Deviation: Altera Realm Trilogy Book 2 (30 page)

Syney nodded. They walked the rest of the way to the dining hall in silence. There was too much to think about. Syney had to think about the idea of not having kids if she couldn’t find a way to reverse the curse, which was likely. Top that with the fact that Hunter had a pretty good chance of coming home, and Syney wasn’t sure what the hell to think about anything. And she’d thought that making her room boil was the worst of her problems for the day. She needed to stop underestimating bad days in the Village.

“I don’t think I could eat another thing!” Noelle exclaimed, as she and Gabe headed out of the dining hall.

Gabe laughed from behind her and pulled her to a stop. He looked down at her, and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her, but they both knew he couldn’t, not in the open. They were on pretty thin ice as it was because they spent so much time together. Noelle wouldn’t be surprised if the rumor mill had them sleeping together.

“I feel bad about not getting Syney for breakfast,” she said quietly.

Gabe rolled his eyes. “I told you Adam wanted to talk to her alone.”

“I know. I just like being the first one to see her in the morning.”

Gabe smirked at her. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

She laughed and playfully slapped him. “No. I just can usually tell if she’s going to have a good day or a bad one—not that she’s had too many bad ones since Adam’s been around, but still.”

Gabe moved closer to her. “What do you think will happen if Hunter comes back?”

Noelle eyed him curiously.
Why even ask?
she wondered. “I don’t know. But I think Syney is in a very good place with Adam.” She smiled. “You’re worried about him.”

He backed up and turned his bored expression back on. She recently had learned that it was all an act, and he was much more vulnerable than he let on. He had even doted on her last night, making sure she was OK after she’d been stabbed.

Noelle sighed and suddenly felt an extreme hunger while at the same time feeling completely full. It was extremely odd. She looked at Gabe and frowned. “I’m hungry.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You just said you were full.”

“I am. That’s weird, right?”

Gabe nodded as Syney and Adam walked into the room and over to them.

“Hey, guys. Gabe, I have another odd power thing for ya. But first I’m going to eat. I’m starving,” Syney said, heading straight for the food.

Noelle looked at Syney as she walked away then looked back at Gabe wide-eyed. “What do you know about the Vilori healing power?” she asked him.

Gabe was watching Syney. “Obviously not enough.”

They both looked at each other before going after Syney and Adam. A short while later, they all sat at a table in the back, far enough away from most prying ears, especially Syney’s Protectors, who sat across the room.

“So you feel what I feel?” Syney asked slowly.

Noelle shrugged. “I think so, but I haven’t felt anything since you came in hungry.”

Syney frowned and pinched herself while staring at Noelle. “Feel that?”

She shook her head.

“Maybe it was a fluke,” Syney said.

“Possibly. I did hear something about healing connecting the two people involved, but you haven’t experienced this with anyone else, correct?” Gabe asked.

“Nope.”

“Not Hunter or Cass?”

Syney looked at him. “Why Cass?”

Gabe was quiet for a moment. “Did I forget to tell you that?”

“Tell me what?”

“Back when you were attacked in your room, Cass healed you with some healing spells.”

Syney silently stared at him while Noelle slapped his arm. “How could you not tell her that?” she snapped, annoyed.

Adam looked back and forth between the two. “I can’t tell if she really is annoyed with you or if it’s coming from Syney.”

“Probably both,” Gabe said with a smile.

“Here. I’ve got it,” Adam said, wiping his mouth. He turned to Syney and kissed her hard on the lips.

Noelle looked at the two for a moment before a bubbling lust filled her gut. She let out a breath and grabbed the table, fully aware that her face was burning red. She looked at Gabe and nodded. “Oh, definitely connected.”

Syney caught her breath and looked at her. “Um, well, we’re always saying we want to be closer.”

Noelle looked at her, not knowing what to say. Syney had saved her life, and she couldn’t thank her enough for that, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to be linked like this. They didn’t know anything about it, and she didn’t know whether this was temporary or not.

“I’m going to go talk to Hadrian,” Gabe said, standing up.

“How?” Syney asked.

“A crystal,” he said, as if that were explanation enough.

“I’ll come,” Adam said. “He might know something about all that energy Syney possessed this morning.” He kissed the top of Syney’s head, and they both left.

Syney sighed and looked down at her food.

“I literally feel your frustration. What’s wrong?” Noelle said with a smile.

Syney laughed. “Sorry. I just…Weird stuff has always happened to Hunter and me, but I’m pretty sure similar things happened before I healed him as well. Nothing really stands out afterward. If he could sense my feelings, I’m pretty sure he would have mentioned it.”

“Maybe it’s different for everyone. If it’s just a connection, it could be lots of things: reading thoughts, knowing when one is in trouble, um, and a lot more.”

Syney cocked her head to the side and stared off into space. “Just a connection…”She looked back at Noelle. “I…have these dreams. They’re pretty vivid.”

“Like the one where you saw your mother?”

Syney shook her head. “These are really dreams. I figured they were just fantasies, but what if they aren’t? What if…we’re really there?”

“Like shared dreams? Are they always with Hunter?”

Syney nodded. “Lately they’ve been…out on the front lines.” She bit her lip and got really quiet.

Noelle didn’t need to ask what was wrong. She knew that Syney had loved Hunter and that she’d felt pain when he had left, but she didn’t know anything could feel like this. Noelle’s heart felt as if it literally had broken open, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of her chest.

Syney gave her a compassionate look. “Sorry,” she whispered, standing up. “I’m going to go to the council meeting. I’ll see you afterward.”

Noelle nodded and watched her go. Once Syney was out of the room, the feeling lifted.
It must only happen when we’re close to each other
, Noelle thought. She
left the dining hall to find Gabe and let him know what had happened. When she walked into Gabe’s room, he was sitting on the couch, staring off into space.

“Hey, where’s Adam?” Noelle asked, sitting next to him.

“Left. Hadrian said there might be some books in the library on the royal families’ powers. What’s wrong?” he asked, running his fingers through her hair.

“It only happens when we’re close to each other.”

He nodded. “What’s really wrong?”

She sighed. “I’d be worried about Adam and Syney if Hunter comes back. Five minutes of her thinking about him, and I almost killed myself.”

Gabe looked away.

“But you knew that.” Noelle shook her head. “You’ve been in Hunter’s head, and he feels the same way about her.”

“Yes. I think I made a mistake and now I can’t undo it.”

“By bringing Adam here?”

“I didn’t think he’d fall in love with her. I just needed him to help her.”

Noelle nodded and leaned her head against his.
The best laid plans
, she thought.

When Leaf read the last of the report Hunter had written, he glanced at Helen before sitting back down in his chair. Helen had learned about much of the report from Cass, even some things that weren’t in the report. Her sister hadn’t gone into too much detail about the kidnapping, and Helen could tell she was leaving something important out, but she didn’t push Cass. Something had changed her—that was apparent—but Cass would only talk about it when she was ready to talk, as always. Helen looked at Syney, who was the reason she was here. Priestesses couldn’t hold a seat on the council, which had forced Helen to give hers up, although she had to admit she didn’t miss it much. Syney was quiet, staring at the table. She’d seemed distracted since she had sat down, her face not changing at all while Leaf had read the report.

The entire table was silent for a few moments. Finally Mellisandrianna laid her hands flat on the table. “Has our prisoner said anything?”

Leaf shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Then the solution is obvious. The troops must move north then proceed over the border,” she said.

“That’s ridiculous!”

The whole council looked at Syney, who was suddenly much less distracted.

“The entire purpose of this mission was to investigate movement along the borders and to engage if necessary,” Mellisandrianna said flatly. “One of their
own kidnapped one of the royal princesses then tried to kill you. I see that as engaging.”

“That was the act of one man, whose fate already has been decided. There’s been no other activity from the Shifters,” Syney said.

The queen shook her head. “I’m not sure you were listening to the report, but the commander clearly states that the Shifter population is further north. Therefore they should move that way.”

“But a troop of Lycin guards will clearly be seen as a threat.”

“They will be on our lands.”

“No, you want to send them over the border to Shifter lands.”

“It needs to be done to assess our enemies.”

“It’s a suicide mission,” Syney huffed.

Mellisandrianna sighed heavily. “And what would you like the troops to do? Stay where they are and get zero information?”

Syney stared across the table at her for a moment before sitting up straighter. “I motion we bring the troops back to the palace.”

The queen laughed. “Of course you do.”

“I second that,” Cass said, leaning forward. Helen looked at her and felt pride swell in her chest. She’d always see Cass as her baby sister, but she really was growing into an amazing strong-willed woman.

The queen stared at Syney for a while, her face icy but emotionless.

“Shall I call the roll?” Justice asked quietly.

“No,” Mellisandrianna said slowly.

“But it was motioned and seconded.”

She turned her blue eyes to him. “Make a note: I, Queen Mellisandrianna of House Crystallianna, make an executive decision not to bring the motion to a vote on the basis of Village security.”

“Seriously?” Syney asked. Both Helen and Leaf touched her arms on either side. She looked back and forth between the two before sighing and closing her mouth.

“Notation made,” Justice said, putting down his pen.

“Commander,” Mellisandrianna told Leaf, “please respond to the report by giving them the directions to move the camp north. They may proceed over the borders once they’re ready.”

Leaf silently nodded to the queen’s request.

“Now then, Syney, I believe you have another motion. A reason our honored guests, Vasclineda and Helenandrianna, are present.” Mellisandrianna smiled down the table.

Syney took a deep breath and stood. “I wanted to bring to the council’s attention the idea of pairings. It’s not a secret that I’m a big supporter of equal
attention and rights for nonroyals and Lycins.” She paused as she looked down at the table. After a moment she looked back up and at the council. “Joinings are sacred. They forever bond two souls. Our society believes so strongly in them that we leave the decisions of pairings up to the divine. But I wonder whether some pairings aren’t made simply because we, as a society, aren’t prepared for them and whether Venus knows that. Who’s to say that a royal and a nonroyal can’t fall in love and make a very joyous pairing? Or that…a Lycin and a Magic User can’t have the same things.” Syney’s voice drifted off.

“Vasclineda, what do you say about this?” Elder Lawrence asked.

The old high priestess sat up and looked at him. “I do believe there are many different options Venus has for pairings. But there are some roads that she chooses not to go down, if only to play by our rules, if you will. Pairings of any kind are joyous in their very nature and should be embraced, regardless of parentage.”