by Tenaya Jayne
“Okay. You said it. Now let it be over.”
“I’ll try my best, but I know that day will haunt me the rest of my life.”
A small smile curved one side of her mouth. “You’ve got bigger problems, I hear. Ex-girlfriend back in town?”
His eyes lit up at the mention of Journey, and he grinned. “I brought her to meet you. She’s nervous.”
“Nervous about meeting me?”
“Yeah. She’s met Syrus before, and she thinks he’s intimidating. So she figures you’re just like him in that way.”
She arched a brow at him. “Am I?”
Redge snorted. “You can be intimidating, but not like him. Especially not now. He’s changed.”
She shook her head. “He’s still just Syrus, but I know what you mean. Pain alters people.”
He smirked. “I’m not talking about pain. I mean that scary shit his eyes do now when he’s mad.”
“Yeah, I’ll admit that is…intimidating.” She patted the top of his hand. “So…will you come back to work?”
“You’re offering me my job back?”
“I need you. Will you consider it?”
His face went completely serious. “Yes, I’ll come back to work. Thank you.”
Forest didn’t like to see him this humbled. She was ready for him to go back to the Redge she knew. She pulled her hand away from his and stretched. “Well, let me meet this goddess so I can get back to my nap, otherwise, Syrus will gripe that I’m wearing myself out, and he’ll get short tempered.”
“Okay.” Redge got to his feet and left the room.
She only had a second to be apprehensive before Journey walked in. Forest couldn’t help but be impressed by her beauty. Her skin was a perfectly even deep caramel. Black hair hung down her back in braids, accentuated with small metal clasps and beads. She was tall, probably only an inch or two under Redge’s height, with small breasts and full hips. But her eyes were otherworldly, the irises a deep shade of pink, and they shimmered like jewels. The contrast of her eyes against the deep hue of her skin was stunning. She projected a warm, peaceful aura, which put Forest totally at ease.
“Come closer,” Forest said. “Sit down.”
Journey sat on the chair in the corner, looking nervous.
“Why did you come to Regia?” Forest asked a little forcefully, deciding on an unorthodox approach to getting to know the woman.
“Which time?”
“This time.”
“I came to warn the love of my life that he was in danger.”
“That’s all?”
Journey smiled shyly. “I did have a few other desires, hopes, I should say. But warning him was enough to push me into the action I’ve longed to take since I originally left…I…I know it is to you that I must appeal for a permanent status in Regia.”
“Why do you want to stay? Because you fear the repercussions of your actions once you get home?”
“No. I don’t like the idea of facing them, but I would. I want to stay with Redge. I want to be with him for the rest of my life…I will do all I can to help Regia, I promise.”
Forest smiled. “Redge is my friend. I want him to be happy. Submit the paperwork to my office, and I’ll make sure your status is achieved. Once I can get to my wretched office, that is.”
Journey’s face lit up. “Thank you.”
Forest pointed her finger at her. “Status can be revoked. If you hurt him, I’ll boot your ass off world as fast as you can bat those pretty eyes.”
Journey smiled. “Understood.”
A knock sounded from the door, and Syrus poked his head in. “I think it’s time,” he said.
“Okay fine.” Forest sighed before she realized he wasn’t talking to her. He was looking intently at Journey, who nodded solemnly. “What’s going on?”
Journey stood up, and Redge came into the room and held her hand. The air grew heavy, and Forest was instantly alarmed. She sat up straighter as Syrus came over and sat on the bed next to her.
“I have something terrible to tell you. It’s going to hurt, a lot. I put it off because I knew in your weakened physical state the truth would put you back in danger. But you’re stronger, and I can’t stand lying to you.”
Forest’s eyes were round with apprehension. She clasped her hands on his shoulders, terrified to hear whatever it was, but convicted that she must. “What?” Her breathing was already fast, her pulse hammering.
He pulled her close to his chest. “The Fair…everyone’s dead.”
“No!” Agony rose up her core and stretched through her whole body.
Syrus held her painfully tight, as if he could absorb her pain. Her sobs racked her. All the strain went to her stomach and twisted deep inside.
“Journey?” Syrus said.
Journey stepped forward and began to sing. Her hypnotic voice broke through Forest’s cries, and she quieted, her mind drifting. She reached inside Forest and grabbed the threads she needed. She took some from Syrus, Redge, and also herself. The song wrapped around Forest’s broken heart and touched it softly, soothing the sting, but unable to erase it. Forest went limp in Syrus’ arms, and he laid her back down, her eyes fully dilated.
After a long time, Redge and Syrus left the room, but Journey stayed by Forest throughout the night, helping her through the pain, anesthetizing it, so she could rest again. Once she was in a deep sleep, Journey came out, utterly exhausted.
She crashed into Redge’s arms and yawned.
“She’ll be okay,” Journey told Syrus. “I’m glad I was here to help, though. You were right. She suffered terribly. She still will, but the level will be less. I can come back again if she needs me.”
“Thank you. I’m in your debt.”
Journey smiled at Syrus and shook her head. “I’ve read so many hearts in my life I never thought I’d find one that surprised me again. I love her… She’s unique.”
Syrus nodded. “Yeah, she is. Destiny gave me a real gift with her.”
“We’ll be at the castle if you need anything,” Redge said.
It was midday as Redge and Journey finally left them and returned to Halussis.
Chapter Twenty Two
After a week, Forest was strong enough to be on her feet for an hour at a time. She was desolate about the Fair and determined to build a monument to her friends at the blighted location. It was a good place, she thought, to commemorate not only those who’d died there but also everyone Copernicus had murdered.
Forest had a hard time sleeping simply because her nightmares were so horrific. But in spite of that, she was getting stronger every day. The baby was now big enough for her to feel its movements, her stomach rounding out. She didn’t see why she needed a guard anymore—the blood lock was broken, but Merhl was still hanging around frequently. Everyone else, though not actually guarding her, seemed to show up all the time.
Syrus was still on edge, but his focus turned to her pregnancy. He fussed over her so much she was ready to throttle him. But when she’d think about telling him to leave her alone, she couldn’t stand the idea of him actually listening to her and going away, even if he did just go to work for the day. There were still terrible twinges she suffered deep in her abdomen, and nothing but Syrus’ touch could ease the pain. She’d see him go through moments of total goofy happiness when he touched her stomach, even if he did try to hide it.
Forest really didn’t know how she felt about anything, let alone her child. She was still so raw. She hoped, in time, she could experience the rushes of delight Syrus did.
“I want to go see Shi today,” she told him over breakfast. “I feel much better. Will you take me?”
He looked at her with narrowed eyes, scrutinizing her total appearance.
“Really. I feel better. I don’t want to stay long. I just need to check on her. It’s been bothering me ever since Netriet told me Shi didn’t answer when she and Merick went there.”
“All right. Eat first.”
“You’re so b
ossy. Aren’t you worried I’m going to get really fat?”
“No, get as fat as you like.”
She snorted. “I’ll remember you said that.”
After breakfast, Merhl opened a portal to the Wood for them. They landed only a short ways from the Heart. The portal remained open, waiting to bring them back home when they were ready. Syrus picked her up and ran her away from the painful pull of the Heart’s energy, setting her down on the beach by the smaller falls. She looked at him pleadingly. He understood what she wanted without her having to say it.
“I’ll be close, but I’ll give you some privacy.”
“You’re so good to me. Thank you.”
He shrugged as though it was nothing and walked off through the trees.
Forest closed her eyes. Shi? Where are you?
For a long moment there was no answer.
Shi, please.
Shi’s voice whispered in her head, as though from a great distance. “Forest. I’m overjoyed to see you are alive…You’re pregnant!”
“Why won’t you come out? I want to see you.”
“I can’t right now. If I let go of Ler, I’m afraid death will come and take him. I’m not ready to say goodbye.”
“Wait. What?” Forest asked. “You’re with him? Like together, together?”
“Yes.”
Forest laughed. “That’s wonderful…I mean, it is, right?”
“Yes. It’s wonderful.”
“Is that why you didn’t come out and talk to Netriet when she came here?”
“I barely heard her. And then when I was about to try to talk to her, she left.” Shi’s voice broke with emotion. “The things I heard in her head. I thought for sure you were dead.”
“You weren’t the only one.”
“Forest, this is very tiring, like being torn in two. I don’t think I can manage it much longer. I’m sorry.”
“Wait. What do you see when you look inside me? What can you tell me about the baby?”
“There is a strong magic in the child, perhaps too strong… Perhaps not. Time will tell. She is and will be very beautiful.”
“It’s a girl?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want that to be a surprise?”
Forest smiled and shook her head. “I like knowing. But I won’t tell Syrus. He can wait it out… Shi, we’ve got real problems. I need your help. Regia needs your help. We have to stop the wizards.”
“I love you, daughter…” Her voice trailed away. “But, to tell you the truth…I’m frozen…I can’t…”
“Shi? Shi?!”
Nothing but a light breeze answered. Forest waited a few minutes in silence. Nothing stirred.
“Syrus?” she called out for him.
He was beside her in a flash. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Forest wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “Take me home.”
Syrus tried to rush her into the open portal so she wouldn’t feel too much of the pain she always felt being so close to the Heart, but she tried to stand it, looking toward Shi’s crystal tree. Shi’s tree looked different than the other nineteen surrounding the flames. The others were clear, as always, but Shi’s had gone opaque as if it had indeed frozen, or was filled with smoke. Forest wanted to go up to the tree, but she couldn’t get that close. Syrus wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back.
He insisted she lay down for a while when they got home. She didn’t argue.
“What could that mean? The tree going all cloudy like that? I’m really worried. There’s something wrong,” Forest insisted.
Syrus smiled and kissed her. “Maybe nothing’s wrong. You said they were back together. Maybe the smoke is from a fire they built.”
“What?” Realization of what he was saying took a moment to sink in. “Ah, I guess. Like teenagers fogging the windows of a car.”
“Now aren’t you glad you weren’t able to just walk right up and look inside?”
She snorted and snuggled down under the blanket he was pulling up over her. She looked up into his face as he smoothed the hair off her forehead.
“What is it?” he asked.
She opened her mouth then closed it and shook her head. “Nothing. I’m tired and just buying trouble.”
He tapped his finger over his heart. “I feel you’re worried about something.”
“Worry is my constant state right now,” she deflected.
“Yeah. Mine too.”
Chapter Twenty Three
Journey opened her eyes in the dark, coming awake sharply as though startled. She sat up in bed next to Redge, pulling the thin cover around her bare skin. She looked down at him. He slept peacefully, his arm outstretched to her, lying in wait to snuggle her back into his side. She gasped as his steady pulse filled her ears like a base drum. A nameless fear began to peck at her heart like the beak of a predator bird. Sharp tiny bites over and over, taking pieces of her away and swallowing them. What was wrong?
She read his heart as he slept, searching for the origin of her dread. She knew his heart so well. She saw the alteration immediately, and it cut like a blade thrust down her throat. No. Not this. Please, not this. She shook herself and looked again. Her name was Kylie. Redge’s destined life mate’s name was Kylie. The knowledge of this stranger filled his heart, under the surface, where it would lay dormant until he saw her for the first time. It would be tomorrow. That was why it was manifesting in his heart. He would meet Kylie tomorrow, and his love for Journey would die as quickly as a candle flame blown out, and forgotten almost as quickly.
Redge woke to Journey pressing down on him. She was kissing him painfully hard. The tears falling from her eyes landed on his face. She pulled at him with total desperation. He tried to sit up, but she pushed him back.
“What’s wrong?”
The moonlight through the window glistened on her flowing tears. She didn’t answer.
“Journey, what’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Don’t talk. Just love me, right now. Break me down the way you did before…the way you did when you first got me back.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and used only as much force as he had to hold her back. “No. Absolutely not. I will not make love to you while you are crying and upset. Tell me what is wrong. I’m freaking out here.”
“Please.” She swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I’ll stop crying.”
He moved away from her and got out of bed, wearing only a loose pair of lounge pants. She couldn’t stop herself; she came after him. He handed her a robe. She slid her arms through it and belted it. Then she crashed into him again, wrapping her arms around his torso. He held on to her hesitantly, rubbing his hands up and down her back as if she were cold. Abruptly, he stopped, and his whole body went rigid.
“You’re leaving me,” he said. “Aren’t you?”
“Yes. At dawn. I’m leaving while I can, and so I don’t have to see…” She cried.
“Don’t have to see what?” he yelled, pulling away from her.
The words lodged in her throat and choked her. “You…stop…loving…me.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“This is the end of us, Redge. These are the last hours we have before our love dies. Or, rather your love for me dies. I will go on loving you forever…I saw it there in your heart. Just now, while you slept. You’ll meet your destined life mate tomorrow. Kylie. Forgive me, but I’m not going to stick around and watch while you forget me.”
His mouth hung open. He looked like she’d just stabbed him in the heart. When he didn’t say anything she became so angry her vison blurred.
“I wanted to leave with a sweet memory, but I can see that isn’t going to be. Fine. I’m leaving now.”
“Wait.”
“For what? There’s nothing. You want your mate. Of course you do. Who wouldn’t? I get it. The bond is something I can never give you. I hope Regia survives…I hope you do. I know you’ll be happy, and maybe one day I’ll be noble enough to find
some kind of selfless joy in knowing you’re happy. But I doubt it. Both of you can burn in hell.”
She bolted from the room.
“Journey!”
She ignored his call, running down the hall and through another door. The room was empty except for a single ogre. Perfect. She could grasp the golden current to take her home, but there was one thing left for her to do in Regia.
“Please.” She walked up to the ogre. “Please open a portal for me to the Wolf’s Wood.”
He gave her a little bow and complied. The rushing took her away from the castle, away from Redge. When her bare feet hit soft sand, she fell on her hands and knees and cried out an involuntary sound of her heart ripping in two. She saw nothing really, just smudges and blurs of color, her eyes submerged under the deep ocean of her tears. She rolled over onto her back and looked up at the sky as the hateful dawn slapped her. She closed her burning eyes and took a deep shuddering breath, trying to calm the tremor in her chest.
She stood. It was terrible to linger. She would see what she came here to see, and then she would leave. Journey blinked at the silver purple waterfall, clearing her eyes. She didn’t stare. She saw it, now she would see the Heart, and then she would leave.
Where are you going, Journey? His voice whispered in her head. I love you. You. You’re everything to me.
Her heart stilled. He kept on. Whispering in short sentences, just as he had every day for all these past years.
Help me.
Stay with me.
Don’t go.
Please.
There is no one else. There never will be.
She heard something behind her and turned around.
There he was, a piece of parchment burning in his hand. He dropped it as the flame turned it to ash.
“Why did you follow me?”
“Because I have no destiny. I reject anything and everything that says I cannot be with you.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” she insisted.
“Yes it does… Everyone has a choice. Even those who have destined life mates. You can always reject it.”
“Why would you? It has a legendary agony.”
“Perhaps your gift has spared me that. And Kylie as well. No one knows who or when it will happen to them, and you told me. So, I’ve already rejected it. Before it ever happened. It hurt, I’ll admit, but just for a moment. Or maybe the pain was terrible but I couldn’t really feel it. It was nothing to the pain of watching you run from me. I will not live my life without you, Journey. I reject that.”
