Son of Ra Read online

  “I have also increased my powers in the last twenty-four hours. I’m able to feel fear and anger as well as the joy and happiness as of yesterday. I can last twice as long in a fight as of today.”

  He’d gained powers to. Were we like magnets that absorbed each other? “Do we catch it like a disease.”

  “Not exactly. We increased, not decreased. I didn’t anticipate it, but recognized it immediately when we arrived back here, together last night. I felt your every fear and every time your heart sped up with a happier moment very vividly. I knew something was up so I was prepared to show you the letter today. I didn’t want to scare you. Even had thoughts of how it might pan out. I believe that our “charms” have intermingled so to speak and although I think that has a double meaning, I also believe,” he swallowed and looked down away from me. I didn’t like that now. At all! I wanted his attention.

  “I believe that the last lines mean something about me. I reason that you feel deeply about the Hunter boy and know that he bears similarities to you in more than one way. I know that you share a birthday, commonalities in your name, and similar star marks. I know that he believes it too. But I have theory also. I bear a similar mark to you. I have the same abilities as you. I am…Valkyrie.”

  I looked up at him with shock. “What?”

  “I was born Valkyrie before being turned. And I would know my other theory to be correct now at matching your sun to mine.”

  I licked my lips. Now or never. Why should I do this? Because if I didn’t I would never know.

  I crawled up onto the counter leaning upward and propped on my knees to show my stomach more easily. I was torn between the fear of his reaction and why he wanted to know. My hand smoothed my sundress down and I rolled my hand in the bottom of my dress thanking the gods that I put on the black leggings before leaving the room. I rolled the lace up now and pulled the soft edges of my leggings waistband down and waited.

  His black eyes were full of liquid but nothing was falling down his face. He wasn’t reacting at all except for his eyes. I saw his hand flicker and flex. I knew he wanted to feel the realness of it. I wanted to do the same to him. I nodded and he softly bounced down from the counter he sat on landing on the ground in front of me between my legs. His face was so close and even to mine with me on the counter that I tensed enough at the smell of his cologne on his neck. I flinched when his hand touched me. Until now, I’d not felt his skin on mine. A jolt shot through me. Just like with Calum. What in the he—

  I put my hand on his stomach fast and held it there biting my tongue before I could change my mind. Nothing this time. Warm, not painful. His hand was on me. It wasn’t the same.

  This dark haired beautiful man seemed younger to me now. He was innocent somehow in the same way I was. This new feeling that we are connected somehow was too strong to ignore.

  “What does the sun mean?”

  “The two suns create one.”

  I wanted to know more about that in particular because...I wasn’t dumb.

  “That could mean, I think, they join forces or that that the two suns create a child,” he blushed heavily, “or simply that the two suns become one as in marriage or simply merge another way.”

  “Those are strong ifs,” I swallowed.

  “And so is everything else about me, you, and your Hunter boy.”

  “MY Hunter boy?” I was offended.

  “Yes, he is a part of this too. He is marked as well.”

  “And how, may I ask, do you theorize we all fit into this because somehow I feel very caught in the middle and yet you know way more than me and I still don’t know your name.”

  “I think,” he stepped away from me and I lowered my dress back into place. He however, was still shirtless. Then he asked instead of finishing his sentence, “What do we share?”

  “The sun.” He put his hand on top of my dress directly over my stomach. The warmth burning through.

  “What do you and the Hunter boy share?”

  I hesitated at discussing Calum in front of him. It seemed private. Cas brought desires I’d never felt, not even with Calum. Calum was safe, a comforting calm before a storm. Cas was dangerous, quick to make my temper rise, warm to the touch, and took my breath away.

  “The stars, Orion.”

  “And what do he and I share alone?”

  I bunched my eyebrows down. There was only one item in common, but it wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

  “You!” he said for me.

  “You don’t have me!” I didn’t like being claimed. I’m in charge of me.

  He reached to my neck. I couldn’t be sure what his intentions were, but I didn’t stop him either. He had my ring gripped tightly in his hand but not constricting against my neck.

  But I would like too.

  Whoa! “How did you do that?”

  He let go and stepped back. “Remember, the talisman part of it only needs to touch your skin.”

  He wanted to know me? Why? Was I lured here? Why did my father trust him? “Why do you know my father?” I want answers.

  One of the kitchen staff came into the room from behind me. Cas, still shirtless, eyed them and returned his attention to me. He held his hand out indicating for me to go with him I guessed. I pondered for a brief second to be difficult about it but reminded myself once again that I’d not get the answers I still needed if I proved far from complaint.

  I heard him tell the lady something and called her Claire. I noted that he said he’d return and tell her something later and make some decision then that she’d asked of him. Mr. Give the Orders was good at telling others what to do. I was peeved at being in the dark about something pertaining to myself and someone else might know and I don’t.

  I vaulted down, not taking his hand, and walked out without him. I didn’t look behind me, but my standing on edge neck hairs let me know he followed. He needs a shirt.

  I do?

  I jumped two feet in the air. How did you hear me? I was so startled by his voice coming through.

  He was behind me sliding on a brown motorcycle iconic shirt. I felt my cheeks burn as I watched it slowly move down to cover his sun. He pointed his free hand to mine suspended in air near my chest. “Your ring is against the dress, not your skin.”

  “That seems awfully picky of it,” I successfully avoided the other subject. He darted his eyes to the sofa in the Sun room. His eyes had more yellow in them with the brown shirt. I sat on the sofa without any prompting and sensing he followed me.

  Uncomfortable as I was, I forced my body to officially appear relaxed when he sat down leaning sideways with one arm across the back of the sofa and the other landing on the cushion parallel to his pants leg an inch away from my feet. I’d sat facing sideways on the sofa with my legs curled up like the natural way I would have anywhere. I wanted desperately to push my sundress back down over my toes peeking out, but refrained.

  “I’ve known your father personally for ten years. He summoned me one night to seek out a boy who was rumored to have similar markings like you and I. I didn’t know completely about you, mostly that you were the twin second to your brother in line for the crown or the other way around. I didn’t know which. I’d seen you at court from the kitchens, but never very close.”

  I shifted my toes that had fallen asleep now from the cold. My hands were on my knees.

  “Lord Hathown found him and had me watch him until his father transferred the both of them to a Hunter school. His father, Lord Hathown's long time friend, became the headmaster and I was to keep an eye on them both for safety from afar.”

  “So you are in service to my father?” I couldn’t quite work out who we was. I’d yet seen who the master of the house was. Fear clamped down on my stomach, and I opened my mouth to say something else—

  “I am.”

  Go on then, I willed him.

  Reading the impatience in my face, he continued, “I have been well reimbursed. It gained the ring back like predicted.” He looked at th
e chain hidden under my dress.

  "Then why the animosity towards him giving to me?"

  "Not animosity, sad frustration. Dr. Green is just scared for his son. You are second to him in his eyes."

  “Why did you do it? Work for my father.”

  “He said that you would need a benefactor at eighteen and that safety was of upmost importance to my own survival.”

  “Your survival?” I laughed. How did this come about?

  “I didn’t know then. But when the Hunter spy entered your court, I became suspicious of his intentions with you and followed him daily until his last. He shared a bit of news one day that changed my existence forever.”

  “And what was it?”

  He motioned to the pouch that hadn’t left my side. He knew it was there. “Your letter I presume?”

  I nodded. Private, buddy!

  “He said that you were marked on your stomach with “suspicious marks” that made a pattern. I had to know more, if only to confirm that I wasn’t alone. I spied on you but could never catch a glimpse of your bare midriff. After careful research I learned that your father knew about my own and that of your Hunter boy. We are all connected somehow though I had seen you long before then in my mind and how it orchestrated by who was my next quest. I’ve yet to find out how completely, but I do know now what happened when—

  “When what?” My voice eager. My ears eating up the idea of finally knowing some kind of truth to my existence. He looked at my hand touching his leg. I recoiled not even knowing I put it there.

  “Later, let’s eat something.”

  No, not fair. No! No! And the traitor, Lee. He was in it up to his ears. He lied about so many things. “One more question, please?” I added that last word to gain his favor.

  He lifted his chin higher, “And I’m the sly one, you say.”

  “Why am I really here?”

  He looked afflicted with the worst possible news coming. I prayed it was what I could handle.

  “You are under my protection.”

  “From who?”

  “From anyone who would harm you.”

  “Does that include you?”

  He looked offended. “I would never hurt you.”

  Arg! I raised the chain under my dress to free the ring. I believe you.

  He closed his eyes. What did that mean? I couldn’t read his expressions. It was maddening.

  And I can’t read your thoughts with that ring. Equally as maddening.

  I snorted. Ha!

  Your thoughts are all I think about, Kissa.

  His intense gaze didn’t leave me. My heart fluttered. Why are you doing this?

  How do you not see?

  I searched his eyes. I wish I could read you, but I can’t. By the gods, I wish I could.

  Why do you wish to read me?

  I squirmed. I have no idea!

  He stood and held his hand out for me to lead us to dinner.

  Chapter Seven

  The life which is unexamined …

  We ate pizza. Surprise.

  I scooted my chair to arrange noise signaling my need to leave when I finished two pieces, but his hand flew up.

  “Hold on. I have something.”

  He was behind me faster than a bullet and far enough I couldn’t feel him. I waited. I thought about why I should be running and screaming by now, but he was so kind and sweet and mysterious. He threw danger signs in every direction. He kidnapped me, right? But the sun. He's important somehow. I trust him.

  “Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear...Happy Birthday to you,” his deep voice sounded behind me leaving out my name or that ridiculous nickname he has found for me.

  He slid a small cake in front and leaned down on his knees beside me. A single candle stood in the middle. The yellow icing was smoothed with uneven ridges all around it. “Not what I would expect from your kitchen.”

  “I made it.”

  My eyes went wide with some kind of feeling I couldn’t describe. “You made this, for me?”

  He smiled the goofy grin of a schoolboy. The same way I did when I found out I had won my father’s attention for something or another.

  “Make a wish.”

  That’s not fair. “Only if you do.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. You just should.”

  He closed his eyes. I watched moving closer. I wanted to watch him when he thought I wasn’t looking.

  “I can feel your breath on me.”

  I shot backwards. He was repulsed by me.

  “Just the opposite. I am mesmerized by everything you do.” His eyes shot opened. Fear left him. Happiness invaded. Moreover, something else. Can he feel mine?

  He nodded slowly to assure he meant he could feel the same things vibing off of me that I did him. I leaned over again in anticipation. And I knew what the new feeling I sensed was now. I sensed his desire. Explains the eyes.

  How do I feel?

  I tried to refocus but it wasn’t working for me. He was still on his knees right beside me when my breathing picked up. Staggering, speechless, completely taken aback is more like it. I can’t seem to think logically when you get that close to me. I can smell you, sense you, HEAR you.

  He looked down at the ring. It hung in the air due to my leaning. I backed away and tucked it back in securing my thoughts. I still wondered if the ring had other real powers, but he wasn’t talking about that.

  “Your wish now!”

  I closed my eyes and blew the air out of my lungs opening to see the smoke filling the air. “And yours?” I dared ask.

  “It already came true.”

  Sigh! I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t need a ring or anything to know what this boy was hinting at. Why would anyone want me, the Val princess to a court that held daughters prisoner and bred them to be a killer?

  His eyes were right there. So were his lips. I saw my own breath make his eyes flutter.

  He bent up and took a fork and knife to cut the cake. I watched the utensils in fear of feeling weak in front of him. I couldn’t let him think or make me weak.

  A fork in my hand now and one in his. “Ladies first.”

  He wanted me to eat off the same plate as he did. This was never done. I shook my head at him so he took the bite first. He probably thought I was considering it poisoned soI took the bite.

  We took turns surveying what the other’s move would be next. When I couldn’t take another bite I laid my fork over the plate and put both hands in my lap. “Thank you. That was…I can’t believe you made that.”

  His smile was illuminating. He lifted my hand as I stood and walked me to the Sun room.

  “A few questions answered perhaps and then maybe a little swordplay?”

  He was asking with the deeper voice that made his sarcasm stress different on the words he chose. I kind of wished I hadn’t been so perceptive. The obsession I’ve created in my head with figuring him out never really took root, it was just instant. And I wonder if he will take his shirt off again.

  Leaning!

  I fell back on the sofa I was crawling on. By the gods, his smile widened.

  You know, a girl should have some secrets. I’m going to die of embarrassment. While I’m at it, let’s feed the fire with some facts. “Sacrificial virgin princess?” I tried to keep my voice from cracking. It failed me. “You were going to trade me for my brother.” He blinked only. “Answer!” I got angry fast.

  “No! I had no part in that. Your brother was a part of it from the beginning. He knew the sacrifice was evident. He did it to save you. He was only a distraction to keep you safe.”

  “Szar! He hates me. He only cares about the crown. He wouldn’t do anything to save me.”

  “He doesn’t hate you. I think if you’ll let me theorize, you’ll find a jealousy of the fact that you were marked and he was left blank in his eyes. He will become the Valkyrie king one day.”

  My heart stopped at hearing someone speak about my family
and their future. “And where does that leave me? And how would you know?”

  “Are you ready to know that yet?”

  I think so. I didn’t respond. He had a way of responding questions with questions like my father did when one of the diplomats would come to make a ploy only to be confused and bewildered and sent on his way without the wanted outcome. Or answers. In other words, my father always won.

  “Tell me what you do know?” He was asking me to trust him. “If you don’t trust my intentions, you could simply remove the ring and nothing could I hide.”

  That was a weapon of great destruction. I told him, “You know, I could have used one of these when I was growing up. I’d have found all the things my brother snatched from me and had revenge.”

  “Yet it only is needed for me.”

  “Why is that?” I think I know but I wanted him to say it. Like we were predestined.

  “Your ideas first,” Cas led.

  Okay. I did think about removing the ring. I changed my mind quickly thinking a shift in weight could land it dangling and possibly go unnoticed. I’d have to be a terrific blocker though. He sure was!

  “We are marked. The sun for us. The stars for…aside from all the other likes we listed last night, you are the Hunter by night with the sun. I know the prophecy says they will come together.” I blushed at the idea of joining anyone in a horizontal fashion but can’t help but blink back the mental picture of the two of us in that room I found him in this morning. My hand flew to the ring to ensure touch blocking was going on strong.

  He caught my forced handling and the color in my cheeks by the path his eyes followed. He very gently put his hand to my jaw line and smoothed the tip of his finger across from ear to lip, lingered, and dropped it.

  “I’m confused about who this prophecy is really talking about and wonder if it’s really me at all. The letters. People are trying to kill me and I only know that they held my brother hostage, or so I thought, my birthday is essential somehow, and being sent to Hunter school was an assignment to get more information about Szar’s kidnappers, or was it really to keep me with Calum like I guessed. You could be that person for all I know and I’m telling you everything like I’ve been taught never to do. I have been lied to my whole life about who I am, my mother was not human in any way and left me. What else? I am completely frightened at what possible choice I may have to make that I know has to be very soon, and above all that is the reverse of everything I thought myself to be. I’ve just shown a complete stranger every single one of my moves on the floor and allowed him to take me even in my sleep.” I took a breath.