Torrent of Tears (Scourge Survivor Series Book 3)

by JL Madore

  After a moment, he nodded and hopped off the bed. Jogging to the window he pointed at himself and then outside.

  Right. I’d restricted them both to the house until I learned about the fallout to my little outing last night. “Sorry, today is an indoor day, maybe tomorrow. Is Ydorus or Eury here?” Coal shrugged, looking sad. Man, this kid was going to wrap me around his little finger. “Give me a few minutes to eat and take a shower, then I’ll head downstairs and see what’s doing. Are you getting dressed today?”

  He shrugged again and I couldn’t stand it.

  “Well, it doesn’t matter to me, but you’ll do better at hide and seek if you’re not tripping on your pant legs. And we can work on your signing some more too if you want.”

  Coal brightened and scampered off across the hall.

  Rowan kissed my forehead and the two of us descended on the food like vultures on a fresh kill. We’d burned a hell of a lot of calories this morning.

  Terran stood at the doorway staring and shaking his head.

  “What?” I said, stuffing a forkful of seasoned potatoes into my mouth.

  “I thought you were a lesbian.”

  Rowan choked, juice spraying into the air as he bent over, sputtering.

  I pounded his back. “What? Why?”

  Terran handed Rowan a napkin. “The leather pants, the short hair, the fighting, the language . . . and the boots.”

  “What’s wrong with my boots?”

  Terran shrugged again. “I’ve studied the Modern Realm. Tough women who wear boots and cut their hair short are often—”

  I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Well, that’s a widely sweeping stereotype but I’m not. Not that there is anything wrong with that . . . but I am definitely one-hundred percent hot-blooded hetero.”

  Rowan seemed to find the whole topic incredibly funny. I scowled and he raised his hands. “Hey, I like your boot. You being a lesbian never even crossed my mind.”

  I shoveled another forkful of fruit-covered waffle into his mouth. “Cinderella is living proof that footwear can change your life. Can you imagine me stalking around last night wearing sling-backs and a skirt? Gimme a break.”

  Terran trotted to the hall and grabbed a bag off the floor. “That reminds me, Leda asked me to bring this up.”

  “What is it?” I reached up and accepted the large bag.

  “A gift,” Rowan said. “I had her visit the third ring to pick up some things from one of the other realms black market boutiques.” Rowan shifted the tray off the bed so I could have a look. “Terran said you offered him your left nut for proper ladies’ workout wear.”

  The two of them chuckled as I reached in and pulled out a pair of yoga pants and dug further. “Thank you, baby Jesus, underwear.” I looked down at the thoroughly feminine wisps of silk and satin. “You made Leda pick out underwear like this for me? Gods, what will she think?”

  Rowan peered into the bag and bit his bottom lip. “I don’t care what she thinks and no, I called that order in myself, Leda just picked it up.”

  “You did this yesterday? Awfully cock-sure, aren’t you?”

  He bit his bottom lip, his hazel eyes glowing with a look my body recognized in an instant.

  I swallowed.

  “Well look at that, Terran,” Rowan said. “I do believe our Princess is blushing.”

  I snatched a pair of panties and stretch pants and carefully slid out of bed. Tugging Rowan’s shirt down my thighs, I preceded to the bathroom.

  “Not so fast, Trouble,” he said as I turned to shut the door. “I want to check your stitches before you go conquer the world. Hop in the shower, but leave those pants off until I have a look.”

  “Stitches,” Terran repeated, his face going rigid. “Are you all right, Lexi? You said you were fine last night. I remember that much—”

  “I am fine,” I assured him, my focus trained on Rowan stalking toward me. “He just gets off playing doctor.”

  “Goodbye, Terran,” Rowan called over his shoulder. “Lock the door behind you.”

  Terran cleared his throat. “Ah . . . okay, so, I’ll be down with Coal when the two of you finish up here.”

  I swallowed at the wicked grin Rowan flashed me. “Yep. See you in a bit.”

  When the latch clicked shut, Rowan had me up in his arms and then sitting on the cold, smooth vanity. When he spread my knees and stepped closer, I bit his chin. “How are you feeling this morning, Doc?”

  He freed the top button on my shirt from its mooring and moved down to the next. “Thoroughly sandblasted . . . and ready for another house call.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Ydorus and Eury arrived just before noon, but they hadn’t come alone. Four other Strati had joined them, and by the time Rowan and I descended the main stairway, the new guys had each been thoroughly fed by Leda and sent out to the backyard to wait.

  “What’s with the reinforcements?” I asked as we entered the kitchen.

  Ydorus rose from his seat at the table and glanced to where Coal was handing his lunch dishes to Leda.

  “Coal, buddy,” I said, ruffling up his ginger hair, “why don’t you grab those hoops and ball we saw in the cubby in the backyard? Maybe you and Eury can figure out a game to play for a bit.” Eury bowed his head and I held my knuckles out. After a quick bump from Coal, the two of them slid out the back door. “Right where I can see you though, ‘kay?”

  I took a look at the wooden chair tucked under the kitchen table and winced. My sextacular morning hadn’t done my gashed ass a bit of good—not that I’d tell Rowan—and now, the stitches stung from the ointment he’d slathered. The idea of sitting on a slab of teak didn’t give me a warm and fuzzy.

  “Let’s take this conversation to the living room,” I said. Accepting a coffee from Leda, I gestured to the overstuffed furniture set against the back of the house. Rowan smirked and opened his mouth to comment. “Careful, Doc, you’ve already got one black eye from me.”

  Terran snorted and Rowan tested the shiner I’d given him for him laughing about Tham. It was an ugly shade of puce this morning, rimmed with purple.

  Without comment, Ydorus sat in the far chair and crossed his arms over his leather soldier’s vest. “There was quite a bit of commotion in the streets this morning,” he said.

  I eased into the sofa opposite the back windows and I let out a breath. Much better.

  Ydorus waited for me to get comfortable and then continued. “Three of the Queen’s Strati were found dead, killed by some skilled assassin in the night.”

  “Were they really?” I said. “And?”

  Ydorus gestured to the back patio. “Those are good men, Princess. The two on the left are my Uncle Nicoli’s boys and the other two Eury has known his entire life. We went through training together. You can trust them.”

  “Trust them with what?”

  He leaned over his knees and frowned. “With whatever plan is underway to overthrow the Queen. You can’t expect to do it alone.”

  What? “I think you’ve got the wrong idea. There’s no mutinous scheme underway. I’m just exacting justice for Tham, and keeping Coal away from Lir-dickhead.”

  Ydorus ran a finger down the stitching line of his uniform pants. After picking of a couple invisible pieces of lint he looked up. “Permission to speak candidly, Princess?”

  “Always . . . and it’s Lexi.”

  “With the tripling of military guard storming the streets and the implication that you are behind it, you would be wise to come up with a plan. And quickly. The Queen will not—cannot—allow this uprising to go unchallenged.”

  “And why would suspicion fall on me? It could have been anyone who killed them. The people of Attalos certainly have just cause to want the Strati dead.”

  Both Rowan and Ydorus gave me a well-duh stare, but it was Ydorus who continued to speak. “The three men killed were seen in the city streets with your Elf friend in tow. It’s no secret that he was killed, or that you took it badly. The Queen is
accustomed to her tactics drawing people under her control, not fighting back.”

  “Yeah, well, the Queen is bat-shit crazy and should never have been allowed to rule.”

  “Not always,” Rowan said. “There was a time your mother was a great and compassionate ruler.”

  I snorted, took a sip of my coffee and burnt my tongue. “In what lifetime?”

  Rowan rested his arm across the back of the sofa and crossed his feet on the coffee table. “What was it . . . about eight cycles past?”

  “About that,” Terran said, “Pater worked in the palace orchard back then. He told me the Queen fell gravely ill and was never the same. She didn’t go totally off the bars, just slowly became the woman she is today.”

  “Off the rails,” I said, blowing across the surface of my mug. “And what kind of illness?”

  Terran shrugged. “No one ever really knew. She was unconscious a week or more, and the healers thought she was beyond aid. The entire city held a vigil and prayed for her.”

  I found it hard to imagine the citizens of Attalos flocking to offer their well-wishes. How the mighty had fallen. “Would there be records of the time she was ill, Doc? Eight cycles would be more than thirty years ago.”

  “I should think so,” Rowan said, accepting two sandwich plates from Leda and passing me one. “They’d be in the archives of the Palace temple if there were. The City’s clergy are the guardians of documents like that. Why? What do you think her illness will tell you?”

  I mulled that one over. Could a mysterious ailment from three decades ago have any relevance to her decline into maniacal insanity? “Can the Queen be found incompetent? If something from that illness compromised her mind, could she be removed from the throne?”

  Rowan wiped his mouth and shrugged. “I’m not sure. That would fall under the jurisdiction of the Noble Council. My father’s volumes of the laws are up in his study. You’re welcome to go through them, but it will take all night. And then, even if she could be removed, how would someone enforce it? The Noble Council and the Strati follow her without question.”

  I shrugged. “Attalosean laws are absolute, right? If we found something, maybe we could use it to our advantage. It’s a starting point, anyway. You and Terran wade through the books and see if you can find something we can use.”

  Rowan scowled. “And where will you be?”

  “I have plans tonight.”

  Rowan set his plate on the side table, the oh-no-you-don’t written all over his sexy puss. “Weren’t you listening? Ydorus said the guards have tripled in the streets. If they’ve connected those three men to Tham’s abduction, they’re going to know you’ll come after the fourth. Tasso will be bait for the largest ambush this city has ever seen.”

  “He’s right,” Terran said. “There will be eyes on Tasso from now until you’re brought into the palace. It’s too dangerous.”

  I was on a low boil as I stood. No fucking way was I not taking out Tasso for what he did. That asshole’s life was stamped paid and was mine for the taking. I drew a deep breath and reminded myself that these two weren’t trying to control me, really, they weren’t . . . really. “I appreciate what you’re saying—”

  “I won’t let you.” Terran rose from his chair and almost looking confident as he squared off against me. “As your personal guard, my duty is to ensure your safety. You will not go hunting tonight.”

  I pulled back and raised a finger. “Watch it Terran. Talk to me like I’m some female who needs protecting and I see a black eye in your future too.”

  He met my glare and pushed forward until we were nearly nose to nose. “I know how to duck.”

  Okay that was funny. I tried to hold onto my anger, but it was no use. The tension dissolved. “Look, I’m going, but if it stills the waters, we’ll come up with a solid plan. Ydorus, Eury and their boys can help and then we’ll take it from there. You two need to stay here to go through those law books and keep my little man safe though. I’m counting on you.”

  Terran didn’t seem to like it, but nodded. Rowan, however, just glared.

  “Good,” I said, “now everyone get their thinking caps on and we’ll finalize our plan before dinner.” I walked to the large picture window facing the backyard and knocked on the sea-green glass. Coal’s smile broke wide. “But for the next half hour we’re all taking a moment to live a normal life and play hide-and-seek with Coal. Not it.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “If it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul.” With Shakespeare’s words warm on my lips, I thought how impressed Reign—and our Centaur tutor, Chiron of Delaran— would be that I actually remembered something from all the hours of tutoring they’d invested in.

  Rowan kissed my forehead, his lips soft on my skin, his anxiety choking the air between us.

  Avenging Tham by eliminating Tasso had to be done and it had to be now. Coal was in bed. The sun had set, the full moon had risen, and the iridescence of the field over Attalos was lighting my way to where I needed to be. But for the first time in my life, I was torn about leaving to fight. “Ydorus and the others are waiting for me.”

  “Let them wait,” he whispered, studying my face. Gentle fingers traced the line of my jaw, and caressed my neck. Freshly showered, he smelled delicious, his loose brown curls damp against his neck. His hands moved lower, his touch pausing on the pockets of my battle vest.

  My heart beat faster. “Thanks again for the weapons. I love them.”

  He shrugged, his smile not touching his eyes. “You’re not really the kind of girl I’d buy flowers for.”

  I chuckled.

  He didn’t.

  “Hey, don’t.” Stretching up on my tiptoes, I claimed his lips. His kiss was stiff, but I persisted, nipping and kissing until he loosened up a little. I pulled my lips from his. “I’ll be fine. Promise. You’ll be so busy with those law books, you won’t even miss me. I’ll be back before you know it and you can sew up any damage. We can have a repeat of last night.”

  His glare was an ocular version of a fully extended middle finger. “Swear you’ll be careful.”

  I held up my arm and let my Talon brand appear. “On my honor, I do so swear.”

  He dropped his lips to the top of my head and pulled me tight. “You’re not nearly as invincible as you think you are, Princess.” To prove his point, he spanked the gash that wrapped from my hip to the cheek of my butt. Hard.

  “Hey.” I hissed. “Be nice or I’ll reconsider my after-party plans and cuddle in with Coal.”

  He almost smiled. “I don’t think so. If you get back here alive there will be a thorough exam of all your parts and pieces. Doctor’s orders.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him until we were both breathless. “It’s a date.”

  Iridescence shimmered along the inner surface of the dome. It danced in greens, blues and pinks, illuminating the black night sky like the Aurora Borealis. Moving amongst the long shadows of sleepy homes, I ghosted through the abandoned streets. The city was quiet, the citizens all tucked safely in their beds. I doubted they were sleeping. The air was charged with violent intention. Mine. The Queen’s. The citizens’ themselves.

  My skin rose in goosebumps as I neared the rendezvous point. The evening breeze crept over my skin, leaving the faintest sticky feeling of salt and sweat on my flesh.

  “Princess,” Ydorus whispered.

  I shifted my gaze to the dark void between two buildings and found him.

  “Everything all right, Princess?”

  I nodded and joined him. Drawing a deep breath, I fought the ache that had been growing in my chest for days. It felt wrong not having Bruin and Jade watching my back and Julian orchestrating the attack over comms. But they weren’t there and I was. I bit back the pain that I was now on my own.

  “Everything is perfect. Let’s do this.”

  As Ydorus led me the rest of the way, I tried to shake the feeling that I’d missed something, something just beyond
my mind’s eye. I scanned the streets again as he tucked us into a nook at the edge of the courtyard. Tasso, the pompous bastard, stood opposite us, standing against the guardhouse chatting with two men.

  Ydorus leaned close. “Besides Tasso and his friends, there are two guards inside the guardhouse, four watching from buildings surrounding the courtyard, two dressed as citizens in the gated patio of the restaurant across the way and there might be one hiding behind the bronze sculpture at the center of the fountain.”

  Did they really think I would tromp right into an ambush? Yes. Obviously, they did. They’d probably even laughed about it, me being an emotional female and all. Well, their underestimation of me was to my advantage. Thankful once again for Reign raising me, I drew on my years as a Talon warrior and as a teacher of battle strategy.

  Shifting my feet, I stretched my neck from side to side. The moon was almost directly over the main square and when it was, these men would see just what kind of strategist I was. I ran a hand down my newly mended leathers and smiled. Rowan was a handy little sewer. He had many talents, actually. I patted down the front of my vest, glad for the weight of weapons.

  I loved all my new knives, but the best for this battle was the handheld compound bow with orichalcum bolts. I slid my fingers over the butt of the weapon and stroked the polished wood. Now all I needed was to get close enough to shoot one of these nasty little fuckers right through Tasso’s eye socket.

  That was going to be damn satisfying. Truth.

  Ydorus and I sat tight, waiting for the working parts of our plan to sync up. It was Tasso and his men who began the shift and fidget. Maybe they figured I’d get sick of waiting and just go for it. Yeah, think again.

  One of Ydorus’s cousins from this morning, dressed as a male server, came out from under the awning of the restaurant with a dessert tray. As planned, he set the tray on the table between the two soldiers trying to blend in and the courtyard beyond. I rolled on the balls of my feet, watching as he busied himself, screening those two sipping at their doped drinks.

  “They’re starting to waver,” Ydorus whispered, drawing his pain-stick baton. “Won’t be long.”