by Bryce Evans
Nolan continued assembling her plate, and topped the massive pile of chips with jalapeños. He grabbed her hand and led her over to the table, pulling out a chair beside him and motioning for her to sit down. This was new to her.
“I hope you don’t mind sharing,” Nolan said.
“No…Of course not. Go ahead.” Not knowing what to say or do, she just watched as he took one of the chips and put it in his mouth. She fidgeted with her hands as he closed his eyes and chewed. Skylar couldn’t turn away. He looked like he was enjoying it way too much, and he looked so good chewing. Man, she had it bad.
“You’re just watching me eat. Are you not hungry?” Nolan said, now staring back at her.
Blushing again, Skylar had to look away from his intense gaze. “Sorry, but you looked like you were really enjoying them.”
“I was. Fisher makes the best meat sauce. I hoped you would enjoy them too. I can make another plate if it bothers you to share with me.”
“No!” Skylar said, so loudly the conversation around the table stopped and everyone stared at her.
“She’s not a good sharer,” Nolan explained to the others with a grin. They laughed then went back to their conversation.
This man had a way of defusing the tension in a room. He pushed the plate closer to her. She reached over, picked up a chip and slipped it into her mouth. And just like him, Skylar closed her eyes as the taste hit her palate.
“See, it’s good.”
Skylar giggled and covered her mouth. “It’s very good.”
Nolan just smiled, and they ate in silence.
“I would really like to take you for a ride,” Skylar blurted out suddenly.
His beautiful lips quirked a bit. “And I would really like to take that ride.”
Oh shit, what did she just say? She turned and looked around the table, which had gone deathly quiet. She knew she was going to die of embarrassment. What crazy words had just come out of her mouth? All the men at the table had that look on their face, but she hadn’t meant it the way they were taking it.
She’d just wanted to show him her sky, but now she wanted to crawl under the table. She could actually feel the burn as it started from her neck up to her face. Dear God, just let the floor swallow me whole.
“You’re all just jealous.” Nolan grabbed her hand and pulled her up and out of the room quicker then she could blink. Before she knew it she was already out the door and standing in the front yard. She gazed at him as a wide smile broke across his face. “You ready?”
Nolan stood there, waiting. For what, she didn’t know. Then it occurred to her that she’d just told him that she wanted to take him flying. She heard the front door open and close about a hundred times and knew that everyone was standing on the front porch watching the show.
“One hundred bucks says he screams when she takes him up,” Ryder said loudly.
“I’ll take that bet,” Maggie said.
“I’m afraid you’re going to lose your money, Maggie. Nolan hates rides that go up in the sky. When we were little we went to a fair, and we all rode the rollercoaster. We loved it and wanted to go again. Nolan puked his guts up after the ride was over. He screamed the whole time,” Zoey told her, laughing.
“I’m standing right here, and I can hear you!” Nolan called.
“Really?” Maggie looked over at her mate.
“Sorry baby, but you’re going to lose this bet,” Judd confirmed.
“Okay baby, I’m ready to prove them wrong. I can do this,” Nolan said, clapping his hands together and waiting for her to take him up.
Skylar shrugged, and then shifted. She turned Nolan around with her giant claws, then grabbed him and took off into the sky. Zoey was right; Nolan screamed like he was dying. She pulled him closer to her body, and finally he stopped. She looked down and saw that his eyes were closed, and he’d turned white as a sheet. She wanted to laugh, but she couldn’t. Flying this high up in the sky wasn’t for everyone, but she’s thought that at least her mate would love it.
“Are you okay?” Skylar spoke, and that got his attention. He turned his head and his eyes widened, floored that she was talking.
“You can talk as a dragon?” Nolan asked, amazed.
“Yes. Are you okay? You’re turning a green color.”
“I don’t like heights. But…but how can you talk in your dragon form?”
“I don’t know, it’s just the way we’re made. I take it that other shifters can’t?” Nolan only shook his head as he continued to stare at her. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not going to drop you.”
“Well, I wasn’t worried until you said that.”
“Oh…sorry. But remember, nothing’s going to knock me out of the sky, and once we have something in our claws we don’t let it go. So turn back around, slowly, and look at how beautiful it is up here. You’ll never feel as at peace as you do up here. Your land is beautiful.”
She could tell that Nolan was still scared. She’d have to take him up more often to get him used to it.
“I’m just glad I didn’t throw up.”
“Is there anything you’d like to see while we’re up here?”
“Can we fly over the meadow? I want to check something out.”
“Sure.” Skylar flew high above the area, then realized that she’d need to go lower so Nolan could see it clearly. “Is this close enough?”
“Yes.” He pointed toward the trees that covered the mountain side. “You see those trees?”
“Yes.”
“I think we could have people waiting in them when we lure the witch’s people in. If any of them got past the first phase, we could have others hiding up against the mountain side. They wouldn’t have a clue they were being ambushed until it was too late.”
“That’s a good idea. I think it will work, but we have to get those trees fire-proofed before Jamal burns the forest to the ground. Is there anywhere else you’d like to go before we head home?”
Nolan shook his head, looking more at ease. She could tell he was taking it all in now that he was getting comfortable. Going down would most likely set him off again. “I’m taking us down now. Remember, I won’t drop you, and we won’t hit the ground.”
“I trust you.”
They was only three little words, but she would never forget them. Trust was something she had to have in the people surrounding her. The fact that he trusted her had to mean something.
Skylar drifted down, trying to go as slowly as she could. When she landed and set him on his feet, he bent over laughing. The others were still standing on the porch, looking amused.
“You still owe me the hundred, Maggie,” Ryder said, chuckling as they walked back in the house, leaving them alone.
Chapter Eight
Nolan bent down and touched the ground. “We may have to do that a few more times before I get used to it.”
The corner of her beautiful mouth quirked up. “I think I can handle that.”
“Good.” They both stared at each other for a few minutes before the front door opened.
“A word, Princess,” Dag requested from the front porch.
Nolan wanted to say something, but he couldn’t. He was going to take this slow and let her get to know him. At least he hadn’t thrown up on her; that had to be a plus. “I’ll wait for you inside.” He hated leaving her, but he had to give her some space. Especially if one of her clan members needed to talk to her.
She nodded as he walked away from her. Dag had some clothes in his hands. Nolan didn’t say anything this time about him interrupting them, but the next time he wouldn’t be so nice.
Me-Len was sitting in the rocking chair next to the fire with her head tilted back, rocking. She hadn’t said much of nothing today in the meeting, which meant something was troubling her. He thought it was strange for her to be in here alone, but maybe she needed some time to herself. Whatever the reason, Nolan felt the need to check on her.
He sat down beside her and waited for her to acknowled
ge him. That was what tigers were famous for, waiting for the exact moment to pounce. Me-Len was a good friend, so he sat quietly until she lifted her head and smiled at him. “I can tell you care for her already.”
Nolan just smiled and nodded. He knew that wasn’t what she wanted to talk about. “What’s wrong?” He decided to cut to the chase.
“I can feel something coming, and it’s—” Me-Len put her hand over her mouth.
“What, Me-Len? Tell me.”
Taking in a deep breath, Me-Len swallowed hard. “It’s evil. Something so heinous that I’m scared, Nolan. Scared that we can’t beat her.”
“We have to, Me-Len. You can’t fall apart now, and you can’t let the others hear you talk like that. Think! How can we beat her? We need a plan for whatever it is that’s coming.” Nolan sat there and stared down at his feet. “What is it?”
Me-Len snorted and shook her head. “I don’t know. I just feel it growing in power, which means she is growing in power.”
“Well we know it’s not the Book of Thoth, because Carina didn’t open it up.” Nolan leaned forward. “Right?”
“Unless she’s found another way to get the book open. Found another innocent.”
For the first time, Nolan felt a touch of despair. “We would’ve heard about it. How can we find out?”
“There’s only one way to know for sure.” Me-Len’s crypticness was starting to worry him.
“How, Me-Len?”
“Me.” They both turned to look at London, who was leaning against the wall.
“What do you mean, you?” Nolan asked.
“When I took Metilda’s magic away from her the Tree of Life gave it to me, but it came with a price. I’m linked with the Blackwood Coven now. If I try, I can transport myself and see through her eyes.”
“Claudia’s?”
“Yes.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s a ‘but’ with that yes?” Nolan asked, concerned.
“Because there is. If I do it and somehow Claudia feels me, she can trap me and I’ll never be able to wake up.”
“No! Absolutely not!” Ryder objected from the doorway. “It’s a chance she is not going to take. I forbid it.”
Taking his hand, London led Ryder over to the couch and sat down beside him. “You heard what Me-Len said. We’re losing, and we have to do something to prepare for what’s coming. It’s our only hope.”
“No, London. You’re not taking the chance. I’m not losing you. We will win without doing that.”
“And what if we don’t? You know Me-Len is right. You said yourself that you could feel it too. The dream…”
“Stop it, London. I said no and I mean it. Just because you dreamed it doesn’t make it so. Carina would’ve said something. She would tell us if that was true.” Ryder stood up shaking his head violently.
“The dreams are real, unless we change them,” Carina said from behind them. They all turned to the little girl. She was just a child, but for a moment she aged before their eyes; her voice sounded older, wiser and foreboding. Her eyes looked like she had lived several lifetimes instead of a mere eight years. “You know what could happen if she does this, Carina. I can’t lose her, and I won’t. No. Find another way.” Ryder whirled around and left the room.
London exhaled loudly and went after her mate. “Let me try and change his mind.”
Nolan watched as London left the room. “He won’t change his mind, and if it was my mate neither would I. Come here, little one.” Carina walked over and stood in front of him. She was so little; he didn’t understand why the Gods had placed that much responsibility on one so small. It wasn’t fair.
Picking her up, Nolan placed her on his lap. “I thought you were sleeping.” He pushed her hair back behind her ears and waited for her to speak.
“I had a bad dream.”
“Hmm, must be going around. What was your dream about?” Nolan asked. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bast walk into the room. The Elf had been watching over Carina.
“The war in the meadow. They were fighting, and they had Bast surrounded, and…” Tears ran down Carina’s face, and it broke his heart. “The black smoke kept attacking and attacking. I couldn’t get to him before it broke through and he fell to the ground. He...he…” Carina’s body shook as she sobbed into her hands. A waterfall of tears fell from her eyes as Nolan pulled her closer, cradling her head against his chest.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, it’s just a dream.” The cries from the young girl were gut-wrenching to watch. She’d been through too much for someone so young. Everyone piled into the living room as Nolan pushed her hair away from her face. Bast couldn’t take it anymore, and came to sit beside him, pulling Carina into his arms. He whispered into her ear, the Elven words calming her until she’d stopped shaking and crying.
The room was quiet as they waited for Carina to finish. All the planning and strategy they had planned for was about to be changed, simply from a dream. It wasn’t just a dream, of course—it was a premonition of what was to come. Skylar and her people stood in the corner, watching. Earlier their faces had been smiling, happy even, cutting up with each other. Now their faces were fixed with uncertainty as they realized the misery that was sure to come.
“Carina, tell me about the dream. You know we can change it, but we will need your help to do that.” MJ came closer and sat down at his feet with her laptop out.
“Tell us what you see, Carina. Every detail, even the colors of the trees, the flowers, the smells,” MJ said softly. When Carina looked up, MJ winked at her and nodded.
Biting her lip, Carina began again. “We were in the meadow and everyone was fighting. We were winning until Claudia arrived. She didn’t look the same. She was bigger, and she…she looked funny, like something was attached to her.”
“Was she taller, even god-like, like something you would’ve seen in a movie?” MJ asked. He had to hand it to MJ; she was doing a great job, slowing her down with her questions so she didn’t get so upset.
“Yes, she was taller. Her voice was even louder. So loud that when she screamed out we covered our ears. But those things were terrible, like they were trying to attach to her.” Carina’s breathing started to pick up.
“You’re doing good, Carina. Do you remember what the meadow looked like, and which direction Claudia came from?”
“The mountains were behind us and she came from behind that big tree.”
“Good girl. I know exactly the tree you’re talking about. What did the meadow look like?”
“The flowers were pretty.” Carina smiled, thinking about the flowers. “They were changing colors, and they were all the colors of the rainbow. Most of the flowers were purple, and the trees were also changing colors. I remember Zoey saying what a shame it was to destroy the beautiful flowers on the second day of fall.”
MJ reached up and touched Carina’s hand. “That’s very important information, Carina. Very good. Now describe to me what you were seeing. Do you remember who was in the meadow?”
Carina nodded. Her face was sad. “All of us were there, including the kids. They found the mines.” Nolan looked up when Zoey gasped, covering her mouth. Kayden pulled her closer to him. Carina glanced up at her but continued to describe the scene. “Someone told them about the mines. They escaped, but they were pushed toward the meadow. We backed ourselves up against the mountains, but then she came and…”
“Carina.” MJ raised her voice. “Tell me who was in the meadow. You’ve seen the pictures, and I know you have a photographic memory. Tell me who you saw with Claudia.”
Nolan couldn’t believe how well MJ was doing with Carina. She was a totally different person. “I saw her daughter Metilda. She had her magic back. There was a pack of wolves, too, but they looked funny and smelled real bad. A lot of vampires were there fighting, but they were no match for Bo and Cat’s clan. I saw Locke, too. He had a gun, the ones that were with him all had guns, shooting at all the…” Carina’s bottom lip star
ted trembling.
“Were they shooting at the shifters?”
Carina nodded, with tears streaming down her face.
“Don’t you worry about that, sweetie, we can take care of that.” MJ told her, patting Carina’s hand. “Now, did you recognize anyone else?”
Carina looked over at her Kayden. “Alpha, your dad was there. He was trying to take Rose.”
A growl pierced the room. Knox’s face had changed. His panther was trying to break through. Rose wasn’t at the meeting, but everyone could tell that Knox was probably Rose’s mate. They tried to avoid each other because of his brother Thor, who had been killed by Jamal. He saved Carina’s life. Knox and Thor were twins, and most likely were getting the same mate, but Knox was so angry about his brother’s death that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him.
“You saw my father?” Kayden’s voice was low from shock, but Nolan wasn’t really surprised. Kayden’s dad was a real piece of work, and had pretty much tortured Kayden as a child. He sent Rose to Kayden to mate with him, even though she wasn’t his true mate. Then they found out that he had abused and raped Rose in Africa. Thank God he didn’t know that Carina was a Seer, or he would’ve been using her too.
“We won’t have to worry about him either, Carina. Rose isn’t going anywhere, I promise you that.” MJ’s voice was low but they all got the meaning. She glanced over at Kayden, who only nodded.
Nolan knew that look, and Marshal Lynn wouldn’t live much longer. His son would kill him, and Nolan would help him. They all would. This was a long time coming, and for everything he had done to Rose and all the other women, he deserved death. It was far better than what all the other women he raped and abused got.
“Did you see anyone else, Carina?”
Carina looked sad as she glanced over at Nolan. Her voice was low as she whispered, “Jamal was fighting with her,” Carina pointed at Skylar. “And you tried to help her. But they were waiting for you, and while your back was turned they threw a net over you. Before she could get to you, Jamal burned you.”
