I pushed him back. “Like you’re about to get away with buying a department store of clothing without listening to a word I’ve said.”
“Right.” He picked up a length of my hair and wrapped it around his finger. “If what was purchased wasn’t right, then I’ll have them changed.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t ask for anything at all, and visually this tells me we’re on different wave lengths.”
He tugged on my hair, drawing me closer. “I want you here. What other wave length is there?”
“The one where I live in Dralion. You know you can’t keep me from my new family and country. I have an obligation to them–one I can’t turn away from.”
He heaved a sigh and turned around to flip through the racks. He selected a short white skirt and violet tank top. From a drawer he pulled out a one-piece white swimsuit, pressing it all into my hands. “Put the swimsuit on underneath your clothing and we’ll forego the family meeting. Instead, I’ll take you to the cave on our property. There’s a private underground cavern with a natural pool. I’ll ask the others to join us.”
I stared at him. “Name the others.” Boy, at times, being a mate felt like having teeth pulled.
“Zac, Viv, Belle and Silas. You should have no problem with them.”
“What about Silvie?”
He took my shoulders. “Silvie’s at school and taking notes for you, but she’ll be ready to collect at three this afternoon. She can join us then.”
“Well, that’s where I should be.” I checked my watch. “I have Calculus and PE after lunch, and Silvie will be grumping the entire time if I’m not there. She seriously hates Calculus, not to mention any form of physical activity. The two combined always put her in a foul mood.”
He inhaled. “Then that’s where we’ll head. Afterwards I’ll bring you back here for a swim.”
I set my hands to my hips. “Ah, that’s not what I meant. How about I head to school and you do what you normally do. I’m not in hiding anymore. I even know the dreaded Donaldo Wincrest.”
His gaze narrowed. “Well, as long as you realize he’s dreaded.”
I smacked his arm. “Get out of here so I can get changed. You’re completely impossible.”
“Yes, but I’m your impossible. I’ll be in the sitting room off my bedroom.” He kissed the top of my head, reversed and disappeared.
Two minutes later, I left the dressing room, catching sight of him through the opened doorway leading from his bedroom where he’d said he’d be. “That might be a problem,” he said to someone with their back turned to me. “I’ll deal with it, Crossley. Thank you.”
I waited a moment, moving toward him only when all seemed clear.
His sitting room was spacious and private. Before me was a cozy arrangement of padded chairs and a sofa in a blue pinstripe. Under the windows overlooking the front meadow, brunch was set out on an oak dining table that held two place settings.
I lifted my chin and scratched my throat. “Nice digs.”
From the front of a sizeable writing desk with a leather swivel chair tucked behind it, Davio looked up and said, “Come here.”
I crossed the deep blue carpet to his side. “Wow, that’s a beautiful picture.” It was hard not to notice the three by four foot canvas on the wall above his desk.
His lips lifted. “That’s Carlisio, my parents Everio and Genevy and me. It’s following the celebration of my rising.”
I smiled as I looked at his family’s love stretching from the framed image. “It’s stunning.” I pulled my gaze away from the picture and back to him. “You look like your father and grandfather. The resemblance is striking. And your mother.” I switched back to view the woman in the center of the three men. “Well, I can see she loves you.”
It was more than obvious as she looked upon her family surrounding her, rather than at the photographer’s lens. Genevy had such delicate features, her hair the same color as Davio’s, but where his was short, hers swept down over her shoulders in lush waves.
He threaded his fingers through mine. “You’ll love my mother, just as she will love you.”
I cast him a look. “Of course I will. She’s not a direct Loveria descendent. My blood and hers will not battle.”
“No.” His fingers tightened around mine. “It’s only the men in my family you will hate beyond reason.”
I lifted a hand and lightly rapped his cheek. “Yeah, but lucky for you, I have a fascination with your smart mouth, so even being a Loveria, we’re all good.”
He rubbed his chin. “You make light of the situation, but–”
I pressed a finger to his lips. “You said yesterday no buts, and I’m saying the same today. We can’t do any more than live in the here and now. Which means food. I’m hungry, and you need to feed me.”
And the smell wafting from the table had my mouth watering.
Heading there, Davio pulled out my chair. He sat beside me, stretching out a leg and hooking it around mine, making the skin-to-skin connection. “Begin wherever you like.” He turned his palm out in offering.
I reached across and lifted the lid closest to me. Underneath the steel dome were several fried strips of bacon, a mound of scrambled eggs, golden hash browns and a pile of plump gourmet sausages. “Ah, now that’s going to replenish my energy.” I lifted the second serving lid, grinning as I found warm, delectable smelling bread. “Now that’s what I’m after.”
Davio removed the lid on the third, and I peeked over his arm. My eyes widened. “Okay, pass that one across first. I love pancakes.” These ones were a prized treasure stacked at least ten high with layers of banana and warm maple syrup oozing out between them. I couldn’t wait and tracked my finger through the top scoop of fresh cream as he set it between us. “Oh my.” My taste buds tripped over themselves in their eagerness.
Knife and fork in hand, I cut. I couldn’t wait.
“Do you eat this way every day?” I moaned as I chewed.
“I would if you promised to join me.” He ran his thumb over my lower lip, coming away with a trace of cream.
“You’ve so got a deal.”
He arched a brow, stabbing his fork into the tower of delight. “I believe this will be our first seated meal together–if we get right through it.”
He was right. “I’m game if you are.”
Then together we ate, full to bursting by the time we were done.
I closed my eyes and settled back, patting my belly.
“You look content.” His voice was husky.
I cracked one eye open, then the other. “I am, but I have to go. I shouldn’t be frittering my day away with you when there’s school.”
Pushing back from the table, he stood and took my hand. “I understand. I’m due at Dunbarn after a meeting with Carlisio and my father.” He brushed his fingers along my cheek. “I will be there after school to collect you.”
I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “Sure, you do that, just in case I forget where Peacio is and all.” I winked and stepped back. “Go and slay some actual dragons.”
I left to the sound of his chuckle and zipped straight to my mother’s home, to my bedroom where I searched for my backpack. I was down a textbook, but I tossed the rest of what I needed for Calculus and PE into my bag.
Flashing straight to school–I truly loved that I could do this–I caught the afternoon bell as it shrilled. Once in the class, I searched for Silvie. She was way at the back. “Hey, you.” I dropped into the seat beside her. “Where’s the teacher?”
“Sick. There’s a substitute coming.” She crossed her arms. “You’ve missed almost a week of school. And don’t go using your record-breaking rising as an excuse with me.”
I set my refill and pen on the desktop. “Yeah, but what a week. So who told you?”
In front of us two classmates, Jensen and Rua, shuffled on their seats and leaned in.
“Yo, what’s a rising?” Jensen bumped shoulders with Rua as he asked. “Sounds in-ter-est-in
g.”
Silvie rolled her eyes and harrumphed. “Obviously not what you’re thinking. Get a life, and go and listen in on someone else’s private conversation.”
Jensen kicked at Silvie’s chair, but she slammed her foot down on his ankle, catching him midway.
“Damn, Silvie.” He shook his head. “You’re lucky you’re a girl.” He pulled himself back to his desk and moved on.
Silvie tucked her head closer to mine. “Sorry about that,” she whispered. “Mum gave me an update this morning. She got the news straight from Aunt Genevy. I can’t believe it took eight hours. Carlisio’s took seven and that was a major. Why’d it take you so long?”
“You’re asking me?” I shrugged my shoulders.
She pursed her lips. “I guess it’s because you’re a Wincrest.” She squeezed my arm. “Which reminds me. How’s your mother? I can’t imagine what she’s going through with all these changes.”
I gasped. “I haven’t had time to check.”
“Do it now. Whiz up a visual. You’ve got forethought so you might as well use it.”
Silvie was right–and now was as good a time as any.
Channeling my vision through the dome room as Alexo had taught me, I focused. What came to me was an indefinable image, one blurred beyond recognition. I’d never seen such a thing.
I frowned, scratching my head. Now, provided I centered on the dome room first, I saw within. I’d watched Davio in reverse plenty of times.
“Um, all I’m getting is a blurred impression.”
Silvie’s eyes widened, and she clicked her fingers. “One time my curiosity got the better of me.” She spoke fast. “I asked Carlisio what happened when his forethought showed him something he shouldn’t be looking at. He said he saw blurred images.”
My lips titled to the corner as I considered what I shouldn’t be looking at.
Dropping my head into the palms of my hands, I groaned. “Ew. They’re my parents.”
She rubbed my back. “They’re mates who’ve been separated for a long time. Even my mother struggles when she’s away from my father during the days we’re here in Te Pukē. I’m sure you miss Davio when you’re away from him?”
I looked up. “I try not to think about it.”
“But you do?”
I ran a hand over my forehead. I understood the mated bond. Even now, I wanted to talk to him, but without a telepathic link, I couldn’t.
With my need to see him, I opened my forethought. He stood in a navy and gold decorated stateroom. Silas was beside him, Carlisio and Everio, too. I cranked up the volume.
“Faith’s with Silvie in class. The image is grainy but I’d know Silvie’s profile anywhere.” Carlisio scrubbed his roughened jaw as he spoke to Davio. “There aren’t any problems that I can see.”
Hold on. Carlisio watched me.
Spooky.
Davio set a hand to his chest. “I just needed to know she was safe and where she should be.”
Carlisio laid a hand on his shoulder, his lips thinning. “I know how troubled you’ve been, but she is fine. We should speak more of her Wincrest blood.” Narrowing my gaze, I listened to Carlisio as he continued.
“There isn’t a doubt we’re all in agreement about Alexo Wincrest. With his daughter falling into our lap, we mustn’t allow this opportunity of seizing him to pass. She must be contained.”
“You mean in a holding cell?” Silas interrupted. “With the others or on her own?”
The hairs on the back of my neck lifted. This couldn’t be happening. Davio would stand up in a second and fiercely disagree. He had to.
I waited.
Slowly he nodded. “I’ll do it.”
Carlisio’s eyes brightened as he nodded at his grandson. “For the people of Peacio.” His words were a cheer.
Everio folded his arms over his red silk shirt and black leather vest, not looking as certain. “She is your mate. Are you sure you can do this?”
Davio stood tall. “I’m sure. Alexo will come to her aid because of his forewarning. She may not even make the cells. He must be captured.”
I gritted my teeth, working my jaw from side to side.
How could Davio sell me out this way? I wouldn’t let him.
I slammed my forethought down and turned on Silvie. “Your family seriously sucks.” I stopped as abruptly as I’d begun. Jeez, I couldn’t speak of this with her. She would inform them of what I’d heard when I needed to sort this myself.
“It’s all right. Mates struggle when parted from each other. I understand that.” She got my angry comment wrong, and I didn’t correct her. “We only have PE after this and then we leave. You’ll see Davio soon enough.”
I would and we would be speaking. When I’d hid at my father’s apartment after first finding out about Silvie’s deceit and been gone for days before returning, he’d said in the future we needed to address our problems. That if we had an issue, we’d talk about it. Well, right now I had an issue. A very big one. There would be no capture.
No one would place me in any position of vulnerability, and I’d certainly never accept it from him. It wasn’t happening.
* * * *
“The boys are here.” Silvie slung her bag over her shoulder as we exited the girl’s changing room.
We were the last to leave, and I pulled the door shut behind me. “Perfect,” I said, taking a deep breath as I saw Davio.
“You two took your time in there.” He strode toward me, picking up my hand.
My mind thunked into his–so annoying.
“Did you have a good afternoon?” His thumb stroked my palm.
“No.” And because I couldn’t help myself, I swayed into him. Damn it. Where was my focus? He’d spoken of imprisonment.
“You want to talk about it?”
“Yes, but alone.”
“Faith, I’ll see you in the cavern once I’m changed,” Silvie called out as she took Silas’s arm. I lifted my hand in a wave, and the two flashed away.
Davio pulled me closer. “Let’s go.” And he zipped us there.
My feet sank into gray sand. The air was warm, the entire cavern filled with a light steam which rose from a large crystal clear pool of water a few feet away. Looking around I noted dark rocks lining every side and beyond, muted light tunneled in from an entrance above.
With a finger under my chin, he tipped it up. “You seem out of sorts. Did Belle tell you of the rumor?”
“No, what rumor is that?”
He sighed. “There was a serving maid in the communal dining hall who saw us together. She leaked word that I’ve found my mate.” He paused, his jaw ticking. “I had no choice. I had to confirm the news. People are referring to you as my Halfling–that you come from Earth.”
“You let them?” I gritted my teeth. “How many Halflings are there in Peacio? Because I know there’s only one in Dralion–and that’s me. You don’t think the next warrior spy sent here might check out this leaked news? You don’t think they’d be curious to see who Davio Loveria was mated to?”
I rubbed a hand to my forehead. So this was how it would be. There would be no delay for this sounded like a plan to lure my father out if ever I’d heard one.
I straightened my shoulders. “You were never to use me as a pawn, never to allow any warrior spies to see me. This might happen now, and what if Donaldo finds out?”
“Your father won’t permit that to happen. With his forewarning, he’ll come and that’s what we’re after. Spreading word of your mixed heritage is simply the draw-card to his–”
I scowled, slamming my hands to his chest. “Finally you’re telling me. This is what you and Carlisio planned. You wish to capture my father and you’ll go so far as to use me as bait by locking me up. I saw it all.”
He set his hands at his sides. “You need to stop spying and listening in on private conversations.”
“Carlisio would do the same if he could. It’s not my fault his forethought is weak, and he can’t hear.” I br
oke the mind-merge, feeling the sharp pain as I did. “I would never use you like this. Ever.”
He spread his legs. “You’ll never come to any harm when we’re only after Alexo’s capture.”
“Why must you capture him at all?” I held up my hands.
“Too many of your warriors are infiltrating our shores and taking what is not theirs. There was an attack at one of our largest diamond mines three days ago. Seven lives were lost and Alexo was behind it, as is Donaldo who pulls the strings.”
“You can’t assume that.”
“Yes, I can. It was a methodical attack by a team of eight. Donaldo hates all things Peacian, and this reeked of Alexo’s forethought in how well it was run. Your father and grandfather work together. They know exactly what they do when they send their bloodthirsty warriors out.”
Warriors–yes. Bloodthirsty? And then a memory–one I couldn’t forget that first day when the leading eight introduced themselves.
But no, my father had been with my mother at the time. I would not concede to laying the blame at his feet. “So where does this leave us? I won’t allow you to capture my father through me.”
“Alexo must be taken.”
My jaw opened. “And you must change your mind.”
“No. I will never side with the enemy.”
I met his intense gaze with one of my own. “You would do everything in your power to keep your family safe. You can’t expect any different from me.”
He narrowed his gaze. “What are you saying?”
“That I’ll never allow you to use me in the way you intend. My father goes out of his way to ensure I have free choice. He allows me to come to you, and you want to what? Lock him away? Kill him?”
A second. Two.
“His death would not be sought. His confinement would.”
I shook from head to feet. “I can’t allow that to happen. Don’t do this to us.”
“This is not about us, but my people. Their safety must come first, and yours will never be in question.”
“Of course it’s in question. You do this, and I can never roam freely on your land. You have to take back my Halfling status and let it be known it was only gossip. You have to insist I am from Peacio. Make something up, but you have to do it, and before word spreads too far.”
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