Nothing.
“Come on.” If she wouldn’t talk to him, he could at least take care of her physically. Tucking her against his side, he steered her toward the house. “If you don’t rest, you’re going to pass out.”
Her head whipped up, eyes big and round. “Shit. I forgot about that.” She focused on the ground so hard he was surprised he didn’t hear gears grinding.
And that was it. Not so much as a peep the rest of the way to their chambers. She crawled on top of the made bed and curled onto her side, her back to the door.
In that moment, there seemed more distance between them than before he’d first seen her in dreams. His blood simmered with frustration, and a slow, steady squeeze gripped his heart. How was he supposed to help her if she wouldn’t let him in? After their mating, he’d thought they’d be past this point.
With clipped steps, he snagged a throw off the bed. If she wouldn’t talk, he’d just take what he needed from her memories. He spread the blanket over her and settled on the edge of the bed. “Talk to me.”
Lexi kept her eyes shut and pressed her lips together so tight, the color shifted from berry to white.
Stalemate. Now what in histus was he supposed to do? Take her memories, or trust her to share when she was ready?
So still and silent, curled in a fetal position beside him. In one week, she’d been thrown more life-altering loopholes than most people walked through in a lifetime, and not once had she shut down like she was right now. The fatigue bit was bullshit. Whatever was eating at her was bad. Raw, barely dammed emotion—and it ripped him from the inside out.
And there’s your answer. If he stole her memories, he’d be no better than the people who’d hurt her in her youth. Not to mention he’d single-handedly kill what trust they’d forged. He let out a sigh and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re not in life alone anymore, Lexi.”
A tear fell and a deeper crimson wet spot bloomed on the silk beneath her temple.
He stood and strode for the door. Better to leave before he could change his mind and do or say something he’d regret. The cold sting of the metal doorknob matched his heart.
“Eryx.”
His heart kicked at the sound of her shaky voice. He braced and faced her.
Her face was tight, fists full of the comforter beneath her. “We need to talk.”
* * * *
Of all the strategies and outcomes she’d contemplated since her run-in with Serena, not one had played out like this. The details rushed out, peppered with a number of colorful metaphors to make a biker blush.
Eryx pulled her into a hug tight enough to crush her lungs. No ranting. No shifting into war mode. Just held her. His voice shook with what her senses confirmed as bone-deep relief. “Thank you for trusting me.”
A stuttered breath. “You knew.”
Eryx pinned her chin between his thumb and finger and lifted. “Jillian and Orla jumped me the minute I got home and told me Serena had been here, but didn’t tell me what she said. I almost took your memories. I realized I needed to trust you the same way I want you to trust me.”
Stunned, her knees nearly buckled. Tears spilled down her face and pooled in the hollow of her neck. Never since she was fourteen years old had she had anything worth crying about, but this man—this man was everything to weep for.
He wiped each tear and brushed tender kisses along her brow, her nose, her cheeks. “We’ll find Ian.”
She hiccupped around a sob. “But the Rebellion, we’ll start a war.”
He smiled. The arrogant, self-confident, deliciously wonderful man actually smiled. “The Lomos Rebellion will take on a life of its own no matter how we approach this. Whether we see to Ian’s safety or not won’t stop any plans Maxis wants to put into motion.”
With that, he swept Lexi into his arms, settled them both on a chaise in his adjoining office, and sent a mental summons to Ludan and Ramsay. Half an hour later, his study was a hive of covert strategy—five quarans representing each region, Ramsay, Ludan and Jagger.
Lexi perched on Eryx’s lap, all too conscious of her bedraggled appearance and the intimate pose the two of them made during such a serious discussion. No matter how many times she tried to escape for her own chair, Eryx held her tight with an arm around her waist.
“There’s zero activity near the villa to distract from our movements. You’ll have to use a limited number of warriors with strong stealth abilities to get inside undetected,” one quaran said. “You’ve already noted Maxis exhibited skills unknown to us before. If he’s gained the ability to detect masked Myrens, then sending too many in would tip him off.”
“I don’t know.” Jagger shifted in his chair at Ramsay’s right. “With the increase in men I’ve seen in Asshur, all built like warriors, it’s possible they’ll stage an ambush.”
Another quaran chimed in. “Are you sure the human is there? Surely we won’t risk our warriors on the words of a scorned woman?”
“One life—any life—is too precious to chance.” Eryx’s icy stare pegged the quaran who’d spoken. “If it were someone you loved, would you want me to ignore the situation?”
No one expected a reply, least of all Eryx. He looked to Ludan, sprawled in an oversized chair, one foot propped carelessly on the edge of the coffee table. “What’s your spin?”
“Hostages and weak points were always his family’s M.O. Doesn’t surprise me he’d take that tack. Question is if Ian’s still alive?”
“And how Maxis knew to find him,” Ramsay added.
A fresh wave of nausea hit her.
“He must have been on our tail in Evad longer than we thought. Maybe saw us together inside,” Eryx said. “Maxis isn’t much on human ways but even he’s got to be able to track a tag.”
Ludan sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Makes sense.” He didn’t sound like he was sold on the idea.
“You gotta assume it’s a trap.” Ramsay leaned a hip against Jagger’s wingback and crossed his arms. “We scout the area first. If it’s clear, we send the best people versed in masking first. If the whole thing’s a ruse, we back out and regroup. Never let ’em know we were there. If the shit’s real, we nab Ian and bolt.”
“A diversion of some type might be convenient.” A third quaran stepped into the fray, his voice almost whiny compared to the other masculine tones. “If they’re expecting the malress, why not have her approach the villa and we provide backup?”
“No.” The word dropped like an anvil.
The room stilled and each man gazed off at indistinct points around the room.
Lexi itched to pace. She tried to push from Eryx’s lap, but his arm wouldn’t budge.
Maybe it was the tightly leashed power in the room making her antsy. They were powerfully built, capable of impressive destruction. Yet they each stood motionless, their minds grinding for options.
“Ramsay and I will go.” Eryx’s tone left no room for rebuke. “No one’s stronger at sensing and shielding from other Myrens than we are. Jagger and Ludan are on back up.”
Panic and anger bubbled in Lexi’s gut.
The arm around her waist tightened further, as did Eryx’s voice. “I need two guards, highly regarded, advanced skills. They’ll be here with Lexi. I want the best.”
“I’ve got a newly promoted man well suited for such an assignment.” The whiny-voiced quaran stepped forward. “His skills are exceptional and he’s moved quickly within the ranks. His loyalty is unquestioned.”
Eryx’s chest rumbled against her. “Anyone else?”
One of the yet unspoken quarans stepped forward. “I would be proud to offer my son, my malran. He’s up for promotion to elite and has always shown outstanding initiative.”
Eryx’s gaze slid back to the wimpy sounding fellow. “Not sure I should trust a man so willing to throw my baineann to the wolves
.”
“Eryx.” Lexi didn’t make a full escape, but did manage to angle for a glare. “What he suggested makes perfect sense. I think you should reconsider.”
“No.” Eryx’s response was even more clipped than the last. He eyeballed the two who’d offered warriors for service. “Get them here. And tighten castle detail. If they’re not warriors, staff, or family, they’re not welcome. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” The quarans’ voices rang in unison.
“Ramsay, have a battalion with specialties in hand to hand on deck nearby. Don’t disclose the final location unless the shit hits the fan. All plans will be kept to the individuals in this room. No one knows about this operation until it’s over and Ramsay or myself give the order to share it further.”
“We’ve got about an hour and a half before sunset.” Jagger’s voice was smooth compared to Eryx’s harsh commands. The gold damask of his wingback framed his streaked hair. “I’ll need every minute to scout.”
Eryx nodded, his thumb a steady back and forth motion at her stomach. If he knew how close she was to puking he might rethink the action. “Everyone out. Wait in the foyer.”
The men strode from the room under a cloud of murmurs.
Eryx rested his hand atop her white-knuckled fist.
Blood pulsed hot and thick beneath Lexi’s skin. With every breath, her arguments built and battered against her tightly clenched lips.
Eryx’s gaze held hers. Chagrined, but resigned and ready to battle.
The office latch slid into place with a reverberant click.
“You can’t do this!” Lexi launched from Eryx’s lap and spun to face him.
The leather of his chair cracked in the silence as he reclined. His silver eyes darkened to liquid metal. “I can. I will.” Pure, smooth dominance. A predator who’d planned his attack.
Lexi’s teeth snapped together with a painful clink. “At the very least you need to let me go with you. Let me be a diversion. You can’t leave me here while you’re out fighting my battles.”
Eryx shot forward, captured her hand, and made a show of twining their fingers together. “This isn’t only your battle, Lexi.” He tugged her so she stood between his knees. “It’s been my family’s battle for generations and now it’s impacted you.” He raised their joined hands and skimmed her inner wrist with his lips. “Because of that, I need to do this.”
The contact raced up her arm. “Then I should go too.”
“No.”
Lexi opened her mouth to argue.
Eryx laved her tender skin and her mind tripped. He blew against the wet path he’d left on her skin. “You’re not ready yet. What you did today tells me you’re warrior material, but we don’t yet know to what extent. Putting you in this situation is unacceptable.” His teeth scraped at her thumping pulse. “You’d know that if you stop to think for a moment.”
Lexi jerked her hand away and spun for escape.
Eryx surged from the chair. His arm snaked out to cage her against him. His free hand gripped the back of her head and angled her face to meet his fierce gaze. His hot, elevated breath clashed with hers. “I know this isn’t because you don’t trust me. If that were the case, you’d have gone out to handle this on your own. You also know you need to develop your skills or you wouldn’t have worked yourself to the point of exhaustion today. So what’s eating you?”
A direct hit. A question she wasn’t sure she had the strength to face. She squeezed his shoulders, so defined and solid, and dropped her forehead to rest on his chest with a haggard moan. “I don’t want to lose you.” The tears started again, the fear banging around in her belly pushing out ragged sobs. “I just found you. I don’t want to lose you.” The words cracked as they passed her lips. If she’d had to walk naked in the middle of Times Square she wouldn’t feel this exposed. “I love you.”
He lifted her chin. The implacable hardness of his eyes softened. “You won’t lose me. I’m not that easy to get rid of. Between the four of us, we’re damned near unstoppable. No one can sense or shield their presence better than my family’s line.”
“And if it’s an ambush?”
“Then we’ll know and abort for a different attack.”
Lexi hugged his neck and plastered herself closer. Her ear settled over the solid rhythm of his heart. Her own wasn’t as steady. It hammered like cement shoes in a clothes dryer.
Eryx stroked her spine, his confidence evident in every stroke. She trusted him, knew he and his warriors were the most skilled to handle a man like Maxis. Still, no one was infallible.
One tiny mistake and she could well lose the two men she loved most in her life.
Chapter 26
Calling the rendezvous spot a villa was pushing it. Eryx had seen shacks from the Underlands in better condition.
Jagger shimmered into view just behind the tree line shielding them. “I combed the perimeter. It’s clean. The quarans were right, though. Gonna be rough masking without other people to throw off our movements.”
Damn, but it was good to have Jagger back—and the tracking skills that came with him. Giving him leave to handle private affairs in Asshur had been the right call, but if war lay ahead, they’d need every man they could get of his caliber.
Wind gusted down the open field between them and the domed structure, and a black, barely attached shutter clattered against the weathered stucco walls. “Any movement?”
Ludan shook his head, gaze rooted to the open windows. “Nothing but our backups and they’re at least five hundred feet out.”
Another one of Ludan’s handy gifts. His sensory reach doubled that of most warriors.
With a curt nod, Eryx faced the other men. “Ramsay, you’re the one linked to our backups, so you’re on mass communications. Everything else stays between you, me, and Ludan. Circle to the other side and come in opposite me. Jagger, watch his back.”
Both men flashed out of sight, wind swooshing the fallen leaves into a flurry as they took to the sky.
“Lexi?”
She hummed a gentle response. It was kind of amazing how quickly she’d learned to communicate this way, not to mention the other skills she was determined to learn in short order.
“We’re about to go in. If you need me, all you need to do is reach out. Remember, you can call Ramsay and Ludan too.”
“I’m fine.” Spoken like a truly pissed off woman.
“Go downstairs and find Orla. Or look for Jillian. It’ll keep your mind off things until I get back.”
“Waiting’s not my strong point.” Her grumble promised all kinds of retribution when he got home.
On the bright side, making up would be fun. “Mine either. You can make me pay for it later.”
“Giving me time to plan’s not a smart move.” She hesitated, then a tiny crack broke through. “Be careful.”
He savored the words. He had a mate. Someone waiting for him at home. Depending on him. If she hadn’t shared Serena’s treachery…
A chill racked him from the inside out. He slowed his breath and centered on his instincts. Now was the time for action. To save his baineann’s friend and, hopefully, cut the head off the rebellion snake. “Ramsay?”
“In place.”
“Let’s go.” Eryx eased from their cover and drew his shields in place. Air and earth layered across the outer edges of his mask and blended his presence with the landscape.
By the time they reached the dwelling, the sun touched the horizon. If the house held any occupants, they’d be looking for Lexi now.
“I’m in.” Ramsay said.
Eryx eased through an open window and waited for his energy to settle. “Second that. Nothing in the main room. Scan the top floor and I’ll work toward the center of this level.” One sharp movement and anyone with a decent level of tracking could find them. He combed the first floor. Zero. “A
nything?”
“Not yet. One last room,” Ramsay said.
“Ludan? All clear?”
“Clear.” Ludan sounded almost disappointed.
“Shit. Eryx contact Lexi and get up here!” The echo behind his voice changed. He’d switched to mass communications. “Lock the castle down. Secure the malress!”
Eryx reached out to Lexi and shot with lightning speed to his brother’s location.
Absolute silence.
The empty noise brought his world to a screeching halt. Roaring for Lexi in his mind, he rounded the corner.
A police badge with a note held Ramsay’s attention.
We told her it wouldn’t be wise to talk with you. Now we have them both.
* * * *
Lexi sat in the middle of her massive bed, knees pulled up so her chin rested on her crossed arms. If she was smart she’d do something productive. Take a bath, or change her clothes. Anything but pout. With a pitiful huff, she scooted toward the edge of the bed. Better to let Eryx focus. With a little luck, Orla would still be in the kitchen and up for some meaningless chitchat. She opened the bedroom doors and jumped a half step back.
“Malress.” At either side of the door, warriors snapped to attention. The one on the left offered a minute bow and kind smile.
Eryx was going overboard. She was at home for crying out loud. Surely this wouldn’t be the norm going forward. She waved over her shoulder and headed for the stairs. “I’m headed down for a quick snack.”
The warrior on her right looked waxen, the corners of his eyes strained. Probably wishing he was out in the field with the rest of the guys instead of wasting his time on house detail.
“Everything okay?”
“I’m fine, my malress.” Even his voice sounded tight.
Men and their pride. She shrugged and started down the stairs. Didn’t they have any female warriors?
A startled inhalation and a hard grunt sounded behind her.
She spun toward the sound.
The warrior who’d bowed as she left her room stared back at her, eyes and mouth wide. He clutched at a dagger buried in his sternum.
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