Before I could reach the main section of the command center, however, I almost ran headfirst into Pandora. She was rushing in my direction, her head down, not seeing me until we almost collided.
“Rask, I’m sorry! I was in a world of my own,” she said, skidding to a halt.
I smiled. “No problem. In fact, you might be just the person I’m looking for,” I said, realizing she might be able to help me. Queen Brisha was preferable, but Pandora was her righthand woman, which was more than good enough.
“Oh?” Pandora said.
I drew in a deep breath. “I want to join the queen’s army,” I said, voicing my plans aloud for the first time. There was no going back now that it was out of my mouth. “Either that, or train with them, at the very least,” I added, hoping for a positive reaction.
Pandora’s face was blank for a moment, and then an expression of disbelief settled over her features. She eyed me curiously. “I hope you don’t think me rude, but your species is weak—you would be of little use in the queen’s army.”
“Well… if you gave me the chance, I think I might surprise you. I’m good with knives. Even Navan was impressed by my throwing abilities. Besides, I’m stealthy—that could be of use to the queen. More importantly, I don’t want to sit around doing nothing while your queendom is being attacked. I refuse to.” I folded my arms over my chest, determined to stand my ground. I didn’t want to say it out loud, but I hoped that my proactive mentality might get me on Queen Brisha’s good side, building a bridge of trust between us. If she could learn to rely on me, that could give us the freedom to escape in the future.
Of course, my motives for joining the army were not entirely for Queen Brisha’s benefit. I knew that if I could be part of the soldier training I would be able to spend more time with Navan, and keep an eye on him. Also, it would mean I could grow stronger, and learn more about coldbloods’ weaknesses and how to defend myself better against the species. I also couldn’t help but think of Orion, and how I might exact my revenge on him if I ever got the chance, for all the torture he’d put us through—and for how he’d killed Galo.
Pandora looked thoughtful, though a strong trace of doubt remained in her expression. “Well… I suppose we are about to begin a fresh round of training soon… I should warn you, though, it won’t be easy. You will struggle and find it difficult to fit in. Everyone will think the same about you that I have, regardless of your skills.”
I knew she was right, but I wouldn’t be put off. My mind was made up.
I shrugged. “I don’t really mind what others think of me. I’ll show them I’ve got guts enough to be there.”
Pandora sighed. “All right. Then I look forward to seeing you on day one. I’ll send word when you are expected.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” I said, giving her a smile. “Is it safe to go back into the palace now? I, uh, kind of really need a shower.”
She nodded. “Gianne’s troops have all retreated since the alchemy lab bombing—it’s fine to return. I’ll be passing your group; would you like me to tell them to meet you in the apartment?”
I shook my head. “Thanks, but I just need a moment alone,” I admitted.
She smiled warmly. “Of course, Riley. If you take the staircase over there it should take you up to the right tower,” she instructed, nodding to one of the doors in the side of the rockface. “I’ll see you again soon.” With that, she excused herself, heading toward the hut area at the side of the underground chamber.
Feeling a sense of relief at the small period of freedom that lay ahead of me, I hurried toward the staircase she’d gestured to and ran straight to the very top. As I reached our floor, I was breathless, my lungs burning, but I knew I was mere minutes away from standing beneath the comforting cascade of hot water. The thought spurred me on, leading me into Navan’s and my chambers.
I froze when I saw the figure standing in front of the roaring fireplace, his back facing me.
“Navan? What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised. Then again, this was exactly like him—he must have known where I’d be headed, and here he was, waiting for me.
“Where did you go?” he asked, his eyebrows raised as he turned to face me. “When you mentioned taking a shower I thought I’d come and join you, but when I went to the showers at the back of the hut village, you weren’t there… so I thought I’d wait for you here in case this was where you meant.”
I blushed. The thought of Navan and me in the shower together was just the kind of image my mind needed right now, after the turmoil of everything else. It beat solitude any day. Still, he was going to need an explanation for what I’d been up to, and I had to tell him, even if it meant distracting him from that delicious idea.
“I was talking to Pandora,” I said, biting the bullet. “I asked to join the next round of army training.”
Navan’s jaw dropped, his face aghast. “Why… Why didn’t you say anything? Couldn’t you have at least run it by me first?” he replied, a look of horror on his face. “Do you have any idea how hard it’s going to be—and how dangerous?!”
I sighed. He sounded just like Bashrik when his voice rose like that. “I knew you’d have been against it if I’d tried to speak to you about it. Besides, who says I have to ask your permission for everything I do?” I pouted at him. “Now that we’re here on Vysanthe for the foreseeable future, I can’t rely on you to always be there. Army training will ensure we’re as close to each other as possible, but it will also teach me to be a strong fighter. I’ll end up more capable of protecting myself, which is what you want, right?”
Navan’s features softened, his disbelief fading. It surprised me to see him accepting my words so quickly, but I was glad for it. Perhaps Navan was finally learning to trust my Earthen judgment. It made me smile, his acceptance of me making him even more attractive in that moment.
“You’re right that it will make you a stronger fighter,” he said, taking a step closer to me. “And I want to be close to you, too… Plus, they’d never put you on a real battlefield—I’d make sure of that.”
That promise calmed a lot of my nerves about the idea. I wanted to learn to be a soldier, but the idea of actually being one didn’t really sit well with me. I didn’t think I had it in me to actually kill someone.
“Please don’t be afraid to talk to me, though, Riley,” Navan said, closing the gap between us. He took my hands in his, gazing down into my eyes. “I want you to feel like you can tell me anything. I know I’m not always the best at… communication, but I promise I’ll try harder to listen to you first before freaking out over things.”
“You mean you’ll be Sexy, Amazing Listener Navan?” I asked.
He smiled. “With emphasis on the Sexy.”
I grinned, allowing his arms to slide around my midriff, while draping my own over his shoulders. It seemed we were making progress, Navan and me. Although the universe’s future looked stormy and uncertain, our future seemed to be burning brighter.
He leaned in, pressing his cheek to mine, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the rough stubble of his jaw.
“Now, how about that shower?” he whispered huskily in my ear.
“Sounds like a plan,” I breathed back.
He moved in to kiss me, and as his lips caressed mine, all the pain and suffering of the past two weeks ebbed away, my world becoming what I could hold in my hands. My skin tingled as his hands traced my waist, and I trailed my hands through his hair, drawing our kiss deeper.
In this room, with him, I could imagine we were anywhere. Vysanthe didn’t exist. Orion didn’t exist. The queens didn’t exist. As long as we were in here, alone together, then the bubble of bliss wouldn’t burst. Outside, I knew the uncertainty of a dangerous future loomed over our heads, wielding a pin that could dissolve our bubble with one jab, destroying it forever.
But for now, for this moment, we were safe inside it.
Epilogue
PANDORA
I waited until darknes
s fell, and the hallways of the palace grew quiet. After the events of the day, Queen Brisha wasn’t likely to sleep tonight, but I knew she wouldn’t call for me again until morning. I had told her I was retiring to bed, which was true… But there was something I needed to do first.
I made my way to the old galleria. Dustsheets covered the aging statues and portraits from the days of Queen Brisha’s parents, the pale shapes looking like ghosts in the dappled moonlight.
Reaching the small broom cupboard at the back of the hall, I glanced over my shoulder once, then shut myself inside. Another door lay ahead of me, hidden behind rows of forgotten cleaning equipment. I opened it softly, emerging at the top of a winding stairwell. I swept down it, careful to keep my footsteps light, then drew out the set of keys in my pocket and unlocked the metal door at the bottom.
Stepping out into the crisp night air, I inhaled deeply, allowing myself to pause as I looked around. The gardens were shrouded in shadows and silence, the icy stillness almost unnerving. It was hard to believe that just hours ago the city had been under attack.
The shriek of a throat-tearer broke the calm, causing my heart to skip a beat. As the large bat flapped out from the branches of a nearby tree, I took it as my cue to keep moving.
Spreading my own wings, I took to the air, soaring high over the grounds. I flew until I reached the tallest tree that stood on the perimeter of the royal property, where I descended and settled myself among the sharp leaves. My eyes drank in the sprawling view of the city, falling briefly on the ruins of the bombed alchemy lab. Then I drew my wings around me like a shield, blocking out the harsh gusts of wind, and focused on the task at hand.
I reached for one of the two comm devices attached to my belt and switched it on. Punching in the only code I used with this device, I waited. It dialed. Once, twice, thrice.
And then a familiar baritone voice answered, infused with expectation.
“Pandora?”
I drew in a deep breath, knowing this conversation wasn’t going to be easy.
“Orion, we need to talk.”
* * *
Ready for the next part of Riley and Navan’s story?
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Coldbloods!
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On to Book 3 of the series: Renegades! It releases February 10th, 2018.
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Bella x
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Read more by Bella Forrest
HOTBLOODS
Hotbloods (Book 1)
Coldbloods (Book 2)
Renegades (Book 3)
THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK
The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
THE GENDER GAME
(Completed series)
The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)
A SHADE OF VAMPIRE SERIES
Series 1: Derek & Sofia’s story
A Shade of Vampire (Book 1)
A Shade of Blood (Book 2)
A Castle of Sand (Book 3)
A Shadow of Light (Book 4)
A Blaze of Sun (Book 5)
A Gate of Night (Book 6)
A Break of Day (Book 7)
Series 2: Rose & Caleb’s story
A Shade of Novak (Book 8)
A Bond of Blood (Book 9)
A Spell of Time (Book 10)
A Chase of Prey (Book 11)
A Shade of Doubt (Book 12)
A Turn of Tides (Book 13)
A Dawn of Strength (Book 14)
A Fall of Secrets (Book 15)
An End of Night (Book 16)
Series 3: The Shade continues with a new hero…
A Wind of Change (Book 17)
A Trail of Echoes (Book 18)
A Soldier of Shadows (Book 19)
A Hero of Realms (Book 20)
A Vial of Life (Book 21)
A Fork of Paths (Book 22)
A Flight of Souls (Book 23)
A Bridge of Stars (Book 24)
Series 4: A Clan of Novaks
A Clan of Novaks (Book 25)
A World of New (Book 26)
A Web of Lies (Book 27)
A Touch of Truth (Book 28)
An Hour of Need (Book 29)
A Game of Risk (Book 30)
A Twist of Fates (Book 31)
A Day of Glory (Book 32)
Series 5: A Dawn of Guardians
A Dawn of Guardians (Book 33)
A Sword of Chance (Book 34)
A Race of Trials (Book 35)
A King of Shadow (Book 36)
An Empire of Stones (Book 37)
A Power of Old (Book 38)
A Rip of Realms (Book 39)
A Throne of Fire (Book 40)
A Tide of War (Book 41)
Series 6: A Gift of Three
A Gift of Three (Book 42)
A House of Mysteries (Book 43)
A Tangle of Hearts (Book 44)
A Meet of Tribes (Book 45)
A Ride of Peril (Book 46)
A Passage of Threats (Book 47)
A Tip of Balance (Book 48)
A Shield of Glass (Book 49)
A Clash of Storms (Book 50)
Series 7: A Call of Vampires
A Call of Vampires (Book 51)
A Valley of Darkness (Book 52)
A Hunt of Fiends (Book 53)
A Den of Tricks (Book 54)
A SHADE OF DRAGON TRILOGY
A Shade of Dragon 1
A Shade of Dragon 2
A Shade of Dragon 3
A SHADE OF KIEV TRILOGY
A Shade of Kiev 1
A Shade of Kiev 2
A Shade of Kiev 3
THE SECRET OF SPELLSHADOW MANOR
(Completed series)
The Secret of Spellshadow Manor (Book 1)
The Breaker (Book 2)
The Chain (Book 3)
The Keep (Book 4)
The Test (Book 5)
The Spell (Book 6)
BEAUTIFUL MONSTER DUOLOGY
Beautiful Monster 1
Beautiful Monster 2
DETECTIVE ERIN BOND (Adult thriller/mystery)
Lights, Camera, GONE
Write, Edit, KILL
For an updated list of Bella’s books, please visit her website: www.bellaforrest.net
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Bella Forrest, Coldbloods
(Series: Hotbloods # 2)
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