True Connection (The Soul Mate Series) (31 page)

I walk into the kitchen in a confused daze. I spot Barry and Fane near the counter and head towards them. “So, what’s the plan?”

“We will call you when we find the location. Be ready to leave at any time. You will have Seth as a link and Avan is working on something extra,” Fane answers almost absent mindedly.

“My job is to make sure my phone doesn’t die?” I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling.

“I know it sounds like we are babying you, but seriously, you need to stay here until we know for sure where they’re being held. Let us do our jobs, then you can do yours,” Sam says from the table.

“Alright, I’ll stay here and keep my phone charged. Are we doing this all tonight?” Please, it’s already been two hours since they’ve been taken.

I need them home.

“Yes, if that’s okay with you?” Sam shrugs.

“Of course it is!” I yell. How stupid of a question is that?

“The hunting parties will leave in fifteen minutes,” Fane says. Hunting parties?
That
sounds like they’re scavenging for
food
, not people!

“Fionn, have you heard from the Aerial’s?” Avan shouts over the separate conversations. Aerial’s? I poke my head around Seth to see Fionn.

“Five will be ‘ere soon,” he says in his thick accent.

Just hearing it makes me think back to Barry’s story, and Fionn’s sister. This whole situation...
Memories can be just as painful as current events.

“What are Aerial’s?” I whisper to Seth.

“They’re shifters,” he whispers back. “Their other forms are birds.”

“Oh, like a parrot or a robin?” I ask.

“No. Firebirds,” he says.

I’ve heard that before, in stories or a movie. “Phoenix?”

“There’s only one. He’s like an alpha in a way. But he’s also the guardian of all supernatural beings.”

I mull the new information over. Aside from my growing unease of everything going on, I get to meet more strangers, strange strangers at that. But, we need all the help we can get.

Why didn’t Derik just include an address or directions on the canvas? That would’ve been a novel idea.

Leland and five guys I’ve never seen, saunter into the kitchen, each of the new guys have different shades of red or red/brown hair with golden-flame-colored eyes. You can tell through their tanks, they’re fit, not overly muscular like the wolves, but more slender like Avan.

The one wearing a black top steps forward. “I’m Kass. This is my brother Bo, our flock-mates Tristan, Chase, and Caine,” he says, voice deeper than I expected.

As Fane talks to Kass, I survey the four he brought with him. His brother, Bo, is slightly chubbier than the others, and has orange-red hair with brown streaks, identical to Kass’. I notice Bo’s cheeks are pink, shoulders hunched, and he’s staring at the floor. I think he’s embarrassed but I can’t even guess why. Maybe he’s just shy.

To Bo’s right is Tristan, his red hair, even in the ponytail, reaches the middle of his back. He’s joking with Sam. Just watching him in their conversation, he reminds me of Barry.

I glance around and find one of them, Chase I think, talking to Barry and Barry doesn’t look impressed. Chase kind of reminds me of the skateboarders at my old school, spiked hair, saggy pants, and DC shoes.

My eyes scan the room. There was another guy, Caine, I think.

My eyes pass over the stranger named Caine and a chill runs down my spine. He’s leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. The dark tribal tattoos on his arms give the illusion that he’s wearing a long sleeve tee. Swirling lines, a skull, and feathers, camouflage his tanned skin. One tattoo travels up the side of his neck and disappears into his hair. My eyes slowly travel to his face. Square jaw, defined cheekbones, and a pointed nose.

His dark golden eyes trap mine.

My pulse quickens, heart beating a terrified drum, and breathing has stopped.

Derik doesn’t even give me this hateful of a look, and this guy is supposed to be on my side. Helping me.

I swallow and sink into Seth to focus on the tingling sensation that only his skin brings. It doesn’t work.

I try to close my eyes or look elsewhere but it’s not working. Nothing is working. I’m trapped. I swear this guy wants to cut me up and eat me for dinner.

Warm breath fans across my cheek. “Hey, you’re okay,” Seth whispers and kisses my neck.

I shiver for a totally different reason. That’s one way of distracting me. “I think so,” I say, just as Barry shoves away from Chase and slams the sliding glass door behind him.

“What’s buggin’ Barry?” Henry asks.

I startle and spin around to look at him with a hand on my chest, willing my heart to slow. “You’ve got the shifter sneak attack, down pat! Give me some warning or something.”

“Not my fault you don’t pay attention when you’re with Seth. He shrugs. “You know what’s goin’ on with Barry? He’s been acting a little strange today.”

My mind whirrs. “Um, you don’t really have any room to talk there buddy-man.”

“I have a perfectly good excuse… I just haven’t figured out what it is yet,” he says and then looks away distractedly.

“I bet you haven’t,” I snort when I catch him eyeing Skeeter again.

“Team up,” Fane yells. “Roll out in five.”

Kass whistles and his flock-mates join him by the fridge. Tristan nods then comes over to Seth, Henry, and me.

“Looks like I’m with you guys,” he says and winks. I roll my eyes, but I’m literally jumping for joy inside. I’m not stuck with Caine!

              As everyone begins leaving in their groups, I make my leave to go upstairs. I need a shower, my charger, and the cargo pants Skeeter’s loaning me.

             
Someone clears their throat behind me. “Jasmine,” the voice says.

             
My eyes close and my heart sinks as dread fills my veins. I turn and open my eyes to see Caine.

             
“You and I are training,” he says without explanation.

             
My breath whooshes from my lungs. “Wha?”

             
“When you’re done, Tristan will deliver you to where we’ll train while we wait,” he states and walks away.

             
I numbly walk up the stairs to my room and pace the floor.

             
I’m training with Caine. What am I training for? Why Caine?

             
My door pops open. “You’re not showering?” Skeeter asks.

             
I stop pacing and stare at her. “Did you hear?”

             
“Training with Caine when you’re done?” She questions, and I nod. “Well yea, you need to know some sort of defense. I thought you knew that was going to happen?”

             
Self-defense? Caine? “But…” my brows furrow. “I thought Sam was training me?” I ask weakly and wring my hands.

             
“Training with Caine will be fine, silly.” She waves me off and steps past me to my dresser and begins digging through the drawers.

             
“He hates me,” I whisper, and she chuckles.

             
A minute later she’s produced an entire outfit, including her special fatigue style cargo pants. “I’ll be right here, reading,” she waves a magazine. “When you’re done in the shower, yell, and I’ll come help you tie off the pants,” she says and shoves me towards the door.

***

              My mind keeps traveling to Mom and Alex, then to the pending training with Caine as Skeeter ties off the straps at the waist and ankles.

             
He’s going to eat me. Just cut me up in tiny bite-sized pieces and have me for dinner.

             
“You’re panicking,” Seth says as he enters the room.

             
“Ya think?” I roll my eyes, and Skeeter snorts.

             
Skeeter backs out of my room after she finishes the last tie, and Seth walks to stand in front of me. “I’ll be with you the whole time,” he whispers and wraps my hands in his.

             
I let him calm me. “Thank you,” I smile.

             
“C’mon, let’s go tell Henry he has to stay here.”

             
My heart quickens and my palms instantly become sweaty. “He can’t come?” My lip trembles. “And
I
have to tell him this?”

             
Seth chuckles and tugs me out to the hallway. “It’ll be fine,” he grins.

             
As we reach the top of the stairs, there’s a loud crash. “No way am I staying!” Henry shouts.

             
Seth and I look to each other and dart down the stairs.

             
“If it was up to me, I’d send your ass just to get away from you!” Skeeter shouts back to him, red faced and trembling. “But you’re stuck with me here!”

             
“I’m just supposed to sit here and play fiddlesticks with you, like everything’s cool?” He shouts back to her, and Tristan starts laughing.

             
“
Yes
!” She screams. “If you didn’t notice, your sister is petrified, you’re an overprotective ass, and that kind of combination will cause more problems than what it’s worth! Not to mention the fact that your uncle and I need some help here for when Lil and Alex return.” She folds her arms over her chest. “Think about that.” She turns away from him and freezes when she sees me. “Jazzy,” she whispers. “Fane called.” She blushes slightly. “I suppose you heard all that?” I nod, and she does, too, then looks back to Henry and darts past me towards the living room.

             
“You ready?” Tristan asks me.

             
“One minute?” I ask hopeful.

             
He looks past me, head tilted. He rolls his eyes and sighs. “You’ve got exactly one minute or Caine says to drag you out the door,” he says and leaves Henry, Seth, and me in the kitchen. Seth nods to Henry and follows Tristan out.

             
“Don’t waste your breath tryin’ to tell me things are gonna be fine,” he says thickly and walks over to me. “Learn everything you can from Caine, then kick Tristan’s ass before you get Mom and Alex and…” he trails off, and I throw my arms around his neck.

             
“I love you,” I say, tears coming to my eyes.

             
“I love you, too. Don’t…” he sighs. “Just go.” He drops his arms and gives me a hard look. “I’ll see you soon,” he says through clenched teeth.

             
I nod and bite my cheek to stop the tears from falling. I certainly hope he’s right.

             
Tristan, Seth, and Barry are already in Tristan’s Jetta, waiting for me. I hustle and climb in the back with Seth. He smiles and laces our fingers together.

             
“There’s an empty lot on Sycamore Drive,” Tristan says as he backs the car out. “Caine, Avan, and a few others have already set up there. It’s mostly secluded so there’s that.” I tune the rest of it out and focus on the tingles Seth provokes. He projects his love in a calming way.

             
I stare out the window, watching trees and houses whiz by. I know I should be listening to Tristan and Barry, but I need to focus on the most important thing.

             
As long as I’m calm, I can learn everything Caine teaches me. If I learn that, I should be able to defend myself some and hopefully make any small difference in my favor.

             
I glance to Seth. He’s worried, but trying to hide it. I project a calm sensation to him. At least, I hope it was calming. He glances to me and smiles.

             
I suck in a quick breath at seeing his smile and turn back to the window. He squeezes my hand.

             
I have to survive this.

***

              Tristan parks behind some bushes and we exit the car. The clearing is on our right and Caine is in the middle, doing some kind of warm-up I guess.

             
He’s quick, precise, graceful, and looks incredibly deadly.

             
His stance, fluid movements, and the deadly look on his face reminds of the old Karate Kid movie. Only this trainer is really just one Zen bird, and the “grasshopper,” or lunch, is me.

             
“He’s just warming up,” Tristan says. “Wait ‘til he really gets goin’.”

             
I stare wide eyed at Tristan. “It gets worse than
that
?” I whisper.

             
“You’re seriously afraid of him?” He chuckles.

             
“Shut up,” I say and walk past him. I’ve no idea where I’m going or who I’m supposed to talk to.

             
Flynn jogs over and gives me a quick hug. “Avan’s over there, come on,” he says.

             
I start to head towards Avan when I feel eyes on my back. Glancing over my shoulder, Caine is watching me like a hawk. I gulp and continue pressing my feet towards Avan.

             
We approach Avan, who is hunched over a makeshift table, a cardboard box on top of a tree stump. “I need you to place the mirror here,” Avan says.

             
Bo moves the mirror to the left and when he steps back, I can see what Avan’s doing. He’s etching a pattern onto a small metal disc, about the size of a penny.

             
“Do we need the grass yet?” Bo asks. It’s the first time I’ve heard Bo speak, and I do a double take. His voice is much smoother than his brother’s. It just seems out of place for him.

             
“Start a small fire between a pine and a maple. I’ll meet you there in three minutes,” he tells Bo. Bo turns to leave, catches sight of us, and blushes a bright red before nodding and darting through the trees.

             
“One minute, Jaz,” Avan says without looking up. He chants a few words so quietly that I can’t tell if it’s English or another language. I look up to Seth to see if he understands but his eyes are locked on something a few feet away from Avan. I follow his gaze and see a black blade glittering in the sun.

             
“Alright,” Avan claps, pulling my eyes from the sparkling blade and to his eyes. “By the time you complete your training, this’ll be set.” He smiles then looks at my face and his eyes widen slightly. “Don’t look at me like that,” he rubs his hand over his face.

             
I shake my head and furrow my brow in confusion. “Like what?”

             
He sighs. “Nothing, it’s nothing.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “That is yours,” he points to the knife with his eyes closed.

             
I still don’t understand what look I gave him. He’s awfully confusing today. “Mine to do what with, exactly?”

             
He stands and walks over to where the knife is sitting. “To protect yourself, for starters,” he says picking it up. “It’s exactly the right tool to get the job done,” he smiles.

             
Barry bristles beside me. Just as Avan turns the sharp edge down and moves to hand it to me, Barry pulls me behind him and stands closer to Seth.

             
“Barry! What the hell!” I shout.

             
I look to Seth, then to Flynn, and they both seem just as confused as I am. Seth, not knowing what to do, reaches back, and tugs me close to him.

             
“Why does she need
that
knife?” Barry spits.

             
“How else do you expect her to fight off a demon, Barry?” Avan replies in exasperation.

             
“You expect to her to actually use it and slice someone up?”

             
“Jeez, it’s not like I’m back here drooling over it. I don’t want that thing,” I say to the back of his head.

             
“You’re damn right you don’t want
that
knife!” He shouts over his shoulder at me.

             
Just then, a smooth baritone voice calls out from behind me, a voice that extinguishes the fire from my irritation with Barry, and replaces it with ice and dread. “We don’t have time for this, just give her the knife.”

             
“I’m trying, but this petulant child seems to think that Jasmine should not bear weapon,” Avan says.

             
Barry stiffens. “You have no idea what you’re doing!”

             
“Would you deny her the right to defend herself or her family? Would you not allow her to have everything in her power, her grasp, to end this tonight?” Caine shouts at Barry.

             
Avan sighs. “We are trying to help her. Let us,” he says softly.

             
“I’ve seen weapons enchanted by sorcerers before and I’ve seen what they can do! You expect me to trust giving her, not only a knife to inflict pain or death on someone, but an
enchanted
knife?” Barry fires back.

             
I step around Barry. “Don’t hate me. I have to do this, alone,” I whisper to him then take the damned knife from Avan.

             
Flynn drops to his knees at my feet. He tugs at my pant leg, undoing the tie, and something cool and smooth presses against my shin.

             
Barry growls and takes off through the trees. I know he won’t go far. He promised not to run.

             
Seth reaches over and rubs my arm. I look up to his face and get lost in his green eyes amongst this chaos.

             
When I feel Flynn tug my pant leg back down, I close my eyes, breaking my trance.

             
“You’ll be okay,” Seth says. “I’ll be a few feet away, watching the whole time.” He’ll have some excellent blackmail after this, watching my demise at the hands of a bird, a frightening bird at that.