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

by Tenaya Jayne

  ****

  Journey left the castle not long after Redge went to take the Ends to Copernicus. She left Halussis on the empty back ways, wearing her hooded cloak. She went back to the ruin. Not because she was supposed to, but she felt compelled to be alone. She stood in the empty space and closed her eyes. Her life had begun here. The life that truly was hers, her choice. All that time ago, she had decided to make her home in Regia. She’d never been given the chance to tell Redge that. She’d meant to the night she ended up running back home.

  Her memories rushed on her, images flashed and blurred into a painful collage. If only she could go back and talk to her younger self. She’d tell herself not to fall for him. She’d tell herself not to come to Regia at all. It didn’t matter now because she had and she did.

  Providing they survived tomorrow, and a solution to hold back the wizards was reached, what kind of a future did she and Redge have?

  She shook herself. Questions didn’t matter. Their relationship wasn’t conventional, so what? It wasn’t like they hadn’t had the chance to move on. But neither of them had. She thought about the nature of love. With most, the love between two people was like a living machine. But with her and Redge, their love was like a statue, unmoving, unchanged, and stuck perhaps. It existed, and it wouldn’t change. In ways that was comforting, and others, a sorrow. Their love wouldn’t create a family. Journey longed to be a mother, but their DNA was too different to mix and create new life. She would never bear him children. He knew it as well as she did.

  Journey sighed and released the past back into her depths. There were things she wanted and just for the moment she allowed herself to want them. She looked around. Why was she here? What had compelled her to come to this tomb of pain? She walked to the open hole of a window and grabbed a stone from the top. It came free in her hand. The ones next to it fell to the ground. She smiled to herself. Now she knew why.

  She walked outside the ruin, took off her cloak, and laid it across a stump. She found a thick, fallen branch on the ground and rammed it into a crack in the wall with all of her might. The crack lengthened. She hit it again and then jumped backward as the whole wall began to crumble, then it caved and fell. Dirt flew up into a cloud, and the crashing sound hurt her ears. The wall now lay in a huge pile of stones and broken mortar. A strange kind of laugh bubbled up her throat. She let it loose.

  Journey rammed each wall in turn until the whole house was no more. Just a mound of rocks around the tree that had grown in the center, through the roof. She dropped her battering ram from her blistered hands, put her cloak back on, and headed back to the Onyx Castle. Sweaty, dirty, and elated. She’d broken the skeleton hand of the past and its hold on her. She would live right now, in this moment, however short it may be. If the end was upon them, she would wring out every last drop and savor slowly.

  She wanted Redge back, but she had no choice but to wait. She banked the fire inside her and let it smolder. She wouldn’t put it out. She’d let it build pressure until he came back to her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Forest tried to sleep. She tried really hard to sleep. It just wasn’t happening. Her mind wouldn’t let go of the horrible what ifs that could and would come with the dawn. The beast was at the gate, ready to charge. And she had to be still, robbed of her power to fight. Syrus was right next to her, his chest pressed against her back, his arm wrapped over her. If he wasn’t asleep, he was doing a good job of faking it. His steady breathing brushed over her shoulder again and again.

  A sharp wrenching twisted in her abdomen, and she gasped in pain. As soon as the pain started, it stopped. Then it struck again. It felt like her body was stretching outward. She grabbed Syrus’ arm and pulled his hand to her belly, pressing his palm flat against her skin, just under her navel. He roused then, his electric power sliding from his hand and entwining with the snapping current inside the baby. The pain eased. It was like a strange form of communication between Syrus and the baby, a recognition or understanding.

  “You okay?” he asked sleepily.

  “You make the pain better. The baby responds to your touch…I guess we don’t need a paternity test,” she teased.

  “What test?” He sat up, rubbing his eyes.

  She laughed gently. “To prove who the father is. You know, Earth stuff.”

  He sighed and got up from the bed, too tired or preoccupied to respond to her jest. He looked out the window at the dark sky. “I’m glad your sense of humor is back,” he said flatly.

  “I’m sorry I woke you. You still seem tired. Come back to bed. You need your strength. You have to fight for the both of us tomorrow.”

  “No, I don’t.” He lay back down in the same position, placing his hand on her stomach. “I’m staying here with you. But I do need my strength to protect you and so I don’t get too angry with you when you make stupid jokes.”

  “Sorry. I just wanted to hear you laugh.”

  He kissed the back of her head. “Go to sleep. Your snore always makes me laugh.”

  “I don’t snore!”

  He did laugh then. “Wanna bet?”

  The sound of his chuckle made her feel worlds better, even if it was at her expense. For one second she was able to pretend everything was good and fine.

  “Maybe we should sleep in different rooms so I don’t keep you awake at night,” she offered.

  “Oh, no.” He pulled her tighter against him. “Your snore is really quite cute. More of a little wheeze.” His tone went all desperate ex-boyfriend. “Please, don’t leave me to sleep all alone! I’d have to walk all the way across the house in the middle of the night to seduce you. I can’t handle it!” he wailed.

  She elbowed him in the ribs and laughed. “I like you.”

  “You like me?” he repeated.

  “Yes. You’re my mate, and I love and desire you, but I also like you. You’re my favorite person.”

  “Hmm.” His voice rumbled with pleasure. “Well, I like you, too.”

  She sighed and nestled down into his embrace and was finally able to slip into an uneasy sleep.

  ****

  The night held long and tight like a breath trapped in the lungs. Merick held perfectly still under his cloak, trying to keep warm in the cold night. His ears stayed perfectly alert, but he closed his eyes. He hated being this close to where the Fair had been, but it was his turn to be on guard for Forest. He worked to keep the bitterness and desolation at losing his friends from eating him up completely. He never would have been able to manage by himself. But Netriet kept him warm. Her love softened the hardness on his heart and prevented it from turning to cold stone.

  His breath came out in a puff of steam as the temperature dropped a bit more. He looked at the house and then looked away. He wouldn’t ask Syrus for anything, not even a hot drink. He wouldn’t ask, not because he thought he would be refused, but because he knew, better than anyone, what Syrus had just gone through, almost losing his mate and child. He didn’t know what they were doing in there, and he wouldn’t be the one who interrupted their solace just because he was cold.

  Approaching footfalls had him springing to his feet. A silhouette moved through the depth of the blood lock and emerged in the garden. He relaxed before she was all the way through, recognizing Netriet’s awesome curves and the familiar sway of her hips as she walked.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  She smiled and held out a thermos, as if she had telepathically known what he wanted. He took it, wrapping his cold fingers around its warmth.

  “It’s coffee. We’re out of tea.”

  “You’re an angel. How did you know?”

  She shrugged. “What’s to know? You’re out here in the cold. I would have wanted the same thing.”

  He sat back down. Holding one side of his cloak open, he beckoned her closer with a jerk of his head. She sat down next to him, and he wrapped the cloak around her, too.

  “Have you decided if you’re going to the castle to figh
t in the morning?” she asked.

  “I think I’m too angry still. I doubt I could hold back the way Zeren is saying we have to because they are slaves. I know it’s not their faults, or not completely. But my friends…” He ground his teeth together. “Apparently the only target I have for my rage is Copernicus, and there is no way I’m going to be able to get close to him. Everyone wants his blood. Everyone has a right.”

  She pressed a kiss on his neck. “Yes, even me. They were my friends, too…You know we are damn near close to unstoppable when we fight side by side. We could—”

  “No. It’s your shift in the morning, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll stay here with you.” His breath came out raggedly and puffed in the air again. She snuggled closer, warming him. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  She smiled, a mischievous light coming into her eyes. “Forest being pregnant has got me thinking.”

  He groaned. “No way. No babies. I’m too old.”

  She snorted. “Well, I’m not… She told me they weren’t trying. Sometimes life just happens, Merick.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re plotting. No more sex for you.”

  She laughed. “Uh huh. I really believe you mean that.”

  “With everything going on in the world, how can you even think about having a child right now?”

  “Not right now. I just wanted to start a dialogue about it. That way when I really mean it, it won’t blindside you. And now that you’re all fussed and uncomfortable, I get the joy of dropping it into the conversation every so often just to see you squirm. You have to admit that—”

  He turned her chin with his hand and caught her mouth with his. He patiently kissed her, the way he knew melted her bones and scattered her thoughts. She sighed into him. Then her eyes snapped open, and she pulled away.

  “Why do you always do that?”

  “Too much chatter, Netriet. It’s the only guaranteed way I have to shut you up.”

  She gave him a dirty look that only lasted a second then turned hungry. “Kiss me like that again, Merick.”

  “You didn’t say please.”

  She put her mouth on his ear and whispered in her most seductive voice, “Now.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You’re real trouble.” He captured her mouth again, and for just a little while, they shut out the worry.

  ****

  Rahaxeris’ strength returned at a steady pace. He huddled in the dark corner on the floor, looking feeble, but feeble no longer. He still wasn’t himself, and he didn’t have the confidence to try anything. The loose cuff on his neck didn’t cripple him now, but its contact with his skin still held him back in recovering fully.

  Copernicus slept in short bursts, getting up now and then to pace around and talk to himself. Redge spent the night in a straight-backed chair by the table. He dozed off a few times, his head hanging down on his chest. Rahaxeris watched Redge. The slightest noise alerted him. He was more than grateful to him for everything he had done and was doing. If they both lived through the day, he would come up with a way to reward Redge.

  The dawn was a mere hour away, and Rahaxeris turned his mind to the problem beyond that of the next few hours, onto the wizards and how he could possibly stop them. As soon as the faintest trace of color smeared the sky, Copernicus was up. He came out of his room, fully dressed and armored. An elaborate cape embroidered with gold hung from his shoulders.

  Redge stood and bowed to him. Copernicus glanced at him but otherwise ignored him. He laid five swords on the table and considered each of them in turn. In the end, Copernicus chose the largest one, favoring intimidation over the sword that would have proved more efficient. He walked over to Rahaxeris and looked down at him.

  “What do you think, Redge? Should we take him with us?”

  “Definitely, my lord. It is a great show of your power and will frighten those opposed to you into submission.”

  Copernicus grunted in the back of his throat. “All right. He’s your problem. You carry him. Choose a weapon. It’s time to go.”

  Redge grabbed one of the swords off the table and strapped it around his waist. He lifted Rahaxeris up the same way he had the previous day.

  Copernicus closed his eyes. “I’m sending out the order now. The castle will fall. I have no doubt. My entire force will be there. The numbers alone are too much for them to stand against, and they will be taken by surprise,” he said, a terrible smile spreading over his mouth. “Many will die. My slaves will fight without honor.” He called on his ogre DNA and opened a portal.

  Redge’s blood ran cold as he followed Copernicus into the black mouth of the portal. He was bringing the danger to his home, his friends, and to his love.

  Chapter Eighteen

  They were coming. Journey could feel it like a buzz in between her shoulder blades. She looked at herself in the mirror and raised her eyebrows. She’d never worn armor or carried a sword. She looked like a Valkyrie, but she was sure she didn’t feel like one. Please…Please be kind, she begged fate. She left Redge’s room and joined the others. She could see it on their faces; she didn’t need to read their hearts. They felt the enemy coming, too.

  Zeren came up to her. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded quickly.

  “Follow me to the throne room.”

  She followed him, her throat going dry.

  He ushered her over to the side of the ornate, overdone space, where the wall stopped and opened around the side to a hidden door. He opened it, and she followed him into the plain room. It was empty except for racks and racks of weapons. It was an adequate space for her to play her part.

  “Stay hidden until the right time,” Zeren ordered. “Everything will come to you.”

  Again she nodded, unable to speak.

  A loud crash sounded overhead from the floor above them, followed by yelling and clanging metal. The first wave had arrived. Zeren’s eyes burned brightly, and he drew his sword.

  “Stay hidden,” he said again and left her alone.

  Journey pressed her back against the wall behind her and wrapped her arms around herself, her hands digging in and holding tight. Her bottom lip trembled as the sounds of fighting and death grew louder and echoed in her ears. Her mind clung to Redge. Please survive.

  Portals opened all over the Onyx Castle, flooding every level with vampires, werewolves, elves, and shape-shifter slaves. They charged ahead ruthlessly, unable to give in to any fear or feel any remorse. They operated under Copernicus’ orders to use any and all dishonorable means without holding back.

  The royal soldiers fighting against the insurgents were ordered to preserve life as much as possible, but that was a difficult task, especially against the wolves, who all fought in deadly beast form, and the elves were all invisible. The shifters weren’t built for fighting like the others and went down easier. After a few moments, those fighting against the insurgents knew what they were up against.

  Half of the castle’s ogres used their nasty weapons to hack through the ocean of attackers. They too worked to preserve life, only doing as much damage as necessary to disable and neutralize. In spite of that, bodies hit the floor. Many bodies on both sides.

  The invisible elves were dealing the hardest blow to the royal soldiers. Their swords and knives flashed in the air, giving them away. But there was so much crashing metal that mostly the elves’ blades just mixed into the chaos. Dispersed through the crowd, the elves only became more noticeable as blood began to cover them.

  The Kata masters were able to move faster than anyone else. They targeted the invisible elves, plucking their weapons from their hands, but after a moment, that action proved worse as the elves attacked the soldiers from behind. Having nothing but their hands, the elves took to sneaking behind their opponents and snapping their necks.

  The ogres not fighting came behind the action, gathering up the disarmed and wounded, opening portals and sending them straight to where Journey wait
ed.

  She jumped as the first bloodied and disoriented group landed in a heap in front of her. She lifted her voice immediately in song, having no time to waste to read these people. They were under killing orders and would end her without hesitation. She sang faster and more forcefully than she ever had, throwing images into the air above the crowd.

  They all listened and watched as she freed them temporarily from the hold of their orders. Most had broken hearts at what they had just been forced to do and many began to weep. She had to re-direct their emotions. Remorse would have to wait. There was no time for it now.

  They gazed on her like she was an angel, beyond touching, and divine.

  “You have to change sides,” she said. “Prepare to fight for your freedom.”

  As soon as they got to their feet and began to choose new weapons from the racks, another group fell into the room, and she had to repeat the process all over again.

  The next bunch took less time as adrenaline pushed her. These were also less wounded. As soon as they had a small measure of self-control back, they turned on one of the group and killed him with their bare hands, tearing his limbs from his body. Journey realized he must have been another believer and not a slave. A few of them spit on his body as they joined the others in choosing new weapons.

  The insurgents’ numbers were taken down by death or Journey’s conversion. Zeren fought with his men, but the time began to look right for their next action as Copernicus had yet to be spotted. He shouted over the noise for half of his men to pull back. They understood, knowing this order would be coming. They pulled back and funneled down to the bowels of the castle and waited. The rest continued to fight the unconverted.

  ***

  Copernicus’ portal brought him into the center of the throne room. Redge stood beside him, Rahaxeris hanging from his arm, limp like a dead body. He filled his lungs to their full extent and let loose a roar so loud it halted the whole castle. Copernicus held his massive hands up in front of him, his fingers splayed. An eerie blue light glowed under his fingernails, and he moved his hands through the air, forming some kind of otherworldly barrier over himself and the throne. Redge panicked as he realized he and Rahaxeris were caught under it with him.