FALL (The Senses)

by Paterson, Cindy

  “Yeah.” And she would become a prisoner to Waleron’s demands.

  She picked up the phone.

  “Where are you?”

  “In bed. Where else?” She kept her tone short, trying to avoid any further pain by acting nonchalant while inside she was a tornado of emotions. She hated him for being so cold and treating her with disdain. But when she heard his husky voice or felt his touch, she hated herself for falling prey to it. She hated her body wrapping around him and devouring every morsel he left her with. And they were scrapes. He never gave more than that.

  “Is Xamien near?”

  She huffed; if he only knew. “Yes. The guest room next to Jedrik’s.”

  She pictured him giving an abrupt nod. “I’ll be there tomorrow morning before you leave.”

  Of course he would. He wanted to make certain she was following orders. “Whatever. Why are you calling so late?”

  Silence. He never answered her questions. She went to hang up when he called her name. “Delara?”

  She could hear his breathing, the steady inhale then exhale; it paused for a second too long and hers matched it.

  “Despite what you might believe, Delara, I…I miss you.” He didn’t wait for a response, not that she had one. She heard the distinct click and then he was gone.

  For several minutes, she sat holding the phone, shocked at his words. Confused by them and angry too. She wondered if there was a catch to them. Did he want her to give in and meekly go off to Spain? Was it to get her to stop arguing the issue? Or had he really missed her?

  Sometimes, she felt as if a cement block was tied to her ankles, keeping her anchored to Waleron. The weight was so familiar now that cutting the chain would be like severing her legs. She’d hated herself. Hated whom she’d become because of her love for a man who no longer wanted her.

  But when she left the Talde and him last year, she found an inkling of herself that she’d lost. She could feel it growing, that sexy, mischievous woman who had spirit and fight. This time, no matter what Waleron or Tarek or anyone else did or said, she was holding onto her. She was going to fight for what she needed and right now that was revenge on Tarek.

  “Kitten?”

  “Have you ever been in love, Xamien?” In all the times they’d been together, he never spoke of other women he’d been with and she never spoke of other men. It was their unspoken rule. It kept what they were doing more impersonal, she guessed.

  “No. Infatuated maybe and it was a long time ago.”

  “What was she like?”

  “It’s a story that has no place here, Kitten.”

  “How long ago?”

  She heard him sigh. “Sweetness, it was a long, long time ago when my brother and I were young and foolish.”

  “Brother? You had a brother?”

  “Yes, still do. Although, he doesn’t classify us as brothers anymore.”

  “I’m sorry. That must be hard.” She wondered if she’d met him. Most likely not considering it was rare the Taldes from across the ocean ventured here.

  “Kitten, you have no idea how hard. Now what about some sleep?” Xamien said.

  Delara nodded and then remembered he was not lying next to her. She kept forgetting that they weren’t in Spain at his house, laying curled up together after he’d made her body release into a thousand particles. “Will you sing?” On occasion just before she nodded off, he’d curl up close to her, his hand resting on her stomach and he’d sing to her.

  “And what do I get in return, Kitten? Tonight I don’t even have you to hold in my arms.”

  “Name your price.”

  “Dangerous.”

  Yes, it was with Xamien. He had all kinds of ideas that made her want to run screaming, but still had her coming back for more.

  “The horses. Remember what I told you?”

  Damn him. She’d been expecting some sexual want of Xamien’s, never this. Xamien had been trying to get her on one of his horses for years. She was terrified of them and refused to go anywhere near the massive beasts. “I remember. Fine. Next time I’m there.”

  “That might be tomorrow, you realize.”

  “Like hell.”

  “Close your eyes, Kitten.”

  Only when she finally shut her eyes, did Xamien begin to sing.

  Chapter 5

  Xamien leapt out of bed the moment he heard loud voices. “Jesus, Kitten. Two days in a row?” He threw on jeans and a white T-shirt then vaulted for the door with disheveled hair, bare feet, and a brain still in the fog of REM sleep. He ran down the stairs to the front foyer.

  God, they’re irascible love was going to cause them both to self-destruct. He noticed the handprint on Waleron’s face and winced. Delara striking unprovoked was unlikely; however being around Waleron might make her react irrationally.

  Waleron’s eyes were ice shards. Motionless and unyielding as he glared at Delara, his hands clenched at his sides and his muscles twitching in his jaw. Xamien figured he was walking on a tight rope by intervening, but he was a damn good mediator and this situation was in desperate need of one.

  Xamien stepped forward. “Waleron what the—”

  “Stay out of it,” Waleron ordered without even glancing his way.

  “What’s with him this morning?”

  “He came to make certain I was going to the airport. Even took the liberty of packing me a bag. I told him I wasn’t going.”

  “Come on, Kitten. I’m so looking forward to the horses. And I’m warning you, my limit is up.”

  The front door banged against the wall letting in a cold gust of air, then it slammed again as Ryker came in. He stopped abruptly, staring at the three of them. Xamien had said few words to the guy, but he knew the story behind Ryker’s haunted eyes. His wife Hannah had been killed by Rayne’s guardian slash husband, a real fucker of a bastard who wanted to do some experimenting with Senses. Ryker had been locked in the sub-basement for nearly a year dealing with his rage issues.

  “No sign of Tarek. Two GQs, one Long Neck, and a Pest down. Lost one human,” Ryker stated, his face expressionless. He rubbed his jaw as if the gruff stubble was irritating him. His dark brows were drawn together and his strongly defined nose twitched. Something was bothering him and Xamien’s guess was that he was pissed about losing a human to a CWO.

  “Any Lilacs?” Waleron asked. Still hoping for a trace of his nemesis Jasmine, no doubt. The bitch had stolen Delara and Waleron’s daughter Rayne the day she was born, and Delara had gone twenty years believing their baby had died. It wasn’t until last year that Delara discovered Rayne was alive. Waleron lost it when he found out Delara had hidden her pregnancy from him. He lost it even more when he found out Rayne was his daughter. Rayne was raised by Jasmine’s asshole accomplice. It was only last year that the Lilac tried to trade Rayne for Waleron. When she failed, Jasmine disappeared.

  “No. Damien is on his way back. Ask him. He hunted the north with Jedrik. Something about sunglasses,” Ryker said, then walked past them.

  Pests were CWOs that wore sunglasses to hide their yellow eyes. Their saliva was laced with something that made your skin itch for days. Spain had very few of them, the area being more burdened with the vamps and GQs.

  Delara was leaning against the wall, arms crossed and her hips sort of pushed forward. A sexy as hell stance that had him shifting uneasily. Damn jeans; he threw them on commando. He knew she was contemplating how she was going to get Waleron to change his mind.

  “Guess it wouldn’t help any if I came over there and threw you over my shoulder and ran you back downstairs?”

  She immediately changed her posture, standing up straight.

  Waleron met his eyes and Xamien felt the Taldeburu’s anger. “Xamien, this is personal.”

  Xamien never liked being told what to do and even if he and Delara had no strings, he’d protect her with his life. “So is my job.”

  “Then you should have been at the airport by now.” Waleron glared at Delara. “Go to t
he car. The jet is ready.”

  “Fuck. You,” Delara said. Xamien noticed the twitch in Waleron’s cheek. Rumor was that his mother hated swearing and Waleron rarely did it unless he was livid.

  “I’m not leaving, Waleron. You can’t force me.”

  “This isn’t a fight you can win,” Xamien warned. “Let me take you to Spain, Kitten.”

  “I’m your Taldeburu regardless of the fact that I have slept with you.” Xamien noticed her flinch. “So, yes you will do as I say or I will put you in DS and you won’t have a choice.”

  “You’re not giving me a choice now! You’re using your authority as my Taldeburu when this is personal. If this was anyone else, you’d let them stay and fight. You wouldn’t hesitate because you know that this is what needs to be done.”

  “Delara, just do as I tell you.” Waleron ran his hand over his shaved head.

  Xamien stepped forward and stood beside Delara. “Waleron, come on—” Oh fuck, Waleron was furious and it was directed at him. Xamien grunted as the blast of energy surged into him and he crashed backwards into the wall, knocking a picture off the hangers to bounce off his head before hitting the floor.

  “Xamien.”

  “I have to get out of here soon before I do something I regret.” The resentment flowed through him for several seconds and then he took a quick calming breath. It wouldn’t help for both of them to go off the handle. A battle had its time and place and this was definitely not one of them.

  “Feel better?” Delara asked glaring at Waleron while coming to Xamien’s side and shoving the picture and broken glass away.

  Waleron calmed his voice. “Delara, I cannot let you be harmed. Understand why I must do this.” He hesitated then added, “Please, Maitagarri.”

  “I get it. Your oath to the Senses. But I never asked for your damn oath.”

  Waleron shook his head, his jaw tight. “I cannot take the risk.”

  Xamien came to his feet.

  “Stop suffocating me, damn it!” Delara exploded. Before Xamien could grab her arm, she ran at Waleron, her fists plowing into his chest. “I can’t breathe! You’re all around me and I can’t fuckin’ get free! Damn it just let me go. Treat me like a Senses and let me live.”

  Xamien noticed the unease in Waleron’s eyes as he grabbed Delara’s forearms to try and stop her assault without doing her harm. A difficult task when she was hell bent on sending Waleron into his grave with her fists. Xamien understood her frustration and she was right from what he’d witnessed; Waleron overprotected Delara. If she were any other Senses, Waleron’s decision would be far different.

  “You want to be let go, Delara?” Waleron’s voice was unrecognizable. A graveled, hollowed sound that caused shivers to spread across Xamien’s skin like dominos. He yanked Delara back from Waleron, who continued yelling.

  “You want to leave the Talde? My Talde? Cause that’s what I’m fighting here. That’s what the council wants. If you go to Spain, I get to keep my Taldeburu. You stay and they take it away. I’m a liability around you, it seems.”

  Jesus Christ. No wonder he was adamant on Delara leaving Toronto. It was not only to get her away from Tarek but to keep the most important thing in his life—his Taldeburu. They all knew it was what he lived for.

  “Waleron, I…why didn’t you tell me?”

  Xamien knew exactly why—Waleron’s pride was all wrapped up in his Taldeburu. To have it questioned was breaking him down and if Delara hadn’t pushed him, he’d have never told her.

  “They are satisfied with your temporary stay in Spain. If I can prove myself, then they will reconsider. I don’t want you here anymore, Delara. So do as you’re told, so I can at least have one thing in my life I care about.”

  Xamien swore beneath his breath.

  Waleron nodded to him. “Get her out of here. Take her to Europe.”

  “Damn, Waleron, that was harsh.”

  “She’ll forgive me. I need her gone.”

  “Doubt it,” Xamien replied. “She’s suffered too much already.”

  Waleron’s chin abruptly rose as he met Xamien’s eyes. Unwavering, like a panther watching its prey. “Do you think I don’t know that? You did not witness it. I did! You did not see her struggle to take her next breath as she lay dying on the side of the road. Her broken bones were from Tarek snapping them with his bare hands. And swellings and bruises covered every inch of her body. I witnessed it. I watched her suffer and I will do everything I can to make certain it never happens again. Even if it means her hating me. I lose my Taldeburu, I can’t protect her.”

  Xamien hesitated. He’d been referring to Delara suffering from Waleron, not Tarek, but he wasn’t about to point that out. Waleron suffered more than anyone and for him to witness the woman he loved so brutally beaten…well it was something a man should never have to live with. He gave an abrupt nod.

  Waleron took two steps then stopped. “Let her see Abigail. It may do them both good, but do not mention anything until you are in Spain. I do not need Damien overhearing and losing his sanity when I need him to hunt Tarek.”

  Waleron had no clue that Delara had already seen the witch-vamp a few months ago. Abby was holding her own, although he knew she hated what she’d become. Last year, when she fought the transition into a vamp, had been a painful time emotionally and physically. She almost died and the baby she was carrying, Damien’s child after a one-night stand, didn’t make it. Damien, the women-hater Senses had been forced to stay with her, locked away, attempting to stop Abby’s turning. He failed. Abby miscarried and became a vamp. By Senses law the witch should’ve been executed for drinking a vamp’s blood. Waleron let everyone believe he did just that, but instead he brought Abby to Spain to hide her away.

  What concerned Xamien was what would happen when a pissed off Senses Tracker and a depressed witch-vamp put their heads together.

  “I want to talk to the Wraiths. To council.” Delara tried to pull free from Xamien’s grip, but he held tight. Xamien was uncertain which way this fight was going to blow and since Delara’s emotions were on high-power, Xamien was keeping her in check.

  “Waleron! Take me to council. I have the right to have a say in this.”

  Waleron ignored her, which made her temperature rise. There was sorrow mixed with fear and anger all being stirred in a pot. Xamien had to keep it from boiling over.

  Waleron talked to Xamien. “No one except the Talde and the Wraiths know she is going to Spain, but still do not let her out of your sight. I will track Tarek and find out what he is up to.” Waleron took one last haunted look at Delara then Traced, disappearing in a cloud of mist.

  “Damn it, let me go!” Delara dug her heels into the carpet then pushed the heel of her hand towards Xamien’s chin. Foolish girl. After so many years of sleeping with him, she should know that she couldn’t defeat him. He gripped both her wrists together. He loved it when she was helpless. She usually loved it too.

  “We need to go Delara.” He leaned into her and kissed the bare spot on her neck. “I promise I will reveal my secrets to my famous lasagna.”

  “No. I want to speak to the council. They can’t do that.”

  Xamien sighed. He thought the pasta might do it. She’d been asking him for years for his mother’s recipe. She left him no choice. She was going to be pissed. But the hellion needed a lesson in submission. With one sweep, he picked her up in his arms and threw her over his shoulder.

  “Xamien!” she screamed, her fists pounding into his back.

  He swatted her ass. “I told you once before, I don’t take no for an answer. Ever.”

  “Damn it, Xamien. We’re not at your place. It doesn’t count.”

  True, she knew his rules, but he was making an exception. He swung the front door open, intending on dumping her into the car when he met Jedrik and Damien. Jesus, not good.

  Delara was kicking and screaming at him while his hand lay seductively over her ass. Suddenly, she stopped fighting and he knew she sensed both men
. “Put me down, Xamien.”

  He slid her down in front of him, but refused to let her go and rested his hands on her hips. It was too late to hide the sexual connotation. By the way Jedrik was gaping at them, looking from one to the other, the guy had a damn good idea that there was much more to their relationship than he knew about.

  “Sass?” Jedrik’s eyes moved to the placement of Xamien’s hands on her hips.

  “Get your hands off me.” She attempted to move away, but Xamien tightened his grip.

  “Stay still,” he growled. She’d know that tone; it was one she learned to never refuse. Well, not true. It only worked in bed.

  Damien scoffed and shook his head before pushing past them. The guy was a time bomb and Xamien suspected when Damien found out Abby was alive, he’d detonate.

  “What’s going on? I thought…frig Sass…you’ve met Xamien before? Frig, you’ve met Xamien before.” It was a statement. “You’ve been screwing him?” A question that he already knew the answer too. Despite Jedrik being a Visionary, he’d sense the sexual heat between them. “Since when?”

  “Jedrik, it’s nothing. I didn’t tell you because…well Xamien and I…”

  “Really? Nothing? Please, continue, Kitten. I’d like to hear.”

  “Xamien please, you know I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “How long, Sass?”

  “Since Trinity,” she admitted. Her muscles tightened and Xamien felt a shiver run across her body; it was one of dread, not of ecstasy.

  Xamien saw Jedrik’s realization dawn and Jedrik looked up, meeting his eyes. “She goes to you when she disappears.”

  Xamien remained silent. It was her decision to keep their sexual relationship a secret. He had no qualms about anyone knowing, even Waleron. The man was a fool for letting this woman go. Well, he couldn’t actually say the guy let her go—Waleron was still holding onto her with everything he had; he just refused to admit it and kept her at arm’s length.

  “Yes, some of the time,” Delara answered for him.

  “Damn, Sass. Waleron is going to have a fit when he finds out. He was pissed about you screwing Edan and Liam, but this…a Taldeburu he brought here to protect you. And for years?”