“Were we waiting for your dad to have dinner with us?” Cali asked.
“Kieran’s dad and mine go way back, and he likes to meet all my friends,” he explained. “When I told him Kieran was coming over this weekend, he wanted to have dinner and catch up.”
“Sounds great,” she said, smiling up at him.
“So ...” Vash forced himself to look away from her gaze and over at us. “What do you guys want to do while we wait for dinner? It’ll probably be in another hour or so.”
“Should we pick out rooms and go on a tour of the estate?” I suggested.
“Great idea,” Vash said. “I don’t want any of you getting lost and withering away without food or water, so I’d better show you around. Plus, Mom’ll have my hide for not being a good host if I don’t.”
We picked up our bags—Kieran helped me with mine—and followed Vash back out into the hall and down to the second floor. As we passed some of the open doors, he told us what the space was and what they used it for. Across from his sister’s bedroom were three other rooms that Vash told us we could choose from. He said we could our own rooms, or we could share, whichever we preferred. We took turns opening every door and looking inside, admiring how each room was vastly different from the others, with its specific color scheme. Nothing was gaudy. Between the lavish artwork, the plush carpets, and thick, quality furniture, each room felt elegant and rich. When we opened the last door, which was in gold and white marble, I knew instantly the girls and I would share that room.
“We should use this one,” I said.
My girlfriends agreed, and we walked into the room, leaving the two boys in the hallway. I felt like I was staying in a fancy hotel suite for the weekend. We laid our bags on one of the couches, and I glanced back at Kieran and Vash. I hoped they were having the conversation about Cali.
“Oh, my gosh!” Cali exclaimed. “Hey, come look at this view of the lake. We even have our own private balcony.”
Sidelle and I joined her by the door, peering out. She was right. It was magnificent.
“Hey, Kieran, look at that view,” Vash said, chuckling behind us. “Looks good from here.”
We turned back to the boys and realized Vash was not looking at the lake; he was staring intently at Cali, and we all blushed.
“Hey, look,” Cali said, turning back to the window. “Is that a wolf out there?”
Vash was instantly at her side. “Yes. Actually, a pack of wolves lives on the land. My father says we should co-exist.”
“Aww, it’s kinda cute. Like a big dog.”
Vash had an amused expression on his face. He caught me smiling at him and looked away, but I thought his reaction was adorable. I turned back to the window and saw more wolves loitering outside. I wondered how many of them were out there, and how many were in the pack.
I nudged Sidelle with my elbow, catching her eye. I looked pointedly at Cali, and then Vash, and she immediately picked up on the hint.
“So, we should unpack some of our stuff and get organized,” Sidelle said. “Meet you back in your room, Vash?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want. Kieran and I can hang out for a while, right, Kieran?”
“Yep, we can find some trouble to get into,” he said. “We’ll come back to get you for dinner.”
Chapter Six
Zoe
I wandered around the room looking at the furniture and items in more detail. Everything was white with golden accents, including the door and window knobs, the pillows on the couch, and the area rugs. Vases in varying shades of gold decorated the room. I opened the French paneled dividers to the bedroom, which revealed a large California king four-poster bed with a gold comforter and pillows. Through another door was the ensuite bathroom, and inside it was a huge white porcelain Jacuzzi tub and shower, trimmed with gold handles. The vanity knobs and faucet and mirror were all gold.
After one look at all the marble, I would’ve thought the whole place would feel cold, but it was the opposite. The rooms were comfortable and welcoming.
I walked back out to the main room and grabbed my bags. “Hey, guys. The bedroom has an enormous walk-in closet. We can hang up our stuff in there.”
I set both bags on top of the bed and unzipped them one at a time, and then I withdrew the first item: a little black dress still on its hanger. Sidelle watched me, a smirk plastered on her face. The next item was a deep brown sundress with white eyelet trim. So far, so good. The third and fourth items were also dresses in pastel colors. Then came a short-sleeve button-down shirt and two skirts. I glanced at her, curious. Hadn’t she packed any lounge clothes for me? I dug around the bottom of the bag and found nothing other than undergarments, heeled shoes, and my requested pair of jeans. What the heck?
“Uh, Sidelle? It looks like I’ll have to borrow a few items from you, so I hope you packed enough for both of us,” I informed her. “I cannot wear dresses the whole weekend.”
“Oh?”
“Sidelle! You didn’t even pack me any jammies or lounge clothes. What am I supposed to wear at night?”
“I guess I forgot about that part. Sorry. I have stuff you can borrow if you need to.” She giggled. “You didn’t really look at anything I packed for you.”
“Why? Is there something special about them? You found them in my closet, so more than likely I’ve worn them before.”
“Why did Sidelle pack for you?” Cali asked.
“I didn’t have enough time, and she was over at my house, so I asked her to throw some stuff in a bag. I guess she only grabbed dresses.”
“Well, if you need to borrow something, I packed plenty,” Cali said, glancing at the dresses I’d hung up.
“Thanks, but I’m too tall for your clothes.” I shook my head as I reached for my cell. “Has anyone else had any problems with reception? I haven’t received a single text from Shay today.”
“Mine seems to be working fine.”
“Same here.” Sidelle smiled, looking completely innocent. “So Cali, anything you’d like to share with us?”
“Uh, no. Why? Am I supposed to share something?”
Sidelle and I exchanged a glance and giggled, but Cali shook her head, confused. With a shrug, I finished hanging the dresses in the closet while Sidelle laid out the clothing from her little suitcase, a never-ending stream of shirts, shorts, pants, and dresses. It reminded me of a clown car where people kept emerging, and you never knew how many were crammed in there.
“Really?” she asked Cali, who hadn’t seemed to notice Sidelle’s endless suitcase.
“What?” Cali asked.
“One word,” Sidelle said, wiggling an eyebrow. “Vash.”
Cali blushed. “Oh, that.”
“I saw how you looked at him. So? You gonna ask him out or what?”
“I’m staying out of this,” I declared. “This is on you, Sidelle. I’m going to clean up a bit before dinner.”
She shot me a dark look.
I took the brown dress to the bathroom and turned on the shower, quickly stripped, and stepped into the steaming hot water. I hadn’t realized my body was so tense—probably from not knowing how tonight would go—and the shower felt wonderful. I still needed to figure out how we were going to have a meeting now that Cali was in the room since she had no idea what was going on. I stepped out of the shower and dried off, and then I slipped on the dress and tugged my wet hair up into a messy bun.
“Hey, is anyone else taking a shower?” I yelled. “I’ll keep the door closed so the warmth doesn’t escape the room.”
“Yeah, I will,” Cali answered.
I hurried to clean up the bathroom, and stepped out to let Cali pass. “All yours,” I said, stepping out of the bathroom to let Cali pass.
Sidelle was still sprawled on the bed, apparently deciding which dress she’d wear that evening. I sat on the edge of the mattress and ran my fingers over one of her dresses. It was the softest silk I had ever felt, and I knew the deep, emerald green color would perfec
tly accent her light green eyes.
“How did you get all that in your luggage?” I asked. A dozen more dresses, five pairs of shoes, two pairs of jeans, and multiple yoga pants were set out nearby.
She checked the bathroom door before she responded. “Glamour. I just think of something, and then I can pull it out of the luggage. It actually comes in quite handy. You should try it sometime.”
I shook my head, laughing at her casual suggestion. “After dinner we should try to get Cali outside with either you or Kieran. You can walk the grounds while I talk with Keegan and Vash.” My fingers skimmed over one of the cashmere sweaters. “You didn’t think that part through, did you? I mean, when you invited Cali to come with us this weekend.”
“Sure I did, but your plan will work.”
Kieran and Vash knocked, and we invited them in. Both noticed I had changed, and when I looked at Sidelle, she wore the green dress I had admired earlier. Wow, that was fast. I’d love to have that power.
“My father arrived earlier than he planned,” Vash said, “so dinner will be served in a few minutes. He’s anxious to meet you, Zoe.” His eyes scanned the room. “Kieran told me the shortened version of you coming over today, and I already talked with my father and asked him not to discuss too much over dinner because of Cali.” He grinned. “Speaking of which, we’re here to escort you ladies to the dining hall.”
“I thought I heard voices.” Cali emerged from the bathroom and stopped dead in her tracks. Vash stared at her so intently I was sure an atomic bomb could’ve exploded, and he wouldn’t have noticed. Or maybe he would have, but he wouldn’t have cared. The only person he saw was her, wearing a blue and white striped skirt and a pink T-shirt. An instant later, he walked to her side and extended his arm to escort her to dinner. They continued to stare at each other as they walked out of the door and down the hall.
Kieran, Sidelle, and I looked at each other with wonder. The air swirled with emotion. Maybe that was where the expression “love in the air” was taken from. We had witnessed something spectacular.
“So, K,” I whispered. “Sidelle and I thought that after dinner you or her could take Cali for a walk outside or someplace so I can talk with Vash’s dad.”
“We won’t have to do that.” He peered around the doorframe to watch the lovebirds leave. “I’m pretty sure Vash will want to take her for that walk. Besides, Sidelle and I should both be with you when you talk with Keegan.”
I nodded. “Kieran, I’m worried about Shay. He hasn’t answered any of my texts today.” I checked my phone again. “Do you think something happened?”
“No. I’m sure he’s fine. The angels will let me know if something’s wrong. Don’t worry about it. Shay can take care of himself. He’s a good fighter for a Nephilim, but don’t ever tell him I told you that. He has a big enough head as it is.” He tugged on my hand. “Come on, let’s go eat. Let me know when you hear from him. Okay?”
“I will.”
We strolled out of the bedroom and followed Vash, Cali, and Sidelle down to the first floor, passing the grand foyer again. We made a left after the staircase and walked into a dimly lit hallway, which had floor-to-ceiling windows facing the backyard. On the adjacent walls hung more original nature paintings depicting wild animals and wooded scenes. We stopped in front of a thick oak door with an intricate wilderness scene carved into it. It was so beautiful and realistic I had the urge to run my fingers across its ornate surface.
Vash pushed the heavy door open and presented the enormous dining hall. The room was dominated by a huge oak table, long enough to seat at least thirty people.
Even though the room was large, it felt warm and inviting. Green, orange, and brown rugs and wallpaper stretched throughout the room, and tall, crystal vases overflowing with blooming flowers sat on the buffet table off in the corner. Antique chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and matching sconces lined the walls. The lighting they provided felt romantic but pleasant. The southern wall of the room was made entirely of windows that overlooked the backyard and the lake, providing a gorgeous view.
“I hope you like steak and potatoes,” Vash said. “That’s what the chef made.”
The heavy door opened, and a tall, muscular man with dark brown hair and eyes appeared in the archway. He wore a black, expensive three-piece suit over a crisp white shirt. His vest was open, the top button unfastened. So this was the Alpha. It was uncanny how much he resembled an older Vash. Then again, when he strode over and I saw him more closely, I realized he actually didn’t look all that much older than Vash. He could pass as an older brother.
“Hello. I’m Keegan,” he stated as he approached us. “Welcome to our home. I expect Vash has been a good host, and you have felt welcomed? Unfortunately, my wife, Lilli, and our other children will not be joining us for dinner tonight, but she will return home later, and you may meet her then.” His dark eyes slid between us, studying us. “I’m sorry I’m late. Work has been a bear lately. Come sit down and introduce yourselves ... please.” He waved a hand toward the high-backed oak chairs with mocha velvet cushions, while he took the seat at the head of the table. Vash sat to his right, Kieran on his left, and I sat next to Kieran. Sidelle took the chair on my other side, and Cali sat next to Vash, which seemed to make them both happy.
“Hi, Mr. Bellator. I’m Zoe.”
“Sidelle,” my fairy friend said with a nod.
Our host’s eyes moved to Cali and Vash. “Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Cali.”
His smile was warm. “No need for such formalities. Please call me Keegan. It’s been a while, Kieran. How are your parents?”
“They’re well, thanks for asking.”
Keegan relaxed against the back of his chair, seeming pleased. “We haven’t had such lovely young ladies at the dinner table in a long time. Most often it’s just my immediate family or the extended family. And when we all get together, it can be like a pack of dogs eating. No manners at all.” He shook his head. “Your well-mannered influence should make this meal a treat.”
Multiple servers waltzed in through a side door I hadn’t noticed before, carrying plates of Greek salads, a pile of sizzling meat, and mounds of red potatoes. I ate my salad and a few pieces of steak, but eventually I was so stuffed I could barely walk. After the hearty dinner, we moved to a room that was much cozier than the formal dining room. It was richly decorated in reds and browns, and I wondered if Keegan’s wife had done the decorating or if it had been professionally done. A floor-to-ceiling hearth with a mantle was the centerpiece of the room, and two brown leather couches sat before it. Behind each couch stood matching mahogany sofa tables, which held large red vases and lamps.
“I’m so full,” Cali said, patting her stomach. “Dinner was fantastic, but I need to walk around for a while. Could we go outside and look around?”
Vash shot out of his seat and extended his arm. “I’ll escort you if you’d like to take an evening stroll.” He looked to the rest of us. “Anyone else?”
This was perfect.
“I’ll pass. Thanks for offering,” I told him.
“I’ll skip it, too,” Sidelle said. “Too comfortable to exert myself right now.”
As Cali and Vash left the room, I heard Cali asking about the wolves and the potential danger of getting too close to them. I hid my smile. I didn’t hear Vash’s full response as they walked farther down the hall, but he said something about how the wolves wouldn’t bother them as long as he was with her. If she only knew how true that statement was.
Chapter Seven
Zoe
I waited for someone to speak ... then realized everyone was waiting for me. I squeezed Kieran’s hand for support, and he nodded encouragement. When I was ready, I looked Keegan squarely in the eyes and took a deep breath.
“I’m not sure how to say this, so I’m just going to come out with it.” I glanced at Sidelle, who nodded, so I faced Keegan again. “I’m the Redeemer who was prophesized. The Seraph angel, Grace, confirmed i
t last night. I’m not sure if you’ll believe me without any actual proof, and I can’t provide you with any evidence until I turn eighteen in a few months and receive Heaven’s Mark. I can only tell you who I am in hopes that you’ll trust I’m telling the truth. If you can’t, I guess we’ll have to wait until June, but that may be too late.”
When no one said anything, I leaned forward, determined. “Keegan, the world’s in trouble, and more bad things are happening. I’m afraid even now we may be too late. Evil has been spreading and running unchecked for a while. Too many countries are at war with each other; too many natural disasters have been happening, and the world is no longer safe with so many demons allowed to be loose on the streets causing all this.”
“I agree,” Keegan said. “My pack and the others around the world are doing what they can to curb the evil that’s spreading, but the demons outnumber us. We can only do so much. Trust me when I tell you we don’t want more evil in the world. Our goals are the same as yours.”
He stood and linked his hands behind his back, eyes on me. “It took great courage for you and your friends to come here today, and I commend you for doing so, even without proof. You’re taking a huge leap by telling me who you are. I believe you are the Redeemer. I can feel it deep within my bones and in my heart. Also, you’ve had protectors for many years, which means the angels must’ve known something. Otherwise, why send Kieran?” He looked at Sidelle and tilted his head. “And a Summer fairy.”
“You know I’m a fairy?” Sidelle asked. “How?” Her eyes flattened to slits.
“You smell like rain, pine trees, and wildflowers,” he said casually. “When I first entered the house this evening, I thought my wife had gone overboard with flowers and decorations. But the rain smell threw me off. It hasn’t rained here for days.” He shrugged. “So, I knew one of you ladies had to be the fairy.”
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