The Legends of Regia Box Set: The Complete Series. Books 1-7

by Tenaya Jayne

  The invisible wall trembled. He placed his hands flat on it and pushed. His whole body shook with the effort. The weight was too much for him. He pushed harder.

  “Stop!” Journey said loudly. “You’ll give yourself an aneurism.”

  He sighed, dejected, and turned around to face her. He reached to take her in his arms, but she evaded his grasp. She smiled, sidestepped him, and walked through the barrier that held him.

  “Hey,” he protested.

  Her smile widened. “I’m just trying to give your resolve a different direction… Don’t you want to come and get me?”

  “You’re playing a dangerous game, woman.”

  She laughed and took another step away. “Come on.” She licked her lips slowly. “Don’t you want me?” Her voice dropped to a seductive whisper.

  He narrowed his eyes at her and geared up again to push against the wall. She began to hum again, just one long low note, and his vision clouded around the edges. His burning slave mark cooled and tingled. His hands pushed into the wall. The solidness of it softened, but it still held.

  Look at me, her voice sounded in his mind.

  She turned her head slowly to the side, her hand ran down the side of her face and pulled her hair over one shoulder, giving him a full view of her long, lovely neck. She kept her head turned to the side, but her eyes cut to his. Come on…

  His slave mark went numb as the wall broke open. He caught her against him and kissed her roughly.

  “You did it, Redge.”

  He shook his head. “No, you did. If I weren’t so hot for you, you’d terrify me…You have such strange power, Storyteller.”

  She touched his scar. “I don’t know if its hold has gone dead or just weakened. We need to test it some more. Did your master give you any other orders?”

  He thought for a moment. “I was told not to contact anyone from my past, and…” His eyes suddenly went wide and wild. “I have to tell Syrus where Forest is! I know I can now!”

  He grabbed her by the hand and ran. He ran faster than he ever had before. It took hours, but he didn’t slow even once, and Journey kept pace with him and didn’t waste her breath asking him questions.

  They arrived close to the parameter of Forest and Syrus’ property in the middle of the night and finally stopped, exhausted and out of breath. Redge pushed ahead and ran again into an invisible wall. This wall wasn’t one in his mind, it was real, and it held Journey back as well.

  She put her hands on it and frowned. The next second, red sparks shocked both of her palms. She jumped back and whimpered in pain.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I think so,” she said.

  Redge backed up a step from the wall. “Syrus!” he shouted as loudly as he could. “Let me in! I know where Forest is! I can tell you now! I’ll take you there!”

  A shadow came up from the other side of the wall, like it traveled through the water. It slowly grew more solid, and Kindel stepped through the wall. Redge grabbed him by the shoulder. He’d never been so happy to see him. Kindel shoved him backward and pulled a sword on him.

  “Get back!” Kindel ordered. “I don’t want to have to kill you!”

  “Kindel, it’s me! I need to find Syrus. It’s urgent! I have to tell him where Forest is.”

  Kindel’s face crumpled with confusion, and he looked at Journey and then back to Redge. “You’re one of them. Copernicus sent you here, didn’t he?”

  “No! Look, this is Journey. She’s a Storyteller. She helped me break through my obedience to the slave mark Copernicus gave me. I know where Forest is! We have to save her!”

  Kindel narrowed his eyes at Redge. “I can’t trust you.”

  “Please!” he bellowed. “Tell Syrus—“

  “Forest is no longer a captive of Copernicus. Your message, if it was trustworthy, comes too late. Now leave. Don’t force my hand.”

  The rejection was bitterly painful even though he understood it. Redge took Journey’s hand and began to leave.

  “Redge,” Kindel called after him.

  He turned and looked back.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kindel moved back through the blood lock and approached the stone house. He knocked lightly, hoping the sound wouldn’t wake Forest. He really didn’t want to evoke Syrus’ anger. He’d turned so frighteningly protective. Kindel understood. Had he been in Syrus’ shoes, he’d have been just as protective. But Syrus was scary as hell now. Different, more powerful, and more deadly than ever.

  The lightning blaze in his eyes had banked now that he had Forest back, but the embers were still there, ready and waiting to ignite into a firestorm.

  Kindel knocked again softly, and after a few seconds, Syrus opened the door. Kindel stepped back from the intensity radiating off of him. Irritation and worry pulsed from him.

  “What?” he asked through clenched teeth. “What’s wrong?”

  “Redge was just here. Outside the blood lock, raving that he had to talk to you, that he could tell you now where Forest was.”

  Syrus frowned but didn’t speak.

  “He had someone with him, a woman. He said she was a Storyteller and she had helped free him from his slave mark… She wasn’t Regian, I know that for sure. But I sent him away. It could be fake. Copernicus might be trying to get him close to Forest so he can take her again. He could just be following orders. I…really wanted to believe him, but I thought it too risky.”

  “You did well… The woman, did he tell you her name?”

  “Journey.”

  Syrus sighed and looked down. “Okay. Thanks Kindel.”

  “What should I do if he comes back?”

  “Don’t answer. Just stay under the lock. I need a little time to think about it.”

  “How is she?” Kindel inquired about Forest.

  “Feverish.”

  Kindel took a step back. “I’ll let you get back to her. Netriet will be coming in when I leave at dawn. I know she really wanted to talk to Forest.”

  “If Forest is awake, I’ll let her. But if you talk to her first, let her know we’re not telling Forest about the Fair just yet.”

  “Yes. Of course.”

  ****

  Syrus closed the door and leaned against it. Redge showing up was a sting. While he’d been keeping vigil next to Forest, his mind had wandered to Redge a few times. Each time he thought about him, Syrus felt either anger or regret, but mostly anger. What he and Forest had gone through was still way too new. Too painful, too vivid.

  His mind brought back old memories. Things Redge had told him many, many years ago. About the Storyteller, Journey. Redge hadn’t told Syrus the details of what happened between them, but he did remember that she had left him, and Redge found speaking about her painful. He’d loved her.

  He remembered teasing Redge about one of his mother’s courtiers having her eye on him. Redge showed no interest, even though the young woman was beautiful and would have been an easy conquest. He seemed neither embarrassed, flattered, nor keen in any way. Redge never showed an interest in romantic relationships of any kind. He was a good friend to those he chose to be friends with, and that was all.

  So, if Kindel was right, the only one who had ever interested him was back in his life.

  “Syrus,” Forest moaned from the bedroom.

  He ran to her, anxious because she was finally awake again. He took her hand, feeling a wave of relief at her cooling temperature. “You’re better.”

  She nodded, looking intently into his eyes. Relief built another layer. Her eyes were still bloodshot, but they were clear. She was really awake, and she was coherent. Bruises had blossomed all over her, discoloring her skin. He smoothed her hair back from her forehead.

  “What’s happening?” she asked. “Has Copernicus made a move?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  “He has my father. He’s hobbled him. We have to rescue him.”

  “There is no ‘we’ in this equat
ion, Forest. As much as I’m sure you hate it, you can’t do anything, right now… Can you tell me what happened to you? What did you learn while you were with Copernicus?”

  “I’ll tell you after you get me some food. Your baby is hungry.”

  Syrus smiled and placed his hand on her stomach. A small mound curved up into his palm. Wonder and awe filled him. The baby was growing really fast.

  He’d never seen Forest eat so much, but he guessed that was another good sign her health was returning. When she was finished, she rubbed her stomach with both hands.

  “Pregnancy is weird,” she said. “And…terrifying to be honest, for many reasons.”

  “Are you not happy at all about it?” he asked gently.

  Tears instantly began running down her cheeks.

  “Hey, what’s this?” His voice was soothing.

  “I’m so scared. I’ve never felt fear this intense before. I would have been scared even if I hadn’t been kidnapped, because this baby is so mixed. It worries me. I’m afraid for them. I know all too well that they will be ostracized. Probably not as badly as I have been, but still. And then…” Her breathing became fast and panicked. “Then, the poison… What kind of damage has that done? I did my best to protect the baby while I was being beaten, but even then, I…”

  Forest was distracted from her fear by the look that crossed Syrus’ face.

  “What is it?” she asked. “Why do you look so murderous?”

  “Redge,” he hissed through his teeth.

  “Hey, look at me!” she ordered. “You have to let go of that. Don’t you dare hold that against him.”

  His look of fury didn’t falter.

  “You don’t know what it’s like to be a slave, Syrus. I hope you never know. I forgave him before he ever laid a hand on me. He was as much a victim of that as I was, maybe more. I suffered the physical price, but he’s cursed to carry the guilt for the rest of his life. It was Copernicus who beat me really, not Redge.”

  Forest touched Syrus’ cheek. “Direct your hate to Copernicus. Forgive Redge.”

  Deep sorrow filled Syrus’ eyes. “I’ll try…I can’t tell you what I went through when I lost you. He’s the one who took you away.”

  “It could have been anyone. Redge was chosen to take me so Copernicus could rub salt in his wound. He’s been through hell as well, just a different one.”

  He reached over and took her hands in his. “I’ll try…to let go of my feelings.” His eyes went oddly flat. “I have to ask you something difficult.”

  “What?”

  “Before I faced Copernicus, I overheard him talking to Menjel about…about you and what he planned to do with you and the baby. Don’t be afraid to answer me; I just have to know. Did he…” His voice almost failed him. “Did he sexually assault you?”

  She reached up and touched his cheek. “No. He didn’t.”

  He flinched and inhaled sharply. He blinked, his eyes going back to normal.

  Forest told Syrus everything about her time with Copernicus. He told her everything else, leaving out the annihilation of the Fair. That could keep another day or two. He knew it would crush her, and she’d only just regained the strength to lift her head. When he got to the part of Redge showing up about an hour ago she cut him off.

  “Syrus, go get him!”

  “I’m not leaving your side.”

  “Then send someone after him. He might have the key to end this whole thing! We have to get him before Copernicus does.”

  “All right.” He moved away from her and then hesitated, a look of indecision on his face. “I think I should talk to him myself. I need to look at him, take his measure. But I can’t let him near you.”

  He strapped her sword around his waist.

  “You look like you’ve become comfortable with my sword. Just don’t forget it’s mine.”

  He smirked. “So am I.”

  Syrus fished around in her jewelry until he found another spare End of the Bridge and went out into the garden. He approached Kindel who was standing near the gate.

  “I’m going after Redge. Here.” He handed Kindel the End of the Bridge.

  “Go inside. If something happens in the few minutes I’m gone, break that open and take Forest out of here.”

  Kindel nodded and went into the house.

  Syrus took a deep breath, wondering if he was doing the wrong thing, and pushed through the thick energy of the blood lock.

  ****

  Redge and Journey walked away at a slow steady pace. She didn’t press him for anything. He’d talk when he was ready. He seemed numb, but then he stopped walking, his shoulders shaking with tears. She reached for him, but he fell on his hands and knees. She knelt down next to him.

  “Redge?”

  “They got her out…” His voice broke around his emotion.

  “What?”

  “Forest. They got her out. Kindel said, she wasn’t a captive of Copernicus anymore. They got her out! I almost killed her, he forced me to beat my friend almost to death. My pregnant friend!” He cried quietly for a moment. “I almost cost my best friend his mate and his child. I was sure they were lost to him. But they got her out! I …I don’t even have the words, Journey…I’m so relieved.”

  She held him. “You know you don’t need words with me. I see what you’re feeling. I’m glad you’re happy.”

  He sighed and wiped at his eyes, getting back to his feet.

  “So, how hard was it to defy the order not to contact people from your past?”

  He frowned. “I don’t know. I was so desperate I wasn’t really paying attention.”

  “I think we should try it again. You had one more order, not to tell anyone where Forest was.”

  “Yes. That’s right.”

  “I’m not going to sing for you this time. I want to see if you can do it without my help. Tell me where Forest is.”

  Redge opened his mouth to speak, but his slave mark woke up and tore into him. She watched him closely as he strained.

  “Okay, stop. I have another idea. I’m impervious to the power of Regian marks, slave, or lover. I think when you broke through before, part of it was that I was singing, but maybe some of it was that you had recently bit me while we were intimate. It might have been helped by my blood in your system.”

  “How do you know you’re impervious to marks?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I remember when you tried to mark me. You thought I wouldn’t know what you were doing.”

  Redge blushed at the memory. “I was a stupid boy. It was wrong of me on a few levels to try to mark you without your permission.”

  She laughed lightly. “You were just a little overeager to make sure I was all yours.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She waved his apology away with her hand. “It doesn’t matter now. Just bite me.”

  He drew her close and kissed her neck once before sinking his teeth through her skin. He took one small drink and pulled back. She waited a beat after he swallowed.

  “Tell me where Forest is.”

  He grimaced in pain, sweat surfacing on his forehead. “She…uh…” He closed his eyes. “Ship.”

  “Ship? A ship where?”

  He shook his head and rubbed his hand over the slave mark, letting out his breath heavily like he’d just been running a great distance.

  “That worked,” she said.

  “Sort of.”

  “I have another idea. Can I have your knife?”

  He looked at her dubiously but handed her the knife he kept in his boot.

  “Take your shirt off,” she ordered.

  He raised one eyebrow and smirked but obeyed. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to nullify your mark with my blood.”

  “Wait! You mean you’re going to make me your slave instead?”

  “I was going to try. Do you object?”

  He looked thoughtfully bemused for a moment. “I must say it’s a prospect I’ve never considered before. I
find your idea oddly arousing… On the other hand, I think I’d have to turn over my man card if my woman has literal and total control over me.”

  Journey leaned in and kissed his mouth. “I don’t want control of you. I can’t force my will on you even if I put a slave mark on you. It goes against my nature.”

  “Does it?” he teased.

  She gave him a dirty look.

  “You’re so beautiful when you’re angry.”

  “Oh, shut up,” she huffed. “Are we doing this or not?”

  “Go ahead. Hack me up so I can be your boy toy.”

  Journey ignored his last remark and cut along the line of his scar. The wound hissed with smoke and tried to pull back together. She held the blade in the wound to keep it open and ran her finger along the edge. Her blood ran down the blade and into his open flesh. More smoke rose from the wound. Redge clenched his teeth against the pain.

  “I don’t think this is going to work,” he said. “I’m sure other people have tried this before to rid themselves of slavery.”

  Journey ran her finger along the blade again, but this time she sang as her blood flowed into his body. His mind went fuzzy as she pulled the blade out and his skin sealed back together. He touched the mark. It felt cool and tingly under his fingers. She handed his knife back.

  “Now tell me where Forest is,” she ordered again.

  “On a stolen ship, in the dead middle of the Crystalline Sea. In a cell below deck.” His words came out easily. “Ha!” he shouted triumphantly, grabbing her, and spinning her in a circle. “It worked!”

  “Redge?” A stern voice sounded behind them. One he knew very well.

  Redge turned and saw Syrus.

  Syrus was keeping his distance, Forest’s intimidating sword in his hand, wariness and warning radiating off him. He looked at Journey, his eyes narrowing.

  “You have Forest back?” Redge asked. “She’s safe?”

  Syrus didn’t reply. His face remained impassive, but he twitched his wrist. The red light inside the black glass blade glimmered threateningly. Redge stepped protectively in front of Journey.