“Oh please, don’t be silly. Are you staying? I’m finished here.”
Smiling, she turned toward the cabin. The last thing she caught was his bewildered expression. Fine, let him be confused, or better yet, think she didn’t care. Either one would work. He’d have to crawl before she opened her heart again.
Talaith turned her back on him, and Kailen’s tentative facade fell. Ten feet ahead, she made another turn following the trail, and he sighed, his heartbeat slowing. For a man like him, she was the most seductive and unbalancing of combinations: beautiful and exotic, inexperience wrapped in the body of a responsive, sexually awakened woman. Another moment in her arms, one more taste of her sweet skin, and he would’ve taken her, then ruined her life with his cynicism. Her lavender eyes, brimming with innocence and shining with the light of desire, had looked at him with undiluted trust. She’d freely offered herself. And what little trace of decency still existed in him rose to her rescue. He was no lover for someone like Talaith. She needed a giver, an uncomplicated male happy to share his life and love with her.
Tripping over his feet, Kailen walked backward. His shoulders found a tree trunk, and he leaned against it, anchoring his weight with both palms.
The path downhill curved once more. Scattered patches of dense fog swallowed Talaith’s lovely body and platinum hair. Only the memory of her warmth lingered.
Here ends my dream.
A stabbing ache cut through his chest. He let it pass over him. Pain was an old friend; they were used to each other. Temporary relief and distraction, however fleeting, would always be found in the arms of strangers. A fact to keep ever present when the temptation called Talaith traveled with him to New York.
The unexpected interlude between them had presented him the truth, the depth of his desire. The shock had also wiped away the momentary insanity. To stand firm on his decision, he had to keep his distance. It was the only way.
CHAPTER FOUR
It’s good to be back. The portal opened, and the familiar majesty of the Catskills, surrounding lush pines, and side view of the mansion filled Kailen with a profound sense of belonging and peace. The property wasn’t technically his, yet he loved and cared for it just as much. He’d lived here for long years; the occupants had become the family he’d lost to the Tír na nÓg.
Talaith didn’t share his feelings. She literally ran out of the fading circle as if demons nipped at her heels. Kailen didn’t try to stop her. The sorceress had been casually distant since their intimate moment in the forest had ended on such an awkward note. Her comments had been minimal and she’d spoken only when spoken to, moved when requested, and did nothing spontaneous or extra. The present stiff body language called for space and distance. So be it. If she wanted privacy, he was more than happy to oblige. Her ongoing coolness served his intentions well.
She traversed Soren’s garden—now an explosion of summer blooms—neared the solarium’s glass door as James, fully recovered from his wounds, opened it before she touched the handle.
Surprised, Kailen paused midstep. The usually taciturn werefox rarely smiled or sought conversation with others. Breaking his pattern, he beamed, the epitome of happiness as he spoke to her.
What the hell is going on? Talaith’s demeanor had flipped to a sunny disposition; gone was the icy maiden of a moment ago. She regaled James with pleasant-sounding responses. Kailen couldn’t hear the conversation between the two, but the effusive exchange couldn’t be denied.
James’s enthusiasm seemed genuine. Talaith’s, on the other hand, he questioned.
To boot, when James moved aside and she entered the solarium, the pair allowed the door to swing closed. Nearly in his face!
Fury singed the inside of his ears. Talaith could play all the games she wanted, but James answered to Kailen, and if the werefox wanted to keep his job, he’d better straighten out his priorities.
Growling under his breath, he yanked the door open and stomped on Soren’s treasured acacia hardwood floors, glass panels vibrating in response to his footfalls.
The startled duo fell silent. James went pale. Scratching the back of his neck, he faced Kailen.
“Sir…ah. Kailen… I d-didn’t see you. Were you in the portal with Miss Talaith?”
“Hrrmm.” Still growling, Kailen whisked past the two. “Please, show Miss Talaith to her old chambers, then come see me. Is Soren home?”
“Yes. Yes. He’s in the strategy room.”
“Good. Meet me there.”
James remained abashed, but as Kailen turned into the main hallway, he could swear a tiny smirk flashed across her face.
Kudos to Talaith, she’d read him correctly. She’d been sweet to James, and he’d reacted like a jealous troglodyte. Did she believe it had been easy to push her away in the woods? That had been one of the least selfish acts in his life. In that moment, his only concern had been her well-being.
Didn’t matter. If she truly wanted James, he wouldn’t interfere. The shifter was a loyal and gentle soul. James’s spirit retained the sense of wonder Kailen had lost ages ago. He’d never break Talaith’s heart with cynicism as Kailen would.
One boundary had to be clearly defined before this continued: the werefox was off-limits, unless the girl’s attraction for James was real. On this, Kailen would insist.
Huffing a loud breath, he marched up the stairs and strode into the strategy room, the Westerberg’s command center for North America.
The Titanian stopped clacking on his keyboard and raised his eyes over the triple-monitors computer setup. “Hey, friend. Welcome back.”
Standing behind Soren, Maya smiled.
“My apologies for not meeting you in the garden. I was finishing up some stuff.” Interlacing his hands, Soren cracked his fingers. “I told James to wait in the conservatory for your arrival.”
“So, that’s why…” he mumbled. “The kid isn’t a total loss, yet.”
“What? I didn’t catch that.”
“Nonsensical mutterings.” Kailen waved his palm. “Call it teleporting lag.”
“Lag, you? Please.” Soren pushed back from his desk. “But if you’d rather keep whatever it is to yourself, I understand.”
Kailen shrugged as he advanced.
“Hey, Maya. Lovely as always.”
Maya sent him an air kiss. “Charmer. Khnurn texted that you were bringing Talaith. Is she here?”
“James is showing her to her rooms. I suppose she’ll join us soon.”
He walked around Soren’s large desk and picked up two official-looking documents from a tall pile of papers, barely registering what was written on them. He then glanced at the computer screens. Each monitor displayed a regional map of the country with red dots in several locations. Some were clustered, some were scattered. He had no idea what any of this meant. Whatever data Soren had been compiling, Kailen was out of the loop.
“I’m glad to see you out of the wheelchair, my friend. Any residual weakness or discomfort?”
“None. I’m back to my usual speed. Right, sötnos?” Soren smiled at Maya.
Maya’s enchanting laughter filled the room. “And chomping at the bit with impatience.”
“Tell me, what’s all this?” Kailen pointed at the monitors and documents.
Soren stood. “Believe it or not, the red dots on the screens indicate an unexplained rash of cemetery violations, or desecrations, depending on your point of view. And these…” He tapped a finger on a separate pile of documents. “Are copies of notarized reports and complaints filed by family members to their local authorities.”
“Are the dots related to the creation of female drones?”
“If our theory of human body parts snatched and used at random is correct, then yes,” Soren said.
Kailen shuddered. “Chilling and macabre, reminiscent of the old voodoo practice. The Haitian priests spread fear among the slaves with fake ceremonies, lots of drumbeats, and empty threats. They had no magic. Daemons do.” He eyed the screens again. The m
aps painted a peculiar picture. Three towns in North Carolina: Asheville, and Weaverville tucked in the western Blue Ridge Mountains, and the somewhat distant village of Hillsborough showed the most activity. The remaining red dots were spread throughout rural areas in the US.
“I’ve been gone three days. This is human data from all over the nation. How did you collect so much information?”
“Woody is a brilliant geek. His latest program taps into each and every human network in cyberspace, including intelligence agencies and the dark web. And, when you least expect it, help comes from the unlikeliest of sources. One clue was all I needed to follow a trail.”
Grinning, Soren held Maya’s hand, then moved to an arrangement of leather club chairs and a coffee table by the western windows. He pulled one chair out for Maya and one for himself.
“Take a load off, Kailen. We have much to discuss.”
“Obviously.” He sat. “Can’t wait to hear this.”
“First on the agenda is the celebration in Alsvåg. My mother and Beatrix refuse to cooperate with me. Target date is about two months from now. Gives them enough time to prepare.”
“Soren wanted to hold the gala in the New York mansion,” Maya said.
“And?” Kailen settled back in his chair, ready for a convoluted explanation. If the serene ladies were involved, anything was possible.
“In a few words, the scrolls can’t be moved. Furthermore, Beatrix is of the opinion, and Mother concurs, that Alsvåg is best suited for such an event.”
“That’s checkmate.” Kailen gave a short laugh.
“Will you come? Roald and Ginny’s union will be honored as well. Rings will be presented, new seals made, the works.” Soren’s expression was earnest.
“I’d be honored, my friend.”
“Excellent. There’ll be music and dancing, so bring a date. Talaith may be available.”
“Soren, that’s—”
“Did someone call my name?” Talaith’s voice came from the door.
Maya made a sound of delight and rushed to hug her friend. Kailen whipped around. His breath hitched as his jaw sagged.
Talaith had replaced her almost threadbare, everyday robe with a bright violet gown, accentuating her alabaster skin and lavender eyes. Instead of braids, her loose hair was a platinum cascade. The sparkling mass fell past her delicate shoulders and swirled down to rest on her small, pert breasts. His fingertips tingled with the remembered sensation of her firm nipple between them. A storm of happiness, arousal, and need throttled him. His throat constricted, and his soul protested at the distance between them.
He heard nothing, saw nothing except her. His thoughts flew: Look at me, Talaith. I demand you look at me.
Whether the message got through or not, he couldn’t tell, because she didn’t acknowledge him as her gaze lowered from Maya toward the floor.
“Nice to see you, Talaith,” Soren said.
Kailen was grateful for the Titanian’s deep voice. Shifting his weight, he turned his back to the door and Talaith, the movement hiding his sudden erection.
One more breath and his self-possession would take over.
When both women reached the sitting area, his facade was up.
“Do you have instructions for me, Kailen?”
Damn. So much for having his wits back. James had been waiting at the door, but the splendor of the new Talaith had consumed all of Kailen’s attention.
He shook his head. “Don’t give it a thought, James. Whatever it was, I forgot. It couldn’t have been that important.”
Liar. He’d selfishly intended to task the werefox with some errand for triggering his jealousy. Right now, his efforts were better spent adjusting to this unexpected seductress.
Color returned to the werefox’s face. “Since you don’t need me, I’ll go join Woody and Zola downstairs. We’ll have dinner ready at eight, as usual.”
James sent a last adoring glance to the sorceress, then took off.
Kailen pulled out a chair for Talaith. As she sat, the scent of lavender wafted to his nostrils, wreaking new havoc in his system.
Where had the old, quiet, and plain Talaith gone? This woman tore his every honorable intention to pieces. She had only to open her fingers and the bits would fly with the breeze blowing through the windows.
“Kailen? Were you listening?” Soren asked.
“I beg your pardon. What?”
“We were discussing a trip to the city.”
“Where? When?”
Soren eyed him, bemused. Talaith played with a cuticle. Maya, however… She had a knowing expression.
Retreating within himself, he shrugged. “Okay. Tell me again.”
“You asked earlier about collecting human data.” Soren dropped his head against the backrest. “Remember Patty, the wounded werepuma from the downtown bar?”
“Of course. I thought we’d lose her.”
“Yes. As it turns out, she was very close to Oscar, the human bar owner.”
“I can guess where this is going.”
Soren nodded. “This Oscar was a decent fellow. He took Patty in when her mother abandoned her. He loved her unconditionally, raised her like his own daughter. When the first shift manifested, he assisted her through it and, rather than run for the hills terrified by the magic, kept her secret.”
“In that case, Oscar knows all about the supernatural world,” Kailen said.
“Most likely,” Maya intervened. “Oscar went on vacation and the female drone showed up at the bar, claiming to be his cousin. Ostensibly, he’d asked her to manage the business while away.”
“Has Oscar surfaced?”
“Sadly, no,” Maya said. “We fear he may have been a victim of a failed drone experiment.”
“So, how…”
“Oscar’s nephew, Officer Buddy Johnson, works with the Weaverville police department.” Maya pointed at a red cluster on a screen map. “He reached out to Patty after Oscar’s mutilated remains were discovered. The findings were so bizarre, they used DNA tests to confirm the victim’s identity. He asked if his uncle had enemies in New York, if he’d joined a satanic cult or a gang of some kind, things like that. Officer Johnson was our unexpected tip.”
“Hold on. Johnson asks about his dead uncle. Okay. How does the cemetery information come in? The crimes are unrelated.”
“Kismet?” Maya chewed her lower lip. “During the conversation, Buddy explained how Oscar’s remains were discovered. A grieving family came to the Weaverville cemetery to visit the grave of a recently deceased relative. The poor people freaked out. The ground had been dug up, and human body parts had been tossed here and there. Management at the main office couldn’t locate the attendant. It was all so gruesome. The robbers left a mess behind. The family was, is, extremely distraught. Soren and Woody jumped on the information and searched through the reports. What we read confirms our suspicions. This isn’t the first time the Weaverville cemetery has been vandalized. The production of female drones is ongoing.”
“Sounds like amateur sloppiness, or someone who doesn’t care about the repercussions is sending us a message. This nephew must know. About us, our world, I mean.”
Soren and Maya glanced at each other. “He hasn’t asked. And Patty’s been careful.”
Kailen pinched the bridge of his nose. A sudden headache pounded against his temples. “And this trip to the city is to…do what?”
“Search the site. Maybe we missed something.” Maya cocked her head toward Talaith. “Our memory seeker is back.”
What had seemed like an attractive idea in Germany had now lost its luster. The description of Oscar’s remains and the location, and Talaith performing a memory search within evil territory, death magic, and who knows what else scared him to death.
“Are you okay with this?” he asked her.
Talaith’s eyelids flickered. “It’s what I do, Kailen. What I’ve prepared for.”
Her serenity and acceptance unnerved him. “You do remember Dubtach�
�s on earth, right?”
“So, he did escape,” Soren interrupted. “What else did you find?”
Right about now, a full bottle of ibuprofen might not be enough. He could barely make out Soren’s features through the haze of an unbearable migraine.
“There’s more,” he whispered. “Mage Oras walks among us.”
“The mage?” Soren stiffened. “The one who… How is this happening? They were all banished. The allies ensured the way out was locked forever. I was there. The magic was solid.”
Kailen sighed. “I meant to tell you, but I got sidetracked with Oscar’s situation. We have an added complication. Brysys is back on earth.”
“Stop right there.” Soren raised a finger. “Brysys is dead.”
“Wrong. She’s very much alive.”
“Believe him,” Talaith added. “I saw her in a scrying vision. She’s found refuge in the Scottish Highlands. The village is close to Eachann’s home.”
Soren raked his hair. “We’re in Armageddon. Gustaf and Fritiof must be informed immediately, Adalheidis too. Oh, gods, Eachann. What’re we going to do with Eachann?”
“Will someone explain?” Maya complained.
“Since I had a glimpse in the scrying waters, I can retrace my steps.” Talaith’s sweet voice deepened to the contralto she used during her visions. She grasped Maya’s hand.
“We have done this before. Join me in the journey, Simurgh lady. Come. See the past.”
Maya closed her eyes. “Yes.”
Goose bumps flared all over Kailen’s skin as Talaith continued speaking deep in the memory. He’d give anything to travel with Talaith, to see that mystical road where images and emotions of a life long gone still lived. He was male, and as such, that power wasn’t his.
“Observe,” Talaith intoned. “Sibling envy and lies struck the loving heart. Despair gripped the soul. Betrayal blinded the vampire. Ancient covenants were shattered. Pain, raging anger fueled the monster’s rise. Roaring flames covered the land. Humans and supernaturals suffered. Then, the light of kindness and empathy. Adalheidis, soothed and calmed the beast. Her touch will be needed again.”
The Last Danann (Titanian Chronicles, #2) Page 11
