Transcender Trilogy Complete Box Set

by Vicky Savage

  Asher told me a little about shifting without a TPD. You have to concentrate on where you want to go, and focus on the streaming stars feeling. Two more quick pops echo in the street. No sudden, searing pain, so I must be okay. Gasping for air, I duck inside a recessed doorway. Closing my eyes, I concentrate as hard as I can on Warrington Village.

  Zzzt! I’m streaming blindly through the universe.

  The smell hits me hard as I land. Thick, earthy, smoky air. Like a campfire doused with water. I’m not sure whether to chew it, gulp it, or breathe it. My surroundings are jarringly unfamiliar. Dense vegetation drips with moisture, weak shafts of sunlight filter through the thick haze, gunky compost squishes beneath my boots. It sure as hell isn’t Warrington, and I doubt I’m even on the right earth. It’s like a steamy rainforest. Crap! What now?

  Plopping down on a fallen tree trunk, I cradle my bruised cheek in my hand and scan the thicket in front of me. Instantly I freeze. Two enormous yellow eyes peer at me from ten yards away, their owner crouched on all fours, taut and ready to spring.

  The creature is about the size of a grizzly with sleek black fur and wicked-long fangs. I can’t tell if it’s feline, ursine, or just plain monster, but it’s sizing me up like I’m today’s blue plate special. Adrenaline blazes in my veins. Every cell of my body screams red alert. My mind shifts into hyper-drive, zooming through my options.

  “Stay still.” The voice behind me is Asher’s. He places a hand on my shoulder and Zzzt! We’re out of there.

  We land in the alley adjacent to Bartlett’s, Asher still gripping my shoulder like a vise. Releasing me, he slumps back against the brick wall, and strains for air.

  “What was that thing?” I ask.

  He shakes his head. “Don’t know,” he says still panting.

  “Where were we?”

  He shakes his head again. “Someplace new.” He squeezes his eyes shut as if in pain, and I realize how shaken-up he is.

  “Hey, we’re safe,” I say. “It’s all good. Thank God for that TPD locator thing.”

  His eyes snap open, and he grasps my arm roughly pulling me toward him. He shoves up my sleeve. “Where’s your bracelet?”

  I yank my arm away. “I left it back at the palace. I’m sorry.”

  “You should wear it at all times,” he says through gritted teeth.

  “I will. I promise. Just calm down.”

  He slumps back against the wall. “You could have been killed, Jade.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  He straightens up and takes my chin in his hand. “What happened to your cheek?”

  “One of the comrades got physical with me. I doubt he’ll be trying that again, though.”

  “What did you do to him?” he asks, scowling.

  “A lot less than he deserved. I just clocked him with my boot. A little spin-kick. He was out cold, last I saw him.”

  Asher barks out a laugh, cracking the tension between us. “Wish I could’ve seen that. The bastards! Thinking they could beat-up on a girl. They had no idea who they were dealing with.”

  I have to laugh myself. “Yeah, but you should’ve seen them after that little disappearing act you pulled. They were totally blown away, clutching at nothing, nearly falling on top of each other trying to figure out where you were. You’d probably better check on your family, though. In case they’re interrogated or something.”

  “I will.” He reaches out for my hand and pulls me close. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d have been hurt.” His eyes are cloudy as sea glass.

  “That’s ’cause you like me,” I tease.

  “Do not.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  He shakes his head. “You are way too much trouble, Beckett.”

  “But you like me. Admit it.” I smile up at him.

  He lightly brushes his fingertips along my cheek. “Okay, maybe I like you a little, despite the fact that you’re a royal pain in the ass. No pun intended.”

  He rests his forehead against mine for a moment, and then leans in and kisses me. I confess I didn’t see it coming, but oh man, it feels great. I wrap my arms around his slim waist and pull him closer. Mmm. His mouth is warm and luscious, and his body feels so nice next to mine. This is probably a real bad idea, but it feels pretty damn good at the moment.

  “Jaden!”

  We pull our lips apart and both turn toward the voice. Ryder stands at the entrance to the alley, a look of combined shock and fury on his face. I step away from Asher and swipe the back of my hand across my mouth as if to erase the kiss. Asher positions himself next to me, arms at his side, feet planted firmly apart; steadying himself for whatever comes next.

  “Ryder. What are you doing here?” I ask, hoping a manhood contest doesn’t break out in the middle of the alley.

  “I received your message. I saw your horse … What are you doing here? Who is this?”

  “This is my friend, Asher Steele.”

  Ryder walks with determination toward us. He’s dressed in traditional Cherokee buckskins today and looks every bit the menacing warrior. “What does this mean?” he says. “Is this why you wished to see me? To tell me you have found someone else?”

  “No! Let me explain.” I turn to Asher. “I need to speak with Ryder alone. Please just leave. The normal way,” I whisper under my breath.

  “If that’s what you want,” Asher says. He turns and saunters out of the alley, taking his sweet time.

  “All right, explain,” Ryder says. “Why were you kissing him?” Hurt and rage take turns rearranging his features.

  “It was nothing. It was just an accident.”

  “It didn’t appear accidental to me,” he says. “Why are you dressed like that?”

  I must look destroyed to him. Ralston’s hat got lost somewhere along the way, but I’m still wearing his vest. My riding pants are split at both knees and filthy. My mud-caked boots have definitely seen better days.

  “It’s a disguise. I didn’t want to be recognized.”

  Lightning flies from his stormy eyes. “Why not? What were you doing? And what happened to your face? Did he strike you?”

  “No. Of course not. He’s not that kind of man.”

  “What kind of man is he, then? Is he your lover?”

  “Ryder!”

  “What else am I to think after such a public display? You are engaged to me. You have no right to …”

  “Whoa. Wait a minute, big guy. Just stop right there. First of all, engaged or not, you don’t tell me what to do. And second, only one of us is falsehearted enough to fall into bed with the first person who asks them. And it isn’t me.”

  My words seem to knock the wind out of him. He gazes at me a moment. Slowly all emotion drains from his eyes, and I sense an invisible wall rise up between us. He’s shutting me out. Deliberately closing himself off to me. It hurts like hell. No Ryder, don’t. I know I deserve it, but please don’t.

  “Your Highness,” he says tonelessly. “I regret to inform you that pressing matters prevent me from keeping my meeting with you this evening. Good day.” He bows, turns on his heel, and walks away.

  “Ryder,” I call after him.

  He doesn’t look back.

  TWENTY-TWO

  I trudge out of the alleyway toward the horses, praying no one recognizes me. A few people mill around in front of the village shops, but no one seems to notice me. All at once I’m dog-tired and smarting from my injuries. My insides are hollow and cold. Patrick sees me and hurries over with my jacket.

  “Are you all right, ma’am?” he asks, checking out my battered face and ripped pants. “Have you met with some misfortune?”

  “No. I’m fine. Where’s Professor Ralston?”

  “Not back yet, ma’am. Shall I find him for you?”

  I spot Ralston strutting down the sidewalk decked out in a fancy new coat and hat. “Here he comes,” I say. When he catches sight of me, he loses the strut and picks up his pace.

  “Jaden, what
is it? What’s happened?” he asks when he reaches my side.

  “Just a little throw down with some Russian soldiers,” I say softly enough so Patrick can’t hear. “I’m all right. Can we just get out of here?”

  “Of course. I apologize if I kept you waiting, but I believe we’ll reach the palace with ample time for you to change before your meeting with Ryder.”

  I climb on Gabriel’s back. “There’s no need to rush. Ryder’s not coming.”

  “Not coming? I’m sorry to hear that.” He mounts his own horse, and we ride side-by-side out of town, Patrick keeping a respectful distance behind.

  After a mile or two of silence, I say, “I lost your hat, Rals. Sorry.”

  “It’s quite all right. I have a fine new hat, thanks to you.” He touches a fingertip to his brim. “I take it your afternoon with Asher was not as pleasant as expected?”

  “Actually, it was nice seeing Asher’s weird hometown and meeting his mom and sister. They’re both lovely. We just got crosswise with some high-testosterone soldier-types on our way out of town. Oh, and when I tried to escape, I almost got eaten by a gigantic fanged beast in a smoky jungle on some unknown earth. But that wasn’t even the worst of it.”

  “Good lord. How could it possibly get worse?” he asks with worried eyes.

  “Ryder saw me kissing Asher.”

  “Oh my. I see.” He clucks at his horse and focuses on the road ahead. I don’t have to look at his face to know he’s probably disappointed in me. Undoubtedly, he’s trying to figure out why I would do something so casmagorically stupid. Which is what I’ve been wondering myself ever since it happened. Maybe all this inter-dimensional travel has killed some essential brain cells or something.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” I say. “It was a completely lunatic thing to do. I don’t even know how it happened. One minute Asher and I are joking around, and the next minute we’re kissing.”

  “To the contrary, my dear,” Ralston says gently. “I was thinking what an exceedingly human thing to have done. You are two spirited young people who like each other and who had just shared a rather traumatic experience. It is quite understandable that you were drawn together in such a way.”

  Not what I expected him to say. He’s a crafty old fart sometimes. “Are you trying to be metaphoric or something?”

  “Whatever do you mean?” he asks, a Who me? expression plastered on his face.

  “Oh, please, Rals. I mean, you’re saying that’s exactly what happened with Ryder and Erica, and so now I should totally get it.”

  “If that’s what you take away from this experience, then perhaps it was fortunate that it occurred.”

  “Yeah, well it wasn’t fortunate. Ryder’s furious with me, and I don’t know what’s going to happen now. Relationships in this world are pretty black-and-white. I’m engaged to him, and I just kissed another man. I may have pushed him too far and royally screwed-up any hope of getting back together.”

  On the verge of throwing myself a full-out pity-party, I’m distracted when Ralston changes the subject. “Tell me about this great fanged beast you encountered. That must have been thrilling. What happened?”

  I recount my visit to the Soviet Socialist Republic of New York, our confrontation with the soldiers, and my accidental detour to Where the Wild Things Are. It’s nice sharing my Transcender experiences with Ralston. He’s always fascinated with my stories and seems kind of awe-struck by the adventures. Besides, who else am I going to tell?

  As we near the palace, the hollow sick feeling returns to my stomach. The frosty indifference in Ryder’s eyes still haunts me. I hope I haven’t blown things for good.

  The guards at the entrance gates wave us through, bowing as we pass. “Hey, Rals,” I say, “let’s ride around back to the stables and go in through the kitchen. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”

  He looks kind of crestfallen. “I was planning on making a grand entrance in all my new finery,” he confesses. “But I suppose you’re right. It wouldn’t do to have Prince Harold asking a lot of questions about our day.”

  We leave our horses with Patrick, and walk through the kitchen courtyard to the back door. Dinner preparations are underway, and the aromas that greet us as we enter the kitchen are sublime—roasted meats, freshly baked breads and spice cakes. My stomach gurgles in appreciation. I spy a bowl piled high with fresh pommeras, and pop a few in my jacket pockets.

  “You go on ahead, Rals. I’m going to take a treat out to Gabriel.”

  Trotting back out to the stables, I find Gabriel already being brushed down by one of the stable hands. The boy bows and I nod.

  “I’ve got something for you Gabe,” I hold out a pommera in my open palm. He grasps it with his lips and devours it with one bite. That is not the way pommeras were meant to be enjoyed, so I decide to keep the others for myself. I kiss his velvety nose and head back to the palace.

  As I leave the stables, a lone rider enters the palace courtyard. Our eyes meet and a flash of recognition passes between us. I don’t know who he is, but I swear I saw him in town this afternoon. The hair on the back of my neck prickles. I’m being followed … and by someone known to the palace guards. Ralston needs to hear about this and help me find out who he is.

  I wend my way up the back stairway and into my room without seeing anyone. After shedding my filthy clothes, I slip into a fluffy robe and head for the bathroom to check out the damage to my face. My cheek isn’t terrible—a little swollen and red, but nothing a bucket of concealer can’t hide.

  Before Maria arrives to help me dress for the evening, I shower and brush out my hair. Maria knows me well enough not to ask too many questions about my bruised face, and she’s a master with makeup, so in no time she has me looking fresh and princess-like.

  Someone taps at my door while Maria is choosing my gown for dinner. It’s Samuel, my mother’s butler, come to tell me that Mother is dining in her room tonight, and would like me to join her. That’s a relief. I’m not up to a formal dinner tonight, and I sure don’t feel like talking to Uncle Harold just now. Mother concerns me, though. This is the second night in a row she’s missed dinner. Dressing quickly in a casual gown of softest fargen wool, I decide to forego the jewelry except for my TPD bracelet, and the wolf-head necklace tucked inside my neckline.

  General LeGare is already there, sitting by Mother’s bedside. I was hoping for some one-on-one time with her, but this may be a good thing. Now I can talk with both of them about some of the things Jacob and Lorelei told me. Ralston and I agreed it would be best to take a subtle approach with Mother and not to accuse Uncle Harold of any wrongdoing until we have all the facts.

  I kiss Mother and take the chair on the opposite side of her bed. Without the benefit of make-up, she looks tired and gaunt. My heart contracts at the thought that she could slip away at any time.

  “Thank you for joining us, darling,” she says weakly. “The medication is taking a greater toll on me each day. I did not feel up to entertaining tonight, but I’ve ordered a lovely dinner for us. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “This is great, Mother. A quiet dinner with you suits me fine.”

  The food arrives, and several servants quickly set Mother’s table with sterling silver, fine china, cut crystal, and golden candlesticks.

  “I believe I’ll stay right here and take my meal on a tray,” Mother says, “but you and Charles should dine at the table.”

  “No Mother. We’ll eat here with you.” I tell Samuel that we’ll all have trays, and he sends one of the maids scuttling from the room to get two more.

  Once we are all served, Mother asks about my day.

  “Ralston and I went to see Lady Lorelei,” I tell her. “Jacob was there too. We had a nice visit.”

  She smiles. Lorelei is a favorite cousin of hers. “Are they well?” Mother asks.

  “Yes they seem to be. Lorelei hopes the situation with Dome Noir is resolved soon, so she can import the materials she needs for her bus
iness. Jacob seems more concerned about some matters raised at the last Council of Advisors meeting.” LeGare shoots me a little frown like I shouldn’t trouble Mother with this information. I ignore him. I know Mother, and she’d want to hear this.

  “Is that so? What matters are of concern to him?” she asks.

  “Well, for one thing, it seems that Uncle Harold has planned for a new cavalry division of the Royal Guard.”