Discovery: Altera Realm Trilogy (46 page)

Noelle sighed and shook her head. "I have to go. I need to get Syney's dress order in for her coronation." She closed the door behind her. "Go find someone else to annoy." She started off down the hall.

Gabe didn't look at her as his smile fell from his lips. She reminded him too much of Faye. Headstrong, independent, beautiful. He could say the same about Syney, but she was an open book. Noelle had secrets, and something else...a spark of something. He shook his head. He needed to forget about this day, the death of a colleague, and the annoying blonde that was hot and cold. He headed up to Syney's room and didn't even bother to knock.

Syney looked over at him as she walked out of the bathroom, her hair wet, and dressed in a thin white robe. "Hey, what's up?"

Gabe kicked off his shoes. "You know how you've been using me for the past week to feel better?"

"I...wouldn't put it...that way," she stammered.

Gabe rolled his eyes at her while he pulled off his shirt. He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Fine, OK, yes. What of it?"

He walked up to her and pulled on the belt of her robe. "Now I need something."

Her heard her breathing pick up. "What's that?"

"I need to forget about everything, clear my mind, at least for a few hours. Can you handle that?"

She bit her bottom lip. "Yes."

"Good," he said, leaning down and kissing her. It didn't take him long to make everything disappear—except, that is, the guilt over using Syney to do it. On top of that, the whole idea of what he had been doing with Syney was starting to eat at him. He lay back in the bed and squeezed his eyes shut. How had he gotten here? This wasn't part of the plan, but neither was Raine being executed.

"You OK?" Syney asked, her heavy breathing brushing against his neck. "Do you need me to do something...different?"

Gabe shook his head. "It's not you. You're perfect." He looked at her. "You're better than this, though."

She looked at him, tears filling her eyes. "I'm not so sure."

He ran his fingers through her hair. "You're crazy."

She wiped a tear from her face. "This is it, isn't it?"

He nodded. "Yes." He went to move, but she grabbed his arm.

"You said at least a few hours. It's only been twenty minutes. If this is it, we'd better make it worth it."

He smiled at her. She wasn't the timid girl he had met seven months previous. He leaned back into her and kissed her until his mind went numb again. If she was offering, who was he to refuse?

Mellisandrianna

She almost never went to the Guards' meetings, although she always had a standing invitation, as she did with any function in her palace. This one, however, she was more than just a little curious about. The execution had gone off without a hitch, which couldn't have pleased her more. The awakening of the Daemons had been a warning to her. Someone or something was in motion, and it was most likely tied to that little bitch being here. A public execution, of a Protector no less, should send the type of message she wanted. If you wanted to screw with the queen, you had to be aware of the risks. She stood in the back of the room, in the shadows, behind the large group of Guards and Protectors, who all stood at attention. Leaf was in front of them, calling off the roll. She didn't want to be seen, not yet. She did, however, want to hear what was going to be said, only an hour after their comrade had been put to death.

"There isn't too much to review today. There's a new protocol for the master alarm. On the desk upfront are your room assignments for when the alarm is sounded. The standing protocol—to go to your charges as soon as you can—is still in effect. From now on you will then escort them to the designated areas. We want to get them all to safer places instead of exposed rooms. Any questions?" Leaf looked over the crowd. "I know this has been a hard day. It's never easy seeing a brother fall, and we've lost many recently."

Mellisandrianna looked more closely at the group. There were more sagging shoulders than usual. She couldn't have morale down, especially not with the
threat that loomed over them. She stepped out of the shadows. "Perhaps there is a way we can make our days not so hard," she said, walking toward Leaf.

"Your Majesty," Leaf said, giving her a bow.

Mellisandrianna turned to the group. They all stood a little taller in her presence. "I am very saddened by the losses among our ranks. There really isn't any way to make it easier on any of us. But perhaps, Commander, we can organize some games to possibly lighten the mood in the palace."

Leaf nodded. "Of course."

The games were a timed-honored tradition in the Village. Almost all of the Guards and select Royals participated in various sporting events. The whole Village attended them. It was the time when camaraderie and friendship was highest in the Village.

"Good. I'll have Justice make some preparations. I'm very sorry for all of the losses. The Village mourns as one right now."

"I speak for all of us when I say, 'Thank you,' " Leaf said. "I would also like permission to run a drill on the new master alarm protocol."

"Are you sure that is wise? There are many on edge as it is," she said.

"That would make it the best time."

Mellisandrianna nodded. "Very well." She smiled over to the Guards. "Good day." She walked away, pleased with herself. She needed to make herself known, especially to those who didn't trust her, and she had no doubt every one of them in the room didn't. Not that it bothered her much. They didn't have to trust her to do what she needed them to do, or to die for her.

Hunter

He needed to get Syney to the old infirmary in the basement. It was a small room with no windows and only one entrance. It made a good bunker. The three royal princesses also were assigned there, so he wouldn't be alone with her. The new protocol made perfect sense to him. All first Protectors were to escort their charges to the assigned rooms, where they would meet not only their charge's other Protectors but also a handful of Guards as added protection. Leaf pulled the master alarm soon after he dismissed their meeting. Better to get practice in as soon as possible. He headed straight to Syney's room, knowing she would be there. She didn't go many other places these days. He was worried about her. She seemed to have stopped caring about pretty much everything. But she wouldn't talk about it to anyone, except Gabe, which worried him even more. He couldn't choose her friends for her, but as much as he didn't want to admit it, Gabe was growing on him. Gabe cared about Syney—Hunter could tell—and that went a long way in his book.

He stopped at Syney's door, only slightly out of breath, walked in, and stopped dead in his tracks. They both looked like a hunted animal that knew it was about to be shot. He looked away, even though he was pretty sure the image of Syney and Gabe half-naked and struggling to throw on clothes would never escape his brain. "Get dressed, and hurry up," he said, walking out of the room. He slammed the door shut and let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Dozens of emotions and thoughts slammed into him as he leaned
against the wall across from the door. He wasn't sure whether he was more hurt or angry. Both were pretty high on the scale right now. His throat felt like it might close forever, but he couldn't do this right now. He had a job to do, and that was it. That was all he should have been doing from the beginning.

Gabe was the first to walk out. Hunter looked at him, mentally ripping his head off. Gabe stared at him for a moment before quietly cursing and running off.

Syney stopped when she saw him, as if she didn't realize he was going to be there. "I...um..."

"There's a new protocol. Come on. We have to get to a safe room," he said, leading the way down the hall.

She ran after him then kept his pace the whole way. He didn't realize she was crying until they reached the room. He opened the door for her. She briefly looked up at him, her face wet and pale, before hiding in the far-right corner of the room. He shook his head and stayed across the room from her, his hands squeezed into fists. He needed to hit something...hard. He knew from his training and the talking that had picked up since Gabe had come to the Village that a Vampire rarely had sex without biting his partner. The thought of the two of them doing either made bile rise in his throat. He wondered when it had started but stopped himself. Did he even really care about the specifics?

"Everything OK?"

Hunter looked at Ember, Princess Helen's Protector, and nodded.

"She doesn't really look it," Ember said slowly.

Hunter looked over at Syney, and a pain thumped in his chest. She was still in the corner, shaking off an inquiring Helen. "I'm fine," she said, with a hitch in her breath.

He looked away. "Just a bad day. Women stuff," he managed to get out, his jaw tight.

Ember nodded and drifted away.

He turned to the wall and squeezed his eyes so tightly that they stung. He needed to physically get rid of his anger. But the hurt—he wasn't sure what to do about that.

Leaf came in after a while to make sure that everyone had come. His gaze lingered over Syney then questioningly went to Hunter, who ignored him. "Good job. Make sure we get the same results if this is ever real," he said, dismissing them.

Hunter led the way back to Syney's room, with her right behind and Reed some ways back, as if he sensed that he needed to give them space. When they approached her door, he stopped and looked at her, every fiber in his being sparking with anger.

Tears were still flowing from her eyes. "I..." She shook her head.

"I thought you actually liked Noelle," he spat at her.

"What? I...I do."

He gave a bitter laugh. "Sleeping with the guy she likes really isn't the best way to show it."

"Noelle... I don't... I didn't know. I just...I needed something—"

"Did you think about
anyone
else?" He took a jagged breath. "Did you think about...me at all?"

Syney's face turned sour. "Do you think about
me
when you're with Fern?"

He moved to within inches of her. "Every damn second," he said slowly. He shook his head. "You know, I expected a lot from you, just not to be this disgusted."

Her face scrunched up as she started to cry again and spun on her heels into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Hunter took a deep breath as Reed slowly walked up. "Stay here. Make sure she doesn't leave," Hunter said.

Reed nodded. "Yes, sir."

Hunter backed up. "I'll be in the gym." He took off as fast as he could without running. The gym was empty, which he appreciated. He went straight to the back, where the standing punching bags were, and pounded his anger away.

Noelle

These master alarms were fraying Noelle's nerves. She took little comfort in the fact that the last one had been only a drill. Ever since the attack at the Great Lake, she had been on edge, and with the way Syney had been acting lately, she was even more stressed out. She sighed and stopped in front of Syney's room. Reed was there, looking warily at the door.

"You OK?" she asked.

"I'm fine, ma'am. It's just...the princess."