Raining Light (Fate's Intent Book 5) (24 page)

“That was it? Helpful.”

“Don’t speak too soon.” Aleksander said as he joined us a distance away.

Curious, I kept watching while Adele remained on the ground with her tears, completely unaware of what was happening. My eyes were on the spot where the black liquid disappeared and the ground started to crack and rumble around it. We were startled and stayed close to each other, not to fall from the unsettling ground but Trever had a somewhat different reaction. He stayed completely still, able to keep his balance perfectly in his straightened stance and even when the ground at his feet started to split open, he did not move.

The sounds of thundering growls started to echo from underground and I watched as if I forgot how to blink. Large muscular paws, black of the darkest soot, started ripping through the very rock with hook claws sharper than any blade. My breaths stopped and eyes widened when the earth birthed two great lions, solid black from their nose to the tip of their tail. They roared loudly in the direction of us.

“Lex! Rouge!” The growling started to settle as the two large beasts turned towards Trever. They walked just a few feet and knelt down in front of him like they were bowing.

“Trever—” I stuttered to see the lions at all, let alone how obedient they were being to his voice.

Trever didn’t respond just yet. His eyes were down on the beast in front of him with their golden eyes peering back. “There’s a new target for you. They need to be dealt with before we can leave. It’s time to go hunting.”

The lions roared again but it seemed they were more excited to the thought of hunting rather than sounding angry.

“Trever.” Aleksander spoke up among the noise and Trever put his hand up for them to stop so he could finish. “There are only two. One should be left alive so we know who planned this.”

“Of course. You’re right. Lex. You better let Rouge handle this one. He’s more—subtle than you.”

One of the lions laid down in place without a disgruntle sound of objection and let the other head off around the wall.

“Sorry, old friend.” Trever smiled, kneeling down and stroking his thick black mane. “Maybe next time.” The lion, Lex, flopped over to his side and let Trever scratch his chest.

“Trever—” I said again in the same manner I did before, hoping to get a response out of him this time.

He looked up to my expression and smiled while keeping Lex’s mood calm by petting him. “It’s all right, Jay. He’s not a threat to you unless I say so.”

“It’s a lion.” I stuttered. “And it’s black. It’s a black lion.”

“Yes.”

“How is that even possible?”

“When is the last time you looked at our flag?”

“Yes, I know but I didn’t think they were real and that one has wings.”

Trever let out a long breath while he rose up and Lex stood up at his side. “And that’s the one I hope you’ll never have to see.”

“Lex and Rouge are brothers.” Aleksander said. “They’re better known to the ancient world as Shadows.”

“Shadows? Of what?”

Aleksander had his eyes directly on Trever while he answered in a perfectly clear voice. “The King.”

My head snapped over to Trever with wide eyes and he worked to avoid the conversation completely as usual by straying from my eyes.

“Shouldn’t they be shadowing you?” I asked Aleksander.

He looked between Trever and I before he answered. “I meant Kalu’s true King.”

It was slow at first or maybe I just didn’t want to believe it. It couldn’t be true.

“You’re—we’re—how?”

Trever finally looked at me again but not a single lie came from his lips. “Father never had the heart to tell you and I guess that I didn’t either.”

I wasn’t sure what my reaction should be. How was I a Princess? I didn’t feel like one. Adele was our Princess and it made more sense because she was with Zayden. Is that why Aleksander became King, so they could be together?

“You don’t have to say anything.” Trever said. “It’s not your responsibility to fix.”

“Is that your reason for not telling me?”

“Of course not. Father never wanted you to feel pressure in your life and I guess it makes more sense now.”

“How do you mean?”

“You know, not being leader of the Assassins and the more obvious one, Troy.”

I looked back at him and he look sorry, like he thought he was going to lose me or something and I knew what Trever was telling me.

“It was never planned for me to be with him, was it?”

“No, it wasn’t but Arianna screwed that up when she sent Adele into Seni instead of you. We didn’t know until you met that she was already so attached to Zayden and the plan changed.”

“Wait. What?” Zayden seemed curious now.

“It’s no longer an issue.” Trever said. “I got over it. We currently have everything under control.”

“Not everything.” I looked at Adele and she was still on the ground. Her tears were more quite but they were still present while she was almost completely forward over her knees.

Zayden sighed rather loudly. He probably hated to see her this way and knew he couldn’t do a thing.

“That can be fixed.” Trever said. “Lex.” Lex took a couple steps forward and looked up at Trever. “Perhaps there is something you can do after all.” Lex looked over at Adele crying on the ground and started to approach.

“No!” Zayden tried to get to Adele first.

Lex growled to his sudden movement in his direction and started to become defensive.

“Zayden, stop.” Trever said. “I would never want her hurt. He can help. I promised Ryon I’d do whatever I could and this is what I can do. Just let him pass.”

Zayden slowly started to move aside while Lex lost his snarling look and he passed him, coming up to Adele. He stood in front of her, towering over her head and leaned down to gently nudge her with his nose.

Adele began to look up with short, quick breaths and they were immediately halted when she saw the sight in front of her. She pushed herself back from the surprise but couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away from his golden gaze.

No one moved. No one said a word. Lex took just a mere step into her and their eyes never strayed or even blinked. It appeared Adele was in some sort of trance and she started becoming more relaxed while her hand moved towards him like she was going to gently stroke his face. He seemed like he was letting her but then he let out a quick breath with his nose in Adele’s face and she passed out on the ground.

“Adele!” Zayden rushed to her, propping her up in his lap but she was unresponsive. “How was that helping?”

“She’ll be fine.” Trever assured him. “He did you a favor.”

“How?” Zayden’s voice was of a confused anger and he had a right to be but I knew she was still alive.

“He took away her pain.”

Zayden’s brow softened and he looked down at Adele’s peaceful face. “Really?”

“She just needs to sleep it off. I didn’t want her to be this way for a reason. That’s why we didn’t tell her. We couldn’t.”

“Does my mother—”

“No worries. She knows but you’ll see a completely different reaction from her when you see her, I think.”

Zayden nodded his head in agreement and looked back down at Adele in his arms.

“Is she really going to be fine?” Ruby asked.

“She’ll know what happened if that’s what you’re really asking me but she’ll know she won’t have to be sad about it anymore.”

“Why didn’t you just do that to begin with?” Troy asked.

Trever laughed and shared a glance with Aleksander. “That’s a little harder to explain.”

“And something we shouldn’t just yet.” Aleksander added.

“Thank you.”

“Well, what’s taking so long?” Ruby asked, getting annoyed. “Are we just going to stand here?”

“It takes some patients to bring back someone alive. You think he’s going to be willing? Doubt it.”

“I just don’t like waiting.”

“I know.”

We stood through a pause and I just couldn’t keep this in. I cupped my hands together in front of my chest and took a small step towards Trever. “I know this is going to sound a little weird but—can I pet him?”

Lex looked up at Trever quickly and stepped back, sitting himself down slightly back to Trever’s left.

“He’s not a pet, Jay. He’s an ancient symbol of prestige and discipline to our country.”

“I know but he’s just so cute and you got to so I want to!”

Trever sighed and looked down at Lex who was looking up at him. “Better let her. She’s awfully persistent.”

Lex huffed with a heavy breath from his nose and started coming over to me.

“Easy, Lex.” Trever smiled, watching him walked steadily.

I waited, trying to hold in my excitement as Lex approached and he just sat in front of me. His eyes were like shimmering gold as he looked up at me, patiently waiting for me to make the next move I suppose.

“Is he even going to let me touch him?”

“He’d never hurt you, Jay. You’re part of something he’s entrusted to protect.”

“Yeah, let’s not talk about that.” I brought my hand to Lex’s head and felt the soft plush fur of his black mane.

“Good. We won’t.”

I mostly didn’t because I didn’t want to talk about how I wasn’t supposed to be with Troy. It was wrong. I love him and we belong together.

Lex perked his head up towards the wall and I looked after him while Rouge came around the corner, pulling a man along with him by the meaty flesh of his thigh. Pain was obvious on his face and the low moaning sounds of his voice made it seem he was weak from blood loss.

“Zayden will take it from here, Rouge. Thank you.” Trever said. Rouge released the man’s leg from his jaws and walked over to Trever.

“I’ve got her, Zayden.” Aleksander said, supporting Adele for him so he could get up.

His eyes were on the terrified spy on the ground and he stood over him, shadowing his face with a look of hatred on his own. “Who ordered this?”

His voice was deep and direct, making the spy quiver on the ground while trying to bow his head. “Your majesty. Please.”

“Who ordered this?” Zayden demanded again, not interested in hearing anything else.

The spy took a shuttering breath, fearing for his life as he looked up at Zayden. “Forgive me, your majesty. I didn’t want it to come to this but Lamar threatened the life of my family and so I had no choice.”

“Lamar did this?”

“Everyone knows how much he hates you, your majesty. Everyone except your father.”

“But it’s my father who would want us to return home.”

“Yes. The King gave orders to the raiders, your majesty but it is Lamar who called upon the spies to make sure that you never reached the city. At least alive.”

Zayden stood angry and I’m sure he was thinking about what to do next. This was proof that Lamar was the one trying to kill him and I’m sure he was ready to confront it. “Jaylyn, heal this man’s wounds. He needs to get back to the city before us and hide there.”

I nodded and went right over, touching the torn skin on his leg. He didn’t seem to notice me at all or what I was doing while he had his attention fully on Zayden. “Hide? But why?”

“I will find you when it’s time to unmask Lamar’s true self to my father. He needs to know this. It’s either me or him this time and we all know who it’s going to be.”

“But, your majesty, my family. If he finds out that I failed, he’ll kill them.”

Zayden paused and Troy stepped up to his side. “Get to them first and take them to Third Street to the old Cappel house. There will be a woman there. Tell her I sent you and she’ll hide you and your family there for as long as you need.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Troy nodded and Zayden took the reins of his horse, bringing it over while the spy was able to return to his feet. “Here. Go. We’ll send for you and it will be someone from this group so remember faces.”

He nodded and got up on the horse. Zayden made sure everything was secure and he sent the horse off towards the city. We watched him for a second and I approached Troy, speaking quietly as I took his arm in mine. “That was nice of you.”

“I know she’ll help but that changes nothing with us.”

“Well, great.” Trever said. “Doesn’t it feel good to know who’s been wanting to kill you?”

“Not really.” Zayden replied. “I already knew. He’d just never try it himself.”

“Not the type. Right. Well, that’ll be all, Lex, Rouge. You can go now.”

“No, Trever!” I begged. “I want to keep them!”

“We’ve talked about this. They’re not pets, Jay. They can’t stay here. It’s been too long already.”

“Trever—” Aleksander said with widening eyes. “Please don’t—”

“I’ve got it under control.”

“You don’t know that. When?”

“It won’t be now. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Well, we can’t take that risk. Besides, Adele can’t go into the city like this. When will she wake up?”