Healing Eden (31 page)

“She hated leaving him,” he said. “It was the one regret she had, leaving him behind.”

“She talked about it a lot?”

She felt more than saw him shake his head. “Maybe once or twice when I saw her looking sad, especially when I was younger. Most of it I read.”

Galena pushed away. “Read it where?”

“Her journals.” His gaze grew distant and his lips tilted in a sad smile. “I found them after she died. I don’t think I really understood how bad leaving him bothered her until I read them.” His eyes sharpened.

“What?” she said.

He focus on the hollow of her throat, his brow furrowed as though puzzling out a complex riddle.

“Reese, what?”

“The pain in those books, you can’t help but feel it. The first time I read them, I couldn’t put them down. She had a gift for words. A way that made me feel like her experiences were my own.”

“You think the journals might be the key?”

Reese eyed her. “It can’t be that. It’s too—”

“Easy? Why? Because it’s not about strategy and warfare? Swords, electricity, and fire?” She couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of it all. “Isn’t the basis of the spiritu’s message that more is gained through peace than violence?”

He squeezed her leg, his thumb working in a distracted circle.

“I’d imagine getting Maxis to read journals would be the tough part,” she said. “Getting them in front of him when we don’t know where he’s at makes it even more of a challenge.”

“You really think what’s in the journals might sway him?”

Galena let the idea simmer. “From everything you’ve told me, Maxis has lived his life on nothing but revenge and believing everyone he loved abandoned him. If I were him and I found out I hadn’t been abandoned by choice, that my mother not only loved me, but wanted me with her? Yeah, I think it would rearrange my life.”

Reese sat forward, urging her to her feet.

“What? What are we doing?”

He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and tugged her behind him. “Come on. I need your help.”

Maxis pushed the thick slab guarding the private tunnel to his estate open. Two days out of his healing and he was good as new, ready to put his plans for Eryx in play.

“We shouldn’t be here.” Serena grumbled and burrowed into her fur coat.

“We shouldn’t be anywhere else.” He ushered her through and resealed the entrance. “I left my men behind to fight once before and all it got me was an insubordinate strategos and a slew of dead men. Besides, Eryx would be hard pressed to find our camp beneath the mountains and snow. No tracker is that good. And even if they did find us, I’ve got enough escape hatches to ensure we’re long gone before they find us.”

Serena squeezed the coat’s lapels together. He’d be willing to bet her mouth was drawn into a superior pucker behind all that sable. Mated barely a week and already he was learning her patterns. Weren’t they a cozy pair?

Her low voice vibrated through the shaft. “I’ve put myself out there for you. Done the things you asked and sacrificed the only mother I ever really knew to your benefit, and you repay me with keeping me in the dark?”

So that’s what her foul mood was about.

She glanced over one shoulder.

He grinned, and her steps picked up, sandals slapping on the cavern floor as she stormed away in an incensed fit. It was cute, even understandable given her background, but not something he’d tolerate.

He struck, coiling the Earth’s energy around her waist and hips and slamming her against the uneven stone walls. Her head snapped back on impact, eyes wide with fear and a little shock. Surely she hadn’t expected he’d accept such out outburst. Or was she simply surprised he’d cushioned her crash against the rock?

“Such temper.” He prowled forward.

She twitched beneath his invisible hold, struggling for release.

He might’ve stolen a good number of the gifts he now wielded, but those of the Earth ran strong and natural, a power she’d never escape. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to bait me.”

“I’m not doing anything. I’m pissed.”

He pressed close.

She snapped her head away and glared down the corridor.

Praise the Great One, her fire unsettled him, crackling against his skin at the damnedest times. “I thought you trusted me, Serena.” He skimmed her jawline with his lips. “I know what you’ve given. I value it.” He tickled the shell of her ear with his nose. “You’ll have your answers, but you’ll have them my way, in my time.” He stepped back, his cock a heavy rod behind his wool pants.

Serena barely deigned to look at him, but she shook with the same lust he felt, no matter how she longed to hide it.

“Now.” He straightened his long coat with a firm tug on the lapels. “I’ve got an ellan tucked away and awaiting our arrival. I’d hoped to have your perspective on the conversation, but if you’re not fit to—”

“I’m fit for whatever you can dish out and then some.” She might not have a crown, but she was regal to her very marrow.

He ducked his head to hide his grin and ambled down the corridor. With a flick of his fingers, he released the binds surrounding her. “Perhaps later, mate. For now, we’ve got some negotiating to do.”

His steps rang through the tunnel and a chilled, steady draft bit his cheeks. Silence trailed him at first, then the determined clip of Serena’s sandals. She kept one pace behind and to the left of him, more of a silent protest than submissive acceptance.

Ahead, the corridor fanned out to a wide opening. Morning sunlight filtered in from tubes at the top of the vast cavern to cast a pale yellow haze over the bustling troops below.

“Come.” He held out his hand. Dissension in private was one thing, but public remonstration was something else. “We’re late and Uther’s temper has grown short. Angus doesn’t seem to care for his manner of treatment.”

As far as olive branches went, the tidbit seemed to sooth his baineann. She slid her hand in his, chin lifted, and kept pace beside him. “Angus? I thought he’d outlived his usefulness after his poor timing with the council.”

“His temper got to him.” Maxis guided her around a corner and lowered his voice as they neared a scared wood door, the paint faded to a drab olive. “Doesn’t mean we can’t revise and repurpose.”

The door opened, Uther beside it, the scowl on his strategos’ face enough to elicit an empathetic chuckle.
“Have a care, friend. He’s not without his purpose,”
he said to Uther, keeping the thought between the two of them.

Uther’s frown deepened, but he crossed his arms in quiet acceptance.

Angus sat blindfolded and bound in a gold, brocade chair near a modest hearth. The crackling firelight danced along one side of his face. He straightened as Maxis and Serena entered the room. “Who’s there?”

“Not to worry, Angus.” Maxis closed the door with a thought. “I assured you you’d be in good hands and you will continue to be.” He motioned to Uther to remove the blindfold.

Uther complied with obvious reluctance, but kept the binds at Angus’ wrists in place.

“The secrecy is necessary,” Maxis said. “No matter how valuable you might be to me, I think it’s best for both our interests if you remain innocent to my whereabouts.”

Maxis eased Serena’s coat from her shoulders, displaying his mark on her forearm. He guided her to the free wingback situated opposite their guest. “Angus Rallion, meet my baineann, Serena Steysis.”

“You look familiar.” Angus leaned forward and squinted. “You’re Reginald Doroz’s girl.”

“Not anymore.” Maxis stood beside her. “And you’d be wise to keep my mate’s existence and family relations to yourself until we’re prepared to release the information. I want my plans behind us before I share my good fortune. Understood?”

Angus sneered. “Hard to agree when I’ve yet to learn your plans.”

Gods, but the man was a stubborn old goat. “Despite the fact you bungled the last opportunity I handed you, I’ve opted to give you another chance to put Eryx in a corner, one he’ll have a hard time getting out of and that won’t come back on you.” He leaned against Serena’s wingback. “Assuming, of course, you’re interested.”

Angus shifted in his chair and nodded, obviously uncomfortable with his hands bound behind his back. “Any action that takes Shantos from the throne interests me, so long as it has merit.”

“Then I’ll pose a scenario for you.” Maxis paused, more for effect than to gather his thoughts. “How would the ellan perceive it if a person charged with treason were to come forward in surrender only to be executed by one of the malran’s men in cold blood?”

“I assume the treasonous party in question is you?” Angus shook his head. “He’s already said you’d face death for your actions.”

“Without a trial? That’s hardly the fair ruler he presents himself to be.”

Angus scoffed and did his best to recline in a nonchalant manner. “You’ll have a hard time getting a fair trial, not after those humans he brought forward. Their memories made a mighty impact on the council.” He studied Serena a moment, then refocused on Maxis. “Still, if it were clear up front you meant to surrender, no fight and a stated desire to atone, he’d look like a bloodthirsty barbarian out for vengeance. The problem is you’d have a hard time proving it.”

“Unless there were ellan to observe it.” Maxis let the idea sink in for a beat. “If someone were to convey to a few unbiased council members that my surrender was about to occur, but that I was concerned as to whether or not the malran was capable of following due process, that could ensure a witness would be present to keep things above board. Correct?”

“Most likely,” Angus said.

“Then all you need do is find the right individuals and get them there at the appointed time.” Maxis grinned, his best, non-verbal taunt. “Assuming you still have any sway with the council.”

Angus struggled to free his bonds. “It’s a foolish plan. You intend to stage some type of bogus attack? How would you ever convince them and manage to live through it. They’re too leery of you and tricks at this stage.”

Maxis waved off Angus’ concern and aimed a curt nod at Uther. “Suffice it to say, those details are handled. So long as you keep the malran away from my corpse, we’ll be fine.”

Uther stepped forward and replaced the blindfold around the old man’s head.

Angus sputtered and wriggled to keep Uther from his task.

“You’ll need to work quickly.” Maxis cut in before he lost Angus’ focus entirely. “Uther will have you safe and sound at home in no time and will give you all the details. Tell them I’ve requested a location in Evad, a place I can be sure the malran will keep his impressive powers in check for fear of exposure to humans. In truth, it’ll be to provide us more cover. Time for me to get away, and a whole lot of clean up for the malran to contend with. The key is to keep the information close until the last moment possible. We don’t need Shantos showing up before we’re ready.”

Uther urged Angus to his feet. “Any questions?”

“This is preposterous.” Blindfolded, Angus’ unsteady balance belied his confident words. “It won’t work.”

“It’ll work,” Maxis said as Uther guided him from the room. “And you’ll aid me in our plan or you’ll go down with the rest of us.”

That shut him up, leaving only the hiss of his shuffling sandals against the stone floors.

The door clicked shut behind them.

Serena considered him and a smile curved her ballet pink lips. “So, the human swipe you wanted me to share with Reese isn’t real.”

“Not this time.” Maxis took Angus’ chair and crossed one leg over the other. “It’s a setup to prod the malran into swooping in to save the day and surrounding me in the process. If Eryx mans up the way I think he will, Uther ought to be able to blend in among his men without problem.

“Naturally, I’ll realize we’re outmanned and will offer my surrender. When I raise up my hands, Uther will throw his bolt, I’ll feign death, and you and the humans go into hysterics. My men spirit you and my corpse away while Angus and his cronies act as witness. With the unexpected fireworks, Eryx will be too busy with crowd control to do much in the way of stopping us.”

He paused, rotating his crossed foot in measured circles. “Satisfied?”

Serena’s smile grew, slow, but infinitely devious. “Immensely.”

* * * *

Eryx eyeballed every person in the room—Reese, Galena, Ludan and Ramsay. The warrior compound’s round strategy map sat all but forgotten. “You wanna do what?”

Reese flinched. “I want you to give me a chance to get Maxis to surrender.”

“And you want to do it with a book.” It had to be a joke. Maxis surrendering under any circumstance was nearly improbably, but luring him with a book? No.

“It’s not just a book, Eryx.” Galena leaned into the ancient stone map and gripped its edge. The topography of Eden’s many regions was carved into the tableau, the fine detail spotlighted by the noonday sun piped from above. “They’re journals. Real life, raw emotions that could make a difference, even for someone like Maxis.”

Eryx turned away and fisted his hands. He glanced at Ramsay who for the first time in forever didn’t look angry, but seemed as off kilter with Reese’s idea as Eryx. “We can’t do it.” Eryx faced the couple and braced his fisted knuckles on the stone surface. “This is a chance to nab Maxis and I want it.”

“It’s a trap.” Reese’s hesitancy evaporated and an air of certainty swept in behind it. “If you show up you’re playing exactly like he wants. This is an entirely different tactic.”

Eryx hung his head and his braids fell forward on either side of his face. Pressure built across his brow and behind his eyes, and the need to punch and shout ratcheted by the second.

“I let it get this far.” Eryx let out a tired breath and pushed upright. Ludan had prodded him time and again not to ignore Maxis and the rebellion. “If I’d taken action none of this would have happened. Not those human women, not Ian, not Lexi.” He lifted his chin toward Reese. “Hell, he probably wouldn’t have even made it to you if I’d done more.”

He paced along the map’s rough edge, focused on Evanora’s estate. “I’m not about to make the same mistake twice. If I’ve got a shot at him, I’m going to make sure I take it.”