Forgotten Days (Fate's Intent Book 6) (27 page)

“Tired but he and Darius are nearly healed.”

Troy laughed. “Life or death situation probably helped.”

“Probably but it was something they needed.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, hearing something different in her voice.

“Yeah. Fine. Except we’re going to Lecca and I’m not the least bit looking forward to it.”

I laughed to her sudden anxiousness. “Don’t worry. We’ll be with you.”

“I know. I guess I should get to Zayden. I just wanted to know if you were staying out or not.”

“Okay. Goodnight.”

She nodded and headed back inside.

“What’s with her and going to Lecca suddenly?” Troy asked.

I waited a moment for Adele to get safely inside before I said anything. “Her long forgotten days. Lecca is where we were sent on our first mission as a team and we were kind of with someone while we were there.”

“That’s it? What’s the problem with that?”

“The problem is who it was. I say his name and you’ll know what I mean.”

“So say his name.”

“Sedrik.”

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

I sighed and couldn’t believe he didn’t get it right off. “He’s Bianca’s brother.”

His eyes widened and he straightened up a bit. “What? Really? That Sedrik?”

“Yeah but we didn’t know who he was at the time. We entered the city as travelers a couple of days before we were to take out our target and we spent the days as guests. That’s when we met him. He didn’t tell us who he was, probably because he didn’t need his title to impress us. Anyway, we spent our days with him and he became incredibly attached to Adele. The more time we spent with him, the more she seemed like she fell for him too.

“We spent those days together like we’ve known each other for years. He got her alone one night and I’m not going to go into detail but I’m sure you can guess what happened. She found out who he really was when Bianca found them. That’s how she’s known her. As you can imagine, that was a pleasant conversation. She said he called her the one when they argued right in front of her but she couldn’t stay. She had to get out of there before her cover was blown so, we left under the cover of darkness after we finished the mission.

“He could never understand why. She couldn’t tell him who she was. It would have cost her life. She said she just told him that she would see him the next day and he understood because of how Bianca reacted but we never saw him again after that. She always felt sure that she hurt him on some level by leaving without a goodbye and now going back there and seeing him again is what she’s worried about.”

“Did she love him?”

“Of course not. At least, not like she loves Zayden but it was clear he loved her or was at least obsessed with her and it changes her.”

“Changes her?”

“Like she’ll do anything to be near him. She’s already worried about it because she doesn’t notice when she does it. It’s only people around her that see it.”

“Well, we’ll be there to make sure she doesn’t.”

“That’s why I assured her we’d be with her. Just don’t tell her I told you any of this. She doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“Come on. You know I won’t. We said we wouldn’t keep secrets from each other anymore, that doesn’t mean they can’t be kept from others. I won’t say anything to her.”

“Thank you and here I thought it was good for us to get out on a trip. I guess I just forgot about it all until it was too late.”

“It’ll be fine and it was good for some of us already.”

“Yeah. I guess I’m glad things worked out between them. I didn’t want to see that lasting and maybe now the day’s ride won’t be so gloomy besides the heat.”

“We can live through that.”

I smiled and kissed him for his joking tone. Of course we could live through it. We could withstand anything and it was funny that he thought he had to remind me while we rested here.

I’d say the quiet helped. We didn’t fall asleep, we just stayed with each other and it prepared us for more days of travel.

When the sun rose, we took to the road again but it seemed different—better. Zayden took the reins first this time but Darius was right there, laughing with him and just trying to make it fun and it was. It was like nothing ever came between them and that’s how it was supposed to be. None of us was about to question it.

It took us three days to reach the mountain pass that led straight into Lecca then traveled for two more until we could see the walls of Nindor off in the distance. Civilization was a great sight but I noticed Adele didn’t seem to think so. She really didn’t want to be back here. I could understand but we had to be just for a time.

We started to cross the bridge over the enormous trench surrounding the city and I looked down, just amazed about how big it was. “I never got the point of this.”

“It’s to prevent lava from destroying the city.” Zayden answered from inside. “This place is surrounded by volcanos. If one were ever to erupt, the lava would be channeled down there and flow all the way to the sea, saving the city.”

“Sure it makes sense but when has that ever happened?”

“Never.” Troy laughed sitting next to me, holding the reins. “But you can’t be too careful about those things. They’re unpredictable.”

“I would have hated to be someone ordered to dig that! Doubtful they were like Adele.”

Adele smiled to the truth and we entered through the gates, heading straight to the palace. The city was in a completely different state than what we expected to see. We found out along the way that the people were mourning the recent death of their King and now had to find out that they also lost their Princess because she was with us. I was sad for them.

It didn’t fully sink in until I saw him. If the King were dead, that would now make Sedrik King, the one person I was hoping we could avoid but there he was. He was walking out to us with his strawberry blonde hair spiked around the King’s crown. He looked so young to be wearing it. He had to be our age, if not, a few years older. I don’t really remember but it was a surprise to see. I began to remember all the fun we used to have upon seeing him and it put a smile on my face.

It wasn’t until he got farther down the steps that he actually noticed who we were.

“Ruby? Jaylyn? I don’t believe this.”

He quickly made his way down the stairs as we went up towards him and bowed.

He laughed which I guess was a good mood for him to be in. “You know better. Come here.” He held his arms out and we rushed into them. “Look at you, all grown up. I never thought I would see you again.” He paused, feeling suddenly nervous. “Is she with you?”

We looked at each other then turned our eyes down the stairs. I knew who he really wanted to see and Adele stood at the bottom, slowly stepping towards him.

“Adele.”

She smiled gently. “Hello, Sedrik. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, don’t be.” Sedrik smiled bigger and hugged her. “I’ve missed you just the same. It’s good to see you. What are you doing here?”

Adele backed off and looked at us on the steps. All our smiles faded because we were here to give bad news. “Sedrik, it’s your sister.”

“You found her? Where is she?” Adele slowly shook her head as the only response she could get out and Sedrik’s face softened. It was like he immediately knew, losing his balance and falling back on the steps. “No. It can’t be.”

Adele got down next to him with a low caring voice. “I’m sorry, Sedrik. I know how close you were.”

“How?”

“Bandits.” Ruby said while she looked over at Adele. “On her journey home.”

Adele lightly nodded and knew it was the right thing to say. The truth would have only hurt more.

Sedrik clenched his fist from the news and put it to his forehead. “I want to see her.”

“I don’t think that’s—”

“Show me!” He demanded as he stood up.

His voice jumped her and she complied. “Very well.” She stood up and led him down the stairs to the storage cart behind the carriage.

We followed but let him approach it at his own pace. He did but slowly. His steps were like he didn’t really want to or was afraid of what he would really see but his hand found the lid nonetheless and it was lifted.

He only stared at her for about two seconds before his eyes closed and he turned his head away while lowering the lid. It was a sad sight and he needed comforting.

Adele approached slowly and put her hand on his shoulder. “I know this is hard for you and you miss her but you have to stay strong for your people. You can’t falter now.”

Sedrik nodded and walked to the head of the carriage with an emotionless expression. “I thank you for bringing her home. You are all welcome to stay for as long as you need.”

“Thank you, Sedrik.” Zayden replied. “But I don’t think that’s—”

“Of course we’ll stay.” Adele interrupted.

Sedrik looked at her and smiled while Zayden instantly got mad and tried holding himself back from his changing eyes. I could feel it coming from him like he wanted to. I’m sure he didn’t know about her time with him but I was more concerned with Adele’s behavior. She most certainly remembered and was beginning to do what she always does. We were just the only ones that could see it.

“Come.” Sedrik held out his hand to her and she took it. “Then I will show you to your room. You must be tired after your long journey.”

She didn’t say a thing but they started walking up the stairs, unaware that we were left behind.

“What just happened?” Zayden asked. “Did I miss something?”

Ruby and I quickly followed up the stairs and took Adele by the arms to get her away from Sedrik. “Excuse us, Sedrik.”

“We need to borrow her for a moment.” Ruby said. We brought Adele to the side and spoke quietly so our voices wouldn’t carry. “What are you doing, Adele? I know it’s great to see him again but you can’t be doing this.”

“He was just showing us to our room where we should be resting until we make the long trip back.”

“Maybe but we can see how he’s looking at you.” I said. “I know we had fun in the past but you have to remember that you can’t do any of that now. Zayden is here and he’s not interested in sharing you. You have to let Sedrik know that before things go too far. You know what Zayden can do to him and with him being King now, there would be consequences.”

Now she was thinking more like herself and looked worried while gazing down the stairs at Zayden still standing at the bottom.

Chapter 44

Zayden

Something felt foul about this whole situation and I was ready to find out what. “Do either of you see anything wrong with this?”

“Okay, Zayden but first you have to relax a little.” Troy said.

“I’ll relax once we’re out of here.”

“They have a history but it’s not like you think.”

“How do you know?”

“Jaylyn told me about it. It was a long time ago. You just need to remember that you’re the one who married to her and make sure that he knows it.”

I turned from him and walked up the stairs, eager and determined to do exactly that while Rift tried to keep up briskly at my heels.

“Zayden. It’s good to see you.” Sedrik said upon my approach. “It’s been quite a long time.”

“It has.”

“And what a cute little pup you got there.”

He leaned down like he wanted to touch him but Rift stayed well behind me.

“Thank you but he doesn’t like anyone but me. Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

“Of course.” He led me towards the palace doors passed the girls and into a private room, exactly how I intended this to go. “What is it you want to talk about?”

“Adele. I know that you two had a thing in the past but I’m here telling you to stay away from her.”

“Oh, I see. So, you and she are—”

“She’s my wife!”

“You’re wife!” He seemed surprised and maybe a little more than that too. “I see. Quite the interesting turn of events, wouldn’t you say? My sister leaves months ago to your kingdom to marry you, come to find out your heart has already been taken by the one that previously held mine. Now, you send her back to me dead and you get to keep the one that should have married me.”

“I had nothing to do with your sister’s death.”

“Oh, I’m over that.”

He was cold and heartless like suddenly her loss didn’t matter but I didn’t act upon it. I just wanted to stick to the point. “I want you to stay away from Adele.”

“That’s not a problem but will she stay away from me?”

The look on his face was of mischief and deceit and I knew right away what he really wanted to say. “Are you saying that she’ll betray me for you?”

“I’m saying she hasn’t done a very good job at keeping away from me yet.”

He started to walk out of the room but I followed. I wasn’t done and he would not walk away from me until I was. “Hold on. I came to you in hopes that you would respect the situation not try and take it from me.”