by Jaymin Eve
Lucy snorted. “More like ripping off a limb, but whatever you think.”
Yep, she was right, but I had no problem lying to myself.
She studied me for a few moments.
“You want to see him, don’t you?” Her jaw dropped. “Why?”
I sighed. She couldn’t let me live a lie for five seconds.
“I need to see that he doesn’t remember me. I have to make sure it worked.”
“And what if it’s so painful you relapse into the comatose state?” Lucy demanded. “I don’t want to see you like that again.”
“I won’t.” I was sure of that. “That was simply my mind and body adjusting to the loss of my bond.” The loss of Brace in my soul.
His presence had been so warm, strong, I had never felt alone. But now the very essence of my being was rattling around an empty room alone. All alone.
“I’m so sorry that you have to go through this, sacrifice your love.” Lucy’s soft heart got the better of her and her eyes filled with tears.
And I knew, after Colton and the town fair, that she really understood now.
“I kind of think it was something I deserved. I should never have freed the third Seventine, whether I was manipulated or not. Now I need to earn back my love.”
I straightened, pushing back my curls, determination flooding me.
“Brace and I will be together. I will fight forever for him, so for now I’ll stay strong and try for some patience.”
“Well, patience is not your strongest asset, but I know you can do it.” Lucy wrapped me in a hug.
“I’ll be glad to stop lying to your mother about your mission to find inner peace,” Josian grumbled.
I grinned at him. “Did you tell her I was meditating?”
“Don’t laugh; it’s been very difficult. I never lie to her and she’s so smart.” He ran a hand through his blood-red hair. “She keeps asking me about a lotus or something, and I have no idea what to say.”
Lucy and I fell into each other, laughter erupting from us. The kind of good, cleansing, chest-rattling laughter.
“Come on, comedians, let’s go home.” Josian opened a doorway and dragged us both through.
“Abby!” Talina was the first to run at me. “I’ve missed you; I’m so glad you’re back.” She wrapped me in her arms, her emerald hair surrounding us like a cloud.
“How is Ladre doing?” I pulled back.
She both blushed and preened. “He’s amazing. Still a little scarred but much more stable than I’d be. And the best part is being away from the prejudices of Spurn and having time to actually talk.” Her already pink face deepened to a rosy color. “Well, I’m finding we have a lot in common.”
“I’m so happy for you.” And I was.
No one deserved happiness more than gentle Talina. I just hoped Ladre loved her the way she deserved. I’d reserve judgment until I saw them together.
“Aribella.” My mother’s scolding tone washed over me. “Don’t run off without telling me.” She pulled me into a hug. “One day when you have your own children you’ll understand.”
I felt a little confused. No one was usually this over-protective toward me. I disappeared all the time. Granted, I usually said where I was going, but this was over-kill. Josian must have noticed my confusion.
It’s because they no longer know about Brace.
I jumped as his voice sounded in my head. I hadn’t dropped my barriers.
How are you in my head?
Your barriers were weak and I just pushed past. He sounded concerned. I assumed that you did it to let me in.
Why were my barriers so weak?
What were you saying about Brace? I decided to worry about it later.
When you were melded people worried less about you. For us, knowing you always had Brace watching out for you was a relief. Now they think you’re alone and therefore want to protect you more.
I sighed. These things certainly have a ricocheting effect.
It will be further reaching than you ever expected. Now try and reinforce your barriers before the Princeps arrive.
I hadn’t had to work on my mental protection for a long time. I pulled on my energy and encased my thoughts.
More, Josian said.
I added another layer and waited. He nodded a couple of times at me. I’d take that. He must not be able to get through and if he couldn’t no other Walker – except probably Brace – could either.
“When is the meeting?” I asked out loud.
“I’ve set everyone up at the large dining table,” Lallielle said. “They should be here within the hour.”
“Will we be present?” Ria asked. “If you’re discussing the Seventine then we should be in there.”
Sometimes the Queen was really obvious in Ria’s personality.
“Yes,” Josian said, “it would be for the best if you were part of the discussions.”
Lallielle led us through the house to the formal dining room near the back. We never usually ate there, preferring the more casual atmosphere of the space that bordered the kitchen. But that table wasn’t big enough for everyone, so into the overly fancy room we crowded.
“I think I’ll wait outside.” Ladre’s words drew our attention.
I’d forgotten how distinct the lisping tongue of the Spurn’s was.
“Talli will fill me in on what was discussed.”
Talina ran over to give him a hug. They touched foreheads briefly and he was gone.
“Well, I’m not leaving.” Dune said. “I need to know when Fury and I can return to Crais. I’m worried about my dragoona.”
I stared at him. “I can take you back there whenever you want, Dune. You don’t have to stay with Fury all the time.”
He laughed. “You’ve never been mated, Abby, so it’s hard for you to understand, but where Fury goes I go. Especially if there’s danger.”
I opened my mouth to reply, before slamming it shut again. What was I supposed to say? Everyone here, bar two, thought I was an independent, unmated half-Walker. No one could see the pain inside, the tattered golden embers of the cord in my mind. No one knew.
Lucy gave me a sympathetic smile.
Lallielle interrupted the awkward moment by declaring she had to get refreshments, and then, as she left the room, the rest of us moved into our assigned places. There were ten seats on either side of the table and one on each end. The four of us half-Walkers sat on one side. The other side was for the Princeps. Josian took his seat there. Dune and Lucy sat away from the table in two of those waiting chairs against the wall. When Lallielle returned she had Grantham, Krahn and Nos following her.
We rose to greet them, before sitting down again. Which was a waste, because at that moment Jedi and Tatiana entered the room. Once the formal greetings and small talk were out of the way everyone got down to discussing the situation with the Seventine.
“So there are four released now?” Tatiana spoke. She looked calm and her words were strong. “And there’s nothing to be done except collect the rest of the girls and try and figure out how to lock them back in their prison.”
“We tried the ritual of the four.” I addressed the room. “And it didn’t work. Br –” I caught myself before I said his name, but it was close. “We think it was because they were releasing the fourth at the same time we were performing the ritual. The energy collided or something and the Seventine were stronger.”
“Which doesn’t bode well for future battles?” Grantham said.
Josian nodded. “This is true, and for that reason we’ve decided the girls need more training, to strengthen their powers.”
He looked across the table at the four of us. “We’ve proposed that each of you spend some time with the Princeps of your clan. They will be responsible for assessing your power and training by any means they can.”
I froze. Josian hadn’t mentioned that before.
“Do you think it’s a good idea that we split up?” It felt wrong. We were a team and spli
tting us seemed counter-productive to strengthening us. “I feel like we should be working on the strength of our bonds with each other.”
“Let’s try this first,” he said. “Besides, while they’re training you’ll have time to move on to Nephilius, Dronish and Earth. It’s just as important that you find the rest of the girls.”
I bit my lip for a moment but didn’t question him again. Josian would surely know better than I did what was going to help us.
“My Princeps isn’t here,” Talina said. “Where’s Brace?”
“Sorry I’m late. I wasn’t sure if I could escape Abernath, but my schedule ended up clearing.”
My heart stopped.
I mean literally stopped beating in my chest.
He was standing in the doorway, filling it with his giant height and breadth. His warm smile took in everyone, myself included, but where he would have normally moved toward me, or given me an extra look, he just continued past.
Lucy and Josian were both staring at me with twin expressions of concern. I swallowed and shoved the pain down again, which allowed my heart to beat again. I could do this; he was going to be around a lot. Ripping off a bandage.
“So fill me in on what I missed?” He pulled out a chair, which was thankfully not across from mine.
“Just that each of the girls will be going with their Princeps for some intense one-on-one training. And that Aribella will continue on to gather the next half-Walker,” Grantham answered.
“And which is the next planet?” He turned to me, his brown eyes twinkling.
“Uh.” I cleared my throat. “Nephilius.” I had to clear my throat again. “Will you excuse me?”
I pushed my chair back and, before anyone could ask why, dashed from the room. I made it to the hallway washroom before I lost it. My chest heaved as the sobs burst from me. I gripped the edge of the sink, fighting against the grief, trying my best to contain the agony pouring from my soul. I hadn’t cried before then. It was as if I’d been numb from the moment I woke. But seeing him, hearing his voice with none of its usual love and warmth, had reiterated how truly alone I was. Ripping off a bandage – I was a fool and Lucy was right – it was more like ripping off an appendage. My heart.
Arms encircled me from behind. Lucy held me and I held the sink. We stood there until I was strong enough to let go.
“Everyone’s leaving, Abbs. They were going to wait for you, but I told them you had a bad headache and probably went to lie down.”
I laughed. “And the first half of that is not even a lie, Luce.”
The mirror reflected back my red-eyed splotchy self, but as I stood there watching I could see my skin clearing. The red disappeared and then the physical evidence of my pain was gone.
“Do my marks look less intense?” I asked Lucy.
She examined me in the reflective surface. “I don’t know, maybe a little less shine.”
What could that mean?
I splashed my face a few times, and rubbed my temples to relieve the pounding there. I didn’t even know Walkers got headaches. Lucy opened the door for us to leave and there was Brace against the wall. Propped up with one foot back against it.
“Do you have to stand there all sexy like?” Lucy demanded. “What do you want, Brace?”
I put a hand on her arm. She was overreacting. He would have no idea why she was upset.
He straightened. His dark hair fell across his beautiful face.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay?” He looked straight into my eyes and I knew there was still a connection between us.
Even without his memories Brace was drawn to me and he would have no idea why.
“You ran out so fast. Was it something I said?” he joked to lighten the mood.
I smiled the brightest one I could manage. “Just a headache. I think I’ve been world-jumping a bit too frequently. Thanks for your concern.” I sidled past him, Lucy running interference between us so we wouldn’t touch.
“See you later, Brace,” I called over my shoulder.
He looked solemn standing there, confusion on his features. But he was distracted as Talina emerged with Ladre. I knew they’d be heading to Abernath with him. To my home. I fought hard to stop the tears.
“Aribella.”
I spun at the deep voice that called from the white room.
“Josian said you needed to talk with me.”
It was Jedi. He looked less exotic without his white marks but still exceptionally handsome. I nodded a few times, excited that someone was forcing me to focus on my mission and not my love life. Lucy left me with him. She said she had to go speak with Josian; update him on how I was doing.
I stepped into the room. “You told me to find you when I asked why. So what I want to know is why are they releasing them now? Do you know?”
He took a seat on the long white couch, indicating I should sit next to him. I hesitated, finally dropping down with lots of space between us. I missed having the barrier of a mate between me and other men. I wasn’t so vain that I thought many men were going to come beating down my door, but it was still an annoyance.
“I haven’t said anything because this is simply me piecing together lots of information over the last thousand years.” His gaze was focused as he started to talk. “Allegedly in the beginning when this star-system was formed, the collision of power created the seven originals, the Seventine and First World. Then slowly over time the other planets were formed from the energy of First World. We are coming up to the anniversary of this moment. When the clock clicks over on a billion years all seven worlds will align, along with all of their tethers. We call this the convergence.”
I was starting to comprehend what he was saying, and I could feel my face tightening as the horror spread through me.
“So when they all align, that will allow the Seventine to just –?”
“Sever every tether in one swift move.”
He finished the sentence for me.
“What’s the date of this convergence?” I choked out.
He shook his head. “The exact date is information lost to history. But I’ve been doing some advanced calculations. I hope to be able to narrow it down to a manageable time period. I’m getting close but just not there yet.”
I nodded. “Let me know as soon as you have any idea of the time frame.”
He reached out and rested a hand on my clenched fists and white knuckles. “Don’t worry so. They can’t sever the ultimate tether without all seven of their power.”
I smiled before gently removing my hands from under his. I stood then.
“Thank you, Jedi, for this information. I’ll hear from you when you’ve done your calculations?”
He stood also. “I’ll be in touch. Stay safe.” He strode from the room.
As soon as he was gone I sprinted back to the dining area. I had to find Josian; he needed to hear this development.
“So you’re telling me that if we don’t stop or re-imprison the Seventine before this date of convergence they could destroy everything in one sever?” Lucy let her shock creep into that question.
I nodded. “Yes, Jedi thinks that might be the case.”
Josian sighed. “Let’s not worry about this yet. It doesn’t change our mission for now. We need to discuss the next planet. Are you ready to leave immediately?”
I felt a little off center, but really that was to be expected after losing my other half, so I nodded. “Yes, I’m fine to leave straight away. Better to find the half-Walkers soon. We know the Seventine will be off severing tethers and gathering energy to release the fifth.”
“Well, Grantham did some scouting on Nephilius for you.”
The man himself stepped into the room. His warm cat-like eyes rested on me.
“Aribella,” he boomed in his friendly tones. “I popped over to the planet last week, just to see what you’re up against. And I think there’s only one way you’re going to be able to find the half-Walker.”
He paused.
I raised my brows at him.
“You’re going to have to fight in the tournament.”
I laughed. “What do you mean?”
He laughed with me. “You should love this, Aribella. Nephilius is a warrior planet. They value courage, bravery and the ability to kick ass. Every year they hold a massive tournament where they have fight rounds. If you lose you’re eliminated, otherwise you advance to the next round.”
I straightened. I could use some good fighting to get my mind off Brace, but I hadn’t trained in months. My skills were a little rusty.
“The competition starts in a month. I’ve entered your name. So now we’re going to have to train you up, because you can’t use any obvious energy power, only fight skills.”
I looked around the room.
“Well, looks like it’s time to get training.”
Chapter 18
Brace
She was the most stunning woman he had ever seen. Brace had met Aribella, daughter of Josian, before, of course, but it felt as if her presence kicked him in the gut this time. Followed by a sharp jab to the chest.
He had only sat across from her for a few moments, but as those stunning green eyes looked anywhere but at him he felt the need to capture her attention. But before he had an opportunity she had run from the room.
His instincts urged him to follow, make sure she was okay. He’d tried to reason with himself; he had important things to do. Abernath was a mess and he didn’t have time for Aribella.
And yet he’d been unable to stop himself from checking that she was alright. He was still standing in the hallway. The light, flowery scent that was distinctly hers lingered around him. He shook his head as a strange fragment of an image crossed his mind. Aribella was naked in bed, her head thrown back as she laughed in uncontrollable gasps. Her mass of curls falling everywhere.
And then it was gone.
Brace reached up and rubbed at his temples. Was that some type of fantasy spasm, because he knew he would remember if he’d ever had her naked in bed before.