Undone, p.8
Undone, page 8
“It’s like nothing I’ve felt either.”
She gave him a startled look. “Really? I thought it was just because I’m not from Solrelm.”
Trendan stopped and looked at her. “That feeling can only happen with your one and only other, Jerika.” He needed her to understand that.
“Oh.” She looked down at the pavement for a moment. “I wasn’t sure if it was something with people from where you are or…”
“Just with our fated other.” He clarified again.
“Okay.” she started walking again. “Bastian was going to the next king of Solrelm?”
“If he shared his soul before my brother and I, yes.”
She grinned. “He didn’t seem like he wanted the position.”
“I can’t see him as our king.”
She laughed quietly. “It would be interesting.” She sobered. “So, if you and I—” She motioned between them, “then you are king or the heir to the throne.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not used to royalty talk.”
Trendan took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Yes. I would be the next king when my father steps down.”
“Is that anytime soon? Him stepping down?” She played with the stone around her neck as she walked.
“I’m not aware of him wanting to.”
“He’s been king a long time?” She grinned and shook her head. “I just remembered your age and approximated his.”
“My parents have been on the throne for a very long time, yes.”
“Do you want to be king?”
Trendan looked down at her and then at the stained pavement in front of him. He’d never thought about it. “If it falls to me, I will do my duty.”
“That didn’t sound like a want, Trendan.” She stopped. “Should I be calling you prince?”
He raised one eyebrow at her. “No. Do not call me prince.” His intended other needn’t address him so formally. “I have never thought much of being king. For most of my life, I presumed my eldest brother would be.” He barely remembered Elyas the way he was before he turned into the man he was today, but it made sense that, him being older, he’d find his other first. He stiffened. He had found her. He’d forgotten that.
“Okay. so, then I’d be—what? A queen?” She looked amused, and then her expression changed to unease. “I don’t think I’d be good in a leadership position.”
“My family are more the figureheads than leaders.” He put his hands back behind his back again so he wouldn’t reach over and brush the hair back from her face and feel the wrath of that stone around her neck. “The court and elders make most of the laws and decisions.”
“That’s better, I suppose, but I’m not from Solrelm. I don’t see your subjects taking to an outsider…”
“That was the other thing I wanted to tell you. We’re going to find all the fathers, put them somewhere guarded and safe, and then we’re going to announce to the realm that they’ve been deceived all this time.” He stopped and took a slow breath. He was blurting it all out like Bastian would. “I—Bas, Liri, and I won’t be the only ones in the realm with others that have mixed DNA.”
“An announcement like that might not be accepted easily.”
“True. On one hand, some will be offended, but it also means that daughters aren’t going to have to bear the weight of continuing the population without choice…”
“Without choice?” She gave him a hard look.
“Oh.” He realized she’d misunderstood. “No. Nothing like what you’re thinking. Unfortunately, our females haven’t been allowed the freedom to choose their own—” He waved his hand around, trying to find the right word. “Destiny.”
“Has it been that dire there? The population, I mean.”
Trendan motioned so they’d walk again. “It hasn’t been good. Watchers,” he glanced at her, “those that help human souls to move onto the next life.” She nodded. “They haven’t had the choice to age at a normal rate, I suppose, is the right way to say it. We naturally live longer than most other realms, but we’ve had to extend that so there were enough of us for the growing human population…”
“Not all of you can do what a watcher does?”
He shrugged. “All of those from my realm can see souls, to a certain degree, but watchers more so. We need to see when one is fading and have to be there when the body is expired.”
“Oh. That’s —” She stopped and looked at him. “Not something I thought I’d ever be discussing.” She blew out a breath. “Okay, so, the watchers are forced to live longer than they’d like, and the women are forced to have children. Does that cover it?”
“Yes. This is why it’s so important that we find those responsible for the lies and let my realm know that they’ve been deceived.”
“Won’t they blame your family?”
He shook his head. “This started long before my immediate family were on the throne.”
“Are you close to finding out who?”
He thought about that for a moment. Did he tell her about Elyas? Place his shame at her feet and hope she didn’t stomp on it. “It’s very hard to unravel. We have some information that will help us, but—” She started walking, so he followed. “It’s not just some from my realm involved. It’s a ploy that has affected all the realms, so we’re working together to get to the bottom of it.”
She stopped and blinked at him. “That’s scary. That so many were involved, and no one figured it out until now.”
He nodded slowly. “It was very well plotted to hide it this long.”
“The other realms are working together to solve it?”
“Yes. Each has its own issue, much like my realms, but all of it is connected.”
“Can I help?” she snorted, “I’m not powerful or anything, but I could do some of the grunt work or something.”
“Grunt work?” He didn’t know what that meant.
“Yes, go through papers or research, chase down leads,” she smiled. “I watch too many detective shows.”
He grinned. He didn’t understand completely, but her smile made him do the same. “Liri may need help, or the Alterealm princesses, they’re tracking down mothers and children.”
“Okay. I can do that.” She stood there looking up at him. “I don’t know about this soul-sharing and possibly being a queen thing, Trendan. I can’t make decisions about things like that when we’ve just met and don’t even know each other.”
“Our souls know their other. It is said they were split, and your other has the second half of your soul.”
“As romantic as that sounds, I can’t commit to something on a whim. I hope you understand.”
He searched her face for a moment and then realized she wasn’t saying no. “I didn’t mean we should share our souls today.” His eyes widened. “That would be barbaric.”
She smiled. “I’m glad we agree.”
“We do.” He watched her play with the stone and hoped she might remove it for a few moments. A sound behind them had him turn quickly. He pushed Jerika behind him and grit his teeth through the jolts from that blasted stone.
A woman came toward them. She was staggering. She stumbled and bumped up against him before sliding down his leg to the ground. “Please, help me.”
Trendan stepped back and then leaned down. “What’s happened?” He wasn’t used to communicating with those in Interealm.
“Take me home.”
He looked over to see the horrified look on Jeri’s face. “It’s okay. I’m sure she’s just got the flu or something.” He knew nothing about human illnesses, not really. By the time he arrived on the scenes, it wasn’t anything curable.
“Can’t you see it?” Jeri came over and dropped down beside her. Taking her hand, she gave him a quick look. “Her soul.” She had tears in her eyes. “It’s screaming.”
Trendan looked back at the woman. She was from Alterealm, not a human at all. “It’s,” he focused harder, “fading in and out, I can’t—”
“What’s going on?”
He turned to see Prince Victor and his mate walking toward them.
“Vic,” Crissy grabbed his arm, “it’s the seer.” She nodded, “I just feel it.” She came closer and then clutched her hands against her chest. “Her aura is so murky.”
“Her soul is screaming.” Jeri’s voice was shaking.
Trendan stood up and turned to the prince. “She is from Alterealm. No mixed DNA, but—” he looked down at her again, “it’s like her soul is fading in and out.”
“Prince, I beg of you, take me home.” She gasped for air, “I can’t do it any longer. I won’t.”
Victor looked down at her for a moment and then pulled out his phone. He stabbed it without taking his eyes off the woman. Trendan noticed his other hand was behind his back, and he wondered what weapon she held. “We’ve found the other seer. She’s not in good health. I’m porting her to medical. have the doctor and a guard meet me there.” He hung up without saying any more. “Heart. Bring the prince and—” He looked at Jerika. “Bring them to medical.”
“Okay, Vic.” Crissy lunged toward them. She reached down and took Jerika’s arm and then turned and touched Trendan’s arm.
His stomach bottomed out, and skin felt like he was on fire. He was in Alterealm without warning. Bending over, he rested his hands on his knees.
“Oh. Um, are you okay, Jeri? I should start carrying a stabilizer with me.”
Trendan looked up to see Jerika’s expression was pure adrenalin and shock.
“I’m okay. Where are we?” She turned slowly.
“Oh. Alterealm.” Crissy smiled. “You were here earlier, so I didn’t think you needed a stabilizer.” She leaned closer. “You don’t look like you’re dying, so I think you’re okay.”
Jerika looked at Trendan for a moment. “Yes. I’m fine.”
For a fleeting second, he resented that she, even with Solrelm DNA, felt no effects from porting here.
Chapter Thirteen
Jeri should have been asleep. She didn’t know what time it was, but it had been after eleven when Trendan had shown up to talk to her. Now, several hours later, she was sitting in an office that belonged to the Alterealm royal women. She smiled and looked around. That alone was cause enough to stay wide awake. She’d heard about the realms ever since Capri had found her. In all that time, she never imagined she’d be in one of them.
“When is this meeting in Solrelm?” Alona asked. She was curled up on one of the small sofas.
“Arius didn’t know when. I’m hoping we at least get a nap before going there.” Paisley yawned and then leaned over to see what Bethany was writing.
They all seemed like normal women, Jeri thought, if you didn’t take into consideration what powers some of them had. She looked at the Queen, who was obviously pregnant—or biting people to live.
“I need to convince Chase that I can go,” Alona said and turned to look at Daxx, who stood leaning against the back of the sofa.
Daxx glanced down at her. “The doctor told you that you could port now. Just not in the very beginning, right?”
“Yes. Trying to convince Chase may be more difficult.”
Daxx turned around, leaned on it, and looked down at her. “You’re a Queen. It is your right to go to a meeting that important.”
Alona chuckled. “The queen card may work for you, but it doesn’t me.”
“Okay. So just tell him. Don’t ask.” She shrugged and straightened up. “I need to be doing something if I’m going to still be awake after this many hours.”
“Telling Chase doesn’t work. I’ll have to use emotions.”
Daxx gave her an amused look. “I don’t want to hear about your sex life.”
Alona shifted and then slid so she was sitting up. “I didn’t mean that way. I meant I’ll get emotional, and he’ll give in.”
“That works?” Daxx crossed her arms over her chest. “I might have to try it.”
Bethany looked up from what she was doing and smiled at her. “You need to show emotion to do that, Daxx.”
Daxx scowled, “I can do emotion.”
Paisley laughed. “Yes. Anger and aggression are emotions—more or less.”
“Right.” Daxx nodded and walked toward them, “what are you two working on?” She leaned over the desk and looked at what Bethany was writing.
Bethany glanced up. “A Welcome to Alterealm guidebook.” She looked around the room. “For women that end up here that aren’t all-knowing of the tidbits the males never share.” She looked at Kinsley and then Reagan.
Reagan got up and went over to the fridge. “My mother told me everything.”
Kinsley pulled out her phone. “I was born here, so—” She shrugged. “I wish Emil would answer my message.”
“Quint won’t let me in the room, so I can’t go see how she’s doing.” Reagan picked up her phone and glanced at it.
Daxx looked around. “Crissy is there.”
“The privilege of having the justice as a mate.” Alona looked at Paisley. “So, what are you writing down?”
“What are you going to do with it?” Daxx went around to the other side of the desk. “Is there going to be someone greeting people when they land and giving them this like a hostess does a menu in a restaurant.”
Paisley and Beth exchanged a look. “We haven’t got that far in the planning yet.”
Daxx shrugged. “Give me the pen.” She held out her hand. Bethany gave her the pen and then moved out of the way so Daxx could lean over the desk and write.
Paisley moved to stand where she could look over her shoulder and see what she was writing. “I forgot about that one.” She mused and then smiled.
“You can’t put it all in one paragraph.” Bethany objected. “Telling them everything at once is as bad as telling them nothing.”
“If you don’t die, you were meant to be here?” Paisley shook her head.
“What?” Daxx paused and looked at her. “It’s a real thing.”
“It is.” Alona agreed.
“Gloves,” Kara said as she got up and went over to them.
“First thing on the list.” Bethany nodded. “Clarifying what you’re agreeing to before you do anything is right after it.”
“Oh, I didn’t think of that.” Paisley looked at Daxx and then around at the others. “There is more than one realm, and you are not home anymore.” She shrugged. “Wording could use a little work, but yeah.”
“None of you are from here?” Jeri got up and went and sat on the same sofa that the Queen was.
“No.” Kara pointed at Kinsley, “Except her.” She snorted. “None of us had a clue what was going on.”
Bethany started laughing. “We can’t put that, Daxx.”
“Why not?” Daxx looked confused.
“If you’re dating, make him wear a mouth guard to stop his fangs?” Bethany laughed some more. “Maybe we should put the different types of feeders in it.”
“Eye color.” Daxx and Kara said at the same moment.
Daxx nodded and bent over the notebook again.
Eye color made Jeri remember where she was. “One of the women under Capri’s care can’t leave her room because people die if she goes near them.”
All of the women stopped and looked at her.
“What color are her eyes? White or bright green?” Alona asked.
“I don’t think white is that dangerous. I mean, it’s probably not fun, but it’s not as serious as green.” Paisley said.
“They’re green.” Jeri got up.
Daxx and Reagan exchanged a look. “You need to talk to Sith or Gudrun.” She nodded.
“They’re our guards,” Reagan shrugged, “well, Gudrun is also my uncle, but he has the same feeding class.”
Jeri nodded. “This is all so different. Understanding the differences of eyes and abilities.”
“Abilities.” Daxx leaned over the book again.
Princess Autumn came in. She was dabbing her forehead with a towel. Jeri didn’t know what she’d been doing, but she was soaked in sweat.
“What are we doing?” She looked around.
“Where’s Viola?” Bethany asked.
“Michael is watching her for a few minutes.” She rolled her shoulders. “I needed to go work out.”
“We’re working on a guidebook for women that are new to Alterealm.”
Autumn nodded. “Two porter bracelets. Always have a backup.” She shrugged and went over to the fridge. “Iceman said the seer from team bad was found.”
“Her soul was screaming,” Jeri said quietly.
Alona gave her a startled look. “You can see things like that?”
Jeri nodded. “I’ve never experienced it like that before.”
“What did she say?” Kara glanced over Daxx’s shoulder and looked at the book.
“She begged to go home; said she wouldn’t do it anymore.” Jeri watched Autumn set the drink down, go over to a target, and pull out the knives. These women were nothing like what she’d imagined royalty to be.
“That’s sad,” Bethany said. “I hope she’s all right—not because I’m sorry for what she did, because it almost got many of us killed, but…”
“She may have the information we need,” Alona said quietly.
“Yes.” Bethany nodded.
“Do you know much about Solrelm?” Jeri hadn’t intended to ask, but it seemed like these women would understand that she had.
“Not a lot. No.” Paisley said. “Crissy is our info board; we usually just ask her. Why?”
“Trendan and my soul are mates, I suppose is the way to say it.” She gnawed on her lip for a moment. “And Bastian blurted out the fact that if his brother shares his soul with me, then I would end up a queen of a realm I’m not from.”
“Wow. Men are jerks in all realms, huh?” Autumn looked at her for a moment and then turned and flicked the knives at the board one, right after the other.
“You don’t want to be Queen?” Alona asked.
Jeri opened her mouth and held it that way for a second before speaking. “I don’t know.” She grimaced, “my life hasn’t been something that would prepare me for something like that.”
