Torrent of Tears (Scourge Survivor Series Book 3)(14)

Terran placed his hand beside mine and shook his head. “I’ve never heard of that. Maybe it likes you and is welcoming you home.”

I laughed and followed him around the gentle arc of the moat’s dividing wall. A rhythmic feminine sigh was coming from somewhere up ahead. It was obvious by the pitch and gasp that someone else was out enjoying the early-dawn seclusion of the staff areas. Terran and I froze as male panting joined the chorus of coitus.

“Oh, Princess,” the man said, “how you intrigue me.”

Cue more of the feminine giggles.

Doubling back the way we came, we hustled down another side path, leaving the dawn lovers to their fun.

“Forgive me,” Terran said, clearing his throat. He kept a solid gaze on the path in front of us. “A poor first impression of life at the palace.”

I snorted. “Please, that was the most like home I’ve felt since I got here. My sister, Jade, married a Highborne Elf. He and his family all prefer to get their grind on in the glory of nature. Tripping into backyard sex is almost a daily occurrence. Voyeurism is unavoidable where I live.”

Not for the first time since Freya found me at the pond, I found myself missing Tham. We had fooled around under the moonlight dozens of times ourselves. Not that Terran needed to know that. I wished I’d sent Tham a text or something before I left. Even with everyone angry at me, Tham would understand why I had wanted to come here. Wouldn’t he?

Yes. Yes, he would. This was my chance to find out who I was. He would get it. If he were here, he would have snuggled in beside me last night and let me cry, scream and fall apart. Then, like the true friend he was, he would’ve dusted me off and kicked me in the ass to keep going.

“May I ask you something?” Terran asked, pausing before an opening to another path.

“Sure, shoot.”

“Did you really not know who you are all this time?”

“Nope. The big reveal yesterday came right outta the blue. I still need the deets about this whole Eligible thing and how that Balor man was my breeder and gave birth to me. I’ve never heard of men bearing children before, but hey if I can avoid pushing out a mini-me, that rocks. I like my boobs right where they are and my vagina can crack walnuts.

When Terran could breathe again, we continued.

“And the other realms? What are they really like? The portals were barred before I was born. I’ve always had a fascination with the forbidden.”

I shrugged. “I’d imagine it’s not that different from here: good guys versus bad and all the life, love and laughter in between.”

Terran nodded. “But the Modern World, the vehicles, their sense of abandon, their vernacular—it’s amazing.”

“You’re crazy. The best thing about the Modern Realm is shopping. Hands down.” I thought about the party supplies I’d imported for my Bacchanalia, things I might not get to use now. Was Julian right? Had it been selfish to want to have an amazing birthday? Had I really risked exposure?

As we continued to stroll, Terran and I fell into an easy step. “Was it terrible, Princess? Being raised in the Realm of the Fair? Everyone seems so horrified that you were taken from Attalos, but I think it must have been thrilling.”

We turned a corner and headed toward the sheer wall of the mountain attached to the back of the palace. I ran my fingers along the arcing design of the orichalcum wall and sighed. “It’s bizarre really. I mean, obviously, I love my family and my life, but I never quite fit. I don’t think you really can when you don’t know who you are.”

I looked down at myself and laughed. “I’m obviously not human. I’m short, stronger than almost any man and have an unquenchable almost obsessive thirst for all the good stuff in life: fighting, drinking and fucking.”

Terran choked again and I pounded him on the back.

“So, I knew what I wasn’t, but it didn’t matter to anyone I cared about what or who I was. They accepted me. Lexi, daughter, sister, friend, fighter or teacher, it didn’t matter.”

The look on my siblings’ faces last night triggered a tightening in my gut. Well, I thought they’d accepted me.

“What is it that you teach?” Terran asked.

“Strategic assault, weapons mastery, anything to do with kicking someone’s ass. Likely nothing anyone here would approve of.”

Terran frowned. “No, but it just might keep you alive.”





CHAPTER SIX


“Alive? What the hell does that mean?” I jogged behind Terran as he rounded the corner and we found ourselves in a green, grassy clearing surrounded by an orchard of fruit trees. Across the way, a dozen of those black, Kevlar guards faced off, working on close-combat grabs and running through striking weapons and entrenching tools. Yee-haw.

Terran gave me a look and I nodded. We’d finish our conversation later.

Tightening up his youthful lope, Terran straightened his back and squared his shoulders. The commanding officer of the group was barking direction as we strode up behind him. Hierarchy in the military saves lives, I knew and respected that, so instead of bounding in and joining the fun like I wanted to do, I played nice and observed until we were addressed.

Standing barefoot on the soft, carpet-like grass I realized, this was the first real greenery I’d seen since I got here. Bronze metal walls and stone floors had a remarkably soothing effect on me, but the cool, strength of green things reminded me of Haven.