Regali (A Walker Saga) (21 page)

“They have developed the ability to change their skin tone and reflect their environment
,” Quarn said.

“Walkers are dominant in this star-system
,” Brace said as he looked around. “But we can’t discount the abundance of gifts here also. Some of these families are very old and very powerful.”

By this time I was starving so we quickly bypassed the family who were
emoters. I was amazed to see how easily they manipulated emotions around them. In one corner people were laughing deliriously, the other they were crying, tears running silently down their cheeks. I was already emotionally out of whack, so I didn’t need any help from them that day.

Brace led me to the stall with the fruit salad cups and large trays of rice and meat dishes. This had been my choice when Lallielle
had pointed out the food earlier. He must have picked up my thought.

My heart stuttered a little then
.

I’d been steadfastly ignoring the fact I had to break the bond after this
. I really just wanted to enjoy whatever time I had with him. But every little reminder of how amazing he was, and how perfectly we fit together, was like being stabbed in the heart.

If the Seventine
had been there right then, I’d have tried walking up to them and ripping their damn heads off. It just wasn’t fair, but at the end of the day things in life rarely are. It’s not like the bad people are the ones who suffer, and the good ones get their just rewards. In my experience it was generally the opposite way. And if karma was real, then it was not holding up its end of the bargain.

Quarn paused at the food stall.

“I need to make sure that the Emperor is fine and that no one attempts to assassinate him tonight.” His eyes flicked to me when he said that.

I shrugged. “I’m not promising anything, but right now food is my priority, so Lucas is safe.”

With a shake of his head Quarn left us there.

After grabbing two big orders of food, Brace and I sat at the top of the hill,
which gave us a great view down into the town center. I started shoveling in spoonfuls, or, as they called them here: shavel fulls, of the delicious and aromatic food. My attention wavered for a moment as a strange sight to my left caught my eye.

“What the hell?” I muttered, shifting my head to the side to see clearer. “Are they naked?”

Brace laughed. “Moonlighters. They’re the Earth equivalent of a hippy. The moonlights give them energy. They roam around at night, naked under their source of life.”

They were literally frolicking. With a shake of my head
, I averted my eyes.

“Sometimes
, in moments like this,” Brace had finished his food and was leaning back on his arms, “I forget that someone is trying to destroy the worlds.”

“Who do you think the big bad guys are?” I’d been trying to figure it out ever since Olden and the room of horrors, but I had no idea who trumped the Walkers in power.

“I really did think this originated with Que,” Brace said. “I mean, there are other creatures, like you saw with the tree-spirits on Regali. Most of the worlds have their spirits and gods, but nothing really tops Walkers.”

I leaned forward to rest my arms on my knees. “I suppose that doesn’t mean something else hasn
’t figured out how to manipulate the system and still release the Seventine, even if they aren’t the most powerful.”

Brace nodded. “Yeah, that’s kind of where I’m leaning right now. Or there
’s another Walker who somehow is bigger and badder than Que and has been hidden forever.”

I kept getting the strange feeling that our bad guy was closer to home than we could ever have imagined.

“Hey, Abbs,” Lucy shouted as she found our lofty spot.

She was followed by the rest of the group. Fury and Dune had some type of rolled salad sandwich. Talina and
Ladre were both wearing large brimmed hats on their luscious hair, despite the fact it was night now. Colton strolled up. He had one hand tightly entwined with Lucy’s.

He noticed me looking. “She’s tiny
,” he finally said. “I kept losing her in the crowd; this just seemed easiest.”

Lucy snorted. “Yeah, I was afraid he wanted to hook me up to one of those backpacks with the leads. You know
, the ones they used on Earth for rambunctious toddlers.”

Colton leaned in really close to her face and I could see her freeze in his presence. “I have never
once thought of you as a child, Lucy, not for a damn second.”

“Those two need to just hook up and get over this
,” Fury said. “This whole build-up, sexual-tension thing is even killing me, and I’m getting plenty.”

I couldn’t help myself
: I burst into laughter. Fury was growing on me. Her snarkiness was so refreshing.

Lucy meanwhile was staring expectantly at Colton. “As much as I love to annoy Fury, she’s got a point.

Colton stared at her. She stood there in her lace dress, all white and angel-like in the moonlight, and then he growled, low in his throat.

“Dammit
,” he said as he reached down and threw her over his shoulder. “I can’t fight against her any longer. She’s some type of witch and I’m hooked.”

“Don’t wait up
,” Lucy all but shrieked.

They were just turning to leave when Samuel stepped out of the shadows to stand before them.

Oh, eff. This was not good.

Samuel and Francesca had decided at the last minute not to attend the fair
. They were still recovering from their months of imprisonment. So what the hell was he doing here now, ruining Lucy’s moment?

“Sammy.” Lucy wiggl
ed until Colton set her down before him. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk, Luce
. Before you make any choices, I need you to know my side of the story.”

Colton stepped in front of Lucy then
. His eyes had shifted color and his words came out in low growls.

“She
’s mine.” His presence went from jovial to menacing in a heartbeat. “You didn’t treasure her, and now I claim her as my mate.”

Lucy’s face softened as she threaded her fingers through Colton’s
, pulling him back to her side. He visibly calmed under her touch.

“I don’t need to hear your words, Sammy
,” Lucy said, without taking her eyes from Colton. “I already forgive you, but my life is with Colt. I have no doubts what a true bond is now.”

Samuel features, so much like Lallielle’s
, hardened and he didn’t back down from the threatening aura Colton was throwing his way.

“It
’s not over. I’ll wait for you, Lucy. I told you once I was the guy for you and that’s still true. This animal is nothing more than a passing fancy.”

Brace got to Colton before he reached Samuel. “Calm
, old friend.” He spoke in a low soothing voice. “Walk away now, Sammy. Colt will rip your god-damned head off.”

Samuel hesitated, throwing one last look at Lucy before gritting his teeth and storming off.

It took Lucy and Brace a few minutes to bring Colton back. He was half-shifting into a wolf as we watched. He never took his eyes off Lucy the entire time.

“I told you my wolf is unstable
,” he finally said when his eyes were back to their light blue.

Brace was the one doing the growling now. “You never hurt anyone, Colt
. If anything you reacted as any mate would. Less than me.”

“Word
,” I said to that.

Brace shook his head at me.

“She’s my mate,” Colton said as he hauled Lucy into his arms. “And I’m afraid I’ll kill anyone who takes her from me.”

He got serious then as he stared down at her. “But if you choose to walk away, I will let you.”

She laughed. “If Abbs and Brace’s lovefest has taught me anything, it’s that you can’t fight fate or a true mate. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

He kissed her then, and it was everything a first kiss should be. The moment almost stood still for them and I knew I wasn’t the only one holding my breath.

When they finally pulled apart, Colton snuggled her under his arm. She met my gaze and I saw so much happiness there, but also a bit of pain. She mouthed ‘sorry’ to me.

I shook my head
. I knew she felt as if she’d made things a lot worse. Her tie to Colton would be an obstacle to breaking my melding bond, but life could be short for us all and we needed to take happiness wherever we could find it.

I stood on the sand, ocean water washing over my toes. I was avoiding the fact that I had to pull myself together and focus on the two tasks that were next on my list. I needed to speak with Jedi, because I was definitely questioning why now. And I needed to break the melding bond with Brace. Both were urgent and both could spell the difference in our battle against the Seventine.

“Baby?” Brace strode across the sand toward me.

Upon returning from the fair we had all gathered on the front lawn for a nightcap. I’d only just strolled down to the water, needing a few minutes.

“I need to head back to Abernath for a couple of days. Do you want to come with me?”

More than anything in this or the seven worlds.

I gave him a half
-smile. “I’d love to, but I have to get back to my mission. Josian and I need to discuss some strategies for the next world, and the four of us girls have to practice with our powers. We don’t even know what Ria can really do yet.”

He nodded. “Keep me updated on where you’re at
, and don’t go to Nephilius without me.”

I laughed and saluted him. “Yes
, sir.”

He kissed me on the lips. “Smartass.” His words were soft, and with one last gentle touch he left me on the beach.

Last kiss. I reached up and touched my fingertips to my tingling lips. Our last kiss.

I didn’t have time to fall apart now so I traced into my bedroom to change my clothes to jeans and a shirt. Dresses were not ideal for most of my adventures.

Striding downstairs
, I found Josian. He was standing with Lallielle, just holding her. His eyes met mine over my mother’s shoulder, and he must have seen the resignation there.

It was time.

He nodded once and then flicked his head toward the door. He wanted me to wait out there for him.

I stayed in the shadows
, not wanting to draw the attention of my friends. This needed to stay a secret for many reasons.

“What are you doing, Abigail?”
a voice drawled.

I jumped about a foot in the air.

“Goddamn sneaky soothsayers,” I said, one hand on my chest as I stared at Lucy. “How did you know I was here?”

“Don
’t think for one second that you’re doing this without me,” she said, her hands on her hips. “You’ll need someone to lean on. Someone to cry with. I’m your girl.”

“I would never have left without you. We
’ve been in this together since the beginning.” I reached out and captured her hand. “Where’s Colt?” I was surprised he’d let her out of his sight.

“I convinced him that he needed to watch Brace’s back for a while
. You know, newly crowned Princeps and all. I said we’d come to Abernath later.” Her eyes fell. “I know now why you’ve objected so strongly to keeping this from Brace. Even a small lie has my heart aching and my mind rebelling the concept.”

I sighed as tears pricked my eyes. “Yes, just wait until you perform the mating ceremony and Colton is in your mind. When you lie to him it
’ll feel as if you’re lying to yourself. It’s wrong on so many levels.”

“Colt wants to do it straight away
,” she said in a low voice. “I feel I can’t do that to you, Abbs, but I’m not sure how to hold him off.”

I forced a smile. “Your happiness is my happiness. Don’t delay anything for me.”

Lucy was my sister and always had been. Obviously our ties to First World had drawn us together all of those years ago. For all I knew she’d been put in the same compound as me for a reason.

She grimaced. “The way things are going for us, I won’t have to delay
. This damn mission will delay for us.”

On the grassed area Fury was now running around, covered in her flames. I shook my head as Talina followed suit, sending jets of water in her direction. The flames sizzled but re-flared after each geyser.

“At least some are enjoying the night,” Josian said, becoming the second person to almost give me a heart attack that night. “Are you sure you want to do this, baby girl?”

“I
’d rather have my finger nails pulled out one by one than break the melding bond.” I grimaced. “But the world needs to be saved, yada yada.”

I wasn’t really that uncaring about the worlds, but right
then their neediness didn’t make me happy. Take, take, take is all they did. It was starting to feel like a one-sided relationship. Of the abusive kind.

“Okay
, then let’s go speak to someone who may be able to help you.” Josian opened a doorway and, with Lucy between us, we stepped in.

As we moved through I recognized the stone room at the end. Josian’s planet.

He had opened it into the garden area and straight away I knew where he was taking me. The lalunas. And, judging by Lucy’s wide eyes, she’d also realized.

“Now
, it’s better if I deal with them. They can be a little strange. Their minds are ancient and don’t always think the same way as you and I,” he warned as we moved across the rocks and around to the hidden alcove.

I had to hide my smile
. I wasn’t sure Josian thought like us either.

As we stood before the little fairy world
, they emerged, one by one, their ethereal, almost wispy bodies draped in sheer silk. The female that had spoken to us before stepped forward and onto Josian’s hand.

“We missed you
,” she said, cuddling into his palm. “You’ve been gone forever.”

He smiled gently at the crazy little fairy
. One look at her face left me with no doubt that she was bonkers.

“Ahh
, Tenni, I visit as often as I can. Do you need anything?”

She shook her head, wings fluttering. “No, we have all of the worlds here.”

That was a weird thing to say.

“I need you to do something for me
,” Josian said, carefully picking over his words. “Can you break a melding bond?”

Her tinkling laughter echoed around the cavernous garden area. “You know that there is very little we can’t do.” She rose off his hand. “It is for you?” She addressed the last words to me.

I nodded, not moving closer.

“Because you are our bonded one
’s beloved daughter. We will help you.”

Josian placed her back down in the garden where a hundred faces watched us.

“Do you understand what you are asking, though?”

I swallowed
. This didn’t sound good.

“There is no way to truly break something as ancient as a melding bond
. It is the same as the birth of yin and yang. Two sides of the same coin. I can sever the cord, but there will be remnants of the connection.”

“Will my power no longer be merged with his?”

“Your power will be your own, but the heart is another matter.”

I nodded
. This was my best chance.

“What will the side-effects be?” Lucy said, ignoring Josian’s initial request to let him do the speaking.

“When we sever the cord we will remove the memories of Aribella and Brace from all except you three. You must make sure that there is no chance to reform the melding bond.”

“Brace won’t remember me?” Tears pricked at my eyes
.

A
ll of our perfect memories just stolen from him. I thought I’d have the chance to explain after it was done, when he could no longer stop me. Explain why I had to do this, but that couldn’t happen now.

“So how do we stop them reforming the bond?” Lucy spoke again.

“They must never touch under the light of our precious moonstale,” she trilled. “And be warned, if you decide to reform the melding bond it may never be as it is now. What is broken does not always be fixed.”

Crazy-ass fairy.

Josian met my gaze. I smiled, albeit in a wavering manner.

“No choice
, remember.”

He turned to his lalunas. “Let’s do this.”

She nodded, fluttering closer. The rest of the lalunas gathered around her. “Do you agree to the terms? You will owe us a future favor?”

Josian cleared his throat. “I agree to take this debt.”

She shook her head. “No, it must be Aribella, for this is her debt to incur.”

I waved my hands at them. “Yes, yes
, that’s fine. Let’s get this done before I change my mind.” I clenched my hands into fists at my side.

“Excellent.” Tenni’s little eyes glittered, reminding me of Brace’s warning never
to trust them.

I could feel their buildup of power
. The cavern started to shake as the lalunas joined hands.

I opened my bond for the last time.

Red?

Brace sounded confused
. I hadn’t opened the bond fully for a long time.

I love you and I will find a way to be with you again, in this life or the next.

I could feel his horror as he sifted through my thoughts. I knew it was okay because very soon he would have no memories of us.

I wanted to tell you, every day, but Lucy said everyone would die. I couldn’t risk it.

His horror flooded my mind.
Stop them, Abigail. They can’t be trusted and you can’t break our bond.

It’s too late
. The fate of millions of lives don’t trump our love.

He exploded with a string of curses.
Nothing trumps our love. Why did you not trust me with this? We could have figured something out.

Energy was shooting off in visible ricochets from the laluna and I knew our time was up.

Love you for every eternity.
I said my farewell, my heart screaming, tears streaming down my cheeks.

I will come for you
, Red. I will not give up without a fight. You are everything.

His voice broke.

Red …

A roar was the last thing I heard as the energy of the lalunas struck me hard. I fell to my knees and in that moment my entire world unraveled.