He paused at the massive entrance that marked the boundary of the vaulted living room. “No more running, kitten. Not without me. Tate and Jade know the property’s boundaries and can take you out if you need to stretch, but nothing more.”
“So, what? I’m grounded? Under lock and key?”
His lips quirked just enough to prove she’d yet again proven her kitten status, but the gray in his eyes deepened. “Protected. Always.” His gaze took a leisurely trip down and up her body before meeting her stare head-on. “Take today and rest. Tomorrow we train.”
Chapter Seven
When Priest had said he’d put a call out to other families in the area, Katy hadn’t thought he’d meant all of them. At least sixty people milled inside the house, on the high balcony and the open gorge below, the general mood of the occasion somewhere between a Sunday afternoon family reunion and boot camp. At least half of them were Nanna’s age or older—Nanna’s age being 125 instead of the seventy-five she’d represented herself as at her last birthday party. Another shocker she’d discovered while taking a lazy trek across Priest’s sizable property and dallying along the lake’s edge. Apparently, most people in her clan lived to as old as 175, barring untimely deaths. And the usual ailments that brought the singura low, like cancer and heart disease, didn’t stand a chance against a Volán magic-imbued body.
Back in the Adirondack chair on the balcony, Katy propped her feet on the rail and traded her open laptop for her phone on the side table. As it had since she’d settled onto her perch, her gaze drifted to Priest striding from the cluster of healers in his garden to the warriors gathering to spar. Learning he was seventy-seven years old and would likely live well into his third century had been the biggest shock of all. Nanna had laughed herself silly after sharing the news, but Katy still couldn’t wrap her head around it. He didn’t look a day over thirty-five at most. Strong and blisteringly virile. An alpha who not only took what he wanted, but had the confidence and experience to make sure he got it in short order.
At the base of the long wood staircase that led to the open land below, a few of the women gathered in the seer’s circle giggled, her Nanna’s familiar laugh one of them. As had been the case since they’d set foot in the house, Jade was at her side.
Two peas in a pod.
Actually, everyone here moved with a familiar connectedness. Like a common thread ran through each one of them despite their varied demeanors and appearances.
Everyone but Katy, anyway.
Irritated with the fresh blast of resentment and self-pity, she let the print reader on her phone do its thing and thumbed through her contacts. Maybe she didn’t have a place with this group yet, but she wasn’t without skills and connections—even if they weren’t of the magical variety.
She punched in David’s number and shifted her laptop screen so the family names Nanna and Priest had shared the night before were easier to see in the bright midmorning sunshine. Despite only two years between them and similar social circles, David was the only friend Katy shared with her brother—a happy accident borne of Alek begging a fellow criminal justice major to show his little sister around campus when Alek was too busy chasing tail to do it himself.
Only two rings in, David’s bold voice cut through the line. “Okay, I know I jacked up, but I got sidetracked with some big tests at school. I swear to God, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Katy fought back a smile. She’d told Alek that David was a bad choice as far as apartment sitters went, but they hadn’t exactly had a whole lot of choices hauling butt out of town as fast as they had. “Actually, I wasn’t calling about the mail, but now that you’ve confessed, you’re screwed.”
“Oh.” Movement sounded through the line and the moderate background strains of some bizarre funk song disappeared. “Well, now that I’ve screwed the pooch on that one, what’s up? You and Alek find the dude you were looking for?”
As if he’d heard David’s question, Priest chose that exact second to look up and lock stares with Katy.
But he couldn’t have heard. Could he? Unless he had super duper cat hearing or something. Definitely something she’d need to ping Nanna about later. Preferably when they were well out of earshot. “We found him.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Alek said you needed him to find something, but he never said what.”
No, and neither of them ever would. Not that David would believe a thing they said even if they did spill. “Just a family deal. After what happened to Mom and Dad, we needed to track down some relatives and share the news.” She absently scrolled to the top of the Word document she’d put together. “Speaking of which, I was wondering if you could reach out to some of your techno-genius contacts and see if they could help us with some online searches.”
“What? You can’t navigate Google?” His snicker was cut short with what sounded suspiciously like an apple. Or one giant Kit Kat. With David, the only thing that was a given was that there was food either in his hand or within reaching distance. Funny, considering he was beanpole thin.
“Not that kind of search, smart-ass. I meant like genealogy, maybe. Or however you go about finding people you’ve lost contact with.”
“But I thought you found the guy?”
“We found this guy. Turns out there are some other folks who’d want to know about Mom and Dad, but we don’t have any contacts for them. I thought you might be able to help.”
Another crunch followed, but there was enough silence with it to promise David was working on an angle...because David always had an angle where she was concerned. One she’d fought from the first day she’d met him. “So, if I help you out, will you reconsider a date when you get back?”
In the distance, Priest’s head snapped up so fast he nearly got beaned in the head by a man he was training with.
Guess that answered the hearing thing.
For a second, she was tempted to play it up and say yes just to make Priest squirm, but even if she’d been willing to string David along—which she absolutely wasn’t—the idea of agreeing sat wrong on her tongue. “I’ve told you a million times, you don’t want to go there with me. I don’t know my Supernatural from my Game of Thrones and you are nothing if not the pop culture guru. You need a woman with a healthy Netflix addiction. I don’t even have cable.”
David harrumphed. “You are a little weird where TV’s concerned.”
Not really. She just couldn’t find any desire to sit still and watch anything. Outside, she could sit for hours. Behind a little box in a stifling room? Not so much. “So, will you do it?”
“Sure, why not?” Typical David. Why stress over anything when you could just shrug things off and tuck them away for assessment later? “Can you email ’em to me?”
Down in the gorge, Priest stepped away from the man he’d easily captured in a choke hold and moved in beside him to demonstrate an alternate move.
“Yep,” Katy said. Though the more she watched Priest move, the harder it was to keep her mind on track. “Already have them loaded up in a Word doc. Any idea how long something like this would take?”
“I dunno. A week. Maybe two?”
Not exactly the answer she was after, but better than nothing. “And you’ll actually go clean out our mailbox before the day’s over?”
“I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry. The last time you two went out of town, all either of you got was junk mail.”
Actually, that wasn’t all they got. Until she’d moved into a two-bedroom apartment with her brother, she’d had no clue how many workout and martial arts publications there were in this world. “I like my things where they are. Full mailboxes are a neon sign for burglars.”
“Right. Responsible adult behavior. I get it.” Clearly, he was done with the call because the music he’d turned down grew in volume. “Shoot me your names and I’ll ge
t some people to take a look.”
A few more niceties and a little slapstick banter later, she wrapped up the call, closed her laptop and meandered down the stairs. Much as she’d felt like an outsider with those who’d gathered, sitting all alone and stewing in self-pity wasn’t her style. She might not have magic or a house of her own, but she was a scientist. Or would be. Someday. After her parents’ killer was dead and she could get back to finishing her degree. In the meantime, she could focus on having an open mind and feed her curiosity with the people around her.
Nanna spied her before she reached the bottom step and waved her over to the seer group. Those who’d gathered in the loosely formed circle were a mix of old and young, but even the older participants had a youthful vitality that defied the norm she’d grown up with. Now that she saw it in such abundance, she couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t questioned Nanna’s energy and vigor compared to the other people who lived at her retirement village.
Not bothering to rise from her cross-legged place on the ground, Naomi snagged Katy’s hand as soon as she was in reaching distance. “Come sit with us, nahina. I want you to meet everyone.”
Priest’s deep voice sounded behind Katy a second before his hands settled on her waist and stopped her from lowering to the ground. “She can meet everyone after training.”
Her heart stuttered then took off at an uncomfortable jog, the surprise of his arrival mingling with the same sensory overload that came anytime he was within ten feet of her.
Every gaze in the group zeroed in on his familiar touch at her hips.
Arms shaking, she squeezed his wrists, intent on breaking the connection—and hopefully the curious stares that went with it—but he wouldn’t budge. “You still haven’t explained this whole training business. Hard to engage or remember what you’re training for when you don’t know why you’re doing it to start with.”
“Our clan was all but dormant for twenty years,” he said. “It took us another twenty to find and start consolidating families nearby and new Volán are coming into their magic every day. You’d be surprised how much clan knowledge has been lost in that time.”
“Priest started the training days a few years ago,” Jade explained from her place beside Nanna. “The more people moved nearby, the less he could handle training one-on-one on his own. This way the elders we’ve still got share their knowledge and the clan stays connected.”
“Like they used to be.” The solemnity in Naomi’s voice drew nods from some of the older-looking people in the circle.
“Everyone learns the basics of each house, the advanced skills of their own and then trains for self-defense with the warriors for at least a few hours.” As if his touch hadn’t seemed possessive enough, he slid one arm around her waist, pulled her back flush against his front and swept those gathered around with a calm but commanding look. “Speaking of which, your trainers are ready. Everyone pair up.”
Jade was the fastest to her feet, but no one in the group seemed to dread the physical activity ahead. And gauging from what she’d seen of the sparring in the early hours, any training with the warriors would be very physical.
Katy twisted out of his hold, though it took some doing, both logistically and emotionally. No matter how much her brain railed at the idea of his open and familiar touch, once her body got next to his it had zero inclination to let go. “Why does everyone work with the warriors? What if they don’t like that kind of thing?”
He noted the extra distance she’d put between them and grinned. “Aside from exercise and self-defense being good for them?”
Well, there was that. But still... “Everyone ought to be able to choose what works for them. And not all self-defense has to be physical.” Hence, the reason she had the pepper spray on her key chain.
He stalked toward her. “True. But warriors are meant for protection. Sparring with those they’re sworn to protect builds a deeper bond.”
Realizing she’d matched his every step forward with a backward one of her own, she forced herself to stand tall and pressed her shoulders back. High priest or not, she wasn’t going to take whatever he dished out like everyone else seemed inclined to do. “So, everyone else just does what you say?”
“Healthy bonds work both ways.” As if to prove his point, he wrapped his arms low around her waist and her own lifted to clutch his shoulders. An action resulting in a balancing reaction. “Where the warriors feel protectiveness, the others receive safety. Comfort in knowing they’re cared for and watched over.”
The voices of those gathered remained steady behind them, a mix of laughter and encouraging commands offered by those doing the training. The leaves in the treetops above them whispered on the soft spring breeze and the sun blanketed everything around them in a peaceful glow.
But it all dimmed in the moment. Paled in comparison to whatever pushed and pulled between them. However they’d started this conversation, she was fairly certain they weren’t talking about sparring anymore.
And it scared the ever-loving heck right out of her.
She pushed against his shoulders and stepped out of his arms. “I don’t know anything about fighting or self-defense.”
“Then it’s time you learned.”
Oh, no. Making an ass out of herself in front of her brother would be bad enough. Doing it with at least five dozen strangers was an absolute no-go. “I thought you said I’d be safe with you.”
“When you’re with me, yes. But what about when you’re not?” She’d swear it was his cat that smiled back at her, the predator inside him openly pleased its prey had opted to play. “Unless you’re saying you want me with you all the time. I’d be fine with that arrangement.”
Damn.
So much for appealing to his male ego.
She crossed her arms and studied those that had paired off. Everyone except her brother was engaged in everything from what looked like entry-level explanations to maneuvers more fitting of a dojang. Alek wove in between each couple, carefully examining each move and offering advice like he’d been with these people for years. “I’m not sure I’d be any good at it.” And if there was one thing she didn’t think her self-confidence could handle it was being anything other than exceptional under Priest’s watchful gaze. Not with all the other uncertainties in her life piling up.
He moved in beside her, watching those who practiced even as his voice rumbled in temptation. “I suspect my mihara would be good at whatever she sets her mind to.”
The statement ripped her attention away from the group and straight to him. “You keep using that word. What’s it mean?”
“I’ll tell you when it’s time.”
“I think now’s the time.”
His gaze dropped to her arms still tightly banded across her chest and his lips curled in a wry smile. “No. Not yet.” He stepped back and motioned her toward the lake in the distance. “Come with me. We’ll run first and warm you up.”
“You know good and well I already ran today.” Because he’d followed her as she’d slipped out of the house again this morning, blatantly making it known her attempts at stealth were abysmal.
“I also know you want to join in with everyone else, but don’t have a clue where to start. So, we’ll run first, take the edge off, then work together. Alone and away from everyone else.” He cocked an arrogant eyebrow. “Unless you’re afraid?”
That son of a bitch.
As chess plays went it was a brilliant taunt. The one nudge practically guaranteed to make her swan dive into just about any situation. Though, she’d be damned if she didn’t get her own dig in before she leapt. “Fine. We’ll run.” She started toward the path that wound toward the lake, her long strides crunching in the dregs of winter leaves. “But if it’s all the same with you, I’d rather spend time with your cat.”
She couldn’t hear him move behind her, but the nearness of his unru
ffled voice promised he was no more than a few steps back. “Not many people trust my cat more than they trust me.”
“Oh, I don’t trust him either,” she commented over one shoulder without breaking stride. “I just think he’s prettier than you.”
Chapter Eight
Watching Kateri in motion was a thing of beauty. Long legs, blond hair shining in the sun, and efficient, graceful movements.
Stunning.
Priest easily kept pace behind her, his panther’s paws near silent. No doubt, she’d meant her preference for his cat over him as a taunt to even the emotional balance between them, but he’d actually been grateful. When shifted, the darkness held minimal sway. A definite plus considering the multitude of graphic and animalistic urges he’d fought where she was concerned the last few days.
Ahead, the well-worn path to the lake veered to the right.
Priest bounded ahead of her, welcoming the extra stretch in his shoulders and flanks as he poured on the steam and shot away from the path.
Her rhythm faltered then halted. “Hey, where are you going?”
Turning, Priest kept his place well off the trail and waited.
“The path is this way.”
Oh, yes. Naomi was right about her granddaughter. She wanted to follow him. Wanted to explore and color outside the lines, but somewhere along the way had learned that wasn’t allowed. That it was either unhealthy or unwise.
A shame, too, because he sensed inside her an astonishing amount of passion. How he’d walked away from her yesterday morning had been nothing short of a miracle, the sheer power of her response to only his arms around her strong enough to silence even the darkness for once.
Whatever the cause for the rigid structure that controlled her life, he was prepared to fight it. To annihilate whatever barriers caged the woman inside and show her how sweet life felt when lived outside any pre-defined paths.
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