by Mikayla Lane
“Thank you, Father.” Mikal was grateful for Indrid’s assistance. Everything would be required if he were to succeed in saving any of them.
Mikal felt the nod in his mind and the energy that poured from Indrid into the two people who needed it the most. His concern only increased when the powerful energy barely made a dent in the problem.
Chapter Four
It was hours before Rex and Carol decided to turn off the interstate at a public rest area. David followed everyone in and searched the parking lot for Rex’s RV, eager to confront the man and his crazy wife about spending time with his son. By the time he’d circled the lot, he found that somehow Rex had driven all the way around and parked next to Kurt and Jenny.
David parked as close as he could and launched himself out of the SUV, striding determinedly towards the RV with Rex and Carol. He couldn’t be more surprised when Rex walked up beside him and handed him some keys.
“The boy is asleep in the passenger seat. You should spend some time together. You know how to drive one of these things? Need any pointers?” Rex asked as Carol watched the exchange nervously.
David narrowed his eyes at the couple and looked towards the RV and the blond hair pressed against the glass in the passenger window.
“I’m a fast learner,” David replied, suspicious of the couple’s motives. “Where’s Jodi?”
“She’s riding with others to give you time with Tiernan. Try not to blow it,” Carol growled before she stormed off to Jenny and Kurt’s RV.
David watched Jenny and Carol hug before they disappeared from view and he turned to Rex.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
“We’re trying to do what’s best for Tiernan. Whether we like it or not,” Rex snapped.
“Don’t make us regret it,” Kurt added before he stormed off in the direction of his mate.
“Follow in front of Jenny and Kurt in the back. Don’t deviate,” Rex warned before he walked away.
David looked at the keys in his hand and then the RV that contained a son he’d never known.
I’ve missed 10 years of everything, David thought angrily, squeezing the keys in his hand. How do I make up for that?
He contacted Traze and told him what happened then squared his shoulders before entering the RV. Making his way to the front, David was surprised to note how clean and well-kept the place was. Although old and worn, it held a cozy appeal that he hadn’t expected.
David looked down at his sleeping son, and his heart contracted at the sight of the tiny replica of himself. He ached to hug the boy and never let him go but knew it would only push the child further from him.
With a sigh, David slid into the driver’s seat and started up the engine as the caravan began leaving the rest area in the same way they’d left the park. When Traze pulled out in the SUV, David moved behind him, with Jenny and Kurt following him as they’d requested.
As he turned to check on Tiernan, serious blue eyes clashed with his own.
“Hey son, did you sleep well?” David asked. He was a little nervous about what Tiernan’s reaction would be to the driver change.
David’s heart sank when Tiernan sighed heavily, pulled his knees to his chest protectively and looked out the window. He became more uncomfortable as the seconds ticked into minutes and he waited for his son to talk to him. Finally, he couldn’t take the strained silence any longer.
“Tiernan, I don’t know what you’ve been told. Hell, I don’t know anything right now. All I do know is that a few hours ago, I found out I had a son. I can’t speak to my wife and see what the hell happened, and I can’t ask you to explain it to me either because it’s unfair to you. I can’t make up for 10 years but I’d at least like a chance to get to know you. Please,” David pleaded with his son, his voice cracking a few times as his emotions rioted inside him.
David would have thought the boy was ignoring him if he hadn’t felt Tiernan’s energy sift his own.
Most likely to see if I’m lying, David thought. Let him.
A few more minutes went by, and David was trying to think of something else to get through to the kid when Tiernan finally spoke.
“Tell me about yourself.” Tiernan kept his eyes trained outside the window as he spoke but David wasn’t fooled by it. He knew the child was trolling his energy.
“I was a Navy Seal for 11 years before a bullet wound ended my career. Then I met Jax, and everything changed again. I’ve been working with the Alien Earth Alliance for almost five years now. Tell me about you,” David countered as he took a peek at his still unmoving son.
“What are your abilities?” Tiernan asked, deliberately not answering David’s question.
“I have chameleon-like traits and can blend into just about anything. What are yours?” David replied, hoping the boy would answer something.
“Tell me about you and Mom.” Tiernan tried hard to block the energy bleed from his emotions and thought he’d succeeded, but David could feel the boy’s fear and curiosity.
“I’d been a Seal for around two years when I met your mom at a local fair near my base. We were married six months later. I thought we had a fantastic marriage. I deployed for the last time, which is when you must have been conceived, then I got shot and came back early . . .” David paused, unwilling to tell his son what he’d seen when he came home. “Tell me something about you now.”
The silence returned, and David sighed as he tried to think of a way to get his son to talk to him.
“Tiernan . . .” David had begun before the boy interrupted him.
“You can stop trying so hard. I have nothing to say right now. There is much I need to consider and to be perfectly honest, I wish I hadn’t contacted you to come,” Tiernan said, still looking out the window.
David’s chest constricted in pain at the boy’s words until he realized what Tiernan had said.
“Wait, it wasn’t your mom who called? You’re telling me that your mom was going to continue keeping you a secret from me? You’re the one who made that call?” David demanded, more furious with Jodi over what she’d done to him and his son.
David saw Tiernan wince and knew he’d been right. It only pissed him off even more, and he gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“How the hell can she hate me so much? What does she think I did to deserve this?” David growled in fury at his wife.
“Don’t feel too bad. She hates me more than you,” Tiernan whispered with such profound sadness that David almost stopped the RV.
“Son, please tell me that she doesn’t hurt you.” David’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he asked, praying that his wife wouldn’t harm their child. But nothing would surprise him at this point.
“Forget I said anything,” Tiernan muttered, pulling his knees closer to his chest.
David took it as a yes and seethed with rage, unable to believe Jodi could hate him so much that she could harm a child. Her own son.
“Tiernan, please talk to me. Let me help you. I swear I’m not going anywhere. If you let me, I’d like to be a father to you. I want to learn everything about you. I have a great place in Dillon where we can live, and there are excellent schools with kids just like you.” David couldn’t keep the pleading edge to his voice as he’d spoken.
If Jodi had been harming the boy, David could understand why the two older couples had taken Tiernan under their protection, and he couldn’t be more grateful to them. But he was Tiernan’s father, and David was going to protect and care for his son now. Nothing and no one was going to stop him. Not even Tiernan himself.
“No one is just like me. Not anymore,” Tiernan whispered as a single tear slid down his cheek before he quickly brushed it away.
David’s foot hovered over the brake pedal while his instincts warred within him. He wanted to pull the RV over and comfort his son but was afraid if the others saw Tiernan so upset they’d pull him from the RV and never let him near the boy again.
“Son.” David’s voice cra
cked, and he cleared his throat. “I don’t care if you’re hiding another head. You’re my son, and now that I know you exist, you’re never getting rid of me. I will take care of you, I promise you that.”
Tiernan slowly lowered his legs to the seat and jumped out of the chair. His sad eyes looked briefly at David before he went into the back of the RV.
“I wouldn’t wish me on anyone. Not even you,” Tiernan had whispered as he walked away.
“Oh, that’s it. That’s freaking it!” David muttered as he put the turn signal on whipped the RV over to the side of the road.
He ignored the squealing of tires and brakes all around him and went into the back of the RV. David saw a flicker of fear in Tiernan’s eyes before he pulled the boy into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Tiernan didn’t resist, nor did he pull away and David shook with the rawness of his emotions as he held his son for the first time. It bothered him that Tiernan didn’t touch him at all but was determined to focus on the small steps he was making.
“Please give me a chance,” David whispered brokenly as the door was yanked open.
He continued to hold Tiernan as Jenny, Rex, Carol, and Kurt glared at David as their eyes inspected Tiernan for injuries. The two couples appeared to have a private conversation through the shengari’ before they shut the door, leaving David and Tiernan alone.
David pulled back from his son and tried to get the boy to look him in the face and finally gave up.
“Give us a chance to get to know one another before you decide you don’t like me, OK? I don’t know what happened with your mom, but I never would have left her if I’d known she was pregnant. I swear to you son, I would have been there. Please, give me a chance,” David begged, willing to do anything to take away the pain, fear, hope, and mistrust he felt pulsing from Tiernan like a heartbeat.
Tiernan stepped out of David’s arms and nodded his head once.
“We need to get back on the road. We’re drawing too much attention,” Tiernan said as he walked back up to the passenger seat and hopped in.
It wasn’t what David wanted to hear, but he was thrilled that Tiernan hadn’t demanded to ride with someone else. His heart soared that the boy was going to give them a chance. With a grin on his face, David went back up to the driver’s seat and looked at Tiernan.
“Maybe you should teach me a little about this whole RV thing. I camped a lot rougher than this as a Seal and can’t say I’ve ever been in one of these things,” David suggested, hoping a neutral topic would lead to more communication with his son.
“The manual is in the glove box. You may want to signal that we want to get back on the road too.” Tiernan said it so seriously David wasn’t sure if the boy was kidding or not.
He turned on the signal and watched the traffic until he could pull back onto the highway.
“How long have you been doing the RV thing?” David asked, refusing to give up.
Tiernan shrugged a thin shoulder. “Since I was two.”
David couldn’t be more thrilled that Tiernan had responded.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“What’s not to like?” Tiernan’s blank expression gave David no clue what the boy was actually thinking or feeling.
“Do you have a lot of fun?” David asked trying to get any expression out of the child and a clue about what his life had been like. So far, it didn’t sound good at all.
“Fun is for children. I have responsibilities that must be attended to,” Tiernan said calmly as he looked out the window.
“What responsibilities do you have? Maybe I can help,” David offered, horrified at what he’d already learned of his son’s short life.
Jodi will answer for this, David swore, trying to tamp down his anger.
“Is Dillon a nice place?” Tiernan asked, avoiding David’s question.
“Yeah, it really is. The humans are friendly people, and the hybrids and their kids are happy there. There’s a lot of forest and open spaces to play in and other special children to learn with,” David explained, hoping to see a spark of something in Tiernan’s eyes, but there wasn’t even a flicker of emotion or interest.
“Will everyone be safe?” Tiernan asked, surprising David.
“Yes, they will. Grai won’t allow anyone to be hurt. Plus if anyone doesn’t like it in Dillon, we have dozens of other places around the planet where they can go and still be safe,” David assured the boy, wondering why he wasn’t having this conversation with one of the adults and not a 10-year-old boy.
“They may appear strange, but they are good people,” Tiernan stated, leaving David to wonder why the boy felt the need to defend the weird group.
“Why do they call you Sentinel?” David asked as a thought struck him and his mind began to swirl with the possibilities.
Tiernan shrugged a shoulder. “It’s nothing.”
“How is it possible that you have an ancient Prime beast? I heard those pods were being found and consumed, not born among us,” David asked, hoping the boy would answer. He needed to know.
Tiernan was quiet for so long that David was sure he wouldn’t reply and was getting ready to ask another question when Tiernan spoke.
“The pod was forced into me,” Tiernan whispered so quietly David wouldn’t have heard without his enhanced hearing.
The reply sent shivers of dread down David’s spine, and he struggled with the violent images that flashed in his mind of what may have happened to his son.
“How old were you? Do you have two beasts now?” David asked as casually as he could through gritted teeth.
“There are three beasts. The two in my brain and me,” Tiernan whispered.
“Son, you’re just a boy. Not a beast . . .” David had begun before Tiernan cut him off.
“I’ve never been just a boy and whether or not you remain in my life until my end will not change that! Do not try to coddle me as if I am a child when I’ve never had the luxury of acting as such!” Tiernan spat with a flash of gold in his eyes and a fury David had never seen in the boy.
The first emotion he shows, and it’s anger, David thought in sadness. He refused to give up on finding out what had happened to his son.
“Tiernan, I’m just trying to understand, and so far I’m only getting more confused. You’ve got 10 years more knowledge than I have at the moment and I’m just trying to figure out what happened,” David said gently, trying not to upset the boy further.
David sighed in relief when the golden glow faded from Tiernan’s eyes, and he seemed to relax back into the seat. He still didn’t look at David though and kept his gaze trained on the passing scenery.
“There is much for you to learn and we don’t have the time for emotions that can bear no fruit. I didn’t make that call for you to save me. I am beyond redemption. You are here to save my people,” Tiernan said in a strong and determined voice.
“Why are you saving them?” David uttered the first thing that popped into his head.
“I’m the Sentinel. For now.” Tiernan said the last with an air of finality that scared David.
“For now? Why would you cease being the Sentinel? What does it mean to you?” David had to know.
“It means I live for the others until there is nothing left for me to give.” Tiernan’s reply frightened David more than anything the boy had said yet.
“Tell me what’s going on, and I can help you. You called me for a reason, Tiernan, please let me help you,” David said gruffly.
“You will help by getting them to Dillon and protecting them. It is why I brought you here,” Tiernan replied.
“You didn’t want to get to know me at all? How long have you known about me? How long have you known how to contact me?” David had to ask.
“I have known about you since before birth. I have traveled your dreams for years,” Tiernan admitted, surprising David.
David blushed deeply as he recalled a few dreams he’d rather a young boy not witness and pushed his embarrassment a
side to get answers.
“Son, why did you wait until now?” David asked.
“My time as their Sentinel is running out. I must transfer the responsibility to someone worthy of it before my duty ends and my second takes command. I believe your Alliance is the solution I need,” Tiernan replied in such a way that David became worried.
“Tiernan, are you sick? Do you think something is going to happen to you?” David asked, turning to look at his son when he answered.
Tiernan turned tortured eyes to David before quickly looking back out the window.
“There isn’t much time left to transfer the responsibility. I need to know I made the right choice in calling you. There is much I must learn from you before we reach Dillon and I need you to remain focused on that,” Tiernan said in an even tone, attempting to dismiss David’s questions.
David wasn’t having any of that.
“I will stop this thing right here and now if you don’t tell me what the hell is going on! I’m tired of all the word manipulation games and the vagueness of your answers. I’m your father, and I’m not taking anyone anywhere until I know what’s going on!” David struggled not to yell at the boy in frustration, but he’d had all he could take of this.
The silence dragged on between the two until David lifted his foot over the brake pedal.
“I will not survive much longer. I need my people to be safe when I’m no longer able to protect them,” Tiernan whispered, a single tear slipping down his cheek.
As if knowing something was wrong, the caravan pulled off at an exit and made their way to a campground. David shook with fear and rage as his mind tried to process that he might lose a son he’d only just found. He kept his cool and remained calm as he followed suit with the others and maneuvered the motorhome into a pull through site with Rex and Carol on one side and Jenny and Kurt on the other.
David turned off the engine, locked all of the doors and pulled his son from the seat and cuddled him close to his chest as he moved to the back. He sat on the couch and set Tiernan in his lap.
