Regali (A Walker Saga) (14 page)

I had my hands resting on my knees as I leaned forward and huffed in some deep breaths. Without even realizing it, or knowing what I’d done, life had been restored.

I swung my head around to where Quarn’s body had come to rest. But, unlike everyone else, he was still on the ground, his corpse colorless.

I ran
to him.

“Quarn
,” I yelled as I skidded on my knees next to his body. I grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. “Wake up, please.”

I wasn’t above begging. He didn
’t have to die that day.

“
Why didn’t anyone tell me I could do that?” I screamed. “Why wasn’t that the first option?”

“Because that
’s never been done before.” Nos was the one who answered. “No one in our history, even the originals, could have taken a mass of free energy and actually returned it to the rightful owners. Tethers cannot be restored like that, only by way of sacrifice.”

As usual I’d learnt something just moments too late. But as I had that thought Quarn coughed. I gasped as color flooded back into his features. I threw myself down on him.

“Thank you, thank you,” I kept whispering.

The room around us exploded with noise and confusion.

Everyone else, except for Brace, Colton and Lucy, moved forward to deal with the crazy bedlam of this awakening. The three stood behind me and Quarn like bodyguards. They didn’t leave our sides. Lallielle came to sit across from me and took his hand into hers.

“A hundred and forty-seven years of friendship.” Her voice was stern as she held his hand. “You’re lucky that Aribella figured out how to save everyone.”

“What happened?” His piercing blue eyes held confusion. “I don’t seem to be dead.”

I laughed. “Sorry, buddy, not on my watch.”

He pulled himself up to a sitting position. His eyes darting around as he took in the crying, screaming and thoroughly confusing chaos around us.

“Well, I am glad my sacrifice wasn’t in vain
,” he muttered. “How are Samuel and Francesca?” Lallielle shrugged. “I haven’t had a chance to see them. I was more worried that my oldest friend was dead.”

“Abbs.” Lucy interrupted us. “While it’s great that you didn’t bite the dust
, Ralph, we really have to go back to Regali and convince Ria to leave.”

She was right
; I was running out of time for the fourth ritual.

“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” I glared at my guardian as we both stood.

He laughed. “Can’t promise that, but I can promise I’ll be here when you return.”

Everyone gathered around me. I got a big hug from an unusually pale Talina. She kind of laughed and cried as she pulled me closer.

“Thank you … thank you … thank you.” Her words were low and mumbled so it took me a few moments to figure out what she was saying.

I pulled back so I could see her face. “What are you thanking me for?”

And just as I asked I saw him.

The mass of blue hair hung in lank strands down his back
, but there was no mistaking the lashless yellow eyes of the Spurn native. Ladre.

“He was here, his energy being drained, and you gave him back his life
,” Talina practically gushed.

“But how
?” I said, shaking my head. “He should have dried out months ago.”

“The sleep stasis they were all in was like a vacuum
. They didn’t age or grow or change. Although I’m not sure how much longer he could have lasted without water,” Brace answered.

Talina leaned in close to me again.

“Can you take us to the ocean, Abbs?”

I held out my hand to her and we
sprinted to Ladre. He grabbed Talina’s free hand without hesitation.

“Hold on,” I said
, before tracing them straight to our ocean house in Angelisian.

Ladre didn’t even pause
. The instant he saw the water he took off. Talina stayed back for an extra few moments.

“Will you be okay?” Her warm brown eyes were sad. “I want to go with you
, but Ladre needs me right now.”

I shooed her away. “I’ll be back soon, hopefully with Ria so we can perform the fourth ritual. For now
, you go and enjoy your reunion.”

I was so happy for her
. I’d really thought Ladre was dead so this was amazing.

She dashed into the water where her mer-man was waiting for her. No doubt they’d be gone for a while. Talina had assured me many times that there
were similar krill animals in this ocean to those on Spurn, so they wouldn’t starve.

I traced back to the room of horror. They were still waiting for me. I could see Lallielle speaking to her sister
. Francesca looked a little shell-shocked, her white hair straggly around her face. Samuel sat on the floor near them, but at this stage no one was close to him. I strode right up to him. As he saw me coming he got to his feet.

“Aribella, wait
. I need to explain.” He held both hands up in front of him, but I didn’t care.

I punched him straight in the nose. I put every ounce of my anger and hurt into the swing and was satisfied to hear a distinct crunching sound.

“Explain away,” I said as I turned my back on him and walked away.

Josian grinned at me
. Lallielle looked upset but resigned. She had been expecting that by the looks.

Lucy gave me a high five when I reached her side. “You beat me to it, plastic surgeon.”

Yep, I could add another broken nose to my tally. It was at that moment, I think, whilst holding his freely bleeding face, that Samuel realized Lucy was in the room with him.

I heard her soft gasp as he locked eyes with her. And there was something there
. His eyes blazed with emotion and suddenly it looked like our theories were wrong. I don’t think Samuel had been using her at all. If that look was any indication … he loved her.

And suddenly Colton was at her side.

Oh no, the shit was going to hit the ceiling now.

Lucy wasn’t speaking
. It was one of those rare occasions when she was speechless, although her cheeks were flushed.

“So we have to go back to Regali. Who
’s coming this time?” I broke the weird standoff.

The low rumbles coming from Colton were getting quite distinctive.

“I’ll be there, of course.” Brace gave me a half-grin.

“Count me in
,” Colton growled.

“I’m in
, of course,” Lucy agreed.

“I think we might stay here again,” Fury said
. “I’m still feeling the after-effects of the drug. I’m not really up to it.”

Dune nodded.

Samuel was still watching us, but thankfully for his personal health he never approached.

“Keep an eye on Samuel for me
,” I asked Fury.

She knew the story so she understood my worries.

“I’m sure he’ll have a convincing excuse for Mom, and I don’t want everyone to let their guard down,” I finished.

“You got it
,” she promised.

I gave Lallielle and Josian quick hugs
, explaining I was leaving for Regali.

“Be careful,” Josian said, “we’ll be here cleaning this up for a while
, but I can come at any time that you need me.”

Ignoring the watchful and freaky white eyes of Francesca
, I grabbed Brace, Lucy and Colton, preparing to trace them to Regali. I knew I’d hear the soothsayer’s story when I got back, but right then I had more important things to deal with.

Ria hadn’t seemed to mind the last time, so I just traced us straight into her home. I was hoping that we could save some time, but the tree-house seemed to be empty. I glanced out of the open window. The vines were spread out instead of falling to shield the forest. I’d grown used to the odd blue tint of the world in Regali, but strangely enough it seemed as if it the light filtering through the canopy was now purple.

That was o
dd.

Colton and Lucy seemed to be in the middle of a terse conversation. Brace gave me a grin over the top of their heads before crossing around them to stand at the window with me. We stood there for a few minutes in silence. But just because we were silent didn’t mean everything was
. The jungle seemed extra noisy with animal calls and rustling.

“Are we okay, Red?” Brace finally spoke.

Turning from the view, I faced him. The purple lighting highlighted the dark beauty that was all Brace. Need slammed into me with a speed that literally took my breath away. I’d been so steadfastly ignoring our bond when I was angry, but now, as it roared back to life, I couldn’t stop myself from diving into his arms. And as they closed around me I could finally breathe again.

“I need to know that you don’t doubt us. I might not always have the same opinion as you, but I
’ll always have your back,” he said. “You can’t shut me out like that anymore, though.”

“I was really not okay with Quarn’s decision
,” I said. “And I’m not sure I accept or understand how you could agree with him, but I have to respect everyone’s right to make choices and have a differing opinion.”

“It’s not so much that I agreed with him, more along the lines that I understood his reasoning. And I believe every man has the right to make choices such as those.”

“Every
man
has the right? What about women?”

He paused, I’m sure to weigh up which words wouldn’t get him into
more trouble.

“Women are rare, precious and absolutely essential to the survival of all creatures. They can
’t die unnecessarily.” He moved closer to my ear, his breath fanning over me.

I shivered in response.

“I just don’t want anyone I love to die.” I sounded like a whiny five-year-old who wanted the happily-ever-after in the fairytale.

“I’ll do my best to keep everyone kicking
–” Brace was cut off by angry voices.

“I told you it’s none of your business.”

Lucy was in full virago mode. I could see where she’d mussed her blond curls everywhere in her frustration.

I don’t know what Colton had been saying previously
, but when he spoke again his voice was dead calm.

“You’re right, Lucy, just be careful. I don’t like the way he was looking at you.” He left her side and stood next to Brace.

There was no expression on his gorgeous, icy features.

Lucy looked a little shocked, eventually making her way to our side also. She threw a few confused glances
in his direction, but no more was said on the matter of Samuel.

“Don’t let that asshat ruin your friendship with Colt
,” I said in a low voice to Lucy.

She sighed. “He has no right to question my life. He didn’t want to be a part of it
. He’s broken, or whatever crap he talks about, so he can keep his opinions to himself.”

“Standing right here and can hear exceptionally well
,” Colton said, staring forward. Although the slightest grin might have crossed his lips.

“Should we go down into the jungle and look for Ria?” I peered out into the noisy rainforest.

“That would be a bad idea.”

The words sounded from behind us
. We all spun around to find Ria jumping into the room from a side branch.

“It is the red moon tonight
. The packs have shifted into their animal forms and are running through Artwon.” She stood before us, naked as the day she was born, and damn, the woman could rock some curves.

I fought the instinct to reach up and cover Brace’s eyes, but in the end I was okay with it. I wasn’t an insecure person and I knew he loved me. Melded mates didn’t have much room in a relationship for jealousy, our bond was too great. Lucy clearly didn’t feel the same way
. She wiggled around and elbowed Colton in the ribs.

“Sorry about that, didn’t see you there,” she said.

“Of course not.” I laughed. “Six and half feet and two hundred pounds of man always blends into the scenery.”

“I’m sorry.” Ria laughed
. It was a light sound that echoed around her space. “I didn’t stop and think that my nudity would offend. I am generally the only one to be clothed in Artwon. Naked is a standard way of life here.”

With those words she stepped behind a fern partition and wit
hin moments was back in her leathers.

“Tell me what happened with the fringe?” I moved closer. “Can you leave with me now?”

Ria shook her head. “Thanks to your Brace, the fringe have mostly been disabled and I’m no longer worried about their presence here. But I have discussed with the clans. I just do not see how I can leave Artwon. There is no one to step in as an interim ruler and the packs very easily descend into chaos.” She paused. “And there is still the issue of the other races of Regali trying to take over my territory.”

“You do understand that if you don’t help us the Seventine will be released and their plan is to destroy every world.”

She regarded me with care. “I know that you believe this. I hear truth in your words, but the future is ever shifting and changing. The spirits have confirmed that there is a universal chaos, but they cannot see the final battle yet.”

“Ria!”

Klea leapt into the doorway, her roaring words barely understandable. Unlike her usual half-woman half-lion visage, she was now a large tan lion creature with a short mane. Ria was at her side in seconds.

“What has happened?” She reached out to enclose the soft
-looking paws in her hands.

Klea responded with lots of roaring yowls. They just sounded like animal noises to me, but clearly Ria understood. Her features paled; as she turned back to us she was chalky white.

“It is the sacred one
; we must save her.”

We were all on our feet, ready to go.
I wondered who the sacred one was.

“There is no time to waste.” Ria flung her hands skyward. “We must travel quickly and avoid the packs.”

The room was suddenly flooded with light as the roof lifted up. I hadn’t noticed that it was created from a series of overlaying tree branches. Vines descended in through the opening and threaded around our waists. I found myself flung up and dropped to land on top of Artwon’s canopy. Somehow the dense canopy of the trees had flattened to form a path that we could travel on.

“Follow me
,” Ria yelled as she dashed across the path, looking like a flying fairy.

I was just about to move when a bright red globe caught my attention. This was the first time I’d seen the sky of Regali. The canopy was generally too thick, but standing
there it felt like I was practically a part of the night and we were surrounded by seven large moons. They were massive, six blue and the largest of all was a red. Its beams of light cast the purple tint to the sky. They were one of the most mesmerizing things I’d ever seen.

“Abbs, come on. We can stare at the sky later
,” Lucy said as she dashed past me with Colton.

Brace stopped and waited for me
. He knew we could catch up to them quickly.

“It’s almost as beautiful as my house in the sky.” I smiled at him.

There were no stars here, or I couldn’t see them over the light of the moons. Stars would have made the picture perfect.

“Ready to go.” I held out my hand to Brace.

He took it and then we were running, although it was fast enough to feel like flying.

We caught up to Colton and Lucy easily.

“Enjoying yourself, Luce?” I laughed as we broke even.

Colton had her arm and was dragging her along. I don’t even think her feet touched the ground.

“Oh, yeah, loving it,” she muttered. “My right arm was just for looks anyways. It had no practical use, so it’s fine for dog-boy to dislocate it.”

I could see Ria now
. The moonlights reflected off the sheen of her hair. The jungle below us seemed to be alive, although there were fewer noises now.

“This is so awesome
,” I blurted. “It’s as if we’re running on top of the world.”

“I feel so close to the sky.” Lucy had her free arm out to the side, her face raised. “Like I could fly.”

I let out a screech. “You are flying, Lucy.”

It was true her feet were now far off the ground. Colton only had the barest hold of her hand. The moment I spoke she looked down.

“What the eff?”
she stuttered, her eyes huge. She hit the ground hard then. “How did I do that?”

“I have no idea, Lucy, but it might be time to do some investigating into
you.” Colton was watching her closely. “There’s no way you’re an Earthling, not with your abilities.”

“I agree
,” Brace said. “There’s a strange energy inside you. I always thought it was your gift as a soothsayer, but there’s something more.”

“How could I be anything else?” She sounded confused. “I had parents
. I was born in the adult compound.”

I snorted. “That’s what Olden told you. How old were you when you were left at the junior compound?”

“I was two,” she said. “And you’re right: I don’t remember my life before that. I’ve only had Olden’s word.” Her face clouded over with anger. “Shame she was killed before I could torture her for answers.”

Ahead of us,
Ria slowed and then suddenly disappeared. My heart started to beat faster. Where had she gone?

When we reached
the spot, I could for the first time see the edge of Artwon. It was a massive forest, spanning forever around us. As we slowed, the canopy opened and I gasped as vines shot forward and secured us again. We were lowered to the forest floor.

It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the dimmer light under the trees. But I felt them before I could see them; the Seventine were here.

Once my vision cleared the scene became alarmingly apparent. There were three men. They stood at the base of the largest tree I had ever seen. It was at least fifty feet across and rose up higher than I could see. It looked to sit above the canopy, and yet I hadn’t seen it when we’d run across the branches.

W
as this the sacred one Ria had referred to? The way she felt about nature, it would make sense. And if I focused I could feel a large thrum of energy vibrating through this tree.

“What is everyone freaking out about?” Lucy said in a low voice. “It’s just three men.”

“Three men possessed by the Seventine,” Brace bit out.

If I zoomed in my eyesight to its full capabilities, I could see the fine cracking fissures
on the men’s skin. The power would not be contained for long, so right now we just needed to find out what they wanted.

“You must not harm the sacred tree.” Ria strode forward until she was mere feet from them. “It is the lifeblood of Artwon.”

“Oh, we know, Queen.” I recognized the voice which came from the middle man. The first. “That’s why it’s our next energy tether. We did have a nice little gathered amount of power back on First World, but we understand that’s no longer available, so we need a huge influx to free the fourth.”

He must be talking about the room of horrors. I would have thought he’d be more visibly upset, but his tone was matter of fact.

“It houses the tree spirits,” Ria cried.

And I remembered that was where her mother existed.

He laughed. “Even better.”

At
that point the three humans joined hands and faced toward the giant tree. Ria rushed at them but was thrown back, along with all the vegetation she was sending their way.

“Help me
!” she screamed as we reached her side and Brace pulled her to her feet. “How can we stop them?”

I shook my head. “I told you the only way is to lock them back
up. They’re the original power; we have no way to stop this.”

Suddenly the tethers of the sacred tree
were now visible. And there looked to be thousands if not hundreds of thousands. It was old and it was powerful, and before my eyes the Seventines’ power was cutting through the ties. At first I couldn’t see any change in the ancient and sacred tree, but as the tethers disappeared it began to shimmer. And then the leaves were the first to go –they simply vanished – followed by the branches.

“Oh
, my sacred gods.” Ria dropped to her knees. “This cannot be happening.”

It took them two minutes. Two minutes to completely undo a tree that was probably
–