We got closer and I noticed there seemed to be a lot of leather involved. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Ruby laughed as she got down on her knees and started crawling around her bed, looking under it while holding one arm around her breasts. “You chose this. Remember that. So, strip down and suit up. Adele’s probably getting impatient but hopefully she won’t be moody on this whole trip because we’ll have Zayden!” Instead of doing it, we just kind of stood there for a moment and watched what she was doing. “What are you waiting for? Adele will leave you here. I’m not paying attention to you. I have to find my thing or she’ll leave me here too. She’s done it before. I don’t want that.”
She looked back under the bed again and I started changing my clothes first. I most definitely didn’t want to be left here. Luckily, it didn’t take long before Zayden and Troy followed my lead and we all tried to completely ignore Ruby still in the room. It was a little hard since she was making noises and signs that she was getting aggravated.
“Shit. Where did I put it?” She popped up to her feet, looking around the room with her eyes moving fast to scan the area.
“What’s it look like?” Zayden asked. “Maybe we can help you find it.”
“It’s red.”
Troy laughed and looked around at the mostly red room. “Well, that narrows it down.”
“Yeah, sorry. It’s the only color I can actually wear without looking weird.” Ruby reopened her closet and started digging through it. “That and natural skin colors. Where could it be?” Her mood suddenly changed from this anxious girl to this more slow moving, possibly hiding something girl while she slowly closed the door. “Muscles, I apologize in advance for this.”
“Why?” I was already confused when I saw her mood change and I watched her walk over to the balcony door.
It quickly became clear when she opened them and bellowed his name. “Trever!”
“Oh.” I didn’t even want to look. I turned away to continue getting ready.
“I said I’m sorry.” Ruby whispered. “But it’s the only way I won’t be left here.”
“It’s okay.” Zayden said. “None of us want that.”
He looked over at me and I held off from saying anything. I didn’t want to open my mouth about this especially now.
Ruby jumped to a loud thump and turned towards the balcony. Trever swung himself down from the roof and landed in front of the door. “That was quicker than I expected. What did they do?”
Ruby sighed, trying to keep Trever’s attention on her by moving in front of his view of us. “Nothing. Did you just come from the roof?”
“Did you not just scream my name, assuming that I would have been close enough to hear it?”
“All right. Fine.”
“What do you need?”
“Is it not obvious?” She put her hands on her hips, vaguely pointing out that she wasn’t wearing a shirt but I’m sure the fool noticed.
“You need me to dress you?”
“No. You’re the only one that seems to have this mess of mine organized.”
“And I’m sure that makes everyone very happy to know.” His eyes glanced back at me but I kept it all in. Ruby didn’t want me to hurt anyone, even him and so I wouldn’t.
“Just find it. It’s kind of important that I go on this trip. Adele is already on the edge this morning.”
“She’s Adele. She resides on the edge.”
“Just find it.”
“All right.” Trever moved around her and traced all areas of her room. “It’s been almost a year since you last wore it but I would say it was last seen from returning from a mission. You were probably exhausted and hungry for something. What could that of been? Oh, right, me.”
I held my teeth tight together, continuing getting myself ready. He was completely doing it on purpose to test me but I wasn’t going to act.
“Just get on with it. Quietly.”
Trever traced the room, going on about it in his head. I was at least thankful for that if I was ever going to be to him. I certainly didn’t want to hear about it but watched him walk over to the dresser nearest the bed and pulled out a suede patchwork top that looked to be mostly strings like the sides of her shorts. “You’re welcome.”
“How did you do that?” Ruby seemed overly curious but I could have gone a lifetime without hearing the answer.
“Every time with you is like its own special memory and people seldom forget those, no matter how many years.”
“Can I get dressed please before Adele decides to leave us here?” She snatched the top from him and held it to her chest. “Well?”
Trever displayed this winning smile like somehow he enjoyed the fact that Ruby hadn’t told him to leave yet and directed those scheming eyes right at me. I was standing here, so, of course I heard it. He didn’t need to point it out to me but it was becoming clear that it’s how he was going to be from now on and it was the one thing I wouldn’t like about being here.
“You should have designed something you can put on yourself.” Trever took the two laces from around her neck and began stringing them across her back.
“I can get it off myself, that’s what matters.”
“Yeah, I’m going to stop you right there, Red, before you make this any more awkward.”
“This isn’t awkward. You’re saving us time so none of them have to stop and help me.”
“She may have done it before but Adele wouldn’t actually leave you here so don’t fall for her pissed off ranting. She’s only just trying to make you do it faster, although, their transformation would take more time than you really have.”
They both looked towards us.
“What’s wrong with it?” Ruby asked.
Trever tied the knot in her top and turned fully to us. I was ready for him to act in some way but he didn’t.
“I don’t know.” He said. “I’m just not feeling it. It’s like you dressed them more for your own visible enjoyment rather than in something sensible for travel.”
I watched Ruby try to hold in the cutest smile while she was looking at me and I was completely fine that she did that. It wasn’t our mission. I had to be of some use and if that’s keeping her happy when she looked at me than I was all for it.
“I see.” Trever replied with an undertone of discomfort that finally put a smile on my face. “That’s exactly what you did. Okay. You’re all very mature. That’s good news indeed. I’m going to go and forget about this but unfortunately we’re going to see each other very soon.”
“Why?” Ruby asked.
“Shall I remind you what you’re leaving to do and what always happens before you can leave to do that?” Ruby didn’t look happy. “Exactly. Bye.”
He left out the balcony door and climbed back to the roof where he came from.
“Great.”
“What?” Zayden asked.
“We’re going on a mission. That means we have to be briefed. You know, specific directions, things about our target so we know how to find them. Adele isn’t going to like this.”
“It’s fine. We’ll get through it.”
“I hope you’re right. Adele brought your weapons in here too so you could do it all at once.”
“And that won’t give us away?” Troy asked.
“It’s not like we really have that kind of time. Besides, if we’re lucky, you won’t need to use them at all. Now, hurry. Meet us when you’re ready and hopefully we’re still here.”
“You better be.” Zayden said.
“I was obviously joking but ah—” Her eyes glanced towards the open balcony door and I already knew what she was talking about. “Maybe you shouldn’t talk when I leave. You know, for your own mental well-being.”
She left the room and Zayden immediately shook his head at me like he thought I was going to say something. I sure showed him, sort of. “What? You automatically assume that it’s going to be me?”
“And wasn’t it?”
�
��I don’t care if they’re outside on the roof, listening to everything we’re saying because it’s not like we’re going to talk about anything that’s going to strike interest.”
“If you could, please just don’t and get that on.”
I was done. It really wasn’t a big deal because I was right. I didn’t need to have to prove it. What would we have talked about anyway? Great day for traveling? That outfit looks like it’s fitting you in all the wrong places? No big deal. No secrets revealed there. Everything’s fine. We were going to be seeing them again anyway and I’m sure that won’t even be the last time.
All I wanted to do was get my sword on and meet them so we could finally leave and get away from this awful place.
Chapter 25
Ruby
I knew we wouldn’t have left them here. Adele seemed eager just to see Zayden again like I shouldn’t have left them alone.
They were looking much more Kaluian. Pants sat low and perfect on their hips. Their shirts of both leather and fabric, brought out their muscles and begged to be looked at with the matching leather jackets to go with it.
Now we were ready.
We walked down the stairs to the main hall and out the door to the other side of the east wing where the stables were and Adele walked all the way down to the outer wall.
“What are you doing?” Zayden asked.
“Getting your horses. They’re still out here, remember?” They were? I was so excited to see them that I didn’t even ask how they got here.
Adele held her hand up to the outer wall and pushed a section of it back and to the side, opening up a door. Three Senian horses were out there, grazing on the grass; three white horses.
“Do they come when they’re called?” I asked.
Muscles smiled and whistled through the door. The three horses stopped grazing and walked over. “I guess you could say that.”
“They’re so beautiful.” Jaylyn said, placing her hand on one of them.
“Less so when you’re standing next to them.” Troy replied.
Jaylyn looked to him with a gentle smile and I rolled my eyes. It was still too early to be listening to any of that.
“So, what color would you like them to be?”
The Great Seni Fighters all looked at each other oddly and Zayden answered Adele with it on his voice. “White?”
“We can’t just walk them out of here now. No one saw them come in. We have to change their color.”
“But you can’t mask perfection. They’re bred champions.”
“We masked you. It’s only fitting that your horses match.”
“What do your horses look like?” Muscles asked, looking down the long rows of stalls with horses.
“Not white.”
“I think I know that. I thought we’d make them match yours. We don’t normally see other colors where we’re from.”
Adele and I both looked at Jaylyn at the same time. I knew she wouldn’t like them matching hers at all and she just tried smiling and laughed through her response. “Yeah. Ah—no. Trever wouldn’t allow that.”
“Why?” Zayden asked.
“Just look at her horse.”
“This is Rajat.” Jaylyn walked in front of her horses stall.
Shock hit, written clear on their faces.
“You have a gray horse?” Troy asked. “I thought they were all killed off.”
“Not all.” Jaylyn smiled as she rubbed the nose of the mystic gray horse. “There are only two left in existence. I hold one, he used to be my father’s and Trever is keeper of the other, Roslyn.”
“A female? You should breed them.”
I laughed just to keep the mood happy because that’s how I wanted this trip to go, happy. “Can’t. They’re sister and brother much like Jaylyn and Trever. It’s weird.”
“You could still breed them with other horses.” Zayden said.
Jaylyn gasped and looked behind her quickly towards the entrance of the stables. “Don’t speak of such a thing! Trever would never allow their blood to be diluted by other horses and so they can’t be. They’re both incapable of breeding.”
“Oh, those poor horses.”
“Think of it as protecting their bloodline.”
“So, he’s fine with just killing off the very last two gray horses?” Troy asked.
“Well, it wasn’t my decision. He’s very sensitive about it so don’t even mention it or it’ll lead into his long speech about greatness and purity. I’ve heard it enough times already.”
“Oh, believe me, we won’t.” Zayden muttered.
“So, you see, they can’t match exactly. He’d just—I don’t even want to think about it.”
“I don’t think it’ll matter.” Adele said. “We’re leaving.”
“Still.”
“Well, what about the others?” Muscles asked.
“This is mine.” I skipped into the stall of my brown horse to get on his saddle. “His name’s Avior. He’s young and spunky. Kind of like me!”
Adele laughed. “You’re perfect for each other.”
“Well, speaking of perfect. Show them Cavin.”
Adele just stood with a smile and her finger twitched. A stall close to the entrance came open and she whistled. She stayed exactly where she was with her smile and just watched their reactions. I did too. Their eyes widened just a little as the black stallion trotted out of the stall and came up behind Adele, stopping next to her. “He’s my baby.”
“He’s beautiful.” Zayden said.
“He was a gift from my father on my seventeenth birthday.”
“Seventeenth?” Troy wondered. “What was so special about that to get a horse?”
Adele shifted her eyes towards me and Jaylyn for a moment and we stayed quiet, turning away to continue readying our horses. I wasn’t about to say a thing but if she wanted to, she could.
“Well, let’s just say my sixteenth wasn’t really happy for anyone. So, have you decided what you would like your horse to look like?”
Zayden seemed a little unsure about how she was able to change the subject so quickly but he did the smart thing and just went with it. “I still really don’t like the idea of changing mine at all but if we have to for safety reasons then I guess you should just make mine match me. Can you make him blue?”
Adele laughed, putting the smile on her face that was his clear intention. “The point is to try to not draw attention to ourselves, Zayden. I’ll just make him black like mine.”
Zayden sighed and turned back to his horse, taking the reins. “I hope you can forgive me for this. Okay. Do it.”
Adele nodded and was just about to raise up her hand when her father’s voice startled everyone. “Adele?”
We turned right around and saw him walking to his horse’s stall. “Morning, father.”
The General glared at the three with us as he began to ready his horse. “Where may I ask are you going so early in the morning?”
“We’re going on the mission to Maaki like ordered. You knew that.”
“Without being properly briefed? I don’t think so. Join me for breakfast at Carmen’s.”
Adele paused for a moment and looked down as if she was glancing quietly behind her. I knew she didn’t like it but I knew we needed it. “That’s not necessary, father. Brief us here.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion. You have five minutes and I really hope you’re not dumb enough to walk out of here with those horses.”
“Just in the process of changing that.”
“Good. Don’t let anyone see you do it.” He walked his horse out of its stall and rode out of the stables toward Carmen’s, the local eatery and always the General’s choice place to dine, making it most popular.
“Well, great. We get breakfast.” Jaylyn smiled.
“We’re not staying for food.” Adele said. “Just long enough to get the information we need and I have a bad feeling about this.”
“At least we woke up early.” I sighed.
“Apparently, not early enough. Come on.” Adele put her hand up to Zayden’s horse first and it started to turn a shiny black starting at the nose and soon covering the entire body.
“Well, I have to say, you look good.” The horse stomped his foot and grunted like he was disagreeing. “I know but it’s only temporary. Finish it.”
Adele nodded and stepped passed him to my man’s horse. The horse started panicking and backing up as she got closer and Muscles immediately grabbed the reins. “Easy. It’s all right.”
“Steady him, Darius.”
“Well, what can I say? It’s like taking away his manhood.”
“Just hold him!” Adele reached her hand out quickly and touched the horse’s nose.
In an instant, the horse turned a reddish brown and Muscles helped calm him down as best he could. “It’s okay. It’s done. You’re all right. You’re fine. You’ll get it back. Just try not to look at yourself.” It was cute how he did it.
Adele turned towards Troy’s horse with a laugh and he was keeping his focus away by having his head in his direction. “Go ahead.”
She nodded and put her hand on the side of his neck, turning it gray. I tried to hide my widening eyes but Jaylyn was in a locked stare. “Are you deaf? Remember what I said? You can’t—”
“Relax, Jaylyn. It’s fine. We’re leaving.”
Jaylyn sighed with her head down, speaking in a tone that was meant for herself. “Trever is not going to like this at all.”
No, he wouldn’t. At least if he saw it and by that I mean, I hope we’re out of there before he does.
Chapter 26
Zayden
The sun had risen higher in the sky and was seeming more like spring as the air started to warm up. We rode at a normal walking pace up the street, getting closer to the palace clearly ahead.
Luckily for us, Balwin Manor was on the same street as this place we were headed to and we didn’t have to cross any, drawing even more attention to ourselves.
“Oh no.” Jaylyn sighed.
“What’s the matter?” Troy asked.
“Take a guess.”
Endless Night (Fate's Intent Book 3) Page 11
