Turbulence (21 page)

“I’m okay, Gram. You should be nice to Greyson. If not for
him, I would still be locked away, maybe even already dead. He’s a good man.”

“Humph. We must know two different men. You want soup? I’ll
make soup.”

“I’ll get her some soup,” Greyson said from across the room.

“Not that canned stuff, you won’t. I’ll make it fresh. Sit
tight, Avalon. I’ll be back in no time.”

Veeva got up. The sound of her small feet shuffling across
the floor stopped. Avalon’s sight wasn’t good now, but her hearing was
excellent.

“See,” her grandmother whispered. “I didn’t even mention her
eyes. My poor baby.”

Avalon wasn’t made of glass. She wouldn’t break by talking
about her condition. But if it made Greyson and Veeva feel better to think they
were protecting her from the harsh reality then she’d let him. Life was much
too short to get upset over minor matters.

“Greyson?” she called out.

“Yes?” The blurred shape of him moved closer. The bed dipped
when he sat down beside her. “What do you need, Lonnie Girl?”

“I didn’t know you sang,” she murmured.

“I don’t. Though, for you I’d sing all day and all night,
sunshine. Did you confuse my voice for that of an angel?”

That made her smile. “Absolutely not. Singing is not your
strongest talent. But I still liked it. Thank you.”

“I told you that you don’t have to thank me.” He lifted her
up like she weighed nothing and cradled her in his lap. “Rest against me.
You’re still tired. I feel it.”

“You’re tired too. Bond goes both ways.”

“There are a lot of things on my mind right now,” he
admitted. “It’s hard for me to sleep.” She wondered whether she could get
Miriam to give him a sleeping pill. He had to be running on fumes.

“Whatever happened with Department X? Did you get the bad
guys?”

His hold on her tightened but relaxed when she groaned at
the pain. “Sorry. And no. They’ll get what’s coming to them eventually.”

“When?”

“When you’re better.”

“That may never happen.” Miriam’s cure may come late or
never. “You have to stop them now. Department X is a major threat. Your father
is a monster.”

“I don’t want to talk about this, Avalon. I’ll wake you up
when the soup is ready.”

She wasn’t letting this go, although all she wanted to do
was close her eyes and sleep. She turned her gaze up at him until she was staring
at the fuzzy contours of his face.

“I can help. I can look into the sentries’ futures or even
Dex and Ross. I may even be able to see the future without a conduit if I try
really hard. Something I see may help us stop them once and for all. Get Ross and
Dex. We can try and—”

Greyson pressed a finger over her lips. “You’re not strong
enough and I’m not leaving you to take them down until you are. End of
discussion.”

He started humming, cutting off anything she wanted to say.
Avalon was too exhausted to fight him on it anyhow. When she woke up again, he
had better prepare for battle.

----

“She wants to do it.” Greyson sipped on a bottle of beer,
made a face and sat it down. His favorite vice did nothing for him anymore. He
didn’t even get the urge to drink these days with his attention so focused
elsewhere.

“If that’s what she wants to do, you can’t really stop her,”
Dex responded. “You’re her mate, not her master.”

They were sitting in the kitchen. Veeva, Lily, and Noris
were all upstairs in the bedroom with Avalon. There was so much estrogen
flowing in that room that Greyson left to get some air. Veeva had gotten the
soup prepared and Miriam had come by to check Avalon out.

It didn’t take a healer to see that Avalon’s condition was
deteriorating with the way she continued to cough up blood. Being unconscious
had slowed down the decline of her condition. Now that she was awake again,
Miriam suspected it wasn’t long before she was lost to them. That had been difficult
for Greyson to hear. He’d ordered Miriam out of the room to get to work
finalizing the antidote.

Greyson never thought he’d be coming to Dex for advice on
anything, especially on dealing with a mate, but here Greyson was pouring out
his battered soul.

“Miriam said reading futures will expedite her decline. I
can’t let that happen. Miriam needs more time.”

Dex looked at him in pity. “Greyson, the antidote may not
even be able to save her. If this is the end for Avalon at least let her go out
the way she wants. She wants to end Department X permanently. All of us do. We
could use her.”

Greyson tapped the beer bottle in contemplation. He didn’t
like what he was hearing. “You’d let Lily do this?”

“Well, she’s human. She doesn’t have any special alien
abilities. But if she did and this was really what she wanted to do then, yeah.
It would bother me, but what choice would I have? I’d want her to be happy, to
feel useful.”

Greyson just couldn’t accept that Avalon would die. He
wouldn’t. At the same time, as her mate, it was his duty to please her. If it
satisfied her to read futures until she was blue in the face then he had no
other choice but to let her. If he had a choice in the matter at all, which it
seemed that he didn’t.

Tomorrow he’d round up Ross and Dex to see what Avalon could
do to help. However, that didn’t mean he was ordering anyone to take any
actions against Department X just yet. Avalon might get her way, but so was
Greyson.

Chapter 21

Greyson had mentioned that it was snowing. Avalon always
liked the snow. Living in Chicago she saw plenty of it. The sight of it never
grew old.

She begged Greyson to let her sit on the porch and watch the
flakes float down. After a great deal of pleading and using her condition to
her advantage, she managed to convince him.

He wrapped her in his big winter coat followed by a thick
comforter. A knit cap was thrust onto her head and thick gloves on her hands.
You would have thought it was ten degrees below zero from the way he was
acting. And he wasn’t even wearing a jacket, which was unfair.

It wasn’t until she got outside that she even remembered
that she couldn’t see the flakes falling. All her poor eyesight captured was
the white blanket around the lawn. But it was still magnificent to behold.

Greyson sat down on the top step of the porch with her in
his lap. “Last year was my first time seeing snow.”

That was strange. He came to this planet long before she
did. “You’ve been on Earth for years.”

“Yeah, four. Going on five. I spent three of them in Nevada.
Warm weather isn’t really conducive to snow.”

“I guess not. You missed out.”

“I can see why you like it. I’ll tell you what I see. Close
your eyes.”

She managed to keep from laughing. “I can’t really see,
Greyson.”

“Doesn’t matter. Visualization works better with your eyes
closed. Good. Now picture soft, white flakes falling softly from the heavens
like the frozen tears of angels. They blanket the lawn, the trees, and the
streets in a powered mist. A crystal flake lands on your nose.” Avalon felt it.
Not only on her nose, but on her entire face, melting on and tickling her
fevered skin. “Stick out your tongue, Lonnie Girl. Taste the flurries as they
dissolve against it. Reach out your hand.” He removed a glove and guided her
hand to a pile of snow. “Feel the snow. It’s cold. It thaws from the warmth of
your touch. Just like my heart melted for you.”

Tears slid from the corners of her closed eyes and Greyson
wiped them away. He was so sweet. She couldn’t have asked for a better mate. “I
love you.”

“I love you too, sunshine.”

Avalon sucked in a breath. He loved her? She really was the
luckiest girl in the world. “Kiss me.”

He did, a light brushing of his lips against hers. Avalon
wanted much more. She wanted to make love to him but knew he would not allow
it. Even if she managed to convince him to give in, he would be too concerned
about her to enjoy himself.

“You want to go in?” he asked, kissing her forehead. “I’ll
make some hot cocoa. We can watch
The Notebook
.”

He really did love her if he was willing to watch a sappy
love story. For that, she’d give him a reprieve. “How about
High Noon
?
You told me it was good.”

“It’s fantastic. I’ll describe everything to you.” Because
she heard the excitement in his voice and imagined the delight in his brown
eyes, she couldn’t have been more content for a dying person.

----

“You’re sure you’re up for this.”

“Greyson, yes!” Avalon exclaimed as much as she could,
though it didn’t get anywhere near a shout. Her voice was hoarse after a
session of throwing up.

Greyson couldn’t help himself by repeatedly asking. He never
thought he’d be in a position where he cared too much about a woman. Dex and
Ross were on their way up for this little experiment of Avalon’s.

Dex contacted Jay Copeland from Homeland Security and was
keeping the organization on standby with plans to take down their joint enemy.
But Greyson still held the keys since only he knew where the Department X
facility was and he wasn’t giving the green light for full speed ahead just
yet.

A knock came at the door. Greyson fluffed Avalon’s pillows
one more time before opening the door. He beckoned Ross and Dex in. Having so
much traffic in their bedroom was a far cry from the promise he made to Avalon
that no one would ever set foot in their room besides the two of them. He
doubted she cared much about that promise now.

Ross walked over and sat in the chair Greyson had pulled
beside the bed. “Hey, Avalon. Looking pretty enough to knock a man to his
knees.”

The first hint of pink Greyson had seen in a while sprouted
on her hollow cheeks. The weight he got her to gain had vanished and her skin
was too pallid, but seeing the blush his brother brought to her made Greyson
proud. Ross was a good man.

“Oh, please.” She beamed anyway. “I look terrible.”

“I couldn’t lie if I tried, sister-by-joined-blood.”

Greyson crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “I
keep telling her she’s still the most attractive woman in the world. No
competition.”

“You do look great, Avalon,” Dex concurred. “But I have to
say the crown goes to my Lily.”

“Shut it, Dexter. You wouldn’t know beauty if it bit you on
the ass.”

“You calling Lily ugly?”

“She’s not ugly, which is why I don’t understand what she’s
doing with you. However, it’s that mouth of hers that needs a muzzle and brings
down her beauty points.”

“I’ll give you beauty points.” Dex held up his fist.

Greyson opened his mouth to respond when Avalon’s laugh cut
him off. She’d chuckled or giggled here and there, but nothing like the
mirthful laugh he was hearing. It sounded almost normal. Even if she couldn’t
read their futures, Dex and Ross coming here was worth it.

“You find this funny, Lonnie Girl?”

She batted her nearly sightless eyes. “Hilarious. You two
always crack me up. I think you secretly love each other.”

Dex snorted. “Please. I don’t see how you can love this guy.
He makes me want to pull his hair out.”

“You mean pull
your
hair out,” Greyson corrected.

“No. I mean yours. Rip all those girly blonde strands right
from your skull one by one.”

“You’re sick.”

“Maybe. You see, Avalon. No love here.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. Come sit down on the bed.
It’ll be easier for me that way.”

Since she couldn’t get a read off him, Greyson stayed
standing by the door. Dex sat on the edge of the bed. Greyson wasn’t too happy
about another man being on the bed with Avalon, but he kept his jealousy to
himself.

He wasn’t lying when he said Avalon was beautiful. Even sick,
she ran circles around any other woman in his mind.

Ross rubbed his hands together. “I guess we should get
started. What do we need to do?”

“Just touch me. I’m going to try to focus on Department X,
but I’ve never controlled a vision before. It might work and it might not.”

“Well, you have us all day. Practice until your heart is
content. Greyson will be our butler and tend to all our wants and needs. Right,
Grey?” He’d do whatever Avalon asked of him.

“All right,” Avalon said. “You first, Ross. Touch me.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere.”

“Be careful where you lay that hand, brother,” Greyson
warned.

Ross laid his hand on her arm. She got a faraway look in her
eyes like she was there but not there at the same time. The glassed over look
remained in her eyes for a few more minutes. Then she blinked and shook her
head.

“That wasn’t it,” she muttered in disappointment.

“What did you see?” Ross asked her.

“I’m not sure if you want me to say it in front of
everyone.”

Ross shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”

“I saw you leaving.”

“Where was he going?” Ross hadn’t asked for approval from
Greyson to go on vacation or to take a break.

Avalon frowned at him. “It’s his business, Greyson. He
doesn’t have to tell you.”

That got warning bells to ringing. She already knew about it
before this vision. “Somebody better start talking.”

Ross patted her arm. “It’s all right, Avalon. He was going
to find out sooner or later. I’m leaving, Grey. I planned to tell you, but
everything is sort of crazy right now. I’m not leaving for a while yet.”

“And where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m moving away. I’m resigning as head of the sentries. I
don’t know where I’ll go, but I just need to get away from here and figure out
life on my own.”

“Like hell you are,” Greyson retorted. “You have
responsibilities with the colony. This is our dream.”

“This is
your
dream,” Ross amended. “I’ve always
followed you, Greyson. I’ve done everything you asked of me. At last, I want to
do something for me. Understand that. When we finish off Department X and
Philip O’Day, I’m gone. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.” He really did
look sorry.

Greyson didn’t know what to say to that. He felt betrayed?
Upset? Relieved? He didn’t know. So he didn’t say anything at all. He stood
there for hours and watched Avalon read futures about random events that held
no importance to him.

All that kept going through Greyson’s head was that he was
in the process of losing his mate and his brother. Who would he have left in
the end?

----

She did it.

It took three days, but Avalon finally managed to control
her visions. It happened when she was reading Dex’s future. She put her all
into her focus, willing any future with Department X to come into her sight. It
worked.

She saw a large group gathered outside of a building in what
looked like the middle of nowhere. Nothing but frozen ground and snow. Not all
the men and few women gathered where Jhetan. Some were human. Homeland
Security, said the lettering on their thick vests. Body bags littered the
ground. Dex was talking intently to someone he called Barney.

That was all she got before the vision transformed into
another one. In a small, dark room with a single light bulb hanging from the
ceiling as the only light, Greyson, Dex, and Ross surrounded a person. This was
the first time Avalon had ever seen Greyson in a vision. Probably because it
wasn’t his.

She was finally able to see who they were surrounding. It
was the young man called Nile. Someone had tied him to a chair with chain
links, handcuffs, and other barriers to prevent his escape. Both sides of his
face were red and purple with bruises. One of his eyes was beginning to swell
shut.

Greyson shook out his hand. “Where is Philip O’Day?”

Nile spat blood on the floor and glared as much as he could
with only one good eye. “I don’t know.” He knew. They all knew he was lying.

“I’m in a foul mood, boy. I can go to town on you all day,
so you better stop lying to me. O’Day wasn’t there when we raided your little
center of operation. Someone has to know where he is. I’m thinking that person
is you.” Greyson raised his fist to swing again. Dex caught his elbow.

“We brought him back to question him. Not to kill him.”

“What difference does it make to me? He and the rest of
Department X ripped my heart out of my chest. One way or another I’m getting
O’Day and this little shit will pay too.”

Ross moved in her peripheral vision. “We all want them to
pay. But you have to calm down.”

The vision dissipated. Back in the present, Avalon felt
sweat pouring down the sides of her face. Tremors cascaded through her body. 
Her breath left her in shaky gasps as death tightened its grip on her life.

“Someone call Miriam!” Greyson’s voice came from far away,
though she knew he was in the room. She sensed him.

Large hands pushed her down onto the bed as she jerked and
shook. She didn’t know who they belonged to. The little sight she had left
faded, plunging her into complete blackness.

“O’Day…gone,” she struggled to say. She coughed, sputtering
up blood again. Avalon was at the end. This was it. “Take Nile. He knows…”

She could not finish the sentence. She drifted off into
unconsciousness once again. How long that lasted she wasn’t sure. She awoke
when a foul tasting liquid slid down her throat. She coughed, tried to spit it
out.

“No. No. You have to drink it.” That was Miriam’s voice.
“Good. Rest.”

“Will the antidote work?” Greyson.

“I just finished it before you called, so I don’t know. We
can only hope, sir.”

Avalon slipped off again. This time she was burning up. All
over her body it felt like fire swam through her veins. It hurt. It hurt so
badly. A whimper escaped her lips.

Of its own volition, a vision came upon her. No. It wasn’t a
vision. It was her deepest hopes and wishes. A dream.

It was winter. Fresh white snow had just fallen to the
ground. Bundled up in warm attire, Avalon lifted up a little girl around four
or so years old to allow her to place the carrot on a snowman for its nose.

“He’s perfect now,” Avalon said.

The child shook her small hood covered head. “Mr. Snowman
needs a scarf. His neck will get cold out here. Daddy, can I have your scarf?”

Greyson and a little boy dressed in a blue snowsuit lay on
the ground making snow angels. Greyson sat up and took off his scarf, handing
it to the little girl. “Here you go, sweetheart. But what if I get cold?”

“You don’t get cold, Daddy.”

“Oh, yes I do. I just get lucky and always have your mother
to warm me up.” Greyson winked at Avalon. That warmed her right down to her
toes.

 “Look at me, Mommy.” The little boy—her son—moved his arms
and legs in the snow.

Avalon smiled down at him. “I see you, honey. Your angel
looks fantastic.”

If only the dream could be true. At least she got the
opportunity to see what she would never get to experience. It was more than she
could ask for.

----

“She’s burning up. I thought you said this would work,
Miriam.”

Greyson dabbed a cool cloth across Avalon’s forehead. He
couldn’t get her to stop sweating or whimpering. She was in so much pain.