Transcender Trilogy Complete Box Set

by Vicky Savage

  “That’s crazy. I’ve never heard of that before. So, how did we meet?”

  He puts his hand on my elbow, steering me off the path into a small clearing. A large dried-out tree stump sits at the center. He gestures for me to have a seat, and he leans against a tree opposite me, arms folded across his chest.

  “I remember our introduction clearly,” he says. “It was during a Coalition meeting at Warrington Palace. That was back when my father was still invited to Coalition meetings. I was fifteen. You were twelve.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you making this up?”

  “I swear I am not.” He raises his right hand. “Stories had circulated throughout the tribe that you and your mother possessed green eyes. I always believed it to be a myth—an exotic fairytale. We met in a reception line in the grand hall. You smiled at me and said, ‘I am very happy to know you, young Chief Blackthorn.’ I was so awed, I could not even reply. You must have thought me deaf and dumb.”

  “And you must have thought I was some kind of freak.”

  “Not so. I believed you were quite possibly the most beautiful creature on earth, with your lovely smile, your golden hair, and your impossible emerald-colored eyes. In fact I was certain you were some sort of enchantress,” he says smiling, “because I could never get you out of my mind.”

  His eyes lock onto mine and his expression turns serious. “So you see, I have spent an incredible amount of time over the past five years wondering what it would be like to kiss you.”

  Our eyes hold for a heartbeat, then we’re in each other’s arms. Weeks and months and years of longing collide in that moment. Well, okay, so technically it’s not me he’s been longing for all those years—but close enough.

  His arms pull me in tightly. I melt into him as if it is where I belong, where I’ve always belonged. My body trembles and I surrender all my senses to everything that is Blackthorn—his taste, his smell, his touch, his warm mouth on mine, giving and demanding at once. The hot, sweet sensations of hunger and thirst are fulfilled, then renewed with each movement of his mouth. His body presses against mine, and I respond in kind. Nothing in my life has ever felt so miraculously right and I’m certain nothing else ever will.

  After much too short a time, he tears his lips away. I whimper in protest, but he takes my face in his hands and gazes at me with such tenderness, I’m sure my heart will break.

  “Ah, Jade,” he whispers hoarsely, “I have dreamed of this.” He gently kisses each of my eyelids, then each ear and each cheekbone—whispering my name softly between each kiss… Jade… Jade… Jade. I cling to him, helplessly lost in a rapture I’ve never known. I believe I could die right here, right now, and be perfectly happy.

  When his lips reach my throat I moan involuntarily. Abruptly he straightens up, sweeps me into his arms, and carries me determinedly back toward the path.

  “Wait, where are you taking me?”

  “Back to Ralston,” he says, his breath ragged. “I believe that you are in need of a chaperone.”

  “Whoa. Whoa, wait a minute. Stop!” He stops.

  “Put me down.” He obeys, refusing to meet my eyes.

  “Ryder, look at me.” When he does, his face holds something unreadable. Shame? Regret?

  “Oh God. You don’t regret kissing me, do you?”

  “No. I regret that I almost could not stop kissing you,” he says angrily. “I seem always to behave poorly in your presence.”

  I cover my face with my hands, tears of relief spilling down my cheeks. “Please don’t apologize for that. Don’t spoil one of the most amazing moments of my life.”

  “Was it really?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “For me also.” He takes me in his arms again, gently this time. He presses his cheek to the top of my head. “Thank you,” he whispers.

  After a few moments, his breathing returns to normal, and my tears are mostly dry. I pull away from him slightly. “See,” I sniff, “no chaperone required. We’re both responsible people. Right?”

  “We both undoubtedly have our share of responsibilities,” he says. “You’re not angry then?”

  “Hardly. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. You really should behave badly more often.”

  He grins, shaking his head. “It seems I can’t help myself when I’m near you. It must be something about you.”

  “Ha! I bring out the worst in you, then?”

  “Or the best. I’m not sure.” He laughs.

  I take his hand and we head back to the carriage.

  It’s weird; I feel a connection with him and not just because of the kiss. I’ve heard of something called cell memory, and I wonder if the princess’s body remembers Ryder from their childhood meeting—she did draw a little star by his name. Maybe she felt something too.

  Ralston has everything packed and is waiting for us upon our return. It doesn’t escape his notice that Ryder and I are holding hands, but he doesn’t comment.

  “I look forward to our next meeting,” Ryder says. “I must speak with Professor Ralston for a few minutes. Please excuse me.”

  He releases my hand, which I take as my cue to go pick some wildflowers or something. I assume he’s going to fill Ralston in on his plan to have me visit Unicoi and our agreement to meet here tomorrow for my answer. I can guess what Ralston’s reaction is going to be. I only hope he doesn’t lock me in my room for the rest of my stay in Domerica.

  When I hear Ryder whistle for his horse, I rejoin the two men. The atmosphere is cordial enough, so Ralston didn’t blow a gasket when Ryder explained his plan. The men say their goodbyes, shaking hands.

  “I shall meet you here tomorrow, Jaden,” Ryder says bowing politely. He hops onto the back of his horse.

  “Tomorrow, then,” I say.

  And he is gone. And the empty feelings of loss that enveloped me last time he left me are back, only stronger this time. I hug myself against the ache.

  NINETEEN

  The ride home is bumpy and dusty. No rain in Domerica on Thursdays. I’m still flying high on Ryder’s kiss, content in my own thoughts. It was an unexpected thrill to see him again. And the kiss, well… I shiver all over just to think of it. He’s so brave, so kind, so irresistibly sexy, and he likes me! Well maybe not me exactly, but he definitely likes Princess Jaden. A lot. I touch the silver necklace, remembering to tuck it inside my dress. I always wear it hidden at the palace. I don’t want any questions about where it came from.

  Despite my warm feelings for Ryder, I’m uncomfortable every time I think about his invitation to visit Unicoi. I want to help him and the Unicoi people, and I want to spend as much time with him as possible, but I’m pretty sure Ralston’s going to say it’s too dangerous, that interfering in the affairs of this world can only lead to disaster. I don’t even want to think about Mother’s reaction if she ever finds out. I’ll be the star pupil in her reeducation program. My stomach gets twisted, and my temples throb just thinking about it. How can my life be so hopelessly messy and so spectacularly wonderful all at the same time?

  Ralston seems to be nursing a mood of his own. He hasn’t said a word for the entire ride home, clucking to the horses occasionally or humming to himself. As we near the turn-off to the palace drive, I can’t stand it any longer.

  “So, what do you think of Ryder Blackthorn’s idea about me visiting Unicoi?” I ask.

  “What I think about it is not really pertinent, Jade. What you think about it is what matters,” he says, keeping his eyes on the road.

  Hmm. That wasn’t quite what I expected to hear.

  “I’m just so torn about the whole thing,” I say. “I’d like to help the Unicoi if there’s anything I can do in the short time I have here, but so many things can go wrong with the plan. Plus, my mother will probably kill me if she ever finds out. Even on the outside chance I can pull it off and actually visit Unicoi, there’s no guarantee it’ll make a difference anyway. Mother isn’t willing to listen to me at all where Unicoi is conce
rned.”

  Ralston clucks softly to the horses, continuing to stare ahead. “Uh huh,” is his only response.

  “Hey, I’m looking for some help here,” I say. “Aren’t you supposed to advise me and guide me? Don’t you have an opinion on this? Or are you even listening to me? I’m trying to figure out what to do. I don’t want to disappoint Ryder. I don’t want to disappoint my mother either, and the whole thing could just blow up in my face.”

  He stares straight ahead and remains infuriatingly silent.

  “I want you to tell me what to do, damn it!”

  He pulls the horses to a stop and faces me. “Jade,” he says in a voice a patient mother uses with a petulant child. “I know you are frustrated with having been plucked from your quiet life and transported into a tense situation not of your own making, but is it really necessary for you to brow-beat me when you already know what you are going to do?”

  “What? I…” My mouth moves, but no words come out. I start to tell him he’s nuts—I have no idea what I’m going to do but, oddly, the noise in my head just stops, and I know he’s right. There’s only one thing I can do. I have to go to Unicoi.

  “So you’re not going to try and stop me?” I ask. “You’re not going to tell me this isn’t my world and this is not my affair so I should just butt out?”

  “Would it make you feel better if I tried to stop you?”

  “No.”

  “Would it change your mind?”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Well then…”

  “But you wish I’d make a different decision?”

  “That would be like wishing fire didn’t burn one’s fingers, Jade. You are uniquely you.” He smiles kindly. “You must do what you feel is right, and I must not interfere with your free will while you are here.”

  I slump back in my seat. “I’m sorry to be so cranky, Rals. I guess I’m just a little scared.”

  “That’s healthy.” He snaps the horses’ reins to get us rolling again. “It could be an interesting trip. Of course I’m going with you,” he adds. “You might as well see a little more of this world, as long as you are here. Think of it as part of the adventure.”

  “Yeah, some adventure.” I lean back against the seat, clasping my hands over my roiling stomach.

  “Have you considered that a personal element may be involved in young Blackthorn’s invitation to you?” Ralston asks, avoiding my eyes again.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, he seems rather taken with you.”

  “Yeah, I like him too,” I admit. “I wish I didn’t, but he’s just so freakin’ likable.”

  “He is that,” Ralston says mildly. “Just be careful, my dear.”

  I get it. This is his way of giving me a gentle warning, but I don’t want to talk about it right now. Mainly because I don’t need him to tell me what I already know—that falling for Ryder is not a smart thing to do. That depressing fact hangs heavy in the dusty air between us.

  Our four guards are totally ticked at us by the time we reach the palace. No one has known our whereabouts for several hours, and they’ve been preparing to send out a dome-wide alert for us.

  Ralston smoothes everything over, though. He tells them I changed my mind after they left, insisting we go out to the lake to paint wildflowers. Rather than have me pout all afternoon—you know how girls can be—he gave in to my wishes… yada, yada, yada. By the time Ralston finishes with his story, the soldiers are apologizing to him for being so needlessly worried. As a little just-between-us-boys gesture, Ralston actually shows them some of my artwork, which causes a few exaggerated grimaces and some barely concealed laughter. I’m sure I’ll be the butt of a few jokes around the Royal Guard mess hall this evening, but it was worth it to see Ryder again.

  I eat a light supper in my room, preferring to be alone with my thoughts. I’m not avoiding Ralston exactly, but after such an awesome day, I don’t feel like getting into a big discussion about the dead-end street in front of me if I get involved with Ryder. I haven’t quite turned that corner yet, and I don’t need Ralston flashing any big stop signs at me. I’m not sure I’m even capable of steering clear of Blackthorn at his point. I just hope I’m strong enough to make the right decision and live with it.

  Maria appears at my door, while the maids are clearing away the remains of my meal. “May I help you with your hair tonight, Princess?”

  “I was going to just forget about it, but, yeah, come on in,” I say.

  Maria massages my scalp with creamy shampoo smelling of rosemary and basil. She applies a lightly perfumed tonic from Copula de Vita and combs it through to the ends, saying it will work wonders on my wild mane. The whole process is divine and relaxing.

  “How did your hair get so matted?” She asks, expertly working the comb through the snarls and knots.

  “I went swimming in the lake, and… oh, speaking of which…” I hop out of my chair and unroll my wet swimsuit from its towel, “do I have anything decent to swim in other than these?” I hold up the damp garments.

  She giggles. “You swam in your underwear?”

  “Um… apparently,” I say, silently cursing Ralston for his faulty fashion advice.

  “Your bathing clothes are right here. Did you forget?” She goes to a drawer in one of the chests.

  “Well, yes. You know me—can’t remember a thing.”

  “I think Sylvia used to lay out everything for you. That is why you are a little confused.” She pulls out several one-piece suits. They are still modest and old fashioned looking, but at least they are made out of thicker, stretchy fabric like a normal swimsuit.

  “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. She hates me now, doesn’t she? Sylvia, I mean.”

  “She doesn’t hate you, but I think that maybe she used to keep an eye on you for your mother. Now that she cannot do that, she doesn’t have as much access to the queen anymore. She is not as admired by the others as before, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I think I know what you mean—she was spying on me. That figures.” I thank my lucky stars that I dumped Sylvia my first day in the palace.

  “I like the blue one.” She holds up a suit for me to see. “It is a good color for you, and the square neckline is very flattering.”

  It’s pretty, although it looks like something my grandma would wear. “Leave it out for me, would you please? I’m going to the lake again tomorrow.” My heart does a little flip-flop when I think about seeing Ryder once more.

  Maria finishes with my hair and bids me goodnight. I climb into my princess bed, my body dog-tired, my mind swirling with questions. What will Unicoi be like? What is my father like in this world? What will my mother do when she finds out about my secret trip? Will Ryder kiss me again tomorrow? What are Ryder and Lorelei doing right now? What are Ryder and I doing?

  Round and round in circles, so much to think about, so much to look forward to. I’m completely caught up in all the drama and intrigue of my new life. Then it hits me all at once—I haven’t thought about home all day.

  The realization shakes me up. I kick off my covers and sit up in my bed. I don’t want to admit it, not even a little bit, but I’d be crushed if I had to go home right now. I want to see Unicoi. I want to see my dad and his little community. I haven’t spent nearly enough time with my mother. But most of all, I want to see Ryder Blackthorn again… badly.

  TWENTY

  I look a little wrecked because I hardly slept all night. I dress in a cheery spring frock with my pretty blue swimsuit underneath. My hair still looks fresh and smells great thanks to Maria’s special treatment. But I can’t eat a bite of breakfast because millions of baby butterflies are flitting around in my stomach, tapping out Ryder’s name with each tiny wing-stroke.

  I arrive in the palace courtyard to find Ralston waiting for me in a carriage, packed and ready to roll. He’s already gotten rid of the guards. The man’s a genius.

  “It’s a beautiful morning, Jade. A wonderful day
for a picnic,” he says. “Climb on board.”

  “You’re pretty chipper this morning. Why the sudden good mood?” I ask.

  He snaps the reins and the carriage clatters down the palace road. “You’ll be happy to hear that we’ve made some real progress on your case. Things are coming together nicely and we should have a time-frame for getting you home soon.”

  “What do you mean? Like I’ll be leaving in a few days?”

  “I’m afraid we’re not that good. It will still be a little while, two to three weeks, maybe. Not months, as I had originally feared.”

  My feelings are jumbled up at this news. Thoughts of going home make me glad and sad at the same time. A few more weeks, maybe less… not much time.