The Scythian Trials

by Elizabeth Isaacs

  Clutching the towel that held her wet clothes to her chest, she opened the outer door—and stepped into a hallway full of Drahzdan soldiers.

  “Finally, I get you to myself. I thought breakfast would last forever.” Erik took Xari’s hand, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss.

  Distracted, she searched the great hall. Erik had suggested a walk around the lake, and now she regretted saying yes. How in the hell was she supposed to find an opening to drug the Chancellor while trudging through miles of frigid forest?

  “It’s a relief to have the first round behind us, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “Uh huh.”

  Alexandra entered the room, and Xari’s eyes narrowed as she watched the bitch warmly smile and speak to the surrounding warriors. God. The female was lethal like a snake and could slither out of anything. Information wouldn’t be enough. What they needed was tangible proof. But how to get it?

  “Xari?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “You’re regretting your decision about me, aren’t you?”

  She finally gave Erik her full attention. “What?”

  His expression turned grim. “You’re regretting choosing me, aren’t you?” He scooted closer. “Listen, about staying in Carpathia. I didn’t mean to mislead you. If you can’t be happy here, we can try another compound.”

  She stood and took his hand. “I don’t regret choosing you.”

  Erik’s eyebrow raised as he stood as well. “You sure? Because this right here ...” he motioned between the two of them. “This feels like regret.”

  Xari glanced around. “Let’s go. We need to talk, and I hate feeling like people are listening.”

  They left the dining hall and started across the foyer to don on their hats and gloves. Xari opened the front door and brushed off the reporters loitering on the steps. They stayed quiet as they made their way into the forest. The leaf-carpeted path led to massive trees that stretched overhead, boughs tangling together, creating an arch high above them. Rays of light filtered through, spearing the forest in random patterns. A golden eagle screeched in the distance, making the silence between them seem louder. Erik kept hold of her hand, giving her time to mull over her thoughts.

  “Please tell me what’s wrong,” he finally asked.

  She snapped a twig off a tree, rolling the leaves between her thumb and forefinger. “I’ve just been distracted, that’s all.”

  “You’ve fallen in love with David.” Erik suddenly stopped. “Haven’t you?”

  “No. It’s not—”

  “Listen.” He turned to face her. “I know I’m not as good with words as he is, but when I’m around you I can’t think clearly. And we have this strange connection, you know?” He put his hands on her waist and rested his forehead against hers. “Even though I’m serious and you’re quirky. I follow the rules, and you look for the exceptions. I’m quiet, and you’re a chatterbox. It’s like we are opposites, but we still make sense.” His voice grew uncertain. “At least, we do to me.”

  She pulled him close and rested her head on his chest. “We make sense to me too.”

  Erik smiled. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” She tugged him forward and they headed for the lake. The path ended a few hundred yards from the muddy bank. They walked to the water’s edge, watching the light play off the ice-laden cattails.

  “I spoke with a friend of mine who’s a Tova at the hospital,” Erik said.

  “Oh?”

  “He informs me that Nya is doing well, although when I checked there was no record of her being admitted.”

  “I’m sure it’s an oversight, with the Trials going on and all.”

  “Not possible.” Erik took her hand. “Retinal scans are taken as soon as someone is seen, any medical information is then collected and stored into the mainframe.”

  She swallowed. “Maybe they never officially discharged her.”

  “Or maybe that’s why you’re so distracted.”

  Her cheeks flushed. Erik was one of the best warriors at the Consulate. She wouldn’t be able to fool him for long.

  “Why don’t you trust me?”

  His question stood like a barrier between them, and she looked away.

  “Xari.” Erik put her hand over his heart. “If you can’t trust me, trust this. I won’t let you down.”

  She leaned forward, resting her forehead on his chest. “I need your help.”

  “Finally.” He kissed the back of her head. “What is it that you need?”

  “A recording device. One small enough to go undetected yet can hold hours of conversation.”

  Erik frowned as he tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. “That’s a tall order.”

  “That’s not all. It must be capable of sending information to someone else, and I need it as soon as possible.”

  His voice lowered to a rough whisper. “Are you in trouble?”

  “No. It’s nothing like that.”

  “I take it you need to record something in one of the consulate’s secured rooms. Something sensitive.”

  She tensed. “It’s a possibility, yes.”

  Erik kissed her lips. “I have a friend in Counter Intel. I’ll see what I can do.”

  Nya swallowed her panic as she slipped away from the door, briefly glancing at Sergei at the end of the hall. Boots scraped on marble as the soldiers shuffled forward, their dark-rimmed collars telling that she’d stumbled into a meeting of Sarkov’s top men. Sergei’s thick Russian voice carried over the group, giving them their orders for the night. She tucked her chin to her chest, hugging her wet clothes like a lifeline. Muttering Russian apologies, she slipped past, hoping like hell the soldier’s kept their gaze on their commander. The crowd thinned as she wove through the back of the group. Every step distancing them eased the tension in her gut.

  Sergei stopped speaking as if he had noticed something. Nya picked up her pace.

  “Millie, did you have any trouble with Ana?”

  Several soldiers chuckled, but Nya kept her back to him and shook her head.

  “Do you have her clothing?”

  She barely heard him through the pulse pounding in her ears. She nodded and held up the dress and sandals.

  “Very good. Take them to my office. I’d like to make sure no one’s tracking her.”

  Nya glanced over her shoulder as she neared the end of the hall.

  Sergei tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as if he knew something was different but couldn’t figure out what it was. “On second thought, I’ll take her clothing now.”

  Panic gripped Nya’s chest; her mind raced with options.

  Boots thundered up the stairs, and Nya pressed against the wall as a team of soldiers ran past.

  “Sir, the sensors in the southern region have gone off.”

  Nya turned the corner and started toward the stairs.

  “Are you sure it isn’t a herd of deer again?”

  “I’ve already sent a team. They’ve found boot prints along the boundary leading to the Forest Preserve.

  Sergei let out a growl. “Damn it. Send a squadron. Double the security detail, especially in this hallway. I’ll see to Ana.”

  Nya gave up any pretense and ran. If she were still in the open when Sergei figured out the woman in the bed wasn’t her, she’d be outnumbered. Even rested and at full strength, she wouldn’t be able to overpower an entire squadron.

  She had to get to the plastic lined room, find out what happened to her eggs, and, hopefully, kill Penn before Sergei discovered she was gone.

  A man covered in plaster dust loomed ahead, and she slowed her stride, keeping her distance. The room she sought was just beyond the second-floor landing.

  Fresh air brushed her face as the hall widened, opening to a large balcony. A balustrade stretched across the landing, following the walnut stairs that wound to the first floor below. Sweat beaded on her brow as she hurried across the open area, praying that no one would find it odd a maid was on the second floor. She stopped
as she got to the other side. The room that had tortured her dreams lay just a few feet away.

  The castle’s door flew open, startling the construction crew working on the baseboard and crown molding. Four men trudged dirt and mud on the newly polished floor.

  “I’ll gut the entire team like fish if they’ve let Scythians on my land!” Penn’s voice echoed from below, and Nya dove for the knob and rushed inside.

  She eased the door closed. Paint fumes tinged the air, stinging her nose. Floor to ceiling windows lined the entire back wall, allowing weak evening light to angle through the room. Nya’s stomach churned as she took in the space.

  Sunny yellow paint had replaced plastic lined walls. Mahogany floors gleamed beneath her feet while Scythian lettering, elegantly written in gold, ran under the crown molding. She gasped in horror as she recognized their meaning. Even though some of the letterings had been re-ordered for the sake of design, she could still make out the Dacian apology she’d etched in stone to her father so long ago. Three chandeliers hung from the coffered ceiling, hand-painted cherubs hovered around their bases. Her gaze dropped from overhead, and bile rose in her throat as she counted the row of mahogany bassinets, each accompanied by a rocking chair and changing table.

  Eighteen. Oh, God. Nya’s eyes swept from one side to the other, and reality took bitter hold. Penn had created a nursery out of the room they used to steal her Scythian heritage from her.

  How fucking poetic.

  What if it was too late? What if some woman already carried her young? How could she even begin to deal with that? Scythian blood acted like a virus to the Allos. Surely they wouldn’t be able to carry a Scythian fetus to term?

  Unless Penn’s scientists had discovered a way.

  Adrenaline kicked into overdrive, and Nya started shaking. She needed to kill Penn. She really did. But if he died too soon, they may never discover what happened to her eggs.

  Several male voices murmured in the hall as workers passed by, and Nya’s gaze shot around the room. The closet doors stood unhinged against the far wall. The space must have been recently created because the plaster had not yet dried and the shelves were stacked on the floor, waiting to be installed.

  “Is the nursery finished?” A man’s voice bled through the door. Nya spotted an empty box near the closet and ran across the room. She flipped the box over and squatted down before she placed the box over her head. It barely fit her frame.

  “Yes, I’m sure you’ll be pleased.” Another deep voice rumbled as they stepped into the room.

  “What about the closets?”

  “The dehumidifiers will be here as soon as the secret suite is finished. Should be tonight.”

  “The Tsar wants the closets done and stocked before his Ana sees the space. They will be spending a few days together to get reacquainted. But there’ll be hell to pay if it isn’t finished by Sunday.”

  “I’ll see that it’s done.”

  The footsteps softened as the men walked away. Nya clenched her cold hands together. Time was running out, and she had no game plan. No path. No resources. No backup. And apparently, the servants knew her triggers.

  Fantastic.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Penn whistled as he made his way down the hall. Stephan had assured him the woods were being thoroughly searched. And he’d settled the matter of one of the villages protesting their presence. A team of the best soldiers were sent to bring the villagers to heel. Being the great leader he was, Penn had allowed his men to claim one of the village women for their own as a reward for a job well done. And if the women were married? His soldiers made sure they were widowed before they were shuttled onto a bus and carted away.

  Granted, it was an unusual move in this day and age, but his men needed a token of his affection. After all, he now had his Ana, and it only seemed right his most loyal had the same pleasure of finding a good woman to warm their bed at night.

  The uprising and the sensors in the woods had put him behind schedule, but it was of little consequence. One of his battalions was a few hours from the castle, the other three would be arriving within the week. They had enough land to build barracks for the upper guard, and they would use the village stupid enough to question his authority as a place to house their servants.

  The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he stopped at the top of the stairs.

  Why was it so quiet?

  Sergei came from Ana’s suite. He grimaced as he walked toward his leader.

  “Has something happened to my wife?” Panic threaded through his tone. Maybe they had been too heavy handed on the sedative.

  Sergei shook his head. “I checked on your Ana after Millie tended to her, and then again just now. The lights were off, but she is resting.”

  Penn scowled. “I specifically asked that Millie leave the side table light on so the cameras could see if Ana was in distress.

  Sergei swallowed. “I’m sure everything is fine.”

  Penn bolted through the door. Tension eased from his face as he saw the curve of a hip and a shoulder in the bed, a braid tucked between two pillows.

  Sergei came from behind. “The sedative can cause headaches. I bet the light hurt her eyes, and Millie kept the lamp off to ease her pain.”

  Penn rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, that must be it.”

  “I’ll ring for some Nurofen.”

  “That won’t be necessary. The bathroom medicine cabinet is fully stocked.”

  Sergei tipped his head in a bow. “Very well.”

  Penn turned toward the glass door and put in his code. “See the cameras are turned off. And no one enters this room unless I request it.”

  “As you wish,” Sergei said. “Enjoy your time with your Ana, my lord. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  The outer door clicked closed as the inner glass panel slid open. Penn stepped forward and shucked off his shoes. He took his time undressing, wanting the anticipation of finally having his Ana in his arms to last a few minutes longer. Going to the bathroom, he grabbed a quick shower and donned a pair of sleep pants. The rasp of a match strike sounded in the quiet as Penn lit several pillar candles throughout the room. Her skin would be so beautiful in the soft, warm light. Lust painfully ached through him as he slipped under the covers, his large palm covering the rise of her hip.

  The minute he touched her he knew something was wrong.

  Penn rolled to his side and flipped on the light before he roughly shoved the woman lying next to him flat on her back.

  Millie’s eyes were half open, her slack mouth drooling around a wet cloth.

  Enraged, Penn screamed as he jumped off the bed and hit the alarm.

  Sirens wailed in the night.

  Erik waited for Xari at her door, watching her saunter down the hall. He pulled her into his arms as soon as she was in reach, making a production of kissing her long and hard. His hand swept under her sweater, cupping the side of her breast.

  “Change in the bathroom; what you need is here,” he whispered as his finger nuzzled between her breast and the bra’s cup. “I’ve texted directions on how to sync it to your phone.”

  Xari stood on her tiptoes, hugging him tightly. “Thank you. I’ll never forget it.”

  “Oh, I know you won’t. I’ll remind you every year we celebrate our marking anniversary.”

  Xari pulled back and grinned. “I’m starting to like that idea.”

  Erik kissed her neck, making his way back to her ear. “Finally. It only took a covert mission and a device that could get us charged with treason to do it.” His whisper turned gruff. “You’re worth it, though. I’d walk through fire for you.”

  Xari’s breath caught as she met his intense gaze. He kissed her one more time before walking away.

  She opened her suite’s door, locking it behind her, and headed toward the bathroom. She placed her phone on the counter before shucking off her shirt. A small black object, no bigger than a pea, was wedged between her bra and skin. She sat on
the side of the tub and opened Erik’s text. The device could hold up to three hours of audio. Xari set it to automatically start recording as soon as it was activated. Whatever information she discovered would send once her phone found a signal.

  But who to send it to? She scrolled through her texts looking for Gia’s information, but when Jax’s last message rolled onto her screen, she smiled. She’d forgotten he had sent her Zander’s number. Making sure the recording made it into the hands of the Tova’s leader was perfect. She’d also send it to Victor. She needed a backup and Jax would be solely focused on finding Nya.

  If all went well, she’d use the prototype to give the Tovaris evidence that linked the Chancellor to this entire mess.

  She grabbed the third and final dress in her wardrobe and shucked it on, thanking God almighty that she’d never have to endure another cleansing ceremony again. Slipping the small glass container down her front, she nestled it between her cleavage and her bra. Xari stared in the mirror, inspecting the places where the recording device and vial were hidden. The neckline of the dress softly draped across her chest in silky spills before gathering on one shoulder, creating dips and shadows along the soft contours of her breasts. No one would suspect she was hiding a thing. Satisfied, she took a deep breath and headed down to the dining hall.

  No sooner had she made her way to her table, Alexandra sauntered in, crystal tumbler in hand. She wandered around the tables, chatting with the champions while finishing off her drink. Another was brought as she continued making her way through the room. She’d finished off the second before she managed to circulate to Xari’s table.

  “Toxaris. It’s wonderful to see you’ve recovered from your ordeal.”

  “Thank you.” Xari smiled. “I’m just sorry Nya isn’t doing as well.”

  Alexandra’s calculated smile didn’t reach her eyes as she motioned for a server. “May I join you for dinner?”

  “We’d be honored.”