“I thank you for that reassurance,” Mo’ata said. “You may not be aware, but we consider ourselves her... family, not just her guardians. In fact, Forrest is of the same planet as Blue and Phillip and a great friend of theirs. We would not think of leaving them on their own in a strange new place.”
The Chief Elder’s lips pursed, then thinned. The old woman clearly did not want Blue’s men here. “Surely not all of you can stay for the time it will take to cleanse the young man? We haven’t had a crystal connection of this strength since Shardon, and the depth of the corruption is great. It could be months, if not years, before things are put right. Even then we cannot allow him off the planet.”
“About that. The terms agreed on by the Alliance were kind of loose. Exactly how long do I stay here?” Blue asked.
The Chief Elder gave her a blank look, and Blue realized she had spoken in English. A second later Mo’ata was translating into Common.
“Ah,” the Chief Elder answered. “You will need to remain as long as the young man needs you to remain.”
Blue suppressed a snort. Yeah, not cryptic at all. Phillip shifted beside her, and she bit her tongue, not too hard, but there really shouldn’t be any words slipping unbidden from her mouth. Not when the box was right there, not when Phillip already didn’t like the Chief Elder, and especially not if she hinted that she wanted to leave the fiend to the tender care of these inside-out people.
“And who determines when she is no longer needed?” Trevon’s tones were as smooth as Mo’ata’s.
The Chief Elder’s gaze settled on Phillip. “He does,” she said.
Silence fell over the room.
“Nothing to say to that, young man?” the Chief Elder asked of Phillip.
He shrugged. “Nothing to say. The whole discussion is moot. Blue wants to be with me.” The Common rolled off of him. He was growing more and more fluent in it, almost as easily as Levi was picking up English. Maybe the crystal affinity has more to do with the way a person’s mind works than anything else. Not a genetics thing, but a function thing. How else would Phillip have bonded with it?
The Chief Elder turned to her. “And what of you Blue? Is this true?”
Her heart sped, and her attention sharpened. Why was the elder pushing this? Was she trying to set Phillip off? Testing?
“Go Ministry Academy, learn how portal power. No want send more portals,” Blue said in her much rougher Common, leaving it at that.
The Chief Elder let it go. Sitting back, she gestured to the elders behind her. “We have put together a daily schedule. It has been carefully designed to allow for the maximum progress while still ensuring your safety as well as my own people’s. Your... companions can join you in these or go their own way. I only ask that they remain in the areas designated for visitors and guests or the training grounds. If they are found in a restricted area without invitation, they will be escorted out.” Her gaze shot to the men. “Is that clear?”
A chorus of affirmative answers sounded behind Blue, and she relaxed slightly. It was settled. She wouldn’t be alone.
As independent as she wanted to be, as much as she wanted to set off on her own adventures and blaze a path of wondrous exploration, she sure as hell didn’t want to do it alone. Just the last week of semi-isolation had shown her that.
Some people were built to go it alone. She wasn’t. Oh, she could do it. She just didn’t want to.
Forrest said she underestimated herself; she thought he overestimated her.
The Chief Elder picked back up. “The guards will escort you and ensure you are where you need to be. Phillip, the majority of your time will be spent either in the meditation room with Brika’s Sacrifice or with the trainees. Closely supervised, of course.”
“I am not some boy who doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Phillip growled out.
And that was her cue. “You figured out a lot on your own,” Blue said, laying her hand on his arm. “Is there any harm in letting them teach you more? From what Levi has said, Etu wasn’t much of a crystal user. He couldn’t have had much to show you.” She spoke in English, not caring at this point if everyone understood. Had she thought this was going to be easy once they’d made it to the Prizzoli? Just hand Phillip over and hang out? Yeah... no.
Phillip’s gaze ran over her face, and she smiled. It became easier and easier to force the smiles as well. The manipulative words, the quick grins. Hell, it was even easier to touch him and be touched. What made her sick now was not what she had to endure, but that it was becoming easier.
“You,” the Chief Elder cut in, addressing Blue, “will be on a similar schedule, except when Phillip is in his meditations, you will be in your quarters. There will be a visitation once a day where you may catch up with each other. As Phillip has said, I know you do not want to be parted for long.”
Was that sarcasm in the older woman’s voice?
She continued. “Your well-being is extremely important, and we cannot risk your exposure to any of the... unsatisfied elements of the Prizzoli. I have done the best I can in leading my people, but there are those who have protested your presence. Both of your presences.”
Blue stared at her, unable to think of what to say. “Ummm... so, like, when you say confined to quarters, you mean... I... I don’t leave? Ever? The hell?” Her last words were a breathy whisper. Mo’ata began his translation from English to Common, but it barely registered for Blue.
“You will of course be allowed out of your rooms. We have arranged for you to join the guards for a time each day as they practice the kiti, which will provide some exercise and a measure of release for your energy. I believe it will also be good for you, you are a bit... excitable.” The Chief Elder waved a hand dismissively.
Blue twisted to look back at Mo’ata, unsure if she had understood the other woman correctly. He quickly translated into English as Phillip shot her a smirk. Yup, I heard that right. Excitable, huh?
Blue recalled a saying she had once seen. It was a silly thing in one of those little inspiration books—something like “act cheerful, it will drive everyone crazy.”
No time like the present.
She plastered on her newly learned fake smile. “That sounds wonderful. I get a vacation, finally. Are there any restrictions to what I can work on while in my rooms? It may be perfect for me to get a better handle on my Common and dive in to learning everything I haven’t had a chance to tackle yet about the Alliance and the Ministry and my family.” She rattled off the words in English, probably sounding like a ditz, and Mo’ata translated.
Phillip looked at her like he didn’t know her, and she turned her blinding smile on him. He blinked a few times, then shrugged.
The Chief Elder wasn’t done and went through more rules, regulations, and general strictures. She was to be accompanied at all times. She could have visitors in her rooms, but only with a supervisory guard—this applied to all visitors, even her companions and Phillip. She would be allowed to leave for meals and exercise, but it was preferred she take her meals in quarters. The others could come and go as they pleased, but must check in with the elders and keep them informed of their planned movements. It went on and on, and eventually Blue tuned it out. She was only understanding about two thirds of the words anyway.
When Levi’s name was mentioned, she snapped back to attention. “What?”
Elder Shinzu, who had stepped up to the front row behind the Chief Elder sometime during all of the talk, spoke. “Guard Levi has been assigned eight days of cleansing. He will join you for the kiti, but that is it. Your guards will rotate, just as they do with Brika, and when he is done, he will be slotted in with the rotation.”
Did that mean...?
She was losing Levi. Which was silly to think because she’d never really had him. She ignored the hollow feeling the thought left her with.
And what the hell was Brika? That was the second time it had been mentioned.
It would be harder to corner someone to tell her what wa
s going on while she was confined. Or maybe it would be easier. Wasn’t the only reason she was kept in the dark that they wanted to keep Phillip there as well? Well, Phillip would be in “meditation” soon enough.
Levi stepped off to the side and against the wall, standing neither with the elders nor with her guys. Her stomach growled into the silence the room had fallen into. She gave the Chief Elder a sheepish smile. “Maybe we eat? Finish after?”
The woman’s shoulders shook, and her lips thinned. The wrinkles around her eyes deepened in the golden light.
Yeah, laugh it up lady.
After a nod from the Chief Elder, Elder Shinzu stepped forward. “Allow me to show you where you may take your meals when not in your quarters. Guard Levi, you may accompany us. Your cleansing will begin tomorrow.” The elder shuffled for the door, and after a brief hesitation, Blue rose and turned her back on the remaining elders. Levi hadn’t told her what to do in this particular situation, but she had probably just mortally offended someone.
Phillip rose a beat behind her and took his place at her side as they followed the elder. Her guys came along behind.
After a meal that did not live up to the clans’ stew, Blue was in her rooms for the night. The new routine would start the next day, but she already had a stone-faced guard outside her door and a restless cub. Poor guy wasn’t used to being alone, either, and kept sending her images of Forrest and Vivi and Mo’ata and Levi.
Blue sat on her bed, ignored the softness of the mattress and fuzziness of the blankets, and tried to think of her next move. She came up blank. Frustration filled her, and she flopped onto her back on the bed.
Two quick knocks sounded, and the door opened. Mo’ata, Levi, and Trevon entered. The door closed behind them. It took her about a half second, and then Blue was up, throwing herself into Mo’ata’s arms. They closed around her, strong and firm, as she burrowed into his chest and hung on.
It was one of the best hugs of her life. “I’ve missed you.” The words were muffled against the armor he had yet to take off.
His arms tightened to just this side of pain, and he rocked her. “I have missed you as well, shopa. This is worse than when you were gone because I see you but I cannot be with you. We will figure out how to fix this.”
She craned her head back. It was uncomfortable, but she wasn’t willing to let go of him, not yet. “What is this, even? Someone better spill while they can.”
Mo’ata frowned, and Trevon laughed. Ah, slang.
“Not here,” Levi said in English, stepping close to her, stopping only inches away. Something pressed into her side, and a touch slid to the pocket of her pants before slowly drawing away. He closed the few inches that still separated them and rested his head on hers, half bent. “Surveillance.” He didn’t so much whisper as he breathed the words out. “Press button and meet at window when moons down.” He pressed a light kiss to her temple, stepped back, and bowed.
Trevon remained still and quiet, unusual for him, and Mo’ata ran a hand down her back, then up again.
Levi bowed again. “I will see you tomorrow for kiti but otherwise will be in meditation for cleansing. I simply wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed our time together in the worlds, and I wish you many and varied adventures for your life, Blue.” He spun on his heel and left.
“That sounded like a goodbye,” she said, staring after him.
Trevon wandered over to the curtains, finding the edge and flicking one aside. “Only for the next eight days or so.” He gazed out the window, and the moonlight glinted off his piercings.
Garfield approached the man and sniffed at his feet. No claws, but no purr.
“Are the rooms acceptable?” Mo’ata’s voice rumbled through her.
He was asking about rooms? She pulled back just enough to wrap her arms around his shoulders and pull. He didn’t move. “Mo’ata.”
He gave her a grin more appropriate to a hooligan and bent down, touching his lips to hers. “I have missed our cuddling,” he said.
She rose on her toes, pressing her lips to his, kissing him, but he didn’t respond as she wanted. She pulled away and stared into hazel eyes. This was the first time they had touched in weeks; why was he hesitating?
“Two reasons,” Trevon said. “I’m here, and he’s afraid that if he starts he won’t stop and now is not the time for that.”
Blue jumped and twisted to glare at the real hooligan. “So, go away.”
Trevon grinned. “Ah, the little star, so eager.”
“Why are you such an ass?”
“You like my ass.”
“I’ve never looked at your ass. And why are we talking about asses?”
He shrugged. “You brought them up.”
“Ignore him,” Mo’ata said, drawing her back into him. “But he is not wrong in his reasoning. I simply need to hold you for a moment, please.”
She rested her head back on his chest and stopped thinking. Why was it that some people you just clicked with? Mo’ata... she clicked with. His mere presence calmed her, steadied her like no one else’s. Even Forrest’s. Forrest was home. Mo’ata was her rock. In her mind, both would always be there.
Eventually he loosened his arms. “I have to go. Remember what Levi has told you.” He placed a kiss on her temple and stepped back, turning for the door.
She didn’t want him to go.
Trevon stepped in front of her, cutting off her view. “I certainly don’t want to leave such a lovely lady wanting.” He grinned as he swooped down, setting his lips to hers and kissing her hard, just as he had done once before.
After a half second of shock, she pulled back her foot, ready to kick him. He had to stop doing this. Trevon jumped away before she could make contact. Mo’ata had paused in the doorway, watching. His lip twitched as he watched the scene, and Blue decided to read it as a good thing.
Trevon spun and wiggled his butt at her. “Well, now you’re gonna be staring at my ass as I walk away. I win.”
Blue couldn’t hold in her laugh.
And he was right. She did watch his ass as he walked away.
Chapter 5
BLUE
Blue peeked out the window, watching as the last sliver of the third moon disappeared over the horizon. Thick clouds already obscured most of the sky. The guest quarters backed up to the plains. No lamps shone in that direction, leaving the expanse shrouded in a deep darkness. She strained to see, but could detect no movement.
Push the button. That was what Levi had said.
She dug the small device out of her jeans pocket. About the size of a roll of Lifesavers, it had a slight indentation on one end. She pushed it.
And nothing happened. At least nothing that she could see. She’d waited. The moons were gone. She was at the window. She’d pushed the button.
She would have to talk to the guys about giving better instructions for any future sneaky activities.
A face popped up on the other side of the glass, and she jumped, her heart pounding. Forrest grinned at her, and she glared. Levi appeared beside him and motioned for her to come out.
She tapped on the glass and raised her brows. Levi pointed to the right lower corner. There was a small lever, no more than an inch long, pointing out at a forty-five degree angle. Levi made a pushing motion with his finger, and Blue matched him, pressing on the lever until it lay flush with the metal rim around the glass. Or, she assumed it was glass.
There was a soft snick, and a gap appeared, no more than a quarter inch wide. She pushed, and the window swung out, hinging on the left.
Garfield leapt to the sill, butted her, and jumped down on the other side.
Blue couldn’t hold back her grin. She felt like a teenager sneaking out for a night on the town. Except, she’d never had to creep out like this; she’d never wanted to do wild things requiring her to deceive her parents. Maybe she’d missed out because despite everything, this was fun.
She boosted herself up to the sill and got one leg over. Levi reache
d up to steady her, his hands at her waist, and she brought her other leg over. A small shove and she was out.
With Levi leading the way, they passed behind the guest quarters and cut through another area, this one with an open field in the center and fenced off portions that created enclosed zones surrounding that. At the far side stood targets. Maybe the practice area the Chief Elder had mentioned? Then they were past that and headed out into the plains, avoiding the light spilling from one area, before veering back into the village.
The next section wasn’t lit. Blue’s eyes had adjusted some, but without any moon or starlight, she was having trouble seeing where she was going. A larger shadow separated from one building, or what she thought was a building, and she jumped back, tripping over a pile of stone.
“Dammit.”
“Quiet,” Felix whispered.
“Then don’t come out of nowhere,” she hissed back at him.
The shadow bent over her, and large hands wrapped around her upper arms, pulling her up. “Good?”
She nodded. Then realized if she couldn’t see, he couldn’t... Well, he probably could see her. He was tricky like that. She answered aloud anyways. “Yeah, good,” she said, careful to keep her voice low.
His hand slid down her arm and curled around her fingers. He tugged her in the direction he’d come from; Forrest and Levi were already ahead of them.
She held out a hand, using the stone of the building to guide her.
“Down.” Felix tugged her hand down and to the right, and she ducked as they turned and entered darkness.
Senses and sight and darkness were a funny thing. She kept her left hand in Felix’s, but her right now floated free in the air. There was no wall to feel, and instead of giving her the sense of a more open space, everything closed in. Her fingers gripped Felix. The air was still and heavy, smelling of dust and disuse. Her eyes strained, seeing only darkness and moving shadows that weren’t there, simply phantoms. Her heart pounded and her breathing sped.
For a Pixie in Blue Page 6
