“We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Considering how quickly Jarvis and Chase both recovered from injuries, either Hunter’s ability wasn’t as strong or he’d been hurt far worse than Jarvis had been. But it wasn’t any of her business. Nor would it be Chase’s, after she got him back home where he belonged and away from all of this. She concentrated on choking down her sandwich.
After a time, her lack of sleep caught up with her and she drifted off to sleep.
“Hey, Sis.”
The words were barely more than a whisper, but they jerked Gwen out of a sound sleep. She lurched upright, her neck protesting the sudden movement. The small pain was nothing in comparison to the relief to see her brother awake and looking around sleepily.
“How long have I been out?”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “About thirty-six hours. I’ve been here about twenty-four of that.”
Jake’s chair was empty, so they had the room to themselves for now.
She brushed the hair back off his forehead. “How are you feeling? Are you in pain?”
“Not bad, considering.” He arched his head to look around. “Where’s Jarvis? I want to thank him for saving my life. He killed the guy who did this to me.”
Shock jarred through her. “What? He said you’d been hurt with a sword. I assumed it was an accident.” Despite Jarvis’s promise to tell her the truth, he’d still managed to skirt revealing all of the facts.
“Don’t be mad at him, Sis. He made sure I was someplace safe during the battle.” He blanched. “Damn it, I’m probably not supposed to tell you any of this.”
Then he conveniently closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.
Gwen wanted to punch something—or better yet, somebody. Her brother had been dangerously close to a battle? What had Jarvis been thinking? Accident be damned, he’d had no right to drag Chase into his ugly world. If half of what he’d told her about the Others and their world was true, it was the stuff of nightmares.
Well, that was all over with. Once Chase was up and around, the two of them would go back to the farm and forget all about this disaster. If Chase needed martial arts, she’d find a regular place for him to study.
It was time to get the doctor. The sooner he released her brother, the sooner they could get down to rebuilding their lives without Jarvis and company. As the man had said over and over again, he wasn’t a forever kind of guy.
Even if he had said he loved her. It had taken all her strength not to admit her own powerful feelings for him when he’d whispered those words, especially when his voice had cracked in pain. But what kind of love was built on lies and almost got her brother killed?
No, she was going to put all of this behind her. She was strong. She could do it. One step at a time, one day at a time, she’d go forward and ignore the fact that her heart was bleeding pain with each beat it took.
“Doctor, can you come now? Chase was awake and talking.”
When the physician came out, she stood out of the way and prayed for the strength to get through the days ahead.
Earlier, Jake had driven Gwen’s truck to headquarters so that she could bring Chase back to the farm when Doc Crosby released him. A short time ago, Jake had called to give Jarvis a heads-up that they were on their way home. It was good to hear that Chase had checked out with flying colors. Although he’d have to be careful in the locker room at school to avoid awkward questions until the scar faded, he’d been given a clean bill of health.
That was damn good. He shook his head at something else Jake had told him. Gwen had evidently hovered near her brother the whole time to keep him from being left alone with anyone who might continue to indoctrinate him about becoming one of them. Did she think they were some kind of cult, out to recruit new members?
Given the genetic makeup of Paladins, they were better off within the Regents’ organization than they were out on their own. Especially when they were approaching the end of their humanity. But if Gwen hadn’t wanted to hear about the good parts of being a Paladin, she sure wouldn’t have wanted to hear how her brother’s life was preordained to end.
Jarvis moved farther back into the woods when headlights flashed at the top of the driveway. Gwen had made it clear that he was persona non grata in her life, but he reserved the right to watch over her.
Once the Moselys settled for the night, and if all was quiet, he’d head back to headquarters to check the progress on his special project. He’d had several of the Paladins tracking the GPS location of the far end of the tunnel where Hunter had been tortured. The Kalith who’d attacked Chase had definitely come from that same direction. So far they found at least two openings to the outside that would need to be closed off.
So for now, he was operating under the assumption that no one was safe until they knew where all the Kalith were gaining access to the surrounding countryside. Jarvis was reluctant to leave Gwen and Chase alone and unprotected, especially at night, until the Paladins plugged that hole in their defenses.
Gwen’s truck pulled up in front of the barn and stopped. The bright security lamps illuminated her face, sparking off her fiery red hair. He could almost feel its warmth, and his forefinger and thumb rubbed against each other as he remembered its silky feel. He was too far away to see her freckles clearly, but he knew they were there. That he’d never finished counting them was another regret he’d have to live with.
Chase winced a little as he got out of the truck, but he straightened right up and walked toward the house, shaking off his sister’s attempt to fuss over him. Jarvis grinned, figuring the boy had endured enough of that in the lab. Then Chase paused on the porch step and looked straight out at the exact spot where Jarvis stood in the shadows of the trees. When Gwen noticed what he was doing, she frowned and looked around herself, then urged her brother to get inside.
Had the boy somehow sensed his presence?
It didn’t matter. They were home and safe for now. He eased back into the darkness and prepared to walk away from the one bright spot he’d ever known.
Chapter 17
Gwen was staring out the kitchen window and considering her options when Chase crossed the room to stand beside her. “It’s been two days, Sis. Don’t you think it’s time we talked?”
She wasn’t ready, but evidently he was. “We don’t need to rush anything.”
“Come on, Gwen. You’re the one who’s always told me to face up to problems before they controlled your life.”
Chase’s big hands settled gently on her shoulders. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the small connection. He’d stayed home from school for the past two days, giving credence to the excuse that he’d had emergency surgery while visiting friends out of town. She hated the lies upon lies, but they’d needed a plausible story to cover his absence and the new scar.
They’d yet to figure out what kind of fictional surgery would have left a massive scar across his abdomen that would have healed up completely within such a short time, so Dr. Crosby had given Chase a note to excuse him from P.E. and football for several more days.
Her brother was right. They needed to talk about so many things. She patted his hand on her shoulder before stepping away from the window.
“Have a seat while I fix us a snack. I do better on a full stomach.” Which was another lie. She’d been off her feed since Jake’s phone call telling her that Chase had been hurt.
She stuck a package of popcorn in the microwave and punched in the cooking time. While she waited for it to pop, she poured each of them a tall glass of iced tea. The four minutes of popping time whizzed by much too quickly.
She was going to have to face the shambles her life had become and decide what she could salvage…and what she couldn’t. As the final seconds ticked down on the microwave, she fought the need to rub her chest to soothe the pain that had taken up residence there.
“You want extra salt or butter on the popcorn?”
Chase took the bowl from her. “I don’t want t
he damned popcorn at all, Gwen. What I want is to talk about what happened and what happens next.”
He pulled a chair out and gave her a gentle push to make her sit down. Then he pushed his own seat close enough so that they were knee to knee.
Feeling cornered, she clenched her hands into fists and snapped, “So talk.”
Chase leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and looking far older than his eighteen years. “Gwen, it wasn’t Jarvis’s fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault.”
Somebody had to be responsible for Chase’s…death. God, just the thought of it sent a shudder right through her soul.
She dug her nails into her legs. “You died, Chase. You actually died. How can that be no one’s fault?”
“But I didn’t stay that way. Is my being a Paladin more than you can handle? I know the healing thing was hard enough for you to deal with.”
“You’re my brother and I love you, no matter what special abilities you have. And you’re not a Paladin. Not yet.” Not ever if she could stop it.
“You’re lying to yourself, Sis. You and I both know I don’t function very well out in the normal world.” His voice cracked and he abruptly sat back and took a long drink out of his glass. “You have no idea how good it felt to be in that gym with all those guys who were just like me. I didn’t have to worry about being so big that I’d hurt someone when we worked out.” He paused for a few seconds.
“Not only that, my natural ability to fight was something to be admired, not feared. At school, no one even wants to line up opposite me on team scrimmages. I would’ve quit football, but the physical contact helped me maintain some control.”
The level of pain in his voice scared her. How much had he been hiding from her all this time? She wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold the rest of the world at bay, as she had when he was younger. But he was too grown-up now to accept that from her.
“Chase, I don’t know what to say. There must be something else we can do to make it easier for you.”
He squared his shoulders, a warning that she wasn’t going to like what was coming next. “There is something, Gwen. I’m going to become a Paladin, with all that means. I’ve talked to Jake and set up a training schedule around school and my chores. When I can’t get to the Center, I’ll practice here, but that’s only temporary. Once I graduate, I’ll be moving into the barracks with the other guys.”
She’d thought her heart was already shattered. But as the tears started to burn down her face, she wondered if she’d ever feel whole again.
“It’s not the kind of future I wanted for you, Chase.”
His eyes softened as he snagged a paper towel and gave it to her. “I know. But the good news is that Jarvis said the Regents will pay for any schooling I want to pursue.”
She scrubbed her face dry, the need to cry replaced by a flare of temper. “I didn’t think you were interested in college, Chase. I’ve been trying without success to talk you into it for the past two years. Now, just because Jarvis is the one to suggest it, you’ll do whatever he wants?”
“You can’t blame all of this on Jarvis and Jake, Gwen. I’ve said all along that I’d consider school when I knew better what I wanted to do with my life, where I fit in. Well, now I know. I’m a Paladin.”
When she didn’t immediately respond, he went on. “Yes, that means I’ll be serving along the barrier to keep our world safe. That’s a good thing to be doing. If you’d seen those crazies, you’d be glad to know there are guys like Jarvis and Jake who know how to stop them. I want to be part of that so badly I can taste it. Did you know that I can feel the barrier from here? It calls to me, especially when it’s about to go down.”
No, she hadn’t known that—but she had to try one more time. “But you’re going to spend your life with a sword in your hand, either being killed or else killing.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “When it’s necessary, yes. But at least I’m well suited for the job because of my DNA. The rest of the time, I can do other things. For example, Jake knows computers inside and out and designs computer games to sell. The Regents need geologists, doctors, medics, all kinds of professions, and I get to choose.
“And be honest: if I wanted to sign up for special training in the regular military, you wouldn’t be fighting it, would you? And they fight for a living, especially these days.”
“Maybe you’re right.” As much as she hated to admit it, he was. Men from their family had fought in every war. “You’ve grown up, Chase. I guess I have to get used to that, and to you making your own decisions.”
Then she pointed at him to let him know she was serious. “But if your grades slip, we’ll revisit the issue. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am. Clear as glass.” His relieved grin reminded her how young he still was, regardless of his new veneer of maturity.
“Okay. Well, I guess we’ve settled that.”
When she started to stand up, Chase blocked her way. “We may have settled my future, but we still need to talk about yours.”
“Oh no you don’t. This is something I’m not ready to talk about.”
He didn’t budge. “Turnabout is fair play, Sis. You’ve had your say about my decision. I want equal time.”
She was so not in the mood for this, but she recognized the stubborn tilt to his chin. It was one feature they had in common.
“Speak, then—but I won’t promise to listen.”
“You’re letting your pride get in the way with Jarvis. I don’t want you to end up here alone, and that’s what’s going to happen if you don’t get your head on straight.”
She shoved free and stood up. “Jarvis lied to me, and those lies got you killed, Chase! How do you expect me to forget that?”
“I don’t. I expect you to be smart enough to understand it, though. He’s eating himself alive with guilt, and that’s not fair. It’s his duty to recruit new Paladins and train them. There aren’t nearly enough of us to go around, and you can’t fault him for doing his job. And he risked everything to bring you to me. Jake says they’re still waiting to see what the Regents are going to do to him for that breach in security.”
Chase backed away, giving her a little room to breathe. “Jarvis is an honorable man. We both know that about him. And he tried not to lie to you any more than he absolutely had to. It’s so obvious that he has strong feelings for you. Did you know he’s spent the last three nights out there in the woods just to keep you safe? And that’s after spending all day trying to figure out how the Others are getting loose.”
She reached for the paper towel again. “Yeah, I knew.”
That admission took some of the wind out of his sails. “You did?”
“Do you think I haven’t noticed you sneaking off after you’re supposed to be in bed? Not to mention that my dogs are spending more time in the woods than they do on the porch?”
It was time to walk out on the ice and hope it didn’t crack beneath her feet. “But I said some awful things to him, Chase. The kind of things a man would have a hard time forgiving.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I haven’t been able to forgive myself for saying them. Looking back, all the signs were there about what he was up to. I just didn’t want to admit it because I didn’t want him to lure you away from me, but also because I couldn’t stand the thought of him never coming back.”
“Why is that, Gwen? And no one was trying to steal me from you. We’re family and always will be, but you need to give Jarvis a chance. He made you happy. You know he did.”
She shook her head. “Anything else I have to say on the subject, I need to say to Jarvis directly. Do you know if he’s coming tonight, or can you find out?”
“Yeah, Jake said Jarvis is insisting on coming every night while they plug the holes where the Others have been getting out. They finished exploring the tunnel where Hunter was caught and determined its GPS location. Now they’re using dynamite to close it off. Jake wanted me to tell you no
t to worry. They’ll make sure they’ve covered all the possible escape routes.”
He frowned. “They’re beginning to think my father was killed in these same woods, but that the tunnel closed when the ground shifted in an earthquake. It probably opened up the same way.”
“It seriously creeps me out to know that.” She carried the popcorn bowl over to the counter. “Looks like I’ll be camping in the woods tonight, so you stick close to the house.”
“Afraid the Others will get me?”
She grinned. “No, I’ve got plans for Jarvis that might traumatize your innocent young eyes.”
Chase cleared his throat. “Uh, I’d wish you good luck with that, but I suspect you won’t need it.” He quickly disappeared upstairs.
Yeah, he was all grown-up all right—except when it came to his sister wanting to seduce the one man she’d ever loved.
Checking the time, she figured she had about three hours’ time to prepare for her mission. She’d use all the ammunition she had at hand—a bubble bath, sexy underwear, and a home-cooked meal in a picnic basket. Once she’d marshaled all her forces, she’d head out to the woods and set her trap.
She was going to stage an all-out attack on Jarvis Donahue. With any luck, the man wouldn’t know what hit him until it was too late.
It felt good to smile for the first time in days.
The sun burned bright red as it sank behind the hills. Jarvis stopped to enjoy the view for a few seconds before continuing down the trail. He wanted to set up his makeshift camp before darkness blanketed the woods. The straps of his backpack were biting into his shoulders, but he could put up with the discomfort long enough to reach the clearing where he’d been spending his nights.
Tonight would be the last one he needed to stand guard over Gwen’s farm. Yesterday, a crew of Paladins had finally finished surveying the system of tunnels where Hunter had been tortured. Today they’d swarmed over the woods to locate any openings big enough for an Other to slither through. He lit his own share of fuses, taking satisfaction in blowing their tunnels all to hell. Gwen was safe now, but he’d been unable to stay away. Tonight would be his good-bye.
Darkness Unknown Page 24
