Autumn Dawn (Fate's Intent Book 11)

by Bowles, April

  Dirk seemed to hate this story the most and probably wanted to make Kyos suffer by his hand but we all should have known this was Lana’s mission.

  “Don’t worry, Dirk. She’ll be back. She won’t stay up there forever, not knowing you’re down here anyway.”

  “But it’s strange.” Seth said. “She doesn’t seem to let it affect her so much.”

  “That’s because she knows what happened to her wasn’t her fault but it’s very important that you knew about her past especially you, Dirk and that it won’t be completely over for her until she sees him dead too.”

  He nodded. I’m sure he understood. It was a relief for me when I knew they had killed Curtis those years ago even though he never touched me the way Lana has been touched but she would still need this.

  We sat for several more minutes until she decided to fly back down. “Don’t even because I’m fine. I didn’t want to stick around for that story which was pointless because I heard it anyway with this bird hearing.” She hopped closer to her clothes and burrowed herself in them.

  “What are you doing?” Seth asked.

  “You’ll see.” I said.

  Lana transformed back into her human form and was fully dressed.

  “I thought you couldn’t do that?” Dirk wondered.

  “I can if I’m an animal small enough to fit back inside my clothes but when I turn into something bigger I can’t do that and therefore have to come back naked.”

  “Oh. I guess that makes sense.”

  Lana smiled, feeling the disappointment in his tone. “Awe, you were hoping I was going to come back naked, weren’t you?”

  “I might have been.”

  Lana leaned into him and they started kissing while the rest of us sat here to watch.

  “Okay.” I mimicked Seth’s power and separated them. “Do that on your own time.”

  “Whose time is it if not my own?” Lana asked.

  “It’s mine. We’re not done talking about this. It was only delayed because you flew away.”

  Lana sighed and laid her head in Dirk’s lap. “Fine. Go ahead. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Okay, well, I’ve calculated that it’s going to take us about six days to get to the southern docks.”

  Naomi’s mouth dropped. “What? Six days of this? Great. What are we going to do for six days?”

  “I can think of something.” Lana smiled as she looked up at Dirk.

  He smiled back. “I’m liking the sounds of that.”

  “That’s enough. No one wants to hear about your sexual fantasies, Lana. At least I don’t, so just stop.”

  “Awe, you’d agree but you’re more of a bed-girl. I’ll do it anywhere.”

  “We’re not talking about that. Now, as I was saying. Once we reach the docks, Porter will be waiting there with a ship to carry us across the sea into Rugis.”

  All Lana’s thoughts of pleasurable enjoyment left her mind when she let out a disturbed groan. “The sea? I hate the sea. It always smells bad and makes you want to throw-up.”

  “Well, you better get used to it. It will take us a day to sail to the island he’s on.”

  “A whole day? Yay, I can’t wait.”

  “Aleksander has graciously sent us a map of the mountains there where he pin pointed Kyos’s location. It should be simple to follow and when we find him—”

  “I know. It’s playtime.” Lana held up her hand and claws came out.

  “Just don’t be long about it. I know you went through a lot because of him but please just get it done and get out. There’s no time for long periods of torture.”

  “Don’t worry. First, I’m going to make sure he remembers me. Then I’m going to rip off his—”

  “Ah!” Naomi shouted. “Maybe you forgot but we have some guys here that I’m sure don’t want to hear about how you plan to do it.”

  Lana looked up at Dirk and smiled. “Oh, right. Sorry. It’s a good thing you stopped me.”

  “Yeah. Cadence, is there anything else?”

  “No, not really. It’s pretty straight forward. We get there, Lana kills him and we leave. It should be simple.”

  Naomi smiled. “Oh, good. So, it’ll be like a vacation.”

  I laughed. “Only, we never been on vacation.”

  “Yeah, well, there’s a first time for everything.” Naomi pulled out one of her metal fans and opened it up.

  “Whoa. Let me see that.” Bryce took it from her hand. “Is this your weapon?”

  “Yeah, it comes in a pair. See?” Naomi pulled out the other one and opened it.

  They were both about eight inches in length when closed and when open, every other segment of the fan was black with pink in between and each with a sharp pointed edge at the top.

  “And you can really use these things?” Bryce wondered as he tried opening and closing the one in his hand.

  Naomi laughed. “Yes. Unlike you we got to create our own weapons so I’d hope I know how to use it.”

  “Really?” Dirk looked down at Lana still with her head on his lap. “Let me see yours.”

  She smiled as she sat up and pulled out one of her fang blades from the back of her belt and handed it to him. It was a unique piece in the way that it looked just like an oversized fang from an animal with the main part of the weapon curved down eight inches below the handle and a smaller fang at the end of the hilt.

  “It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.” Dirk said as he was looking at it.

  “Really? Because I have another one just like it.” Lana pulled out the other one from the back of her belt.

  “Let me see one of those.” Seth said as he held out his hand.

  “Catch.” Lana tossed it over the fire towards him.

  Seth used his power to slow it down as it got closer to him so he could get his hands on it safely. “It is pretty interesting.”

  “Then you should see her thing.” Lana said as she pointed at me.

  “The sword?”

  “No, the other thing.”

  “She means this.” I pulled my dual winged blade off my back to show him.

  It had a short six inch handle in the middle that held the two winged shaped blades at the ends that matched the handle guard on my three foot straight sword.

  “That is interesting.” Seth said as he put Lana’s aside and took it from me. “And it’s so light.”

  “Easier mobility for when I throw it at someone. It has its uses.”

  “It’s nice.” He gave it back and picked up Lana’s fang blade again. “Lana, catch!” He tossed it back over to her and she caught it by the handle effortlessly.

  “So, where are we going to sleep?” Naomi asked.

  Seth and I looked at each other and smiled.

  “Give us a second.” Seth said as we both stood up.

  “You might want to hurry.” Lana replied.

  We walked away from the fire and Seth used one of his gifts as I mimicked him and together we created a shelter out of the surrounding landscape for us to sleep in.

  Lana sat up and looked at it when we were finished and started to stand up. “Good. It’s going to start pouring soon.”

  “How do you know?” Dirk asked as he climbed to his feet.

  “Animal instincts. We better hurry.”

  Naomi and Bryce got up and they all walked into the shelter with us.

  “I thought you said it was going to rain?” Bryce asked.

  “It is. In five, four, three, two, one and cue the thunder.” It started to thunder and they no longer doubted her. “Now here comes the rain.” The rain rolled through the land soaking everything in an instant.

  “That’s genius.” Dirk smiled.

  Lana smiled back. “I know but someone should probably put something over the horses. They look very unhappy out there.”

  I walked to the opening and put a canopy up over them so they weren’t getting more wet then we settled in to sleep for the few hours remaining in the night.

  Chapter
25

  Adele

  I spent the day relaxing rather than running around and trying to get things done but I soon realized I haven’t seen Seth. It was odd and unusually quiet. I went to his room first but he wasn’t there. Odder. I left down the hall and Ruby was walking towards me. “Have you seen Seth today?”

  She stopped to think for a moment. “No. Actually I haven’t seen Dirk either, have you?”

  “No. I haven’t seen any of them.”

  “What’s going on?” Jaylyn came around the corner and saw us standing together.

  “Jaylyn, have you seen Seth or Dirk today?” I asked.

  “No. I haven’t.”

  “What about Bryce?” Ruby asked.

  “No.”

  We all paused and looked at each other. This was not good. Our instincts immediately brought us downstairs to the girl’s rooms but no one was there either.

  “That’s strange.” Ruby said. “Where could they be?”

  “Maybe their fathers have seen them.” I suggested. We entered the dining hall next where our husbands were sitting together as usual. “Hey, have any of you seen the boys?”

  They sat still but looked at each other.

  “Not recently.” Zayden answered.

  His tone was much too obvious and Ruby jumped at it first. “What did you do?”

  “We didn’t do anything.” Darius answered.

  “If not, then you know something.” Jaylyn said. “Where are they?”

  “Not here.” Zayden replied.

  “Where?” I demanded. If they weren’t here, I needed to know where.

  “They left.” Troy said.

  “Left where?” Jaylyn asked.

  “Not sure really.” Darius said.

  “You don’t even know where they are?!” Ruby rightfully bursts out.

  “We know who they’re with.” Zayden said. “That should be enough.”

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Who do you think?”

  It took my half a second but I was only getting angrier. “You let them leave on a mission with the girls?! Are you insane?!”

  “Love, seriously. You know that this was supposed to happen.”

  “Not this soon! They’re not ready for that kind of distraction.”

  “I hope you’re talking about the girls because our sons have proven to be more than ready.”

  “I can’t believe this!” Ruby cut in. “You let our son leave and you don’t even know where he’s going?”

  “It was his choice. I don’t even think he knew where he was going. Just as long as Lana was there he was happy.”

  “That’s not a reason for letting him just leave.”

  “It’s not up to us anymore. They’re men now. They need to start growing up and make their own choices and this was one of them.”

  “He’s right.” Troy added. “There’s nothing we could have done to stop it if we tried. We’ve accepted it and you need to too. You can’t keep hanging on to them like this.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with worrying.” Jaylyn said. “And I won’t lose another child because you let him leave.”

  “That won’t happen. They knew they had to do this.” Zayden explained. “We did the same thing when we were young and knew they were right in making this choice.”

  “I just wish you would have told us instead of making us go long enough without seeing them that we had to be worried.” I said while sighing. It was true but deep down, I knew we couldn’t do anything about this now.

  “I’m sorry, Love but we knew that you wouldn’t have let them go. That’s why we didn’t tell you.”

  “All right. So I guess now we just have to wait until they get back.”

  Zayden nodded. “Whenever that may be.”

  We sadly understood and have accepted the fact that our sons have grown up―or were trying to. This was clearly a test for us as well in letting them go and decide their own lives. I knew it was going to happen someday but it came too soon. I guess I really wasn’t ready yet. We’ve already been through so much but it feels like I was supposed to get more time with him.

  Thinking about it just made me turn away before I started crying right here out in the open. I didn’t do much of that these days. People saw me as strong and I did my best trying to keep my image while walking upstairs.

  “Love?”

  I tried to wipe my eyes before turning but it was too late. He must have followed because he knew I was upset.

  “It’s all right. He’ll be back.”

  “I know. It’s just―hard for me to see him so grown up.”

  “I know but I’m sure you knew it was coming. We used to talk about it all the time.”

  “It came too soon.”

  He smiled like my pain was amusing and took me in his arms. “You have nothing to worry about. He was raised well. I’m confident he’ll see to it that everyone makes it back.”

  I could only nod although I wanted him back now. My little baby was all grown up and it’s about time I start accepting it. It was a challenge indeed but one I knew I could overcome.

  “Now, why don’t we get you focused on something else for a while?”

  Zayden lifted my chin with the most charming of smiles. I kind of did hate it but I’d always fall for that smile and he knew it.

  I stretched my neck up to kiss him and my worry left me. It was just what I needed. He always seemed to know even after all the years we’ve spent together. I guess now that Seth was all grown up, we would have more time for each other or at least I would.

  The feeling I got while being in Zayden’s arms has never changed. Just because we were older now didn’t mean that the love stopped. We still liked to prove how much we were made for each other but these days Zayden has perfected his gift to pleasure me and could carry it on for nearly hours if I wanted. I’m usually tired out by then but he had his ways of even making thirty minutes memorable.

  Chapter 26

  Bryce

  We rode to the top of a hill on the sixth evening and saw the docks down on the other side.

  “We’re finally here.” Cadence said.

  “Yeah, you don’t have to tell me.” Lana groaned. “I could smell it miles back.”

  We smiled to her distaste for the ocean as we rode down the hill toward the docks and looked around for Porter among the many other ships docked.

  “Where is he?” Naomi asked.

  “Do my eyes deceive me?” We turned to a man just walking off a ship. “That couldn’t possibly be Naomi I see.”

  Naomi got a smile on her face and rode to him. “Father!”

  I felt myself swallow and it didn’t help that Seth and Dirk immediately looked over at me.

  “Look at you.” Porter said as he helped her off her horse. “My daughter, a true Kalu Assassin.”

  “Hello, father. I missed you.”

  They parted from a warming hug and Porter looked at Cadence and Lana as they got off their horses. “Girls.”

  “How are you?” Lana asked.

  “Great and happy to assist you in this mission.”

  “We appreciate it.” Cadence said.

  “Of course! Anything for my three favorite girls.” They smiled then he looked back and saw us still on our horses. “You brought company? What may I asked for?”

  “Just for that, father, company.”

  Porter looked over at his daughter and saw her smile as she was looking at me. “I see. Well, come on, climb aboard so we can shove off while the wind is in our favor.”

  “What about the horses?” Cadence asked.

  “Oh, don’t worry about them. They’ll be safe in the docks stables until you return. The stable keeper will see to it.”

  Someone came over and started taking the horses while we got off ours. We let them go and walked on the ship before the gangplank was pulled back and the anchor hoisted. Porter’s crew lowered the sails and we began our journey across the sea.

  Darkness fell and the night sea was
calm as we slowly traveled toward Rugis. I was standing on deck with Dirk and Seth, looking out across the sea under the moonlight.

  “This is amazing.” Seth said. “I never thought we would be here.”

  “Me either.” I added. “It feels good to be away from everything. It’s like nothing can touch us out here.”

  Dirk laughed. “Except Naomi’s father.”

  I looked over at him and my eyes narrowed.

  “Yeah, Bryce.” Seth said. “It looks like you’re not going to get far with her while we’re here. In fact, I wouldn’t even dare too. He’d probably kill you.”

  “I think I could handle him.”

  “Oh, that’s a great idea.” Dirk joked. “Get into a scuffle with Porter and accidentally kill him, I’m sure Naomi would hate you forever then you would never get anywhere with her.”

  “I wouldn’t kill him and why do you keep bringing up me trying to get with her?”

  “Well, aren’t you?”

  “I’m not rushing it out here. I can wait until we’re back home.”

  “It’s like I don’t even know you.”

  “Show a little respect, would you?”

  “Fine. I don’t know about you but I’m going to go be with my girl.” Dirk turned and started walking below deck.

  “Me too.” Seth smiled as he patted me on the back and turned.

  “Ha. Ha. Very funny.” I turned last and started to follow.

  “Bryce!”

  I heard my name and turned around. Porter was standing up at the helm and waved me over. I felt my stomach turn when I started walking up the stairs and addressed him. “Yes, sir?”

  “So, you’re the one seeing my daughter. I could hear your conversation from here.”

  I widened my eyes. “Oh, sir, I didn’t—”

  Porter laughed. “No worries, boy. I remember being young.” There was a pause. “And do you really think you could handle me?”

  “Possibly, sir. Our fathers taught us well.”

  “Really and who might they be to make you believe such a thing?”

  “My father’s name is Troy.”

  “Troy? Not Troy Okes?”

  “Yes, that’s right. You know my father?”