Healing Eden (17 page)

“Sounds like you’d be smarter to work this angle through Eryx.” Anyone but him. Courageous acts weren’t exactly his strong suit.

“Eryx has his own path to walk. My responsibility is to you and your future. You have many decisions ahead of you, none of them easy.” Clio’s gaze shifted to Galena. “All of them worth it.”

The iron latch clunked, and the wide mahogany door opened.

Eryx strode through the opening, Ramsay and Ludan shoulder to shoulder behind him.

Wait. Clio was—

Gone.

The three warriors stared down at him from the foot of the bed, their scowls ranging from pissed off to outright murder.

Eryx crossed his arms and chin-lifted in Galena’s direction. “You wanna explain this?”

Shit. Reese dropped the strand of hair he’d had between his fingers and rolled to his back. He’d be damned if he unwound his arm from around her torso, though. “I woke up this way.” Galena stirred, and Reese lowered his voice. “I couldn’t remember much past Maxis frying my brain cells, but I figured she had a lot to do with why I’m still breathing, so I let her sleep.”

Galena pushed up with a hand at his chest. The deep auburn in her hair shimmered with the sun behind it, and the strands hung haphazard and sexy close to her cheeks. Her sleepy voice matched her languid eyelids, the lack of tension at her temples giving her an innocent quality he’d kill to protect. “You’re awake.”

“And alive,” he said. “I have a feeling I have you to thank for that.”

A sweet flush crept up her neck and across her cheeks. She ducked her head and beamed at the three still frowning men at the end of the bed. “Not just me. They had something to do with it to. Most of it, really.” She sat up, putting her back to Ludan and her brothers. “They broke your link.”

Silence.

Reese rewound through what she said, but it still didn’t make sense. “Come again?”

“They broke your link with Maxis. He can’t attack you anymore.”

He looked to the trio. “How?”

Eryx’s gaze shifted to Galena and a wash of pride eased his harsh expression. “Galena figured it out. I traced Maxis’ presence with my link to you, Ramsay and I anchored the link on either side—”

“And I sliced it,” Ludan finished.

So, he was free. A tiny detail with huge implications Clio hadn’t mentioned. He had a feeling it had an angle in the other news she’d shared.

Galena stroked his forehead and a lock of her hair fell forward. “How do you feel?”

He lifted his hand, ready to smooth the long fiery piece between his fingers, but checked the action and rubbed his chest instead. “Like a night after too much strasse and a nosedive from a mountain. Other than that, tolerable.”

“Well enough for a trip to council?” Eryx glared at the hand Reese had narrowly diverted.

“No.” Galena cut in before he could answer. “He needs time to heal. You saw the damage in his—”

“Wasn’t asking you, Galena.” Eryx stared at Reese, a perfect poker face. “You up for a trip to council?”

His throat tightened and a cautionary buzz hummed at the base of his skull. “If that’s what you need.”

Ramsay looked away, a muscle on the side of his neck twitching.

Ludan stayed stone-faced, no doubt ready to dish out cold merciless judgment.

Eryx’s face was a blank slate, impossible to read. “Maxis got away.”

Not good news.

“We did get my baineann’s friend,” Eryx said. “That makes my mate happy, which makes me feel a whole lot more generous where you’re concerned.”

Better news.

“It doesn’t, however, absolve you of your actions with the Rebellion.”

Shit. And then Eryx had walked in to find his sister cozied up next to a traitor on top of everything else. He still wouldn’t have moved away.

“Here’s what I’m offering.” Eryx uncurled his arms and planted his fists on the footboard. At that angle, his appearance went from warrior to fuckin’ scary. “Your testimony of Maxis’ plans and actions in the time you’ve conspired with him, complete with the names of those involved, in exchange for a pardon.”

Galena sucked in a sharp breath and her hand fisted on the bed.

Ramsay glared at Reese.

Ludan stayed rock still.

Reese should have been sucking in huge gulps of air and offering a hand to shake on, but all he could focus on was the gaping hole spinning bigger and bigger in his soul. What had he expected would happen? That all would be forgiven? That he’d somehow end up serving the malran?

He pictured himself in front of the council, admitting his involvement with the rebellion. He imagined the disappointment on his mother’s face, and the sadness that had always shadowed her whenever she spoke of Evanora and her schemes now aimed at him. Clio hadn’t been lying. He had loads of decisions to make and not a damned one of them easy.

Ramsay’s feelings weren’t too much of a stretch to untangle, his scowl practically dared Reese to take the offer. Galena, on the other hand, kept her elbows tucked to her sides and her lips mashed up tight.

If Reese did what Eryx asked, he’d be a free man, able to start over. And maybe, just maybe, get to a place where Galena might consider him for more than one, secret night.

He met Eryx’s stare. “I accept.”

* * * *

Galena trudged toward the castle’s vast guest wing, her muscles better from the few hours she’d napped beside Reese, but still sorely in need of a solid night’s sleep. Men. Overbearing Neanderthals deep down, every damned one of them. Maybe it was a good thing they’d asked her to leave while they plotted their strategy with the counsel. Anger alone had fueled her trek to check on Ian in Eryx’s old room in the royal wing, and it was probably the only thing keeping her up and moving to see Brenna now.

Voices rumbled from the vast dining hall below, staff gathered for the noonday meal, beef brisket by the smell of it. The bite of bay leaf and rosemary were unmistakable even from this distance, and Orla almost always paired the two for her brisket buffets.

Galena’s belly grumbled a not-so-subtle request. Probably smart to stop for a bite or two after she checked on Brenna. If she snuck into the kitchen from the back rooms, she’d have a better shot of missing Orla and having to explain why she still had on yesterday’s wrinkled tunic and leggings. She’d get in, get out, and then nothing had better come between her and her bed for at least eight to ten hours.

Gripping the handrail for an extra tug, she forced her way up the gray stone steps, her sandals quiet in the shadows. Eryx needed to find a way to get Lexi to rest. Galena hadn’t asked how long Lexi had held her bedside vigil, but the dark circles under her eyes said plenty. Eryx had done a great job healing Ian, but whether or not he’d wake up was another worry altogether. And even if he did, how was Lexi going to explain where he was, her role in her new realm, and everything she was now capable of? Not an easy task no matter how one sliced it.

Yeah. Like figuring out how to deal with a rebellion warrior who’d turned over a new leaf as a love interest would be any simpler.

“Humph.” Galena strode down the long guest hall, the thick maroon rug muffling each step. For the life of her, she couldn’t decide what to do. First Reese had ignored her at the meet point. Then he’d covered for her falling asleep beside him. She’d never figure out the look he’d given her before accepting Eryx’s offer. Was it interest? Or was he trying to tell her to keep her mouth shut about their night together?

Well, yeah. She couldn’t blame him being cautious on that score. Eryx might have been decent, but the two of them weren’t going to be best friends anytime soon. Ludan had seemed sort of human in his detached killer kind of way. But Ramsay? Total jerk. Nowhere near the forgive and forget stage.

Galena rounded the corner, knocked on Brenna’s door, and pushed it wide. Lexi was right. Her brothers’ opinions shouldn’t factor into her decisions. It wasn’t like Reese had done anything—

She pulled up short, one hand shooting out to the rough stone wall for support. Spring sunshine poured through the open window, every detail in its proper place. Except for one.

Brenna was gone.

Eryx stormed the council hall steps two at a time, Ludan and Ramsay at his side. He motioned Reese up from behind them and paused inside the vestibule.

Reese stopped in front of him, clad in the same leather pants and cotton shirt combo he’d worn the day before, though the getup looked a whole lot better now thanks to Orla. Under normal circumstances the outfit would’ve stood out, but with Eryx, Ludan, and Ramsay in warrior gear it wasn’t as bad. No better way to make it clear warfare lay ahead than a visual.

“When we get to the front, fall out beside Ludan and hang close to the East wall,” Eryx said to Reese. “They’ll assume you’re here in a military capacity and I’d rather not tip my hand before I’m ready.” He paused long enough to let his instructions settle. “You good?”

Reese nodded. “I am.” Not exactly a convincing response. More like a man resigned to a visit with a guillotine. Though in a way, he was. By the end of the day he’d have so much nasty social stigma glommed onto him he’d probably wish for death.

Outside, the council bells gonged, and a crush of ellan streamed toward the main hall, their voices punctuated with animated gestures.

Ludan glared at them over one shoulder, arms crossed. “You sure got their panties in a wad.”

“Two unexpected summons in less than two weeks?” Ramsay smiled despite Reese being so close. “Hell, yeah, they’re in a tail spin. Word in the ranks is they’re worried the prophecy is somehow gonna upend their jobs.”

Eryx kept his silence. The light-hearted banter was well and good, but he couldn’t afford to lose focus. Delivery was key in what he planned. One misstep and he’d dig up more political pitfalls.

When only a few straggling council members remained, he stepped from the shadows and angled toward the main hall entrance. “Remember what I said. The message needs to be clear. No holds barred as it relates to Maxis.”

Ludan sounded almost cheerful. “That mean I get to have a little fun?”

Twisted humor for sure, but Eryx could use a little levity about now. “If you can scare ‘em with a look, have at it. Everything else stays on lockdown.”

They stepped into the cavernous room.

Ludan shrugged.
“Better than what I normally get.”

“Sick bastard,”
Ramsay said.

Ludan grinned.
“Hell, yeah.”

Their boot heels struck the concrete in heavy, rhythmic strides. By the time they reached the steps to the dais, the crowd’s rumbled conversation silenced.

As ordered, Reese made for the side wall.

Ludan and Ramsay faced the council, feet shoulder width and arms at their sides, their tension evident. Two predators prepped to pounce.

Eryx climbed the steps to his platinum throne, Lexi’s empty one beside it. Sunlight highlighted both from the domed windowed above. Fuck he wished she was here. If nothing more than to balance him. But her place was with Ian. With the injuries he’d sustained, he’d need all the support he could get, assuming he ever woke up.

To histus with sitting. He faced his council and nursed his anger toward Maxis. So damned many atrocities visited on undeserving people. Two dead women, and seven others too skittish to talk or do more than huddle in whatever corner they found, Ian, Brenna, Reese. His mate.

The weight of every gaze pressed heavy on him. Vendors from the street outside shouted and children laughed, all of it muffled by tall glass windows. “There have been rumors of increased actions with the Lomos Rebellion. I’m here today to confirm the Rebellion has indeed resurfaced.”

Whispers rippled down the cavernous room, council members leaning into each other, mouths covered. Nirana forbid they actually hold their snarky comments until a more appropriate time.

“Up until last night, certain security matters required I keep my silence. Now that I’ve secured those in danger and procured my evidence, it’s time you learn the details.” He paused, waiting for everyone’s attention. “All of them.”

From his height on the dais, Eryx zeroed in on Angus in the back row, his wild gray hair making his presence easy to single out. “You each know our malress was one of our lost. What I have kept from you is her Myren heritage was not assured before I brought her to Eden.”

Grumbles and whispers filled the room.

“Silence.” An eerie stillness settled in the wake of his outburst. “I’d planned to research her history first. In fact, I’d scanned her memories without her consent for clues, and intended to have my sister scan for any Myren markers to confirm her ancestry. Before I could, we were attacked by Maxis Steysis.”

The grumbling ignited once more, and this time he gave them free reign.

Angus bellowed from the back of the room. “So you broke the tenets.”

“You called that one right.”
Ramsay’s telepathic thought brushed through Eryx’s mind.

“Bitterness is pretty predictable.”
With a little luck, the rest of his dominos would fall in the right order as well.

“I did what was necessary to protect a woman I suspected was Myren,” Eryx said. “Maxis Steysis attacked us without provocation and in plain sight of humans. Through
his
actions, our race was exposed. My duty, my right, as malran, is to see to the safety of all within our race, even those I have not yet confirmed as one of our own.”

Those who’d twisted to witness Angus’ accusations slowly faced the front.

“Alexis was taken to a secluded section of our realm and, at her agreement, participated freely in the awakening ritual, confirming my suspicions as to her race. Had I brought this matter before you, I risked alerting Maxis of my search and giving him means to flee.” Eryx paused long enough to make eye contact with those most influential. “Shortly after my mating, Maxis solidified his treasonous actions and kidnapped a human male, an honored friend of our malress. We’ve now retrieved the male and found eight human women he captured from Evad as well, all in abhorrent health.”

A younger male ellan situated midway in the assembly stood, his face flushed. “I move we charge Maxis Steysis with treason against our most sacred mandates, both in revealing our race, and in interfering with human destiny.”