What the Heart Takes (12 page)

“What?”

Heaven looked at Dylan as both blurted the question. Confusion spiraled within their connection, leaving both shaken and surprised at Delia’s answer.

“You know your child has abilities, don’t you?”

A retort readied on Heaven’s lips, but the reality of Delia’s question hit her. “I…I think a part of me knew, or maybe it’s that I’m not surprised. It makes sense for our child to have abilities if we have them.” A small nudge from within had her touching her stomach. “I’ve been so focused on being pregnant and all the physical changes, I haven’t thought about the baby having abilities or what they could be.”

Dylan cleared his throat a second later. He stroked a small space on her belly, stopping when the baby kicked. “I just made the connection right before we left Montego, at least to the fact that the baby is gifted. I don’t know what those abilities are, but I think it’s the reason I’m having a hard time sensing you.”

“You’re right, Dylan.” Delia added. “It’s also the reason you lost your connection with Heaven in Aruba. The baby felt her devastation when you walked out. Your child did what it could to protect her. It’s still feeling that need, which is why Anna sees the lavender aura. It represents psychic shields.”

Worry wavered in Dylan’s eyes. She knew he still carried a lot of guilt for the pain he’d caused her in Aruba.  Now he carried the guilt for everything that happened on their last night in Montego. Learning that he was partially responsible for stressing their child had him loathing himself even more.

She sent him a comforting pulse, hoping it would ease his mind. He would be a great father. She knew it in her heart as much as her soul. He needed to believe it too, not focus on the negativity.

Another caress of his fingers tingled her skin. All the love he had for their baby replaced the worry in his eyes. They twinkled each second he stared at her stomach. “So does our baby have some type of shielding ability?”

“I believe so, because I believe the child needs to be able to shield itself.”

Dylan’s hand stilled. He flashed Heaven a puzzled look before doing the same to his mother. “Why?”

“This is just a hunch, but I’m thinking your child is clairvoyant. He or she has the ability to see the future. In order to protect their visions from negative influences, clairvoyants have abilities to shield themselves and others.”

A strong, steady thump grew in Heaven’s temples. She gave in and pressed her hands to them, wishing she could clear her mind. The more she tried to understand what Delia was explaining, the more confused she became.

“I can’t wrap my brain around any of this. You still haven’t told us about the supreme trinity or why Dylan and I are a part of the trio. Now I’m learning about other planes and the fact that our baby has abilities. My head feels like it could explode.”

It was her mother’s voice that filled the air, cutting off whatever words hung on Delia’s lips. “There will be plenty of time to discuss this after you’ve had rest. Your mind can’t process anything if you’re sleep deprived.”

“Just point me to a bed and I’ll go,” she grumbled, still rubbing her head.

“Actually, I prepped the old cottage for you. When Delia told us that she sensed you guys were coming home, I wanted to have everything ready.”

The thought of staying in the old cottage made Heaven smile because that same house had been her sanctuary growing up. “I love that house. I used to go there to read when I was younger. In fact, I went there a lot when I needed privacy.”

Her mother nodded. “I know. I thought you’d be comfortable there. It keeps us all close but gives you the privacy you need. And it’s big enough for the three of you.”

An icy chill covered Heaven from head to toe, as if she’d met a bucket of ice head-on. She couldn’t believe her mother just touched on the one subject she wanted to avoid, the one subject that would upset Dylan and piss off Layne even more.

“Layne is
not
staying in the cottage with us, Mom.” The words came barreling out before she could stop herself. Every ounce of harshness they contained reflected on her mother’s face.

“Excuse me?”

“What I mean is, he needs his space. I think the garage apartment would be better for him. He’ll be close enough if I need him, but far enough away to have his privacy. He needs his privacy.”

She tried to ignore the men in her life, but the pull of their energy wouldn’t let her. She gazed at Dylan first, then Layne, who’d left his spot near the door. Between her husband’s creased brows and Layne’s gaping mouth, she didn’t know who she’d surprised the most.

Doing her best to ignore their reaction, she turned to her mother, who couldn’t meet her eyes. Instead, she looked out the window just behind her. “I’m sure you’re probably right, Heaven, but it’s not possible. The apartment is already occupied.”

“By whom?”

Silence reclaimed the room as she waited for her mother’s answer. The first sign of dawn brightened the outdoors, but she couldn’t take time to appreciate the beautiful scenery. Her mother’s eyes shifted from the window to her lap, where her hands lay folded.

“Your sister’s in the apartment.”

Sitting up straight, Heaven shot a quick glance at Dylan, noting the confusion on his face. “When did Hope get here?”

Her mother’s eyes darted to hers as she answered, “Wrong sister.”

CHAPTER 8

A burst of rage ignited in Layne the longer he stared at Anna. Each passing second gained him another set of curious eyes. Their stares didn’t anger him as much as knowing they were waiting for his reaction. And he felt a reaction, one that made his head pound with each thump of his heart.

He questioned whether he’d heard right. That the one person who’d ripped out his heart was there. The thought of seeing Faith, much less dealing with her, had him clenching his fist—and his jaw. The centers of his cheeks began to ache.

A quick turn had him facing the back wall, though he avoided the mirror that hung above the mantle. Shutting everyone out wouldn’t erase Anna’s words, but he couldn’t be a part of the impending conversation. Not until he controlled the anger smoldering within him. Knowing Heaven sensed that anger was bad enough.

The ringing in his ears died away as snapping and popping echoed through the room. He stared at the wood inside the fireplace, swiping the beads of sweat from his neck. The faint embers Nicholas stoked had grown into flames in a matter of seconds. Flickers of yellow and orange danced around the logs, consuming the outer edges. They mimicked the fire building inside him as Anna’s words replayed in his mind.

It wasn’t just the fact that Faith was there that pissed him off. It was the possibility that Heaven had somehow known and chosen not to tell him. She could sense energy, after all. Wouldn’t she have sensed Faith’s presence?

If he went off the expression on her face, the answer would be no. Her wide eyes and parted lips said the news had floored her as much as him, if that was possible. Hell, he hadn’t recovered from the verbal punch she’d given him—how he wouldn’t be staying in the cottage with her and Dylan.

She’d played off the harshness in her voice, pretending like she was concerned about his privacy. What a crock of shit. This was her lashing out. All the hurt he’d caused her resonated with each word she spoke. Those words continued haunting him, even at this moment when he avoided her gaze. No matter how hard he tried to block her from his mind, he couldn’t ignore the pull of her soul. Each sorrow-filled tug ripped him apart.

Regret churned his stomach. Yeah, he wanted to put distance between them, but not like this.

He shouldn’t be surprised by her reaction. He’d all but demanded the distance when they stood on the side of the road just behind the rental car. Each vicious word he’d sputtered in her face caused damage. He hadn’t cared at the time. Hurting her seemed like the only way out of the mess he’d caused. Yet hearing her put his words into motion…

His gut twisted tighter. He wanted to be her friend, but he couldn’t. Didn’t she realize that fact hurt him as much as it hurt her? There was nothing he wanted more than for them to grow closer. Too bad it clouded his mind and judgment. How could he worry about her safety when other images played through his mind, like the silky skin he’d touched, or the soft lips that once caressed his? Guarding her required his full attention. He needed to be on alert for danger, not obsessing over his feelings for her.

Laughter bubbled inside his chest. He’d proven his point again. She possessed his every thought. Made everything and everyone disappear from his mind. He fought against the urge to look at her, though he knew he’d lose the battle. She’d grown too quiet since her mother’s announcement.

Self-discipline had never been one of his finer points, nor was it now. He finally caved and turned back to the couch where she and Dylan sat. Her mother occupied her attention while Dylan tried to gain it. He kept whispering something in her ear as he held her close.

A twinge of jealousy pinched Layne’s heart. He wanted to be the one to comfort her, wanted to be the one who held her tight and soothed the angst inside. He understood her apprehension better than anyone because her mother’s words upset him too. Yet no one consoled him. No one asked how he felt about Faith’s presence, and he was fine with that. He didn’t need kind words or empty apologies.

What he needed, he couldn’t have.

Shifting his eyes to the floor, he cursed himself. The anger raging inside him wasn’t about comforting Heaven. It wasn’t about guarding her life twenty-four hours a day. He could do either as her Keeper. This was about the ache in his heart, about the inconsolable urge to be by her side. He wanted to be the last person she would see at night and the first in the morning. He wanted her bearing
his
name and
his
children.

Christ, he was a mess, a fucking mess of shit that didn’t deserve anything good in his life, least of all her. So he’d saved her life in Aruba. It didn’t change the fact that she needed a better Keeper, one that put her first, not his own selfish desires.

She deserved better than a loser who’d accomplished nothing more than playing drums, knocking back a bottle, and screwing women. He couldn’t pretend he was anything more, regardless of what she believed. Why couldn’t she realize that? Why couldn’t she see that he
was
the world’s worst Keeper?

No matter how much he sensed the fire burning inside, he couldn’t protect her. He’d failed in the dream, one Delia insinuated to be a future event. How far in the future, he didn’t know, and that uncertainty scared him.

If the dream came true, he would fail her again. Except this time, they wouldn’t wake up. This time, she’d be gone forever.

All thoughts came crashing down when the pull of their connection gained strength. Each tug on his soul beckoned him toward her. He took a step, not realizing what he was doing, until the movement obtained her attention. Her eyes trailed over his face, working their way down. They hesitated on his hands before returning to his eyes.

She pursed her lips to the side, like she had something to say but couldn’t. Maybe Dylan’s presence kept her from bringing it up, or maybe she was still pissed at him. If he had to guess, he’d choose the latter. He hoped it was the latter. She needed to be angry with him, needed to realize that being his friend would be the death of her.

Instead, she gave a slight nod in her mother’s direction. Anna hadn’t moved from her seat near the window. Heaven maintained her focus, though she stole a couple of glances at him. Her cheeks flushed a crimson shade as she rubbed her hands on her pajama bottoms, blowing her hair from her face.

He didn’t understand why Heaven wanted him to look at her. Yeah, she was nervous, most likely about his reaction, and rightly so. It was taking everything in him not to lose it. Doing so wouldn’t be good for Faith. Still, it wasn’t her safety keeping him in the tension-filled room. He could care less whether she lived or died.

Heaven was a different story.

A voice cleared to his right, drawing his eyes to Delia. Still sitting in the chair across from Heaven, she fanned her shirt near the neckline.

He turned to Dylan next, but with much reluctance. He knew his friend was pissed at him. Yet a sense of satisfaction accompanied the thought. They’d taken turns pushing each other’s buttons. Right now, he was one ahead. While their anger stemmed from different places, it didn’t change one fact. Misery still loved company.

Much to his surprise, Dylan’s face showed no signs of anger or any other emotion. He unwrapped his arm from Heaven’s waist long enough to push up the sleeves on his flannel. She studied him a moment, then raised a brow at Layne.

What was her deal? He didn’t understand what she wanted him to see. He couldn’t see anything, could only feel the fire that radiated within his—

Something snapped inside his chest, like the last person to get a joke. Heaven’s subtle clues pieced a perfect picture of the message she wanted to send. The fire inside his soul consumed more than him. It consumed the room, right along with the people in it.

She shot him a stern look, as if to tell him to stop. He fought not to laugh at the notion. If only it were that simple. He had no control over his abilities or the anger fueling them, anger brought on by the argument that transpired between them, anger in learning Faith’s whereabouts.

He didn’t realize he’d growled until Dylan peered over his shoulder. Before his friend could ask the questions showing in his eyes, Heaven cleared her throat.

“I can’t believe Faith is here.” Ringlets bounced around her face as she shook her head. “I’m curious, Mom. How long did you plan to keep this from me?”

“I wanted you to rest before I brought it up. You’re exhausted, Heaven. All of you are, which means your emotions are running high.”

“You think?” Heaven slapped her hand against the couch. The thump resonated through the room, adding to the tension. “She’s supposed to be in New York. Why isn’t she?”

The question was finally out—the one Layne wanted to ask but couldn’t find the nerve. He moved his eyes across the den, not the least bit surprised to find that he was the center of Anna’s attention.