Getting back to the barn, they fed and watered the three Dellings and almost sixty other horses before starting on mucking the stalls. All the barns had heat, so Angel wasn’t really worried about them being cold, but she still put blankets on all of them. Taylon, are you coming?
Eventually, he replied. I love the snow.
She laughed. Just let me know when you want in.
* * *
Once inside, they went upstairs, and she drew a hot bath. They both got in with a sigh, sitting on opposite ends of the large tub, and he started rubbing one of her feet. She sighed, laying her head back and closing her eyes. “Oh, wow. If you only knew how good that feels…”
He laughed quietly, massaging the arch with skillful fingers. Then, he moved up to her ankle, then her calf before starting on the other foot. After he finished, he did her fingers and hands, then told her to turn around and slide back. His firm but gentle hands went to work on her neck and shoulders, and before long, she felt as loose as the water bubbling around them from the jets. “You’re going to put me to sleep,” she murmured.
He raised an eyebrow. “Believe it or not, that wasn’t my intention.”
“Oh, really?” she asked. “And what would your intentions be, kind sir?”
He turned the jets off and released the water before scooping her up, her arms around his neck. He set her on the counter, gently toweling her off, then carried her to the bed. As animalistic as they had been the night before, that’s how gentle he was today. Teasing her until she was right on the brink, he’d back off and let her cool down, doing it time and time again, until her entire body felt as if it was going to implode and explode at the same time.
“Sathe,” she whispered in his ear as they rocked slowly together, and she clung to him fiercely as his mouth skimmed her collarbones. When he turned her over, he was still gentle, and he covered her hands in one of his, the other burrowing deep in her hair. He heard his name in a low groan, her head turned to the side.
His fingers trailed up her arm, under her stomach and down further, and her response was instant. He let her reach her climax this time, and it was as if a bomb had gone off inside her, torching and incinerating every nerve ending she possessed. His own sense of urgency began overriding his wanting to be gentle, and he began moving against her faster, but she matched his pace, her breathing coming in shallow gasps. When they rolled over, she was sitting on him, her back to him. “God have mercy,” he said in a whisper as she rocked back on him, completely in control. He moved her hair to the side, watching her muscles work sinuously as her hips moved every which way against him, and he traced her spine with the tips of his fingers. It didn’t take him long to finish, and she rolled off him. After they cleaned up, they climbed back into bed, and it didn’t take them long to fall back asleep.
* * *
Eyes watched the house, full of malice as the snow still fell heavily. Yazmina stepped out from behind a bush, and her cell phone vibrated in her hand. “Yeah, Kane,” she said in a low whisper. “There’s no sign of movement.”
“Good,” he replied coldly. “Remember, I want her alive. She’s no good to me dead. Sathe, you can kill.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t worry. I won’t kill her. God, you think you’re Ciera for real, don’t you?”
“Shut the hell up, Yazmina, and just do your damn job.”
He hung up, and she made her way to the front door, pulling a lock picking kit out of her pocket. She went to work, and finally, about twenty minutes later, she heard the lock click softly. Testing the doorknob, the door opened soundlessly. Yazmina slid inside, closing the door behind her silently.
Angel’s eyes snapped open, and all traces of sleep had vanished. She felt a chill come over her that had nothing to do with the temperature outside. Instinctively, she knew something was up. Closing her eyes, she felt Yazmina’s evil energy sliding around insider her house, downstairs. She shook Sathe’s shoulder, and when he saw the dark anticipation in her eyes, he knew something was up instantly. What is it?
Yazmina’s downstairs. They both rolled to their feet, instantly appearing in their armor. She’s in the kitchen. They moved silently, almost creeping down the stairs, Angel’s face an icy mask of revenge.
Yazmina whirled around at the rasp of steel, and her eyes widened as she saw Sathe and Angel just inside the doorway to the dining room. “Well, well, well. Look at what the cat dragged in. I missed you at the funeral, Yaz. I really expected to see you there,” she sneered. “Although, I suppose I really should thank you for breaking into my house, though. You saved me the trouble of having to look for you. I really appreciate the consideration.”
Yazmina snarled, and she flung an energy ball, but Angel deflected it with her sword. “I have no desire to exchange words with you, Yaz. Just die already.” Angel’s star blazed like blue fire as she leaped forward, her sword moving like lightning. Several seconds later, she jumped back, her hand out. A pale blue light glowed from at least a dozen slices on her body.
A cold wind swirled around the house, then concentrated around Yazmina. She uttered one scream before ice and dust surrounded her, blocking her from view, and the scream ended sharply. Sathe glanced at Angel, her dark eyes fixed on the swirling vortex in her kitchen. She could feel her enemy’s energy fading, and as it disappeared, so did the windstorm. As the storm faded, they saw Yazmina had vanished completely, not even a scrap of cloth remaining.
There was a heavy scratching and whining at the door, and she opened it to Taylon bursting in. He skidding to a stop on the granite floors. What’s going on?
She rubbed the wolf’s head. It’s okay. Yazmina paid her respects after all, she replied, scratching him behind the ears, and he leaned his head into her palm. He asked where she went.
Sathe sighed. “Straight to hell where she belongs.”
That fast?
Angel laughed darkly. “Revenge is a powerful motivator, Taylon.”
So it seems.
The wolf looked around, and he spotted a cell phone laying on the floor. He carried it to Angel, who swiped the screen to unlock it. She saw she had received a call from Kane just a few minutes ago, then she started scrolling through the messages.
Blood drained from her face, and the phone fell from numb fingers, but Sathe caught it before it smashed on the floor. He read the messages, and his own face paled. “They were going to kidnap you?”
She nodded, her voice suddenly small. “They were going to take me and turn me against you all. They were hoping we were going to kill each other.”
“It wouldn’t work,” Sathe whispered.
“What?” she asked, looking at him.
“It wouldn’t work,” he said again. “I couldn’t kill you, Angel. I would rather die than hurt you.”
“Don’t say that,” she said intently, taking his hands. “You can’t say that. You can’t let me fall into their hands, my powers fall into their hands. If they had succeeded, if they had turned me over to their side, if you couldn’t bring me back, you won’t have any choice but to kill me.”
“Have you lost your mind? I can’t kill you!”
“You won’t have a choice.” She stood, her head high, and he heard her authority as Queen in her voice. “You vowed to protect this universe from all danger, anything that could cause catastrophic damage, including from ourselves. They’ve already destroyed Elagon and Solaris, and now they’re attacking Earth. If they controlled me, and I somehow took you all out, then the entire universe would be theirs for the taking. The five of us are the only ones standing in the Stones’ way. Besides, when we came of age, we both took the same vow to protect our people, and I for one would rather die than to destroy the very thing I was born to protect.”
He didn’t argue, but she could still see the doubt in his eyes. “You know I’m right, love,” she continued, lowering her voice. “If something like that happened to you, I wouldn’t have a choice. I would have to kill you if I couldn’t bring you back. No on
e person is greater than what we fight to protect, not even you or me. You know this, Sathe. I would tear myself to pieces afterwards, but we have a responsibility.” He could see in her eyes she meant every world. “This now seems to be a possibility we have to face.”
He nodded, taking her hand. Yazmina’s phone began buzzing in her hand, and she answered, but said nothing. “Yazmina?” Kane’s voice snapped. “What’s taking so long?” Angel still kept silent. “Yaz?”
“Find yourself another plan, Kane. This one’s on ice,” Angel said, her voice soft, but firm. She slammed the phone to the floor, shattering it. Sathe cleaned up as Angel leaned against the counter and closed her eyes, appearing in a silk robe. “That explains why it’s been so quiet this past week, and why they didn’t attack at Mom’s funeral. They didn’t want me dead, and they damn sure didn’t want me on my guard.” Sathe’s armor disappeared, and he had on a long, black robe, cinched securely around his waist.
* * *
There was a knock on the front door, and they looked at the monitor in the kitchen. Sathe gave a low growl as he saw Malik standing on the porch. “Hush,” Angel said with a shake of her head, laying a hand on his arm. “Remember, Seph said he was telling the truth, and you agreed to give him a chance.” She pushed the speaker button. “Give me a minute, Malik,” she said, and she smiled as he flashed a thumb’s up in the camera.
They quickly put clothes on, and Sathe eyed her, wishing and praying there wasn’t anyone at the door. She felt his gaze, and she smiled, kissing him. “Later.”
They went back downstairs, and she opened the door. “Come on in, Malik.”
“Thanks, Angel.” His voice was quiet, and his face paled as he looked nervously at Sathe, edging around him.
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry, Malik. I promised Angel I would at least hear you out. You convinced her and Sepherino. I just have a quick question. What do you know about Kane and Yazmina’s plan?”
“Oh, the one to turn Angel against you?” he asked, and they nodded. He rolled his eyes. “It was sketchy, and half-baked. Kane remembered some old Compulsion spells, and he thought he would try to use one on Angel. He was hoping for you all to kill each other and do his work for him.”
Malik sighed, then shrugged. “I tried to tell him it wouldn’t work, that you were too strong willed. Hell, even I know it would take a Compulsion Master working around the clock to control Angel, but they didn’t want to listen. I take it they already tried?”
“Yeah, about twenty minutes ago. Sorry, but you’re short of a sister.”
Malik just shrugged. “I don’t care. We’re not a family. Not anymore. We haven’t been since Kane remembered. Ciera’s completely gone crazy. All she does is sit on her bed and rock back and forth, staring at the wall.”
He moved to sit down, but he winced slightly, and Angel saw it. “What’s wrong?”
“I disagreed with their ‘foolproof’ plan,” he said bitterly. Angel asked if she could see, and he raised the side of his shirt. Their eyes grew when they saw the deep knife wound.
“Jesus, Malik,” Angel swore. “How long ago was this?”
“About two days,” he replied.
“Hold on,” she said, then placed her hand against his side. He sucked his breath in sharply, but a pale white light surrounded her hand before sinking into the wound. The skin slowly knit itself together, forming a thin pink scar.
The light faded, and he stared at her. “You healed me?”
She nodded, then glanced up at Sathe. His eyes were still wary, but he nodded, and she smiled at Malik. “If you’re going to fight with us, you need to be at one hundred percent.”
His eyes went wide. “You mean it?” She nodded, and he looked up at Sathe nervously, and the prince opened his mouth to speak, but he shook his head. “Yeah, I already know, your Highness. Any sign of a double cross, and you’ll make my death on Solaris look like a picnic.”
Sathe laughed despite himself. “Just as long as we’re on the same page. And please, just call me Sathe. Or Garin. And stop running away at school. It’s just strange.”
They both laughed. “All right, all right. I was just trying to avoid you and Angel once you guys remembered. And I remember how it worked out. I didn’t stand a chance on Solaris. Trust me, I’m in no hurry to rewrite history,” he mumbled.
“I take it Kane and Ciera are unaware of your allegiance change?” Angel asked.
“I haven’t been home since Kane stabbed me. To be completely honest, I have a feeling Kane couldn’t really give a damn about me. You know I’ve always been the weakest, so I was never more than a blip on his radar,” Malik said.
“Let me and Sathe talk a minute. Hold tight, okay?”
The two of them went into the kitchen. “I already know what you have in mind, Angel,” he said in a whisper.
“There’s a trainer’s apartment over the main barn, and it has a little kitchen with a bathroom and bedroom. There’s heat, power, and water already run in,” she replied, glancing back over her shoulder into the living room. “I can’t very well just leave him outside in the snow, Sathe. And Kane’ll kill him if he even suspects he’s turned to our side.”
He sighed, putting his arms around her. “I’m not going to lie, Angel. I don’t like it, but I trust you, and you seem to trust him, so I’ll let my feelings go.” He laid his head on hers. “I just really hope it doesn’t come back to bite us in the arse.” She laughed, getting up on her tiptoes and kissing him.
* * *
They went back into the living room, and he had moved from the couch to in front of the fire, warming his hands. “Look, Malik. There’s an apartment over the big barn. It’s nothing fancy, just a little one bedroom, but you’re more than welcome to use it. It’s already set with power and water, and it’s already got sheets, towels, pots, pans, anything you could need.” She eyed him. “I take it that’s all you have?”
“I didn’t exactly have time to pack,” he replied. “Are you serious?”
She looked out the window. “It’s stopping snowing for now. Once I show you around, we can ride into town and get some things you need.”
“My God. Thank you so much, Angel. Not just for this, but for believing me, believing I can change.”
She smiled, giving him a one-armed hug. “I know there’s good in everyone. It’s just sometimes, it’s hard to let it out. I’m glad you found yours.”
Angel went to the hall closet, grabbing some sheets and blankets, and she showed him the way to the barn, and they went upstairs. She took him on a brief tour. “All the furniture’s yours, and there’s the TV, DVD player, and the cable’s already set,” she was explaining.
Hey, Angel?
Yeah, Seph?
Come down here for a minute. You’ve got to see this, the Delling said, and she heard the amusement in his voice.
What is it?
You wouldn’t believe it if you didn’t see it for yourself, he said cryptically.
Okay, okay, four-foot. You’ve got me curious.
Oh, and bring Malik with you.
“Hey, Malik? Sepherino has something to show us, and he wants you down there, too, so come on,” Angel said, her shrug showing she had no idea what was going on.
Unforeseen Connections
Freya was standing in the wide aisle between the stalls, but that wasn’t what struck them speechless when they got downstairs. It was the dark grey Delling, a stallion with a black mane and tail, easily as tall as Donay and Seph, that held their eyes. The new Delling bowed his delicate head to Angel, then Sathe, but he turned his sapphire blue eyes to Malik. He walked up to him, his hooves chiming like bells on the stone floor, then lowered his head to eye level with Malik. I’ve been waiting a long time for you to come around, Malik. My name is Laris, and we’re meant to be together as friends and partners. We’re family.
Malik slowly reached to scratch under the forelock, and he seemed almost mesmerized. Sathe’s mouth dropped, and even Angel couldn’t
find anything to say. Sepherino nosed his arm playfully. I never thought that would happen.
They all watched as Malik threw his arms around the grey stallion’s neck, and the Delling hung his head over his shoulder, his blue eyes closed in content. Sathe caught Angel’s eye. I guess I don’t have nothing to worry about after all. He knew as well as she did, a Delling would never connect with anyone who had evil in their hearts.
Malik eventually looked up at Angel, wonder in her eyes. “It feels so incredible.”
She smiled, reaching out to pat the newest Delling’s neck. “You’ll never be lonely again.” Laris nuzzled Malik’s cheek gently. “Well, Laris. Welcome home.”
The stallion bowed his head again. Thank you, your Majesty. He nickered softly. I had just about given up on this one.
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” she said aloud, then laughed. “Oh, wow. Wait until the others find out about this.”
“Have you ridden before?” Sathe asked curiously.
Malik nodded, and he seemed embarrassed. Angel spoke up. “Mom taught him. She taught all of them. Believe it or not, we were all friends growing up.”
“It is a little hard to believe,” Sathe said, shrugging.
Angel showed Malik where the saddles and bridles were, and she watched as he confidently saddled up the Delling, showing no hesitation as he made sure everything was secure, then easily mounted. Angel and Sathe quickly saddled their Dellings, and the three of them took off a trot through the forests. Taylon was leading the way, and they talked and laughed the whole way.
Sathe laughed suddenly while there was a slight break from conversation. “You know, you and Ari would get along well together. You seem to have a lot of similar interests.”
They got into town, and no one paid the three teenagers on horseback any mind. The streets were already being plowed, but there was talk of a Nor’easter on its way, and they could be dealing with blizzard-like conditions within a couple of hours. They tied the Dellings up and went inside a couple of stores. Not only did Malik get everything he needed, but Sathe picked out some clothes to keep at Angel’s, and she also got Malik some food to go inside his apartment. “Knock on the door if you need anything, though. We’re family now, and we look after each other.” She smiled at the stunned look on his face, and she threw an arm around his shoulder. “I’ve always wanted a kid brother.”
When Worlds Collide: Solarian Chronicles I Page 14
