Unless he couldn’t read.
That had to be it. Or maybe he could, but not very well. He’d once shared he’d been raised without station in Myren society, which usually meant no education. It also explained why he’d agreed to work with her in the first place.
For the first time since she’d gone into hiding, the muscles at her core unwound and she sucked in a slow, grateful breath. This was the hook she needed. The one saving grace that might get her out of here.
He folded the note, stuffed it in his pocket, and turned for the door. “I’ll sleep today and try tonight.”
“Wait.”
He stopped, propping the door open with one hand.
An idea flickered, soft as the candlelight beside her, but glaring as risks went. Still, if her hunch was right and he couldn’t read, she’d buy some solidarity. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Rising from the table, she lifted the mattress and slid the journal from its hiding place. She fingered the aged, quality leather, and then held it out where he could see. “While we were at the castle, I found something else.”
He crept toward her. Suspicion colored his gaze as it dropped to her outstretched hand. “What is it?”
“I think it’s a journal like yours. While you were gone, I studied it a little. The markings look similar, except this one has more. New markings I didn’t recognize plus a lot more content.”
He opened it, scanning the pages without lingering long enough to really take anything in.
Her hunch was right. It had to be. If he could read, he’d at least hesitate over a few of the pages.
“You kept it to yourself.” He handed the journal back to her. “You never planned to tell me.”
“I really didn’t know what it was at the time, but since they looked similar, I took it. Then I was distraught about my situation and forgot about it.”
“But you hid it.”
“Because I didn’t know if it was you.” The lies rolled easy off her tongue, certainty growing with every one. “Your link wouldn’t register through the zeolite. If it was Eryx, I didn’t want him to find it on me.”
Uther’s scowl deepened.
“I want to help you. If I didn’t, why would I share it now?”
“You never do anything without a reason, Serena.” His mouth quirked in a wry smirk, and he turned for the door. “Then again, neither do I. You’d be smart to earn your keep translating those journals while I’m gone.”
Chapter 3
So, this was what flying was like. Wrapped in Ludan’s strong arms, Brenna surrendered her fears for the future to the cool wind stinging her cheeks and inhaled the ocean’s salty breeze. Soft, buttery sunshine from the red-rimmed sun bathed the landscape. Moss-green grass with flecks of silver and random patches of closely cropped white flowers undulated over soft-sloping plains. In the distance, a forest with lavender leaves and rich chocolate-colored trunks lined the ridge beneath a mesmerizing pearlescent mountain range. “It’s beautiful.”
Ludan’s gaze snapped to hers, roving her features in sharp assessment. “You’ve never seen it like this?”
She shook her head and stared behind them at the turquoise ocean with its rainbow-kissed sky. Better that than to let him see too deep. “I’ve only flown twice. Once the day Maxis captured me, and again the day Eryx brought me here.” Explaining beyond that wouldn’t be necessary. Ludan had been there the day she’d stepped in front of a bullet for Lexi. Eryx had healed her and brought her unconscious body home, not knowing the effects of his healing on her human body.
They knew the consequences now. Or at least some of them. Mirroring the gifts of the Myrens around her was likely the only reason she’d been able to see Ramsay’s dream of the prophecy.
Ludan’s thumb swept a disconcerting path along her shoulder, leaving warm tingles in its wake. “I can take you again.”
Shock more than wisdom forced her gaze to his. “You would?”
He nodded, the motion slow and solemn as though offering an oath. His wavy black hair tossed in the wind and tickled her arm where it wrapped around his neck. It was shorter than Eryx’s, only a little past his shoulders, but it was every bit as thick and kissed with hints of blue.
She’d give a lot to touch it. To see if it felt as soft as it looked and comb the gentle waves through her fingertips. She fisted her hand instead. A man like him would never stand for such a thing. It was too girly. Too soft. “I’d like that.”
His eerie blue eyes stayed trained on her face, pinched with an awkward uncertainty. He swallowed and jerked his attention to the ground below. “Eryx is on his way, and Lexi’s in the office waiting for you.” Fast as a snap, the glimpse of vulnerability vanished, replaced with the bulldozer persona he kept cinched around him night and day.
The castle’s stone veranda with its shimmering gray stone and ivy-covered balustrades drifted closer and closer. A handful of seconds at most and she’d be back on her feet and faced with reality. She ducked her face in the crook of his neck and held her breath.
Ludan touched down with a soft thud. The scruff of his beard whispered against her jaw, and his deep, mesmerizing voice rumbled near her ear. “You’re safe.”
Twice now he’d uttered that phrase, both times unfurling unfamiliar sensations that neither her mind nor body could process. Lifting her head, she pulled in a fortifying breath. His scent permeated her lungs, a mix of leather and earth that brought to mind forests and steadied her nerves better than any of Galena’s tonics. “Sorry. I shouldn’t let my fears get to me.”
“We’ll work on it.”
They would?
The confusion must have shown on her face because his mouth quirked in an almost grin. He urged her forward with a hand at the small of her back, the span from his pinkie to his thumb nearly covering her hip to hip. His touch burned through her simple velvet gown, the contact so distracting that the walk from the veranda to the royal couple’s office didn’t register.
Lexi stood alone at the far end of the room, staring out the soaring arched window. Lexi, but no Eryx.
Brenna stopped so suddenly that Ludan barely checked his steps before crashing into her. “Why is Eryx at the training center? He was waiting for Ramsay to wake up when I saw him last.”
Lexi faced them at the sound of Brenna’s voice and pushed away from the window. As usual, she’d forgone the more traditional gowns favored by Myren high society and wore a simple scarlet tunic and leggings. The malran’s mark covered her right arm, a black winged horse reared back on its hind legs, wings spread high and ready for flight. Her attire might have been casual, but the tension in her face screamed of warfare. “They’re tracking Serena and Sully.”
“What?” Brenna swiveled and gauged Ludan’s face for some trace of information.
Unfortunately, his mask was firmly back in place. Bored and teetering on insolent.
“I thought she was under house arrest,” Brenna said. “And who’s Sully?”
“She was.” Lexi paced toward her, popping her knuckles along the way. “Sometime yesterday afternoon she disappeared. Sully is Angus’s page, and he’s the one person who can help us hang Serena and Angus once and for all, but he’s missing, too. Warriors have been searching for them since last night.”
“That’s what Eryx was so upset about,” she said mostly to herself. Multiple times, Eryx and Lexi had checked in on Ramsay when he’d been unconscious, anxious to see if he’d woken. Every visit, Eryx’s agitation had grown a notch higher.
An eerie cold whispered across her skin. “She’s free.”
Ludan moved in close behind her, his presence as tangible as heated armor. “No one will get to you.” It was a promise, spoken low and for her only.
“Maxis is dead.” Lexi stopped right in front of her. For a second, her gaze slipped to Ludan behind her, but shifted back to Brenna’s and softened. “Most of the Rebellion men turned themselves in for a chance at leniency, and Serena’s not capable of doing her own dir
ty work. She’s not a threat to you.”
Maybe not physically. But Brenna had seen firsthand Serena’s disgust for humans. And God help her if Ramsay’s vision proved true and Serena ever learned of Brenna’s role in the prophecy.
Eryx and Reese strode through the arched entrance, each of them dressed the same as Ludan in standard silver drast and black leather pants and boots. Like most mated Myren men, their hair was bound, Reese with his tawny blond hair pulled in a knot at his crown, and Eryx with his commitment braids bound by platinum beads and nearly reaching his waist.
Eryx halted only two steps in and scanned the room, ending on Ludan. “What’s the news?”
“Ramsay’s awake,” Brenna said. “He woke a little over an hour ago.”
He spun and headed for the main staircase. “And I’m just now hearing about it?”
Reese stayed close beside him. “I’ll get Galena.”
“Wait!” Brenna hurried after them. She’d barely managed a few strides before Eryx turned back. Raw, crackling energy slammed against her, and she staggered backward.
Ludan stepped between them, and a low, menacing growl rumbled through the room.
The hairs at the back of Brenna’s neck lifted. Without thinking, she laid a comforting hand on Ludan’s shoulder and crept beside him. “Ramsay’s fine. Better than fine, actually, but he asked for time alone with Trinity. She’s hurting.”
Eryx noted Ludan’s stance, then Brenna’s hand on his shoulder.
She snatched it away and edged closer to Lexi, who’d paused beside her.
Still keeping his gaze locked on Ludan, Eryx asked, “What do you mean, better than fine?”
Brenna swallowed and gripped her hands tightly in front of her. No way was she sharing the details with Eryx, not while he was in such a foul mood. Or ever, if she had a say.
“Don’t let him get to you.” Lexi wrapped her arm around Brenna’s shoulders. “He’s just in a snit because of Serena, not because of anything you’ve done. Tell him about Ramsay.”
Beside her, Ludan fumed lasers at his malran. His shoulders were thrown back and his towering body angled forward and ready for action. Despite their questions about Ramsay and his awakening, every other gaze was aimed on him as well, particularly Eryx and Lexi. Surely, Ludan wouldn’t lash out at his king on her behalf. They were best friends, nothing short of brothers even if they didn’t share blood.
“Trinity’s dad didn’t hurt Ramsay.” Everyone’s focus darted to Brenna, Ludan’s included. “Kazan gave him knowledge. That’s why he came back unconscious. He was reliving the prophecy in his head.”
Eryx stepped toward her, but Ludan blocked his path just as fast.
Lexi held up a hand and scowled at them both. “You boys think you can nip the testosterone long enough for us to learn something before you scare Brenna half to death?” Planting her hands on her hips, she gave both men her back and went one-on-one with Brenna. “Okay, let’s try this again, with a few more details this time.”
“Kazan gave Ramsay all the details on the prophecy,” Brenna said. “What caused it in the first place, who was involved, and how it works. For him to get those details, he sort of relived it. That’s why he was unconscious.” Who resolved it could wait for later, like when Eryx was in another region.
Eryx’s voice cut from behind Lexi, more calm and slightly baffled. “Everything?”
Brenna kept her gaze on Lexi and tried to ignore the clammy moisture dotting her forehead and neck. She was just sharing information. Not agreeing to participate, or even hinting at her involvement. “Everything. But he needs time alone with Trinity. She wasn’t in the best shape after he woke up. I don’t think she told any of you, but the information Kazan gave Ramsay came with a price.”
“Trinity had to pay?” Lexi said.
“Not Trinity.” Brenna wiped one sweaty palm on her hip. “Her dad forfeited his life.”
Eryx twisted and stared in the direction of Ramsay’s room in the far wing. His eyes grew distant for a handful of seconds, then snapped to Brenna. He nodded. “He wants to get Trinity settled. He’ll share what he knows at dinner. Reese and I will head back to the training center and make sure the search keeps going until then.” He eyeballed Ludan. “You coming?”
Before Ludan could answer, Reese held up a hand. His gaze stayed rooted to the floor for another beat before he focused on Eryx. “The quaran at Serena’s house says the family’s solicitor just arrived. They’ll be ready to testify within the hour.”
“I thought Reginald had Serena’s back these days,” Ludan said.
Eryx rubbed the back of his neck and glared out the windows along the far wall. “Reginald supports his bottom line, first and foremost. That’s probably where Serena gets it.” He narrowed his gaze on Ludan. “They’re offering their memories, albeit through the solicitor’s protection. You up for it?”
Ludan crossed his powerful arms across his chest and frowned. “Aren’t I always?”
Eryx volleyed a look between Ludan and Brenna and opened his mouth.
“Enough,” Lexi said before he could speak. “If you two want to beat on your chests, you can do it without us. Though you might not want to get blood on the carpet. If you do, Orla will string you both up by your nuts.” Waving Brenna forward, she stole a peek back at Ludan. “Unless I’m reading things wrong, you in particular might need those later.”
Nonstop chatter, music, and noise jangled through Ludan’s head, punctuated now and then by a random scream. The capital region of Cush zipped by below him, and the cool air whistled in his ears. Usually flying helped, the peacefulness of the act and the focus it required offsetting the noise, but not today. Not after being so close to Brenna.
Eryx flew beside him, Reese flanking Eryx’s other side. For all the flack he’d given Ludan in his office, his best friend hadn’t uttered a word since they left.
Ludan clenched his jaw and tried to focus through the ruckus in his head. He had five minutes tops to get his shit under control. If he didn’t, he’d never make it through the Doroz family scans, and that would be a topic Eryx wouldn’t be so willing to couch for later.
Eryx’s cool voice slid through Ludan’s head, the lack of echo telling him the conversation was solely between the two of them. “You want to explain what your posturing in my study was about?”
So much for couching topics. “Depends. Be more specific.”
Eryx’s mental scoff rang loud and clear. “We practically shared a cradle. What just happened in my office hasn’t ever happened before. I doubt I need to be more specific than that.”
“I’ve gotten in your face plenty.”
“That wasn’t getting in my face. That was a threat.”
True. And if he’d have been less off balance by his response to Brenna, he’d have checked it a helluva lot better. “I never said a word.”
“You didn’t have to.” Eryx shifted so his feet aimed toward the ground and dropped to the earth. As soon as Reese and Ludan touched down beside him, he fixed Reese with a pointed look. “Let the Doroz counsel know we’re here. Ludan and I will be a minute.”
Reese gauged the two of them as though he wasn’t entirely sure the lack of supervision was wise, then shook his head and strolled away.
Eryx stared after him, waiting until he was well out of earshot. “You’ve been acting strange for weeks now.”
No denying that. Everyone had commented on it, and he wished like histus they’d all butt out. He glared back at Eryx, keeping his expression void.
Cocking his head, Eryx scratched the stubble he hadn’t bothered to shave this morning. “The more I think about it, things went a little off the day we brought Brenna home.”
It was all he could do not to look away. To pace, or just slug his friend for a diversion. The last thing he needed right now was Eryx connecting dots. Not yet anyway. Not until Ludan understood what was going on better himself. “You’re imagining things.”
“I didn’t imagine you getting betwee
n me and Brenna.”
“You scared her, and it pissed me off.”
“I’ve scared a lot of people in my years, and not once have you stopped me. What makes her different?”
He swallowed big before he could catch it, and Eryx’s gaze dropped enough to note it.
Fuck, he didn’t need this. The voices rose another notch, and his temples throbbed with ice pick precision. He was sick of the lies. The secrets. For once, he considered letting it out. All of it. Every sordid detail he’d stuffed since he’d found his mother dead, then sentenced and killed his uncle for the crime.
But Eryx didn’t deserve that. He’d heap all kinds of guilt on himself for asking Ludan to consume memories in the first place. He had a whole damned race to look out for. It was Ludan’s job to look out for Eryx.
“When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.” It was the closest he could get to the truth, and hopefully enough to buy him some time.
Eryx studied him, his shrewd eyes working overtime.
Ludan clenched his fists.
Letting out a resigned breath, Eryx shook his head. “Sometimes the best way to figure things out is to not try to unravel it alone. Hopefully, you’ll figure that out sooner rather than later.” He spun for Serena’s front door. “Let’s get this done. I want to see my brother and hear what he learned on his little adventure.”
Three tense minutes, and boom, it was over. Before Ludan even had a chance to unwind his defenses, the creepy Doroz butler ushered them through the stark, black and white foyer and into the formal receiving room situated off the main entrance. Every time Ludan came here, an eerie vibe settled on him. Between the pale purples and pinks decorating the room and the museum stuffiness, the place was more like an Evad mortuary than a home.
“My malran.” The family’s solicitor hustled forward and dropped to one knee, lowering his head in the most formal of greetings. Unlike the more vaunted attorneys in Cush, he wore a simple ivory overrobe and an unadorned maroon stole. “My name is Yaron Dost, counsel for the Doroz family.”
Eden's Deliverance (The Eden Series Book 4) Page 3