Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  Zohn frowned at Chevalier, “Don’t care?”

  “That’s right. I don’t care,” he said, and got up and walked out of the council chambers. Chevalier headed down to the barracks. The bedroom, the palace, and the stables reminded him too much of her. He was relieved to know she was ok, but he felt so much anger at how she left for two months without even a note.

  When he got to the barracks, he turned into the training hall and was able to take some aggression out on the punching bag and the target dummy.

  Chapter 29 - Welcomed

  Emily was glad she had the chance to drive back to Council City alone. She needed time to think about Chevalier’s reaction to her and what she’d done. She was deep in thought when the red Lamborghini pulled up alongside her Jeep.

  Emily jumped when she heard a honk and looked over at the smiling faces of Mark and Kyle. She pulled over into the median and ran into Kyle’s arms.

  “I missed you,” she said.

  “Never do that again,” Kyle said, lifting her up briefly.

  “I had to,” Emily told him, and looked for understanding in his eyes.

  “I know, and he’ll be ok,” Kyle said, and touched her cheek softly.

  “Ready!” Mark yelled, and ran to Emily, picking her up in a hug.

  “Ugh, too tight,” Emily groaned, and wrapped her arms around him. “I missed you two so much.”

  “Then don’t go running off again,” Mark said, and sat her down.

  “I’ll try, it wasn’t like I just ran off for fun.”

  “Yeah, but that little harebrained scheme was dangerous,” Mark told her, concerned.

  “Well, it worked. Now if I can just get Chevalier to forgive me,” Emily said, and dropped her eyes to the road.

  Kyle frowned, “Wait… your scent…”

  Emily sighed and walked back toward the Jeep.

  “I have to get back,” Mark said, and got into his car. He peeled out and soon disappeared into the horizon.

  “Shall we go?” Emily asked.

  Kyle took the keys from her, “I’m driving, you drive like a grandma.”

  “I do not!” Emily yelled, and hit him playfully. “You just drive like a maniac and if you total my Jeep, I’m going to be mad.”

  They both climbed into the Jeep for the long drive to Council City. They sat silently for a while before Kyle finally spoke.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “About what? What I’ve been doing for 2 months, or how much Chev hates me?”

  “He doesn’t hate you. He’s just mad. You had us all really worried,” Kyle told her.

  “I know… but I had to,” Emily said, and sighed. “I guess if he leaves me, I’ll just go buy a house and move out.”

  “Trust me, he’s not going to leave you.”

  “He is mad, Kyle, like… really mad.”

  “Yes he is, but he’s been mad before,” Kyle said, and glanced at her. “How are you feeling anyway?”

  “Tired”

  “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me where you’ve been or what you’ve been doing?”

  “Not where I’ve been, no… as for what I’ve been doing… well… other than spending a month in the bathroom and a day in the hospital, I’ve just been reading and doing a lot of thinking.”

  “Hospital?”

  “I lost it.”

  “Em, I’m so sorry.”

  Emily fought back the tears and grabbed a book from her bag, “I’ve been looking through this Winchester book.”

  Kyle glanced at the book, “The one you got from the Valle boat?”

  “Yeah, I kept thinking there had to be more descendants of Ulrich and Elizabeth than just me, but that’s a pretty straight family tree,” Emily said, and tossed the book into the backseat.

  “If there were any other line, one of the heku would have found it by now.”

  “Yeah, but I had to look.” Emily leaned over and laid her head against Kyle’s leg. He brushed the hair away from her shoulder.

  Emily sat up when she felt the car leave the Interstate, “Where are we going?”

  “We’re getting a hotel for the night. You’re exhausted,” Kyle explained, and pulled up at a Sheridan.

  Emily just nodded and stepped out of the car. She followed Kyle into the hotel while the valet parked the Jeep. Kyle paid for the penthouse, and they headed up to it in the elevator. They stepped out into the large suite and Kyle tipped the man who brought her bags up.

  Emily sat down on the couch and pulled a blanket over her legs.

  “Hungry?” Kyle asked, and handed her the menu.

  Emily took the menu and looked through it, “Just some soup.”

  Kyle frowned, “Are you sure you’re ok?”

  “I’m fine, just soup though,” she said, and started to surf through the channels on the TV while Kyle ordered room service.

  He finished ordering and stepped into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. He pulled out his phone and dialed Quinn.

  “Quinn here.”

  “It’s Kyle.”

  “Oh good, how is the trip?”

  “It’s ok. She’s tired though, so we’re going to stay a night in a hotel,” Kyle told him.

  “I forget about that,” Quinn laughed.

  “I also wanted to give him some time. She’s convinced he’s going to leave her.”

  “He doesn’t know what he’s doing. Maybe an extra night away is good. He’s been in the guard’s training room for hours,” Quinn explained.

  “I think she may be sick,” Kyle whispered, and glanced toward the door. “She’s also lost the baby.”

  “I know. I felt that it is best if she takes that up with Chevalier, it’s not my place.”

  “He didn’t notice her scent?”

  Quinn sighed, “He didn’t get close enough to.”

  “Call if we need to drag this out. I can always drive slower.”

  “Just get her back here. We’ll all be more comfortable.”

  Kyle grinned, “We’ll be back tomorrow then.”

  Kyle hung up the phone right as someone knocked on the door. He went and got Emily’s soup, and handed it to her.

  “Thanks,” she said, and started to eat.

  Kyle sat down beside her, “What were you going to do if the factions didn’t accept your peace agreement?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Emily said, and sipped slowly at the soup.

  “What can I do to convince you to take me with you if you decide to disappear?” Kyle asked, and watched her.

  “Then it wouldn’t be disappearing, would it?”

  “We could disappear together.”

  “I don’t need a protector,” Emily told him, and sat the bowl down when she was finished.

  “I wasn’t going to come as a protector,” he said, and sat his hand on her leg.

  “I know.”

  Kyle picked her hand up and kissed it softly.

  “I’ll behave as long as you are with Chevalier, but the second he backs off, you’re mine.” Kyle grinned.

  “We’d be better for each other,” Emily said, and leaned against him, putting her head on his shoulder.

  “How so?”

  “Two bad tempers are a bad match. You’re calm, and you make me calm.”

  Kyle laughed, “You really have me all wrong. Do you know that? I have one hell of a temper.”

  “Not one I’ve seen in ten years,” Emily said, and settled on a TV show about the history of vampires.

  Kyle flipped off the TV and picked Emily up, setting her in his lap. She turned and faced him, her legs along his.

  “I’m afraid to even show you my temper. Once I lose control, it’s all over,” he said, and pushed the hair away from her neck.

  “You must have a lot of control then, to hide it for 10 years.”

  “I do, in more ways than one,” he said, and pulled her toward him, kissing her passionately.

  Emily wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled he
r body close against his. She felt his hands slide underneath the back of her shirt, and she pulled away from him.

  “I can’t,” she said softly, and then stood up.

  “I’m sorry, Em, come back… I’ll behave,” he said, and also stood up.

  “I’m just going to go to bed, I’m tired,” she told him, and shut the bedroom door behind her. She took a quick shower and then crawled into bed, then watched out the window for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep.

  “Emily?” Kyle called through the fog. “I can’t find you.”

  “Get to Chevalier,” Emily screamed, and ran toward his voice. Her bare feet touching the cobblestones made her cold, and she shivered as she fought to find Chevalier in the fog.

  “Chevalier’s dead. I need to find you,” Kyle yelled, his voice suddenly far away.

  “No he’s not! Find him, please,” Emily yelled, and a baby appeared in her arms. The baby had long fangs and looked up at her, hissing. She froze and put the baby on the brown cobblestone road. He stood up and instantly grew into a tall, muscular heku.

  “Time to feed,” he said, and headed towards her.

  Emily screamed and ran toward the sound of Kyle’s voice, “Help me!”

  “Em? It’s ok, I’m here,” Kyle said, and touched her arm.

  Emily shut her eyes, trying to block out the images from her dream. She glanced at the clock and saw it was only 2am.

  “Lay back. I’ll stay with you until you get to sleep,” Kyle said, and patted the bed.

  Emily laid back on the bed and pulled the covers up, “No, stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”

  Kyle nodded and laid against her, pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her.

  Emily was soon asleep and felt Kyle’s comforting arms tighten around her whenever her dreams started to turn bad.

  She slowly opened her eyes and looked up into Kyle’s. He was lying close to her and smiled when he saw she was awake.

  “Good morning,” he said, and climbed out of bed.

  Emily nodded and sat up.

  “Pancakes?” Kyle asked.

  Emily frowned, “Just coffee.”

  Kyle sighed, “Are you on another hunger strike?”

  “No, I’m just not hungry. I need coffee to wake up, and then we can go,” she said, and disappeared into the bathroom with some clean clothes.

  Emily came back out in jeans and a sweater, and repacked her suitcase.

  “Are you cold? It’s hot in here,” Kyle said, and felt her forehead.

  “I’m freezing,” she said, and went to the door when someone knocked. “Kyle!”

  Kyle grinned when the busboy brought in two large trays. He tipped the waiter and then locked the door when he left.

  Emily pulled the domes off of the trays and looked down at pancakes, fresh fruit, crepes, muffins and biscuits, “Were you hungry?”

  Kyle laughed, “No, it’s just in case you get hungry.”

  Emily poured herself a cup of coffee and held the mug in her hands to warm them. She watched as Kyle built a tower out of fruit during the awkward silence.

  “Ready to go?” Kyle asked, when Emily finished her coffee.

  “Sure, let’s go.” She stood up and found herself instantly in Kyle’s arms. He held her up and kissed her lightly.

  “Last one, I promise.” He smiled and put her down.

  “Kyle…” Emily started, but Kyle held up his hand.

  “Don’t say it, I already know. Let’s get going,” he said, and grabbed her bag before holding the door open for her.

  Emily took the keys from the valet and got into the driver’s seat. Kyle climbed into the passenger’s seat, grinning.

  “What?” Emily asked him as she started the Jeep.

  “Just wondering if you planned on getting to the city before dusk,” he asked.

  “I don’t drive slow!” Emily said, and pulled out into traffic. They were soon on the Interstate.

  “What are your plans when we get back? I mean, with the Elder,” Kyle asked her.

  Emily shrugged, “I don’t have a plan. Do you have a suggestion?”

  “Nope, was hoping you did.”

  “I guess I just see how he acts. If he’s still avoiding me, then I’ll re-think my stay.”

  “After this short of time?”

  “It’ll be obvious if it’s over. I will be able to tell,” Emily said, and turned on the heater.

  “You need to give him more time.”

  “Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “What would you do if he left you for two months and didn’t even call you?” Kyle asked.

  “He already did that,” she reminded him.

  “You knew where he was though. He didn’t disappear.”

  “Doesn’t matter, for 2 months I didn’t hear a thing from him,” Emily said. “Besides, if he had poofed, I’d be mad but not for this long.”

  “Oh yes you would!”

  Emily frowned, “I would not.”

  Kyle just grinned and looked out the window.

  “You’re confusing, do you know that?” Emily asked him.

  “How’s that?”

  “If I told you right now that I was ready to go into hiding, and you could go… would you?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Yet you still try to get Chevalier and I back together.”

  Kyle nodded, “You two are good together.”

  “It’s just confusing… do you know I almost cheated on Keith once?”

  Kyle looked at her, shocked, “You did?”

  “Yeah, with this guy from work. He was so sweet and so nice to me, and then I would go home and face Keith. Never happened though, but we had a date to meet at a hotel one night.”

  “Why didn’t you go?”

  “I backed out. Then Keith found out and put me in the hospital,” Emily said, and glanced at Kyle. “The guy from work told me the same thing when he came to see me… he said he was backing off because Keith and I were good together.”

  “You and Keith were never good together,” Kyle told her.

  “That’s not the point, it’s the words. He was afraid of Keith and backed off because of that… he just used the other as an excuse.”

  “Probably,” Kyle said, and turned the heater down.

  Emily grinned and turned it back up.

  “How many heku have you kissed?” Kyle asked, and smiled when Emily’s eyes grew wide.

  “What? Why?”

  “Just curious.”

  “That’s an odd question.”

  “So?” Kyle chuckled.

  Emily thought, “Seventy.”

  Kyle’s eyes grew wide and then he laughed, “Seriously, tell me.”

  “Does forced count?” she asked.

  Kyle’s eyes narrowed, “Who?”

  “That wasn’t the question.”

  “No,” Kyle said, no longer laughing.

  “Three,” Emily said, and smiled.

  “Now tell me who.”

  “Nope… your turn. How many mortals have you kissed since turning?”

  Kyle grinned slightly, “Erm… lots.”

  “Lots? How many are lots?” Emily looked at him with wide eyes.

  “It’s kind of hard to count.”

  “Hookers?”

  “Ok, game over,” Kyle said, and grabbed for the Winchester book.

  Emily grabbed the book from him, “Hookers?”

  “Damnit, why ask me that?”

  “You started with the personal questions, so fess up.”

  Kyle sighed, “Some, yes.”

  Emily started to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Has Chevalier been with hookers?”

  “I’m not going there.”

  “So Damon was right about one thing.”

  “Why were you talking to Damon about hookers?”

  Emily laughed, “I caught him with one, remember?”

  “Oh, that’s right. The infa
mous fight.”

  Emily turned off of the Interstate onto the private road that led to Council City. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white.

  “Relax, ok?” Kyle said softly, and touched her hand.

  “He’s going to leave me.”

  “No, he’s not. He’s too in love to leave you.”

  “Damon said he’s only in it for the sex,” Emily said, and looked up at the palace before pulling into the garage.

  “When did you start listening to Damon?”

  Emily turned the Jeep off and leaned her head against the steering wheel, “I can’t breathe.”

  “Calm down,” Kyle said, and patted her back.

  She looked up at the doors and felt her heart ache when he wasn’t waiting for her. Kyle opened her door and held his hand out to help her out.

  Emily took his hand and slowly walked toward the palace.

  “So… how many?” Kyle asked, trying to get her mind off of Chevalier.

  “How many what?”

  “How many heku have forced you to kiss them?”

  “Since what time period?” She stopped and looked at him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, starting when I was a teenager, a lot of the attackers kissed me before leaving,” Emily said, and looked nervously at the door.

  Kyle growled slightly, “Just since you’ve known Chevalier.”

  “Nine, some more than once,” she said, and took another step toward the door.

  “Who?” Kyle asked angrily.

  “Does it really matter?” Emily asked him, and her body froze when the door opened. It closed again without anyone walking through.

  “I’m just curious, any non-Equites?”

  Emily nodded, and stepped into the palace hallway. She looked to both ways, but didn’t see anyone.

  “Exavior?”

  “Drop it, ok, Kyle?” Emily said, and smiled at him. “You seriously don’t want to know.”

  “I do though,” Kyle said as they headed up the stairs.

  “I’m not going to tell you.”

  “Just one…” Kyle stopped when Chevalier appeared on the stairs ahead of them. “I’m… going… to…”

  Emily cringed when Kyle disappeared from her side, and she looked up at Chevalier.

  “I see you made it safely,” he said, seemingly unconcerned.