Becoming a Legend (10 page)

“
Shimmer?” Arianna heard new terms every day that people wouldn’t explain. Shimmer was a new one.

“
When we’re in day human form, we can use a little of our baku energy and move quicker.” Andrew removed his coat but left his unbuttoned shirt on. “It’s called a shimmer. Everyone does it a different way, but one thing is always the same. The person shimmering is always moving faster than the one not.”

Arianna shrugged.
“Maybe I’m just getting better at this night human thing.”

‘
Maybe you’re just getting better at reading me,’
he replied.

Andrew smiled his smug smile and moved closer. He took one of her hands and placed it on his
bare chest. His heart beat wildly beneath her touch. He seemed to be as entranced with her as she was with him. Arianna wanted to pull away, but couldn’t. It was always like that with Andrew. There was something that blocked all logical thought and drew her to him. She had spent the last year denying it, but it was true. Being alone with him could be dangerous.

Arianna felt the day human skin beneath her hand. It was more textured than his
baku skin, but just as hard. Even in his day human form, Andrew was a force to be reckoned with. Andrew exhaled as her hand moved across his skin inadvertently. Arianna stopped as her hand moved to his scarred shoulder. She traced the scar with her fingertips. Andrew stood like stone, allowing her to explore. His emotions were almost as tightly controlled as Devin at this point, but a bit of worry slipped through. Arianna traced the scar along the top of his shoulder, pushing his shirt out of the way as she continued over to his back where she stopped. It was strange to see his otherwise perfect skin marred. When they changed into night humans most cuts healed and often disappeared completely. Only very deep cuts would leave scars. She slipped his arms out of his shirt and stared at the crisscross of scars marking up his back. Andrew had been whipped, and more than once.

“
What are these?” she whispered, afraid to say it in her head as he might not answer her. Four new lines ran horizontal on his back over the scarred tissue. Arianna wanted to cover them up and pretend they weren’t there, but she couldn’t help but stare at them.

‘
Punishment,’
Andrew replied silently.

‘
Why?’
She still couldn’t break away from looking at the torn skin. It should have been healed. No night human she knew would let cuts go so long unhealed that they could scab over. All he needed to do was change into his night human form.

‘For
seeing you.’
Andrew kept his back to her but she could feel the worry as he answered.

‘
Me?’
Arianna was horrified that Andrew would be punished for seeing her. She felt tears beginning to build in her eyes. His uncle, Edward Lucan, was truly a monster.

‘
Don’t worry. They go away when I change.’
Andrew pulled Arianna back in front of him, sensing that she was getting sad on him.

‘
You haven’t changed in two weeks?’
Arianna fed at least every other day, and had to change to do it.

‘
I haven’t had enough blood to do so. I had to be present for tonight, which forced my uncle’s hand.’
Andrew picked up her hands and held them in his own. He placed one of them back on his chest. He liked the feeling of her hands on him as much as she liked to touch him.

‘
Why would he keep you from blood?’
Arianna asked, horrified at the thought. The thirst could overpower even strong night humans, making them do things they regretted.

‘
I think he suspects that I’m hiding my power.’
Andrew brushed a calloused finger across her cheek and wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.
‘Don’t worry about me. I have a plan to take care of everything.’
Arianna numbly nodded, still trying to understand how an uncle could be so cruel to his own nephew. Andrew leaned down and pressed his lips to Arianna’s before she could move away or protest. He was so gentle she barely felt it before he pulled back.

“
I think they’re ready for us.” Andrew pointed at the door where Devin was shifting again. “We best be getting down there to appease the masses.” Andrew was completely back to his normal arrogant self, with only a hint of sadness behind his eyes. Arianna wanted to stay upstairs and talk more. Her time with Andrew was constantly cut short. Their physical connection was always obvious, but she wanted to know more about him. Andrew intrigued her; he had as many secrets as Devin. Their connection intrigued her even more, and she had a feeling Andrew knew more about it than he led her to believe.

“
You have to teach me how to do that someday,” Arianna added as she quickly changed into her night human form. Her features refined as she grew taller, her skin paled and even glistened in the moonlight, but her blue eyes remained. Andrew followed by turning into the monster she first saw over a year ago. His frame doubled in size and his hair turned white. Even though she first though all baku looked the same in night human form, Arianna now could see the differences. His long white hair still had a hint of the waves from his naturally black hair. The muscles that were now shown off in his shirtless outfit, were the same as his day human form, just larger. In fact he now just looked like a larger, paler version of his normal self.

“
Do what?” he asked in his now lowered voice.

“
You and Devin keep your emotions so covered. I need to learn how to do that. Become more like a robot.” Arianna checked the mirror, and Andrew had been right. Her team had tastefully chosen a dress that would expand enough with her night human body. The tea-length skirt was even still coving her thighs, thankfully, and the top kept everything else in place too. She would have to thank Molina later. Having a girl on her team was beneficial, even when she choose the most horrible frilly pajamas to put her in, like the night not too long ago.

“
I could always be more like you,” he suggested as intense emotions hit Arianna. In an instant she was in his arms, meeting him halfway with her lips. It wasn’t the gentle kiss from a moment ago. She couldn’t help but be drawn to him. Everything she felt, and was hiding inside, was being reflected back to her by Andrew. Now she needed him close and pressed against him. Andrew’s hands traced the bodice of her dress while her hands cupped his face. Intense happiness came off him in waves. Arianna felt the same emotions well up inside her. Everything between them was mutual and perfect in that moment.

“
But then we would be late to your party.” Andrew stepped back at the sound of the door opening.

Devin stood
just outside, in the hallway, without speaking. Arianna tried to straighten out her dress as a blush crept up her face. She regretted her actions immediately at the sight of Devin. He’d just told her a day ago he loved her, and now, she was caught kissing Andrew. She wanted to tell him that she couldn’t help it, but it wouldn’t make a difference. She needed to learn how to control her emotions like everyone around her.

“
I think the dog has grown impatient. We must be needed downstairs,” Andrew said, staring at the open door.

Devin turned to lead the way, but Arianna caught the sigh behind her. It seemed
that Andrew didn’t want to leave the room upstairs as much as she didn’t. Arianna concentrated on Devin’s back. There was still no chink in his emotional armor. Maybe he hadn’t actually seen what she’d been doing with Andrew. She hoped he didn’t, but knowing Devin, he already knew. Somehow, he always knew. Arianna continued to blush on the dark stairs as she descended behind him. It was so hard. Behind her was one man who freely gave her his emotions any time she asked, and in front was one that wouldn’t ever be free from his past. Neither asked her to choose, but it felt like she was leading them both on.

NINE

Clouded by the feelings of Andrew, Arianna didn’t see Devin slip beside her until his knife was at Andrew’s throat. His two guards down the stairs moved to jump into the action, but Molina and Turner held them both at bay. Everyone was frozen and staring at Devin and Andrew. Andrew’s large fingers grasped at Devin’s neck, setting the two at a standstill. Devin’s eyes flickered to Arianna during their silent conversation, but his concentration was always on Andrew.

“
What are you doing?” Arianna asked Devin, as neither Devin nor Andrew moved. Andrew opened up the conversation.

‘It s
eems your dog here thinks I’m the root of all evil, and planning to do something to harm you,’
Andrew replied, fingers never leaving Devin’s throat.

‘
What now?’
Arianna asked Devin. Exasperated, she tugged at his sleeve. She could easily overpower him, but with his blade so close, and Andrew’s hands at his throat, she didn’t want to put either in more danger.

‘
We’ve got surveillance of Edward Lucan planning to overthrow Gabriel. He has been planning this for almost a decade,’
Devin replied. ‘
And since his entrance at the party, we’re now more certain, he plans to do it tonight.’

‘
There are no plans that I know about,’
Andrew replied.

‘
The other purebreds will not stand for a change in the system,’
Arianna replied, still unsure how to get them to both relax.
‘Gabriel already explained this all to me.’

‘
They may not stand for mutiny, but from his smug attitude, I think Lucan has found a way around it,’
Devin replied.
‘I was just so kindly asking your escort here what the plan is, and how he plans to hurt you.’

‘
Andrew would never hurt me,’
Arianna snapped back. That was one thing she was absolutely sure of.

‘
Can you be certain?’
Devin tried to get her to see reason. Andrew was the nephew of her only baku enemy, power-hungry Lucan. Andrew had nothing to gain by being with Arianna.

‘
Yes.’
Arianna replied. Andrew gave a smug smile at Arianna’s remark.

“
Now everyone, let’s go,” Arianna commanded. Molina and Turner slowly backed away from the two fully-transformed baku. The will of the lesser night humans was easier to command. Stronger night humans would willfully go against her command, but it still took energy. Devin and Andrew continued to stand ready to hurt each other, still both fighting the urge to listen to her.

“
It would be so easy to just squeeze,” Andrew said to Devin in a low voice. “Do you think you’d have time to put that blade in far enough before I had time to squeeze?” The two baku guards both snickered, knowing the answer.

“
I don’t think you’d want to try me since the blade is laced with nightshade,” Devin replied. It was now Turner’s turn to snort. “I wouldn’t come to a baku party without it.” Devin’s smile was deadly. Even a knick from that blade would incapacitate Andrew. Arianna reached up between the two men and unpeeled Andrew’s fingers while, at the same time, lowering Devin’s blade. She’d had enough with their excessive male bravado.

“
Touché,” Andrew replied with a smile and a bow. Arianna gave a disapproving glare to each of them. Andrew offered his arm to her, and she reluctantly took it, not wanting to choose sides. “Guess I’ll escort your girlfriend to her birthday party for you.” Devin glared at him as they walked past. Even Devin couldn’t hide the slight jealousy showing through his normal calm.

Arianna winced at the bright lights as they walked onto the back porch and into the
brightly lit nighttime party. While the dearg-duls feared bright lights for their burning effects, the baku seemed to bask in them. Arianna was glad to reach the tent until she realized that she was under the gaze of the hundred hungry people sitting there. All eyed her greedily, wanting a bit of the emotional energy she always threw off. Arianna was to the baku like a light is to insects. Thankfully, she was under Andrew’s aura and away from the constant emotional pull the baku all did, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Under the tent it was just as bright
as the walkway, but Arianna’s eyes quickly adjusted. Andrew led her to the head of the table next to Gabriel. Andrew then moved to the empty seat beside her. Lucan smiled at his nephew. Arianna tried to ignore his joy, but obviously Andrew could not. Arianna felt the tension in Andrew as his arm muscles tensed beneath her hand. Lucan was talking to Andrew, but Andrew clearly didn’t approve. Everyone stopped talking as Gabriel stood.