In the Garden of Gold & Stone

by Ryan Muree

  She wanted to be closer still. She leaned forward, her forehead at his chin. His jaw rested against her temple. She glanced up at a hundred eyes watching them, at Brynn making her way through the crowd to see them.

  Oh no. As Brynn’s eyes narrowed, tears formed in Nida’s.

  So Brynn would truly only give her a moment. Not even a full dance.

  The music suddenly shifted to a lighter, faster rhythm—Brynn’s orders, probably.

  If Nida was going to save him, now would be the time. But no one had opened the doors to the garden yet. The party was still lively in the hall, and yet the moon was where she had said it would be. His brother would be waiting.

  Brynn pushed her way around the other dancers onto the dance floor.

  “Our time is already up,” she whispered. How would she get him outside? He’d have to sneak around somehow… in a bright-gold suit as the only male guest. “I need to speak with you—alone.”

  Rowec spun her and faced Brynn. “What’s wrong?”

  Brynn took a deep breath and lifted her chin. “It’s time for us to dance again.”

  He hadn’t let go of Nida. They had stopped dancing, but he still held her close, protectively. So close, she felt his chest deflate under her palms. “All right. I’ll dance again, but I want to talk with Nida outside for a minute.”

  What was he doing? He was making demands of her—the queen—in front of everyone? Brynn would send him back down to the dungeon for humiliating her.

  Brynn’s eyes widened. “You’re getting awfully cocky, human.”

  “And you seem to forget that without me there’s no ceremony.” The muscles at his jaw tightened.

  Brynn sneered.

  “Give me what I want—a few minutes with Nida outside—and I’ll come right back and actually look like I’m enjoying my time with you,” he whispered.

  Brynn’s gaze roved over the crowd. Was she that afraid of what everyone thought? Eventually, she straightened her spine and nodded. “Fine. But the—”

  “No guards.”

  Nida held her breath. What was he doing? There was no way she’d agree to that.

  Brynn’s eyebrows lifted. “Excuse me?”

  “No guards.” He lifted a finger at Brynn’s face. “I’m going to be very honest with you.”

  Nida’s stomach turned. This wouldn’t end well. Brynn wouldn’t give in to what he wanted because she had to stay in control, always. He’d just get himself in trouble, and the plan would be ruined. He’d be—

  “I don’t care anything about you,” he said. “You don’t care anything about me. I said I’d help because I care about Nida. Not you. You either give me space before I save your species, or I’ll make your life miserable.”

  Music, laughter, conversations all went on somewhere far away from them. Their tiny world was still and silent.

  Nida looked back and forth between them, sweat beading on the back of her neck. Rowec’s hand never left the small of her back, his thumb occasionally rubbing her exposed skin. Her hand never left his rigid frame, either.

  Brynn smirked. “Fine. No guards. You have ten minutes.”

  Brynn was that desperate for the others to believe they were getting along?

  Without a word, he headed for the glass doors that led into the garden, tugging Nida with him.

  She scurried behind him, lifting her dress to walk more easily and trying not to look over her shoulder. Brynn would be fuming. She’d be furious. She should be, at least. This wasn’t normal behavior for Brynn. Maybe the upcoming hatching ceremony was getting to her.

  He swept her out into the main square of the garden to the fountain and invited her to sit next to him on its ledge.

  The moon hung dangerously low. His brother would be there any second.

  “Nida.” His fingers led her chin to focus on him. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head, trying to gain her composure. “It’s just Brynn. I have something I’ve needed to tell you.”

  “I have to tell you something, too.” He laughed at himself. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to say a lot of somethings.”

  Here goes nothing. “Rowec, you have to leave—”

  “I think I’m falling in love with you—wait. What?”

  Her heart burst and twisted all at once. “You’re falling in love with me?”

  “Why do you want me to leave? Or do you mean after the ceremony? Because I do, too. I want to leave… with you.” He took her hands in his. “I meant what I said about helping your sisters, but I-I want you to come with me, to be with me, not just in my village.” His cheeks pinked.

  She closed her eyes unable to stop the tears forming. She was smiling. That’s what she wanted, too. She wanted to be with him.

  “Don’t cry,” he whispered, pulling her in close, his lips settled at her forehead. “Did I just sound like the stupidest man on the planet?”

  She laughed and wiped her eyes. “No, no. Not at all. I really wanted to hear you say that.” She buried her cheek against his chest.

  It was like a dream. A warm dream of their making, the scent of him and a calming breeze holding their private world together.

  But this wasn’t a dream. It was the real world. His staying had dire consequences, and so did his leaving. She wouldn’t let him lose his life for her people. She had to tell him.

  He smoothed back her hair and kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad.”

  She pulled away to look him in the eyes. “But I have to tell you something else.”

  There was a grunt from the far corner of the garden. He jerked his head in its direction.

  The pieces of her bursting heart sank. Time was up.

  “Rowec,” she swallowed, pulling his attention back to her. “You’re not staying until the ceremony. You have to leave right now.”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “What? Why?”

  The brush shifted behind them. He jumped up. “What’s going on? Did she send guards to spy on us?” He began walking toward the corner shrouded in durlo trees.

  “No, wait. Stop and listen, please.”

  His hand in hers, she tugged him back. He stopped and faced her.

  “It’s not a guard. It’s your brother.”

  “My what?” He jerked his head in the direction of the corner again. “What about your sisters? The hatchery?”

  “Rowec, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” The tears flowed, the guilt, the disappointment. “After your dinner with Brynn, she confessed that you and she would die in the ceremony.”

  “What?” He stepped nearer, his chest broadening. He dropped his hands from hers.

  I’m losing him. “She said it’s always been that way, but I didn’t know. I swear I had no idea. I would have never let you stay if I’d known that. Please, believe me.” She clasped her hands to her chest.

  He blinked and took a deep breath. “How does my brother play into this?”

  Bushes rustled.

  He glanced in the direction of the rustling; she glanced back at the glass windows and her sisters dancing inside.

  “Rowec?” a male’s voice called from the wall.

  Rowec inched toward it, and she followed. “Your brother and Etta visited shortly after your dinner—”

  “Etta?”

  “They wanted to negotiate your release. Brynn refused. I snuck out and told them to meet us here, tonight, to rescue you. I-I couldn’t let her kill you.” She sobbed and wiped her eyes.

  He cupped her face. “You got my brother to come. You set this all up… just to save me?”

  She nodded, tears spilling over. “I-I didn’t know the ceremony would kill you—”

  He took her again, wrapped himself around her. “Why are you crying? You’re saving me. But Nida, the hatchery. Your sisters—”

  “I know.” She took a deep breath and sniffled against his chest. “Ascara and I are trying to find another way to save them, but I can’t let you die for it.”

  He pulled back and tilted his head down. “Nida,
I want you—”

  “Let’s go, already!” Etta burst through the trees, hands on her hips.

  They jerked their gaze to her. Etta? Perfect Etta? His future wife, Etta?

  His hand slid from Nida’s shoulders to her hand. “Where’s Maur?”

  Etta headed for the wall behind her, and they followed, ducking under the branches. “He’s just on the outside. He’s going to pull us up.”

  “Where are the others? Why didn’t you bring more fighters?” Rowec demanded.

  He must have been furious. His hand squeezed hers as they walked, tethering her to him as they hurried for the wall.

  “Only Maur and I could come.”

  “What?” he shouted, but quickly shook his head. “I’m sorry, Etta. I’m grateful that you and Maur came.”

  Etta shrugged and tossed her hair. “I can’t live down my future husband being used by reptile women. Imagine the reputation.”

  He looked back at her.

  She shrugged. “She was your only way out before the ceremony.”

  They reached the corner where a thin rope dangled.

  “Maur?” Rowec called out.

  “I’m here!” his brother shouted back on the other side. “Damn, it’s good to hear your voice. Let’s go! We still have another wall to scale.”

  Rowec pulled Nida to the rope and began wrapping it around her leg. “Here, hold onto this—”

  “No, Rowec. I told you already. I can’t leave my sisters—”

  “They’ll kill you for letting me go.”

  “No, they won’t. They’ll hate me. They’ll probably lock me up forever, but Brynn won’t kill me. I have to stay and try to save them, too.”

  “What are you doing?” Etta spat. She immediately began undoing the knot Rowec had just tied. “We’re not bringing this thing back.”

  “Nida!” It was Ascara somewhere far behind them. Something was wrong.

  “Etta, let go!” Rowec yanked the rope from her hand and handed it back to Nida. “I can’t leave you, Nida. Please come with me. Ascara can solve it.”

  “Nida! They’re coming!” Ascara screamed from beyond the fruit trees. She was getting closer.

  Nida didn’t know what her sisters would do to her, but if Rowec didn’t get out, she knew exactly what they’d do to him.

  “Maur, pull!” Rowec shouted.

  “No.” She slipped out of the rope and shoved it at Rowec. “No, you have to go first.”

  Etta took it and wrapped it around her own foot just before Maur began pulling.

  Rowec shook his head. “Nida, please don’t do this.”

  She stepped back a foot, but it felt too far away. “No, you have to go. I can’t leave my sisters. If they capture you again, they’ll use you in the ceremony.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t live with myself.”

  He reached out for her.

  “Rowec!” Etta dangled in the air and pointed behind them. “They’re coming with guards!”

  This was it. She’d never see him again, just as she’d feared. She had been so stupid to hope that everything would work out.

  Etta climbed on top of the ledge and tossed the rope back down to them.

  “Nida, I want to leave with you.”

  “I know, but—”

  Ascara tore through the trees. “Nida!” Her curls were falling, and a light sheen of sweat shined on her forehead. “She’s coming. Brynn is coming, and she has guards.”

  Rowec postured in their direction.

  “No, you have to go now!” Nida pleaded, pushing him to take the rope.

  “Hurry, Rowec!” Etta screamed.

  “Nida, I’ll come back for you.” He grabbed her by the waist and the back of her neck. “I promise.” His lips pressed against hers.

  It happened so fast, she barely registered what was happening.

  His fingers wove through her hair as he cradled her to him. Pressed flat against him, his mouth was liquid fire on hers. His taste, his tongue. It filled her, head to toe, with familiar security. Like anything was possible and everything was simple at the same time. It was where she was meant to be.

  Her fingers gripped his vest.

  More. She needed more of him. She needed all of him.

  “Rowec!” Etta shrieked.

  Nida had to let him go. She held back a sob and pushed him away, severing their connection, their warmth. A universe between them. “Go! They’ll kill you! Go!” she sobbed.

  “I’ll come back. I promise.” He gripped the rope as Etta screamed for Maur to pull.

  Within seconds, Rowec was dangling in the air, tears in his eyes.

  Pain ripped through her arms as two guards grabbed her. She nearly toppled to the ground, but her sisters’ claws dug deep into her fleshy, scaleless arms and kept her upright.

  Rowec would make it. He’d survive. He’d get to live the life he deserved.

  Her heart broke into pieces, and she sobbed. She had also just helped their best chance for survival escape. There was no going back. She either figured out how to fix the ceremony, or she’d doomed all of her sisters and the jungle to death.

  The guards turned her around just as Brynn came charging.

  Ascara tried to intervene. “Take a deep breath, Brynn. It’s not as—”

  “Get off me!” Brynn tossed Ascara to the side. “You! You, traitor!”

  Nida swallowed and focused on the claw her sister had pointed at her nose. “We’re Life Weavers. We shouldn’t have to murder and trick people to live. We’ll find another way to—”

  Brynn backhanded her across the face, slicing Nida’s cheek with a piece of her jewelry.

  Nida gasped as the force tossed her head violently to the side. She wiped her bloody cheek and tears onto her shoulder and dropped her chin to her chest. A fresh new pain thundered through her skull.

  “You’ve killed us!” Brynn shrilled, tears spilling over her cheeks, too. “You’ve destroyed us—your sisters! For that man? For a murderous beast?”

  Nida met her sister’s glare with one of her own. She clenched her jaw and said, “He’s not a beast, Brynn. You are.”

  Brynn’s eyes widened as she stepped back. “Take her away,” she mumbled.

  Nida glanced back at the wall one last time. With no sign of Rowec, she closed her eyes. He was finally free.

  “Put her in the cell where she can die alone!” Brynn screamed.

  CHAPTER 19

  Rowec would go back for her. He wouldn’t leave her there for her sisters to mistreat her… or worse.

  He climbed over the last wall of the Tialan gardens and helped Etta over the side.

  Maur nudged him and nodded at her.

  He shook his head. “Not now.”

  He was grateful Maur and Etta had come to save him. Etta had definitely done something he’d never expected, and risked her life for it, too. He would always be grateful for that.

  “Hurry!” she urged.

  “Why?” Maur asked. “We’re in the clear. We’ll be in the village in no time.”

  She shrugged and scurried through the jungle for their village, Rowec and Maur on her heels. They ran around trunks and under limping fronds. Etta was lithe and nimble. She didn’t even need a peicha knife to slice through the trees.

  “Did they torture you?” Maur panted. “Make you work as a slave?”

  Rowec’s thoughts drifted. Nida’s dress had fit perfectly. The small of her back had been so smooth he wanted to drag his fingertips across her skin all night. Her curves had been pressed against him and fit with him. Their time hadn’t been enough. He’d wanted more and had to fight not to kiss her right there in front of all of her sisters.

  He still wanted her. And he had left without her.

  “Rowec?”

  “No,” Rowec replied. “Nothing like that. They just wanted me to help their species.”

  Maur scoffed. “Sounds like you liked them.”

  Every time Nida smiled, it had fueled him. And that kiss? The taste of her still lingered o
n his lips. He wanted to make her laugh, he wanted to listen to her tell stories, he wanted… her. He wanted a future with her.

  “Rowec?”

  “I liked one of ‘em, yeah.”