The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (126 page)

Rain felt Elex tense beneath her palms. “I am
protecting
what is yours!” he argued. “It is one thing to mark me with your brews, but not her. She is not built like I am, and her body cannot handle such a thing. Do you not see? Would you kill your own queen before your reign?”

Another pause followed. “Are you trying to tell me you stand there for
my
benefit?”

“I only ever look out for your benefit, father. The girl means nothing to me, but I know you would be upset if this were to go wrong.”

Rain’s blood chilled at the detached coldness in Elex’s voice.
The girl means nothing to me
. Rain took a small step back, letting her hands drop. The hand on her hip flexed, but she barely felt it as a numbness spread through her body. She wanted out of the enclosure of his wings and out of the room.

“It seems I have been corrected for my actions twice today,” Aziz mused. “Tell me, did you learn anything from the forest girl?”

“Her mind is too strong, I cannot break it,” Elex answered, calmer, although his stance did not relax.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Rain’s vision was blocked, hidden behind Elex, but she heard it open when Aziz called out for the person to enter.

“My lord,” greeted Andre. Rain recognized the voice immediately. “We have news from our scouts,” he stated.

“What is it?”

“The King’s army is crossing the sands now. They are headed in this direction.”

“Are they now? I expected them to go to Ramel first,” said Aziz.

“Hakim met them at the border,” Andre explained. “We assume he informed the King where to look.”

Aziz laughed. “My old friend Hakim certainly makes himself helpful when he wants to,” he muttered. “Assemble your men and have them start preparing. Let us see how far the King will get. Rain,” he called out. Elex tensed a fraction before stepping aside. Rain avoided looking toward him or Andre.

“My lord?”

“Return to your rooms until I summon you,” he ordered.

“Yes, my lord,” she replied. Rain hurried out of the room, her eyes trained on the floor. Elex said nothing as she did, leaving her colder than she’d been all day.

Rain stepped out of the bath, the water long since having lost its warmth. She wrapped a towel tightly around her chest as she walked into her room. Her feet froze when she found Elex waiting there.

“Rain,” he greeted, his eyes guarded.

“What are you doing here?” she asked distantly.

One eyebrow rose over those piercing eyes. Rain kept her face emotionless. “I came to make sure you are okay.”

“I’m fine,” she informed him.

He took a step toward her. Rain backed up raising a hand to stop him. He didn’t stop. Elex moved forward until Rain’s hand rested on his chest, her back now against the wall. She hadn’t even realized she was moving backwards until then. Her hand clenched into a fist as she raised her head to meet his eyes.

“I said I’m fine,” she repeated, keeping her voice strong. “You can leave now.”

“You are upset with me.”

“Why do you care? I mean nothing to you.”

Rain watched as his face relaxed, amusement filling his eyes. It only made her madder.

“Rain,” he said softly in a chiding tone. “You know I was just saying that. I don’t mean it.”

“How do I know?” she argued. “How can I know for certain you care, or if you’re only interested in me because I’m the only thing available?” She glared up at him. “Perhaps I’m just your way of getting back at him.”

She gasped as Elex lifted her, trapping her against the wall with his body. They were eye-level now, his unusual eyes burning brightly. Rain grabbed onto his biceps, feeling his muscles flex as he continued to hold her there.

“You doubt my affection?” he demanded.

“I –” His mouth crushed into hers before she could get another sound out. His tongue swept inside her mouth, branding her as his. All she could do was brace herself as he completely devoured her. Still angry, she recovered from her initial shock, letting her hands grip his hair tightly as she bit down on his bottom lip, hard. He pulled back, eyes narrowed. Both of them were breathing heavy, their chests rubbing together in a way that was making it extremely difficult for her to concentrate. His tongue snaked out, running over the reddened part she had bitten, one brow raised.

“That hurt,” he accused. He leaned in so their noses touched. “I’d do anything for you, and only you. I don’t give a damn about my father, this war, or this land. I only said what I needed to say to get him to back off.” He took a deep breath. Rain could see the worry now in his eyes as he spoke, and she suddenly felt foolish. “If he had marked you, Rain, I would have lost you forever. You could never fight against that kind of control, constantly flowing in your system. And I wasn’t lying when I said I wasn’t sure if you’d even be able to handle it. If you died…I’m not sure what I’d do.”

Rain’s throat closed, her eyes burning again that day. She searched his face carefully, seeing nothing but truth.

“Do you understand?”

She nodded, unable to speak around the lump.

“Good,” was all he said before bringing his mouth back to hers. This time she gave as good as she got. Both of them were frantic as their lips collided. Elex gripped her bottom firmly, lifting her off the wall. She wrapped her legs around him, holding on as he walked them over to her bed, never once breaking their kiss. Suddenly there was softness beneath her. They broke apart for a moment, regarding one another. Rain took in the beauty that was Elex when he looked truly alive. When he wasn’t sporting the stony look he wore around Aziz. His eyes were bright with passion, his wings spread in a glory of sparkling white and blue. His plush mouth was red and swollen from their kiss, his hair a mess from where her hands had been. She loved him like this.

“And I you,” he said out loud. She smiled, reaching up to bring him back down to her. No matter what happened, as long as they had each other she’d be fine, she told herself, before losing all thought completely.

Aziz leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. He waited patiently for Elex to respond to his summons. An ugly storm was brewing deep in the pit of his stomach. The urge to lash out was almost unbearable, but he kept a lid on it. His face betrayed nothing, a cold mask that never faltered. He had been playing this game for years, hiding his emotions and doing what needed be done, no matter the cost. Even if it pained him, he knew that examples needed to be made. There were consequences for everything and everyone. No one, and he meant
no one
, could be allowed to cross him.

The door across the hall from him opened. Elex walked out, wings folded behind him, closing the door gently.

“Still protecting what is
mine
, son?” Aziz asked quietly. He gave Elex some credit. If he was surprised to see Aziz waiting outside Rain’s room, he didn’t show it. “Did you honestly think I was just going to let you go and not monitor your movements?”

Elex stood tall, his face hard as he watched Aziz silently.

“What? No words about looking out for me? No trying to convince me this isn’t what it appears to be?” Aziz pushed off the wall, stepping closer to his son. “You dare to betray me?”

“No, father,” Elex answered calmly.

“Liar!” Aziz yelled, his voice echoing in the stone halls. Spittle flew from his mouth as he continued. “I will not be made to look like a fool! And
you,
” he spat, breathing deeply, “you will pay for your treasonous actions!” He stepped back, his voice now lower. “You have sealed your fate,” he said, just as the dart hit Elex in the neck. He winced, his hand coming to grab the needle from his neck. His eyes flew to meet Aziz’s, showing panic for the first time since he had stepped into the hall. The three soldiers that were hidden in the shadows stepped out, weapons raised. Aziz smiled cruelly, adding, “And hers.”

“No!” Elex shouted, moving forward. The three soldiers grabbed him by the arms. Aziz watched, detached, as the drug took effect. Elex’s eyes rolled into the back of his head before his body grew limp.

Aziz looked at the unconscious form of his son, a mixture of emotions turning inside him. He turned to walk down the hall, calling out over his shoulder, “Bring him.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“We’re in a desert, I thought it was supposed to be hot,” Logan complained, holding his hands out to the fire.

“It’s night time,” Wolf replied. “It gets cold.”

Logan looked at him, deadpan. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“I hate sand,” Moose stated. “I miss grass.”

Aiden pulled the blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders a little tighter. Logan was right, it was damn cold when the sun went down. The army had camped for the night after a hard day of travelling. As far as he could see in all directions it was sand, sand, and more sand. They had started off northward after Hakim had ridden off with his convoy. The Sand People would not be a part of the war, he had informed them. They felt it was not their war. Aiden didn’t blame them, to be honest. This whole war had been centered on the other side of the land, where they had no business. The only thing linking them to it was Aziz, and Aiden didn’t really think that justified demanding their assistance.

“I can’t wait until we reach the Emerald Forest,” Logan grumbled. “As soon as I see something green and
not
sand I think I might kiss it.”

“That’s about the only thing you’ll be kissing,” Wolf commented dryly. Aiden snickered.

“Maghon is waiting for me, I’ll have you know,” Logan defended.

“Uh huh, sure she is,” Wolf countered. Aiden saw something fly through the air out of the corner of his eye. When he turned to look it was just in time to see Wolf dodge the bundled blanket Logan had thrown at him. “You throw like a girl.”

Everyone laughed, except Logan of course. “Ha, ha, very funny,” he said. “Now give me back my blanket.”

With a wide grin, Wolf wrapped the extra cloth around his shoulders. “It’s mine now.”

“Damn it, Wolf!” Logan launched himself over the small fire tackling Wolf to the ground. Aiden and Moose watched in amusement.

“Should we place bets?” Moose asked, smiling.

“My bet is on Logan,” came Elisa’s voice from behind them. Aiden turned to look at her, happy to see she was looking herself again. He had noticed she’d been looking stressed lately. He wasn’t sure if it was the war or something else, but whatever it was she seemed to not be worried about it now. He patted the ground beside him for her to take a seat.

“Nice, Elisa,” Wolf grunted as he fought with Logan. “Way to support your future husband.”

“Just don’t bruise his face, Logan,” she called out.

“That would be a shame,” added Moose.

Logan wrestled away the blanket, jumping back from where Wolf lay sprawled on the ground. Both were breathing heavily.

“I’m going to have sand in all the wrong places for months now,” Wolf complained, sitting up. He spat on the ground a few times in disgust.

“You two really are like Jameson and Turk.” Aiden turned to see Diana standing there with an amused expression on her face. “I don’t know if I should feel sorry for you,” she directed to Elisa.

“Probably,” Moose commented dryly.

“How are you, Diana?” Aiden asked, focusing on her. She looked tired and pale.

“Fine,” she answered with a weak smile. “Thank you for asking, Aiden. I was hoping I could speak to you, Elisa,” she continued, turning to look at her. “Privately.”

Elisa stood, her expression serious again. The two girls walked off, away from everyone else.

“What’s going on with her?” Logan asked. They all turned from watching the girls to look at Wolf.

“No idea,” Wolf admitted. “She won’t tell me.”

So he wasn’t the only one who noticed, Aiden thought. They sat in silence for a moment before Moose started handing out packages of dried meat and bread. Aiden was getting really sick of this meal.

“We need to tell Jameson,” Diana said as soon as they were out of earshot.

Elisa stopped to face her. “I know,” she agreed. “I just think Aiden should know first, and I can’t bring myself to tell him.”