Shine: The Knowing Ones (18 page)

Trin hesitated. “The death of the last remaining leader aligns with the birth of the new Oracle. It always occurs simultaneously.” Trin gestured toward Anvil. “Anvil was Keeper before me. He passed away nineteen years ago, August the twenty-first.”

Sam couldn’t move, her heart racing as the date, her birthday, fell from his lips.

“The moment the Veduny Oracle enters the world the aura of Keeper seals on her mate. The Keeper’s aura sealed on me when I was two years old, nineteen years ago, on August the twenty-first,” Trin said. “You are the Oracle of the Veduny tribe, Sam, and I am your Keeper.”

Sam trembled, head shaking as she absorbed the sheer impossibility of his words.

Trin leaned in, insistent. “Sam, we were there the night you were attacked—Anvil and I. I felt it happen and we arrived too late. That’s how I knew you were finally close. The closer you are to me the more
visible you are to all of us—bad guys included. It was never the campus that set all this in motion for you; it was your close proximity to
me.
Ashbel called you by tribal name. The Russian you heard means ‘I am everywhere, Veduny’. He was taunting you. He called
you Veduny
because that’s what you are.”

“That’s not possible,” she whispered. “I’m not Russian. I can’t do any of the things you do.”

“We don’t know why you’re here instead of there,” he said. “But it doesn’t change who you are.” He took her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes. “Sam, you think I don’t know? You think I made a mistake? Explain what you and I feel every time we touch. That’s not average chemistry.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I pay attention,” he said. “
I always have
. I have lived my whole life in anticipation of finding you,” he said. “You’ve been invisible to all of us because you never use your gifts. I have spent the past weeks searching for you. I came to this university because I was told I would find you here. Never in the history of our people has the Keeper had to
find the Oracle
, ever. She is always born in Russia, in the tribe, visible to everyone.”

He glanced away in conflict, searching for the right words and looked back at her. “A lot of women have put their hands on me,” he said, eyes gleaming.
“I paid attention to every one.
Not a single one even came close.
You shattered me.”
He shook his head, still confounded at the affect she had on him
. “I know,”
he said, “and so do you.”

Sam’s heart burned. She had never seen him so vulnerable, so willing to be exposed when she
knew
he had the power to blind her. His usual impenetrable guard had evaporated. He grasped her hand in his, igniting the overwhelming sensual pull that always accompanied their touch. “
You tell me I’m wrong,”
his glorious face avid; decadent eyes blazing.

Sam’s heart pounded in her chest, unequivocal truth pulsating through her. Lifting the hand he had forced her to take she could find no words.

He directed her to the mirror against the far wall. “Have you ever seen that strain of gold in anyone else, aside from me?” he pointed at Anvil, “Or him?”

Sam had always wondered why her aura looked the way it did. Never in her whole life had anyone else ever emanated this unique golden element, until now, until these two men.

She stopped cold. “The woman I saw,” she looked at Trin. “I told you, remember? She has the same aura.”

He sat back, then looked at Anvil.

“The woman you saw is my wife,” Anvil said. “She is your predecessor. I am not surprised she tried to reach you,” he said. “She tries to reach me too...”

“But she can’t,” Sam said.

Anvil shook his head.

“I see the same thing,” Sam said.

“We don’t know why she can’t get through,” Anvil said. “But I am convinced it has something to do with Ashbel and what he did. Llamar, our predecessor, saw changes in him during training as he grew. I saw them as well. He became rebellious, prideful. Ashbel had gifts we had never seen before. He felt sure this was a sign the Keeper’s mantle should be his. He was furious when Anavi chose me, and he disappeared. The night after our wedding I left to go find him.” Anvil’s expression grew distant. “The earth shook,” he said looking past Sam into nothing. “She was trying to reach me. Anavi was a skilled fighter—very powerful. I shielded her and the entire castle before I left. We don’t know how he disabled her so effectively. She has been unreachable since that night. He has severed the conduit and taken her away. Before I passed, she would appear sometimes in my dreams, trying to communicate. But even now, in spirit form, I cannot find her.” Sam’s heart ached at Anvil’s words. Constant unspeakable suffering lay silenced behind the visage and duties of a beautiful, strong warrior.

“We don’t know where Ashbel is,” he said. “We don’t know how he has done what he has done. The Oracle shouldn’t have severed with Anavi’s death. It should have lived on in me. But it didn’t. He managed to disable and kill one of our most powerful leaders, and he obliterated our communication with the Divinity. He did it all very quickly and then he vanished. He is extremely dangerous. None of us know the extent of his powers,” he said. He looked firmly at Sam. “If you have seen him coming for you, then he is close.”

“Wait,” Sam said.

Trin glanced sideways at her. “What is it?”

“It wasn’t Ashbel in the studio with me today.”

The two men exchanged a glance. “What do you mean it wasn’t Ashbel? You said you saw him,” Trin said.

“I did, but it was just a flash image of him and Anvil, nothing more.”

Trin squinted. “This person you saw...he fits Ashbel’s description.”

Sam shook her head.

Trin stared. “Who did you see?”

Just then there was a knock at his door. Trin glanced toward it and then to Anvil. There was a verbal exchange of clipped Russian between them and Anvil turned to Sam. “You stay with Trinton and do whatever he counsels. He will take care of you, you are his life. You always have been.”

Sam watched, stunned as he disappeared. Glancing down at the bed she tried to compose herself as Trin stood, crossing the room. He cracked the door open, Adam’s muffled voice sounding behind it. “Sorry, bro. She’s looking for Sam.”

Trin opened the door. “It’s okay,” he said, motioning to the concerned girl behind Adam. “Hey, Erika,” he said. “Come on in.”

“I’m really sorry to bug you,” she said. She saw Sam on the bed, noticed she had been crying, and raced over, sitting down next to her. “Sam, what’s wrong?” she begged. She turned to Trin, desperate for an answer.

“I’m fine,” Sam interjected. “I’m pretty sure I had a panic attack. Trin came to get me. I’m fine, really.”

Concern colored Erika’s features. “Do you get panic attacks?”

“No,” she replied, carefully monitoring her fabrication. “I just can’t imagine what else it would have been. I couldn’t catch my breath. I’m sure it’s just stress.”

Erika looked from Sam to Trin, who gave her a quick, though not thoroughly convincing smile.

“I’m fine,” Sam reiterated. “Really, don’t worry about me.”

Erika shrugged. “Okay.”

Sam changed the subject. “Did you guys get anything done?” she asked. “Did I totally freak everyone out? Am I fired?”

Erika laughed. “Yeah, that’ll happen. You’re the best dancer we have.” She glanced down. “Jana did make me your understudy.”

Sam smiled. “That is awesome, Erika. You are so talented. I’ll try to break a leg or something.”

“Don’t say that!” Erika said. “I was just thrilled she thinks I’m good enough to cover for you, you know? I was totally surprised.” She flushed, looking down. She had been wearing a dance sweater in class that fully covered her back, but she now wore a hooded jacket that hung loosely about her shoulders. Trin inclined his head, staring at
her neck, then crossed the room in one swift move. Lifting the fabric away, he uncovered an ugly bruise across her left scapulae.

Erika froze. She glanced at Sam, who was confused until she saw Trin’s face. Erika turned around, eyes on Trin ready with an explanation. She opened her mouth, but Trin cut her off. “Your boy is right-handed,” he said. His eyes were like ice.

Sam leaned forward over Erika’s shoulder pushing her jacket away. Erika winced in pain. Sam stared in horror at the massive bruise.

Erika sat motionless on the bed.

Sam sat back down in front of her. “What happened?”

Erika looked at the floor as she spoke, avoiding eye contact. “Nothing,” she responded, fidgeting. “It was an accident.” She stood. “I should go.”

Sam rose to her feet. “It’s okay. I’ll walk you out.”

The tension in the air was palpable. Trin’s furious energy saturated the room and she knew that would only make Erika feel worse. She guided Erika out the door, glancing at Trin on the way out. He stood rigid by the bed, his sculpted arms folded across his broad bare chest, glaring at the wall.

Sam walked Erika through the front room and out the door. By the time they reached her car, Erika was in tears.

Sam hugged her. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“I feel so stupid,” she sobbed. “This isn’t how he really is. He never means to do it, and he always feels so badly after. He says he couldn’t handle it if I left. I can’t just abandon him...he needs me.”

Sam heard the words but couldn’t believe them. Needed her for what—a punching bag? Sam pulled back, eyes on Erika, feeling totally helpless. She knew anything she said would fall on deaf ears.

“Trin thinks I’m an idiot.”

“He doesn’t think that at all. He is worried sick about you.”

“He’s furious in there,” Erika said.

“He’s not furious with you. He’s furious with the situation.”

She paused. “Trin feels helpless,” she said. “This is something he can’t stand to see. It’s like his
thing...
to protect...everyone,” she stammered. A hand flew to her forehead. What was she saying?

Erika wiped tears from her eyes. “You’re so lucky,” she whispered. “Trin is amazing. There is just something about him.”

Sam nodded.
You have no ide
a. She put a hand on Erika’s arm. “He is,” she said. “But it isn’t luck. Everyone deserves that. You aren’t
responsible for Ryan. He will never stop as long as you make excuses for him. If you really want to help him, get away from him. Let him see what he has become before it’s too late. This is only going to get worse. He is really going to hurt you ...or worse.”

Erika glanced at the ground. “I gotta go,” she said. “Thanks for listening.”

“What are you going to do?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know.” She drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I came here to check on
you.”

“
I
will be fine,” Sam said. “You take care of you, please, and if there’s anything I can do to help you let me know.”

Erika climbed into her car. “I will.” She shut the door, started the car, and drove away.

“No, you won’t,” Sam said. She turned and went back inside.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

S
am’s life had shifted dramatically, everything changing overnight. Within the confines of one surreal conversation Sam had gone from college student to ‘Veduny Oracle’—whatever that meant—and she still could barely conceive of who the Veduny were.

Telling Anna had been interesting. Sam was still having a difficult time believing it herself. But Anna was not surprised at all. It explained a lot about Sam. To her it all fit perfectly.

Immediately following their conversation in Trin’s room Anvil had counseled Trin to start preparing Sam with the promise he would return as soon as he had any new information. Trin had stayed with Sam that night, holding her while she slept. He hardly slept at all.

Now they stood face to face in the gymnasium like two Kung Fu masters. Tall and formidable in black warm-up pants and a Ute swim team T-shirt, Trin looked her in the eyes. “Okay” he said, “hit me.”

Wondering how she was going to beat someone five times her size, she went over the first bits of instruction he had given. She threw a punch in his direction and found herself over his back and colliding with the mat, unable to recount how it had even happened. She blinked in shock as he reached down, taking her hand. “Okay,” he said, helping her up. “Now you.”

Sam stared, looking at him like he was insane.

“Come on, Sam,” he said. “You can’t keep fighting me on this. As of yesterday afternoon, we don’t have time.”

She rolled her eyes. “All right,” she said. “You’re just so much bigger than me.”

“That doesn’t matter,” he said. “That isn’t why I win. I can give you the proper technique but you have to get past the physical and use what’s in here to get me on the floor,” he said, with a hand to his heart. “Your spirit is stronger than my physical body.” Sam heaved a sigh glancing aside.

Trin paused a moment. “It’s a lot like a dance, Sam,” he said. “Try to think of it that way.” He moved in front of her. “Pretend you’re dancing with me. It’s a dance, okay?”

Sam shrugged, taking position.

“When I come at you, move with me the way I showed you as if it were choreographed.” She shrugged. “Okay.”

“I’m not coming at you fast this time. I want you to get the technique so just roll with the motion.”

Sam nodded. She placed her feet, took a deep breath, and focused. He came at her. Grabbing his arm she pulled it toward her, going through the motions. To her surprise, he went over her shoulder landing with a loud smack on the mat in front of her.

He glanced up at her from the floor with a victorious grin. “Not bad.”

She shrugged with a sheepish smile. Trin rolled forward in elegant grace and stood. “Told you.”

Sam smirked. “Going through the motions and actually taking you down are two totally different things.”

“Right, but it’s the same concept.”

“Whatever,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Trin watched her, studying for a moment. A barely distinguishable glint of light crossed his eyes. “Okay, let’s go again,” he said. “Just go through the motions.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Okay,” she said. She took her stance.

A fierce roar exploded from somewhere. Before Sam realized it was coming from Trin she found herself nicely dodging a perfectly executed lethal roundhouse kick.