The Legends of Regia Box Set: The Complete Series. Books 1-7

by Tenaya Jayne

  Sabra was a natural leader. It should have been easy for her to move into the role she longed for. The role she seemed destined to fulfill. There was just one problem. One nasty little detail that stood in her way.

  She was female.

  Wolf culture was nothing if not fiercely misogynistic.

  She heard the shuffling of feet in the square, but she didn’t look. Her heart threatened to start racing. She took a deep breath and forced her pulse to remain steady by sheer will. Today would determine her fate. She wouldn’t submit to Tucker’s matchmaking. Her brother meant well by trying to fulfill his duty to secure her with a good man, since their parents were dead. But she wasn’t made to submit to a man. Any man.

  So, despite that it was frowned upon, she would speak in the square this morning. She hadn’t told anyone her plans. She would have told Sophie…Sophie, sweet baby sister, murdered by the insurgents.

  The insurgents were no more. Their leader, Copernicus, was dead by the hand of the Hailemarris. Sabra burned to exact her revenge for Sophie, but she no longer had a target.

  Except for him. The one she met that terrible night.

  His face was chiseled deep in her consciousness. She didn’t know his name, or even if he was still alive. But the blame for Sophie’s murder fell on him. He’d said he hadn’t killed her but openly admitted he did nothing to save her either.

  Sabra held her breath for ten seconds. She counted the numbers slowly, looking at Sophie in her mind’s eye. I’m going to change things, baby sister. I promise.

  The sounds of more people coming to the square brought her back to the here and now. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t cry. The night Sophie had died, Sabra cried more tears than she thought were physically possible. The next morning she’d sworn to herself she would never cry again. Not over anything, be it heartbreak or a stubbed toe. Her last tears were a sacred memorial to her sister. Sabra revoked the world’s right to hurt her ever again.

  Half of her was numb to fear. Just half.

  She was going to change things. Someone had to. Her culture was backward and racist. And now was the time. The last war with the vampires had taken out most of their mature, established men. Her father being among them. There was no pack leader. The tournament was coming. The winner would be the new alpha…

  And she would fight.

  “Sabra? Can I come in?” Tucker asked from behind her door.

  “Yeah.” She turned away from the window.

  He sauntered in, and she held back the insult to his appearance and demeanor that bubbled up her throat. For the last few weeks he’d started to mix with the wrong crowd, and he was trying to mimic them. She knew her sweet brother was still there, under the asshole mask he now wore.

  “What do you want? I was about to go down to the square.”

  He frowned. “You don’t need to go. You need to let go of your obsession about the pack’s leadership… That’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s time you settled down into your real role. I think I may have found you a mate.”

  Sabra ground her teeth together. This could go nuclear in two seconds flat. She clenched her fists, pouring everything she felt into her hands. She forced a smile.

  “I told you, I’m not ready.”

  “That’s not for you to decide,” he said firmly, his cheeks coloring red with anger. “I’m trying to do right by you. I care who you are mated to. I’m doing my best to secure your future with a good man…and that’s not easy when you have such a bad reputation.”

  “What?! Bad reputation?”

  “Never mind.”

  “Oh, no. What bad reputation? If I have one, I certainly didn’t know about it. You better tell me.”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Maybe not. But I have a right to know,” she demanded. “How can I defend myself when I don’t know what I’m accused of?”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Let’s just say people know you fancy yourself an alpha. You’re a shrew… The guys like to look at you, but then you open your mouth and prove yourself to be too much trouble. You’re too wild. Any man willing to take you on is going to have to break you and make you submit. There are a few who would love to, let me tell you. But I don’t want you mated to a violent sort who’d get off on beating you…and I don’t want you with a weakling who would let you tug him around like a puppy and shame our family name…I love you.” He took a deep breath. “I’m trying to do right by you,” he said again. “You could try and make it a little easier on me.”

  So many words swirled in her mind. So many things she wanted to say. It’s not my destiny, brother.

  “I promise to think about what you’ve said. All right?”

  “Good.” His voice was clipped. He turned and headed back out of her room.

  “Tucker?”

  He looked back at her.

  “Who is it?”

  “Gahu.”

  Sabra didn’t feel dread at the thought of being paired with Gahu. She didn’t feel anything. “Are you negotiating with him? Have you struck a deal?”

  “The deal is not sealed, yet. He wants you to settle into the idea first. He wants to spend some time with you.”

  Sabra groaned internally. “I’ll think about it. But I can’t say more than that.”

  He left her room. She looked back out the window. Arguing had already begun in the square. That was where she belonged. Anger surged through her. Tucker had put her on the auction block. Despite what her brother said, he wanted the status of selling her to whoever could pay the highest price. Damn their culture. Damn their traditions. She wasn’t property. She refused to be property. And she’d give hell to any man who treated her as such, be it her brother or her mate. Screw men in general. She didn’t need or want one.

  She headed down to the square. Tucker was going to kill her for what she was about to do. So be it.

  Her hands shook slightly as she moved into the hoard of people, pushing through to the front where she could be next to the boulder people stood on to give speeches. Silhon was standing on the rock at the moment, postulating and waving his arms in the air as he riled everyone up. He was one of the punks she wished Tucker didn’t hang out with.

  She listened closely to make sure she didn’t miss anything she wanted to refute. It was a critical time for werewolves. The next leader would decide if they stayed steeped in tradition or if they’d move on to something…else. The young men saw it was their chance to take the reins because there were so few older men left. She might not have cared, except the loudest voices, the ones who wanted to become the leader, spoke of pushing their women down further. They also were touting the racism, hard. Wolves were superior and should remain aloof from the other races, blah, blah, blah.

  “Now, more than ever, we must stick together and keep to ourselves. Regia is mixing all over the place in this new republic. I want nothing of it. It won’t last. We all know it! We know the vampires and their love of ultimate power.”

  Most of the people around her raised their voices in agreement. Silhon continued.

  “If we buy into this ruse of equality and mixing the Hailemarris is feeding us, we will die! It’s a plot formed by the suckers!”

  “The Hailemarris is for the people! All the people. Even us,” a voice rang out from the crowd.

  Everyone looked. Asher, one of the older generals, was the one who spoke.

  Silhon hesitated, looking flustered. “But how can we trust her?” he plunged ahead. “She’s not a vampire, but she may as well be one, seeing as she’s mated to the Sanguine… And what of that?! A woman in a place of power with a mage at her side! She’s the last person we should trust to have our best interests. And we all know who she really is. Forest, the smuggler, who used to hate vampires more than most of us. Or so she said.”

  Sabra took a deep breath, keeping her thoughts inside. It wasn’t her time. Not just yet. She’d heard the gossip that Forest used to come to the Lair and had some dealin
gs with Philippe. Sabra didn’t know if this was true or not.

  “We can’t worry about the rest of Regia. We have to see to ourselves. The tournament will be on the first full moon of the Savage Solstice. And I will fight. I will be the next pack leader.”

  Some of the pack cheered for him. He absorbed the praise like a sponge. She could almost see his ego swelling beyond its already exaggerated size. He jumped down. Before anyone else could climb up on the rock, she pushed forward and vaulted onto it. An audible gasp went up from the crowd. Silhon turned and looked at her. He leapt back up on the rock and got in her face.

  He pushed into her space until his face was an inch from hers. “What are you doing?” His voice was saturated with swagger.

  “I’m going to speak.”

  He turned to the people and laughed as though they all shared a joke. “Sabra wants to speak.” He faced her again, snarling. “I don’t think so, bitch.”

  Both his hands slammed into her chest, knocking her off the rock. The air was knocked from her lungs as she hit the ground. Laughter rose up around her. She looked up at Silhon, laughing and pointing at her. All right. If that’s how he wanted it. She took one breath and charged back up next to him. Her fist slammed into his nose, and he fell flat onto his back. His head snapped back against the ground, knocking him unconscious. Instant uproar and chaos ensued.

  “I have earned my right to speak through force!” she shouted. “Listen to me!”

  The people quieted, and everyone looked at Samuel, the oldest male, and the most respected. Everyone was looking to him to guide them through this transitional time. No one else held the amount of authority.

  He glared at Sabra, but then slowly nodded his head. “Let her speak.”

  She swallowed and balled her shaking hands as everyone turned their eyes back onto her. She looked over the tops of their heads, so she wouldn’t accidentally make eye contact with Tucker. “We are at a crossroads. We have a vital role in Regia, but we have been hiding from it. It’s not strength to hold only to our own, it is fear. We are a strong and proud people, as we should be. But how can we have pride in ourselves when we won’t step up and help others who need us? Wolves have been close allies and friends with Shifters since the beginning of time. Our friends have been attacked and displaced by the insurgents, and what have we done to help them? Nothing!

  “We were lucky Copernicus took no interest in us. But he saw fit to annihilate the shifter colony closest to us. Many of us had friends who died there. How have we honored the dead?”

  She hesitated as she realized they were listening. She must not lose the thread of what she wanted to say. Her time was running short. She would be shut down soon for no other reason than she had a vagina.

  “Things need to change! I will be our voice to the rest of the world, as the new leader…I will fight in the tournament.”

  Uproar again. This time was different than before. The half of her that still knew how to fear became awake. Very awake. She wouldn’t have been heard, even if she shouted at the top of her lungs. Silhon had come to, and she found him invading her space again. His fist slammed into her jaw. The punch was weak and sloppy, but the force knocked her back. She didn’t hit the ground like before. Instead, she was caught by a group of rough hands and restrained. Silhon’s little punk gang had her, and they pulled her away from the crowd. Tucker wasn’t there with them.

  They were taking her away from the Lair and into the woods. No one seemed to notice, or if they did, they didn’t care. She didn’t scream. She didn’t fight…yet. She wouldn’t waste her strength struggling until she could do some damage with it. Silhon would be first. He’d use his lackeys to hold her, no doubt, while he beat her, or raped her. Maybe they all would take a turn on her. They’d be sorry.

  “Hey!” A gruff, angry voice halted them.

  Asher and Gahu approached behind them.

  “Turn her loose!” Asher demanded.

  “Get lost, old man,” Silhon said. “We’re going to teach this bitch a lesson about her place. She doesn’t have any rights.”

  “Says who?” Asher demanded. “You’re not the leader yet, boy. And until you are, you will not create laws that don’t exist. There’s nothing that says she can’t challenge you in the tournament. Too bad you were flat on your back, taking a nap while she spoke. She’s got more brains than you. I’d follow her any day over you.”

  Silhon spit on the ground. “It doesn’t matter what you say. We’re going to have a little private party here, and you’re not invited. Don’t worry, we won’t kill her. Now get lost.”

  Gahu stepped forward. “I’m in negotiations with Tucker for Sabra. She’s basically my betrothed. She overstepped today, but her discipline is mine to administer. Let her go.”

  Silhon sneered at Gahu, and then laughed derisively. He signaled for his gang to let go of her. She didn’t run like a damsel in distress. She walked slowly past Silhon. “I’m going to kill you in the tournament. Maybe I’ll take a page from Philippe’s book and turn your pelt into a cloak.” She smiled. “Or perhaps a nice hat and a pair of gloves. I’ve seen you in wolf form. Your pelt is so pretty.”

  Color rose up his face, and he bared his teeth.

  “Sabra!” Gahu yelled. “That’s enough! Come here.”

  She winked at Silhon and walked over to Gahu. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her away possessively.

  “Watch your step.” Asher warned the punks before turning and following Gahu.

  She waited until they were out of earshot of her would-be abusers.

  “Thank you,” she said, looking up at Gahu’s profile.

  He didn’t stop walking, and he didn’t look at her. He just pulled her along until they came to the main entrance of the Lair. Where Asher stopped following.

  “Don’t disgrace yourself, Gahu, by treating her like any other man might,” Asher warned.

  Gahu shook his hand but ignored the advice. “Thanks for your help.”

  He nodded curtly. “I think we’re going to have to look out for her till the tournament. Silhon will continue to try and take her out where no one can see what he does.”

  “She won’t be fighting in the tournament,” Gahu said gruffly.

  Before she could say anything, Asher smiled at her. “I bet she does.” He turned and walked away. “I’m with you, Sabra,” he said over his shoulder. “You’ve got my support.”

  Gahu pulled her down a hallway and pushed her up against the wall. “What were you thinking? You know Silhon and his gang are trouble. You publicly shamed him. What did you think was going to happen?”

  “What did you think was going to happen?” she demanded. “You might be sniffing the air around me, making a deal with my brother, but you don’t know me at all. I wouldn’t have been able to take all of them out by myself, but I could have gotten damn near close. I’m a superior fighter. Most of those bastards are lazy and couldn’t land a blow to me even trying their hardest.”

  “They had your arms, and you were outnumbered six to one… Stop bragging.”

  She crossed her arms and scowled at him. He wasn’t any more than an acquaintance, but he didn’t seem like a bad sort. Quite a bit older than her, but still in his prime. He was rough around the edges and worn from the war. Everything about him was brown. Rich brown eyes, reddish brown hair, and dark tanned skin. He was a skilled soldier, and he’d survived the war when so many others hadn’t. Being his might not be so bad. If it weren’t for the fact that was exactly the way he would treat her, as his.

  “So, what was that you said? My discipline was yours to administer?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “That’s right.” His fingers dug roughly into her shoulders as his mouth came down on hers. In that moment, she hated him.

  “Very sweet, under the sour surface,” he said, licking his lips.

  She gave him the most malevolent glare she could muster. “Regrettably, I cannot return the compliment.”

  Anger flashed in hi
s eyes, and his nostrils flared. His fingers dug a little deeper into her shoulders, then he released her and took a step back. The fire in his eyes eased back, and then to her surprise, he laughed.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been forceful with you… Take some time to get to know me, Sabra. I think you’ll find we can get along.”

  She pursed her lips. “Why do you want me at all? Apparently, I have a bad reputation.”

  “I don’t care about that. You’ve earned your reputation though. It’s not unjust, what is said of you.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  He snorted and ran his hand through his hair. “I have my reasons. Most of them are not very sexy. Status, stability, strength, family, and so on…” He looked at her more intently. His gaze raking her from her toes and back up to her face. “And then there’s that—” his voice went quiet “—animalistic reason.”

  She waited to feel something at his proclamation of desire. He didn’t repulse her. He was attractive. There was just…nothing. Sure, it stroked her ego to know he wanted her, but it seemed that was all. He reached and took her hand. She gave it.

  “Can we try that again?” he asked.

  She hesitated, and then nodded, allowing him to pull her against his chest and kiss her mouth. It was nice, but there was no fire. At least not for her.

  “Can I see you tonight?”

  She wanted to be alone. He was suffocating. She needed to think about what had happened and what she’d done. Tucker was going to kill her. She’d have to deal with him. Maybe that was her out with Gahu, for now.

  “I’m sure Tucker is going to be furious with me for speaking in the square. I doubt he’ll let me out tonight. Sorry.”

  He looked thoughtful. “I’ll talk to him.”

  She barely kept her eyes from rolling. “Great. I’ve got to go now.”

  Before she could leave, he kissed her again. She walked away thinking about his kiss. Nope. Still nothing.