Free Forest Fire (#2 The Legends of Regia) by Tenaya Jayne

dirty. Luckily, for me, the king ordered I was not to be harmed. But after I was shoved back here, I don't know what happened to his order, because the queen has been dropping assassins right through my ceiling."
     
    Syrus took a ragged breath. "There's a lot I don't know. My father was called away in battle and unaware of what was happening to you…My mother is no longer a threat to you. She is now the one who is banished."
     
    "The queen is banished? How? By whom?"
     
    Syrus grimaced as the words came out. "Your father."
     
    Dread stretched through her extremities. "My father," she whispered.
     
    Syrus reached around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I don't know much, Forest. But he has taken over the Onyx Castle and banished my mother to another world. He broke me out of my prison, and he is the very thing you feared: a priest of the Rune-dy. "
     
    Forest's panic choked her. "He's coming for me. I always knew he would." She sat upright and grasped both of Syrus' shoulders. "You have to help me. I can't go back there! I have to stay where he can't get me!"
     
    "Forest, we have to go back to Regia."
     
    "No! I have to stay here!" she was speaking in hyper speed. "We can be happy here, Syrus. You'll see. I'll protect you from the sun. It'll be fine. More than fine."
     
    Syrus pulled her tightly against his chest again. "Shh. It's all right. I don't think he means you any harm. If he did, why would he stop the threats against you? Why would he let me out and send me back here to be with you? I don't know what his plan is, but I don't think you need to fear him like this."
     
    "But…what if he…"
     
    "Think about it, Forest. If he can single handedly take over the Onyx Castle, do you really think you'd be safe from him here if he wanted to collect you?"
     
    Forest tried to calm down and allow her reason to speak louder than her panic. "You met him?"
     
    "Briefly."
     
    "What is he like?"
     
    "He's very powerful. His name is Rahaxeris."
     
    Forest trembled. "Oh great. I know that name. I've heard it whispered with terror. He's the High Priest, the leader ."
     
    Strangely, Forest felt a shiver of joy through her fear. I know my father's name.
     
    "It's going to be okay. I'll go back alone and see what's what. Then I'll come back for you."
     
    Forest hesitated. "Okay. I guess that makes sense," she said slowly.
     
    "We need more information."
     
    Forest's mind raced. "I could go to the club and talk to whomever has taken over my old job. I'm sure they would know something."
     
    Syrus shook his head. "The portals are closed."
     
    "Why didn't you find out more before you came for me?"
     
    Syrus chuckled and kissed her. "Desperation, Love. I barely absorbed the little information I received as it was." He kissed her again more deeply. "I could think of nothing but you."
     
    "So how are you going to get back, if the portals are shut?" she asked.
     
    "With this." Syrus pulled a silvery chain from the pocket of his trousers.
     
    The light from the bedside lamp slipped along the alien metal, unable to grasp it. Forest took the chain from Syrus and examined the little ball hanging from it. "What it is?"
     
    "An End of the Bridge. The ogre, who opened the portal here, gave it to me. Once I break it, it will take me back."
     
    A solid weight clung to each of Forest's vertebrae as she watched Syrus get dressed and ready to leave. He seemed calm and collected. She felt a faceless distress, and her thoughts were ambushed in countless what ifs. What if the whole thing was a trap? What if the End of the Bridge didn't work properly and took Syrus to the wrong place where he would be in danger? What if her father killed Syrus when he saw that he returned without her?
     
    Syrus kissed her lightly. "Okay, I'll be right back for you. It shouldn't take me any longer than a day."
     
    "Okay." No! Not okay.
     
    Syrus broke the ball between his hands and a black portal opened in the middle of her living room. He walked