Fated, A Timeless Series Novella (A Timeless Series Companion Novel) (15 page)

“Tell me about it,” I grumbled.
This was going far beyond his usual flirt
ing
.
I’d even
say
Colt was
develop
ing
real feelings for Cheyenne.
Something else I’d have to put a stop to, if my suspicions about her past were correct.

“You look tired, Callon,” Bail
ee said. “
You must worry about this Cheyenne a lot.”

“Perhaps,” I said.
I was just fed
up
of running into so many dead ends.

“So,” Daniel took Colt’s abandoned seat. “Have we decided who’s driving with who
tomorrow
?”

“
Yeah,” Koda said.
As he began explaining, I quietly excused myself and headed to the office. I already knew what we were doing, I didn’t need it repeated.

I slumped into the chair
, staring at my laptop
.
I’d gathered so much information…but was I making connections that didn’t exist?
Other than the ring—which marked Cheyenne as Servak—what else did I have to go on?
A passing resemblance to Qaysean wasn’t enough to
prove
she was Kvech. About the only firm conclusion I had was that she was related to Sahara, mak
ing her most definitely Servak.

Since that was the case, I didn’t need to be quite so defensive as to how close Colt
was getting
.
However, until I could refute the tiny possibility she was Kvech, letting Colt run rampant was too dangerous.
He of all people
sh
ould surely understand the implications
of his actions
.

A couple of photos lay on the desk beside the laptop, and I reached for them. The first was the photo
of Cheyenne
Gene had given me in the cemetery, and the other was a black and white print of Qaysean that Dex had dug out for me.
It didn’t take a genius to note the resemblance, but that could mean anything.
After all, Colt and Koda practically looked like twins, despite only being cousins.

I flung the photos down, pressing my hands to my head. Why c
ouldn’t Gene
just
tell me?
We’d proven ourselves time after time, had risked our lives for his daughter,
and still he couldn’
t trust us
with the
truth.
Did he honestly think we’d let such a secret fall into Marcus’s hands?

Or was he not telling me because
he
was afraid what I’d do
if
I discovered
Cheyenne was Kvech. She’d have inherited Qaysean’s elemental powers, and would form a key part in our battle against the Sarac.
That fact was undeniable.
Perhaps he was simply
being a protective father
,
not wishing for his dau
ghter to face the horrors of war.
And if it were up to me, I’
d agree
whole-heartedly.
But it wasn’t my choice to make.

Not when the clans were suffering
so much…

I
stood up
and moved to stare out the window.
Frustration rolled off me in angry waves. What was I supposed to do?!

Callon?
Daniel called out.
Everything alright?

Fine,
I said
gruffly
.
I didn’t need him prying.

Well, just letting you know I’m go
nna
go over to the Wilson’s for the night watch.
I’ve shown
Koda,
Bree and Bailee their rooms. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Wait.
I chewed my lip. Maybe a walk in the cold would clear my head.
I’ll go tonight.

Really? But what about the others?

You can keep them company,
I said.
Besides, Bree’s been looking forward to catching up with you.

She has?

I shook my head.
They might be brothers, but when it came to women,
Daniel
and Colt couldn’t have been more far apart.

Yes.
L
et me worry about Cheyenne
tonight
.

Daniel paused for a long while.

Alright, w
hatever you say, Callon
.

Satisfied, I headed into the hall and grabbed my coat and scarf.
I heard Daniel mentioning the change of plan
to the others
as I crept out the front door.
The cold bit at my cheeks, and for once I actually felt it
.
Right now, anything would be a
welcome distraction from this impossible situation.

I followed the familiar trail through the forest,
alert
for any
changes.
I was a little glad for the snow, as it would make tracks and paw-prints easy to find.
It also dulled any shiny surface, making it harder for the Ghosters to spread their soul-shards.
Still, I needed to be careful. I wasn’t going to be caught off guard again like that night in the storm.

My breath drifted in smoky vapors as I picked up my pace. So far, I’d only spotted a few small animal prints.
At least I could be grateful Cheyenne no longer went on her hikes alone. Gene’s story
about wolves had done the trick to stop her wandering.
Not to mention she seemed to prefer Colt escorting her around
these days
…

I’m o
n my way
back
.
Colt’s words rang in my head.
I
stopped, spotting his truck parked on the Wilson’s drive.
I must’ve been walking faster than usual
.
I glanced at my watch,
and frowned
.

It’s a bit late, isn’t it?

Colt tensed
.
He knew I was nearby.

Hey,
I thought it was Daniel’
s shift tonight?

I did a swap,
I said.

Colt scoffed.

Did you come to check up on me?

I came to do my duty,
I said.
You should get going. Cheyenne needs her beauty sleep.

Colt
fell silent. I spotted him walking down the drive. When he reached the truck, he
paused.

Callon, what’s gotten into you?
Our job is to protect Cheyenne. That’s all I’m doing.
You don’t even trust your own brother?

Colt,
will you calm down?
I’ve
just
come to take over
so Bree can have some time with Daniel
. Now go home
, and I’ll see you tomorrow
.

Before Colt could answer, I heard the front door of the Wilson’s house open.

“Colt!” Cheyenne called out. She
stepped out on the porch
, clutching a package
. “You forgot your cookies.”

Colt turn
ed back towards her and smiled.

“
It’s alright, y
ou eat them.”

Her head tilted.

“
Listen, mister,
this was part of the deal to get you
to
help me with my homework. I didn’t go through all this hard work for nothing.” She held out the box.
“I’m not moving until you take it.”

Well, Colt was right about the being stubborn part.

C
huckl
ing, Colt
hurried back to
the porch.
I had to admit, when he stood next to Cheyenne, h
e really was a giant.
Taking the package
,
he leaned in for a hug.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

I rolled my eyes.

Oh for God’s sake Colt,
she’s n
ot going to evaporate overnight.
Leave her alone already!

Though I couldn’t see him, I was sure Colt was grinning.

Sheesh, d
on’t get your panties in a wad
, G
.
G.

I blinked.

G
.
G
.
?

Grumpy Gills.

What
are you talking about
?

Oh,
Cheyenne came up with it after we watch
ed
Finding Nemo
the other
night.
She calls Gene that when he’s grumpy, and he sure was tonight
. Apparently your ‘talk’
didn’t go well.

I shifted uncomfortably
as
Colt enter
ed
his truck and
started the engine
.
Great way to change the subject.

Yeah, i
t didn’t go well at all.

Care to talk about it?

It won’t change anything. Just go home and keep our guests entertained.

Colt seemed content with that, and drove off.
Once he was gone,
I circled the house
, sticking to
the shadows. The fresh snow was
untouched, free from Tresez paw-prints, at least for the moment.
I returned to the side of the house, waiting beneath the tree that stretched up towards Cheyenne’s room.

As I glanced up,
Cheyenne’s b
edroom light snapped
on
.
Her curtains were still open, and I caught her movement
. What was she doing?
Gene and Alexis knew Ghosters were in the area.
If a single soul-shard
move
d
into her room…I shook off the thought. Over my dead body
it
would.
Even if it meant I’d be seen, I’d never let them lay a finger on her
.

I
eyed the
branch
es
on the tree.
It was going to be an uncomfortable climb without Daniel to jump me up
.
Oh well.

I pushed my way through the branches and began my sticky climb. I was going to
stink of pines for
a while.
Finding the closest perch to her room, I sat against the trunk, observing her window
.
By now s
he’d
pulled the curtains closed.
Typical.

My eyes closed, and I
listened as she settled in for the night
.
The air had grown very still, allowing me to hear everything.
However,
instead of her
rhythmic breathing
,
I could only catch rustling sheets
.
She was restless tonight.
But w
hat was troubling her?
Was she excited about shopping tomorrow
,
or was it something else?

Footsteps padded across the floor and then stopped. A quick swoosh and my eyes flew open. Cheyenne was
at
the window
,
staring out
. Quickly I pulled my b
lack scarf up, hiding my face.
She wouldn’t be able to see me in the dark.

S
he plopped down on her knees
, resting
her arms over the window ledge
and
laying her chin on it. Her warm breath steamed the lower half of the window
, so she raised her hand to wipe it
.
She simply stared into the snowy landscape, lost in her own thoughts.
I was tempted to pry
deeper
—I could’ve done and she’d never know—but decided against it.
A person’s private thoughts were sacred, and it was wrong to take a peek for my own curiosity.

A
s I peered closer, I caught a
single tear trickl
ing
down her cheek
.
My gaze softened.
W
hat
was upsetting her so much? My mind race
d
, thinking back to Colt’s words earlier
. Gene
must’ve been irritable after my talk with him, and it could’ve
rubbed off onto Cheyenne
.
That, plus the fact he’d
been traveling a
lot,
must have made Cheyenne believe they
would probably be leaving
Sagle
soon.