by Tenaya Jayne
“How do you not know when the strike is?”
Redge gambled these vampires had never had a slave mark before. “I know I got my orders, but I can’t remember. I did get hit on the head when I was taken by that wolf party.”
This seemed to placate them. “The strike is the day after tomorrow. So you don’t have much time to do as your master bids.”
Redge gave them a little bow. “I should have no problem. I’ll be back by the next dawn at the latest.”
“Fine, now get out of my sight, slave.”
Redge left, anxious to get out of the dark, cramped space. His breath came out in a small whoosh as he stepped into the open air, his mind turning over what he’d just learned. Oh, he’d go to the castle all right. He just hoped he could get in without a major issue.
The massive double doors on the main entrance of the Onyx Castle were shut tight and looked like they had been recently repaired. Burn marks stretched like long bony fingers up the wood. Four security ogres stood impressively on the stairs leading to the doors, all holding large, menacing weapons.
He recognized all of the ogres and had been on friendly terms with them in the past. He smiled at them.
“Koff.” Redge gave the ogre a nod. “I need to get in. I have urgent information for Zeren. There will be a new hit on Halussis in two days.”
The ogre, Koff, moved forward and looked down at Redge. “You’ve been blacklisted. I’m not supposed to trust you.”
Redge pulled his collar down and showed the ogre his slave mark. “It’s true. And the story is too long. I have to get inside.” He held his hands up, his wrists together in front of him. “Arrest me.”
The other ogres came up around Redge. Koff took a set of manacles from his belt and locked them around Redge’s wrists.
“He wants in,” Koff said. “Take him in.”
Evidence of the recent fighting was all over the walls, just like it had been on the front doors. But as far as he could see, the castle hadn’t suffered any damage beyond the cosmetic. Security was at an all-time high. Every guard was alert and carrying scary new weapons.
“I need to see Zeren. It’s important.”
The ogres behind him said nothing.
“Come on! I turned myself in. I’ve been undercover with the insurgents. I have intelligence. Plus, I used to outrank both of you by more than a fair amount. Give me something.”
The long hall stretching out before him was empty. Then Zeren stepped out from a doorway. Redge had never been so relieved to see the former king in his life.
“Redge? What’s going on here?” Zeren asked, looking down at his bound hands. “Syrus said you were lost to us.”
“I talked with Syrus just last night. Apparently you didn’t get the memo.”
Zeren stepped closer to Redge and looked at the side of his neck. Redge turned his head so he could see the slave mark better. “It has no hold on me. I don’t answer to Copernicus anymore.”
“Slave marks don’t lose their holds unless the master is dead,” Zeren said flatly.
“This mark has a new master. Look, it’s a long story, one I’m willing to tell you, but there is something more pressing. The insurgents are gathering to make another hit. In two days, Copernicus plans to take Halussis, and more importantly, the castle. He doesn’t know that I can exert my own will. He thinks I’m still his. He wanted me to come here and get as many Ends as I can so he can filter his slaves in.”
Zeren frowned.
“Don’t trust me. That’s fine, but Syrus can confirm that I’m myself again. My loyalty is here. Lock me up until you’re satisfied.”
Zeren nodded at the ogres behind Redge. “I’m sorry…I just have to be sure.”
“I get it, just don’t take too long. This is our chance to turn all this around.”
The ogres pushed Redge lightly. He knew where they wanted him to go. He’d been in the cells of the castle countless times, but this was the first time he’d been in one as a prisoner. He paced the small, confined space three times, then Zeren was back ordering that he be released.
“All right. What’s our move?” Zeren asked.
“Copernicus wants Ends, let’s give him Ends that don’t work. He’s going to have the full, or close to the full, number of his forces here in the city.”
“Why don’t we just give him Ends that are set to land in one particular place? Then we can be ready at that location.”
Redge paced the floor, his mind working furiously. The answer sparked, kindled, and blazed. “No,” he said slowly. “Let’s give him what he wants. We’ll turn the tables on him right here, inside the castle.”
“How?” Zeren asked.
“He has no ogres in his ranks, and we have a secret weapon… A Storyteller.”
Chapter Fifteen
Syrus was instantly angry as he came into the bedroom and saw Forest on her feet. He grabbed her by the hand as her legs shook under her weight and threatened to give out.
“What are you doing?” he demanded. “You’re not strong enough. Get back in bed.”
She collapsed against him and cried in frustration. “I hate this! I have things I need to do. I need to save my father. I need to check on Shi.”
He picked her up and laid her back down on the bed. “You can do nothing in both of those cases. Shi has been dead thousands of years, and your father is with your enemy. Pushing yourself will only result in more death, our child’s and possibly yours.” He kissed her forehead. “Now be a good girl and rest.”
She scowled and nodded reluctantly, too tired to argue. “I want him dead, so, so much. I want Copernicus dead more than I ever even wanted Leith dead.”
Syrus placed his hands on her rounding stomach. “This rage isn’t good for you, Forest. Focus on something else.” He smiled. “Who do you think the baby will look like? You or me?”
She snorted, falling victim to his misdirection. “Rahaxeris probably… Are you wishing for a boy?”
“No. I don’t care either way. Do you think you know the sex?”
She shook her head. “It seems really weird to think about it being a boy, just for the fact that a small male is living inside me.” She shook her head again placing her hands on top of Syrus’. “I hope they look like you. I hope they are like you.”
“Maybe they will be the best of both of us.”
“Or the worst.” She smiled, but then her smile faded into her fear. “You seem so happy. Are you not concerned at all that the baby isn’t healthy? That the poison…that it…” Her breathing accelerated, and her heart hammered as she thought about it.
“Look at me,” he ordered. “Shit happens, you know that. And we’ve been through a lot of shit lately. But we’re still here. We still have each other, and our child’s heart is still beating. I did all I could to restore you to health. There’s nothing else I can do now.”
“But what if—”
“What if, what? What if the baby isn’t healthy? Are you going to not love them, Forest?”
She looked down at her hands resting over his, tears sliding down her cheeks. “Of course I will love them. I love them now.”
“Be peaceful, Forest. We walk this life together. And we’ll handle whatever comes, together.”
She smiled through her tears and looked into his eyes. “You’re making me weak again, Sucker.”
She tugged on his hands. He let her drag him to her. He sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and leaned her back against his chest as he put his hand back on her stomach. It was a perfect circle, the three of them. His aura wrapped around and over her. The bridge between their hearts flared a strong, soothing warmth. She sent his heart the immortal love she felt for him. Syrus absorbed it and sent it right back to her. It was one of those times when what they felt couldn’t be conveyed in words. Spoken language was utterly inadequate. The words too weak, and lacked the proper context, but their hearts knew how to communicate.
A knock rapped on the front door. The noi
se burst the bubble around them. Syrus kissed her lightly and went to answer it.
“Father.” He nodded to Zeren as he opened the door. “Come in.”
“I just wanted to keep you in the loop,” Zeren said as he came into the living room and sat down. “We know when Copernicus will strike next.”
“Hold on,” Syrus said. “Forest needs to know what is going on, too.”
He went into the bedroom and carried Forest out and set her on the couch next to Zeren. Zeren hugged her. He began telling them all that Redge had learned and what they planned to do.
****
Shi held Ler and wouldn’t let go. She couldn’t remember feeling so light. It was all gone, the hate and the bitterness. She’d worn those emotions for ten thousand years, and now nothing of them was left, just the memory of how terribly heavy they had really been.
“Forgive me, Shi,” Ler said.
“I have. Finally. At last. Forever. I forgive you… Forgive me for holding out so long.”
“I love you,” he whispered. “My queen.”
His lips caught hers and held them.
So long, so very, very long she had been denied peace and any happiness. And her life had been so short, with only a few snatches of joy.
“I want to stay with you, Shi…but ever since you came inside to be with me…there’s a pull deep within me. It’s getting stronger. I don’t know how long I can fight it.”
“No,” she whimpered.
“It’s not what I want. I just don’t know what to do. Can you curse me into being trapped with you again?”
Even as he spoke, she felt traces of him grow thinner and insubstantial in her arms. She couldn’t curse him. The curse had come from her hate, and she had none left. All she had now was love. Could her love prove stronger? What could she do with it to keep them together?
“It’s not fair. We only had a few days while we were alive. I can’t let you go now, Ler.”
“Don’t, Shi. Don’t let go. Think of a way before it’s too late.”
She entwined with him and kissed him deeply, breathing her spirit into him until they were less of two parts and more of one. The boundaries of separate identities shimmered and blurred, mixing together. She pulled him into herself and drew from her nature of being a tree. She would freeze them. Her will would make them go dormant and hold them in stasis.
A smoke-like substance billowed up around them from her petrified, crystal roots. In silence, in stillness, their love lived, content to exist without movement or change.
The Heart responded to them. The flames changed color from a dark grey to muddy layers, like a deep bruise. The trees chimed a new tune. One of bittersweet pain and a whispered wish for redemption.
****
Journey had a very long day. She waited, worried and relived so many memories. Most of them had taken place right where she was now. Memories were all she had for company. She was amazed at how young and foolish she and Redge had been and how they had mishandled the situation and their relationship. But regardless of their idiocy and mistakes, their love had proved real. It was real then, it was real now.
She sat on the slats of the bedframe and watched the sky thread its deep-hued ribbons over her head. The beauty of the Regian sunset made her heart ache. She remembered the first time she’d ever seen it and how the wonder of it alone made her happy she had chosen to come to Regia.
She rubbed her hands over her arms against the chill of the approaching night. She desperately wanted Redge to be back. Not just because she missed him—she did, terribly—but if he was back then she could stop worrying about his safety.
The sound of footfalls had her holding her breath, hopeful it was Redge, afraid it wasn’t.
“Journey?” His voice washed over her.
She ran to him and slammed into his chest. “I missed you. I’m so glad you’re back.”
He held onto her tightly. “We need to go. I have to take you to the castle. We’re on tonight. If we go now, we can bathe and change before we begin infiltrating.”
Journey looked down at her dirty dress. So much had been occupying her mind she hadn’t thought about such mundane details like the state of her clothes.
She smiled. “Let’s hurry.”
He took her hand, and they charged off into the lengthening shadows.
As soon as they arrived at the Onyx Castle, she noticed a marked difference in Redge. He held his head a little higher and his shoulders a little straighter. She continued to watch him from the side of her eye, pleased at his obvious pride, as they came into the massive front hall and everyone there acknowledged him with respect. He nodded formally to everyone but didn’t stop to talk, instead, ushered her down a few hallways and through a large wooden door.
“This is my room,” he said, smiling broadly. “It has been my room for many years.”
She walked into the room which was less of a sleeping chamber and more of a complete and comfortable living space. The furniture was stately and everything from the window coverings and bedding to the rug on the stone floor were in dark colors and very masculine.
“It’s lovely.”
His smile grew so big she was afraid it would crack his face. “I wanted to show you everything I’ve—”
She cut him off. “I’m very proud of you.”
He gathered her against his chest and kissed her deeply. “It’s because of you.”
“What is?” she asked.
“All of it. Everything I’ve done is because of you, and it’s because of you I have it back.”
She looked out of the window at the falling night, her mind returning to the task they had ahead of them. “We don’t have much time. Where can I bathe?”
“Right through there.” He pointed to a small door on the far wall.
She opened the door and gasped in delight as she was enveloped in warm, fragrant steam. She floated into the bathroom and began pulling at her clothes, anxious to get into the inviting bath that was already full of warm water. She turned and looked at Redge standing in the doorway. He took a step toward her then halted and shook his head.
“No,” he scolded himself. “No time.”
She smiled. “Close the door.”
He waited for her. Then tried to take his mind off her in his bath by laying out the weapons he thought best for his task. Stealth was the game tonight. Small blades only. She came out after a few minutes, wrapped in a towel.
“Do you have something else for me to wear?”
He gestured to the bed where he’d laid out a plain black dress and hooded cloak for her. She stood at the side of the bed and picked up the dress. She raised one eyebrow at him. Dark heat surged into his eyes, and he came at her, only to stop short as he had a few minutes ago.
“No,” he scolded himself again in the same kind of tone a parent uses on a small child. “No time.”
He left her to get dressed, grabbing a pair of clean pants on his way to get washed up. When he came back into the room, hair dripping down his bare chest, he found her dressed and holding a handful of his clothes. He eyed the clothes and scowled.
“Really? You picked what you want me to wear? Is that where we are?”
“Hey, you picked my clothes.” She rubbed her hand on the black fabric over her hip.
“Fine,” he said in a more irritated tone than he felt as he reached for the shirt she held.
She shook her head. “No. I’m going to dress you.”
He looked at her disbelievingly. She wasn’t kidding. “Are you trying to emasculate me?”
She ran her hand up his chest, over the side of his neck, and fisted her hand in his hair before pressing her lips to his. “Just shut up and trust me,” she whispered.
“Is that an order to your slave?”
“You bet it is.”
She circled him. Her hand touched the top of his then skimmed up his forearm to his shoulder and played so lightly across his back, shivers rolled over him. He exhaled very slowly and closed his eyes
. The fabric tormented his already sensitive nerve endings as she slid the sleeves up his arms. She kissed his mouth feathery-light as she laced the front of his shirt closed. Then she moved on to the light armor he had intended to wear.
She stopped being as gentle as she tightened the straps of his vambraces, causing him to hiss through his clenched teeth. It was like some terribly effective backward seduction.
“You are in serious trouble when this is over tonight,” he threatened her.
“I hope so…I think it’s time to go now.”
He looked out the window and nodded. He grabbed up the last knife she hadn’t slid into his belt or boots. It was a very slim, short blade. He pulled her close and pushed the knife into the top of her braided hair like a comb. She frowned and touched the top of the handle.
“I can’t. I’ve never carried a weapon of any kind. I don’t think I could inflict pain even if I needed to.” She made to pull it out.
He stopped her hand. “Please, just humor me.” He cupped her face in his hands, a worried look creasing his brow.
“What?” she asked.
“We don’t have to do this. I mean, I’m sure it will work. It worked on me. Why do we have to test it?”
“It only sort-of worked on you. Plus, you and I are connected to each other. It’s not exactly anything I’ve ever done before. I need to test it. You said our success against Copernicus rests on this. If it doesn’t work the way we think it will, you’ve got to form a whole new strategy. There are too many unknown variables.”
“All right,” he conceded. “I hate unknown variables.”
She smiled. “Everything in life is full of them.”
He kissed her roughly. “Not everything. Not us.”
She frowned but didn’t contradict him with words.
They slipped out into the night, hooded, and hand in hand. He led her silently through the empty back streets of Halussis. He was amazed at her trust. When they had first come up with this plan, he’d never thought she would really go through with it. Redge looked at her. Journey’s face was shadowed, but the moonlight fell on her beautiful full mouth and her chin. She wasn’t even holding her jaw tight. He hadn’t earned this level of trust. Why did she give it?
