River Cast: Part Two in the Tale of Lunarmorte

by Samantha Young

“There’s a difference between that and abusing your position to nose into my privacy.”

  Scowling, he made to turn away from her, and before he disappeared with a banging of the doors together, he murmured, “Don’t think I don’t find the Jaeden question weird.”

  When he was gone, Caia blew out a weary breath.

  Jaeden was OK.

  And she would remain as such as long as Caia had any say in it.

  ***

  23 hours later after that

  Vilhelm gazed back at her wild-eyed and shaking.

  “You’re sure this is going to work?”

  Caia nodded, poker-face on, her body steady as a rock. If they were to pull this off, she needed to project a calm confidence that he wouldn’t question.

  She had to hand it to the kid, he was either extremely brave or just stupidly in love. After hunting him down it had taken very little to convince Vilhelm to break Laila out of the Centre and take her to Ryder’s. It seemed they were both desperate enough to place their trust in a stranger. They stood now in a janitor’s closet, a few corridors away from the prison.

  “You ready?”

  Vil nodded excitedly.“Do it.”

  With unruffled nerve, Caia raised her hand so that it hovered an inch in front of Vil’s face. Slowly and carefully, her fingers crackling with energy, she swept the air in a vertical motion from the tip of his hair to the tip of his chin.

  “Is it done?”

  She bit her lip, gazing at Vil who was now the exact image of Vanne. “Not quite.”

  Softly, she placed a hand on his neck, where his voice box was.

  “Cold,” he chuckled nervously.

  With a satisfied nod, Caia pulled back. “Say something else.”

  “I can’t wait to see Laila.” His eyes widened. “I can’t wait to see Laila. Wow I sound exactly like Vanne.”

  Caia nodded briskly. “Remember, you have exactly thirty minutes to get in there and get out of the Centre before your face and voice returns. Hold out your hand, palm forward.”

  He did as she instructed and she placed her small hand against his large hand.

  Lucien had almost caught her researching this act she was about to perform: the transfer of a small amount of her power to another magik. The transfer would last only ten minutes at the most, but they needed this so that Vil could break Laila out of the bars in her prison.

  Yesterday morning, Caia and Vil had managed to sweet talk (to her utter mortification) the name of the spell wrapped around the bars holding Laila in, from a junior officer in the containment centre. He had been more than happy to show off how the facilities worked for the VIP magik in their midst. With the help of a little something Vil had picked up during one of his air element lectures, he was able to stop the memory of their having been at the containment centre by temporarily starving the oxygen flow to the hippocampus of the officer’s brain, where memories were consolidated from short term to long term.

  It tended to be a little painful and cause some confusion for a moment, giving them plenty of time to get out of there before he came back to his senses.

  Lucien had then interrupted Caia’s research in the library where she discovered what kind of spell to counteract the one keeping the magik up around the bars. It was a small incantation that needed to be said whilst focusing the energy used to produce glamour on the bars. The transfer of her power to him temporarily was necessary, since Vil wasn’t really good at anything but utilising his air element and being a Traveller.

  “You remember the password and incantation?”

  Vil nodded vigilantly. “Locked in tight.” He tapped his brain.

  It was weird talking to him when he looked and sounded like Vanne. Heart pounding with trepidation, Caia jerked her head towards the closet door. “You better get going. Remember you can trust Ryder, he’ll keep you safe. Just don’t mention Laila being a Midnight just yet.”

  “Got it.”

  “Just tell him what I told you to tell him.”

  “Don’t worry, I will. I trust you.”

  She guessed it was easier to trust the person who tells you they think the girl you love is actually a good person, than the person who imprisoned her and forbade you from ever seeing her again.

  It was at that moment the familiar, sickening, icy feeling shuddered through her body, and a wealth of new information poured into her.

  “Crap,” she whispered.

  “What, what?” Vil asked frantically.

  “Nothing. Nothing. It’s not about this, it doesn’t affect this. Go!” She pushed him towards the door and watched impatiently as he ducked his head out to make sure the corridor was clear. Caia closed the closet door behind her and nodded at him. “See you soon.”

  He smiled tremulously. “Hope so.”

  With that, they spun away from each other and headed in opposite directions. At the elevators, Caia picked up the intercom system.

  “Centre Reception, Chloe speaking.”

  “Chloe, it’s Caia Ribeiro. Can you put me through to Marita?”

  “One second, please.”

  The line was silent for only a moment or two.

  “Caia?” Marita’s imperious voice rang down the phone line. She felt her face grimacing in anger and scolded herself for being obvious even if the witch couldn’t see her.

  “Could you please gather the tactical team for the MacLachlan’s together?”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I have some important news.”

  16 - You

  “I thought we were going to spend more time apart until Lucien gets back?”

  She stood slouched and languid against her doorframe, her mouth twisted in mockery, her tone suggesting irritation. But Ryder was not deterred. He grinned cockily into her dark blue eyes and found in them attraction, happiness that he was on her doorstep.

  Shrugging, he mirrored Jaeden’s pretended indifference. “I’m bored. Thought you might be bored; maybe desperate to get some air.” He nodded behind her shoulder, his eyebrows raised pointedly. He watched, amused, as she struggled to hide her smile of relief.

  Yeah, she could definitely do with getting away from her parents for a while.

  “Come on, Jae,” he taunted at her hesitation, “You know you want to.”

  She huffed in response, “You are such a tease.”

  Grinning wolfishly, he gestured with a sweep of his hand to his truck. “Not tonight.”

  Her eyes lit up and he had to stifle his groan of frustration. He had no intention of doing what she thought he intended on doing. The truth was he couldn’t seem to last a few hours without her, despite the restrictions he put on the activities allowed during their times together. But he’d rather she was alone with him than with Reuben, who was constantly in her kitchen.

  “Fine,” she pretend grumbled, and then shouted back inside as she shut the door, “I’m going out with Ryder for a while.”

  Grabbing his sleeve, Jae began tugging him at full speed towards the truck. “Hey, where’s the fire?”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “We need to get out of here in the next ten seconds or the-”

  “Jaeden!”

  “Oh, great.”

  They both turned at the sound of Dimitri’s voice. He stood, glaring at them from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his feet spread apart.

  “Where are you going?” The question was directed threateningly to Ryder.

  Great. He scowled at Jaeden as if to say ‘nice going’. He really hoped her dad would back off once they were actually mated.

  “With it being such a nice night and all I asked Jaeden if she would like to go for a run.”

  “We’re going for a run?” He was relieved to hear that her surprise was tinged with pleasure.

  “What about asking me?” The Elder grumbled.

  Ryder straightened his shoulders. “Well, sir, I never thought. Would you like to come for a run?”

  “Not me going with you, you idiot.” He shoo
k his head in disgust. “How on earth did you make it to Rogue Hunter status with that brain in that head?”

  “Dad,” Jae warned.

  He shrugged and gestured towards him. “He’s the one asking the stupid questions. I meant... why did you not ask permission from me to escort my daughter on a run?”

  “Dad, I’m eighteen.”

  Dimitri merely snorted, “Yeah, and that makes you mature.”

  Ryder stiffened, feeling Jae’s bristling between them. And Dimitri thought he was the dumb one.

  “No,” she snapped, stepping menacingly towards her father, “But weeks in a cage at the hands of a psychopath, and then months living by myself hunting kind of does.”

  Dimitri blanched. “Sweetheart, you know I didn’t mean-”

  “Dad, I don’t want to argue.” She sighed, and then threw a meaningful glance at Ryder, one that he couldn’t help but enjoy. “I just want to spend some time with Ryder.”

  The Elder stared at them for some moments and then nodded stiffly. “OK.” His hand shot out towards Ryder, his finger pointed in warning. “No funny business though, or I’ll kill you.”

  “Daddy,” Jae groaned, “Ryder is a perfect gentleman.” She lowered her eyes, blushing and murmuring, “... so embarrassing... kill... ’rents...”

  Ryder struggled not to laugh as he grabbed a hold of Jaeden’s hand. “I’ll take good care of her.”

  “You do that.”

  ***

  They lay side by side on top of the hood of Ryder’s truck, their limbs torpid and warm from their run in her father and Lucien’s woods. She smiled softly, comforted by the heat of him next to her, by their recent playfulness in their wolf form. Ryder was a big gentle beast; no matter how hard she came at him he would just shrug her off placidly and tickle her with his snout. It wasn’t like Lucien with Caia. She had watched them play together and Lucien was a rougher kind of guy; nudging Cy as hard as she nudged him, nipping, biting, tumbling. Ryder just seemed happy to be there with her, despite the bruises she inflicted.

  She giggled.

  “What was that for?” Ryder asked in an amused, sleepy voice.

  She shook her head and watched him from the corner of her eye. His eyes were in fact closed, his arms locked behind his head.

  “You’re not what I was expecting.”

  “Hmm, no? I guess I wasn’t expecting you, at all.”

  She chuckled at that and gazed back at the stars, far above lights in the dark ceiling over their heads. “Fair enough.”

  “You glad to be home?”

  It was weird how glad she was to be home. Having been so set against coming back, having been so determined to leave in the first place, she still couldn’t quite work out her own sudden feelings.

  “Very.”

  “Told you.”

  “Yeah, there’s no need to be smug.” She sighed and edged a little closer to his body heat. “It’s still weird, though.”

  Jaeden almost laughed at the way one of his eyes snapped open in alert. “What is?”

  “Like I said before, I was so set against coming home and then... just as suddenly I couldn’t believe I had ever thought leaving was the answer.”

  It was his turn to sigh as he rolled over on to his side, his arm bent at the elbow as his hand propped his head up. “You went through a lot, Jaeden. You keep saying you’re OK, but maybe that sudden switch in feelings is just part of what you’re dealing with.”

  No, she thought inwardly, no I really am OK.

  As if he could hear her thoughts he reached out to stroke her cheek affectionately. She curled contentedly into his touch.

  “How can you be OK, Jae? I don’t understand how you can be OK.”

  With that she withdrew from him, her eyes fixed back on the sky. She didn’t want to pull away from him, but she didn’t want him thinking she was some kind of head case who needed help, when she knew within herself that she didn’t.

  “I thought we had been over this, already. You’re starting to sound like a broken record.”

  “We’ve not been over it to my satisfaction.”

  Somehow she managed to contain the snort of annoyance that comment elicited. It bothered her that he wanted to talk about all the bad stuff when all she wanted was to forget it. And she could; she could do that now that she had him, now that she had something to look forward to, something to work towards.

  At her silence, she could feel his tension build, his frustration pulling tighter and tighter until-

  “For Artemis’ sake, Jae, talk to me.”

  With a huff, she drew herself up on the truck, tucking her legs in close to her body. Finally she allowed her gaze to drift over him. As his eyes blazed at her with a mixture of emotions, she was reminded of how of lucky she was that someone like him cared enough to keep asking - despite the wall = head-hitting that occurred each time he did.

  “What is it you want to know, Ryder?”

  He sat up, his huge body taking up most of the room on the hood, drawing her closer in towards him despite her wish to remain aloof – at least with this part of herself.

  “I want to know if you really are coping with what happened with Ethan? Are you still having nightmares?”

  She clenched her teeth together, grinding them back and forth as she squeezed out, “You really are trying to embarrass me to death.”

  “Why is this embarrassing?”

  She deliberately dodged the question. “I thought we talked about this that night in the motel room. I told you I was fine.”

  “Yeah and I... I don’t get how you can be.”

  Goddess, he was a frustrating pain in the ass. No wonder he was a Rogue Hunter, he was completely relentless.

  “I told you I don’t understand my change in feelings.”

  “I told you that’s not what I’m asking about.”

  “Ryder... ” She threw him a pleading glance. “This is what I’m afraid of. You’re doing what my parents are doing.”

  “What?”

  “Trying to decide if I’m a mental patient.”

  “Well, are you?”

  “Ryder!”

  “Jaeden, I just need to know you’re OK.”

  “Yes, I’m OK!” She yelled at him, her heart pounding as she got ready to say it. “I’m OK because of you. Because I love you! You big ass!” Face pulsing with heat from the blood rushing underneath her skin, Jae made to throw herself off the hood of the truck, only to struggle against a steel hold that wrapped around her waist. She yelped as it dragged her back and slammed her none too gently on her back. Ryder held her down, his eyes bright as they roved over her, red face and all. He looked... surprised.

  This is it. It’s true. You can die of embarrassment. He thinks I’m insane.

  “You...You’re OK because of me?” He asked incredulously.

  Jeez, the whole country can probably feel my heart spluttering in abject horror!

  “Well, not just you,” she groused, still pinned under him. “The fact that I might be useful to Caia in the war is also keeping me quite sane.”

  “You plan on fighting?” He frowned.

  “Well, what did you think I’ve been practising for?”

  “Huh.” He looked off into the trees considering the notion, and then his eyes narrowed back on her. “I don’t know if I like that too much.”

  “Well, you can just take a flying-”

  “Now, now, I said I didn’t like it, but I get it.” He nodded and pulled back, allowing her to scramble up and regain some equilibrium. “It makes sense that it would help.”

  Great, he’s not going to say anything. He’s just going to completely ignore that little announcement.

  I thought he had to love me back if we had any chance of being mates?

  She felt like killing him.

  Matters weren’t helped by the way he just stared at her for a long moment, his expression quizzical.

  “It’s more than you,” she reiterated, trying to regain some ground, “When I was
in that... cage... I gave up on life,” her voice cracked a little. “And when Sebastian died I felt ashamed of myself for feeling that way. I’ve promised myself that I will live... because he can’t.”

  For a moment they sat in a heavy-hearted silence.

  “Maybe you should take me home,” she whispered, looking away, her heart quite literally hurting in her chest.

  “Jaeden?”

  “What?” She refused to look at him.

  Gently, he took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him, his eyes searching. “I’m not ignoring what you said-”

  “Ryder, don’t-”

  “Shut up for a second OK. Jaeden, I wouldn’t have suggested we might be mates if I hadn’t been falling in love with you. I love you.” He grinned ruefully. “Despite the fact that you make me crazy. I’m just... awed that I could do that for you; that I could help you be OK.”

  Relief flooded her and she let him draw her in for a long, comforting kiss that heated up too quickly. He withdrew from her laughing shakily. “I’m going to kill Lucien for extending this trip of theirs.”

  Jaeden laughed at his belligerence, relief melting her doubts into the shadows of the forest around them. “Yeah, cos’ I’m sure Lucien is enjoying being away from the pack.”

  “Point taken.” He sighed and looked around them. “I suppose I better get you back.”

  “Can’t we stay... just for a little longer?”

  He smiled softly. “Sure.”

  They settled back down, lying side by side, listening to the sounds of the insects in the nearby woods, the chirping of birds that should have been asleep.

  “So, you really want to fight, huh?”

  Jaeden laughed at his pretend innocent question. “Yes. I’ll be OK. You’ll be there.”

  He chuckled and put his arm around her, drawing her in. “Nice try.”

  “Ryder?” She asked after a few moments of delicious silence.

  “Hmm?”

  “Why did you decide to be a Rogue Hunter?”

  It took him a moment to answer and then he squeezed her closer once more. “Because of my dad.”

  Her heart thudded a little with the sad remembrance that he had lost his father when he was only a young boy. “Your dad?”