Forest Fire (#2 The Legends of Regia) (12 page)

It was Syrus' turn to put his hand on his father's shoulder. "It's all right. If it's too painful."

"Oh, it is son," Zeren's voice broke. "The pain never stops. My heart never stops beating, but it's just a lump of dead tissue. If it weren’t for you, I'd have died right along with her."

"If it weren't for me?"

"Of course. You'll understand when you have a child. I couldn't leave you. You were,
are
my reason for living. But you must do everything you can to keep Forest with you. I can't stand the idea of you suffering the same loss that I have."
 

At his father's words, Syrus felt a great weight settle into his heart. Forest would never want a child, he was sure of it. She wouldn't be able to stand the idea of mixing even more bloodlines. And maybe she was right. A child of three races was, as far as he knew, an unprecedented entity.

 
Wanting to shrug off the solemnness of their conversation, Syrus abruptly cleared his throat. "I think it's about time for the party to start. You should go down."

"Yes, you're right. The time draws near."

Forest waited, not moving much, as she feared she would come apart, ruin her hair, or tear her dress. She thought Syrus would be back before the party.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Milady?" Ena asked.

"No. Thank you. You can go now."

Ena curtsied and headed for the door.

"Ena, wait."

"Yes, Milady?"

"You said you wanted to travel."

Ena's brows came together. "Yes, Milady. I do."

"Why don't you?"

Ena hesitated a moment. "Well, I can't. My life is in service."

Forest crossed her arms. "Are you telling me you're a slave?"

"Uh, well. I don't think about it in those terms. I find the word 'slave' offensive."

Forest smiled a little. "So do I."

Ena shifted a little, looking uncomfortable.

"Thank you for being candid, Ena. You may go."

Ena curtsied again and left.

Forest sighed and rubbed her temple, a headache pinching just beneath the surface. She looked out the window at the sunset spreading over the land. She could see so much: The sprawling vampire city of Halussis, the edge of Paradigm, and the Fortress castle, the mountains and forests, and her heart ached to go home.

She turned from the window and looked in the mirror. She might not look out of place, but her heart was shouting that she didn't and would never belong here. Her skin began to itch under the fabric of the dress, and her fingers curled into claws about to tear it all away. A sharp knock on the door stopped her.

She didn't get the chance to ask who it was.

"Forest, it's Zeren. I'm here to escort you to the party. May I come in?"

Forest relaxed her fingers. "Yes. Come in."

Zeren opened the door. Forest smiled unwittingly. Syrus looked so much like his father. Zeren wore a simple bronze crown that matched his breastplate, and a black cape fell around his shoulders.

He returned her smile and gave her a small bow. "You look beautiful, my dear. I wish Syrus could see you now."

"So do I," she said sadly.

"Come." He offered his arm.

She took it, feeling better as they walked down the halls, as though his arm gave her shelter. He smiled down at her again and squeezed the hand she rested on his arm with his other hand. The emotions filling her were warm and unfamiliar. He offered her support, protection, and approval.

They crossed under an archway into the party. The opulence gave Forest whiplash. She clenched her teeth together so her mouth wouldn't hang open in amazement. Everything was so bright and sparkly, her vision blurred, pockmarked, where the light had burned her retina. She stared at the chandelier, unconscious irritation rising up her throat. She knew enough of Christiana to know that every gem and bauble that caught the light was real. Forest wanted to tear the thing from the ceiling, sell it off piece-by-piece, and give the money to the poor and hungry.

Zeren led her to the head of a massive table. All faces turned to her with interest. Zeren pulled out her chair and everyone rose to his or her feet, waiting for her to be seated. She expected them to sit again after she had, but they remained standing.

"My lords and ladies," Zeren greeted everyone in a bellowing voice. "I am honored for you all to meet The Lady Forest, my adopted daughter, and heir."

Every face mirrored her own with wide-eyed shock.

"Let us all lift a glass to The Lady Forest," Zeren commanded, picking up a goblet.

Everyone copied his action, their shock sliding back into smiles. As soon as Zeren drank, everyone else did too. The men pounded on the table in approval after the toast. Forest lifted her own glass in a toast to everyone in the room and took a deep gulp, hoping desperately whatever was inside was strong enough to make her drunk.

Zeren clapped his hands loudly, bringing in an army of servants with dinner trays. Forest focused all of her mind on the herculean task of getting through dinner without making a fool of herself.
It's just a job. The spy gig Fortress never gave you.

With that thought lodged firmly in her mind, she smiled regally at everyone and took another drink. The wizened duke next to her leaned in, kissed her hand, and introduced himself. She heard everything and nothing at the same time. She flirted, teased, and insulted everyone as only aristocracy can. Dinner was the best Regian food she had ever tasted, but she acted as though it was hardly worth consuming. The more superior she behaved, the more Zeren beamed at her across the table.

When dinner was finished and dessert was brought in, Forest was beginning to enjoy herself. The vampires now filled their glasses with blood and just to mess with them, she asked for blood as well.

"But you're not a vampire, Milady," the Duke protested, aghast.

Forest took a small sip and smiled teasingly at him, her teeth crimson. "Do you really know
what
I am?"

He blinked a few times and turned his face back to his plate, obviously offended and embarrassed.

Talk around the table turned political. Zeren caught Forest's eyes and shook his head slightly. The next second he stood up dramatically, walked to Forest's chair, and lifted her hand. "Friends, tonight is not for talk of worries and wars. Tonight we celebrate." He gave them all a wicked smile. "Tonight, we dance."

Applause erupted around the room as a troupe of musicians filed in. Zeren led her to the dance floor as the musicians began playing an ancient formal song. Forest didn't have to worry about the steps, all she had to do was hang on as Zeren waltzed her around. When the song changed, she found herself passed off to another partner, and then another. Their faces hazed together until they all melded into one gross blob. She had looked at too many faces that night, and she hated them all because none of them was Syrus.

The whole charade blurred like an odd dream that could turn into a nightmare at any second.

****

Confusion turned into sorrow. Sorrow gave birth to pain. Pain painted long gashes through Syrus' inner darkness.
Why? Why was Leith still alive?

Syrus' hands braced on the magic that barred him from Leith. He could feel the blackguard's life force behind the door. Still alive. Breathing. And keeping Forest from fully being his. Why hadn't she finished him? The gashes of pain began to crackle red with the rage Syrus desperately fought to hold back. His mind had to be clear. He must grab a hold of the understanding that danced just beyond his reach.

"Syrus?" Redge came up behind him.

Syrus took a deep breath. "Leith is still alive. I can feel him. I don't know why Forest hasn't come here and…"

"She has."

Syrus turned on Redge. "What?"

"She came to see him a few hours ago. I wasn't following her, Syrus. It was just coincidence. But she left the door open and I heard. I'm sorry."

Syrus waved Redge's apology away. "What did you hear?"

Something inside Redge clinched, and he desperately wished he wasn't compelled to tell Syrus.

"Well, they talked, nothing much. His was just postulating. He wanted to know who her new lover was. She didn't tell him. There was some scuffling, and then she injured him in some way because he started screaming. Then she told him she would use him to buy some time. Then she left, blood all over her clothes."

Syrus gave Redge a brotherly pat on the arm. "Thanks." There seemed to be no life in his voice. "I need to be alone for a while."

Redge watched sadly as Syrus walked away, down the dark hall.

****

Forest hadn't turned in so many consecutive circles since she'd been a child. Amazingly, she managed not to get sick to her stomach. The waltz ended, and her partner released her and kissed her hand before walking away. She took a deep breath as her equilibrium tried to right itself. The musicians began playing again, making Forest curse in her head. She wanted to be done with the party.

Her next partner swaggered toward her, causing her brain to trip. Before she could gasp, Leith caught her in a harsh grasp and began spinning her around the floor.

No. Not Leith, his twin, Lorcan. She struggled against him as he crushed her against his chest.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my brother's whore," he whispered in her ear, lewdly licking her lobe. "Seduced the king with those sorceress eyes, have you? I'm impressed."

Forest clenched her teeth, unsure what to do. She could beat the hell out of him, but everyone would see. Maybe she could just act the girl and scream. "What do you want, Lorcan?" she hissed.

"I want my brother. I know you've done something with him."

"I
have
done something with him. I killed him."

Lorcan flinched before schooling his face into a sneer. He squeezed her tighter, making it hard to breathe.

"Think, Lorcan. I'm now Zeren's daughter. I'll have your head for this."

"Zeren has lost his mind, all the nobility think so. None of us will bow to a disgusting abomination like you. In fact, once we lock Zeren up and throw away the key, I'm going to claim you as my own, and the time you spent with Leith will seem like heaven compared to the hell I'll put you through."

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Forest shrieked.

"Is there a problem here?" Zeren asked, placing a firm hand on Lorcan's shoulder.

Lorcan let go of Forest and took a step back, a nasty smile curling his lips. The people around them stopped dancing and were watching them.

"Shall I tell him about you, Forest? Or would you like to do the honors?"

A shot of ice went straight to Forest's stomach. She didn't want Lorcan telling Zeren or anyone else in the room, anything about her past. She shot a panicked glance at Zeren.

"You can leave now, Lorcan. Or, I'll have you escorted out." Zeren waved his hand, and an ogre was instantly at his side.

Lorcan continued to smile, but he backed away. "Just wait," he said to the room in general. "Wait till you learn the truth about
the Lady Forest
." He turned and quit the room.

Every eye was stuck on Zeren and Forest and she desperately wished the music was still playing, but even the musicians were looking intently at her.

"I…I'm sorry," she stammered. "I've known Lorcan many years." She tried to smile, thinking quick. "I broke his heart as a boy, at academy. He's never forgiven me."

Many faces smiled and winked. Some chuckled and looked back to their dance partners. Forest looked pleadingly at Zeren again. He nodded and gestured for the music to resume.

Forest looked toward the doorway where Lorcan had just left. "I have some business to attend to, Zeren. I need a sword."

Zeren swept her up into a dance again. "No, Forest. You are to be the queen. Queen's don’t take up swords and chase down their enemies to kill them in the streets."

"But…"

"No," Zeren said firmly. "Hard as it may be, you must be still and wait. Leave it to other's to handle."

"Fine," she snapped. "Let me go tell some others so they can take care of it. If he isn't silenced quickly, he will do irreparable damage to me. Please."

"Calm down. I'll have him brought in for questioning first thing in the morning."

"That's not good enough!"

Zeren looked exasperatedly down at her. "I'll end the party, and we can talk about this some more."

He danced her around the floor for the rest of the song.
What kind of nonsense is this?
She wondered. Dancing as though nothing was wrong. Smile, chat, and be charming when she should have been standing over Lorcan's corpse. Let someone else handle it—to hell with that. Killing vampire scum was what she did best. She still held the traffic controller kill record in Fortress and would for some time to come. But she held still and did as Zeren told her, while bloodlust coated her mouth.