Daughter of Anat Read online

  Not to be ousted Cord added, “Well, rings or not, I vote we go in my way. Your walking in unannounced didn’t fare well yet, so maybe a different tactic is in order.”

  The Cas I know would engage him with the comment, but the Cas who stood there in front of me...agreed with the wolf.

  “Great monologues always get me going sis, but I’d have to say if you could put it on film I’d buy it just so I could hit the mute button and throw away the remote. So don't give me one. And it wasn’t one of your personal bests. As far as the attack entrance on our own court, I’m with Bill and Ted. I’m sure Maze and Liam have even enjoyed our amazing chaotic strategy planning and are full of awe at the promising future we alone might just be in control of. They’ve stood by quiet, but I’m sure they wonder. You thinking Maze knows nothing is denial on your part. And just because Calum’s like your conduit to throw us off our game, we have our own skills and are indeed useful. Maybe he should try sharing a little more. Did you try that ring out on Cord or Thorn yet?”

  Gods, when his eyes went to Cas I wanted to smack my brother into oblivion. Who said men haven't the need for being needed wasn't around them much. “Who said my monologues were generously thought out since yours leave one slightly perturbed and idolizing idiocy?”

  “Jealousy on you is unbecoming, sis.”

  “You wish.”

  He pointed with his bow to Cord tapped his arm, “So stabbing Cord in the arm is better rapport than my diplomacy?”

  “Yes. And Calum stabbed him, not her. He was being an ass and needed to be put in his place. He shouldn’t have stepped in,” Cas snapped.

  “If he hadn’t what might have happened could have been worse. And for your information, Cord’s ring lit up too the other night when you both violated my space to pro-tect me. Cord has the same reaction. For all we know, the rings have done it before and we didn’t see it. Now I’m tired of this. I’m leaving to go find my father. You,” I pointed to Cord, “get any car ready and whatever the hell your plan is for sneaksville and we are in. You meatheads swallow your dang pride and get your butts ready. We know where Borgon is and I’m going there to get my father. With or without you.”

  Slam! I went of the warehouse door and drove off in the black Hummer before they could stop me. The freedom...was inspiring. The silence was still though I knew it wouldn’t be for long. I was totally into the driving thing. Normal was new to me, but I liked it.

  He was standing against the brick driveway podium as I parked under the awning that lead to the front main steps. My door was opened and my keys were gently tugged from my hands. I braced knowing I was in for it, but felt good to show them I’m still in control of me.

  I neglected to read his emotions right off or remember that my displays “stirred him up”. Well, he was “stirred up”, but he was also sad. He didn’t treat me like a petulant child as I probably deserved by berating me. He took my hand and led me down into the weapons room. Not what I would have guessed.

  “Hit me.”

  “What?” Confusion set in.

  “Come on. Just hit me.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, you have to take it out on something and I would rather know the amount of your wrath and what your capable of since you seem bent on reminding us that we are just the low men on your totem pole.”

  “You are not!” I tried to control the swirling anger.

  “Aren’t we. You were in the same conversation we were, no matter how heated it might have been or controlled by you it was. But it wasn’t one of us who ran from the truth. We have to deal with this, face it Stace if we are to conquer it. I for one am the most put off because I have to see my girl even magically affected by another man. So if anyone has a right to be in the “sucks to be you” club, it’s me.”

  I was wrong before. He was treating me like a pouting child, and he was right. I couldn’t answer any of that letting my pride settle in so I walked away from him and stretched out across the sparring mat on my back. Covering my eyes with my arm helped to avoid his stare.

  He laid down beside me stretching out his longer legs past mine. “You overanalyze too much.” He was just now figuring this out? “It will all be okay. We will figure it all out, find your father, and maybe even one night have some actual alone time together again.”

  He was giving me an out.

  I uncovered my eyes and looked side-to-side, “Who’s here with us now?”

  His chuckle was the right medicine to my ears. I relaxed a little and even rolled to him. He could do that, de-tense-ify me. “Alright. If you say it will be okay, then so be it. But just know, their antics drive me insane.”

  “So does you flirtatious way of getting what you want from all of them.”

  “I do not flirt!”

  “Oh, Kissa. You have been so sheltered. If you don’t know what you’re doing subconsciously, then you’re a more dangerous weapon than ever. I will not leave your side for anything if that’s the case. Consider me your superglue.”

  I got a little scared at that. Maybe he was right. “Um, well. It serves its purpose when distractions are needed.” I didn’t want to explain my inheritance of Supergirl hypnotism on the male species that I never ever intended to really use and half of it was unintentional because it was the same way I reacted to boys growing up in the weapons and sparring rooms.

  “That’s what I’m saying. I get the girl power and I know full well how you can render me useless with your wicked ways, but it doesn’t mean I like seeing it on another man’s face. Use your weapons, but just know that anything you use against them only gets practiced fully on me.” His eyes darkened to their dizzying side tracking me into submission.

  “Who has the weapons now? Don’t use those bedroom eyes on anyone else either if I’m not allowed.”

  His eyebrow perked up, “Maybe it only works on you.”

  I rolled my eyes to cool me off. “Doubt that very seriously. And I have tried like everything to use my power of give me what I want on you, but it doesn’t work.”

  “Does that bother you?” he asked coolly.

  “No. I love it. It just makes me wonder why?”

  “The night we met...when I rescued you—

  “Kidnapped!” I poked his stomach.

  “That night I tried to force you to use the Valkyrie female talent on me.”

  That surprised me and he saw it.

  “Either way. I made it up in my mind that you were meant for me.”

  No point arguing since it made sense. “I agree with you.”

  He smiled, “You do, do you.”

  He pounced and the rest is disclosed because well, it could only be practiced on him.

  I went to stand with the rest of the weak and completely freaked out as Cas drove me back to the warehouse. Inside my head I knew the boys acted the way they did to save face and look tough in front of others. To each other. To me.

  They seem to have a constant need to try to prove their worth to all. To feel important. I knew all this and yet, I feel like I am constantly trying to prove my own worth or at least live up to the image they attached to me. Them being guys made it worse. The territorial competitiveness they place on each other could be tamed, but I think it’s embedded in their nature. They have the natural need to prove themselves to each other as well as everyone else. I can handle it. Not that I have a choice.

  To hear them banter back and forth was a little amusing at times and a game for Maze and I at practice in the warehouse. We used their ego boosting needy selves to get out of work. Less was better. But I needed to start letting some of it go. Let them be guys and stop underestimating them.

  Cord officially stepped back after all the latest displays. Maybe it was the rubber band that snapped him into reality. He didn’t stop his ceaseless bantering and insisted he be my closest advisor. He seemed like he was joking, but just couldn’t let it go that his ring was working too.

  Calum conformed too seemingly shell-shocked into a depression for a
day or two and then right back to normal. I think he was starting to see what great friends we make. Besides, he has plenty of interested parties. And the way he saved Maze...

  Chapter Twenty One

  ...but only just.

  Alone for a moment Cas cornered me after snapping his phone shut in frustration. I waited knowing he pulled me to the side for a reason.

  Granite was working both sides. He’s working for Borgon.

  I continued sharpening my knives on the new sharpening wheel Cord installed. I knew this. Sure?

  Liam followed him.

  Why?

  He looked sideways at me.

  He wouldn’t do it if not for a reason.

  Borgon promised him my seat like you heard on the phone.

  So it was out of fear. Cas breathed into my neck forcing me to stop handling the sharp, sharp weapons in my hand. He wasn’t acting weak, he was hurt.

  Maybe we can save him.

  Cas said nothing. It was futile.

  Why did you doubt him? I never said anything.

  “Kissa, I should have told you long ago. Your mind doesn’t just let me hear you. You subconsciously let me in more than you know.”

  “So you knew the whole time he watched her hurt me.” He didn’t answer. “And you know more things too...from my head?”

  He nodded this time. He knew my mother’s dream secrets then.

  I accepted this and we moved on. I couldn’t worry about that now.

  It was agreed before we left the building that we needed to entrust our factions with a little more information about the present danger. Telling them we were supernatural high powered God-like hybrids wasn’t such a good idea so we went with the following story.

  Ted (Theodore) Borgon, a.k.a. Lex Luther in my eyes, kidnapped the twin brother heir of the Valkyrie faction and had intentions of taking over all the courts to overthrow then in a Hitler attempt at ruling the world. It wasn’t that farfetched and it’s what we already knew. Now it was confirmed with his family's passing. Borgon would stoop to anything and use any and all means to take out anyone who stands in his way. A Hunter by birth, he was renounced from the faction as a traitor and wanted for treason.

  Borgon somehow got a hold of the Calum’s letter at some point in time and started asking questions that resulted in him knowing what we were. I couldn’t pinpoint when this was. The order of events that make up when Borgon started to change didn’t add up in my head. Being Hunter, maybe something else happened that led to all this. He didn’t know all of our secrets I figured out though, but enough that he thought I was a threat to his takeover. Most of his reasoning didn’t make sense to me, but it didn’t have to really. More and more people were asking about us and rumors were flying in every direction. Cas was questioned by his own right in front of me. We had to do something soon.

  And what about the aimless Elf Lord who showed five minutes too late to rescue my Cas. Was he really here to help me? Us?

  We thought we knew where to go next, but everything was a dead end. He’s not at the shack and he hasn't appeared again. He’s not anywhere we’ve looked, but Cas has a lead he’s been working on day and night with Calum since Szar is overseeing the Val court and Cord has his own. Cas had routines, whereas the other two were new at it. Amongst all of this, Cord was ceremonially in as the permanent lord of their faction. He had obligations to them to.

  I am hopeful that Cas will find something soon and Cord can read our aiming approaches. Borgon knows our moves and he’s holding the cards over our heads. Right now, we are forced to wait and see what he’s aiming for while we all hide in the back of our minds what we all know it to be. ME!

  ℓℓℓℓℓ

  Standing in Cas’ room was still a little unsettling for me even if it was the fourth time. Yes, I was counting.

  I’d peeked only once into the room he said would be ours after we are married and it was too much. The picnic we had in there was on the opposite of the room from the bed and I ventured to stay away from those thoughts that day for fear of letting him see me picture things I shouldn’t. I couldn’t breathe knowing what might go on in that room. I just wasn’t ready for marriage yet, but well ready to be married to him. It was a catch twenty-two that I hoped he could hold on to a little longer.

  I stood now watching him shave with a disposable razor and totally engrossed in the scent of the shaving cream while he stood shirtless and glowing in the dimmed bathroom light. I’d like to say it was me that made him smile so much, but I couldn’t always tell. He was somewhat of an exhibitionist lately with his shirtless self. And I now knew the extra enticing scent that made up Cassius Cross. It was about to drive me insane with emotions I spent time repressing. I wanted to walk up and sniff his chin but he would think I was such a weirdo, so I didn’t.

  I stretched my neck to see his sun peeking out above the top of his silky black low riding pajama pants. I was focused heavily on the sun, but that’s not to say I wasn’t checking out the rest too.

  “It’s okay.” I heard his voice say out loud, but my mind was still overtaken with the shaved sensation.

  “What is?” I asked.

  “To take a whiff?” He grinned under the cover of the white foamy cream still covering his chin.

  Oh gods. I had to hide my face. He knew. Telepathy can be a nuisance once in a while. No, a great while.

  I left telling him I’d meet him in the Sun room. I was such a girl around him.

  My thoughts turned to what if again when he stepped up to the sofa and took the book I was reading. The character in the book knew her man's every turn. There were things I didn't know about him.

  He sat it down beside me and curled me into his lap making my pretend world dissolve back into my reality. Cas did this to me. He was the only guy I’ve ever known that can steal my breath away and make me insane with nauseating weak kneed reactions. How can one person affect me that much?

  I needed to know him better. What makes him tick.

  After seeing that Cas had turned the Elves into freshly made Vamps that attacked me and intended to let him die, I wanted to know his personal worst. Not because of some sick fascination or anything, but because I needed to know what I was getting myself into. I wouldn’t change my mind about the kind of person he was, but what his life has dealt him and how he reacted to it. We all learn from our mistakes.

  “Worst mistake or worst circumstance can be two very different things. Telling you could very well be one of my worst fears.” Cas folded my legs up into his lap and pulled me to him. He wanted something to do with his hands I decided so I helped him out by tucking them under my freezing cold legs to warm me up. Somehow he was always the opposite temperature of what you’d assume. When he was cold, he didn’t look it. I was starting to realize he was warmer first in the morning...right after he ate.

  Then don’t tell me. I don’t want you in pain.

  “No. I should tell you. Maybe then you’d see reason and realize for good that I could never deserve you no matter what.” I didn’t make a sound or rebuff because I wanted him to continue. “Once, a few years back, I was called out to break at fight downtown at a place.”

  I thought of the bar I went to that I’d managed to avoid a conversation about so far. My time ran out.

  “I believe you know the place. My girl the barfly.”

  I curled my eyes downward to hide my embarrassment not for myself, but that I knew he’d been there. Maybe he’d still let me off the hook.

  “Some of the very same ‘patrons’ of Club Toxic inhabited it at the time that I am not all too happy about you meeting but that is a lecture for a whole other time.”

  I swallowed wondering which part or all of the trip into that place would anger him. It’s not like I was new to vulgar and rude, just unaccustomed to handling it in the form of an elephant sized Elf girl. Boys were easier to manipulate.

  “Liam, Granite, and Rufus were with me when two Elves attacked. Now, this was long before Borgon and his minions came
into play. Most of your rogue factions strays were simply A.W.O.L or rebels out for a bit of fame. The two Elves had too much at the bar and crapped on two of my own with a machete. I got there only in time to take them out and find my friends dead.”

  “You couldn’t be held accountable for that,” I argued.

  “Let me finish,” he choked recalling the memory as he talked.

  I knew as a guy he’d never cry or anything, but he was obviously removed from the present.

  Cas stared at the Sun portrait that seemed more like splashed paint above the sofa to me now. The sun meant something different to me since meeting Cas.

  “I was late. They shouldn’t have died.”

  He covered my mouth from saying something about the last statement.

  “I felt the sting of gratification from their enemy’s deaths, but either way they were unaware of the two Elves that were known to be in the area and looking for trouble. I was where I shouldn’t be.”

  “Arriving late, my men had tried to take them down on one of our regular patrols through all of the known stops. When I found them, both were beheaded and on display atop the dumpster behind the club meant solely for me. Granite and Liam were with me, but Rufus’ brother was one of the downed guards. When he found his brother destroyed the way he was, he went ballistic. I took the first one down, but Rufus got messy from his rage and missed. The laughter still rings in my head. He beheaded Rufus right in front of me.”

  I was horrified at the thought, but I couldn’t understand why death seemed so sad for him in the present when he saw it so often. I got the friends part, but something was missing.

  “I killed the second the same way he killed my friends.”

  Oh! My hand slipped and moved a touch. It was just a shock. I wasn’t mad or anything. He felt bad for his revenge and how he did it. I got that part well. He was remorseful for the beheading part because it’s so savage, brutal. And I also think he equated that same hate to himself for what he did to the Elves while stuck in that shack.