“To make them talk.”
I stared at him blankly. “What?”
“They were just caught trying to break into a house, and narrowly escaped suspicion – or at least so they think. They are now sitting alone – or, again, so they think – in a house with at least five minutes to burn before they can leave. Do you really think they will have nothing to say about the situation?”
“You were setting them up?”
“Let’s just hope it was worth it.”
“Wait,” I said, looking around and realizing that we were getting further and further away from the cottage. “We aren’t actually leaving, are we? Aren’t we going to circle back around or something?”
“Why would we do that?”
Was he serious? “Because there are other people back there that might need our help!”
“They will be fine. I told you, they’re not going to go upstairs.”
“And I told you, you don’t know that!” I snapped. “Turn around.”
“Pardon me?”
“I said turn around, we are going back. There is no way in hell I am just going to leave my family in danger and just hope everything works out the way you think it will! Now take me back!”
Without warning, he slammed on the brakes and yanked the steering wheel, fishtailing us off of the road and onto the grass field that stretched out to our left. We bumped and bounced violently over the rocky dirt field for several dozen yards, until we reached what looked like an abandoned stone barn which behind and then turned off the car.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to keep up my fire and not let on that I was a little freaked out.
“I am forcing you to trust me,” he said seriously, his annoying smile gone.
“I told you to take me back.”
“This,” he ignored me, and pointed out to the road we were just on, “is the only road leading to or away from the cottage. There is no other way to get anywhere unless you are on foot. We are going to sit here for five minutes, and I promise you that within that time, McGary and Ryan will come driving by, headed back to Adare, completely unaware that there was anyone in the house with them.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then I will take you back as fast as this car can go.”
“No, I’m not staying here, they could be in trouble. What if something happens?”
“I think they are all more than capable of taking care of themselves.”
“Well, maybe I’m not willing to risk that!”
“It looks like you don’t have a choice.”
Was that so? I’d show him. I threw the door open and got out, ready to get back on the road and walk if I had to.
“Becca,” he called, coming after me. “Please don’t make me spend the next five minutes porting you back to the car.”
“You can’t keep me here,” I ground out, balling my fists.
“I’m fairly certain that I can.”
I was a breath away from punching him square in the face, wrestling his keys from him, and flooring it back to the cottage… but then I felt something. There were three abilities brushing my mind when a moment ago there had only been Bastian’s. Two new abilities had appeared and were growing stronger by the second – the same way they had when I’d felt them in the cottage. McGary and Ryan.
It was them.
I slowly turned around to face the road, took a few steps forward and looked around the corner of the decaying barn to the road, careful to stay out of sight. McGary and Ryan’s abilities were growing stronger at a rate that told me they were approaching very fast, and before I knew it, the green car I’d caught a glimpse of outside the window of the cottage came barreling down the road, going well above whatever the posted speed limit was. They flew by the barn we were hiding behind without slowing, then raced off into the distance, their abilities growing fainter and fainter as the silhouette of their car faded into the distance until both finally disappeared completely.
I stood staring at the now empty patch of horizon, feeling all my anger and worry drain out of me like water from an unplugged tub. Then, to top off both my relief and my chagrin, I felt several other abilities come into my range – abilities that I knew very well. They approached just as the first two had, though not as quickly, growing stronger and brighter until the white St Brigid’s van came into view with Anderson at the wheel, followed closely by the car we’d taken out, carrying Jocelyn, Alex, and Chloe. They approached, passed, and left, safe and sound, completely unharmed, and totally unaware that I was looking on.
He’d been right; Bastian had been one hundred percent right.
As I watched their cars shrink to dots in the distance, I heard the grass rustle as Bastian stepped up behind me.
“I know these people, Becca,” he said gently. “I know how they think, what they do, who they are. What I know can help you – I can help you – but you have to let me.”
“I am not going to apologize for wanting to be there for them,” I said, quietly, my temper gone. “They’re my family, and my family always comes first.”
“Of course. But had I taken you back and McGary or Ryan had seen you, what then?”
The truth? I probably would have floundered, not come up with a good enough excuse as to why I’d come back, made them suspicious, maybe even have gotten us all caught, and who knows what from there. I didn’t answer him out loud, but I couldn’t help from bowing my head a little.
“Sometimes,” he said, his tone telling me that he knew I understood, “the best way to help someone is to trust that they can handle themselves, and step back.”
“I’m not good at that,” I admitted, turning toward him but keeping my head down.
“I can see that,” he grinned, though for some reason I didn’t find it quite so annoying.
But then how could I be anything but grateful? He’d been right and hadn’t rubbed my nose in it, he’d had a chance to shame me and hadn’t taken it, and had even talked to me gently and with understanding when he could have just as easily scolded or schooled me. I wasn’t about to say anything about it, but that didn’t mean I didn’t appreciate it.
I looked up, matching his cocked eyebrow with one of my own. “Shall we go?” I asked, realizing with a weird sort of relief that the tension which had hovered invisibly between us since the gala had thinned.
“Yes,” he replied, one half of his mouth pulling upwards as we walked back over to his car. “And on the way,” he added as we both opened our doors and got in, “you can do a little explaining of your own, starting with,” he turned the ignition then glanced sideways at me, “what exactly was going on back in Ciaran’s room.”
The majority of the ride back to Adare was spent explaining my ability to a raptly attentive Bastian. Of course he’d already known that I was the one who could use the Iris, but what he hadn’t known was what that meant. I was actually impressed that he’d been able to stand there the whole time we were in Ciaran’s room and watch everything happen without asking even one question – had it been me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to stop asking.
As we rounded a large patch of trees and Adare came into view off in the distance Bastian finally spoke. “So,” he said with a shake of his head, “you can do… everything?”
“Yep,” I nodded. “Anything that anyone around me can do.”
“But if you’re alone, you can’t do anything?”
“That’s right.”
“And the Iris takes it all into overdrive?”
“Pretty much,” I laughed.
“Wow,” he said, looking me over quickly with a squint.
“That’s right,” I smiled, making a show of flipping my hair. “I’m awesome.”
He chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Something like that. Must be hard though,” he said after a moment.
“What?” I asked, feeling oddly exposed all of a sudden.
“Seems like a lot of pressure, that’s all.”
I looked out the window at the grass and fo
liage as it whisked by. “It’s… fine.” When I saw him glance at me though the reflection on the glass, I pursed my lips and tried to ignore the skepticism on his face. “You wouldn’t understand,” I mumbled, sinking further into the seat.
“No,” he shook his head, resting back casually. “What would I know about the pressure of living up to expectations…?”
I sighed, but didn’t say anything. I knew he’d understand but I wasn’t in the mood to share. Or maybe it was that I didn’t want to actually admit my insecurities out loud, but either way, I decided it was time for a change of subject.
“I think I’ve done enough explaining for one day, now it’s your turn,” I said, shifting in my seat to face him. “Let’s talk about how you made me look like some floozy, who would sneak off to a private cottage with a guy she’d only just met.”
“To McGary and Ryan?” I raised my eyebrows with an affirmative glare. “I did no such thing.”
“Oh please,” I scoffed, “it was more than clear what you were implying.”
“I was merely implying that they were intruding on something intended to be a private encounter. Anything else they may have derived was nothing but speculation. Besides, I really don’t see the problem,” he shrugged. “I had to tell them something that they would accept without question, and that might be a touch embarrassing.”
“A touch? I’d say it’s well more than a tou–”
“Not for you,” he interrupted, “embarrassing for them.”
“Well congratulations, you covered us all.”
“It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable – and what, pray tell,” he added, with his mouth in a grin as he pretended to be offended, “is so embarrassing about being found with me? You could do a lot worse, if I do say so.”
“This is not about you, it’s about me! I don’t need rumors going around the manor about how you and I snuck off for a…” I waved my hand, looking for a word.
“Shag?” he suggested, his grin turning to a full on smile when I blushed.
“I was going to say tryst, thank you,” I informed him, raising my chin with a scowl when he chuckled.
“A rumor would require those who saw us tell someone what they saw, and to do that they would have to admit to being there, which is the last thing they will want to do. If I thought you would be in any danger from them, I would not have involved you. Believe it or not, I am not one to sully a lady’s good name so carelessly. You can rest assured that your reputation will remain unscathed.”
“It’d better,” I huffed, though deep down I knew he was right. McGary and Ryan weren’t about to open themselves up to questions by spreading gossip, and as for the two of them, I didn’t give a rat’s tail what they thought.
As we pulled onto the long driveway for the manor, I was looking forward to getting out of the small car and stretching my legs… until I felt an all too familiar ability brush my mind and I looked up to find Shannon and her mother standing at the entrance of the manor, apparently waiting for the valet to bring their car.
“Oh no…” I breathed, closing my eyes for a second.
“What’s wrong?” Bastian asked, his brow somewhere between worried and confused.
“Your girlfriend is up there and for some reason she hates me,” I said, the truth coming out before I could stop it.
He looked up ahead to the figures standing at the top of the drive, his expression flipping instantly from confusion to an eye roll of annoyance. “Shannon is not my girlfriend.”
“Really? Sure sounded like you two had a thing… from what I heard, anyway,” I said, remembering the overheard conversation in the bathroom.
“I can assure you there is no ‘thing’ – much as she and her mother may wish otherwise,” he added with a slight grimace.
“Oh,” I said, strangely happy to hear it. “Well, good. You could do better.” He huffed a laugh. “But if you aren’t together, then why does she hate me so much?”
He shook his head with a smile, though there was more distaste in it than humor. “That’s easy; you stole her thunder.”
“Her what?”
“Shannon is a Healer like her father, however unlike most of the other women in the Bhunaidh, she is a full Holder, and as such she is quite powerful. I’m sure you know how rare it is for a woman to have an ability that is as developed as her male counterparts.” I happened to think it was crap, but I was aware of it, so I nodded. “The strength of her ability makes her rare, which makes her a big deal around here. She is always in the spotlight at gatherings like this, not to mention being number one on my mother’s personal list of girls to marry me off to… that is, until the daughter of Bronntanas blew in.”
“Wait, she’s jealous? Are you kidding me? That’s the reason she’s been treating me like scum on the floor?”
“Shannon and I have known one another since we were too young to recall, and she has never been one to tolerate anyone getting in her way. And unfortunately for you, she sees you as just that.”
“Can you just drive around and let me off somewhere else?” I asked, mortified that I was actually nauseous at the thought of having to walk by her to get inside.
“What are you worried about?” When I didn’t answer, his voice grew softer. “Listen to me, don’t let her get to you. She is not worth a second of your time. Shannon and her mother represent the worst sort here in this association of hypocrisy and condescension. Brush it off.”
“I am,” I answered without looking up. “I mean, I want to… I’m just… I’m not used to…” My voice died off and I gave up, not knowing what was worse: wanting to hide from Shannon, or having actually admitted it to someone else.
“No,” he said, a sneaky grin in his eyes. “I have a better idea.” He pulled up to the entrance of the manor, just as calm as could be, while I tried to keep from looking like a cat about to be thrown in a bathtub.
“What are you doing?” I hissed as he grabbed the handle of his door.
“Don’t worry, it will be fun.”
“I’ve done this a few times now, and it has never been fun.”
“That was because you didn’t have your secret weapon,” he said, stepping out of the car, then leaned back in back in with a wink. “Me.”
Oh right, because having them see me with you will make things better…
I didn’t dare look anywhere other than at the dashboard as he came around the car and opened my door for me, leaving me no choice but to stomp down my cowardice and step out.
“Bastian, please, I don’t want to do this,” I whispered, not knowing what he had planned, but twitching at the thought of what it might be.
“You don’t have to do anything,” he said softly. “All you have to do…” He paused, pulling my arm through his as he assumed the usual self-assured mask that he was never in public without, “is smile.”
Unable to make myself do anything other than comply, I put on my best happy face and let him lead me away from the car and toward the manor. As Bastian handed the car keys to the valet, I ventured my first glance over to the two women watching us with the same cocktail of emotions you might have while watching footage of a natural disaster: shock, horror, disbelief, fear, with just a tad of vulnerability. As I turned my eyes back toward the entryway, my smile became natural as a wave of rippling triumph washed over me. I knew that taking pleasure in the discomfort of others was kind of evil, but at that moment, I didn’t care. Far as I was concerned, they deserved it. As Bastian and I walked past, I was able to lift my head up and walk tall for what felt like the first time since we’d arrived at Adare, and it felt amazing. After all the things she called me, and despite all the reasons she thought I was beneath her, I’d gotten the thing that she wanted most. Or at least she thought that I had, and that was all that mattered. I wasn’t going to be her doormat any more, and I was done taking her crap. I was back in control – I was free.
Take that, bitch…
CHAPTER 21
“Oh my gosh
, oh my gosh, oh my gosh…” Chloe breathed in wonder as she stepped into my room at Adare for the first time.
“Pretty cool, right?” I asked, enjoying the “kid on Christmas morning” look on her face.
“Cool?” she repeated, looking at me like I’d lost it. “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!”
“Here you go,” Alex said, setting her small suitcase on the ground next to the bed. “Enjoy your stay, miss,” he smiled, tipping his imaginary bellman’s cap.
“Thank you Alex,” Chloe said dreamily, not even looking at him as she continued her wide-eyed appraisal of the room.
“If you are waiting to be tipped, you might be here awhile,” I snickered, as Alex took a spot by my side. With a grin, he bent his knee, bringing his foot up from behind and kicking me in the butt. I swatted his hand away with a playful shove, only giving in because Jocelyn stepped into the room behind us.
“All right,” he said, closing the door. “Is everything brought in?”
“That’s all of it,” Chloe said, skipping over. “I only had the one bag.”
“Good,” Jocelyn nodded. He looked Chloe over for a moment as she did her best to appear calm and attentive. He took a slow stride toward her, lowering his head and looking out gently but sternly from beneath his brow. “Now: rules. You are not to leave this room.”
“Yes, I know,” Chloe said obediently.
“The only way you are allowed outside these walls is if Alex is with you and hiding you.”
“Of course,” she nodded.
“It is imperative that you are not seen. No one can know you are here.”
“I understand.”
“And the same goes for the rest of you,” he looked over at Alex and I as he pointed to Chloe. “She is not here.”
“Got it,” I said as Alex nodded.
With a deep breath Jocelyn stepped back, looking satisfied. Honestly I was surprised he’d even allowed Chloe to stay with us, and hadn’t sent her back to St Brigid’s with Mr Anderson. He’d said it was because we might need her time walking again, and I guess that was true, though I was pretty sure it wasn’t the real reason. More likely he realized that it was downright cruel to bring the poor girl all the way out here and get her hopes up only to send her straight back home again. There was no harm in letting her stay as long as she kept her head down, and I was happy to have her with us. Sure my room would be a bit more crowded and we’d have to share a bed, but the room and bed were more than big enough for the both of us. There was also the minor issue of the lack of privacy should Alex finally be able to spend the night, but that also wasn’t a big deal, considering that he still had a room to himself that we could… make use of.
The Seers Page 22
