Regali (A Walker Saga) by Jaymin Eve Page A

tight fitted jeans . They were a light, stretchy material, and I had them tucked into sturdy, flat black boots. I had on a trim shirt, and a jacket was in my bag. I figured a jungle was going to be hot, but who knew on these planets? It could be anything.
    My hair hung loose down my back so I quickly braided it. Time to go.
    “You look stunning.”
    My eyes found him immediately. He was leaning against the wall, his intensity drowning every sense I possessed. I couldn’t stop myself from crossing to him.
    “I love you ,” I said, staring up at him.
    The liquid chocolate of his eyes softened as he drew me into his arms. His lips came down gently . I fell greedily into the kiss. I needed every single one of these. As always, the heat between us had the kiss deepening, the need exploding and –
    “You have to stop or we won’t be making it to the jungle ,” Brace groaned against my mouth. “Which is fine by me.”
    I laughed , pulling back gently. “You have to stop with this screw-the-world-let’s-run-away business. I’m starting to consider it.”
    “I’m ready when you are.”
    As he stepped away I noticed his clothes for the first time. He was dressed in his usual army-style cargo pants, dark gray, and a fitted white shirt. The white was the perfect frame for his olive skin tone and dark features. No wonder I couldn’t stop kissing this man. He was just far too delicious and perfect, and I was turning into one of those sappy girls.
    I shook it off . I needed to focus. Time to get the fourth girl.

Chapter 6
     
     
    I was trying very hard to breathe, but I was pretty sure there was no air on Regali. Where there should be oxygen it seemed there was water, that’s how dense the air was. We’d just stepped free of Colton’s doorway into a reasonably clear place in the jungle. This spot was courtesy of Magenta’s memory of Regali. I did wonder if she could be trusted not to send us straight into whatever natural dangers existed here. But so far the only thing that looked to be killing us was the moisture in the air.
    “If I knew we were going to a sauna, I’d have worn a bikini ,” Lucy huffed out. “And I’ll be the first to say holy eff.”
    I looked around. “Word. So any ideas how we’re going to move through this jungle?”
    I felt extremely small and insignificant at that moment. The trees surrounding us were massive, spanning high into the sky. And the canopy was so thick that I couldn’t even see the color above. There were smaller plants as well. In fact the entire area looked impenetrable from the round clearing we were standing in. Blue streams of light filtered through the leaves, but it was dim under the canopy.
    “Have you ever seen such a beautiful color?” Lucy had moved a little away from us and she was crouched down.
    I stepped over behind her to peer over her shoulder. And that’s when I saw the sight that had Lucy enthralled.
    They were purple open-budded flowers, growing in small, tight bunches around the edge of a tree. The purple was not any old ordinary color . It was light lilac with a pearly sheen streaking the petals.
    I had to move closer also . There was something fascinating about the beauty of this plant. I reached out a hand to touch them.
    I heard the shouted warning from behind , but it was too late.
    Lucy, who was closer, reached them first. Her hand had only just brushed along the stem when the thorns emerged from their hiding place.
    “Ouch !” she cried out, withdrawing her hand.
    Her cry had been enough for me to halt halfway to the flower . I managed to avoid the large spikes.
    “Are you okay?” Colton was beside us. He reached out to take Lucy’s limp hand.
    “I’m not sure.” Her voice wavered. “It doesn’t hurt too much , but I feel a little strange.”
    “We need to move now.” Brace’s voice was low. “Someone ’s coming.”
    “We need to make sure Lucy ’s okay first,” Colton shot back.
    And then she fainted . I caught her head before