“Oh shit…” Jace tries to stifle his laugh somewhere in the background.
“Excuse me?” Mallup scowls.
“So it’s ignorance?”
“I do not—”
“Understand. No, I get that. You’ve proven your inadequacy to listen and follow simple directions. So allow me to explain this to you one more time,” I lean forward. “Do not touch him. It’s rude and quite frankly, it’s dangerous.”
Mallup’s mouth drops open. “Are you threatening me?”
“Caught on, have you?”
“Fallon—” Reid starts.
“Is it not your custom to wear rings?” Mallup sneers with a glance to my naked left hand. She sets the jug down and crosses her arms. “I do not see anything. Technically he is not even yours.”
“Okay…” I nod calmly, trying to keep from immediately launching myself at her. Placing my hands on the table, I start hoisting myself up. “You’re beyond idiotic because now, I’m going to kick your ass!”
Reid moves Mallup out of the way and rounds the table. In one deft movement, he sweeps his arms around my body, scooping me up. “Alright, time to go.”
“You are leaving?” Mallup frowns.
“Yep,” he barely acknowledges her, but glances to his untouched Hunnis. “And I told you it wasn’t for me. It’s time you understand that.”
“Oh, man…” Werzo chuckles under his breath.
Mallup shoots him a seething glare, but redirects it quickly to me. “I do not understand what it is about her. She is skinny and pale and not very pretty,” she scoffs. “You can do so much better. You could—”
“Put me down,” I squirm in Reid’s arms. “Put me down now! I’m going to kick this bitch’s ass!”
“Oh shit!” Jace laughs aloud as a fluster of movement breaks out around the room.
Mallup retreats a step, just as Pratt comes flying her way. But Tucker scoops her up, all the Rogues suddenly on their feet, trying to separate a raging Pratt and a flabbergasted Mallup who is still trying to keep her focus on Reid. Booker, Werzo and Jace place themselves between the rose-haired mayan and the rest of us, blocking views of one other. I’m still struggling in Reid’s arms but he calls out to Tucker.
“Take care of this. I’m taking Fallon back.”
“On it,” the Rogue Leader carries Pratt to the other side of the Dining Hall. “Jace, get Mallup out of here.”
“No,” I push against Reid, yelling over his shoulder. “IT’S ON, BITCH! COME ON!”
But we’re out of the hall and down the tunnel, the scrambling scene quickly disappearing behind me. I’m still struggling once we reach the Great Hall, but Reid’s arms are steel bars around me, suffocating all possible movement. Finally, I acquiesce with an exasperated sigh and Reid carries me back to the room in silence. Once we arrive, he sets me on the bed and then retreats, pacing.
After a long moment passes, he stops and turning to me, he raises a brow. “Well?”
“Why’d you take me back?”
“Because you need to calm down.”
“No—she needs a good smack-down.”
“Fallon.”
“I’m serious.”
“What’s that going to prove?”
“That she needs to give up and keep her hands to herself. That she can’t have you.”
“I know that.”
“Does she?”
“Does it matter?” he folds his arms, narrowing his eyes. “I know, and that’s all the matters.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Boss,” Jace rushes into the room, the other Rogues on his heel. “Mallup is going to the queen. She’s pushing to have Fallon banished from Mybyncia,” his eyes flicker to me. “Says she fears for her safety.”
“She should,” I mumble.
Reid runs his hands down his face as Tucker steps forward. “Jace tried calming her down, but she said she’d have Fallon gone by the night.”
“It won’t happen.”
“Of course it won’t. But she’s still going to try. She said,” Tucker takes a breath, “she said if you talk to her, she may reconsider.”
“Don’t do it!” Pratt huffs at the doorway, Mae and Ariana behind her. “She’s trying to get you alone!”
“Obviously,” Reid turns his attention to Tucker again. “When is she going to the queen?”
“Said she’d wait to see if you wanted to talk. But I get the feeling soon.”
“This is unbelievable,” Ariana exhales. “I will go talk to her. I will tell her this is not acceptable and that she simply—”
“No,” Reid shakes his head, his eyes darkening. “I’ll go. She obviously hasn’t gotten the hint. I’ll clear it up for her.” He’s out of the room without another word, leaving us in momentary silence.
“She’s such a coward,” Pratt plops down on the bed next to me. “After you left, I got loose from Tucker and nearly slapped her. She screamed like I was a Gorgen or something.”
“It was actually pretty funny,” Jace runs his hand through his blonde hair and then clears his throat. “At the time.”
I look to the princess. “Would your mother actually consider banishing me?”
“Absolutely not. After all you have done for us. No,” she shakes her head. “Mallup is only embarrassing herself. She is used to getting what she wants. Who she wants,” Ariana blushes. “She is not used to disappointment.”
“Well she better become familiar with it. Quick.”
“Yeah,” Werzo laughs. “I think Boss is on that. You see that look in his eye?”
“I’ve only seen it a few times,” Tucker strokes his chin, “and mostly when dealing with the Kings.”
“He has dealt with Kings before?” Ariana asks. “Which Kings?”
“Oh, no,” Tucker shakes his head. “It’s not like that—they were a group of humans from Harrizel. They did some pretty bad stuff.”
“Oh…”
“But he had that same look. Like he’d been pushed past the point…” Tucker exhales, crossing his arms. “We’ll see what happens.”
“Hopefully she’ll get the point,” Mae folds her arms around herself. “And she’ll stop this whole thing.”
“Like I said,” Werzo leans back, “Boss will end it. I just hope he goes easy on her.”
“I hope he doesn’t hold back,” I mutter, uncomfortable with the thought of the two of them alone together.
Silence engulfs the room but after only a couple minutes, Reid returns with an intense glare still set in place. If I could, I’d jump up and meet him at the door but Tucker and Jace are already surrounding him, searching his face for clues.
“She going to the queen?” the Rogue Leader asks.
“Not anymore.”
“What happened?”
Reid’s eyes fly to mine. “She tried to kiss me.”
“And?” I grip the blanket.
“I pushed her away. I told her not to ever try it again or I’d go to the queen about her actions. Seemed to stop her real quick.”
“I cannot believe she tried that!” Ariana glowers. “I will talk to my mother about this immediately.”
“No,” Reid shakes his head. “This thing is over. I’ve made sure she understands, so let’s not worry the queen with it. But, uh…” he gulps, his focus on me, “do you guys mind if I have a minute alone with Fallon? I know it’s not proper…” he turns to Ariana.
“It is fine,” she nods, already heading for the door. “Take all the time you need.”
“Sure thing, Boss,” Jace passes him, “we’ll be in the room if you need us.”
Tucker winks and leaves, Werzo and Booker following him out. Mae and Pratt trail after, closing the door behind them. Once we’re alone, Reid paces the room, focused on the ground. He makes two full laps before I can’t take it anymore.
“So she tried to kiss you?” I break the silence.
He nods.
When he doesn’t elaborate, I sigh, crossing my arms. “And? What else? What’
d she say? How’d—”
“She told me she wanted me and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
My chest tightens as I imagine the scene, picturing her that close to him. A violent knot stirs in my stomach as I quickly contemplate locating her and making good on my threat.
“Then,” Reid laughs, drawing me back to the present, “she about lunged at me.”
“And?” I wince.
He stops pacing and looks me straight in the eye. “I told her I was taken and that would never change. And if she tried touching me or antagonizing you again, I’d bring it up with the Fychu and the queen. Seemed to get the message at that point.”
“Good,” my chest warms, my focus dropping to the linen as I replay his words.
I told her I was taken and that would never change.
“Fallon?” Reid approaches and I look up. Suddenly my air is caught in my throat. I don’t know what to say, especially to him, and especially under that paralyzing gaze. “I mean it,” he sits next to me and slowly brushes a curl behind my ear. “That’s never going to change.”
“Oh yeah?” I try keeping my voice steady, unable to think with his hands on me.
“Yes,” he whispers, trailing his fingers down to pinch my chin. Eyeing my mouth, he slowly leans in, and, ever so gently, presses his lips against mine. I’m lit up, soaring to a new, dizzying height as he slides his hands up my face and cradles my head to his. Opening my mouth, he tastes me, and we begin a slow sensual dance of the tongues that has me melting in his hands.
Withdrawing slightly, but only to tilt the other way, Reid continues kissing me in a delicate torture that has me aching deep in the pit of my belly. I’m losing control. Fast. With the way he’s holding me and… that thing he’s doing with his tongue… I can’t take it anymore. Sneaking my hands up his chest and into his hair, I pull him closer, harder. He groans and I start leaning us back but he stops suddenly, resting his forehead against mine. He looks between my eyes, his breathing labored. He gulps. “I need you to know. I need to—”
The door is pushed open and Tucker rushes in, pale-faced and out of breath. Reid drops his hands from me with a sigh, his head hanging between his shoulders. After a second, he looks up and turns to the Rogue Leader. “What’s up?”
“Sorry, man,” Tucker pants, glancing between us, “but they’re back already.”
Reid frowns. “Sampson?”
“It’s not good.”
Chapter Nineteen: Third Time’s A Charm
“What happened?” I try to get up, but stumble back to the bed with unbalance.
“Fallon,” Reid points for me to sit as he makes his way to the Rogue Leader. “Where are they?”
“On their way here,” Tucker hooks his hands on his hips, still panting from the run. “They just arrived in the Docking Station. They—”
“We need room!” Clarence bursts through the door with an unconscious Qippert in his arms as Sampson, Chancellor Keller and the queen rush in behind him. Reid scoops me up just in time for Clarence to place Qippert in the center of the bed, his eyes closed and a deep red blotch staining the middle of his stomach. “Water!”
Sampson turns to Tucker, placing a bloodied hand on his shoulder. “Have the attendants bring some water and my Vilbrees.”
Tucker nods and races out of the room.
“Sampson…” I scan his hand and the deep red gash in his arm. Smudges of dirt and sweat cake his brow and a swollen red spot marks his upper chest. “What…”
“There were more than we expected,” Sampson shakes his head with a pant. “We were foolish to return.”
“How many?” Reid asks.
“Reuzkimpart must have expected we’d go back,” Clarence jumps up, wiping the scarlet droplets from his cut brow. “Had Vermix posted to every damn tree,” he moves throughout the room, keeping his back to us. “We landed pretty close to Ellae. Thought we could just grab it and go,” he shakes his head, “they knew the second we arrived.”
“What happened?” I look between them.
“They saw me first,” Sampson says, “took their shot. I told Clarence and Qippert to abort—there was no point if our location was already compromised. Couldn’t risk getting captured,” he sighs with defeat. “And then… they fired again. Qippert took the hit. The Vermix were on us before I realized… we got out just in time.”
“Is he going to be alright?” Pratt asks, peering in from the open doorway. Behind her, Mae and Ariana stand, the Rogues glancing in over their shoulders.
The queen inhales. “The Healers are on their way. We will know more once they arrive.”
“It shouldn’t be fatal,” Sampson shakes his head with a frown at his unconscious friend. “But it will be close.”
“Excuse us!” Hillay races into the room with Sonnora and Tamora right behind her. Reid backs up with me still in his arms as Clarence, Sampson and the queen make room. The Healers surround Qippert, furiously passing small objects and vials to one another. “Here, quickly,” Hillay reaches out, taking something from the red-haired Tamora, “all around it and yes, pinch it. Now.”
“His libin is low. Very weak,” she says.
“Just keep going. It is not gone,” Hillay applies something to Qippert’s chest. “I need more!”
The emerald-haired Sonnora hands her another vial of a deep purple liquid. “This is the last of what I have brought. I can fetch more if—”
Tucker bursts into the room with Sampson’s small jar of Vilbrees and an attendant carrying a jug.
“Your Majesty,” the attendant quickly bows before rushing over to Hillay. “Water.”
“Tamora,” she motions to the jug and the red-haired mayan turns to the attendant, whipping the cool liquid from the basin as if by magic. It swims free from the jug, sailing over Qippert’s motionless form before turning a bright icy blue. All three Healers close their eyes as a soft, musical hymn fills the room.
“I have the Vilbrees,” Tucker whispers to Sampson who indicates silence with a single finger over his mouth.
The Healer’s hymn continues for another minute and when it’s done, they open their eyes, scanning Qippert again. Hillay turns to Sampson, Chancellor Keller and Queen Ravan. “He is very close to leaving this world, but his libin is not yet gone. He will need ample time to recover from his wound.”
“I have very little remaining Vilbrees,” Sampson motions to the small jar in Tucker’s hands, “if that will assist in his recuperation any.”
“What is it?” her eyes drop to the jar.
“A concoction of my own creation, made from the Tregmint on Harrizel. We were returning to gather the plant in hopes that it may eradicate the remaining toxin.”
Hillay looks back to Sampson, “He has been given Jannib for now and blessed with the ancient water spirit. If he is to survive, he has been given everything he needs. You may apply your creation if you would like, but it rests in Her hands now.”
Sampson bows, Clarence and the chancellor following. “Thank you.”
“Let him rest. We will be back shortly but please, let us know if his condition changes.”
“Thank you again,” Clarence gulps as the three Healers make their way from the room. Once they’re gone, Pratt, Mae, Ariana and the Rogues pile in, all gathering around the bed. They peer down at Qippert in silence.
A long moment passes before Princess Ariana inhales, facing Sampson and Clarence. “I am so… so very sorry…”
“It’s not your fault, Princess,” Clarence shakes his head.
“It is…” she nods with the slightest glance to her mother, “you keep risking your lives and… every time someone comes back injured.”
“But alive. We haven’t lost a person yet. I plan on keeping to that and I’m sure the Fychu agrees.”
“But you have done so much for us already…” she steps forward, tears about to pool in her sparkling orange eyes. “We cannot ask, let alone expect you to travel to Nerwolix. You have battled the Gorgen, the Vermix…”
“What if—”
“Hey,” Clarence shakes his head, “no what ifs. We’re going to Nerwolix. Qippert might have to miss out on the fun, but I’m sure he won’t mind.”
“Do you really expect you will be able to travel there by tomorrow’s eve?” Queen Ravan asks. “Your injuries are still fresh. Surely you will need a day or two for recovery?”
“Actually,” Sampson exhales, “I’d like to go tonight.”
“What?” the queen vocalizes what everyone else is thinking, her eyes aflame with shock. “You cannot be serious.”
“Completely,” he nods.
“But—but Fallon is not fully healed and you yourselves still need…”
“I would like to go tonight,” he repeats with another deep breath. “We’re doing nothing other than wasting time. The sooner we can obtain the antidotal bud, the sooner we can get Mybyncia fully recovered. And the sooner we’ll be able to rejoin Blovid.” He inhales. “Reuzkimpart is not letting up in the slightest. He wants all Arizals eradicated and without help, Blovid doesn’t stand a chance. My apologies, your Majesty, but we need to be making our departure soon.”
She nods, tight-lipped. “I see.”
“Your hospitality has been more than generous,” Clarence adds, “and we do hope to return in the near future, but the Fychu is right. Our best—and most dangerous—option must happen now. There’s no more stalling. We need to go after the antidote itself.”
“Is there anything we can do?” the chancellor asks.
Sampson starts to shake his head but stops, quickly nodding. “Yes. Keep an eye out for Perio and the Muskos. I have a feeling that with our departure they may resurface again.”
“Why?” Ariana’s soft voice asks. “They have stayed away so far…”
“And I believe they’re waiting for your most vulnerable moment. They’re aware the chancellor has been infected along with several of the head guards. I’m not sure what their plan is, but they’ve made themselves scarce since we went back to question them. They might be waiting for us to leave… it’s just a feeling I have.”
Plague of Mybyncia Page 27