“Cool.”
“It’s so much fun to watch,” she glances over her shoulder. “He’s so nervous. I’ve never seen him like this!”
I follow her focus but don’t find Tucker and Ariana. Instead, my stomach clenches at the uncomfortable sight of Reid paired off with a very pretty mayan. They’re talking a bit down from the other Rogues who are slurping bowls of Hunnis. Except Jace. He’s up against the wall with a different mayan tucked intimately beneath him, working the same energy as last night. Booker and Werzo drink and joke while Tucker and Ariana talk nearby.
But all I see is Reid.
And the high cheek-boned, rose-colored hair of the sage mayan smiling at him through her sparkling orange eyes. She’s full-chested—fuller than me—and slightly spilling over her shelled bra, her scarlet skirt hanging low off her narrow hips. Laughing at something Reid has said, she strokes his arm, tossing a clump of rose hair over her shoulder to reveal more sage skin.
“Uh-oh,” Pratt mutters. “Looks like you have some competition.”
Biting my lip, I watch as Reid views the caress, shifting slightly so she’s no longer touching him. But this one’s not to be deterred. Smiling even sweeter, she brings a finger to her mouth and drapes it casually along her lower lip. Tucking her other arm beneath her chest, she pushes it up, so she’s drawing attention to her mouth and cleavage.
“She’s playing dirty,” Mae whispers.
My spirits crash as Reid falls into her trap, his eyes seemingly focused her luscious female parts. But then he gulps and backs up again, scanning the entire room, looking for something. He finds me and when our eyes lock, a new heat blooms. Without breaking our stare, he says something to the mayan and her haughty grin instantly disappears. In fact, she grows colder, a look of frost icing over her lovely features as she glances around, following his attention.
Finding me with a glare, she raises a judgmental eyebrow, considering. Her orange eyes scan me before returning their focus to Reid. She says something and he nods and the two resume talking. But this time she keeps her distance.
“I wonder what Tucker and the princess are talking about,” Mae murmurs, eyeing their conversation over her shoulder. “He seems calmer.”
“It’s the Hunnis.”
“Or the princess. Wow,’’ she looks to me, “what if they really hit it off? Could Tucker be a prince?”
“I think it’s too early for that.”
“But it could be going in that direction,” Pratt grins, following Mae’s stare. “Prince Tucker. And Jace can make out with every mayan in the kingdom.”
“Is it the same one from last night?” Mae asks.
Pratt shifts, trying to get a better view. “Hard to tell.”
“And I think he’s doing more than make out…” Mae squeaks, turning red.
“Come on, guys,” I sigh. “Leave him alone. It’s his business.”
“But he’s doing it out in the open!” Pratt exclaims. “In front of everyone!”
I squint, finding Jace tucked tightly against the wall. He’s paired off with a mayan in a corner, the barrier of Rogues shielding them from the Mybyncians who aren’t paying any attention. “He better not get us in trouble…” I bite my lip, distracted by Reid and the mayan nearby.
My stomach plunges at the sight. He says he wants to talk… but about what? Us? Or what almost happened earlier? Glee rises inside me until I think about his current location. He said he was going to hang with Tucker and now he’s talking with some mayan, one who’s still keen on drawing his attention to her mouth.
“You’re not leaving yet, are you?” Mae reads my expression.
“What?”
“You can’t go,” Pratt shakes her head. “Not right now. Stay a little longer.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Good.”
“You just looked so upset,” Mae glances to Reid and the mayan, then back to me. “They’re only talking.”
“Looks like she wants more,” Pratt huffs with a shrug. “Oh well—too bad for her.”
“Here he comes,” Mae looks down.
My heart races as I look up and find Reid making his way for us, moving in and out of Mybyncians, his eyes set on mine. My blood boils and suddenly, no one else is here. It’s just him and me. I try to remain standing as he crosses the room, closing the distance between us. He reaches our group and I gulp.
“Ladies,” he nods without breaking our eye contact. “I need to steal Fallon from you.”
Before either are able to respond, Reid slips his hand in mine, tugging me toward the tunnel to the Docking Station. When I think we’re going to stop outside of it, he surprises me by pulling me through, leading me almost halfway down the hall so we’re far from the crowded Great Hall. The conversations grow faint in the distance when he finally stops.
“Sorry…” he drops my hand, running both through his hair, “…wanted to get away from everyone.”
I nod, unable to say anything at first. After a minute, I reach for the only words I have. “So…who was she?”
“Who?” he frowns.
“That mayan…”
Confused for a second, realization dawns and his face relaxes. He laughs, “No one.”
“She’s pretty.”
“Believe me,” he assures with a grin, “she’s no one. Um…” he snaps his fingers into his other hand, eyes down as he turns to pace. “I… uh… wanted to apologize.”
This surprises me. “For what?”
“Everything. I…” he clears his throat. “It’s just been a lot. In my head. It’s not an excuse or anything, but when I said I needed time…there’s just a lot I have to sort through.”
“Oh…” I nod, unable to stop myself from asking. “Like what?”
“My family for starters,” he exhales, running his hands down his face. “My friends... Allison.”
“Who’s…” but I already know. It’s her, the fiancé. The girl he’s never going back to. Her name floats through the air between us, as palpable as the person it belongs to. It weighs heavy, deep and I’m stuck between a choking, deafening fear, and a painful guilt that she’ll never get to see him again. “Oh.”
“They’re constantly in my head… and some days…” he inhales, “they’re all I can think about.”
The knot in my chest grows, pushing all air from my body. I’m afraid I’ll drown in the tight pressure, unable to do anything other than replay the only thing I can hear.
Allison.
Her name is Allison.
It’s so pretty… like I’m sure she is. She’s probably the most beautiful girl in their town, and that’s why Reid was able to call her his. Does she think about him still? Think about the future they were going to share? It tightens my chest in more ways than one.
“But…” Reid says, cutting off my painful suffocation. “There’s one thing I can do to quiet it,” he stops pacing and looks at me. “I think of you.”
My heart stops.
Reid steps closer. “That’s not a very good apology, I know, but it’s the truth. I’m just— I’m sorry we haven’t… that I haven’t…” he lowers his head, planting his hands on his hips. “It hasn’t been fair to you. I know it hasn’t.” He sighs and looks up again. A lump rolls down his throat as his eyes fixate on mine. “I just wanted you to know.”
I nod as the stark silence fills the air between us.
“Say something. Please.”
“Do you still need more time? To… figure things out?”
Reid inhales, finally shrugging. “It’s not going to change—everything in my head. I just have to get use to it.”
“And you’re thinking about…” I gulp, “…everyone?”
He nods. “What they’re doing. If they’ve moved on…” he closes his eyes, as if in pain. “That other life... it’s right there. It’s who I was, what I was supposed to do…” his eyes flash open, searing mine. “I feel like I’m split—like I’m two different people, living two separate lives.”
“Why’d you choose this one?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
His face softens.
“There you guys are!” Pratt says, with Tucker, Ariana and Mae standing behind her. “Sampson’s saying we should probably head back to our quarters soon. Oh, and Fallon, Ariana said she’s going to hang with us for a while. Isn’t that cool?”
“Yep.”
“But if you two are busy…” the princess grins.
“Actually,” Tucker clears his throat, “Jace is getting a little carried away with the mayans. Sampson thinks it’s best if we all head back—together.”
Reid nods and looks at me, a hidden smile forming. “Guess I’ll see you ladies tomorrow,” he joins Tucker’s side and with a final glance my way, he heads back down the tunnel with the Rogue Leader.
Once they’re gone, Pratt, Mae and the princess swarm me, all talking over each other.
“What were you talking about?”
“He’s so in love with you!”
“Has he told you?”
“What happened? Come on—tell us!”
“I…” I stammer, trying to process their questions while still wrapping my mind around everything he said.
“Fallon,” Ariana takes my hand. “You are glowing. It is obvious how you feel.”
“You heard Tucker,” I move past them, gesturing back to the Great Hall. “We should probably be getting back.”
“What?” Pratt frowns, “no details?”
“Come on…” I’m already walking, “let’s get back.”
“Okay…” the girls acquiesce, all still grinning and exchanging glances with one another.
Once we’re back in our quarters in the East Wing, I turn to Ariana, “Are you sure it’s okay for you to be here?”
“For a little while,” she nods, gesturing to an array of bowls laid out on the coral floor. “I have also had the servants bring some Allnnis and Vair for us—I hope that is alright.”
“What are they?” Mae asks.
“Allnnis is similar to Hunnis, except it is a little easier on the pallet… does not burn as much. And Vair is a very popular sweet treat.”
“So, Fallon…” Pratt grabs a packet of the Vair and flings herself on the bed, “why don’t you tell us what happened with Reid?”
“What?” I shrug. “Nothing.”
“Oh, leave her alone,” Mae smiles. “It’s none of our business. Even if it looked like something was happening…”
“What I want to know,” I direct my attention to the princess, “is what happened with Tucker? You two seemed to be hitting off.”
“Oh,” she blushes. “We talked. He is very handsome. Very…” she deepens a shade, “…very sweet.”
“What’d you talk about?” Pratt turns on Ariana, sucking down the Vair. “He seemed very nervous.”
“Did he?”
“Well…” she shrugs, “I’ve never really seen him interact with many girls. Except Ansley,” she winces, “and that was always about Reid. Tucker’s not a ladies’ man like Jace. Not that I’ve seen, at least.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah, he must really like you,” Pratt slurps the remaining Vair. “This is good. Is there anymore?”
“Yes,” Ariana gestures to the floor and hands Pratt another packet. She also pours a bowl of Allnnis for herself and hands one to Mae and I. “To friends,” she holds it up high and takes a sip.
Mae and I mimic the gesture as Pratt holds up her packet of Vair. “To friends.”
We sit and drink for awhile, until we can’t take anymore, gossiping over everything—from secrets and silly scandals of the throne and back to boys again.
I don’t realize how much time has passed until Salva is standing in the tunnel’s entrance, looking over at us. “Princess,” she clears her throat, “it is late. It is time to go.”
Ariana is still laughing, throwing back the last swig of her Allnnis as she stumbles to a stand. “This was so much fun—thank you.”
“Thank you for bringing the Vair,” Pratt reaches for another packet. “This is delicious.”
“Yes, thank you, Princess,” Mae grins up to her, giggling as she cleans out the rest of her drink, “we should do this more often.”
Ariana goes to take a step and nearly stumbles but I fly to my feet, catching her. “Careful there, Princess. If I send you back injured, they’ll really boot us out.”
“Nonsense. You are staying with us,” she swings her arm over my shoulder. “My mother adores the Fychu way more than Blovid.”
“Princess…” Salva frowns.
“What? It is true. We know it, they know it.”
“Go sleep it off,” I laugh, transferring Ariana’s arm to hang over Salva’s shoulder. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”
In one quick swift move, Salva sweeps the princess up in her arms, cradling her to her chest. Before Salva leaves, she turns to me, speaking quietly. “Reid is here. He wants to see you.”
“Oh…”
“You cannot talk in here,” she indicates to the room. “He is waiting for you at the end of the tunnel.”
I blush. “Okay, thank you.”
Once Salva leaves with a sleeping Ariana and Pratt and Mae have finished teasing me, I head down the passage, my heart racing in my chest. Gulping, I reach the end of the tunnel and see him.
Gloriously clad in the same scarlet loin cloth, the sight of his hardened chest and powerful arms steal my breath. But it’s his handsome face and his hypnotizing eyes that still me.
“Hey…” my voice comes out quaky.
He grins, lighting up his face. “Hey.”
I cross my arms, mirroring his gleeful expression. “What’re you doing here?”
“Uh…” he trails his finger down the wall. Watching it, his mouth widens to a full smile, “Not sure, actually,” he gulps with a bit of a laugh before looking up. “Wait, I remember.”
Cupping my face, Reid pulls me to his mouth, melting my insides as he slips his tongue inside me. We’re entangled, hot breath exchanged, fire blooming between us. He has me against the wall, holding me gently as he kisses me with absolute veneration. My heart is racing, my entire body lit up with the touch of his. Slowing, Reid breaks off the kiss, pulling back to rest his forehead against mine.
I bite my bottom lip, still eyeing his. “Reid…”
“Yes?” he breathes.
“What—”
“I had to,” his eyes flicker between mine, “for a while now—I’ve had to. Every day. Everyday I’ve wanted you,” he gulps. “I want you.”
I kiss him again and he cradles my face in his hands, deepening our connection. He holds me like I’m precious, like he’s handling something breakable and it weakens me. Suddenly, his fingers dip to my waist and he squeezes me, his lips moving to my neck. My body is on fire and I’m not sure if I can take this, if I have the ability to feel this. Kissing down my throat, he starts to push into me harder but quickly withdraws, running his hands through his hair.
“I uh… I should probably go,” he breathes, moving for the opposite wall. Placing one hand high above his head—as if to hold himself up—he pants out the difficulty of stopping himself. After a long minute, he finally spins back to me, a thought ticking away. It looks like he has a whole mouthful of words, an entire monologue waiting to fall from his lips. But he keeps them shut, merely watching me across from him. Finally, he inhales. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
I’m unable to do anything other than nod. Reid mirrors the gesture and after a final push, he heads away from me, down the tunnel. But before he’s gone too far, I find my voice and call after him.
“Yeah?” he spins quickly.
I bite my lip, trying to find the words to use. But there’s too much to say in this moment, too much to ask, so I decide on the only thing I can manage. “I’m… really glad you stayed.”
He smiles, stealing my breath again. “So am I.”
Chapter Ten: Trouble
“Alrig
ht,” Qippert clasps his hands together, gesturing to the ocean behind him. “Let us try this again. We have all of your Millix here, so we are going to try for another swim. Now,” he looks around us, “you remember the key points?”
“Communication,” Maris advises, stepping forward, “is all in the mind. If you feel you are about to fall off, tell your Millix to slow down. They are not just your transportation—they are your partner. And as you will recall from yesterday’s experience, they are also your protector.”
“So we just have to tell them to slow down?” Mae pulls at her fingers.
“Talk to them. Practice talking to them when you are riding,” she turns and leaps onto Shaya, her Millix. “Everyone on, please. We have a lot to go over.”
Qippert and the others approach their Millix as I head for Lalu on the end. She’s the last of the long, periwinkle necks and watches with wide red eyes as I approach the shore. Slowing, I send her my thoughts like yesterday.
Hello again, Lalu.
Hello, Fallon.
Lalu lowers her neck so I can climb onto her back. Once on, I pat her down, stroking the front, tender part of her neck until she lets out a soft purring. Finally clutching each bair on the side of her neck, I wait until the others are situated on his or her Millix.
“Everyone ready?” Maris asks.
Mae leans forward, using her entire body to clutch her Millix. Werzo sits similarly, still trying to get his balance on the giant animal while everyone else seems to have mastered it. Reid is on Palli, his Millix, next to me and as I look to him, he offers a secret smile.
“Let us go,” Maris submerges with Shaya as Qippert follows right behind.
I lean in, gripping Lalu with my knees as I tighten my hold on her bairs.
Let’s go, Lalu.
We’re under the water the same second, diving behind a racing Maris and Qippert, the others on either side of me. Reid and Tucker keep to my left while Pratt and Mae are just behind me on my right. We don’t immediately head for the city, but circle a few times around the depth of the Holding Station for practice. Once Maris is convinced that we’ve all got the hang of it, she leads us lower, far down until the illuminating lights break up the ocean’s dark depths.
Plague of Mybyncia Page 14