FOREVER The Constantines' Secret: A Covenant Keeper Novel

by S. R. Karfelt

  For what seemed forever the cop stared into her eyes. It reminded Beth of the way she looked for truth. Shaking his head, he put the car into gear, motioning at her with his left hand. “Look, if I ever see anything like this again, I’m going to arrest you and report your husband, too. Just get inside before you freeze.”

  Thank heavens, because she could barely feel her legs as she moved woodenly toward the little house. Her woolen hat, scarf, mittens, and socks, coupled with warm boots, did nothing with the rest of her completely bare.

  As soon as the police car turned the corner an Old Guard took full form. Beth handed over her sleeping baby and watched the man vanish, as Delphine had predicted. Beth reached the front door of Cerulean Blue, which had been flung wide open, and stood shivering until two more Old Guard appeared. She wondered if the rest of Delphine’s plot was going according to plan, and if she’d save lives. For a split second she wondered if she should have asked more about Delphine’s plan and motives, but something told her that she didn’t really want to know.

  The last of the Old Guard shimmered as they moved her and her unborn baby. The transportation felt instantaneous and she wondered how Delphine could possibly do anything in that nanosecond, especially when Beth reappeared right inside the entrance to Cerulean Blue. Was that enough time? It doesn’t seem like it could be!

  Her concerns vanished at the sight of Kahtar standing in the entryway awaiting her, his steely eyes wide with disbelief. At that moment Beth knew that the only life she should worry about was hers.

  SOME SMALL PART of Kahtar’s brain managed to function as usual as he slid out of his police jacket and draped it over Beth’s nakedness. Gripping a handful of the fabric, he hauled her across the glass floor of the abstract where a cerulean blue sky encircled the room overhead, around, and beneath them. Wispy clouds drifted from both above and below. His heart hammered in his chest so hard Kahtar could see his pulse flickering in his eyes.

  Sitting inside the abstract, with a clear view of Pearl Street and Beth’s shop, the bustling eatery had gone completely silent as Beth traipsed out her front door wearing nothing but a pair of pink boots, mittens, scarf, and a fuzzy hat. Yet watching his long-legged wife strolling naked along the sidewalk, clutching a bundled Dianta, and chatting about divorce and his penchant for nudity to a seeker hadn’t been what nearly took him to his knees.

  The swell of her belly announced a second pregnancy.

  The fact that it was impossible had turned Kahtar’s world upside down and shook it a few times.

  Unable to issue a single order, he’d watched the madness unfold along with everyone else inside the eatery.

  It took all the concentration he had to move and vertigo caused him to stagger into a table. Beth took his elbow with an icy mitten, steadying him surreptitiously, surely wondering if he could keep it together. Unable to bear her touch, he pushed her into a chair and took a seat safely across the table from her, trying to focus.

  Snowflakes melted in Beth’s hair as she stared at the table, avoiding his eyes. People were ogling her, but Beth didn’t seem to notice as she shivered, her arms wrapped over the pregnant bulge beneath the coat. Kahtar’s mind shifted backward, trying to make sense of it. They’d both permanently destroyed any chance of conception. Another immortal child reverberated in his brain as though it were bouncing off canyon walls. How is this possible? Covenant Keepers reproduced the exact same way all mammals did. Except me. The warrior part of Kahtar’s brain noticed everyone in Cerulean Blue gawking, and he forced his attention onto what he could control at that moment.

  Motioning to a blonde he said, “Bring her something hot.”

  The woman looked startled by the request, and exchanged looks with several other servers, all recognizable in bright yellow.

  “Quickly, she’s—” unable to say pregnant, Kahtar managed, “too cold.”

  The woman moved slowly toward the kitchen. Kahtar sat still for another long moment, the words another immortal child bouncing through his brain.

  Within moments the server returned and slid a mug of something piping hot toward him, not Beth. “You’re refusing to serve my wife?” he said, stunned. “The shunning is only for warriors.”

  “It’s my right to participate,” she said, not looking at him. After an uncomfortable silence she added, “I brought it for the sake of the unborn babe, and have no objection if she wishes to take it from you.”

  Abigail’s words from that morning returned to Kahtar. “The clan is turning on Beth. We all see how miserable you are, and they blame her.” Glaring, he fumed at the woman, “My wife is clan and in need of warmth as much as my unborn baby! Old Guard!”

  The appearance of three of the large men caused a commotion in the room as people tried to get out of the way. “Take Beth…” Kahtar paused, wondering where his wife belonged. Where could they take her? “Take her to Cobbson, to her apartment there. Make sure she sees Welcome Palmer first.” He had no idea if the rooms were even available.

  Two of the big men hauled Beth from her seat, and though Kahtar had been avoiding her gaze he saw the fear in her eyes. Sorrow lit through him, and then she was gone.

  THANKS TO WELCOME Palmer, Beth was able to feel her limbs again as she pushed open the door to her old apartment in Cobbson Compound. They’re not going to let me go back to Sweet Earth. Ever. It hadn’t occurred to her when she made her deal with Delphine what the repercussions might be. Delphine had said there was no crime against the diversion, but that didn’t mean there weren’t consequences.

  The door shut behind her with a silent whir Beth more felt than heard. She shoved a chair in front of it. The only person she wanted to see was Dianta, and Welcome had denied her that until morning.

  If then. Apparently the Elders were discussing it.

  Rubbing her arms still clad in Kahtar’s police jacket, she shivered. Welcome Palmer had said she suffered only windburn and stress and needed a hot drink and quiet. Like I haven’t had enough quiet. A humorless chuckle escaped. She crossed to the sink, filled a kettle, and heated it on the ice-blue square that made water boil instantly. Quickly dumping loose tea and hot water into a cup, she lifted the barely seeped beverage to her lips and blew.

  “Was that really the best way you could think of for me to find out?”

  Beth knocked the teacup against a front tooth and scorched her tongue. The liquid sloshed onto her boots as she spun to look at Kahtar. At nearly seven feet tall, the man was formidable on a good day. How did he get in here? Oh, man, he’s furious! She pressed her tongue against the tooth to make sure it was still there, and pressed her heart toward his so he’d know that, despite everything, she was glad he’d come, glad to be with him after four months without the touch of his heart.

  Kahtar’s heart was non-receptive and on lockdown, but the touch of it still filled the room the same way the smells of good cooking drifted from Cerulean Blue to Sweet Earth—tantalizingly close, but nothing Beth could have.

  “Hi,” she said, but moved so the curvy kitchen island stood between them. The look in his eyes demanded the precaution. Still wearing his police uniform, he stood watching her with no readable expression on his face. She’d forgotten how imposing he could be, but recognized signs of tiredness behind the mask. He probably wasn’t sleeping well either. Her heart skipped. “You didn’t return my messages, Kahtar. You ignored me even when I sat in the police station waiting for you. The tesseract from Sweet Earth to the cabin disappeared. You wouldn’t talk to me.”

  “You could have simply sent a message,” he said, his eyes focused on a spot somewhere above her head. Tears burned behind Beth’s eyes. This is what shunning was, and it was the meanest thing she could imagine.

  “That’s what I was trying to do in person. This seemed big enough to warrant a face to face conversation with my husband.” She put a hand on the buttoned up jacket he’d loaned her, resting it against her belly. The plan to walk from Sweet Earth to Cerulean Blue in nothing but boots and accessor
ies hadn’t been to announce her pregnancy—that had simply been a passive aggressive bonus. Of course her deal with Delphine kept her from expounding upon that.

  “You realize the entire clan now thinks you’re a lunatic?” The question was directed at her even if his eyes weren’t.

  “What do you think?” Voice hoarse, Beth drank in his presence, the dusting of beard across his face, the blond hair on the back of fisted hands, every inch of him in his ugly polyester police uniform. She’d missed it all. She pushed her heart toward him, and he cruelly repelled her touch like water on wax.

  “I think there are reasons for the rules in this clan, and that is the only reason why I’m here,” said Kahtar, his voice pitched low and cold, all warrior chief, nothing in him the husband she missed. “We don’t draw attention.” He held up one big finger. “A seeker saw you.” A second finger popped up. “Young people don’t flaunt nudity in front of the opposite sex.” A third finger rose. “You endangered the health of a baby, and I’m not talking about Dianta! It’s twenty degrees out there, plus wind chill! Maybe since it’s my child you think it can’t die? I assure you it can and it will, many times—and it will feel each one.” For the briefest moment he paused, and the pain of that perceived reality did transfer from his heart to Beth’s.

  A fourth finger shot up and Kahtar closed his heart against hers so firmly she felt nothing from it. “You refused to go inside when the Old Guard told you to. After what happened in the Arc, you are digging your own grave by disobeying an Old Guard. It is not done!” The thumb. “Old Guard had to move you. Likely they would have allowed you to freeze to death if not for our children, who apparently couldn’t count on their mother’s good sense to protect them! With Dianta and the unborn child it required three Old Guard to move you all. That means that part of the perimeter of the Arc went completely unguarded while you wasted their time.

  “You disrespected Old Guard today by refusing to obey them, and they have every right to punish you for it. Have you forgotten what it was like to be put on trial by them? Because you chose to ignore them, they will now do the same to you. They’ve joined in the shunning.” For a moment Kahtar met her eyes, and while anger still burned in them, so did fear.

  Kahtar held up his five fingers for a moment, then brought up his second hand and another finger. “Covenant Keepers do not get divorced, despite rumors you’ve ignited in the form of your naked encounter with Sergeant Chen. Your little scene, in addition to setting tongues wagging at warp speed in two worlds, has given naysayers within the clan fuel against Welcome Palmer.

  “Your actions have consequences for other people too.” A seventh finger went up. “Palmer’s recommendation that you could be trusted on your own stood between you and the more conservative of the Elders. You’ve damaged his reputation by showing that his good faith in you was misplaced, and nothing he or I say can sway them now!” Two more fingers popped up, but Beth had stopped counting. “You’ve exposed the clan to the attention of seekers, and you did all this damage, Beth, unleashed this madness in a childish attempt to gain my attention!” The last accusation was hurled at her with full eye contact, and his heart might as well have been a seeker for all she felt from it.

  Beth slammed her cup onto the countertop, anger shooting through her so hot it seemed to sizzle in her ears. “Don’t flatter yourself! I didn’t do it for your attention! And since I don’t want it, feel free to take it elsewhere. I don’t need the protection of Old Guard, warriors, or you! I can take care of myself! I’ve done it all my life! Don’t feel obligated to protect me from the Elders’ great decree either! What are they going to do, take my daughter and tell me when I can see her?” Beth made an invisible check mark in the air. “Done! Or not allow me to run my shop?” She made a second check. “Ditto, and it’s a place I’ve spent almost my entire life planning and working for! Or how about this? How about they let my husband hit me and tell me it’s my fault?”

  Kahtar flinched as though she’d backhanded him. Beth wished she could take the last words back, and dropped her hands onto the countertop instead of making the check a third time.

  “No, Beth.” Kahtar appeared to shrink in size, his anger vanishing. “They are going to shut off all your contact with the outside world, including your parents.”

  It was a good thing Beth had both hands on the counter to steady herself. Angry tears filled her eyes. They couldn’t do this to her. “I’ll still see them! I’ll find a way. Are they trying to make me run? Because I could! My mother would help me disappear—” The bravado was useless because she started to cry mid-threat.

  Kahtar’s eyes looked ancient in their sadness. “I know.” He took a deep breath as one tear slid from the corner of his eye and moved south along his jaw. “I know you can, and no one will even try to stop you now, not until your list of crimes includes breaking a Law of Being. And then…” Kahtar’s voice trailed off, and he wiped his eyes. “It was a mistake bringing you into the clan. But I can’t regret it, Beth. No matter what happens now, I will never regret you.”

  For a moment they stared at each other. Kahtar put a hand on the counter, moving it close to hers. He tapped the countertop and turned away. “Goodbye, Beth,” he said, without looking at her.

  “Kahtar, wait!” Beth followed him. “Is that everything you came here to say? To tell me my latest crimes against the clan and leave? We need to talk! What about us? What about this baby?” Beth rubbed her hand over the rise beneath the big jacket.

  At the door Kahtar turned to her. “There is nothing to say. That baby—and Dianta—are mistakes I do regret.”

  “Kahtar! You don’t mean that!” But Beth knew he did; the words flowed through her as absolute truth.

  He reached for the door handle as Beth shouted, “Don’t go, please. This has gone on long enough and too far! I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what happened in the Arc. I truly am. I’m sorry I made you push me. Come back to me, please. This doesn’t have to end badly, Kahtar.”

  Turning toward her again with a half-smile on his lips, he said, “Why, Beth. I do believe you just told your first lie.” He pulled the chair out from under the door handle and left.

  BLOODY COMPLICATIONS—SAMHAIN

  INSIDE THE ARC no snow had fallen yet. Colorful leaves rained from autumn trees like red and gold glitter. At the edge of Cultuelle Khristos’ settlement, a group of small children raked leaves into heaps and bigger kids rode hover boards through them, scattering the piles.

  Kahtar scanned for danger as he walked. There was really nothing dangerous inside the Arc. Old Guard watched it to protect those exiting. Inside it was the same as a veil, impossible to enter uninvited. The only dangers were accidents or animal attacks, but the latter were few. The pack of wolves spotted near Dianta that summer hadn’t been seen again. The Arc was clean, and safe, and Kahtar knew he should want Dianta to grow up there, and wondered why the idea didn’t appeal to him.

  The Mother’s large house stood next to an old-fashioned thatched cottage, rising three stories high with a tiny tower at one end and a large glass domed library that looked like an observatory in the middle. The dwelling reminded Kahtar of a wedding cake.

  Entering through a small mud room, Kahtar jogged up three steps to the kitchen, where the smell of roast chicken beckoned. Despite his reluctance in coming, Kahtar’s stomach growled at the promise of good food. He’d lost weight and muscle mass since the fiasco with Beth in the Arc, and like his heart, his body craved sustenance. At least here he could satisfy his body.

  A small Spanish woman stood at the stove top stirring spinach into a soup with a wooden fork. She glanced in his direction before turning away without meeting his eyes. “There you are. I’m making my meatball soup for you.” Even in childhood she’d never once called him by name.

  “Thank you, Memma Rosa.” His voice sounded hoarse.

  The Mother glided into the room with a young clanswoman. Like Rosa, the young woman avoided greeting him with the customary kiss, opting fo
r rearranging hot pies on the countertop and burning her hand. The Mother kissed him while Kahtar wondered why she tortured her company with his presence. The massive kitchen table was set for ten, and Kahtar scanned the rooms to see who else he’d need to endure in exchange for a good meal. All the elders were there, including his grandfather, Nehemiah Constantine.

  This will be about Beth, then. A set up. They forced their spouses to come so they could pretend to themselves that it isn’t official.

  “Your scanning will spoil my appetite.” Nehemiah entered the kitchen, graying and fit. “Where’s my granddaughter?” Nehemiah hurried across the expanse of hardwood as though expecting Kahtar to turn out his pockets and produce Dianta.

  “With her mother.”

  Nehemiah shot The Mother a reproachful look. “I still say babies should be living in the Arc. Dianta can stay with me until you sort your wife out. I told The Mother I can add rooms onto my house before winter.”

  Kahtar frowned. “Babies belong with their mother.”

  Nehemiah flinched. “There’s no quick fix for your problems and we don’t want your children growing up in that world learning El knows what. Think about it.” Nehemiah sidled away to nip crusts off a pie, leaving Kahtar dumbfounded.

  They want me to take the children off of Beth!

  Not because she’d broken any laws. The clans’ dislike of Beth had never been so blatant. Kahtar saw Abigail watching him from across the room, and he turned away, heading for the table.

  Despite anger growing in Kahtar’s heart, the meal tasted delicious. Cooking was Rosa’s gifting, and a delight to the senses, somehow soothing and nourishing too. Seated at the foot of the table opposite The Mother, Kahtar thought only of Beth.

  She didn’t belong and the clan let her know it, but she never said a word against them. What they don’t know is that neither do I belong—with the possible exception of Memma Rosa. She knows.