Daughter of Anat Read online

  Only then did Cas let the slightest movement of his shoulders lean in. “That was clever.”

  “You doubt me?”

  “Not in any way. That is what I fear more. How much they adore you too.”

  “Why do we argue when neither of us will give?” I spewed out a breath of hot air.

  Oh Kissa, he said inside and switched back to speaking aloud, “I could argue with you all day and be in heaven.” His face, a look of ecstasy as he leaned in purposefully.

  “What on earth for, Cas?” I shouted out.

  “Because my love, even arguing with you is more interesting than any other heated or civilized meaningless conversations I could ever have.” A very patient made smile formed on his lips.

  It was just...breathless. “Still doesn’t make sense,” I tried to sound upset but my voice was too shaky. I watched his face change twice into two different emotions and stay on the one dangerously, lingering look of pure desire. I felt my own lip quiver and his eyes followed it. Maybe he had my face figured too.

  “Oh, I think you’d change your mind if I told you right now how we could make up afterward and let this little argument go without a last words winner if you’d like an experiment.” He peaked with all the above emotions...unreadable and exasperating. He wet his lips with his tongue. I forgot the conversation for a second.

  At first, I lost my voice—so I nodded. Then when that didn’t convey the wanted result I add, “I’m listening. Go on!” I mused wanting to see for myself what his illogical minded self might have in store when the tables were turned. Probably some mind jabbing of sorts.

  He attacked me showing me I didn’t have any control over the situation. Yes, that’s right. It couldn’t be called anything else. He covered himself over my length and kissed the breath right out of me. It was glorious.

  The blackest midnight had nothing on him. He was dark in his moods. His very way about him let me allow him the control. Even in his passions. They were dangerous and full of need. Overwhelming.

  I thought I would melt away with the desire running through me. I was consumed by the darkness of him and the light he didn’t know he had. The light about him that he couldn’t see at times. He was good inside. He just needed to know it himself.

  When he finished with warm fast kisses he severed all hands and took a step back in white lab coat psyche ward coat jacket style, then announced, “I am most assuredly correct on this.”

  I simply stared. After I took a few deeper, long breaths I lifted my head up drunkenly and said, “For once, I think you might be right.”

  “Oh, that is worth recording.” He held up his free hand and then settled it back on my thigh. His other hand held his phone in front of him. “Say that one more time, insert my name, and say it real slow.”

  I waited till the red button appeared and stuck my face up close to the phone, and kissed it. Then, I schooled backward and said, “KISS...MY...—

  The camera cut off.

  “Hey,” I pouted, “You took away my Hollywood moment.”

  He growled possessively, “And the suggestiveness in your tone would suggest you were thinking otherwise about any tabloids most quote worthy.”

  “So play it again, insert what you will, and say it real slow.” I moved my words slow motion and licked my lips knowing I wasn’t any good with sexiness. I couldn’t make his head turn the way other girls might.

  He froze and a moment of blankness filled his face.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked in curiosity.

  His eyes locked on mine after a flicker back on my lips once more.

  “Cas, you’re scaring me.”

  It should.

  I swallowed thinking my sauciness might do things to him I shouldn’t be doing to him. Maybe it was the wrong thing to do. Maybe I was good at this and didn’t know my own power. At least with him I was.

  “I pictured very vividly you saying it again, and meaning it this time.”

  Oh! Time to change the subject. Danger Will Robinson.

  “Cas put down the phone and go get us both a glass of ice cold water.”

  He didn’t move.

  “Do you hear me, Cas?”

  He came out of his stupor. He cleared his throat making a very disappointed noise with his lips, walked kind of funny as he made it to the fridge, and melted from my view.

  I sunk into the seat and closed my eyes. Restraint was too hard. I was new to the relationship game and even to man and woman issues, but I couldn’t understand how the most unintentional thoughts and comments could turn into something else.

  He returned, cooled off. Mostly.

  “Did you hear what you said before about leaving the warehouse?”

  I thought back searching for what he might have locked onto. “No, what?” Easier to just ask.

  Nothing, Kissa.

  I squeezed my feet under me on the chair and pressed against. “Please.” I dragged it out with a low, sweet voice. Once again, I didn’t think I would be good at the whole flirting innocent thing.

  He gave instantly. Wow!

  “You said to bring you home.”

  Oh...he...uh...”Yeah, I guess I did.” I smiled instead giving him what he wanted. Guess we both were changing in some ways. I wanted to be wanted and not told how my life would be planned minute by minute. Although I feel sometimes like Cas shelters me in his enormous mansion from certain harm, I know I have the privilege of doing as I please. That is a freedom in itself I never had.

  “Yes, Cas. I would like to call it home. I feel like it is more my home than anywhere I’ve been in the last months including my whole life.”

  His happiness was written all over his face, hands, body...as he neglected the cooling off period and showed me exactly how he felt about the decision I’d made first without knowing and now couldn’t wait for with every beat of my heart.

  Home!

  Chapter Eighteen

  I had a couple hundred daredevil jumps in my career, and I made most of them...

  The warmth of the night air was around us. Summer was feeding our every breath as we sat out on a blanket against the railing. I needed him to hear some things before another day ended.

  “Cas, I need to tell you something.”

  Anything.

  You say that now. “You are good.”

  His sharpened eyebrow shot up reading me the wrong way. Figures. I pressed a finger to his chest. “Inside.”

  Kissa, don’t.

  He pleaded but I wouldn’t relent giving me a sour face. Something raw and painful resided inside of Cassius Cross and I wanted to help erase that pain. “I believe you believe you are bound by evil because of the life you chose, or didn’t choose. I think you might even believe that you can’t redeem yourself even with good deeds or any other religious way of redemption. But you’re wrong.”

  He wasn’t wearing any expression. I continued on sure I’d make my point so he’d know where I stand. “You are good inside. I know your heart. You may have to defend your court in ways you would never choose, but that doesn’t make you heartless. You’ve watched and kept me safe for the better part of my life without me knowing. I may not admit this ever again, but I am thankful for that. I know the sacrifices you made for a possible dream. I can’t believe you had that much faith in an unpredictable future, but I’m so glad you did. That alone makes you redeemed in my eyes. I don’t like how everyone has sacrificed that much for me. You claim Szar and my father did, but I know what luxuries they were dealt. Thank you for doing all that. No one could be damned or soulless if they sacrificed their immortality for another. I will not ever forget it.”

  He kissed me. I opened my mouth to tell him that his heart alone meant he had a soul, but he didn’t give me the chance. When he finally released my lips he murmured into my ear so low, “If I have a soul, it sits suspended with yours alone. I can’t imagine a life without you. I want you to be mine, Anastacia. You will marry me soon, count on that.”

  And I did coun
t on it. I wanted it more than anything. But not yet. We have a fight that needs fighting. Survival and saving the world could be so tiring.

  The “after holiday party” at the Valkyrie court started off well. Calum Green pulled up in a “new to him” car that he kept saying would be vintage someday and he’d be the one to own it. I knew it was black and it was called a Dodge Charger. That was pretty much all of what I could have spouted off if one asked but only because I stood behind it and read the make and model so to speak. Otherwise, I had no idea what I was talking about.

  However, all the guys in any remote vicinity when he pulled up had loads to add to the repertoire of what I now knew was a 2006 sixth generation, V8, 340 horsepower, black leather seats and so on. I tuned them out pretty quickly.

  It was a nice car. And it was a four-door which meant is was friend-friendly.

  Dr. Quinn and a date came. He was joining my father for an “adult after-hours drink” party as he called it. Dr. Green came alone, but joined them as well as five guards covered in what might as well have been a tank of weapons, and a partridge in a pear tree. I wondered why I never remembered seeing my father covered up in guards until now. It had been months.

  I recently decided to let it go about Dr. Quinn deciding that he being seen with my father must mean something. Oh, I’d keep my eye on him, but I’d stop sneering at his every move. Who knows, maybe he’d slip up. My father did lie to me about why I was sent to the Hunter school and sent me on a wild goose chase mission to keep me “safe” in his eyes. Quinn had been in on it as well as Dr. Green.

  The girls were all back inside dancing between Pat Benatar, Dave Matthews, and Taylor Swift. Odd combos, but whoever favors normal doesn’t live in my world.

  With both groups semi-busy, I bee-lined it to my room to grab some things hidden. If I’d known what was waiting for me, I’d have torn my brother’s sorry butt up before the night started.

  Inside where my bed used to sit was a weapons holster, darts on a long table, practice knives, etc. The walls were covered in practice charts, target boards, and an electronic dartboard. Just freaking peachy.

  I was so fired up that I forgot I was wearing a dress and heels. Plastering one’s crap twin brother against a wall amongst friends shouldn’t be that ill normal.

  “What the crap?” he feigned fear.

  “MY ROOM!” I seethed.

  Like it was no big deal after all he dropped his hunched up shoulders and blabbered, “Sorry sis, but since you shacked up with the Vamp I couldn’t see any reason why I couldn’t redecorate your room?”

  Forgetting the room for a brief second I focused on the second offense. “Shacking up?”

  He raised one eyebrow at me.

  “Shut up, Szar!”

  Under my hold, he threw his hands in the air, “I didn’t say anything.”

  “This time.” I was so angry with him so I reverted back to attacking. “You destroyed MY ROOM!”

  “Thorn knew!” Szar let his eyes find Cas.

  “He did, did he?”

  A nod.

  Kissa. His jaw flexed in an attempt to hold his own temper back, probably from my brother for blabbing.

  I flipped my already gone lid. “Don’t even start with me, Cas.”

  Of course the generated crowd hadn’t heard Cas so my spoken words into my brother’s face and a too quick turn that couldn’t possibly know he was behind but did were relinquishing gasps like dominoes as they were reminded of our connection.

  Just then a pain-filled set of screams emerged. Everyone looked around as if counting heads. Who was missing?

  Maybe I imagined it. If I’m imagining things that aren’t there, at least they are hot guys and not trolls. All about perspective.

  Another scream came of the same kind only longer. Everyone sprang into action.

  Since the party was on the main floor of the Val court with the wide windows and main terrace doors open, it was easy to spy where the screeches came from and what caused it. On the lawn, one of the maids was hanging limp in the arms of a very mad Elf. Not angry mad, lunatic mad. He was foaming at the mouth with a white marshmallowy film. Beside him, stood Borgon.

  “How dare he step on my father’s court.” I was perturbed a little he messed up my party, but he had some gall to invade our court. It wasn’t a coincidence that we were all gathered together in one place no matter how quiet I tried to keep it. Traitors aside, friends sometimes had bigger mouths when they didn’t understand the importance of secrecy. At least not when you couldn’t tell them their life depended on it.

  “Sorry to interrupt the Shadow Queen's party, but I need a chat with her almighty.”

  How did that stupid name pop up so fast? Humans were fascinated with super heroes, but the supernatural never did. We all had powers.

  “Sorry. My father said no chatting with strangers.” I needed to waste time with sarcasm. I felt some of the guards circling me, but not my guys.

  That’s right. Keep him talking. Szar and I are headed out the side door. He has the bow.

  “Too bad I’m not a stranger to you,” Borgon’s now greasy haired look made him more sinister, less of a nice guy facade. He stood in the middle of his frothy crew of brain fried Elves who were doubling around us and building by the side walls where I couldn’t measure of solid count. Borgon was measuring his odds as he spoke making his eyes carefully aware of what all was around him leaving me to assume he knew my backup was closing in too. My arms crossed over the royal blue cinch of my skirt and preparing to inch my above the knee dress for my dagger. I put a foot out in front of me to brace for impact, whatever that may be. My hands at my side and ready for battle, I was glad I never left without my weapons. Even growing up in this court with my father’s many parties I’d learned to hide them well underneath slinky dresses.

  “Glad you came to give it up Mr. B. I accept your defeat.”

  “In your dreams you little robotic witch goddess with the freak ass link to all these punks at one time. A little sketchy and manipulative on your part if you ask me, but I’m here to make a bargain. You’re cooperation or I take out the boy wonder climbing the roof to lodge an arrow through my heart.” Borgon spit as he said it.

  Yuck! He was even more repulsive close up and now was only a few yards from me and inching closer. He knew things he shouldn’t. Nickname tidbits to rattle me off my game. He got the knowledge from somewhere. Spies or not, someone was an informant.

  Someone would make a move soon and it had better be me. I didn’t do well with negotiations when they threatened me or anyone I cared about.

  “Tut. Tut. Not nice even for the evil villain in this little fairy tale. I won’t do anything you ask.” I taunted him more than a little scared for Szar but assured by his skills to evade anything thrown or slung or aimed at him.

  I heard very clearly all the hands surrounding me pop their knuckles in unison like they’d rehearsed it to weaken the enemy. Great for the movies, but it just didn’t put fear into my enemies eyes like I knew a movie would give. Besides, if this were a movie, I’d have taken out the bad guy by now and made the news channel sad that it wasn’t juicy enough to even alter the supernatural aspect of it all in a superiorly shorter amount of time than poor unplanned me could have conjured up.

  “Well let’s end this little game so I can be on my way and you can be dead.” At least he was clear on his intentions. He jumped in the air like an Irish hammer thrower, only the hammer was aimed at my head. And it wasn’t a hammer. Much sharper. A scathe blade that would take my head and then some. If it was the Godslayer, it was ugly.

  Two Elves with less than pretty thoughts on their faces came from both sides at the same time making me actually fear the end was near. A loud cry came just after Cas shot the screamer, Szar the other. Both killed over dead at my feet with arrows through their skulls.

  Borgon, who I thought should be above me now, was backing away with his weapon above his head like he was poised to throw the killing blow. Maybe
he was surprised by my still living brother because he was still walking backwards like a white flag. Aren’t I just the good little negotiator? Or my brother is good at not getting dead.

  “Thems was angry elves.” Szar found humor in everything, everywhere as he landed from somewhere above to right next to me.

  Another pair started for me with several more male bodies surrounding me. I could tell most everyone retreated farther in from where they stood and watched the first Elf go down. The rooms behind us were empty.

  The one on the left got my arm with a good slash, but I took it down with one swoop of my dagger to its jugular while Szar kept the other at bay. I didn't have time to just cause injury.

  “You scare me, sis.” Szar walked up beside me to clean my dagger as was his brotherly tradition of the past when it was just watermelons and not real lives being taken. It was meant as a nice gesture but also to block me off from Borgon and be ready for the next two since they kept coming in pairs like the ark. “Don’t ask me to make bargains with you over anything. I don’t want that to be my head you little imp.”

  “No worries, brother. I wouldn’t save your ass even if it was worth a million dollars.”

  “Nice to know.”

  He knew I was messing with him like he was me. The real revelation was to realize what his humor did make me ease a bit sometimes. Maybe guys were all like that. Constantly trying to find humor even in the darkest moments so we females don’t freak out. Some would call that sexiest, but I term it as caring and thoughtful. They were helping the way they knew how. And I couldn’t help but enjoy this little sibling moment even if it was amidst death and destruction. Our lives revolved around it making it hard to ignore or be away from long.

  Borgon was surprisingly missing when the last set of Elves dispersed in the courtyard hit me. He was not an easy enemy to figure with his sordid giving up appearances. When Calum and Cord were in my sight I searched the dark yard for Borgon again, but he was hiding under a rock if he was here.