by Kit Fawkes
“Or perhaps your shifter blood protected you,” said Eli. “Shifters rarely fall ill.”
She shot him a dubious look. “You’re claiming I’m like you?”
“No, you’re like all of us,” said Orin. “You have the blood of all the mythics mixed in your veins, and while you might not be able to tap into all the powers, you should have a few dominant ones.”
She frowned. “And that’s what I’m here for, to unlock these powers?” It sounded awful to her, and she had to stifle the impulse to run away. Only the concern in the expressions around her, along with Caius’s words about being abused and controlled, kept her in the room.
“That’s somewhat true,” said Kriss guardedly. “You’ll hopefully tap into the powers inside you in each of the realms as we visit, and we’ll do our best to help you train and find your strengths.”
Her headache increased yet again. “Travel? What do you mean? Do you expect me to go to the realms?”
“That’s part of what your duty will be,” said Caius. “Too many people know of your existence, so you can’t just hide away. There will be those who want to meet you and fawn over you, and it’s good for you to learn everything you can about the races and the realms. You’ll also be trying to unlock your powers, and the six men surrounding you will be your guards. One of them will become more, and that will be your choosing.”
She shook her head. “More what?”
Caius spoke calmly, as though the words he said made complete sense. “You will choose a mate from among the six, and he will be a natural complement. Your power will enhance his, as his will do the same for you. As you travel and meet the races and train, you’ll also be selecting a husband from the men around you.”
She glared at him. “No one’s going to tell me who I have to marry.”
Caius lifted a hand, looking unconcerned by her anger. “You can fight your fate, but the Oracle has foreseen that your mate is among these six. That’s why they were chosen as your guards, and not just because each represents a member of all the races. Your destiny awaits you, and you can’t outrun it forever.”
“I don’t want any of this.”
Caius apparently wasn’t entirely unsympathetic, but he wasn’t warm or emotional either. “I’m certain there are few Truebloods who ever wanted what fate thrust upon them, but it is what it is. These men will guard you with their lives and be by your side for every step of the journey. You have no choice in this. If you flee, the pattern destiny has designed for you will still find a way to assert itself.”
She hated the way he spoke, as though everything was an enigmatic puzzle, and as though Fate was some malicious bitch sitting off to the side carefully planning ways to torture her. “I need time to think and process this.”
“Of course. Show her to her room, gentlemen.” Caius nodded at her. “I’ll see you later this evening, North.” His feet made no sound as he crossed the glossy marble floor, and only the slight swish of his robe betrayed any hint of his departing presence at all.
Chapter Eleven
She went along with them, surrounded by all six, because she had no better ideas about what to do. The part of her that had been raised fully human and ignorant of all these matters still wanted to reject everything she’d heard out of hand, because it was illogical. But it seemed even more illogical to ignore her own senses, which had seen new things, and she couldn’t deny evidence of the existence of matters she had never contemplated.
“Here’s your room, precious,” said Eli as he pushed open one of a set of French doors. “Rest well, and one of us will be along to fetch you for dinner later.”
She nodded and slipped past him, inhaling his spicy male scent as she did so. It made her heart race, and her mouth went dry.
“Try to clear your mind and just rest for little while,” advised Ryland as he touched her shoulder.
Her skin felt like it burned where he touched, and it was alive with little arcs of electricity sparking through her. She was confused by her reaction to both of them, and it was a relief when Eli shut the door behind them a second later.
She leaned against the wood as she stared at the room with unseeing eyes for a long moment. She resented having a physical reaction to any of them, because how much of it was her reaction, and how much was some predestined bit of nonsense determined by fate? Did she really buy into all that? Could some person have seen her future and determined she ended up with a husband among the six men guarding her?
She shook her head, finding that stretched her ability to believe beyond its limits. It was absolutely preposterous and sounded like wishful thinking, or perhaps outright manipulation on Caius’s part. Maybe he thought she was a hopeless romantic, and she’d be more likely to comply with whatever they all wanted from her if she believed she was going to fall madly in love with one of the six.
What a bunch of nonsense. What she should do was creep out while no one knew she was gone and run back to the cabin she’d shared with her father. She had no idea what was reality and fiction at this point, but she needed time and solitude to sort it out.
Yes, that was exactly what she needed—to get away from the Allises and this strange group. With that thought in mind, she turned and put her hand on the doorknob, holding her breath to see if it was unlocked. It was, and the door eased open a moment later. Cautiously, she peeked out and swallowed a groaned when she saw all six of them lining the corridor, three on each side, with their arms crossed, and their expressions resolute.
Marek saw her first, and his lips twitched. “How may I serve you, ice flower?”
She cleared her throat. “Uh…” She trailed off, unable to think of a reason or pretext for having opened her door.
“Perhaps you’d like a glass of water?” said Eamon. This time, he managed to look directly at her for a whole second before he dropped his eyes and blushed.
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“There’s a refrigerator in your room with bottled water,” said Kriss.
She swallowed and licked her lips. “Oh, okay. Thanks.” She closed the door quickly, once more leaning against it. They were there to keep her safe, but she still wasn’t certain if their presence was to deter others from trying to get to her, or if it was meant to keep her confined to the room.
Chapter Twelve
Rather than napping, she spent the time pacing and trying to discern the best course of action. She was no closer to an answer when there was a tap on her door around six-thirty. She thought about ignoring it for a moment, but knew they wouldn’t leave her alone forever. With a sigh, she stopped pacing and crossed the room to open the door, sticking out her head cautiously.
Eamon stood in the hallway, and he held a garment bag in his hands. “Caius sends this with his regards and requests you wear it tonight for the gathering.”
She frowned at him, not taking the bag. “What gathering?”
“The Council and other dignitaries here on Earth would like to meet you. You’re a bit like a princess now, North. You’re in danger, and there are those who would hurt you, but there are just as many who will marvel at your existence and be humbled by your presence. You should become accustomed to being the center of attention from now on.”
She shook her head, starting to take a step back. It was a surprise when Eamon stepped forward, gently pushing his way into the suite before she could slam the door. She glared up at him. “I don’t want any of this.”
He was sympathetic. It was obvious in his expression and the softening of his eyes. “I know, but I don’t think you can escape it now. It’s better to make the best of the situation, don’t you think?”
She snatched the bag from his hand and glared at him. “Let’s see if you feel the same way if someone takes over your entire life, upsets everything, and you find out all in the same week that everything you believed about yourself and your family was a lie. Let’s see if you could just go with the flow then.”
He nodded, and a brown curl flipped onto his fo
rehead. It was endearing, and her fingers twitched to push it back. She was bewildered by the reaction
“Point taken, but you can rail against your destiny, or you can try to find your place in this new world. Only you can decide the best way to spend your energy, but I’m certain Caius and the others will be disappointed if you refuse to join us.”
She licked her lips. “And you would be disappointed?”
Eamon blushed fiercely. “I…I certainly would.” Then he turned away from her and hurried to the door, seeming embarrassed by his admission. “Someone will get you in a little while. I hope you’ll come.”
The door closed behind him a moment later, leaving her clutching the garment bag and staring at the space he had occupied a minute before. She hated to admit it, but disappointing him didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t want to see Eamon frown, and while she didn’t particularly care about Caius or the Council’s disappointment, it left her feeling out of sorts at the idea of hurting the others with her absence.
She was still confused about what reaction was hers, and what might be manipulated. If they really had magic, could they make her feel things? Could they obfuscate her thinking ability until she couldn’t reason for herself? It seemed likely that they could, and she couldn’t yet figure out how to stop them. Until she knew if she was feeling something genuine, or if it was something imposed upon her, she would have to be excessively on guard with her emotions, along with diligently protecting herself from any physical threat surrounding her.
She opened the garment bag a moment later and let out a happy gasp at the sight of the dress inside. It was mainly silver, with thousands of crystals dripping down the bodice and across the full skirt. Each shown with prismatic light every time she moved the dress to admire a different angle. It was bright and sparkling and unlike anything she’d ever owned before. She’d never even seen anything like it, but her education in fashion had come from history books and an occasional old issue of magazines, so she shouldn’t be surprised. Perhaps this was common wear, especially among the mythics.
Either way, it was no hardship to slip it on after shedding the rest of her clothes. She moved to the bathroom, where there was a full-length mirror, and admired herself. Eamon had said she was like a princess, and she certainly felt like it in that dress.
There was an entire drawer full of cosmetics, but she wasn’t certain how to use them, since she’d never had any before. North settled for touching her lips with a pinkish-red color and pinning up her hair in a simple bun secured with a silver clip. She knew it was unsophisticated and the basics that any woman would do to prepare for some kind of event to match the dress, but it actually suited the innocent, yet slightly flirtatious, style of the bouncy dress.
As she exited the bathroom, she looked down at her bare feet and bit her lip. She had no other shoes besides her sneakers, and they didn’t work with the outfit. Should she go barefoot?
There was a knock on her door, and she called, “Come in.”
Eamon stepped inside, and she was relieved to see him. So far, he’d made her feel the most at ease, except when Ryland did his vampire trick to drain her anxiety. Perhaps it was because he was around her age and obviously as shy and awkward as she felt.
For a brief moment, she imagined what it would be like to be his wife, but quickly nipped the thought in the bud when her thoughts wandered in a physical direction rather than trying to envision a future with him. Her cheeks were hot, and she was certain she was blushing when she met his eyes. “I don’t have any shoes.” She blurted the words out in a rush, desperate to avoid her own embarrassment.
His eyes widened, and then he laughed. “I guess we didn’t think of everything after all. You don’t have any in that bag of stuff from the mall?”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t even think about that. I’m not sure where it got off to, but the only shoes were my old snow boots. I put them in the bag and wore the sneakers out of the shop when Carol bought them.”
“It’s probably still in the van. I’ll send someone for it later, but I think I can do something about your shoe problem in the meantime.” He crooked a finger in her direction as he knelt on one knee.
She approached slowly, unnerved by how perfect his position was to mimic that of a man about to propose. Instead of holding out a ring, he looked down at her feet. “Can you lift your dress a bit?”
She complied, grasping the tulle and taffeta to hitch it higher. He concentrated, his gaze focused solely on her feet for a moment, and she watched in fascination as his hands glowed purple before a pair of crystal shoes grew around her feet. They had a sensible heel, and they were surprisingly comfortable. She looked down in awe, stomping her foot for a moment to test if they were real. “I thought maybe it was an illusion.”
“No, the real thing. I can do glimmers, but Orin’s much better at that sort of thing than I am. Elves excel at illusional magic, whereas witches are better with practical magic.”
“That’s an amazing ability. Can you replicate outfits from magazines and such?”
He shrugged as he stood up. “I could, but it also drains my power.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Are you going to die or something now?”
He looked startled. “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
“Caius said my father took in sickness, and it eventually weakened his health. I just don’t want my shoes to contribute to your death.”
He laughed then, and there was a moment of easy camaraderie between them, with no shyness on either side. She started giggling a moment later and ended up leaning against him with his arm around her for support as they laughed themselves silly.
As the euphoria started to fade, she wiped at her cheeks and looked up, startled to realize their mouths were only a few inches apart. “I guess that sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?”
His lips quirked into a smile. “Maybe a little, but never be afraid to ask questions even if you think they’re silly. It’s the only way to learn. And to reassure you, creating an occasional pair of shoes isn’t going to hasten my death. I don’t take in negatives the way your father did.”
She nodded and took a step back before she did something crazy and impulsive, like lift her head to kiss him. “What about Ryland? He takes in negative emotions, right?”
Before answering, Eamon held out an arm in front of him to gesture they should move, and then offered her his other one. She curved it through his without hesitation as they started walking from the bedroom.
“I know if he takes on too many negative emotions, he can fall ill, but I don’t believe it’s the same as it is with a caladrius. You’d have to ask him to be certain, but he thrives on draining emotional energy, so it rebuilds his health rather than destroying it.”
Satisfied with his answer, she didn’t speak again as they crossed the corridor and went a different direction than they had come earlier. He soon led her into a large room that was obviously reserved for events. She had expected a small group of people, and she stumbled to a halt in the doorway when she saw more than a hundred filling the area. “How many people are on the Council?”
“Nine. Why?”
“Then why are there so many people here?”
“These are the elite of Earth, and while the Council holds ultimate power, since it controls the portal to the other realms, every single mythic in here is someone of importance.”
“I don’t think I can do this.”
He pulled her forward. “Of course you can.”
She remained glued to Eamon’s side as the other five suddenly appeared around her, almost as if they had been invisible a second before.
“You look amazing, precious.”
She smiled at Eli, though it was a distracted flash of her lips. “Thanks. Why didn’t you tell me there be some many people here?”
He looked around with a shrug. “It’s a pretty small gathering for a Council event.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “This is a smal
l thing?” A note of hysteria rose in her. How was she supposed to go from having lived most of her life in the cabin with just her father to things like this, with all these people? It was suddenly difficult to breathe, and only Ryland’s soothing hand on her back helped her keep calm.
Gradually, the room fell silent as more and more people became aware of her presence. She was still near the door, but couldn’t have moved if she had to. All the gazes on her paralyzed her and stole her voice.
Caius stepped forward, lifting his hands into a light clap that was soon echoed by everyone in the room. A bead of sweat trickled down her back as they all stared at her.
“This is North Campbell, and she’s a very promising Trueblood. From the scans our spy passed on, North has the potential to develop a broad range of powers. She’ll be a helpful ally, and it falls on all of us to keep her safe.”
The applause was louder this time, and they all stared at her expectantly. North managed a small smile, but still couldn’t speak.
“You’ll all have a chance to spend more time with her in your home realms if you drop in for a visit there. North will be taking a tour of each one and learning everything she can about all the races and their powers. Tomorrow, she’ll begin with Celestina.”
“Haedra,” called out a woman with pale skin, silvery hair, and icy wings that looked like frosted lace that identified her as an angel.
Caius shook his head. “Let’s just settle for the colloquial term of Fire & Ice, shall we?”
North ignore the chuckle that spread through the room, her mind reeling. “Tomorrow? What does he mean?”
Orin was one to answer. “You’ll begin touring tomorrow, and our first stop is the home realm of Kriss and Marek.”
She shook her head, and panic swelled. Even Ryland stroking her arm lightly did nothing to dispel it this time. “You’re asking too much of me.” Before any of the six could stop her, she jerked away from Eamon’s arm and turned to flee, running as fast as she could on the crystal heels conforming to her feet.
