Dee's Hard Limits (6 page)

Stepping out into the hallway, Talhrn shut the door behind Marquis. “Now, you want to tell me what you’re holding back?” They walked down the hall towards the master staircase.

“I believe Akaos is going to ask that we hold off on the bonding. He wants to explore this connection she has with Koti,” Marquis snarled.

He stopped and looked at Marquis. “Did he say this directly to you? We will not hold off on the bonding.” The thought of him even asking set his blood to boil. Talhrn believed the bonding would help keep Dee’s father from seeing into her life any more.

“No, he didn’t come right out and ask me, but I got the distinct impression he was waiting to speak with you about it. I had an exchange with Warden, I’m afraid.” Marquis looked at him at the same time he glanced up.

“What happened? You know that will add more pressure on the females,” Talhrn snapped, going down the stairs. Warden and Akaos stood at the bottom of stairs.

“I was going to ask the same question. Warden just mentioned it to me as well,” Akaos stated, glaring at Warden. “You know how much our
meru
is hurting. They both are, and you two get into a fight?”

Both Marquis and Warden glared at each other, but said nothing.

“Marquis, what happened?” Talhrn wrapped his hand around the back of his neck, and squeezed. “I won’t ask again.” It had been years since he’d had to discipline Marquis. Usually it was Todd that would strike out.

“Warden seems to think Dee needs to be punished for what she said to her mother. I disagreed with him. I believe we should let them be. They’ll work it out.” He held Marquis’ gaze for a minute and looked to Warden who was now on his ass stroking his jaw.

“Akaos, what the hell?” Warden snapped and jumped up.

“You’re just lucky Maya didn’t hear you. What do you think she would have done if she believed you were going to harm her daughter?” Akaos held up his hand, before he could say a word.

“That has earned you 25 tonight, and not another word about this. Marquis is right. Mother and daughter need to work this out between themselves.” He turned slowly to see Dee coming down the stairs with Todd.

She held onto Todd, nodding to Akaos. “It is time we talked, but Akaos...” Akaos met her at the bottom step.

“Talk to your mother. How is she supposed to help if she doesn’t know what is going on? We won’t butt in unless asked.” He glanced to Talhrn. “Is that agreed on?”

He smiled and nodded. “Of course.” Talhrn held out his hand. Dee placed her small one into his, smiling.

“Just because I’ve agreed to start the bonding, don’t think you’re going to dictate what I do. I’ve already informed Todd we need to take this slow. I have a life and if you’re going to be part of it...well it’s going to take time.” She looked at Akaos as he moved to Warden’s side.

“The four of you are going to have to back off too. Just because you’re here now I’m not going to stop my life for you. I have friends and I work.” She lifted her chin up, waiting.

Akaos smiled and turned walking towards the door, where Maya and Tesuss waited for them. “Where are we going?” Dee asked, looking up him.

Looking over his shoulder, Akaos smiled. “There is this nice little cavern about two miles to the west of here. I’ve arranged for food and everything set up down there. The two of you won’t be disturbed. You have been there right? You know the place?”

Her body stiffened, and Dee growled. “You know damn well I know the place. Do you really think me being there will change how I feel? Don’t you think I feel guilty enough for being born? I was wrong about you Akaos.” Her hurt gaze turned to Maya’s.

“I can’t believe you would do this? Don’t you think...no, I guess you wouldn’t. I’m not going. I can see there is not going to be any talking.” She yanked her hand away from his, but he swept her up into his arms, holding tight.

“We will get this done with tonight. If this place is not to your liking, we’ll go to the small family area we have in our suites.” He turned his gaze onto Akaos. “I will talk with you privately later.”

Not waiting for anyone, Talhrn moved up the stairs and down the wing they’d been assigned to. Dee said nothing in his arms, her body was stiff and he knew she barely held the tears back. If things didn’t work out, they’d take Dee and leave.

The door opened and at once a fire came to life in the fireplace. A dining room table sat at one end of the room filled with all the food he could think of that he’d seen his woman eat over the last few weeks. He gently lowered her feet to the ground. “Is this better? Do you want anything else to eat?”

She looked around the room and stared at the table for a few moments, before she turned to him smiling. “Thank you. This is much better.” The smile fell from her face as Maya came into the room and nodded.

Not waiting for her men, Maya came over and took Dee’s hands. “I didn’t know he was going to do that and I’m sorry. Believe me, they’ll all pay for hurting you like that.” Maya hugged her tight.

“I really didn’t do it, Dee.” She heard the whisper of a cry and Dee hugged her Mom tight.

“I’m sorry about earlier, Mom. I shouldn’t have spouted off like that. You didn’t know what was going on.” She stepped back and moved to the fireplace. “With you always gone, it got lonely here. I was going crazy all by myself here. You would never stay long. I promised myself if I ever had a daughter, I’d stay with her and that’s when the idea took form.” She turned tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I didn’t want a man. I’d been in three relationships. The guy that I really liked was murdered by Koti about six months into our relationship. I should have known then not to get close to anyone, but I didn’t listen to the warning signs. Oh, I never stayed long with anyone, too afraid what would happen, but I needed someone to hold me. Night time was the worst. He’d always invade my dreams.” Dee shook and hugged herself.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come back.” Maya asked and went to stand by Dee, who shook her head.

“I gave up asking a long time ago. Every night when I’d go to sleep and Ester would tuck me in, I’d ask for you, but I always got the same answer. “She’ll be home soon, and you’d pop in for a few days, then you’d be gone again. It hurt too much to keep seeing you go. Don’t you think I saw the way you cringed sometimes when you looked at me? Or how you put me on your wall of shame?” Dee moved to the table of food as Akaos and the others came in.

Talhrn glared at him. “Outside now, while these two make up their differences,” he demanded.

“We will stay and wait. You are giving orders? I thought you gave up the command?” Akaos asked, but Talhrn said nothing. The
Fellchanter
stepped way over the boundaries and he was about to set new ones.

Maya plopped down on the chair. “I tried. I really did, Dee, but those first few years….” She shook her head. “I just couldn’t get past the nightmares and the guilt. I’m sorry.”

“Why didn’t you come back later? Did you know he visited me on Christmas? You were away in England I believe and I was 16. Of course I didn’t know it was him until after he left his little gift under the tree.” Dee sat next to her mom.

“His gift to me...a box of dead snakes? God, I hate snakes.” She shivered.

Talhrn stepped forward, but she looked at him and shook her head. “I’m okay. Mom, I’m telling you this for a reason. He did what he did to you in one night, or one whatever it was, but me...”

She placed her hand to her chest. “He does it to me every single day. If I don’t hear from him during the day, he’ll be there at night when I try to sleep. So don’t ever tell me I don’t know how you feel, because I do.” Tears ran down her cheeks and Talhrn could take no more.

He scooped her up and sat on the couch with her in his lap. “I was selfish and alone. I wanted a child.” Dee curled up tight against him.

“I had one of my eggs fertilized by a sperm donor. Mom, she was the most beautiful baby in the world. I called her Hope. She was my Hope for the future.” Dee took a drink of the water he handed her.

“Thanks. I hired a nanny, but I never left her. At two she was into everything.” Dee smiled and played with a charm wrapped around her neck. It was the first time he’d noticed it, which really angered him. He should be on top of everything when it came to their
meru
.

“Hope would look at something and study it the way you do. In so many ways I had part of you with me, until that night you called and told me you were coming in.” Dee got up and threw her bottle of water into the fire.

“I should have never left her. It was the only time I ever left her alone overnight and I’ll always blame myself. He ripped her apart, Momma. He even made a movie of it, making sure I’d see it.” Dee turned.

“That was over 50 years ago and every time he takes a child, he writes Hope’s name in blood for me to find. So I’m sorry if I snapped at you earlier. I’d just seen Hope’s name and realized yesterday was the anniversary date of her death. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to go.” She tried to get past the door, but he wouldn’t allow it.

“Where are you going? Why didn’t you tell me about Hope? Don’t you think I would have wanted to be there for her birth?” Maya jumped up and started pacing.

“Damn it, I want that asshole dead. He’s taken enough from us,” she put her hands on her hips and glared at Akaos. “Find this prick now. Akaos, if you ever and I mean ever, try and hurt my daughter again, I’ll cut your balls off and stuff them where the sun does not shine. I’ve screwed up enough with Dee. I’ll be damned if I have you messing it up even more.” Maya took a deep breath and turned to Dee, holding out her hand.

Talhrn released Dee and she took her Mom’s hand. “Take me to her. It’s time I visited my grand-baby.”

Before he could grab her, they were gone. “NO, not again!” he shouted.

With hair her pulled back and braided, her mom almost looked like her sister when she smiled. “You’re really going to have to teach me that trick.” She looked around. “We’re at the edge of our property?”

“I’m here. I didn’t mean to scare you, but I need to show this to mom first.” Dee pushed into Talhrn’s mind, knowing they would follow behind them.

“I bought the property connecting this side and the other. We now own over 100 acres here in the mountains. I don’t go into the cavern until I make sure my mind is totally shut down. In 50 years I’ve never allowed him to see where I placed what was left of her. I have to ask you to try to block all thoughts of where we go from here,” Dee asked her mother as the others appeared behind them.

“That won’t be necessary,” Talhrn announced behind them, stepping in front of them and placiin his hands above the door along with Akaos. Both men started to mumble some words which she had no idea what they meant. But within a few moments, Dee could feel the difference in the air. Some kind of energy field had been placed around the lower base of the mountain protecting her baby.

As soon as Talhrn turned around, she jumped into his arms, hugging him tight. “You don’t know how much that means to me. Thank you.” She placed little kisses all over his face.

“You’re welcome, but don’t do that again. Please let us know when you are going to leave. What if someone was here waiting for you?” He practically shook he was so angry, but he kept his tone soft.

“Talhrn...Look around you. What do you see? I mean really look.” Dee slid down his body and patted his chest, giving them time to scan the area. She knew the exact moment when both of the men had found her alarm system.

He laughed as did Akaos, and then both men nodded. “I’m impressed. No one would have even thought of animals as guards, but I still would prefer you allow us to take the chances, not you.” Talhrn brushed back a lock of her hair and nipped at her nose.

“I’ll work on it. I’d like to take mom inside first for a few minutes.” She gave him the courtesy of asking before opening her daughter’s last resting place.

“Of course.” The men stepped aside and she took the small key from her pocket and placed it in the lock. Rods of steel clunked back and the glass and metal door opened. Lights flickered and the song “Tears in Heaven” started to play.

Taking her mom’s hand, Dee took a deep breath and stepped inside. “I’ve worked on this place till I could do no more. Hope was filled with so much energy she wore me out most days.” They walked around the corner and she nodded to the small red box on the altar. “That is my baby.”

She knew her voice cracked, but Dee didn’t care. Fifty years ago tomorrow, her little miracle baby had been murdered.

The picture of Hope above the small coffin was the last picture she’d taken of her. She had been 6 years old and at the zoo. Hope loved the cats and she wanted to go every year to see them. Her big blue eyes and dark black hair with two blond streaks through the sides set her apart from any other child.

Her mom stepped forward, running her finger over the picture. “I told you she reminded me of you. She collected stuffed cats, so I brought them here for her.” Dee picked up one of her favorites and rubbed her cheek on it. She always made sure that a light was left on here, just in case.

Kneeling, Maya ran her hand over the small coffin. It was the side of a bread box.

“It’s small, but all I had left of Hope was her head. He took her body.” Her voice cracked as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

Her mother’s tri-colored hair shined in the lights, Maya’s tear filled eyes met hers. “You should have told me.”

“I couldn’t. I didn’t even share her with the wolf pack, well until her death. That’s when Drake found me, us. I’d been gone from the property for over a week and they were getting worried about me when they started to search.”

“I remember that. Franko and Drake both kept me informed while they searched. We were coming back when Drake called and they said they’d found you.” Maya stopped and her eyes got big.

“You told me not to come, that you didn’t want me to come back.” she whispered.

Moving to the other side of the room, Dee picked up a small locket and turned to her mom. “Here, I was going to give this to you, but there was never any right time. We had three of them made. Hope wore one, I have one where I hold the key to this place and now you have one. It has a lock of her hair in it along with her picture when she was born.”