Son of Ra Read online

  Cas.

  He didn’t stop.

  Cassius!

  He lined at my jaw and stayed there. Making me jealous didn’t pan out the way you expected, Kissa.

  I pulled back and looked up. I wasn’t trying to make you jealous.

  Fooled me. Either way, I won’t pretend that I have any intentions of sharing you. If you say you’re mine, You.Are.Mine.

  Gulp!

  I see.

  Do you? His stare bore into mine with a silent understanding.

  Not really, but I’m feeling every bit of it right now Mr. Possessive Vampire Lord.

  Can you handle this Kissa? I hadn’t answered him, only offered him a question back.

  Do I have any other choice? I half smiled doing the same.

  He pulled his face back. You always have a choice.

  Right answer hot stuff. “I will back off of Calum. I told him we were friends. Allies. I told him I need him. He needs me. I need you to handle that. We can’t do any of this without him.”

  “I will try. Does he know you’re mine?”

  How to answer this. “Yes.”

  “What does he expect from you?” In other words, is Calum Green going to go away quietly? Blunt was probably better, but going around the subject was easier and more effective with Mr. Determination here.

  “He knows I want only friendship but he is...persistent and never leaves me alone.”

  His eyes did a crazy little blinking motion. “And you okayed this?”

  “No, but what alternative do I have staying at the Hunter school?” Uh, oh! I pictured the two of us in a way I only dreamed about, but couldn’t act on. Staying at his court would make me all too focused on things like that and not what it should be.

  “You can resume your studies at my court.”

  I frowned. He frowned with me, “You will have your own room of course.”

  “I will think about it,” I said honestly. I didn't need the classes. His frown stayed permanent so I asked really wanting confirmation that I didn’t lose his love, “Would you take away the frown now? I like your smile.” Instant up. Ode to the god who gave him beautiful lips and beautiful chiseled cheeks.

  His eyebrow went up rippling with curiosity and eagerness and like that, the pensively sour mood was gone.

  Arg! And ode to the god of eyebrow rising. May it bless me with weak knees.

  He laughed, full and from his chest. I put my head against his chest fast to feel it. With my open hand that wasn’t around him, I closed my ear off and listened. He stilled.

  “What are you doing, Kissa?”

  Listening to you. The other night your laugh made me..well I just liked it.

  He pulled me in leaving most of me plastered against his front. It was warm.

  I heard a throat being cleared. I stepped back assuming my father would be there. Szar smiled huge at me. “Heads up. Father will be here in roughly sixty seconds. Brother out.” And he backed out with a not so subtle wink that meant more than just brotherly love.

  “Do we say goodbye?” Cas asked me.

  “Suppose we should.” He gave me a reprimanded kind of look.

  Lord Hathown, my father walked in. “Anastacia. Lord Cross.” He bowed to both of us.

  “I’d like to talk with the two of you if you have a moment.”

  We looked at each other. Uh, oh! Szar dang knew it too. He’s toast when I get a hold of him.

  “I’d like to know what your intentions are and how they will unfold for the two of you.”

  Intentions. You want to play father NOW! “Um, father,” not really, “I’m eighteen. I have no intentions of staying here or marrying any of the men you may put in front of me. I don’t think you have a say in who I decide to spend my time with nor do I intend to ask you for your permission. If you need to feel some form of father/daughter mediation to feel all warm and fuzzy inside, don’t. It’s not coming from me. Ever.”

  Kissa.

  I grabbed his hand feeling his warning all over me.

  “Well, that was a fine speech. I am glad to know you feel strong enough to be honest with me. However, my own intentions are well spent and will be heard. You are my daughter no matter what your mother may have said. I have a vested interest into your affairs and will remain so because I love you Anastacia. I never once presumed my hard headed little feisty girl would marry anyone but who she deemed worthy. If this is your intentions, may I say it is a bit fast from my standpoint. But rest assured I will know what my young friend and loyal comrade here has intended with anything that has to do with my daughter.”

  I blushed realizing late that I hinted towards marriage and that I had the suitor already picked out. And here he was. Cas stayed quiet through this. Smart man. Now it was his turn. “I see where she gets her quick-witted humor.” Yeah, leave out any comments about the hard headed BS buddy.

  Cas eyed me. Kissa, retract your claws. He has your best interest at heart. Just breathe.

  “Lord Hathown, I intend to court Anastacia through every means necessary to one day make her my wife. I have not discussed this with her in full, nor have we taken any other steps in that direction. I uphold her virtue to the highest possible standards and am aware of her status according to her lineage.”

  What in the hel—heck?

  “I will continue to guard her and council her in all endeavors and hope that she sees reason in assuring me that I am present with her for any meets with other factions. I am also aware and have not discussed with her how she will proceed with the new tasks she has acquired. I will first set a meet with the Were leader and go from there. If she sees fit to stay in my court, I have assured her safety and the third floor if she wills it. She will continue her studies if that is what you wish and will have her own guard day and night. Hugo has already agreed to the deed.”

  Whoa! He had this all planned and he was so playing on it in hopes of appealing to my father with it. And as I guessed, my father was jumping on board.

  “If this is Stace’s wish, then I back it. I’d prefer her to be in your court above the Hunter school for the very reason that security is tighter.” Cas sandwiched me in though my father was inches away. Then my father asked to our shoulders more than us, “Is this your wish?”

  I was dumbfounded. Ratsnaked in. I looked from father to Cas and back again. They both knew that had me cornered. Men!

  “I will think about it.”

  Cas didn’t relax. My father made it to the door without me knowing, “Let me know when you decide.” He did something he has never done. He came back to me, bent down, and kissed my forehead. He shook Cas’ hand and told him, “Take care of her.” I loved my father, but having him taint the life I might choose with his corrosive nature made me reluctant to show my true feelings in front of him.

  “With my life, sir.”

  Well, since I just found out the world we live on is indeed round and unpredictably three dimensional in every way, I might as well take the plunge and return the favor. After my father leaves.

  “Nothing less. Good night to you both. You are welcome here for the evening.”

  After he was long gone, I turned with hard fast moves in a sideways motion and put my finger in his face, “That was not fair Mr. Lord Cassius Thorn Cross. You cornered me like a mouse. In front of my father no less. And why is everyone so obsessed with my virgin status. What was with the lineage crap?”

  “First, say my name again.”

  Huh! Cas.

  “No, the whole thing.”

  I thought back, “Mister Sneak-ass Lord Cassius Thorn Cross the—

  “I think that is enough. And a very cornered cute mouse. Your virginity is very important to me too.” Oh, that brought instant blush brought on me, myself, and I.

  I love your blushing cheeks, Kissa.

  I hit his arm.

  “Your status, we will call it, refers to the fact that you are a goddess by birth. You will produce an heir with your blood running through your offspring’s veins tha
t will be the second most powerful being on earth only to you. Who you choose to mate with is very important to your father. Who you choose to produce offspring with is of the upmost importance to the gods alone.”

  Well, lineage. Got it. “And you knew all this when?” I looked out from the side under my hair.

  “I didn’t. My mother assured me that my line is a good match for yours.”

  O--kay. “She did, did she.”

  “And I have to tell you that the Hunter was told the same. As well as the other man you will meet all too soon.”

  Ohhhh! This was so not a good conversation. My poor Cas. What else did he know for so long? “Well, it’s nice to know she gives me selective options. My whole freaking life was planned before I was made. Why can’t I choose?”

  You can Kissa. You choose no matter what.

  I looked at him with tears forming. Traitors. Water dripping traitors. Vampires shouldn’t show sadness, I decided. It made them look too human. Supernaturals and humans are not that different.

  “The offer stands. My court is your court. And I meant what I said. I aim to make you my wife, Anastacia. I won’t hide that fact.”

  On some unconscious level of reason I was elated to find this beautiful perfect man voicing that he wants to marry me. On the next level my subconscious was yelling down to the next level that this is a danger zone of emotion I was not ready for. And then on the next level up my subconscious was screaming bloody murder to shut the crap up and move right in. But who’s listening right?

  “I will think about it, Cas. I want to sit alone and gather my thoughts by myself. I want to meet the Were leader and know that he is in accord with us. I want to make assurance that Calum is secure in his leadership first. You are secure and Cord, the Were, is secure I presume. My brother will be fine. But Calum is a loose cannon that will explode if not given the right attention. After he saw the letter, he seemed only to grow in resentment instead of understanding.” I’m imperfect, I know this. I once heard that if one does not recognize the fallibilities within, one can’t find the answers to have them corrected.

  He popped his neck side to side. The predator was on the prowl with the golden slivers sparkling in darkest black.

  “I know you are not comfortable with my dealings with Calum, but I assure you he is like a brother to me in more ways than even Szar. I believe he would do anything and will be a great asset to you as well if need be. So ease off him and trust me. He wants more. I won’t pretend I don’t know this, but it holds no ground. I also don’t doubt that he will try something again to agitate you. But please hold your gorgeous brooding face for only me to enjoy and ignore the heck out of him. He doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

  This puffed his chest. “I’ll take that advice and wait for your next move Kissa. I will protect what’s mine though. Are you mine?”

  He had to ask? I closed the book’s length between us and kissed him very slow. Savoring.

  I am yours.

  Epilogue

  ...it’s not the years in your life that count.

  It’s the life in your years.

  Appendix One

  Borgon-Scene from the Hunter School After Stace is Taken

  The uproar didn’t stop with the realization that the princess was missing. Chaos flew in every direction. The Were leader turned the entire twelve foot table over. The Hunter boy screamed and took out two more of the Elves I’d hired to take the chosen female who’d only just come of age. If I didn't have her tonight, they would take my family. I knew it was too late when I eyed Thorn Cross. Am the research told who would turn on who. I wanted to go back to that day. The day that young boy betrayed the Valkyrie court with her identity. I made a deal with the devil. The Vamp Leader took her into his clutches and whisked her into the air like it had been the plan all along. Following proved worthless. I couldn't fly. I couldn’t penetrate the Vampire court if I tried. I would find a way elsewhere. For now, I had spies and the hope that my family was hidden, safe. For now I had the blackmail I needed to keep the factions at bay with my plan. Lord Cross would have to release her eventually and when he did...

  “Mr. B. We have word she is with the Vampires.”

  “No good. I will regroup and see to catching her in transit somewhere. Get someone over to watch the Vamp faction.”

  “Done sir,” the older elf left the scene. "If you don't get her back, you know what happens."

  "I will get her."

  I would get her. Just a baby really. I will take this world over before she even has time to grow up or find out who she really is. I still can’t believe it the truth, but others do which makes her a threat to losing their power. That was the elves real goal. Anastacia Hathown had to die.

  Marked Ones

  ANAT (goddess within many)

  ...goddess who destroyed Orion with the Scorpion to punish his misdeeds including stealing her bow, excessive bragging towards the intention to kill the earth’s creatures, and ignoring her. Legends say Artemis, and even Apollo her twin brother, set out to punish him but Anat beat them to it using trickery and good timing. She used her sordid past to help solve an escalating dilemma among the supernatural factions on the earth. The humans were passive and set in their ways, but those living among them are restless. They want to own each other. That could never happen.

  Anat set out to create only one, but that would be impossible. It went awry last time. She would need reassurance when the time came. Who would make the group compatible? Who would make them achieve their goal? Not all decisions can be easily identified as explainable, but sometimes you just know. The goddess rings made available will keep them safer. All asked have willingly accepted her plea for help. The five chosen will bring back unity.

  STACE (marked with ALL signifying the connection between the five)

  Goddess ring- multi-colored and blocks thoughts from Cas (and ability to have power increased when touching Cas physically but not revealed until later), enhances electricity with Calum (doesn’t officially know it yet), shields others combined with Szar (finds out later), sees specific future events with Cord (later)

  ...is the child born to a goddess- daughter of Anat who killed her lover Aqhat (Orion) in the legends. She was created to change a dying supernatural world from destroying itself from the inside out. After many dangers, traitors, and feuding allies she finally makes the group whole in book two with a unified beginning towards peace. But it’s a long road.

  Anat tells Stace in book two that she took the name Anat over any other simply because she wanted to and that all the names she and the other gods have held are synonymous regardless of how the different people of the world change it. Her name well become legend.

  SZAR (SHIELD) (other connections- Saiph, star in Orion)

  Goddess ring- seemingly useless at first and he sees it as a dud especially when he sees the others in use, but later a happy chance brought about a situation where Szar actually felt the group in real danger and his own high emotions created a shield from any danger (thus a shield- hasn’t happened yet...)

  ...is the half god/ half Valkyrie- son of Lord Hathown, leader of the Valkyrie court faction in the supernatural world. He doesn’t find out till much later that his sole purpose is to save Stace. Can he run a faction and save her too? Stay tuned...

  CALUM (ORION-Hunter strength)(other connections- Rigel, star in Orion)

  Goddess ring- enhances the power of electricity through Stace when he wears it combined with highly intense emotions- allows an alert system to know when each is close

  ...is the half god/ half Hunter- who was created to make sure Stace stays safe from all with his brute strength alone, but ultimately in the end he is still (Orion) and Cord (the Scorpion) does show up. Can legends be broken?

  CASSIUS (SUN) (other connections-Ra, the sun god, Hathor and Sekhmet)

  Goddess ring- increases any power Stace holds if he is touching her (not aware of it until later) shares telepathy, as well as magnetic alert system when e
ach other is close

  ...is the half god/half Valkyrie turned Vampire-who was created to stand beside his beloved and never let her feel alone even when all else seems at an end. To be her stronghold in the darkest moments. Her balance in the fight for their lives.

  He (chose) to turn vampire to save her finding only his destiny was never his own even as far back as at birth when she spoke to him in her mind. Made a vampire and moved up in status to be the next Lord allowing him to be her equal and therefore fulfilling the destiny of connecting the five intended to bind together to change the supernatural world.

  Incidentally, Cas has studied his roots extensively, for he is born of the very powerful god, Ra.

  MARKED ONES LETTERS

  Letter to Anastacia Anat Hathown (hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till she is 18)

  Dear Daughter of Anat,

  I haven’t forgotten you. My time on earth was short, but carrying you was the highlight of my time there. I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold. Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead. I hold your abilities above all and will stand above to watch them grow when all have our children have found themselves in one accord. The frailty of the human race kept us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the powers of the gods. Please use this wisely and step forward on hastened feet. We need you. We are counting on you. They can’t do it without you. Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you.

  With Love.

  The hunter by day will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own. She will bear the mark of Orion, as will he.

  The hunter by night will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own. She will bear the mark of the sun. As will he.