Night Angel (Angel Haven)

by Miller, Annette

  “Where are they?” she asked. “I haven’t seen any more like you. Are the rest of the guardians nearby?”

  “Yes. Once I was established here, the rest pulled back to await further instructions. I told them their clan had lost enough. I thought I’d be able to handle what was going on, but I was overconfident. Troyington holds all the cards for now. After I find the children, I’ll call them in, and we’ll conclude this situation to the satisfaction of all.”

  That sounded more than slightly ominous. “What could Bradford want with werewolf children?”

  “Troyington wants to become a shape-shifter to acquire more power in the business world. He needs their abilities. He could only get the children. Taking on adult werewolves is beyond even his men’s powers.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Let me help,” she said. “I’ve told you what I can do. I’ve got another advantage, too. Bradford likes me. I can get close to him and try to get you some information.”

  He held her hand tighter, giving emphasis to his words. “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger. But anything you can learn, I would be grateful to hear.”

  Karen grinned at him. “Please. I’ve fought some of the most powerful supervillains on the planet. I can handle this crowd. I’d better go inside.” She stood, slowly pulling her hand from his. “Bradford wants to show me around tomorrow. Good night, Guardian.”

  “Good night, Karen.”

  Her insides turned to jelly just as they had when Randall said her name. She stumbled across the threshold to her room. She flung herself on her bed, turning over to stare at the ceiling.

  “This gets worse all the time,” she mumbled. “I’ve got one guy who wants to hook up with me, one guy who makes me think indecent things, and a voice that belongs to a gargoyle and gives me goose bumps.” Her grip on her emotions was slipping more and more the longer she was here. She put a pillow over her face and screamed.

  Chapter Six

  “I believe I promised you a tour of the gardens,” Bradford said at breakfast.

  Karen nodded. “Yes, you did. I can’t wait to see them.” She cringed inwardly as she covered his hand with hers. After finding out Bradford had kidnapped children and was planning on hurting them or worse, she wanted no contact with him at all. But she had to keep up appearances so he wouldn’t suspect what she knew. “Is it a four season garden?”

  “I think so. I’m not good with flowers. All I know is my gardener keeps them full and eye-catching all year long,” he said. “I never see any blossoms in the winter, but I believe he put in some type of fancy grasses to keep it looking fresh even when it snows.”

  “I can’t wait to see them.” At least that much is true, she thought. She loved gardens and all kinds of flowers even though she personally never had any luck with them. Her father tended the gardens at Angel Haven. He always said she didn’t need luck with flowers, just patience, tenderness, and a whole lot of knowledge.

  They left through the same french doors they had before, heading off to their right. Karen gasped when she saw the gardens. A low brick wall surrounded the flowers that waved merrily in the bright sunshine. Red, gold, pink, purple, and blue all meshed together, their colors planted in harmony to each other and the area around them.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Karen said. “Your gardener does good work. Everything blends so well, it’s hard to tell where one section ends and another begins.” She leaned down to smell some of the blooms they were passing.

  A narrow, gray flagstone path wound its way through the bright blossoms. Bradford put his arm around her waist when they’d entered, stopping here and there so she could see everything, finally pausing to sit on a white stone bench, near a gurgling fountain. He scowled when he saw Cray approaching them.

  “Morning, Ms. Spraiker,” he said with a nod in Karen’s direction. “Mr. Troyington, we have a problem at the stables. Harmon says he needs you down there immediately.”

  “You have stables?” Karen asked. “I’d love to see them.”

  Cray gave a slight shake of his head.

  “Maybe you should stay here,” Bradford said, never taking his eyes from Cray. “I’m not sure what’s going on, and it might not be pretty.”

  “Maybe I can help.” Karen didn’t want to be left behind. Going with Bradford might help her understand what was going on at the mansion.

  “This isn’t a good time, ma’am,” Cray said.

  Bradford turned to her, concern in his eyes as he took her hand. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” She smiled at Bradford, trying to convince him to take her. She wasn’t going to get any answers if she couldn’t find out anything from the rest of his people.

  He nodded at her and squeezed her hand. “All right. Let’s go see what the trouble is.”

  The three of them strode down a slight hill to the stables. Harmon had Randall’s arm twisted behind his back, his thick arm wrapped around Randall’s neck. Randall was covered with dust, and the stable master was sporting a bleeding lip and a black eye.

  “Harmon,” Bradford barked. “What’re you doing?”

  “I’ve told this freak to stay away from my animals,” Harmon ground out. “Now he’s going to learn the hard way I mean what I say.”

  “Let him go.” Bradford demanded. “Now.”

  Harmon shoved Randall away from him. “Stay out of my stables or the next time you won’t walk away. Understood?”

  Randall glared at him, the tenseness in his arms belying the calm posture he adopted. He stepped toward Harmon, his right arm lifting a little as his hand balled.

  Bradford shoved Randall toward the door. “Get outside.” He turned to Karen. “This will only take a moment.” He motioned Cray to follow him.

  After Bradford left, Karen approached Harmon. “Do you take care of all the animals here?” she asked, gesturing at the twenty full stalls.

  “Yes. Only five belong to Mr. Troyington. The rest are all boarded here for his neighbors.” His eyes narrowed as he watched her go to the first horse and stroke its nose.

  “You do a great job. They all look in fine health.” Karen didn’t dare take her eyes from the horse. She knew she’d try to look outside to see what was happening with Randall and then they’d both be in trouble.

  Harmon’s posture relaxed a little. “They’re like my children. Mr. Troyington says I like them more than people.”

  “I guess you don’t like the others interfering out here,” she said, turning to watch him closely.

  He scowled. “No, I don’t. And I really don’t like Dupré being out here. He upsets my animals.”

  Why? she thought. How does he upset them? “Would it be all right, if when you’re here, I can come see them?” Karen asked. She petted the horse, feeling Harmon’s gaze penetrating her.

  Apparently satisfied by his scrutiny, he said, “Yes, but only when I’m here.”

  Bradford came in. “Everything’s all sorted out. Ready to continue our walk?” They headed outside, continuing on the same route they’d been on earlier.

  Karen linked her arm through his. “Absolutely. Mr. Harmon said I can come down to see the horses, but only when he’s there.”

  “He must trust you.” He sounded impressed. “Harmon lets no one near his children unless he has to.”

  They walked the grounds around the house. Jeffries stood on the drawing room porch as they drew closer. “Mr. Troyington, you have a business call.”

  He turned an apologetic smile to her. “Would you excuse me again? I’m sure this won’t take long.” He kissed the back of her hand.

  “Sure. I’ll wait for you out here.” She breathed a mental sigh of relief. A few minutes to herself was just what she needed to collect her thoughts.

  She resisted the urge to wipe her hand on her pants after he kissed it, smiling at him instead. After he’d gone, she heard angry voices coming from the side of the house. She crept forward, calling on her ability to hide herself from view. Cray stomp
ed away, and she peered around the corner to see Randall enter the wood shed. She dropped her invisibility and darted inside.

  She stopped short when she saw him. Randall leaned against the wall, the back of his shirt torn. She walked over to him and moved the fabric aside, her eyes widening when there was nothing there, just smooth, unblemished skin.

  “You’re completely healed,” she whispered.

  “I’m a fast healer.” He smiled at her. His eyes crinkled at the corners, giving him an impish look.

  Karen’s knees went wobbly. “Why do you let them do this to you?” she asked softly.

  “I thought our friend explained it to you,” he said, pain coloring his words. “Any sign of defiance on my part and the children will suffer.” He winced and rubbed his side. “Until the guardian’s charges are found, I’m stuck with Troyington’s abuse.”

  Karen crossed to him, laying her hand on his shoulder. She tried to ignore the hardness of his muscles, the heat that radiated from him. She swallowed audibly. She forced herself not to start kneading that shoulder, to relieve the tenseness she found there. She moved closer to him.

  “What—” She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice not quite so shaky. “What can I do to help you?”

  He straightened and took a small step nearer to her. “Keep Troyington happy. Do that and he’ll stay out of my way.”

  Karen’s mouth went dry. She hesitated before raising her hand to his jaw. She just stood there, staring at him, memorizing every line of his face.

  He captured her hand, placing it over his heart. “I know what the guardian told you about true love.”

  “Do you think he’s right?” she whispered. “Could we be soul mates?”

  “Anything’s possible.”

  She gazed at him. Even if she didn’t know about his ties to the fairy realm, she would’ve thought him magical. The wild blue-black hair, the hardness and perfection of his body, and those blue eyes that held a hint of something otherworldly. He smiled at her again, as if guessing her thoughts. She ran her hand over the planes of his chest and down his arm. He was always so warm, like he generated his own heat.

  What would happen, she thought, if I kissed him, right here, right now? I know what the guardian said, but no man has the right to look this tempting. Somebody, anybody, give me strength.

  Before her thoughts ran away with her, she asked, “What will we do when this is over?”

  “Whatever’s necessary.” He looked out the door. “You’d better get back. He’ll be looking for you.”

  Karen nodded, not trusting her weak voice any longer. Before she could stop herself, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of him in her arms. “Please be safe.”

  He pressed his cheek to the top of her head, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist. “They haven’t stopped me yet. Now, go.”

  Karen could feel her body tremble and awaken at his touch. The world felt alive when she was with him and she knew in that instant that he held her, she wanted him with as intensity that was building the longer he held her. She didn’t want to let him go and sensed he felt the same. She forced herself to step back. “Will I see you soon?”

  “Of course. We’re on the same property.” He grinned at her. “I’ll try to talk to you again.”

  He laid his hand on her cheek and moved a little closer to her. “You make me want to break all the rules I’m bound to,” he whispered. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”

  “Me, too,” she said. She leaned into his caress, wishing he could do more as her body began aching for him in rather intimate places. She finally pulled away and held on to the wall for a minute to make her knees stop quivering. She stumbled out the door, turning to get another look at him.

  A blackbird sitting on the roof of the shed grabbed her attention. Its call seemed to laugh at her, mocking her. It stared directly at her for a few more seconds before taking flight. She watched it go, then ran back to where Bradford had left her, taking great gulps of air to try to steady herself as the french doors opened.

  Bradford came out, smiling. “That was tedious. I hate to tell you this, but I have to go to New York City tomorrow and deal with a company crisis. Do you want to come with me?”

  “I think I’ll stay here. It’ll give me and Edna a chance to have a girls’ day.” Karen leaned into him. “And I’d like to explore the woods. Would you mind?”

  “Not a bit.” They headed back toward the gardens. “The woods have identifiable trails. The teachers from the town bring the children here for nature walks. As long as you stay on the marked paths, you should be fine.” He paused. “Will the two of you be all right?”

  “Sure,” she said. “We’ve got a whole house full of servants to help us. We’ll be fine.” And I’ve got a guardian and a sexy, southern man. I’ll be A-okay.

  ****

  “What has happened today to make you smile so?” the guardian asked when he arrived. He came closer to the balcony, part of his body visible through the foliage.

  She could feel the familiar burning on her cheeks as she remembered her day. “I got to see some horses,” she stammered.

  “Is that all?” His tone indicated he knew more of her day.

  “I talked to Randall today.” She stopped and chewed her lip. How much more should she say?

  “You can tell me anything, remember?” He reached out from the shadows to take her hand. “Randall has already told me a bit of what happened in the wood shed.”

  Her grip on his hand tightened. “He makes me feel—I don’t know, it’s indescribable.” She frowned, searching for the right words. “It’s like I’m hot and cold and then nervous, then not and then, kablooey, I explode.”

  The guardian actually laughed, his voice sounding like rocks falling down a cliff. “I know exactly what you mean. You’ve just described the feelings of true love.”

  “That wasn’t a very good description. But he makes me feel so...” she paused, “emotional.” She stared at his hand, trying to make sense of everything she said and felt. Not going to happen, she thought. “I don’t like losing control of my emotions.”

  “It’s okay to give in to a little lost control occasionally. Would it make you feel better to know you do the same to him?” He still sounded amused.

  “Really?” Karen thought about that for a minute. It was comforting to know he felt the same things she did. “Then you and I were right when we talked last and Randall and I are supposed to be together.”

  “I would say that’s a reasonable assumption,” he agreed, giving her hand a squeeze.

  “I feel like we’re being watched, though, and not just by human eyes. This is getting way out of control.” She thought about the bird on the shed. It really had felt like it was watching her. “Tomorrow, Bradford’s going to the city on business. I’m hoping I can talk to Randall again without his goons busting in.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Troyington’s eyes are everywhere. Randall is rarely left alone. I’ve already told you what will happen if Troyington finds out.”

  “I know. But I can’t turn my back on you guys when you’re trying to save children.” She sighed. “I don’t remember fairy tales being this complicated.”

  “You don’t know the ones I know.”

  Karen looked at the hand holding hers. “Does Randall know you’re putting the moves on me?”

  He laughed again. “Yes. We have no secrets. He says I don’t have a chance. I knew this.” His voice turned serious. “You’ve already lost your heart. No man but your soul mate has a chance to win you.”

  Karen laid her forehead on his hand, thankful for the rocky coolness of his skin. “I’m glad you know what’s going on. Today when he smiled at me, I was tempted to throw him down right there. I could feel how much he wanted to kiss me, and I know I wanted to kiss him.” She raised her head. “But I remembered what you said about love’s first kiss. I don’t want to jump the gun or anything, but somet
hing needs to happen soon before I go crazy.”

  He tightened his grip on her hand. “Be strong a little longer. I may have a lead on where the children are. They’re being moved to somewhere on the estate. If he’s bringing them closer, he and his scientist, Dr. Strathmore, have had a breakthrough.”

  Karen sat up straighter. “I’ll walk around the estate tomorrow and see if I can find anything.”

  “Please be careful.”

  She grinned. “Always. Besides, these guys around here couldn’t catch me even if they tried.” She stood, pulling her hand from him. “I’d better get some rest.” She paused at the door to her room. She looked at the tree where he hid himself. “When do I get to see the rest of you?”

  “When the time is right and not before.”

  She sighed and shook her head. “I forgot that annoying quality of fairy tales. You get a lot of cryptic answers. Good night, Guardian.”

  “Good night, Karen.”

  She stopped before going in and watched as a huge silhouette sprung from the top of the tree, the wings stretching out to blend with the darkness.

  Chapter Seven

  Karen wandered the grounds after an early breakfast, the sun barely topping the trees around the estate. Bradford had left before she got downstairs, and Edna was nowhere to be found. He’d been insistent she stay on the trails in the woods. She smiled. The more interesting things were usually found off the beaten path.

  I hope Cray and Harmon are busy elsewhere today.

  Leaves and twigs crunched under her feet as the trees closed in around her. Sunlight poked holes through the colorful canopy over her head, and birds chirped to each other. She heard crackling and saw a squirrel sitting on a branch eating something it held in its tiny paws. She sighed and wished her thoughts were as peaceful as the area around her. She slowed her steps as voices drifted her way.

  Her heart pounded against her ribs as Randall’s voice reached her. “What else did the water nixies say?”