused on my mouth, heavy breath leaving his own as he leans closer.
“You cannot be here!”
Salva stands in the tunnel’s entrance, wide-eyed and flabbergasted. Pratt, Mae and Princess Ariana surround her, all gaping with enormous grins as Reid spins, quickly calculating the situation. I do the same, my blood cooling at the new company.
“You are not allowed in the female quarters,” Salva frowns with another step. “It is not acceptable.”
“Sorry,” he gestures to me. “I was walking Fallon back.”
“You must leave.”
Reid nods, tosses me a quick glance and walks past the group and into the tunnel. Salva watches him go before turning back to me.
“He cannot be in here. This is the female quarters. It is not allowed.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“How did you get back here so quickly?”
“We took our Millix.”
“Alone?” she raises a brow.
I nod.
Salva exhales, gesturing Mae, Pratt and the princess into the room. “I will leave you to prepare for your interrogation of Perio,”
she starts to leave but pauses with a glance at me over her shoulder. “There are to be no males in here. It is not allowed, nor is it appropriate. I will not report this transgression but it cannot happen again.”
“Okay.”
Salva turns to leave and once gone, Pratt, Mae and the princess rush forward, encircling me.
“Uh,” Pratt grins, folding her arms, “what was that?”
“What?”
“You know.”
I sigh, rolling my eyes. “It was nothing.”
“You two are mates?” the princess asks.
“Mates?” I choke on the word.
“They are,” Pratt nods. “Can’t you tell?”
“I did have an idea,” the princess smirks.
“I’m sorry, Princess,” I try forcing the heat from my cheeks. “I promise he won’t be in here again.”
“It is fine,” she laughs, “and please, call me Ariana. I do not mind he was here. The elders are extremely uptight about tradition, though. It is not custom to have the opposite sex in one’s quarters. They think it disrespectful.”
“Why?” Mae frowns.
Ariana shrugs. “It has just always been that way.”
“Then how…” Mae blushes, “…how do you… repopulate?”
“The normal way…” Ariana follows, crimson rising beneath her sage cheekbones. “It is just not tradition to share sleeping quarters.”
“I’ll remember that,” I say. “If we’re welcome past tonight.”
The corner of the princess’s mouth lifts, a new smile blooming. “I was advised you are welcome to stay indefinitely, should you choose to.”
“Really?”
“The queen has forgiven last night’s transgressions. I believe she feels you have proven yourselves worthy and loyal allies. Although,” and now Ariana frowns, “she is uncomfortable with our plan to speak with Perio.”
“I’m still game if you are.”
“Oh, I am,” she nods. “In fact… I was hoping we could get to it sooner rather than later.”
“You ready now?”
She hesitates, a cautionary frown forming, “…Are you?”
“Sure.”
“I will need to let my mother and the guards know. I can meet you at the Docking Station in fifteen minutes. Will that work?”
Plague of Mybyncia Page 11
