“Ramsay!” Eryx’s warning had bite. With a lazy, panther-like grace, he descended to her and his gaze heated. He held out his hand, palm up.
Lexi slipped her hand in his and almost moaned at the fire his touch ignited.
“We really need to work on what you think out loud. Or at least make sure you channel it to only me.” Eryx led her up the stairs to face the crowd, and the rustle of bodies stilled. “Dunstan, are all ellan present?”
A younger man dressed in a crimson robe stepped from the front row, an oversized, and well-worn book tucked under one arm. “They are, my malran.”
Eryx gave the man a curt nod and addressed the council. “In accordance with the mandates which govern our society as created by the ruling family and the council representatives for the Myren regions, I come to you today to present my baineann and your malress-elect, Alexis Shantos.”
He shifted behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “As evidenced by the Shantos mark she bears, my spirit has called out to hers in the most sacred of Myren customs and she has answered, placing her trust in her fireann and pledging her life to the betterment of our civilization.”
A young female with shoulder length chestnut hair and kind eyes rose from the crowd. “Alexis Shantos, is it true you freely dedicate your life in the same manner as your fireann, to serve as malress, working for our people until you pass from this life?”
Lexi’s throat worked around several knots and she fought the urge to cough. “I pledge to support my…”
“Fireann.” Eryx and Ramsay both chimed the reminder simultaneously in her head.
“…fireann in his efforts to guide all Myrens as his conscience directs him.” She took a deep breath and tried not to stammer. “For myself, I want to aid individuals, no matter where they’re from.”
A rumble issued through the crowd, some heads bobbing in agreement, some eyes sharpening in displeasure. Some faces utterly bored.
An elderly, pompous voice scratched from the rear of the room. “Is that to mean you support humans as equals to the Myren race?” More hushed comments and rumblings. “The malran advises you hail from Evad and know nothing of our culture. Perhaps humans preside higher in your estimation than those of us here in Eden.”
Lexi hated the scraggly, thin-haired man in the back row already. If the tension in Eryx’s fingers at her shoulders were any indication, he wasn’t high on Eryx’s list either.
“It means I will not ignore or belittle those who are from Evad,” she answered before Eryx could. “There’s every possibility more of our people are lost in that realm, unaware of the beauty in Eden.” Inspiration fired. “I’ve lived a quarter of a century unaware of my heritage. While I am deeply proud of the home I’ve found, I won’t ignore others who may be lost if I can find a way to bring them home.”
The man dismissed Lexi entirely, and turned his gaze to Eryx. “And what of her lacking education on our culture and customs, malran? Who do you plan to teach and guide her in our ways? She is grossly uninformed and cannot possibly be responsible for guiding our council.”
Lexi tried to hold a bland expression. She was married to Eryx and didn’t pull that kind of snark on him. Was the man a complete idiot?
“Surely you’re not implying the council will have anything to do with her instruction on our ways, Angus.” Eryx’s lethal drawl coiled through the room, and wound its way toward the snide little man. “I don’t recall any point in my or my siblings’ upbringing where an ellan was responsible for educating us in the ways of government. Those lessons were provided by my parents and Graylin Forte. And, as I recollect, only weeks ago I had to educate you on the subject of treason. I think I’m more than competent to educate my baineann.”
Silence fell thick on the room. Angus’ silence eased Lexi’s tension. At the rate the fool had been going, Eryx was bound to snap. She wasn’t altogether sure if she’d break the fight up or cheer Eryx on.
The young woman who’d risen earlier spoke up again and directed her voice toward the page. “Dunstan, I move that Alexis Shantos be accepted as the rightful malress.”
Two males stood and seconded the motion.
“A motion stands before the council.” Eryx’s voice rang through the room and she tingled in response. “If any oppose, speak now.”
Blessed silence.
The muscles around her rib cage released their tight grip. Now all she needed was a beer, super spicy wings, and some cheese fries.
Eryx sucked in a deep breath behind her. “Dunstan, make note that on this day, Alexis Shantos is accepted unanimously by the ellan council as the rightful malress and will remain so until such time as she passes this life to nirana.”
Dunstan scribbled dutifully in his mammoth book, while the woman who’d made the motion shuffled forward with a thick, silk, ivory cushion. She placed the pillow on the floor directly in front of Lexi and stepped back, her eyes respectfully downcast.
“Kneel, Lexi.”
She nearly moaned at the sinful stroke of Eryx’s voice turning the space between her legs into his own, personal slip and slide. Didn’t the man know he was supposed to be serious right now?
Kneeling, she bowed her head on instinct.
Footsteps clipped across the hard floor, a distant giggle from a child outside the only other sound. Eryx’s feet came into view.
“You’re mine, Alexis. My baineann. My malress.” He placed a circlet around her head. It tightened by slow degrees, adjusting the size by manipulating the metal as he’d taught her to do with the metal beads that bound his braids. He held out his hand and raised her up, his velvet lips brushing hers with reverence and promise. Reluctance etched his face as he stepped away. “Members of the council, behold your malress.”
A polite and curious round of applause kicked in.
The woman who’d brought the cushion forward now kneeled in front of her and grasped Lexi’s hand in her own. “I pledge you my loyalty and devotion, and welcome you as our malress.”
Lexi opened her mouth to speak, at least to thank the kind woman, but she stepped away quickly, replaced with another polite face. And then another. An endless stream buffeted only by Eryx’s steady presence. He looked happy. Maybe proud. For the moment, she was too. Every inch the princess from her secret fairytales.
The last of the line neared and Lexi contemplated where she might pilfer her much-earned beer.
Angus knelt before her.
With rough, dry hands, he grabbed hers and pursed his wrinkled lips. “I welcome you as our malress.” No pledge of loyalty. No promise of devotion. Only a disingenuous welcome.
Lexi opened her senses and sampled his emotions. Her knees almost buckled and bile rose in her throat. Whatever else she might have done right today, she’d rubbed this man past the point reason.
* * * *
Maxis stepped from the shadows of his balcony perch. The royal couple disappeared behind the farthest bend on the main council passage and the throngs lined up for the formal procession filled in behind the band of warriors at Eryx and Lexi’s backs. Shouts and cheers settled to a dull rumble of gossip and predictions, some craning their necks for one last glimpse of the prophetic mark.
He’d damned near flayed the messenger when Reese had finally gotten around to sharing that little tidbit. Yet, seeing the touted symbol on Eryx’s arm with his own eyes went a long way toward assuaging his anger. True, his original plans might be little more than dust, but he could adjust. Myrens were a cautious lot, prone to superstition with a more-than-hyper fear of the unknown. A perfect situation—if one knew how to spin it.
A couple argued by a nearby lamppost, a sight that scratched his inner predator behind the ears. Convincing Reese to partake in one last meeting with Serena hadn’t been without challenge, but had definitely been worth it. So much emotion on her face, her stance shaking with fury while she gestured wildly.
Raw ire. Perfect for him to work with.
The knotted crowd loosened, and Maxis put his modified plan in play. “There’s a cootya one street over.”
Reese stood passively next to Serena, no indication of Maxis’ mental communication showing on his face.
“Meet me there with Serena in twenty minutes,” Maxis added.
Reese placed a hand at Serena’s back and gestured toward the cootya, his face a passive mask of nothingness. No mental response, no glance in Maxis’ direction, just acquiescence.
An odd sensation stirred behind his breastbone, one he was loathe to accept but couldn’t afford to ignore. He needed Reese. Wanted more than mere compliance.
He shook off the sentiment and ambled into the crowd. The cafe he’d selected was an open-air environment, a stucco roof jutting out over a smattering of tables where patrons could look on the throngs of people beyond. With the crowded streets, his anonymity was a near certainty, so he pressed toward the cootya, and kept to the shade wherever possible.
“I don’t care who you want to meet, I’m ready to go.” Serena’s petulance pounded the stone walls as Maxis entered. “Give me one good reason why I should stay.”
Reese maintained his facade of ennui—or maybe he truly was bored to tears.
Maxis approached, his footsteps camouflaged by the rumble of other, chattering customers, and leaned in close. “Revenge.”
Serena spun in her chair, more righteous indignation in her elegant frame than fear. The air around her hung thick and heavily charged.
“It must rankle to be replaced with a human-raised no one. I’d say the malran deserves a lesson or two.” A risky punch of provocation on his part, but at this point the risk was worth it.
A regal bearing settled around her. “And who are you to suggest such a thing?”
He sidled closer, offering his hand.
Her fingertips tickled his palm, barely deigning to touch him.
“My name is Maxis Steysis.”
Her mouth parted.
He curled his fingers around hers and held her wary stare. Her presence was intoxicating, and his eyelids weighted with unexpected desire. “It appears you recognize the name.” He pulled her hand to his lips, grazing her knuckles a second longer than was appropriate. “So you know I’m inclined to be sympathetic to a beautiful woman scorned.”
“I’ve heard the stories of Evanora.” She smirked and folded her hands in her lap, the picture of gentility, though her eyes were sharp enough to cut diamonds. “She wielded quite a bit of her own power by the time she died—without the help of any man.”
“As could you.” Maxis pulled a chair out. “Should you choose to seize the opportunity.”
The cootya workers bustled behind the counter and shuffled plates and glassware to waiting customers. Cutlery pinged against thick clay plates and the soft lilt of laughter floated from a distant table.
Serena held her silence. Her gaze flicked beyond Maxis’ shoulder to the milling people in the street beyond and straightened to a haughty stance. “What are you looking at?”
Maxis pivoted in his chair to see who had captured Serena’s attention, then shot to his feet.
“I thought your name was Wesley.” Phybe’s voice trailed off, both accusing and injured.
Maxis darted forward without thought, Phybe barely more than an arm’s reach.
Reese intercepted his path. With a subtle inclination of his head, he noted the heavily populated shop. “Not now.”
Frantic footsteps scampered along the dusty sidewalk, the visual blocked by Reese’s hulking form.
His strategos glanced over one shoulder and his face hardened. “I’ll find her.”
Excitement kicked Maxis in the chest and he smoothed the front of his shirt to cover it. More than mere compliance from his strategos. Finally.
“Find her,” Maxis said. “And make sure we never see her again.”
Chapter 23
Lexi plunked next to Ludan on the fire pit ledge and fiddled with the hem of her red tunic. Morning pinks and corals coated the horizon and workers trickled in to care for the castle. Eryx was already gone. “Is it always going to be like this?”
Ludan peeled the edge off a long lilac flower petal that looked a lot like a palm tree leaf. “You mean the council stuff?” He snapped off the end and formed a square corner, tossed the scrap over his shoulder into the pit, and shook his head. “Nah. He’s just tap dancin’ around Angus’ claims.” He set the colorful strip aside and restarted the process with another.
“Guess I’ve stirred a lot up, huh?”
Ludan gave her a sideways grin, but didn’t pause in his task. “You could view it that way. Or you could see Eryx’s got another shot to neutralize Angus and find Maxis. It had to be Maxis who tipped Angus off.” He threw his latest scrap in with the others and scanned the skies and garden—the same visual sweep he did every few minutes.
“You’re worried about him.” Well duh. Even without her special newfound spidey senses sending prickles down her arms it was kind of hard to miss.
“Eryx can handle his own. I’m only backup.” He weaved the strips into odd-patterned knots. “It’s you we’re worried about. It’ll be fine as soon as we find you a somo and get you trained.”
“It’ll be better when I’m not so helpless.” She stood and clutched the stone rail bordering their private garden, the same place Eryx had sworn his blood oath. The ocean churned beyond and the breeze lifted her hair off her neck. “Why can’t you teach me?”
Ludan stayed bent to his task, but jerked on a huffed chuckle. “Because when a man finds a good woman, they’re protective. He wants to be the one who teaches you. That and he’s still yanked ’cause I nabbed your memories.” He stopped and looked up. “You gonna tell him what happened?”
She turned into the wind. Those memories couldn’t stay hidden much longer. Eryx had come clean with her. The least she could do was drag her own baggage from the closet.
“I think he already knows.” She lowered her head and rubbed the coarse, gray stone. “Maybe not the details, but the gist of what happened.”
“It wouldn’t change how he feels. Not like you think. And details make a difference to a man like him.”
So not going there. Not today. She strolled toward Ludan. “We never did get around to linking.”
Ludan’s mouth parted on a sly smile. “You sure you want to do that without Eryx here?”
“He’s my mate, not my dad.”
The smile grew. “Atta girl.” He tied off another knot and held up a circle about the size of her wrist. “Here.”
With the knots he’d woven, the simple lilac strips had become an intricate mix of pale to deepest purple. “What is it?”
“A bracelet.” He stood and brushed flower scraps from his pants. “Used to make ’em with Galena when we were kids.”
A giggle slipped out, the image of Ludan traipsing dutifully behind Galena simply irresistible. She still couldn’t get used to him in the warrior’s get up, but it fit his personality more than the council jammies.
“Don’t laugh. Galena’s fierce when she sets her mind to something.” He grabbed her hand and fitted his palm against hers. “You ready?”
Lexi nodded, focused on their joined hands. “What do I do?”
Such a warm laugh. Out of sorts with the boredom he usually affected. “For starters, relax. Close your eyes.” He brushed her knuckles and lowered his voice. “Feel for my energy. Give it a visual.”
A tingle darted through her palm. In her mind’s eye, a ribbon of light—a perfect match to his arctic blue eyes—winded up her arm. “It’s like what I feel with Eryx.”
“It damn well better not be,” Eryx said from behind her.
She jumped and tried to pull her hand away, but Ludan clamped down tight, the sensation still dancing up her forearm.
Eryx’s hands curved around her shoulders and he bolstered her in front of Ludan. “Send yours into him.” He pressed chest to hips against her back, his voice a rasp at her ear. “Wrap it around the image and let the fibers weave together.”
She shivered, embarrassed at her obvious response. Hard for anyone to blame her though. With Ludan’s intimate connection spearing through her palm and her mate tight against her back, even a nun would swoon.
As Eryx coached, she visualized her mental handshake and wound her stream of energy around the one Ludan provided. The strands circled each other, her own tendril a slate blue. They meshed in a sudden grip and snapped tight.
“Now get out of my baineann, Forte.”
“Unwind your panties.” Ludan took a polite step back and planted his hands on his hips. “You get her a somo who doesn’t crank your attitude and she won’t need me. Until then, one more line of contact doesn’t hurt.”
“It was my idea.” Lexi ran her hand up Eryx’s arm and his bicep flexed beneath it.
Eryx pulled her close and dropped a kiss at the top of her head. “I shouldn’t have made you wait.”
“I get it.” She pushed away. “But I’m ready to learn how to throw one of those fireballs now.”
Ludan and Eryx exchanged one of those puzzled looks reserved for the male species. Eryx rubbed his chin and the stubble he’d yet to remove scratched in the windswept quiet. “Not sure that’s doable. Not like what you saw us do anyway.”
“Why not?” She shuttled her gaze between them. “I thought everyone could manipulate the elements.”
“They can, but only for basic needs like building a fire—or defense at best,” Eryx said. “Most female gifts manifest as nurturing skills, like Galena and her healing. Or you with emotions.”
Ludan eased himself into a chair near the fire pit and propped his booted foot on the ledge. “Yeah, but she’s not just any female.”
Eryx nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. His brow wrinkled up. “You sure you don’t want to start with something smaller? Like move a pillow or something?”
Unexpected Eden Page 20