Grounded (Grounded #1)

by Heather Young-Nichols

  “I left to find the Sorrels’ son, Dad. You knew that. This,” I pointed to Jensen, “is him.”

  “You can’t be sure of that.” He eyed Jensen suspiciously. “Heath Sorrel died with his parents.”

  “Where was his body then? Dad, I’m sure.”

  He looked Jensen up and down, jaw clenched, like he was trying to see something familiar. Maybe he was afraid he would.

  “And the Gobels?” He pointed to the brothers standing side by side.

  “Well, that’s a funny story.”

  I went on to tell them almost everything that had happened since leaving home just over a month ago, about how I found Aric already with Jensen and everything that came after that. For the first time in my life, my father was speechless. I could only stare and hope he’d think about this situation logically, if not now, then later.

  “Aric and Kale will help us. I trust them and so should you. There are others who don’t want war, on both sides.”

  “You know war is the last thing I want to happen. But—”

  “Then let us help you.”

  He thought about it for an eternity, then answered with only a small nod and swept past us out the door. He’d made his decision and this time he was going to trust me.

  Back in the entryway, an even bigger crowd had gathered. It never took long for word to spread throughout a small town. The guys leaned against a wall that put them away from the angry Gremalians that had gathered. I stood between the guys and the crowd, watching my dad control the situation the way only he could to get them moving on their way. He always said Glen was the born leader, but watching him work made me doubt that anyone would be better at it than my father.

  A shriek just loud enough for me and the guys to hear took my attention from the gathering. A body slammed into me, squeezing tightly. I couldn’t breathe.

  “The wayward daughter returns,” Dahlia, my best friend, said. She crushed me in her arms. When I pulled back, I wasn’t surprised to find her perfectly put together. She was the exact opposite of me. I’m short, she’s tall. I have blonde hair, she brown. My eyes are blue, while hers are so dark they look black. She could do magic with a make-up brush.

  “Couldn’t stay away forever.” I caught Aric and Jensen eying our little interaction, or checking her out, just out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t be sure which. I threw Jensen a suspicious eyebrow. He quickly looked away, making me smile and shake my head.

  “No? I mean, you left without a word to anyone. People worry, Alyssum. Not me, but people. It’s not like I’m your best friend or anything.” Dahlia glanced over to the guys again, then looked back to the security team who was still clearing out the area. “I suppose, though, since you came back with guys who look like them,” she indicated Aric, Kale, and Jensen with a wave of her hand, “I guess you can be forgiven. Introductions will be necessary.”

  She hit me with her hip as she walked away. I chuckled quietly. With the slightest movement, she hit my shoulder with a spark that made me take a step back, like someone bumped into me in a crowd. My eyes narrowed and I flicked my fingers at her, sending a small jolt at her butt. She yelped and jumped. All eyes in the room went to her. I put on my best innocent look and shrugged, making a mental note to have her talk to her cousin. Blossom can’t just barge into my room like that anymore.

  My father cleared his throat, then went back to business. I turned to Aric and Jensen. They both had disapproval all over their faces and the slightest of smiles.

  ***

  Once everything calmed down and the entryway had started to clear out, I knew, as we walked back to my room to get dressed, that Jensen and I wouldn’t be alone again for a while, what with my father planning to grill each of them like they’re felons. I know how he works.

  We each took turns in the bathroom, although what I think we all could’ve really used was some more sleep. Our days of normalcy were over. The foreseeable future would be all about meeting with my father and then the rest of The Council. Decisions and training became the priority the minute we stepped on the property.

  We started out in my dad’s office. When I was done with him, Dad was on my side. Kale wanted to go home, try to recruit the rest of his family to stand against their own council. Dad assured him that the Gremalians, since we were ever grateful for their actions, would extend any and all protection possible to those who help us. It always bugged me when Dad slipped into Official Ash Bracken mode. He became formal, like a different person. Either way, Kale was set to go to Phoenix to see his own family as soon as The Council meeting was over. The Gobels didn’t know that Kale had decided to work with us. Not yet, at least. His plan was to see his parents, which he hadn’t done in a couple of years, and try to get information on what the Gobel were planning. Then he’d come back.

  Chapter Fourteen

  We gathered in the meeting room to a round of yelling. Apparently, not everyone was as comfortable trusting a Gobel. Again, “Official” Ash put them all in their place. Whether they were comfortable or not, it was happening. Aric wanted to go with his brother, but Kale decided it was best one of them stay behind and, since Aric was our friend, he got that job. He and I were put in charge of seeing what Jensen could do and if he really was what they needed him to be as well as figuring out how much of his father and mother’s power he’d inherited.

  It was a long day. I promised my dad that we’d start investigating Jensen’s abilities tomorrow.

  The only upside to the day came when I got to show the guys which rooms they’d be staying in. If nothing else, our house was pretty impressive. Both rooms were down a different hallway than mine, by design, I’m sure. My mom made the arrangements and who knew what she could sense. I guess she wasn’t taking any chances, so their rooms were the only two down that way.

  The large rooms were complete with anything a person could want, including a fully stocked mini-bar. I didn’t even have one of those. Really, it was just a small fridge with pop, water and a few snacks under the plasma TVs hanging from the wall. It looked as if she had the rooms made up especially for them because, at one point, the rooms had been much more feminine with deep purple duvets that were now a dark green.

  After Aric was settled with everything we’d left in the car, I went in to help Jensen, which was code for spend time with him.

  “This has been a crazy day,” he said, putting his clothes in the dresser.

  “The craziest.” I flopped onto the bed and watched him work.

  He shut the last drawer and laid beside me, our shoulders touching. “So, you are kind of badass.”

  I smiled at him. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait until tomorrow.”

  He wanted to know about the energy balls I threw. I explained that I could pick up energy from the air, lightning was best, but either way, by controlling the voltage, I could use it as a weapon. He should be able to, too. I also told him how I zapped the car back to life for Aric at the garage. Not everyone could do that. Some of us had to have direct energy, like from a storm or man-made electricity. I didn’t always form them into balls; actually, that was rare. I preferred sparks and bolts. He listened to me with wide blue eyes, but he didn’t seem too freaked out.

  “That guy you hit…”

  “Sage,” I spat, knowing where that was going before he said anything.

  “You seem to have a lot of hostility toward him.”

  “He was holding Aric and his goons had Kale. Someone had to do something.” I shrugged him off, flipping over.

  “Is that it?”

  I felt his eyes on me. “He and I used to date. He’s an ass.” I hoped that would be enough.

  “Did you and he…”

  I closed my eyes, trying to hold back my disgust at the thought of Sage touching me in such intimate ways. Yuck.

  “No. Never. The last time he kissed me, I bit his tongue hard enough to make him bleed.” Jensen laughed. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to picture that. “Yeah, that was fun, actu
ally.”

  “Now I kinda feel bad for the poor guy.”

  “Trust me, you won’t after you’re here a while.” We fell quiet, his hand above my head, absently playing with my hair. “Make sure you call your parents every now and then just to keep grounded.”

  “I will.” His eyes went from the ceiling, to my face. “Do we get to go out while we’re here?”

  “Ha, better than that. Tomorrow we start training. After that, you won’t want to be around me as much.” I wanted to keep things playful, at least as much as I could. “I might just scare you off.”

  “Unlikely.”

  “I’ll make sure we get some time alone.” I flipped over to my side, propping up on my elbow.

  “And what are we telling your parents?”

  “Nothing.” I slipped my hand under his shirt and caressed the sculpted plane hiding beneath. He let out a ragged breath and closed his eyes. “My mom probably already knows about us.”

  His eyes popped open. “How?”

  “She can…sense things. Probably had a read on it before she even came in the room. It isn’t a magical Gremalian thing. It’s a normal psychic thing.”

  My hand jiggled on his stomach as he laughed. “Did you really just say normal psychic thing?” I nodded with a grin. “I can’t believe that doesn’t weird me out.”

  Overall, he’d taken everything pretty much in stride. I kinda assumed it was more because he wanted to be with me rather than believing it was all real. Now he couldn’t deny anything. Lightly trailing a path along his stomach, I leaned over and kissed him just because I wanted to. He moaned, but it came out like a growl.

  I rested my hands on the side of his neck and climbed on top of him. I felt his surprise, but he didn’t miss a beat. I pulled him up, yanked his shirt above his head, and let him back down. His hands rested on my upper thighs and he kissed me like he really, really meant it, squeezing my legs softly. I’d never allowed things to go that far before because I was seeing Aric too. Even still, I had to admit it felt good to have him half naked and flawless underneath me.

  Then he did the same, pulling my shirt off. Thankfully, I’m the type of girl who sometimes wears undergarments for their cuteness rather than solely for their function, so my bra had a wow factor. Pink and lacy, but not see-through. I watched his eyes take me in before he rolled me over suddenly, which made me squeal. My fingers were on the button of his pants and I had no idea what the hell I intended to do. His hands inched up my side and, just when he was about to cup my breasts, there was a loud knock on his door.

  My heart dropped and I started searching for the shirt he’d thrown on the floor next to the bed. I fell off with a thud trying to reach it. We both giggled softly. Just as the door opened, Jensen got on all fours on his mattress and I rolled under the bed.

  “Dude, I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to sleep in these big rooms. You?” I couldn’t see Aric but heard the change in his voice when he must have finally looked at Jensen and realized what he’d walked in on. “I, uh…sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  “It’s okay.” The springs squeaked just a bit in my face as Jensen presumably rolled back to sit up. “But you might want to wait to be invited in next time.”

  I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. Apparently, I wasn’t as quiet as I’d intended.

  “You can come out, Alyssum.” Aric’s tone remained light and full of humor, like he was trying to hold back laughter as well.

  “Um…actually, I kinda can’t.”

  How undressed I was must have clicked in Jensen’s head because he jumped up and ushered Aric from the room, shutting the door and clicking the lock. I slid out and put my shirt back on before I was on my feet.

  “I guess I should’ve locked that.” He scraped his fingers on the back of his head. “I didn’t expect…”

  “Yeah, me either.” We stood there awkwardly, staring at each other, and I felt heat rising in my face. “Okay, I’m gonna go, then.”

  He smiled widely. A little cocky, actually, but I really liked it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I decided to start the day by taking Jensen on a tour of Delaware to get him acclimated, although there really wasn’t much to show him. As I made my way to his room, I got shanghaied by my mother outside one of the sitting rooms upstairs. She was so quiet that when she said my name, I jumped a mile and yelped. She asked me in and, as with my dad, I always knew when it was an order masked as a request.

  The light green room wasn’t good for anything other than sitting, entertaining guests you don’t really want to stay long, or reading. It was really nice to curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book and a warm blanket on your legs in the middle of winter. We sat in those chairs, the air conditioning working overtime to keep the house cool.

  “I’m very glad you’re home,” she said.

  “Why didn’t you tell Dad that I emailed you regularly?” I asked right away. He’d been extra mad that I stayed out of contact, but I’d assumed she’d at least mention some of my emails. “He was pissed.”

  She gave that look of disapproval. ‘Language, Alyssum,’ she usually said.

  “If I had, he would have sent Sage and his men after you. Your emails were best kept between us, don’t you think?” I nodded. I would’ve been mortified and humiliated if I’d been stalked down and dragged back by Sage, as Flint warned. And no, it didn’t escape my notice that I had effectively stalked Jensen and brought him back. “What I want to ask you has nothing to do with the political atmosphere out there,” she said, pointing at the door. “I want to ask you about those boys.”

  Trying to stifle a smile at her tone, I shifted uncomfortably and asked, “What about them?”

  “Are you really going to make me spell it out, Alyssum? I could read you the minute I saw you in the hallway.”

  I rolled my eyes. It kinda sucks to have a mother who can feel things. “Then I don’t really need to explain, do I?”

  “But I’m getting…conflicting information.” She watched me intently. Even a couple of deep breaths couldn’t calm my nerves under her motherly eyes.

  “Well, don’t be conflicted. Jensen and I are together. Aric and I are friends. Close friends, yet just friends.”

  Falling back in my seat, I folded my hands over my stomach, still not willing to look at her and still feeling her eyes all over me.

  “How together are you?” Eying me suspiciously, her face smoothed once she got her answer. I didn’t say anything and hoped I was successful at keeping the blush from my face. She was satisfied nonetheless. She knew there was still a line I hadn’t crossed. Thanks, Mom.

  “Happy?” I snapped once I realized she was done reading me.

  “If you are. Just…be careful.”

  “Yes, Mother. We’ve had that talk, thank you.” I wanted out of the room, away from her so my feelings could be mine again.

  “About the other matter, I feel you should know that your father has information he hasn’t given you yet, in regards to Heath.” She put her hand up to stop me from correcting her, as I’d already done several times. “Sorry, Jensen. I don’t know that it’s relevant, but if you hit a brick wall at some point, go to him.”

  She stood, smoothing her dress before heading to the door.

  I hopped up after her. “What is it?”

  “I don’t actually know. I ‘know.’” Code for it’s one of her feelings again. She never gave specifics. “We missed you.”

  My mom, unlike my dad, was always truthful. If she didn’t want me to know something, she’d just say it. There were no lame excuses.

  “I missed you, too. Even Dad with his booming ‘do what I say’ voice,” I said. She raised an eyebrow at my admission to missing my dad. He and I butted heads pretty often. She probably suspected that I would have reveled in the time apart. “Trust me, I was as shocked as you are about missing him. I now know how it feels to be homesick. Satisfied?”

  She didn’t answer. By her face, I cou
ld tell that she was. I got an image of her and Dad praying for me to be miserable in New York, or where ever he thought I went.

  “Hey,” I said as she turned to go. “Do you think it’d be okay for me to show Jensen around?”

  Mom thought about that question. “I think it would be. Security has been stepped up and other than that one breach while you were away, things have been quiet in town. The violence has been mainly out at the mines, so don’t go there and don’t leave Delaware. Otherwise, I think it’s a good idea.”

  “I won’t take him out to the mines, I promise,” I said, but that wasn’t good enough. She cocked her head at me, looking expectant. “And we won’t leave Delaware.”

  She nodded and I let her leave after that. I took just half a minute getting Jensen.

  We walked, his arm around my shoulder, through the part of town where the little market sat nestled between a small library and a bar. We might not have much, but we have a bar. It was used mostly by the men. I made a joke about finding him there if he ever came up missing. He scoffed. That hadn’t been his scene back home and he certainly wasn’t going to start now, he said. The first break on our journey came when we approached the building used as a school.

  Small kids, Kindergarten through second, ran around in the bright sunlight, chasing each other in a fervent game of tag while a few of the boys, although much too short, still tried to toss the basketball through the hoop. We stopped at the fence surrounding their concrete and grass playground, watching them. A breeze blew my hair off my shoulders and sent it back around my face. Jensen looked at me as if he appreciated the effect.

  We started moving again, which gave me the opportunity to explain that, while I didn’t see the fighting from the last war, I saw the aftermath. It took years for us to put ourselves back together, even though we technically won. My father bore that sadness ever since, which only got compounded once Glen and Saffron Sorrel died.