She nodded remembering it well. My jealous nature was already up in arms so it didn’t need to get any stronger.
“I was sent to try to kill you that night. To see if you could die.”
Piece of sh—“Why?” she harped.
“Thorn saved you. I couldn't do it. I slit your finger with a knife. You cried out, but it had healed before you could say or do anything back. I was taken minutes after that.”
You bet I saved her cute ass. You punked out of doing anything right Spy Boy! She is the only reason I still exist.
She poised her face and looked him head on, “Look, forget it. We have moved on. You know about me. You have known about me, but chose not to tell. So be it. I need to know who else knows about me. The fact is, some want me dead, and some want me alive. I can’t defend myself if I don't know.”
She didn’t think much about him, but she felt sorry for him. I could handle that.
Right then I knew what I had missed before. Lee shared the same feeling I had, but I felt my own intensified to a level beyond his or the Hunter’s. They surfaced loved her. I love her deeply.
"I was sent into see if you were the prophecy girl from the stories. Borgon wouldn’t rest until he was sure."
Even I knew that was on purpose.
"Um, why don't you just show him. It might save someone from getting hurt."
"I'll let you know."
"Did you know about the two boys who were killed the same day?"
He narrowed the look but didn't lie, "Do you want me to say no?"
I was actually surprised he was giving some up. I had waffled for a while on his motives but they were crystal clear now.
She turned on the icy stare that still came across as politically correct, “I admire you for doing all this. I want you as an ally, not an enemy. I am tired of having to see you as that. You always act like you hate me now.”
“Hate you? Far from it,” Spy Boy spout off.
“Look, you flatter me. But I am not that girl anymore. You need to move on. I need you Lee, as an ally. Whatever you know, please think about sharing it with me.” Her eyes looked away like her feelings might be deeper than she showed to even me. Even if I know you are a traitor.
Right on.
I was wrong again on her cleverness.
He told her, “I can’t be your ally. That is what keeps them coming back for me to do their jobs. They think I hate you. If I don’t keep the front, they will know.”
“Who are THEY?” she barked right back him like he did earlier to her.
Spy Boy Lee darted his eyes around like he was going to spill a secret to her that might get him killed or something. I wish. He said low and too close to her, “No one.”
That was nothing.
“Well, you will have to remember when all this is over, you are my ally.”
I tensed when her hands went on his shoulder.
“It will never be over Anastacia,” he finally said something that was half true.
“I have to believe it will. Until then, we are enemies. I will just be careful how much I tell you because I am still not completely convinced that this little act of yours is not a ploy to get me caught. Until further notice, stay on your guard because I am watching you.”
He watched her the entire walk she made for her dorm. All of her. I could kill him now in a matter of seconds and not one soul would ever know of it. I could revert back to the killer I could be. I was. I have.
Chapter Twenty Two
Her text came in the middle of the night. She never pulled me into a dream. It was a visit I haven't had in a while.
U DRM LST NT?
I did dream despite her leaving me hanging. My own mother came to me in a dream.
Y
She short answered me back.
&
Impatient, are we?
UR MY QUEEN
I ND2C the WERE.
Not yet. She couldn’t meet Ryan yet. I couldn’t handle her flirtatious attitude with another dude in the picture. I wouldn't be able to taper it much long.
SOON I told her. I knew she wouldn't take that and leave it alone.
NOW She responded as I thought what to say. Better to be ass.
I C UR DRM GASSED U I had to use sarcasm to assure my holding her off no matter how pissed it made her.
NO MORE SECRETS! Her and her rules. I couldn't do the no secrets rule yet. She wasn’t ready.
TLK LR
She never answered back. That wouldn't be the last of her though. I was counting on it.
ℓℓℓℓℓ
I knew the second she arrived and even before. I followed her line of thoughts as soon as she entered the five mile range I had managed to measure.
She shyly announced to her driver, “Thank you for taking me.”
“Don’t thank me till we see how it fares,” the Hunter complained like a cranky old woman.
She commented on his smell. Err! She liked his car. Was she impressed by the car? Was mine not good enough?
He opened her door for her. She was thinking of me when he smiled at her. As good as that was, she was thinking I would be angry at her for the text I avoided among other things. She chose to travel with the Hunter.
They were in the hallway when my own body ignited with the fire she swept me with when she was near. She felt it too. My mind was blocked off, but it was roaring out just what I wanted to do to her, audience or not.
When she glided into the room, I was floor-boarded yet again by her. She was just beautiful inside— and out. I have seen girls. Pretty ones. But she was just personified as perfect in every way.
She forced a nod at her brother first avoiding my solidified gaze on her. She looked down at her feet and under the side of her hair before fixing her eyes straight to me. I turned my stare over to Calum for a second to show her where my own hidden thoughts lie and she found them out quickly.
She took three steps and blocked my view of the many deathblows that I could master from the length of space I would need to take out the Hunter boy. She wasn’t solving her or my own problem.
Her ring was taken care of. It wouldn't hinder my needs for long. Then...she put it on. On purpose. I cursed.
She let her eyes follow the veins in my arms and noted the tightness of my shirt. Then her off kilter desirous thoughts said my full name and nearly broke me down right there. I needed to take her out of here. I needed her close to end the ache. This meeting needed to start and end.
“Shall we?” her father started us off.
The room all shifted to her, though it magnetically transferred to her the second she neared the room.
She pushed her chest out and grinned confidently, “Should we lay all the facts on the table?”
Only her father nodded.
“I’ll go first,” she pulled her words through the air.
As she relayed her dream, the three of other marked ones in the room all made eyes in each other’s direction assuring that our dreams were reasonably the same. The tale being told by our one and only female in this motley crew of unusually made creatures that we made up disturbed me. The gods and goddesses have a damn creepy way of making the men look inferior. Course, what man wouldn't follow her to the ends of the earth?
Err! That’s what worried me.
Would I even keep her?
Lord Hathown wasn’t her father. I knew this. Her perceptions of how she saw each of us in her own eyes scared even me. And when Hunter boy called out her supposed nickname she had coined for us as her “male counterparts” the group outnumbering her didn’t let her down in male pride reaction time.
Her ring moved at that precise moment.
...the only DANG girl in the room.
Grrr!
She ignored me. She was definitely mad. Did she see by now that even noting a fact like that just jump started my libido more?
Szar sassed like a punk girl proud of herself for shopping at the mall. He was laying it on thick with the heir to the throne busines
s.
The order. What, the Order of the Marked Ones? I guess that is what we are calling ourselves?
She didn’t even acknowledge that I could hear her. I looked to see if she holding the charm between her fingers, but it was hidden.
Hunter boy went next sharing that he is expected to protect my girl at all costs. He shared the fact that he owned the same marks as she and felt the need to explain their origin though no one seemed to really care.
I waited till hot shot was done, then I started being careful to avert my eyes from hers. She noted in her mind that my voice was deep. She noticed this a lot more each time we met.
I am assumed to be her guide through the supposed journey of dealing with the factions. I deepened my voice to wager the results and sure enough, her heart sped up. It was a power I could use. And I would.
At my last word she waited only two sound seconds before asking to the unspecified group, “And when do we see the Were leader? I need to know his intentions.”
Szar stupidly roared a telling laugh I was sure she had read as something more than what it was. Little did she know.
“Yes, brother,” she aimed her stare at him this time. This time I noticed her searing look was gaited different than when aimed at me. Neither was emotional or thought out.
“Nothing sis. Nothing. Focused on those intentions.”
“This allusive Were leader I have yet to meet have a name?” she asked with the same coquettish wiles she leads off with to get her way with others. Namely men since I see her so rarely with other females.
“Cord Ryan,” I told her with my voice in such a way, but to all of the group.
She recalled she knew this.
“We will set a meet. I will let you know,” I stated like a fact.
“I think we should address at a later date the fact that my powers have grown as well as I know Cas, Lord Cross’ powers have also.”
She was telling them more than I wanted.
No one jumped on it either. Good!
They still all heard.
Dr. Green finished the sharing session, “For now I think we have done enough. The more time that passes, the more others will settle down. We need to watch Borgon and his cohorts. They will not be far away from Anastacia. Calum will keep her safe at school. Thorn will not be far.”
She clapped her hands, “Meeting adjourned.” She left our group and headed to the table of food but her brain estimated she had no appetite for food. She craved a fight, or at least a foreseen one. That much I could decipher from her thoughts.
I wound my fingers around the length of her neck and felt for my own gift from the top of her sweater. Knowing I was represented still, I returned it and loosened the clasp easily enough checking to make sure the bracelet wouldn’t be lost, then I removed the ring from her wrist. She didn’t stop chewing or turn towards me.
You think I am mad at you.
Aren’t you? She asked as if we were ignoring each other still in front of the others. Hasty in wanting her attention back on me, I turned her around and look down into her eyes.
Tell Hunter boy you have a ride home.
Calum skulked at me in front of her and asked directly, “Are you ready?”
Instead of answering Hunter boy she looked at her father who caught her hint and said to us, “If you'll excuse me. I have business. Mr. Green. Lord Cross.” Lord Hathown bowed to me and then the Hunter.
She faced the Hunter and told him, “Thank you for bringing me here. I am going to stay a while longer and Cas will take me back.”
On the road to happy days. Not there yet.
“Thorn,” the Hunter spoke my name and bowed. Scum. Then the sick bastard leaned into her and whispered, “Text if you need me.” The kiss burned on her cheek like a double edged sword.
Szar was on his way out like he knew he should if he knew what was good for him. He could be such a punk sometimes, but I enjoyed the side show he displayed next. He walked over to the food and copied her in a girly display of eating then leaned to her face, “Text me if you need me.” He winked and kissed her forehead.
She ate another bite not hungry and thinking if she ate she could avoid me. The second he fled the doorway my hand whipped around the back of her and had her body even against my own. Her lips inches below my own as I pulled her up to me. The word passion came to mind. Girls may be nice to look at, I am male and am wired that way. Other girls may have ignited the idea of my hormonal urges as a teenage boy, but this girl...she makes me forget every girl that ever existed. I couldn't stand the idea of letting her go far enough away from me much less letting her fall prey to another man’s arms. She had to be mine. At all cost.
My mouth found hers like it was searching in the dark for the light. Her light. Hard, fast kisses I knew she was new too. That surged my excitement more, that I was giving her a first. When I felt compelled to kiss every part of her mouth and space around it, she melted into my arms at the first pass across her cheek and jaw. Her pressing hands went to the back of my neck and the same rock my world feeling hit me in all places at once. I made several more passes over her neck, my favorite spot other than her sweet honeyed mouth.
Cas. She called but I couldn’t stop.
Cassius!
I restricted myself to just above her jaw and stayed there. Making me jealous didn’t pan-out the way you expected Kissa.
She pulled back and looked up. I wasn’t trying to make you jealous.
Fooled me. Either way, I will not pretend that I have any intentions of sharing you. If you say you are mine, You.Are.Mine.
She swallowed enough I could hear and then had to let her breath out because the kissing had taken her breath away. That I had done to her.
I see.
Do you? My stare bore into her scared one. Can you handle this Kissa?
Do I have any other choice? She rather smiled than looked confused or angry.
I have no choice, but she will always be able to walk away if that makes her happier. I held her face in my hands. You always have a choice.
Chapter Twenty Three
Right answer hot stuff. “I will back off of Calum. I told him we were friends. Allies. I told him I need him. He needs me. I need you to handle that. We can’t do any of this without him.” She rewarded me with another flush of her hands on the back of my neck like she might pull me into a kiss like once before.
“I will try. Does he know you are mine?”
She hesitated, “Yes.”
“What does he expect from you?” Would he disappear other than the unfortunate circumstances we all seem to tangled in? If she was mine, I could deal.
“He knows I want only friendship but he is...persistent and never leaves me alone.” She didn’t lie to me.
I blinked back the anger of tearing him limb for limb to give him the hint. “And you okayed this?”
“No, but what alternative do I have staying at the Hunter school?” She thought about staying at my court and being near me, but her heart spiked with an image that could only be termed as appropriate for me alone to see. It was heavily termed as
“You can resume your studies at my court.”
She frowned, I followed with one also, “You will have your own room of course.”
“I will think about it,” she admitted sadly.
She worried next I wouldn't feel the same if she had said no and asked, “Would you take away the frown now? I like your smile.” She sighed inwardly and crooned when she tried, Ode to the god who gave him beautiful lips and beautiful chiseled cheeks.
My eyebrow went up rippling with curiosity and eagerness for more of her assessments.
Arg! And ode to the god of eyebrow rising. May it bless me with weak knees.
I laughed deep and smooth like we were back at the picnic from before. It’s like her brain never paused. It always had something new to throw at me. She put her head against my chest making me motionless when she placed her hand and cupped it against the side of my chest. Catatonic and
hurting physically from her nearness, she didn’t understand the unintended effect.
“What are you doing Kissa?”
Listening to you. The other night your laugh made me...well I just liked it.
I hugged her. I don’t believe I have ever hugged anyone before.
We both heard a throat being cleared. She stepped back away too fast. Szar smiled hugely at her and warned, “Heads up. Father will be here in roughly sixty seconds. Brother out.” And he backed out with yet another of his ladies’ man winks intended for his sister. His good guy/mean brother episodes really grated on my nerves.
“Do we say goodbye?” I allowed her to decide, but she knew she should.
“Suppose we should,” she rolled her eyes thinking she was ready to go.
Lord Hathown walked in smiling at her, “Anastacia. Lord Cross.” He bowed to both of us.
“I would like to talk with the two of you if you have a moment.”
We looked at each other. She showed her frustration only in her brain and vowed to take Szar out the sisterly way for letting them get cornered. I would like to see that.
“I would like to know what your intentions are and how they will unfold for the two of you.”
“Um, father,” she gulped, “I am eighteen. I have no intentions of staying here or marrying any of the men you may put in front of me. I don’t think you have a say in who I decide to spend my time with nor do I intend to ask you for your permission. If you need to feel some form of father/daughter mediation to feel all warm and fuzzy inside, don’t. It’s not coming from me. Ever.”
Kissa. I took her hand hoping to calm her some.
“Well, that was a fine speech. I am glad to know you feel strong enough to be honest with me. However, my own intentions are well spent and will be heard. You are my daughter no matter what your mother may have said. I have a vested interest into your affairs and will remain so because I love you Anastacia. I never once presumed my hard headed little Tigris would marry anyone but who she deemed worthy. If this is your intentions, may I say it is a bit fast from my standpoint? But rest assured I will know what my young friend and loyal comrade here has intended with anything that has to do with my daughter.”
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