Protector (24 page)

Only Belle let out a close-mouthed hmm.

“I see your position,” Zac said. “For I wouldn’t care to live in another country and not form new friendships either, but a word of warning–do not consider aligning yourself with any warriors.”

“My father’s a warrior, so what does that matter.” I flexed my fingers along my thighs. “I can also look after myself. I’m strong and independent. I happen to get that from my mother.” My mother. I scratched my fingernails down my denim jeans. I wanted to see her, to make sure she was okay and I couldn’t. Which meant I needed a distraction so I wouldn’t spy.

Shifting my focus to the TV, I looked at what they others were watching–an awful program that was years old. I pushed to my feet. “Here let me find you guys something better.” I rifled through Belle’s DVD collection in the cabinet, spotting the ever popular Braveheart movie. I swapped it out. “This, Zac, will suit you. There are not only swords, but plenty of blood and lethal fighting. It’ll be right up your alley.” I grinned over my shoulder at him.

My mouth dropped open.

Behind Zac, bare-chested and gorgeous, was Davio, his dark leather pants hanging low with the weight of a very wicked-looking sword at his hip.

Licking my lips, I stood. “Ooo, look at that. Our very own Braveheart right here in this room.” Joining my mind with his, I skipped across the room, plowing into him. “I missed you.” I ran my hands over his broad shoulders and tipped into him. “You’re late.”

“I listened to your conversation regarding Dralion from the passageway. It is as Zac said.” Davio bent his head, rubbing his cheek to mine. “You’ll need to take care, I won’t have you around other warriors.”

“I’ll take your request under consideration.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Kiss me.”

He swept his arms around me, his lips on mine, his skin pressing hot and oh so close. Now this was the kind of consideration I wanted.

Because in two seconds flat, I was delirious.

Belle coughed. “Okay, you two. I have to put an end to this. It’s dangerous for an empath to be saturated in your kinds of feelings.”

I stared into Davio’s eyes. “You want to tell me how you slaughtered Silas then?”

“I did no such thing.” He grinned and it was such a telling lie.

Drat. I should have been watching him with my forethought. No scrub that, I should have been watching my adult parents. Perhaps I should go home and check on my mother. I clamped my teeth together.

“Hey.” Davio ran his finger under my chin. “Why the sour look?”

“Ah, nothing.” Couldn’t exactly delve into any of that. I wrinkled my nose. “I can smell dinner. Silvie did say ten minutes.”

“And so can I. I’ll take a quick shower first.” He swatted my backside and turned, orders once again dispersed.

Only I followed him and I couldn’t stop myself.

Belle snatched my arm, catching up. “The dining room’s this way.”

I looked in the direction I wanted to go. “Davio needs to send you back to Peacio. Pronto. I can’t see what use you are here.”

She laughed as she yanked me behind her.

At the kitchen, Silas lifted his head, arrowing a look at me.

I smiled. “Ah, Silas. It’s a shame you fast-heal.” I just couldn’t help myself.

A grunt. “I’m also sneaky so watch out.”

Silvie pursed her lips and flicked him in the arm with a tea towel. “Go and sit down.” She walked up to me. “And you, you promised me this morning we’d talk.”

I took the seat next to hers, inhaling the smell of cooked beef plated right under my nose. “This looks wonderful.”

“I made cupcakes for desert.”

I grinned. “No wonder I haven’t seen you all afternoon while I studied.”

“Cooking is my study.” She was right, for her grades were already there, and her acceptance a given for the university’s food technology course.

“There’s no change in your plans for next year?” We intended to study at the same campus, just different courses.

“Nope.”

“I apologize for keeping everyone waiting.”

I glanced up as Davio sat at the head. He arched a brow, looking down the table at me.

“Is there a reason you’re seated so far from me?” His face was smooth and clean, his white button-down shirt pressed to perfection.

“Ah.” I tapped my fingers on the varnished tabletop. “Silvie and I are catching up.”

He folded his arms and gave a quick nod. “Then let’s eat.”

Lifting the fork to my lips, the scent of spiced pumpkin and baby potatoes with rich dark gravy drizzled over roast beef had my mouth watering.

We’re leaving.

I held my fork steady.
You have the worst timing. How’s Mum? And leave for where?
Oh, my father couldn’t mean Dralion? Surely not so soon.

Belle’s hand squeezed mine. “What’s wrong?”

I looked her in the eye for we sat side by side. “Give me a minute.”

She shrugged and picked up her water glass.

Returning to focus on my father’s conversation, I straightened in my chair.
Mum?

Kate’s fine or at least as well as can be in these trying circumstances. But as I said, we’re leaving.

Mum’s agreed to go? Now?

She’s wary, but I’ve assured her she can speak to you first. We’ll meet in my apartment. Don’t be long.

Silvie set down her cutlery. “That had to be your father. What does Wincrest want now?”

I scrunched up my face as silence reigned.

I hated this.

“C’mon, speak to me,” she urged.

“It’s not so bad.” I looked at my food, and my stomach did a slow dive.

I’d known this moment would come, but having it arrive so quickly–I wasn’t ready for it.

I dragged in a deep breath. “My mother’s agreed to go. She needs to speak to me.”

I heard the chair at the head of the table scrape and closed my eyes as hands gripped my shoulders. “To Dralion. When?”

My mind spread through Davio’s, holding on with every fiber of my soul. “You knew this was going to happen, just as you know I can return. My father promised.”

“A damn Wincrest’s promise.” He pulled out my chair, all four legs grinding along the wooden floorboards.

Once on my feet, I spun to meet his darkened gaze. “You were okay with it, this morning.”

“I know I was.” His jaw clenched, his mind a turbulent storm of thoughts and all coming directly at me. “We haven’t had enough time to speak of the finer details, of you knowing where the dome’s entry point is before Wincrest takes you and to make certain you do not allow the man to blindfold you. I have to know you’ll have access to the image and can safety return. I cannot risk you leaving otherwise.”

“I’ve already been told where the location is.”

His hand wrapped around the back of my neck, and he drew me closer. “Then where is it?”

Setting a hand to his chest, his heartbeat raced under my palm. “I won’t allow any blindfolding. I promise you.”

“I asked where it was.” His fingers tightened. “Damn, if only I held the skill of forethought or mind-merge as you do. I need to be able to read your thoughts.”

“I’d still block as you usually do.” I tapped his chest. “Besides, the dome protects Dralion for a reason. Peacians can’t know the image of where to get in.”

He snorted. “I can’t stand this.”

Shaking my head, I pushed up onto my toes. “Stop freaking–just this once.”

There was a noise, and I caught the sight of Silas coming around the table. He looked me in the eye as he motioned for Zac to take the other side. “I know the signs. My cousin is preparing to take you from here.”

Fingers bit deeper. “One day you’ll have a mate and feel what I feel, Silas.” With a low growl, Davio pulled me back to the solid pine wall behind us.

And with Silas on one side and Zac on the other, there was no escape.

Silas narrowed his gaze on me. “We’re going with your plan of making it in and out of Dralion on your own steam.” He released a thought.
Duck. Now.

I dropped, scrambling back as Silas and Zac slammed Davio into the wall.

“Get off me,” Davio bellowed, both his shoulders pinned. “You bull-headed protectors derive far too much pleasure from this.” He appealed to Zac. “I hunger for her, as you do for Viv. Give me this.”

Zac didn’t move, not one muscle. “Your protection comes first.”

“I don’t care.”

“Which proves you’re not thinking clearly.”

Silas intervened as Davio shoved, planting his feet wide to hold his position. “We hardly need a contingency of warriors after your hide. Your mate already has a workable plan that’s the best I’ve heard. Remember, the one where King Donaldo need never know of your relationship with his granddaughter? Do you not think an all-out war should be evaded when tensions between our two countries are already so inflamed? Because that is what would happen. Donaldo Wincrest wouldn’t rest if he knew a Loveria cavorted with one of his own. We need to take every precaution, which means returning you to Peacio where there is a larger safety net of protectors in place.”

The air seemed to crackle and snap, and Davio narrowed his gaze on me. “Come here and ignore them.”

I inched forward for I just needed to touch him.

Silas snarled. “Stay there.”

“I can’t.”

Davio grunted, his foot hooking out and snagging around my knees. I toppled forward, hitting his chest as he wrenched one arm away from Zac and caught me. Silas forced him back to the wall, and Zac pulled at me, shoving me clear.

Viv joined the fray, snatching Davio’s legs. She twisted and sent them all careening to the floor.

But as they hit, they were gone–all four of them, gone.

I stared at the lone spot, blinking. He’d been there one second, and now gone the next.

No. This wasn’t happening. I needed to say goodbye. I dropped my head into my palms and sobbed, demanding the recall of his image. My forethought pressed forward, bringing to me an indoor training room with steel-bladed weapons lining the block walls. Davio was on the ground, his back pinned to the earth-toned bricks. Silas and Zac held him as he bucked, and Viv sat on his legs.

“He’s not happy, but that’s to be expected,” Belle murmured in my ear. “They’ve taken him to the castle where he’s safest, so you can leave.”

“You’re saying I can’t go to him?” I locked the image’s location, my fingernails biting into my palms. Davio’s pain right now felt like my own, making my soul long to soothe him. But I needed to leave for Dralion and I couldn’t forget that, or my mother.

“Silas protects him–that is his job. Don’t make it harder for him.”

Silvie wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You can see he’s safe. Go now. The moment you do, Silas will release him.”

The vision melted away, and I wiped at my cheeks. “Take notes for me in class.” I hugged her. “And tell Davio–I appreciate the fight.”

Her lips lifted a smidgeon. “You’ll have more than a fight on your hands if you don’t keep your word and return.”

“I’ll be back before you know it.” I looked at Belle and drew in a long breath. “Look after him.”

She squeezed my hand. “Silas is in my head and telling me you better hurry. I’m the only one who can keep in contact with you and calm him.”

“I’m going to speak to my mother first then we leave. I’ll let you know when.” I stood back and raised my hand in farewell.

Seconds later, I arrived in the dark of Alexo’s safe room and reached for the connecting door. Finding it, I turned the knob, pulling to hear the familiar screeching sound of metal on metal.

“I’ll get the light.”

Alexo flipped the switch and beckoned to me from the far door. He’d changed and now wore dark leather pants and a silver threaded loose shirt, a leather jacket slung over his arm.

“My mother?”

“The living room.” We headed down the hallway. “I’ve been gone for hours and Donaldo and several warriors are tapping at my head to be heard. I need to make contact with Donaldo soon.”

My brow rose. “Are you sure everything will be all right?”

“Yes.” He set a hand on my shoulder. “Donaldo will want you, and he’ll accept Kate. There’s no more hiding.” He paused. “There’s one more thing I need to mention before we leave.”

I let out a breath, preparing myself. “I’m listening.”

“During my time on Earth, I went by the name of Alexo Stryker.”

I groaned, rather loudly. “You made up my last name.”

“Yes, but you’ll have it no longer–for obvious reasons.”

I turned the corner and strode into the living room, eager to reach my mother. She sat on the gray couch, but stood the second she saw me.

I ran to her, meeting her in the center of the room, her arms banding me tightly.

I hugged her back, shaking because I’d finally connected to her again, the past hours of worry settling at least a little.

“I’m sorry, honey.” Her voice wobbled. “For everything. The lies. For whom Silvie and Seriah are. I can’t believe all I’ve heard.”