I found her trough her license plate.
Like there was any chance I was going to lose her just after what I felt. As soon as we got back through the veil, I set about finding everything I could about her. I am not the best at infiltrating computer systems, but I'm a quick learner and picked up a couple of tricks watching Todus work his magic on a computer for years. I lean back on my reclining chair with a sigh and stared at the plastered ceiling. The trill that runs through me as I think of holding her in my arms again shakes my body's very core. Impossible. She is impossible, she cannot be.
Yet she is.
There have not been any Rega born since the recogning But I felt it. Bonds, I can still feel it. The joining that started the moment I looked into her eyes. It was exactly like Grand-Denny explained it was in the olden days. It's not as it used to be. There is not much left to note our existence, and to show how our cultures had once thrived,
A firm hand on my shoulder brings me back from my morose thoughts. I glance sideways to see Leaf one of my closest junah peering over my shoulder at the computer screen in front of me. The puzzled look on his tired face as he tries to read the code I'm typing on the screen is quite comical.
"What in the seven Bonds are you doing?" He asks looking away; already losing interest.
"hacking into the city records." I answer simply, going back to my work.
"I see." Leaf muses just as nonchalantly. "and why exactly are you hacking into the city system at three in the morning?" he prowls over to the black leather long couch that takes up most of the common area and plops down unceremoniously with a thud. Picking up the remote, he turns on the massive TV dominating one wall that still makes me feel ten years old and flips through the channels.
I hesitate to answer. I don't know why, this is great news. No, this is a miracle to our people. If I am not delusional, if I was not imagining it. This means hope; something we have long forgotten and given up on feeling. So why? Leaf is my Junah, a brother in all things but blood. The bond connecting us is strong and unbreakable, he would die for me and so would I for him.
I glance over at Leaf and think of him meeting my Rega, of him touching her and embracing her. The growl of pure menace and violence that rumbles through my chest shocks both me and Leaf. I hardly notice the plop of the remote as it falls from Leaf's rigid hands. Did I just issue a challenge? To Leaf? The Embarrassment and shame I feel isn't enough to clear the haze of possessiveness and urge to kill from my mind. I shut my eyes tight and tried to calm myself down, the mantra of her face runs through my mind. I sigh feeling myself relax. But Having to readjust myself the very next second because all the hardness in my body have gone down south to a certain area. I overdid the imagery I think. I can almost now feel her soft curves as I did when I held her against me in the parking lot.
I shake my head again more vigorously this time. 'Snap out of it!' I chastise myself.
"Did you just..?" Leaf trails off.
"No!" I quickly reassure him quickly, "It was an involuntary response."
Leaf narrows his eyes at me; suspicious, all his casual disinterest seeping away like a cloak "What do you mean involuntary? You know as well as any of us how serious a challenge is. After what happened at Rhadmont, the rules that were put in place to prevent the fighting and killing. Not to mention how swiftly anyone who defies these rules is put to death immediately, for the good of us all. Even if you are the next of our people; if you start displaying traits of aggressiveness and bond madness the council will not hesitate to..."
"Yes, yes the council. I know the drill Leaf, you don't have to recite our whole history to me." I cut him off, punctuating my words with a sigh and running a tired hand over my face.
"if you know, then why did you almost issue one?" he persisted punctuating the 'Know" like I was an idiot. Witch honestly might not be too far off.
I sigh againHow can she possibly be a Rega there is just no way for it to be even remotely conceivable, "I'm waiting." Leaf interrupted my musings impatiently not letting it go.
"You should take my silence as a sign that I don't want to answer commander" I hoped using his title would surprise him enough to make him back of the topic until I can figure what the hell it is that is making me think the little brunet is more than the mundane she appeared to be. But no dice, Leaf just crossed his arms and glowed at me some more like he could intimidate the confection out of me.
I grunted and turned my chair so I was facing him. "Come closer, I don't want this getting to the houses until I have a firm grasp on what is going on myself. These walls have ears as you well know." Leaf narrowed his eyes some more but complied with my request and came to the table where I had my laptop sitting on top and a notepad and pen next to it.
"Ok, so what is this about?" he cut right to the chase.
I thought I might do him in kind and answered just as bluntly, "I believe I've found my Rega" For a couple of seconds nothing showed on Leaf's face then confusion, followed by amazement, followed by disbelieve, then finally amusement, his signature half smirk making an appearance as his body relaxed.
"Seven bonds Marcus, you had me going there for a second. I didn't know you had it in you to be such a good prankster!" He clapped me on the shoulder jovially. Bonds, is this payback for the guacamole toothpaste prank I pulled on you last week? Man, you should have seen your face when you stared brushing your teeth with it."
"I am being serious leaf. That was an unholy injustice against guacamole, but it has nothing to do with this now."
Leaf stopped laughing and looked back at absolute astonishment on his face as he noted the tone in my voice. "What? You are serious?" he asked incredulous.
"Yes" I replied.
"No, no that is impossible, more than impossible. You do realize it takes a Rega to birth a Rega right?"
"Yes of course I know that, get to the point"
"And you do remember that all of our Regas were killed almost five centuries now right?" he continued as if I had not interrupted.
"Of course, I know this."
"Then where exactly did your Rega come from? Have you been hiding her in your basement all this time?
"I know how it sounds leaf, but I swear I felt it. The connection, the bond." I rack my brain for an explanation, "maybe some survived and lived amongst the humans"
Leaf eyebrows shot up as if in confirmation of his eminent victory, "As if" he scuffed. "and how in the third bond would you know how a bond felt like? Explain that!"
"it's not a question of getting the right or wrong sort of feeling, you just know." He gave me a skeptical look, "If you'd crack a book open occasionally or talked to the elders once in a blue moon you would know what I am talking about. We have books from before the reckoning and if you get an elder talking he will not stop until he tells you everything he has ever known."
"Yea no, those old geezers will never catch me in their web of reminiscence. That is your lot to deal with as the heir. But more importantly Marcus what brought this on? Or more accurate I should say, Who?"
I closed my eyes briefly picturing her. "The witness from our earlier mission today."
Leaf gapped once more, "The fiery brunet that kicked your balls into next week in the parking lot?"
I winced remembering. Amazing fortitude or not, there are just somethings a male cannot have too much protection on, "Yes, her. When I held her and looked into her eyes I felt it."
"But she was a mundane, a regular old human." Leaf argued, "You said so yourself, that is the excuse you gave us as to why we did not need to pursue her. You said she could not have seen anything while we were cloaked, that she was probably just scared of a big man in an empty parking lot in the middle of the night, that is why she ran."
"That is What I said But, I think she saw. While she sat by her car, she was looking straight at me while I was cloaked. That is why after I killed the Bujja, I uncloaked and approached her."
"Flaming bonds!" leaf swore harshly, "If she for sure is what you think she is, do you know the ramifications this could have on everyone? How is this going to change things?"
"You don't sound very enthusiastic about it." I eyed him, "If this is true, this could only be good for our people."
"Yes, but at what cost Marcus. Imagine if the warriors knew they could possibly find a bondmate amongst the human? You know we have a tight leash on them already as it is with the 'no challenges decree'. Imagine the Chaos?" I shake my head not having considered any of that, too filled with joy and happiness, but even more stronger was the anxiety that any minute I will wake up and it would have all been a dream, that she would have been a dream.
"I didn't even consider that."
"No worries your majesty." Leaf grinned as I scowl at him for using my tittle, "you know how I feel about bondmates. You are not like me, you have always wanted a mate, so you would not think of the negative side, but me, I've always been rather avert to them."
"You mean you've always wanted to parade your cock to as many females as you can and not be tied down by any pesky emotions like love or loyalty to your mate."
"You know me so well!" Leaf grinned and clapped my shoulder, "And What a fine cock it is too, it should be seen by many blushing females." He raised his hands like in a prayer.
I chuckled at his antics, already formulating a rebuke when the door creaked opened and a respectable looking male in his sixties or so entered the room, giving me a slight respectful nod accompanied by, "Your Majesty," and another nod to leaf "your grace, diner preparations are now completed, if you would make your way to the dining hall."
"Edwin, you know we don't stand on ceremony, just call me Marcus." I glance at the little man.
"Understood, prince Marcus." Edwin replied perfectly composed. Leaf at my side chuckled and stood tanking Edwin as he exited the room.
"Shall we go? I'm starving, killing remnants never fails to stock my appetite." He strode to the door. I stood up and followed suit shaking my head, "Marcus, what are you going to do now? About your Rega."
I glanced at leaf noting the playfulness in his eyes had fled, "The only thing to do, confirm if she actually is a Rega and my mate. And after that bring her to father and the council.
Leaf shuddered, "I feel sorry for the poor girl already."
I grinned.