Deviation: Altera Realm Trilogy Book 2

by Jennifer Collins

  Helen stared at her for a moment. “What’s going on, Cass?”

  “I just…I need to talk to him.”

  “I can talk to Leaf, but he won’t let you in to see him. I can tell you that.”

  Cass sighed and looked away. Of course he wouldn’t. She had learned a lot about Lycins from having lived with them for several months. They were the most stubborn people she’d ever met. If Leaf didn’t want anyone seeing Wes, then no one was going to see Wes, even if they begged.

  Syney walked into the library and slowly approached the table. She gave Helen a smile that melted a little as she looked at Cass. Syney was more like a Lycin than a Magic User at times, Cass thought.

  Syney sat down across from the two sisters and folded her hands on the table.

  “Congratulations,” Cass said quickly.

  Syney mumbled a thank-you before addressing Helen. “I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

  “Of course,” Helen said with a nod.

  Cass sat back in her chair and pouted. She’d been the first Magic User to meet Syney, and what did it get her? Nothing! All because she’d made one stupid mistake.

  “I need to find a way to remove a curse that’s already become permanent.”

  Cass shot forward in her seat. “Is that even possible?”

  “No, I don’t think it is,” Helen said with a sad smile.

  “You’ve never come across anything in your studies? No stories?” Syney asked.

  Helen put her thinking face on and after a moment looked back at Syney. “There was one story from before the war. It was part of the reason curses were banned. A royal’s daughter was cursed, and they didn’t realize it until she got very sick. It was a dying curse, but it only showed symptoms when the person reached the age that had been set for the death. In her case, it was eighteen, and the curse was permanent by then. Her father consulted other races to help and took his daughter all around the Realm. When they returned she was cured, but her father refused to say how he had removed the curse. There must be a way, but I doubt a Magic User could do it.”

  “But another race can,” Cass said, nodding. “I wonder which one.”

  Syney stared at her oddly. “Why do you care?”

  Cass stared back at her, her annoyance level rising. She was done being nice. “Why do you?”

  “Because it’s interesting,” Syney said slowly. She looked back at Helen. “You know that Vampire book you let me read after Gabe healed me? Is there a book like that about every race?”

  Helen nodded. “Up in the restricted section.”

  “Can I see them?”

  “You have to get permission from Mother.”

  Syney laughed. “Never mind then.”

  “I could just let you in. I remember the code,” Cass said, wanting to get back in there herself.

  Syney looked at her and finally nodded. “OK. But I can’t today. I have an appointment.”

  “Joining business?” Helen asked with a smile.

  Syney sighed and shook her head. “More like prisoner business.”

  “You’re going to see Wes?” Cass asked quickly.

  “Who’s Wes?” Syney asked.

  “The Shifter,” Cass said, trying to sound uninterested but failing.

  “Then yes.”

  “Oh, that’s…that’s cool.”

  Syney shook her head. “Anyway, I can come by tomorrow in the afternoon.”

  Cass nodded. “OK, that’s fine.”

  Syney smiled and got up. Cass watched her leave, wondering if she could sneak in later tonight to see Wes. Maybe she could place a spell on the guards or just use her “persuasion” so they’d let her in. Cass had found at a young age that she could tell a person to feel a certain way and they would agree with her. She had used her “persuasion” a few times to get what she wanted.

  “What’s going on?” Helen asked, interrupting Cass’s thoughts.

  “Nothing.”

  “That Shifter means something to you, doesn’t he?”

  “That’s crazy. He’s a Shifter.”

  Helen stared at her for a moment before leaning closer to her. “Leaf is a Lycin, and he means something to me.”

  Cass stared into her sister’s eyes as they filled with tears.

  “It’s not so crazy. And I’m here to talk when you want to,” Helen said, standing up. She walked out of the room, leaving Cass alone with her thoughts.

  That was the first time Helen had really opened up to Cass. She’d never heard Helen talk about any man, let alone a Lycin. She knew she should just open up and tell Helen the left-out details of the report, but she was nervous about it. Not that she feared punishment; it was more like she feared what people would think of her because she had feelings for a Shifter. She sighed and decided she had to tell Helen, especially since she practically had guessed it. She’d go see her tonight and tell her everything. Cass left the library resolved that her secret wouldn’t be her secret for much longer.

  Syney met him outside of the Shifter’s cell. She was trying to make small talk with the two guards who were ignoring her while growing more annoyed with every comment she made. Leaf almost laughed at the scene.

  Syney smiled when she saw him approach.

  “Congratulations, Your Majesty,” Leaf said with a short bow.

  “Thank you. I told you there was nothing to worry about,” she said with smirk.

  Leaf rolled his eyes and unlocked the door. He walked in, and the Shifter immediately stood from the floor and took a seat at the table, as he did every time Leaf entered.

  “Hey, lapdog. How are we doing today?” he asked.

  Leaf stared at him silently for a moment before stepping aside and letting Syney into the room. He watched Wes’s face turn serious as he sat a little more upright. Leaf closed the door and went to stand behind Syney as she sat at the table.

  “We haven’t actually met,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Syney.”

  Wes stared at her hand for a while before relaxing into in his chair again and crossing his arms.

  She sighed and dropped her hand. “I heard the report about your lands. I’m sorry.”

  “So you admit they’re cursed.”

  “Cursed?”

  The Shifter looked up at Leaf. “I guess that report wasn’t totally accurate.”

  “Then fill me in,” Syney said, sitting forward.

  Leaf moved to stand at an equal distance from each of them. He wanted to be able to get to either at a moment’s notice.

  Wes stared at her for a while before saying anything. He was being overly cautious, much more than he was with Leaf. “The lands have a curse on them that killed anything that might grow. Once our plants died, so did our animals.”

  “And you blame the Magic Users.”

  “Yes.”

  “I can see why you’re so angry. What I don’t really get is why try to kill me? I’ve been seated queen for less than two years.”

  “Because I was prophesized to.”

  “So you want to kill me because someone said you were going to,” Syney said with a laugh. “I’m pretty sure that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard. I guess Shifters really don’t think for themselves.”

  “Watch what you say!”

  Syney shook her head. “How exactly do you get your prophecies?”

  He looked away from her.

  “I’m assuming you got this prophecy from someone. Maybe a religious leader?”

  He remained silent.

  Syney sighed and rolled her eyes toward Leaf. She looked back at Wes and suddenly sat up a little straighter. “Cass has been trying to come see you.”

  The Shifter slowly looked back at her but still didn’t say anything.

  “I could let her in. Give you some time.”

  He looked at Leaf and said, “Alone.”

  Syney looked at Leaf as well but with pleading eyes. She obviously needed him to talk, and this was the only way she could get him to. This wasn’t
something Leaf wanted, and he made sure his look said as much to Syney. She mouthed, “Please.” Allowing a royal princess to be alone with her one-time captor was something for which he could be executed, especially if something were to happen to her. On the other hand, things were escalating, and Syney seemed to be at the center of it all. She obviously had a plan here, and he didn’t want to stand in the way of it. Finally he gave her a nod.

  Syney looked back at Wes. “A visit with Cass, alone.”

  He stared at her for a moment. “Our religious leader.”

  “How long ago?”

  “One hundred ten years ago.”

  Syney was quiet for a moment before looking at Leaf. “When was the prophecy given about my coming here?”

  Leaf already had made the connection. “One hundred ten years ago.”

  She looked back at Wes. “How did the Shifters know to come after me in the Human Realm last year?”

  Wes seemed surprised at the question. “It was prophesized.”

  Syney nodded. “Interesting.”

  “Why? Because our prophet is good?”

  “Has he or she prophesized anything else?”

  The Shifter looked away from her agai n.

  “No, huh?” she said. “Has it occurred to you that maybe these things were planted? There’s a crazy war going on right now that really shouldn’t be.”

  Wes banged his hand on the table, which spurred Leaf to take a step forward. “This war was begun by you! Your people! They destroyed our lands! And now they have you! The one who will win the war for them!”

  Syney stared at him for a moment. “This war will never be won,” she said calmly.

  The Shifter took some breaths. “It has to be.”

  “Why? If we come to an agreement of peace, then no one else has to die.”

  He leaned forward, putting his hands on the table. “My people have lost almost everything.”

  “And you shouldn’t have to lose anything else.”

  Wes sat back and stared at her as if she were crazy.

  Syney looked at Leaf. “What will it take for us to let him go?”

  Leaf decided she really was crazy. Or extremely intelligent. If she wanted to win the war, killing a Shifter assassin was a step in the right direction, but if she did want to end it peacefully, what she—and Wes by default—did in this room would go a long way. Leaf had always supported Syney and had grown to care for her greatly. But again he had loyalties to his duty as Head Guard. Right now she was forcing him to choose which side he would be on. Immediately he thought of Helen. She had come to see him the other night, and it had taken only minutes before she was in his arms once again. Syney’s motion to allow interracial pairings might have passed if they weren’t in wartime. Not that it would do much for him and Helen, being that they were both in nonpairing positions, but it might actually help those who should be paired but weren’t. Plus he was tired of living in war. He didn’t want to send his guards out on missions where they might not return. He didn’t want to be scared about allowing Syney out of the palace. He wanted a better Realm.

  “It’ll have to look like a breakout,” Leaf said, “or they’ll look for an accomplice. The blame probably would fall on Cass, since they spent a good deal of time together.”

  Syney nodded. “Can you arrange for it?”

  “Yes, as long as you’re sure.”

  “I am.”

  “Why?” Wes asked, looking back and forth between the two.

  Syney stood up. “I recently learned that it’s sometimes better to show who you are rather than just tell someone. And this is who I am. I want this war to end peacefully.” She stared at him for a moment before leaving.

  “Not everyone is the same in a race, are they?” Leaf asked Wes.

  “She’s crazy.”

  “No, she’s smart,” Leaf said, walking toward the door.

  “Wait!” Wes said. “Can I still see Cass?”

  Leaf nodded and left the room. He saw Syney a few feet away, pacing, and walked over to her. “You OK?”

  She stopped and looked at him. “Yeah. Can we really do this?”

  “I think so.”

  She nodded. “Good. I’m hoping if he goes back, our troops might not be hurt.”

  “It’s a good move.”

  “Thank you for helping. I know I’m still not telling you much, but you really are doing something good. I promise.”

  “Just promise to one day tell me what the hell’s going on,” Leaf said with a small smile.

  She returned it, but hers was sadder. “You really don’t want to know.”

  “I’ll make sure I’m the only guard on tomorrow night. Can you bring Cass down? I’d ask Helen, but I don’t want to pull her into this.”

  Syney nodded. “I’ll see you later.”

  Leaf took a deep breath and watched her go. He finally had chosen sides and stood firmly behind whatever Syney was doing. He just hoped she really was worth his trust. It wasn’t so much Syney he doubted but those who were her advisors, particularly Gabe and Adam. Unfortunately, in order to support her, he had to support them as well. This was something he needed to accept, and fast.

  Hunter read the orders for the fifth time, hoping the words might change on the paper, but he knew they wouldn’t. They were being ordered to move north and then, after gathering some intel, to move across the border. Leaf’s orders felt forced. He knew his friend wouldn’t want them to cross into Shifter land, especially so close to their kingdom. It would look like a direct offensive move. Without a doubt Hunter knew a battle was coming, one they were provoking.

  “Are those the new orders?”

  He nodded at Fern as she and Ridge entered the command tent.

  “We’re moving north?” Ridge asked.

  Hunter nodded again and placed the orders on the map. Fern grabbed them and read them quietly. He knew she’d be happy with the move. She’d been itching to move since she’d returned from Shifter land. She’d also dropped the coldness since he’d put her in charge of the away party.

  “They want us to move over the border quickly,” Fern said, handing the orders to Ridge. “It’s a good idea.”

  “You had it easy last time,” Ridge said. “This time you’ll have actual Shifters coming after you.”

  “Let them come,” she said, standing a little taller.

  Hunter sighed and looked at Ridge. “Break down the camp. We’ll move at first light.”

  “Yes, sir.” Ridge handed him the orders and shot a look at Fern before heading out of the tent.

  Tensions between Ridge and Fern were growing higher every day. Ridge was proving himself to be much more like Hunter than the headstrong, impatient Fern. Hunter couldn’t blame him for getting annoyed with her. She’d been jumping on his last nerves for the past week while also being attached to his hip.

  He rolled up the maps they’d brought and slipped them into several bags. He glanced at Fern a few times, but she seemed distracted, looking at the walls of the tent. “Is everything OK?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He wondered if she needed an order. She generally responded better if someone told her what to do. “Why don’t you go break down our tent?”

  “Won’t you be sleeping there tonight?” she asked.

  “I’ll sleep outside like everyone else.”

  She nodded but didn’t move.

  He sighed and walked over to her. “I thought you wanted to move.”

  “Oh, I do. This is a good thing.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  She looked up at him, her usually hard face softening a little. “You don’t want to be out here.”

  “No one does.”

  “I do. I think what we’re doing here matters.”

  He stepped back from her. “Being here is a waste of time. But I understand where you’re coming from, and I respect your opinion.”

  She nodded. “I’ll go break down our tent and then patrol tonight.”

  “
You don’t have to.”

  “I want to,” she said, leaving the tent.

  He watched her go, knowing there was something she wasn’t telling him. There had been a few letters sent along with the orders from Leaf, including one addressed to Fern. Hunter was pretty sure it was in his mother’s handwriting but didn’t want to ask. Rose was so against Syney that she spent much more energy getting close to Fern than was necessary. He finished packing everything up and broke down the command tent himself. Once he’d brought everything over to the growing pile of things to be moved, he wandered to the far side of camp and sat against a tree. He watched as the guards scurried about, taking down tents and talking in hushed tones. They all knew what moving farther north meant. After a while he laid his head back and closed his eyes. He didn’t expect to fall asleep, but once he started to dream, he was happy he had.

  In the center of camp, he sat in front of the big fire, which burned brightly. No one else was around—well, at least no wolves. He looked at Syney, who was staring at the fire. She looked different than she had in the other dreams. It usually only took moments before they were in each other’s arms, but now she looked as if she didn’t even want to be here. He reached out and touched her hair. She sighed and looked at him.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, cupping her face in his hand.

  She leaned into it, and he felt her tears.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  She shook her head and moved away from his hand. “Is this real?”

  He gave her an inquisitive look. “What do you mean?”

  She looked at him. “Are you dreaming? Right now?”

  He laughed. “Wow. I guess I’m so stressed out that my subconscious fantasy is questioning me.” He cradled his head in his hands. He felt her stand up, and he looked over at her.

  “I think I might like it better out here than the palace. It’s so open,” she said, looking past the fire. She looked back at him. “I tried to bring the troops home, but that damn council is so scared. I did something with a Shifter too. I think it might help when you go over the border.”

  Hunter stared at her. Either his fantasy was talking strategy or…well, who knew? Strange things always had happened to them; who was to say this couldn’t be one of them? He stood up. “Syney?”