Adam laughed and rolled over again, going straight for her ticklish spots. She immediately regretted telling him about them as she laughed uncontrollably while trying to wiggle out of his reach. Finally Adam pinned her down, rolling on top of her and holding her arms over her head. “How dare you wake me up!” he said, smiling down at her.
“So sorry. I just figured you’d want some of that amazingly good-smelling food,” she said.
Adam glanced at the door and took a deep breath. “It does smell good.”
Syney nodded. “It can wait another five minutes, though.”
Adam looked back at her. “Five minutes?”
“Ten minutes?”
He frowned, thinking. “I could go for ten minutes,” he said, as he leaned down and kissed her.
“Fifteen?” Syney asked with a smile.
“That’s pushing it,” Adam told her, working his way down her neck.
A half hour later, Syney pulled him down the stairs, stealing a kiss at the bottom. Adam pulled her into the sitting room.
“What? I’m really hungry now,” Syney said, grabbing his hands.
“I was just thinking that maybe we shouldn’t be so…touchy-feely in front of Hadrian,” Adam said slowly.
Syney cocked her head to the side. “Why?”
“Well, he is your father, and I just did some bad things to his daughter. I don’t want to have him staring me down over pancakes.”
She laughed at him and put her arms around his waist. “He doesn’t have a say in what I do.”
“You said you’d keep an open mind.”
“And I will. But he doesn’t get to be ‘crazy dad’ to my boyfriend.” She kissed him before pulling him into the kitchen.
Only Becca and Noelle were at the table, both talking with coffee mugs in their hands. Syney saw Gabe and Hadrian through the glass door that led to the deck. Both were yelling about something.
“Good morning,” Syney said, taking a seat across from the women. “I totally smelled pancakes.”
Becca laughed and left the table to grab a platter from the stove. She placed it on the table while Adam poured two cups of coffee. “It’s an old secret family recipe.”
Syney shoveled a bite into her mouth and moaned. “That’s amazing. Can you we take you back with us? Because the cooks at the palace suck.”
“I second that,” Adam said around a mouthful of food.
“I’m afraid not. But thank you for the compliment,” Becca said, taking a sip of coffee.
“Where’s Reed?” Syney asked.
“Sleeping. I don’t think he’s gotten a good night’s sleep in a long time,” Noelle said.
Syney nodded. “You know, Becca, I wanted to thank you for letting us take over your house for this. I’m starting to think we should pay you for the nights we stay here,” Syney said.
Adam laughed, and Becca shook her head. “It’s not a problem. Besides, it’s actually Gabe’s house. I just look after it for him.”
“Really?” Noelle asked, looking at Becca.
She nodded. “He’s owned it for many years. He tried to sign over the deed to me once, but I refused. I like living here and housing anyone who needs sanctuary, but it’s his house, and it should stay that way.”
“Well, thank you anyway,” Syney said, glancing outside. Gabe had his hands up in the air in a defeatist gesture while Hadrian hung his head down.
“Don’t worry about them. They do this all the time, especially when talking strategy,” Becca said.
“I guess I messed up their plans,” Adam said quietly.
Syney looked at him. “No…well, maybe, but I don’t care. I’m happy with the way things have gone. I needed to know all of this.”
“I’m happy too,” Noelle said. “It feels so much better to have everything out in the open.”
Syney nodded and looked back out the door. She caught Gabe’s eye. He looked back at Hadrian before motioning with his head to her. Hadrian turned and looked at her, but Syney looked away quickly. His solid black eyes freaked her out—she couldn’t lie—but she really did want to keep an open mind today when they talked. She turned to Adam. “Will you stay when I talk to Hadrian?”
He hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. This is something you two have to do alone.”
She frowned. “But I’d feel better with you there.”
He shrugged. “OK then.”
An hour later the three sat down in the sitting room, all visibly uncomfortable.
Hadrian finally pulled out a pile of papers and threw them onto the coffee table. “That’s everything I know about the Great War. We could start at the beginning if you want.”
Syney looked at Adam, who gave her a small nod. She picked up the papers but looked at Hadrian. “How did you and Amelia meet?” she asked quietly.
Hadrian blinked a few times. “At Gabriel and Faye’s joining celebration. They joined in secret and decided—well, Gabriel decided—to have a big party. She was the only Magic User to come. It…Here, give me your hand.”
Syney glanced at Adam before shakily holding out her hand. Hadrian took her hand, his skin overly warm. “Close your eyes,” he said.
She did as he asked and felt something rush through her. She gasped as the sound of music filled her ears. The music blended with the back-and-forth of people talking. She wanted to wait for Hadrian to tell her to open her eyes but couldn’t help it anymore and opened them only to find they were watering from the smoke being blown into her face. She swatted it away and coughed a little. She was about to yell at whoever had blown it at her when she realized it was Hadrian, looking only slightly younger than he did a moment ago in Becca’s living room; only he didn’t seem to realize she was there. She called his name and even waved her hands in front of him but got nothing. Confused, Syney looked around the large room. She saw hundreds of people all dressed up and drifting around the dark space, talking to each other. Scantily clad women were walking around, handing out cocktails. At least Syney thought they were women, until one walked closer to her. She appeared as if she were half monkey, half woman. Syney looked at her tail for a moment before she realized she must be a Shifter in midtransition. She shook her head as she caught sight of other women dancing in cages above them. That was when she realized this had to be Gabe’s party, although she wasn’t sure how Faye had let him get away with this. Somehow Hadrian wasn’t just telling her about the first time he had met Amelia; he was showing her.
Syney looked back at Hadrian, who had just put out his cigarette and took a big swig from the glass in front of him. He was sitting at a long black bar, which Syney was standing behind, looking as if this was the last place in the world he wanted to be. He glanced up and motioned for more of his drink. A young female bartender walked up and through Syney to pour him another drink. It didn’t feel like anything when she walked straight through Syney, although Syney nearly freaked out because of it. Once she walked away, Syney put her hand straight through the bar. She shook her head. No way would she get used to that. She looked back at Hadrian then around the room again. She didn’t see Amelia anywhere. Maybe this is the wrong memory, she thought. No sooner had the thought entered her mind than Hadrian looked to his right. Syney followed his gaze and watched Amelia walk through the door. She looked exactly as she had when she had come to Syney in her mind the year before. Her black curly hair was pulled into a bun, and her violet eyes stood out even more with her dark makeup. She wore a long, purple, flowing dress and her purple head-of-house amulet. She looked amazingly beautiful; Syney felt her breath hitch in her throat.
Amelia looked nervous as she walked into the room and took in her surroundings. She was out of place; that much was obvious. She bit her lip, and Syney laughed, recognizing her own nervous gesture. Amelia glanced behind her at a tall, well-built guy who hovered nearby. Syney recognized the Lycin build and brooding manner immediately. As much as Amelia was nervous to be here, he detested being here. He scanned the room thoroughly, not l
iking what he saw at all. Syney immediately liked him and felt a sort of familiarity with him. He reminded her of Hunter. They didn’t look too dissimilar, with their brown hair and eyes, but this wolf’s physical presence was what was the most reminiscent of Hunter. The way he was annoyed yet willing to even be there. Syney smiled as he and Amelia headed toward the bar.
“How long do you want to stay?” the Lycin asked, not even looking at Amelia.
She sighed, frustrated. “We just walked in. Can’t you give me a bit of fun time before whisking me back to the Village? I’ve never been to Vampire territory.”
He shook his head and looked down at her. “Just because you’ve never been here doesn’t mean it’s a good place to go.”
“But it looks like a good place,” Amelia said, just as one of the waitresses, this one a rabbit, walked by. They eyed her with both curiosity and scorn. “Wow.”
He shook his head. “An hour tops.”
She pouted at him. “Faye has no family coming. No other Magic Users are coming at all.”
“And you shouldn’t have come either.”
“You’re such a party downer.”
“I don’t like parties, especially this kind of party.”
Amelia and Syney both laughed. Syney looked at Hadrian, who, although not directly looking at them, was listening to every word. He also wore a smile, which softened his entire face. Syney made a mental note to tell him to smile more. It made him far less scary.
“There are a lot of very nice-looking people around here,” Amelia said, gesturing around.
“I wouldn’t say nice.”
“Ugh! You know what? I’m going to branch out and make friends.” She looked around the room, her gaze settling on Hadrian. “Like this guy. He looks very nice,” she said, giving her wolf one more look before hopping onto the seat next to Hadrian. “Hi, there.” She smiled, which lit up her whole face.
Hadrian looked at her. “Hello.”
“Great party, huh? Very…colorful.”
Syney looked back at Amelia’s Protector. He stared at Amelia and Hadrian for a moment before sitting a few seats away, well within Lycin hearing. He glanced at them once more before staring straight ahead. He looked almost sad. Syney felt bad for him as she looked back to…her parents.
“Gabriel doesn’t do anything colorless,” Hadrian said with a smile.
She nodded and held out her hand. “I’m Amelia.”
He stared at it for a moment before taking it and bringing it to his lips. As he kissed her hand, Syney watched Amelia’s face turn a shade of pink. “It’s a pleasure, Queen Amelia,” Hadrian said.
She looked taken aback. “How…Who are you?”
“King Hadrian of House Zeffin,” he said with a laugh.
“Oh, it’s an honor then. I’ve heard all about some of the effective policies you’ve passed. I do have to say I agreed with the proposal to not break up the neutral territories.”
Hadrian shook his head. “That would be my father. I took the throne only two months ago.”
Amelia’s face fell. “I’m so sorry.”
Syney gave a confused look until it occurred to her that the only way Hadrian had claimed the throne was because his father died.
“I hear your mother isn’t well either,” Hadrian said.
She nodded. “Loncarsis syndrome. I’ll be taking the throne next week.”
“It’s a shame that such joyous things come out of such horrible circumstances.”
“I said the exact thing the other day. Everyone seems to push the death or sickness away and focus on the crowning. I hate it,” she said quietly.
Hadrian downed the rest of his drink. “Let’s make a pact.”
“What kind of pact?” Amelia asked, her smile brightening.
“No letting it get to the end before we give up the throne.”
“I like it! That way we can spend our advanced years relaxing instead of attending council meetings.”
Hadrian laughed. “Tell me your meetings are as bad as mine.”
“Oh, Goddess. I didn’t think anything could be as boring as council meetings! I’ve perfected my doodling.”
“I’m past doodling. I’m onto drawing funny pictures of council members.”
Amelia and Hadrian broke into laughter. She put her hand forward. “So…pact. I, Queen Amelia of House Vilori, promise to give up the throne before I become too sick or senile to lead my people.”
He took her hand. “And I, King Hadrian, swear the same thing.”
They stared at each other, smiling for a moment before Hadrian leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Amelia licked her lips. “Well, now that that’s settled.” She smiled and looked behind the bar. “What’s good to eat around here?”
Hadrian laughed and motioned for the bartender.
Syney felt herself smiling at them. She liked both of them. Amelia was nervous and babbled. And Hadrian was smooth and charming. A perfect combination, she thought, as she felt something pull her. She grabbed her chest and cried out.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes; Adam was staring at her.
“You OK?” he asked.
She smiled and nodded before turning to Hadrian. “That was amazing.”
He nodded and looked away from her.
“Can I do that too? I mean, I’m part…Daemon. That’s a Daemon thing, right?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She reached over and grabbed Adam’s hand.
“Wait!” Hadrian said.
Syney looked at him. “What?”
“Just don’t…Whatever memory you give to someone else, you give them for good and lose it yourself. Don’t pick something you don’t want to part with.”
Syney dropped Adam’s hand and stared at Hadrian. She shook her head and swallowed, offering him her hand. “Take it back.”
He shook his head. “Doesn’t work that way.”
“But…you gave me the memory of your meeting Amelia. That’s important to you—it has to be.”
“It was worth giving to you,” he told her. “I’m not some monster who attacked you. I’m not the murderer of your mother. I wish to hell she were here instead of me, to help you through all this. I just…It was worth it to let you see me at my best. Because I always was with her.”
Syney wiped tears from her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She sighed and took Adam’s hand again. “What do I do?” she asked Hadrian.
“Pick a memory, and while you think about, it trace this on his hand,” he said, taking a pen and drawing a circle with three lines across it.
Syney did as told, pushing the memory of her first-grade dance recital toward Adam.
After a while he opened his eyes and grinned at her. “The tutu is my favorite part.”
Syney smiled, although she couldn’t bring the picture of it up in her mind. It really was gone. She looked at Hadrian. “OK, this is how this is going to go. Today we talk about Amelia. I’ll look at this tonight,” she said, picking up the notes he had written. “And tomorrow we work on my powers. Maybe Becca can help with the Magic User ones.”
Hadrian nodded. “OK.”
“Good. Now how exactly did you get from that horribly risqué party to having me? And were you even joined?”
“No, we planned on it, though. It just never happened. You…were a surprise.”
“I bet. Is that why you hid Amelia’s pregnancy?”
Hadrian shifted in his seat. “Things already were tense in the Realm. A child from the Magic User queen and Daemon king wasn’t what the Realm needed at that time.”
Becca walked into the room with a tray of tea and placed it on the coffee table. She gave them all a smile before heading out. Syney grabbed a cup, kicked off her shoes, and curled her feet under her. She might as well get comfortable. She had a feeling she was going to be here for a while. And she wanted to hear everything she could.
Syney and Hadrian talked for most of the
day, which was good and bad for Gabe. He wanted them to talk, but also didn’t trust them alone together. Hadrian had his own thoughts on what should be done and wouldn’t hesitate to try to push his opinions on Syney. His only saving grace was Syney’s annoyingly independent thinking; she wouldn’t necessarily go along with what her father said.
Gabe sat back in the wicker chair in his bedroom upstairs. As much as he wanted to sit around thinking about the plan and Syney, he couldn’t help think about Faye and Noelle. He pulled out the red-gemmed amulet and turned it around and around. He had a feeling why Faye had wanted to talk to Noelle alone, and he didn’t like it. He never would have been able to get through the years following her death if he hadn’t been able to see her. He had started going to her for so much. Faye gave him advice when Adam decided that he hated Gabe for just about everything. She told him what to do when Raine called him to tell him that Syney had been found. She told him when he was being an idiot and needed to relax. He wasn’t sure he could live without her. But lately he had seen less and less of her, thanks to Noelle. He really meant it when he said he wasn’t expecting to fall for her, and he didn’t like things he didn’t plan out.
“Hey, you missed dinner,” Noelle said, walking into the room.
“Wasn’t hungry,” he said, not looking at her.
Noelle sighed loudly. “OK, out with it. What’s wrong?”
Gabe stared at the amulet for a moment before finally looking at her. “What did Faye want?”
“I told you it was nothing big.”
He shook his head and looked away.
“She just wants me to look out for you.”
“And destroy this,” he said.
Noelle quietly looked at the amulet. “She just wants you to be happy, and she doesn’t think you can be with her still around.”
Gabe jumped up and threw the amulet onto the bed. “Go ahead then. Break the damn thing.”
“Gabe, let’s talk about this.”
“I don’t want to talk. Just do it.”
“This is a huge step—”
“Just break it!” he yelled.
Noelle backed away from him and took several jagged breaths before grabbing the amulet from the bed. She looked around then headed to the wooden desk in the corner of the room. She put the amulet down and picked up a solid-metal candlestick.
Deviation: Altera Realm Trilogy Book 2 Page 17