Jordy’s eyebrows shot up, and her high pitched voice went even higher. “Oh really? Doing what?”
“Oh, just some tutoring.” Lily tried to shrug it off as no big deal. But she hadn’t counted on TraceyAnn.
“She’s working with the personal security guys that are always around Simon, and Simon hired her personally.” TraceyAnn sounded like a proud parent, while Lily blushed. And then she gave a start. Jordy’s glare was dark enough to drill holes into her.
“Really? What are they like?” There was something unsettling about Jordy’s interest.
“They’re nice guys,” Lily said. It might be vague, but it was also true. There wasn’t much more she could share about them, anyway. It was none of Jordy or TraceyAnn’s business that they could turn into wolves, or that Lily was having hot, wild sex with one of them. Multiple times. In the same night.
TraceyAnn saw an opening, and she went for it. “Oh come on, you can tell us more than that.”
Lily shrugged, with a smile on her face. “There’s not really that much to tell. But they’re friendly—” She thought of Barric and Merek “—well, mostly. You should say hi the next time you see them.”
“How’s Miller doing?” TraceyAnn asked, but Jordy seemed to brush that off. Apparently she wasn’t interested in hearing about Miller.
“Where are they from?” Jordy asked, her eyes focused on Lily with unsettling intensity.
“You’ll have to ask them,” Lily said, making a mental note to advise Simon to prepare a stock answer for the boys to use, if they would be spending more time at the Faire. Especially places like the Staff Caff. She spotted Clover about to open the gate to the pen of crawling and just-starting-to-walk toddlers, and ran off with a rushed “Excuse me.”
Saved by the toddler rustler.
Once the emergency was over, and Clover was onto some other activity, this time under the watchful eye of a still-on-crutches Luna, TraceyAnn sidled up to Lily. Jordy had long gone, but the older woman still had a need to air her opinion about the Ops member.
“She’s been lording it over everyone about how she did some special project for Simon recently.” TraceyAnn said, pleased that she was within earshot of not just Lily, but Luna as well, held captive by her still-hurt ankle. “But I would say that she’s probably eaten up with jealousy, with how you’re working with him on an ongoing thing. I’m sure whatever you’re doing trumps whatever little task she did for him.”
Well, that explained why Jordy was being so insistent on learning more about what Lily was doing. Lily sighed. She felt bad for Jordy, if the girl was going to feel competitive about something like that. After all, Jordy had just gotten a promotion and an upgrade to a better housing situation. It seemed like maybe she was just one of those who would never be satisfied with what they had, unless nobody else also experienced good fortune.
TraceyAnn, having now shared her vitriol about Jordy, walked away, with the long skirt of her medieval dress trailing behind her. Luna and Lily exchanged looks, and the other girl stifled a giggle. Lily’s cheek dimpled, and she moved back over to the infant pen, taking a seat and wiggling her fingers over the confines of the enclosure. Emma, a sweet little girl with a tuft of auburn hair gave her a single toothed grin.
With that auburn hair, and dark brown eyes, Lily could almost envision what Col’s and her baby girl would look like, nestled in his arm much like she had seen Col pick up Clover. Or Col telling their little girl stories at night, and then tucking a blanket gently under her sweet little chin.
She had it bad.
But before she could chide herself for it, a chill suddenly went through her. It was that same prickly feeling from the other night.
That she was being watched.
Maybe it was a residual effect of that encounter with Jordy earlier. It was bright daylight, and tons of people walked past the large windows of the Staff Childcare Center, in both directions. People liked looking in at times.
It was a strange sensation, though, and she couldn’t help but throw a nervous glance at the windows. Nobody was pressed against it, not even standing near and peering in. Maybe she needed to catch up on her sleep. Yes, that must be it, she thought with a secret smile. Col and she had been up until near dawn. The sky was already lightening when he easily carried her falling-asleep form in his arms back to the house, before depositing her tenderly in her bed.
That had to be it. She was mooning again, a bad combination with lack of sleep. She looked out the window again, and this time she spotted someone else she knew, even if it wasn’t the one who occupied most of her thoughts.
A tall, muscled man with broad shoulders and flowing blond hair was heading towards the Childcare Center.
Aylwyn caught her eye, and a great big grin spread over his face as he entered.
At last. He had finally located her during the daytime hours. He should have known that she would gravitate towards a job that involved kids of some sort. But who would have expected this Medieval Loserville to have a childcare center for their employees?
Rey had found a spot outside the Staff Childcare Center that allowed him to watch her discreetly from the driver’s seat of his car. He realized that the longer he stayed, the greater the risk that she would spot him, or recognize his car. He had to be careful. He needed to take her unawares.
Even worse, the Staff Childcare Center was only yards away from a security booth, even if they were rent-a-cops like the ones he worked with. Past tense. He’d been fired when he had to call in sick, on account of a part of his body being chopped off. Well, technically he should have called in sick before his shift started, but it didn’t matter. That asshole, Jerry, had it in for him and was just looking to fire him if Rey so much as farted in his general direction.
It was another thing he could thank that bitch for, and he couldn’t wait to show his appreciation.
Rey had a bundle of presents just sitting all ready for her, carefully wrapped up and hidden in the well in front of the shotgun seat. Rey had been whiling away the hours inventorying them in his head. Starting with the thick pointed blade of the Tanto, good for penetration. The pair of push daggers, that got him hard at the thought of using — one in each fist — on that bitch while she was begging him for mercy. A Cold Steel Espada, a folding knife that opened to reveal something wicked and sharp. A sweet fixed blade Karambit, that resembled the talon of a large bird of prey. It was his personal collection of knives he had seen on one of his favorite shows, Forged in Fire. The only thing missing was a katana, like the one Michonne used on The Walking Dead. He had left that hanging on the wall of the apartment that bitch had walked out on.
But, just so he wouldn’t be the asshole that brought a knife —no matter how sweet — to a gunfight, Rey also brought some serious pieces of firepower. He just hoped he would get the chance to get his steel baptized with that bitch’s blood first, before pumping lead into her.
In the meantime, he’d have to keep tracking her. And wait for his opportunity to snatch her.
The backyard grill was filling the air with the wondrous aromas of the various meats laid out on it, Miller Armstrong stoking the fire that raged underneath the metal lines. Merek and Barric were filling Tybalt, Simon and Miller in on what had transpired the night before. Tybalt and Miller were listening intently, with only Simon shaking his head at Barric and Merek’s initiative in revealing their nature to Katie Cooper. But all were eager to hear of what had happened after Barric and Merek were chased away by Col.
Especially the details which Col had to work extra hard at shielding whilst in wolf form. Although truth be told, he was finding it difficult to keep those details far from his thoughts.
When he did mention the scent that arose from him, Tybalt nodded sadly. Of them all, Tybalt was the only one who was fortunate—although some would say it was ill fortune — to have met his Destine and mate-bonded with her, afore the Waryeors were put into their enchanted slumber. And so Tybalt had the experience to speak on it, and was
eagerly attended to.
“Verily, that scent arising from the male happened upon me as well,” he confirmed. “That was — in my instance — the beginning stages of the mate-bonding. And mayhap it was also thus for you, if Katie Cooper recognized your scent, and was as affected by it as you were of hers.”
Col thought of the joining that occurred afterwards, several times, until the sun near rose, and looked quickly away. Merek and Barric picked up on it, even in human form, and started hooting and hollering. His saving grace was that Aylwyn had been assigned that day to the Faire, and was not present to add his odious japes.
Simon cleared his throat, and came to Col’s rescue. “Katie’s awesome, Col. And you are very lucky to have her as your Destine. If I could have a Destine, I would want it to be someone like her.” He looked wistful, even as he pushed his glasses up.
Col was grateful for his words. He had been fighting the thought of Katie being his Destine for so long, so much so that he had forgotten. For one such as Simon, even that struggle to recognize one’s Destine was something that was longed for.
And then Barric had to ruin it.
“But if you have not successfully completed mate-bonding with Katie Cooper yet, Brodher, then I look forward to mayhap convincing her to look my way as a Destine in the mean—.”
With a growl, Col launched himself at the large, dark-haired Waryeor, shifting in mid-air.
Simon sighed, taking a sip of his cold brew. Whatever destruction of property was about to take place, at least it was happening in the backyard and not in the living room.
Cleanup was a bitch.
Chapter Forty-Two
“Aylwyn! What a surprise!”
Lily was on her way to the Royal Court of Food when the blond giant muscled his way through the crowd, and fell in step beside her. It was a warm sunny day, and Lily had decided to grab a quick bite outside.
It was a rare chance to stroll through the crowds and feel like she was part of the revelry, especially dressed as she was, in a particoloured kirtle made of patterned linen. The skirt of the gown was long, and the lacing in the front kept the top relatively form fitting, before it flared out past the waist. She could tell that it was flattering from Aylwyn’s appreciative looks, but many heads turned for him as well as they ambled together through the crowds of Faire-goers.
Today, he was wearing a sand-colored linen shirt, sleeveless so his biceps were bare. His staff lanyard hung off of his wide, leather belt, over leather pants that were made of woven strips.
All five of the boys, including Col, had clothing made from the vendors here at the Faire. But she only saw them wearing jeans, fatigues and t-shirts at the house, or, she thought with a smile, a dark jacket and button down shirt as what Col wore, the night he hijacked the dinner she was supposed to have with Aylwyn. And now with the revelation that they had come from another time, came all the curiosity about what it had been like for them. How it had shaped them.
How it had shaped Col.
“The clothing you’re wearing suits you.” Lily was curious about what Aylwyn thought of it.
The tall blonde threw his hair back in laughter. “Simon had these made for us the first week of our awa—arrival. He took the vestments that we wore and had different versions of it made by crafters yonder.” He pointed at where the apparel merchants were situated.
“I am told that the weaving of the animal skins took seven days for each of the pants, so as we waited for our clothing, we became accustomed to the garments which Miller Armstrong had purchased for us.”
He still didn’t know that she knew.
“They wear woven leather pants where you come from, do they?” Lily and Aylwyn stopped by The Song of Sixpence Blackbyrd Pye Booth. The savory turnovers were stuffed with various meats, and each were the size of a sandwich. Aylwyn picked out eight of the meat pies for himself, after Lily asked for the decidedly non-Medieval themed feta and kale pie. She watched as Aylwyn expertly used the card he had been given to pay for anything he purchased at the Faire.
With a lot of flirtation with the corseted wench behind the counter.
Lily stepped away discreetly as Aylwyn and the wench discussed meeting up at Ye Olde Taverne, and wandered off into the seating area to locate a place for them to sit. It was beginning to fill up, but mostly with families who took over the larger picnic-type tables. She smiled at the sight of the children dressed in kid-sized medieval costumes, especially the toddlers. Some of them availed themselves of the special covers that transformed their strollers into the prows of pirate ships, or to look like horses that the child was riding.
She thought of suggesting to TraceyAnn that they might take the kids out on excursions around the Fairegrounds once they had more staffing. Except…that would be a while, and she wouldn’t be around to do it. The voice of reason gave her a sudden chill, a cloud crossing over her bright sunshine. Oh Sweet Lord, Lily was now thinking of ways to improve the Staff Childcare Center, picturing what her and Col’s baby would look like, and—
Just then, she spotted what she was looking for. A small wooden table in the shade that was unoccupied, and she moved quickly to claim it.
She realized that with Aylwyn, she could get more details about Col’s past, at least the bits that Aylwyn might share. Even with her limited experience dating, she was aware that you usually started with the same reference points in your past, maybe rites of passage, maybe pop culture touchstones.
Like that disastrous third grade class photo, when your cowlick decided to make its appearance. Or trying to learn the steps to the Zombie dance from Thriller. Or knowing where you were when you got the news that Bowie had passed. Or having an opinion on which Star Trek captain was the best. It was one thing to date — or whatever you wanted to call this thing with Col — someone from another culture, but another time entirely?
There weren’t any Cosmopolitan articles covering that.
But first she had to let Aylwyn know about Barric and Merek’s show-and-tell last night.
He set down two heavy trays, loaded down with beverages and nine stuffed pies onto the table, as if they were as light as empty plastic bins, and positioned the bench so he could sit comfortably.
“Here,” Aylwyn placed a covered cup of some type of reddish liquid in front of Lily. “This is elderberry juice, which is reminiscent of a drink I remember, but I am happy to find here at the Faire in this form.”
“I’m sure that Miller could order some for you,” Lily took a sip through a straw. It was the perfect blend of tart and sweet. “This is delicious!”
“Aye, but tastier when served by a wench bearing the name Amber.” Aylwyn’s white teeth bit into a meat pie.
Lily smiled. “I met Barric and Merek as wolves last night.”
The meat pie stuck in Aylwyn’s throat and he started coughing and spluttering, to the sound of Lily’s laughter. “I am so sorry, Aylwyn.” She pushed his drink towards him, and he took a big swallow.
“How did this happen?” Aylwyn drank some more, looking at Lily. She recounted the events of the evening before — at least as much as she was willing to share with him — and he resumed eating with great gusto.
“That is a relief, Katie Cooper.” Aylwyn was already on his third meat pie, and he remembered to use a napkin to wipe his mouth. “So you’re on board with the whole wolf-man thing? Cool, cool.” She stifled a life at the way he sounded so modern, most of the time.
With the floodgates opened, Aylwyn talked easily. He glanced around to make sure that nobody was listening, and then chattered on about the fair, and what it was like when they first woke up, and how Simon tried to acclimate them to the modern world.
Lily finished the last of her cheese pie as he cheerfully rambled on, and drank more of the elderberry juice. Weapons, training, war pack, destines…
“—given to another one of us.”
Lily’s head jerked up. It was about her. The words Aylwyn used were in modern English. In grammatical order. But still t
hey didn’t make sense.
“Say what?” She cleared her throat, but Aylwyn knew the expression, no doubt from one of his TV shows.
“My bad. I forgot not to talk with my mouth full.” There were only crumbs, and barely that, in front of him. Aylwyn took a huge swig of his drink, and pointedly wiped his mouth with a napkin. All the while Lily waited, forgetting to breathe.
“I was just saying how we had all given up hope that our Destines were to be found in this world. And then you came along. We all envy Col, if it turns out you’re his Destine.”
Oh. Well that was good. She let out a breath. Felt the tingle at being called a Destine.
And then the ground fell out from under her.
“But if you aren’t, and Col does not fulfill his duty to complete the mate-bonding with you soon, then one of us will have the pleasure of mate-bonding with you instead.” He winked at her, and took another swig of his drink.
Lily was up on her feet without realizing it. Duty? The word rang in her head. It rang true. But it also rang like a death knell.
Col had been that little boy warrior. Trained from birth to…that’s right, fulfill his duty.
Was that all she was to him?
It would explain why he acted so strange around her. Why he was so hot and cold, one minute worshipping her, the next, being stiff and remote.
A lifetime of self doubt rushed through her. Her father, Rey…they both made her feel as if she was somehow fundamentally flawed. Unworthy of love.
The rational side of her leapt up to rein in the emotions that were roiling, bringing tears to her eyes. Maybe, the rational side reasoned, that was a good thing. A duty for him, and for her, an itch she didn’t know needed scratching. Consider herself well scratched. Maybe now she could finally get that money over to the auto repair shop, like she was supposed to, like she had planned to.
It just wouldn’t be Rey she’d be running away from any more, but the heartbreak that was threatening to engulf her now, as Aylwyn kept blithely talking.
Col: His Destined Mate Page 30
