The geneva project comp.., p.123
The Geneva Project- Complete Series Boxset, page 123
“What about Kai?” Mala asked.
“You heard him today. He knows Geneva needs to do what is best to serve all and fulfill her destiny.”
“Yeah,” Mala said exhaling. “I guess we’ll see if he changes his tune once we pull this off.”
Mali slung his arm over her shoulders, filling Mala with warmth. “Come on. Let’s go write a letter to that stubborn sister of yours.”
Chapter 47
“Sadie!” Nova called staring into his journal.
Sadie came darting into the tent, blue eyes wide with excitement. “She wrote back?”
Nova nodded holding the journal out to her. “Yes, but I can’t understand the coded writing. What does this mean?”
Sadie scanned the pages quickly, furrowing her brow as she read. She let out a sigh and placed the leather journal on Nova’s cot.
“Are you going to tell me what the Kull it says?” Nova yelled when Sadie didn’t say anything.
“Well, Mala is pretty pissed at me for contacting the Fae and directly disobeying her as soon as she left. But she basically knew I was going to do it since she knows me, so she’s already been expecting this letter.” Sadie grabbed Nova’s hand. “She’s going to help us!”
“She agreed to the plan?”
Sadie nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Better than that, she confirmed it with her own vision.”
“All of it? Mala will help us with everything? Even the parts she has to keep from Geneva?”
“Yes. She’ll do it, Nova. She’s not happy, but she’s on board.”
“Thank the gods,” Nova muttered. “Go get Eja so we can get started.”
Once Sadie left, Nova pulled the journal to his chest and closed his eyes. He let out a slow breath to release the pent up pain growing inside him. Without the aid of the sedatives to dull his senses he was far too aware of his deteriorating health. Everything ached—his mind, muscles, bones—but at least he felt clear-headed.
The blistering scar that traced the Pillar symbol over Nova’s heart caught his eye. Before Sadie’s plan, he tried to avoid looking at the angry, red welt. But now it was a motivator, a silently ticking clock, counting down to the end. He just prayed it would be the end he was hoping for. He closed his eyes again and prayed he’d be strong enough to make it through whatever lay ahead. He needed to survive this for Geneva. For her, he would suffer through anything, even the pain of letting her go if he must.
Eja and Sadie came chattering back to the tent dissolving his unsettling thoughts. Nova released another steadying breath to fight the wave of pain coursing through him.
“I hear we received good news,” Eja said looking at Nova with a kind smile.
“Do you feel well enough to get started?” Sadie asked, her blue eyes gleaming.
Nova forced a grin. “Never felt better.”
Sadie handed him another page of coded text to copy into his dream journal, while Eja started drafting a letter of his own to Geneva. When Nova was finished he looked up to see Sadie and Eja still busy at work. He was beyond grateful that they hadn’t given up on him. This could actually work, he thought to himself. He tried to suppress the powerful flurry of hope beating against his heart like dragon wings. It was early still. So many things could go wrong. But there it was again, the swelling feeling of faith. He’d always told Geneva to have faith. Perhaps it was time he took his own advice. He looked back at the journal and let a slim smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he signed his name.
He traced his finger slowly over Geneva’s name at the beginning of the page. “Come back to me,” he whispered.
Chapter 48
Comfort spread over me with Sparrow, Jovi and Niv all nestled in my bed. I hadn’t been surrounded by friends this way since my days at the Troian Center. I found I missed the feeling. I smiled at the irony as I snuggled into the crowded bed. I never thought I’d miss my life at the Troian Center. Some things were still the same—like the fact that Journey refused to leave Sparrow’s side. He was on guard duty tonight, but decided he would serve us best by posting his chair on the inside of my door. I knew it was just an excuse to keep his ever-watchful eyes on Sparrow. It was endearing and I didn’t mind. Truthfully, his hulking shadow was reassuring.
Mali was on guard duty in his proper place, on the outside of my chamber door. Mala offered to keep him company since Journey refused to stay out there with him. Terran joined them. He volunteered to take Journey’s place when he heard the guys arguing. It seemed he was thrilled with his new role as a royal guard. After what Mala and Sparrow shared with me, I couldn’t help wondering how much of his excitement was bravado. I hadn’t wanted to bring him here, risking his Pillar status, but it eased my mind a bit knowing he was enjoying it. Or at least he pretended he was. I could hear him loudly boasting in the hall. If he wasn’t happy to be in Lux, he was certainly good at pretending.
I rolled over and Niv snuggled deeper into the crook of my neck and made soft cooing noises that warmed my heart. I had missed him immensely. I closed my eyes and drifted into the most peaceful sleep I’d had since coming to the Tower of Lux. My mind drifted to the only thing I was still missing—Nova.
His handsome face danced in my unconscious mind as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 49
Dearest Eva,
I hope this letter makes it to you and finds you well. I have been doing my best to honor your wishes and stay uninvolved in your affairs, but I can’t say the same for the rest of the Betos. They are tired of waiting. They think you are being forced to tell us to stand down against your will. They grow impatient. There is talk of revolt. I fear the unrest will result in an attack that will be devastating for all sides. That is why I write to you. I trust you and will do my best to honor your wishes, but I implore you, if you have a way to calm your people, do it now. Let yourself be seen, so we know you are well. Let your words be heard, so any who disobey them, know it is you they disobey.
Your humble subject,
Eja
“I told you this would happen!” Kobel seethed. “We should have struck them down before they had time to assemble against us.”
“Calm down,” Malakai soothed, examining the roll of parchment in his hand.
Kobel continued to argue. “I think we’ve been calm for entirely long enough. The Betos have numbers!”
“Yes, but now that we know what to expect we can anticipate their attack. There’s no way their band of savages can stand against our army of trained Ravinori soldiers. Besides, this little letter is quite a gift,” Malakai purred.
“How so?”
“It’s the perfect test. We allow the letter to be delivered to Geneva. I want to see how she reacts. If she comes to me with it then we know that we’re gaining her obedience.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“We’ll know where she stands. Perhaps I’ll kill one of her little friends to show my disappointment. Besides if she doesn’t come to us, we can continue to intercept these correspondences. This is better than having an inside man. As usual, she’s playing right into our hands.”
“That is yet to be seen,” Kobel mumbled under his breath. He was halfway to the door when Malakai’s deadly soft voice stopped him.
“Shall I remind you that it is your failure to procure the mind bending serum that has left us open to her whims, Kobel?”
“It’s still in the testing phase, Master. We cannot risk giving it to her before it’s ready. If we ruin her or Kai before the Blood Moon ceremony we lose our chance to bring Ravin back.”
Malakai smirked. “Well it’s a good thing she’s brought her friends. They will make fine test subjects.”
Chapter 50
“What does it say?” I asked anxiously studying the coded text.
We’d designated journal watch around the clock since Nova last contacted me, wanting to know of any new developments as soon as possible. Jovi alerted me the moment the note materialized.
Mala scanned the foreign words silently. “Eja sent the letter about the Betos.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“That’s it.”
“Now what?”
“Now we wait to see if Malakai lets it get to you,” Mala replied.
My heart sank a little. It was apparent that the journal entry was Sadie’s, even if it was Nova’s hand that penned it. I guess deep down I still hoped for something from him. Something that told me he missed me the way I missed him. I ran my finger over his signature and felt his voice in my heart. Come back to me, it whispered.
The echo was shocking and painful. Luckily Mali spoke up, distracting the others from my distress. “Shall we put our plan into action?”
“Yes,” Kai replied. “We’re set to ride into Lux today.”
“I’m impressed Malakai agreed to it,” Remi added.
Kai flashed a grin. “Not as useless as you thought, eh?”
Remi ignored him.
“We’re not completely unchecked,” Kai continued. “My father agreed to let your guards do a ride through and for your ladies to shop for materials, but we won’t be alone. He’s sending Luxors with us.”
Everyone grumbled.
“It’s a start,” I hissed, silencing them.
• • •
We headed to the stables after a hearty breakfast. This time I was prepared, wearing adequate riding attire, and my new horse was saddled just like Kai’s. Six Luxors were already saddled and waiting on us. After introductions and a briefing of how to behave on the streets of Lux—which was basically to put down any threat to me—we were off.
Our iron-shod horses made quite a racket racing down the stone streets of Lux. The citizens we came across quickly made for the shadows when they saw us, vanishing as though they were wraiths. It was eerie, being on the abandoned streets, yet feeling we were being watched. We made it to the square and I saw the horrified expressions as my friends took in the gallows. I’d warned them about it, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the dread I felt when I first saw the macabre structure. Or how my hair stood on end when I was consumed by its shadows, close enough to smell the death that lingered on the ropes.
The Luxors seemed to take pleasure in our discomfort, choosing the gallows as the spot to stop and water the horses. I dismounted and moved my horse closer to Jovi’s, putting myself between her and the hideous hanging platform. She reached for my hand. “Is this where it happened? With Jemma . . .”
A lump wedged itself in my throat cutting off my words. I nodded grimly.
“I’m sorry,” Jovi said squeezing my hand. “She’s not alone, you know? Talon will take care of her now.”
How was Jovi so strong and wise? I pulled her close and collected myself. I wouldn’t let the Luxors know they were getting to me.
I kissed Jovi on the head and gave her my reins, taking one last deep breath before putting our plan into action. Jovi winked at me and I suppressed a grin as I turned toward Kai and took a step toward my destiny.
Clearing my throat, I marched over to Kai and two of the Luxors. “I think we need to split up.”
The uglier of the two Luxors snarled through his missing teeth. “Excuse me?”
“My love, shouldn’t we stick with the plan?” Kai asked, playing his part beautifully.
“We haven’t completed the tour of the city,” the second Luxor replied.
“I don’t really want another tour of the city. Besides, my last one was cut short by the nasty rebels, or have you forgotten?”
Embarrassed, the Luxor looked away. The ugly one spoke in a kinder manner this time. “I don’t think it would be safe to split up, M’lady. We can protect you better if we stick together.”
“Riiight. You did such a stellar job of it last time. Was it you or one of your incompetent brethren who almost let me get trampled to death by my own horse?”
Neither of them responded. I knew they hadn’t been with me that day. Those Luxors had been relieved of their duties—permanently. But I was enjoying watching the soldiers squirm. “Darling, I want to go pick out the silks for my wedding dress and you can’t be there. You know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride’s gown. Why don’t you go on with my guards and finish giving them the tour of the city while my ladies and I go to the market.”
“As you wish,” Kai said, bending to kiss the back of my hand.
He gave me a sly wink and I couldn’t help smiling at him. He was entirely too good at playing his part. “Men, come with me. We’ll finish our tour then rendezvous back here.”
The Luxors started to argue, but Kai interrupted them. “You three,” he said pointing to the fittest looking Luxors. “You accompany my fiancée and her ladies to the market. Bring them back here when they’ve finished. Unscathed, please.”
Kai walked me back to my horse and helped me into the saddle. While gently guiding my foot back into the stirrup he whispered, “I’ll buy you as much time as I can, but work quickly.”
I nodded and spurred my horse away from the boys with one final glance over my shoulder. Journey looked like he was in physical pain watching us ride away. This was the part of the plan I hadn’t been able to get him to agree to, but it seemed Sparrow had managed to convince Journey she’d be all right without him after all.
We rode swiftly. Lily and Sparrow led the way, while Mala and Jovi flanked me, with Luxors on either side and one trailing closely behind. I could hear Mala muttering next to me. “Chauvinistic Pruxes. I can probably shoot better than any of them.” She was obviously still upset that she’d been denied to carry any weaponry. I remember Sadie telling me Mala was deadly with a bow and arrow, but I’d yet to see her in action. As we rode through the ghostly streets I had to admit Mala was right. I would’ve felt safer if we had weapons. At least Kai had disabled our cuffs before we left the Tower. But we could only use our powers as a last resort or our cover would be blown.
Chapter 51
A knot tightened in Journey’s stomach the farther he rode away from the girls.
“I don’t like this,” Remi grumbled as they rode through the winding streets of Lux, climbing higher and higher up the steep lanes.
“Do you think I do?” Journey growled.
“Awe, come on you two. Our girls can take care of themselves,” Terran said with a grin.
“Easy for you to say,” Journey replied. “Your girlfriend didn’t just ride into the unknown.”
“Harsh! I care about them too. You weren’t the only one’s who took oaths,” Terran shot back.
“This is different,” Mali added calmly.
“Just because I wasn’t fast enough to lock down some sweet little honey in the forest doesn’t mean I don’t get it,” Terran scoffed.
Journey’s blood pressure was rising. Terran was a trusted ally. He’d proven his loyalty when he helped them escape the Troian Academy and then Lux, but his time spent with the Luxors and Ravinori had made him ill-mannered. His rude comments about the fairer sex often made Journey want to deck him, friend or not. Sparrow was always making excuses for Terran, and it was her delicate face Journey saw now, telling him to let it go.
“Besides,” Terran continued. “We only just got to court. I have my eye on a few feminas already. Just give me a week to work my magic and I’ll have my pick. Did you see the stems—”
“Terran!” Kai interrupted. “I know you’re used to the Luxors, but at court, we don’t speak about women like that.”
Terran coughed uncomfortably. “Sorry, uh, Your Highness. Noted.”
“Let’s just focus on this ride through,” Mali added trying to get everyone back on track. “We need to know the streets like the back of our hands in case anything goes awry. I want us to map the quickest and safest ways back to the Tower.”
After a few more twists and turns the narrow street opened up to a stone plateau. Atop it, sat a white stone building with a perfectly cylindrical tower. Giant ornate marble columns encircled the structure with faces of the gods and goddess carved into them. The boys reached the stone palace quickly and the Luxors dismounted, hitched their horses and strode toward the entrance of the building. “You coming?” one of them called over his shoulder. Journey dismounted and followed suit, his anxiety building with each step.
Journey trailed his friends as they climbed the winding staircase to the top of the marble tower. The view from the catwalk was incredible. The entire island stretched out before him. He could see the glittering sea, the jagged coastline, and far in the distance he caught a glimpse of the lush green rainforest and the smoking volcano beyond it. For an instant, Journey felt small—a mere spec in the universe.
“This is Faros Keep,” one of the Luxors said.
“Gods watch,” Mali translated.
The Luxor nodded. “From this vantage point one can see all.”
“I can see the appeal,” Journey muttered, his voice laced with dread.
The tower overlooked the entire city of Lux. Journey knew instantly why the Luxors had brought them here. They could see everything. Even the girls. And soon, the Luxors would see they weren’t where they should be.
• • •
The Luxors balked when Lily suggested the street market rather than the ritzy shops on the main streets. When we’d ridden by the glittering storefronts I recognized the name of one of them. Jacques & Gustavo’s Fine Gown Emporium. It was where Kai had my beautiful blue dress made for the Genesis Ball. Memories of the dress and Nova pressing its tattered remains against me—kissing me like I’d always dreamed he would—filled my head, flushing my cheeks. I loathed and loved that dress. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever worn and I should have worn it dancing with Nova. Instead it was the last thing I wore when I saw him beaten and torn away from me. Worst of all, it was the dress I wore when I both confessed my love for him, then stabbed him in the heart by agreeing to marry Kai.
