He lifted his gaze to Aleksander and met eyes as ancient and tired as his own. A Centaur, willing to lose his life over an ideal, had tossed down the gauntlet.
When had the insurrection started? He hadn’t known it was happening.
Another thought slipped into the space occupied by dread. He hardly noticed the itch of the crimson spray droplets that tracked down his face, or the roots creeping toward the dead Centaur.
“Alek.” Rhy’s heart plummeted into the pit of his stomach. Ruefully, he voiced his churning nightmare. “The uprising has only begun.”
Thirty-Six
At the outdoor amphitheatre, Rhycious stood off to the side waiting for Patience, and gazed at the hundreds of mythic people gathered. Located near the Centaur palace, the natural bowl hummed with excitement, churning the open air with light-hearted anticipation.
Below, where Queen Savella would make her appearance, the dais awaited her. A flat rock the size of a tennis court, carved from ice flows millions of years ago, formed the stage where attendees on all spectator levels had unobstructed views. On each side of the platform, hidden by long panels of tapestry emblazoned with Savella’s royal crest, were access corridors leading to various chambers behind the cliff wall.
Banners snapped in the mild afternoon breeze proclaiming that the spring equinox was upon them. Balanced between light and dark, days and nights were an almost equal length. The point at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator, brought the first day of seedtide to the woods.
A time of great fertility.
A time for change.
Centaurs socialized with Trolls while waiting for the celebration to begin. In other areas, Satyrs and Minotaurs shared moments of humor. Other races mixed and mingled, strolling about to find seats. As it was in the old days.
Savella had the right of it. The sacred holiday stood as a perfect symbolic moment to begin healing the unity in the Boronda Forest species.
Rhycious nodded to a small group of mares who wandered by, fluttering their lashes and giving saucy sways to their decorated tails. Their flirtation was lost if they were teasing for him—though it noticed by the copse of bachelor Nymphs who followed closely behind. The young men grinned, and the chase was on.
At the auditorium’s main entrance, Rhycious waited near the gate that funneled attendees toward a large aisle leading to seats in the center section. From this vantage point, he kept a watchful eye on the far gate as well, excitement building as the minutes ticked past.
Aleksander wandered up, having extracted himself from somewhere within the bowels of the throng. “Is she here yet?” He took stock of their surroundings, his gaze sticking on one female after another.
“Patience better have Serenity with her to tame that wandering eye of yours.”
Alek stroked his goatee, grinning broadly, the twinkle in his mischievous eyes turning several feminine heads. “Nothing wrong with working up an appetite.”
“As long as you eat at home.” Rhy nudged Alek and indicated with a nod of his chin. “There they are now.”
Sandwiched between her sister and Daisy, Rhycious saw only her curvy, petite figure. His sight caught and held. Patience’s hair shone like glazed caramel, hanging in wavy lengths to her waist. The sun bounced its radiance between the dark brown strands, lighting her up in an Elysian halo. Upon her head was a Nymph’s traditional floral wreath woven in an intricate design. It was vibrant and beautiful.
Just like her.
The breezy white concoction she wore left her arms and midriff bare, the skirt swishing low around her hips, cupping her delectable form. He knew she’d designed it herself.
The dark smudges beneath her eyes dampened the hot race of his heart. Patience spotted him and waved, smiling. However, her eyes withheld that special sparkle, the one reserved only for him.
It was important to focus on the celebration ahead, but the wave of emotion within him, the pure honesty of it, told him exactly what he wasn’t able to say aloud.
“Rhycious,” Patience said, “you look bodacious. Love the threads.” Something must have crossed his features because she gave him a look of concern. “Wazzup? Something wrong?”
He ran his hands over her arms, loving the velvety texture, and pulled her closer.
“I’ll never let anything hurt you,” he promised, leaning to kiss her lips with a long sip of aching desire. “I’ll always see you’re protected. I swear it, Patience. You’ll always have me. And I’ll never, not once, take for granted the special healing you’ve given my soul. And if I ever do, I hope you’ll call me on it and remind me of these promises I give you today. If you trust in my power of healing, then you can trust in your remedy I’m working on. I’ll battle for your health. We’ll do it together, agape mou.”
Patience didn’t speak. Her throat convulsed several times before she finally nodded. Tears gathered in her lashes, love in her eyes. He kissed her with utter freedom in front of Centaur and Wood Nymph alike.
The Festival of the Trees.
A time for new beginnings.
“Ahem.”
He and Patience broke apart. Aleksander stood with his hooves squared and arms crossed over his body armor. His silver arm cuff, the insignia matching Rhy’s, shone in warm reflection. Next to him, Daisy rolled her eyes and waggled her fingers before wandering off to find them seats. Serenity rested the crook of her arm on Alek’s withers, draping off him, one ankle casually crossed over the other. She shook her head, stifling a grin.
“Come with me, Patience.” Rhy grasped her hand. “I don’t want you out of my sight, not even for a minute.” He led her down the footpath toward the front of the auditorium, away from teasing friends.
“Cool, dude. But, like where we headed?”
“You’ll have the best seat in the house.”
Near the base of the dais, he flipped the tapestry away from the cliff face to enter a small doorway behind the curtain. Cool air fanned their heated faces and he gave Patience a reassuring squeeze on her hand. He led her through the dim interior, then up a short flight of stairs.
Rhycious pulled her to stand next to him in the shadowed wings of the dais. Carved rock glowed under their feet, hinting with sparkles from the bright sunlight shining on the front of the stage. Hidden from public view, he wrapped an arm around her slim waist and kissed the top of her head, enjoying the fragrance of flowers in her hair.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready for what?”
A hush fell over the waiting crowd. Across the dais, Queen Savella stepped out from the opposite wing and made her way to center stage. Under a sparkling tiara, her flaxen blonde hair brushed the tops of her shoulders, and a golden robe flowed out behind her. Under it all, she wore a tailored, short modern dress, complete with high heels.
Her Majesty’s carefully chosen wardrobe depicted both the old ways and her new forward thinking. Rhycious silently applauded her.
Kempor Hippolyte, expression serious, took her position behind and to the right of Savella’s regal robes. Every sword and knife in place, she continuously scanned the crowd. Behind her, Khristos limped forward, favoring his injured hind leg. The priest took his rightful place on the dais near Savella, crossing his arms and wearing his signature scowl.
Rhycious felt for Patience’s hand and grasped it in a solid hold. “Come on. Our turn.”
“Wha—”
He stepped forward before she had a chance to object. Pride filled him and stood him tall in his black knee high boots. Together, they walked out to join Savella. The queen smiled at him and gave a wink to Patience. Hippy gave them the once over, raised her eyebrows, then went back to scrutinizing the attendees without a word.
A murmur went around, buzzing the auditorium. They reached center stage and Rhy tightened his hold on Patience. Let them have a good look at us because this is the future. My future. He folded an arm over his chest, bowing low before the queen. Patience rose from a deep curtsey and smiled shyly.
A clatter of hooves trotted out from the side wing they’d come through.
“Sorry,” Alek whispered, taking his position guarding the left side of Savella, pink lipstick smeared along the line of his jaw.
Somewhere in the crowd, a creature of myth started singing. No words spoken, only a flowing melody of a single orchestral voice, raised in harmonious adulation. Others joined in adding their baritones, and sopranos, creating a euphonic mythical choir.
Rhy shivered, his skin prickled as he remembered the ancient tune. Sung only when species of myth came peacefully together, it had been centuries since he’d heard the song that summoned the gods’ blessings.
He wanted to close his eyes and take it all in, let it soak into his parched soul. Instead, he watched Patience’s reaction as she heard the praise music for the very first time.
Slowly swaying to the composition that called to their kind, her eyes glowed. Hypnotic and moving, the resurrected vocal notes flowed upward to be absorbed through the crowd.
Koviac, ambassador for the Wood Nymphs, rose to his sandaled feet in the front row and lent his mighty voice.
Rhycious glanced at Patience when she stiffened beside him. Her smile wobbled and she gripped his hand tighter.
He leaned slightly to catch her words. “My memory is jacked for sure, but I’ve never heard of Ambassador Koviac singing. Ever.”
After the song of praise had come to a close, Queen Savella raised her hand calling for quiet. “Ladies and gentlemen, good mythic folk of Boronda. The Festival of the Trees signifies change in our lives, a chance to correct wrongs and make good on promises made.”
She stepped forward, extending a hand toward her audience, engaging them with every word. “Every weapon produced, every attack that is launched, signifies a theft from those who hunger for peace and harmony. Those who seek violence take from those who are not of like mind, and yet . . . we all suffer.”
Savella dropped her gaze and shook her head. When she looked up, a glint appeared in her eye. “Let us expend positive energies in the sweat of our labor,” she swept her arm to indicate Rhy, “the brilliance of our healers, and the hope of our offspring. We all pay when battles erupt. Homes are destroyed, lives lost. That is not a way of life, not in the true sense.
“I ask that you join with me in calling for peace and unity between our great herds and clans. Let us share and have equality.” Savella clapped her palms together, holding them interlocked. “Together, we can work to abolish racism between our co-existing species.”
Thunderous applause erupted. The crowd cheered enthusiastically, all favoring Her Majesty’s words. Savella allowed the interruption.
The resonance of the queen’s words strummed emotional ties deep inside Rhycious. Many a year he’d waited for when all creatures of myth would come together. How he longed for the day when his profession would no longer be required on the battlefields.
Like the first couple out on a dance floor, it would start with those who dared to go first. Someone to lead, to show others the possibility. He released Patience’s fingers and wrapped his arm around her waist, wanting her close to him.
Queen Savella raised her hand for silence once again, a smile lifting over her open and honest face. “To show good faith in my intentions, I advocate that a new counsel of mythic beings is created.” Applause grew, and Savella shouted over the escalating clamor. “A representative from each genus shall have a voice and be heard.”
Ambassador Dendron marched forward and reached up to shake Savella’s hand. Other dignitaries came forth, converging at the base of the dais, greeting one another in various customs.
“Your Majesty,” Hippy said, motioning with her arm. “Time to go.”
Aleksander placed himself between Savella and the dais edge. “I’ll be right behind you.” He motioned to the other guards, indicating the start of the royal procession.
“What-up now, big guy?” Patience grinned and rocked on the balls of her feet in excitement.
The time had come to lay the cornerstones for his future. “First, let’s get off the stage. Then, I want to ask you something.”
The way his ticker tried to jackhammer out of his chest, Rhy felt as if he’d tried to run a marathon up and down the entire east coast. After finalizing his decision, he held her hand and headed toward the stairs, following Aleksander and the guards.
His heart played the hare while his mind played the tortoise. This wasn’t another PTSD attack coming on—it felt different. There were no racing thoughts or hallucinations to cloud his judgment. His head was as clear as Patience was unique.
At the bottom landing, the royal entourage turned left for the outdoor festivities through the main thoroughfare tunnel. Rhycious led Patience down the hall to the right, where glowing minerals lit the carved ceiling like sparkling cave stars set in obscurity.
They passed two closed doors and entered the first open chamber on the right. Comfortably furnished with leather wing chairs, map table, and liquor cart, he shut the door behind them and pulled her deeper into the room.
“Where are we?” Patience wandered to the map and traced the clear cover with her index finger.
“This used to be one of the war rooms where King Nickolaus met his commanders.” Rhycious moved closer to see what she scrutinized. Her finger followed a thick black stripe that created borders around precincts of the Boronda Forest. The delineated area she tracked encompassed her tree. “Each commander was in charge of various sectors.”
She raised her bewildered eyes to his, the dark smudges beneath them more pronounced in the low light of the room. “Who played boss over my area?”
This wasn’t what he wanted to discuss with her, not in a long shot.
Stepping away from the table, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. Someone who’s dead, most likely.” Turning back, he lifted her hand off the glass tabletop and led her to one of the chairs. “Look, this isn’t why I brought you here.”
Her gaze flicked to the map table, and then met his eyes once again. “You wanted some realist talk. I get you.”
Don’t wimp out. It’s now or never.
“I wanted to ask you a few things.” He went to unlatch the top button of his shirt, and found it already undone. “But before I start, please, sit down.”
He sucked hard on his tongue to draw enough moisture to wet his lips, and popped the shirt’s second button open, pulling his collar wider.
“I’ve lived . . . no, that’s not right.” He paced a few steps to the side and thrust his fingers into his hair. “I wish I could . . . no, that’s not right either.” He paced the other direction.
Gamóto! Damn, this is hard.
On his third pass, Patience reached out and caught his hand. She tugged him down to kneel at eye level. “What’s with the big talk job? I swear, Rhycious. I’ve never seen you so tongue tied.”
Oh, there’d been a few times when his tongue was tied and he couldn’t speak. On those occasions, it had nothing to do with nerves and everything to do with being naked and inside her. Warmth built inside his pelvis and spread upward, filling his lungs with air and his mouth with words.
“This past week has been anything but the calm and peaceful life I left the palace to find. Between travelling, rescues, and fighting—I’ve had more people invade my cabin in last five days than I have in fifty years.”
Patience frowned. He smiled to take the sting out of his words. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, he kissed her cheek. “And I wouldn’t give back a second of my time spent with you, not for all the remedies in the world.”
“Do you mean that?” Hopeful eyes and a hesitant smile warmed him right down to his toes.
“No.” Rhy paused long enough to watch her jaw drop. “What I mean to say is . . . I love you. I want a future with you, one that lasts longer than a week. Picture us together a century from now, hopefully two, because that’s how I see us. You and me. Together. Forever.”
The little grin came back to her e
xquisite face. A hint of pink dusted her cheeks and her smile spread to a full-blown, ear-to-ear beam.
“I love you, too. I have since . . . probably day one.” Happiness crinkled the corners of her eyes and brought cheer to whatever gloom remained in his heart. “More than anything, I want a lifetime with you.” Her hands lifted and held his face, holding him to her for a nice tongue-tangling kiss. She pulled away just far enough to whisper, “However long that may be.”
Where light invades, darkness cannot remain. Rhy knew to what she referred, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it. Pulling away from her lips was harder than giving up the bottle. He glanced at his watch, and then rose to his feet, pulling her with him.
“We have one more thing to do before we leave the palace,” he said. “It won’t take long.”
Thirty-seven
Patience didn’t care where Rhy had to take her, as long as they went together. Yeah, he was acting mondo-bizarro, but his wordology melted the spine right out of her.
She placed her hand in the crook of his arm and they exited from the dark corridor into the bottom floor of the atrium, opposite the great fountain. Not many Centaurs strolled with foals today, not with a party going on outside the cavern walls.
Queen Savella’s uplifting speech of getting along and rocking it hot didn’t surprise her. Unlike Daisy’s disclosure that had nearly caused her to do a back flip. The queen’s single-minded objective to encourage every mythic to work for a common goal, had been the initial link between Patience and Rhy. It was why he’d brought her on board in the first place.
Daisy’s casual comment of wanting to jump a train and head out west to join a copse in California threw Patience into a head spin. Daisy was more of a sister than a best friend, and the thought of Daisy living so far away, across the country—it was unfreakenbelievable.
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