Encala : Book 3 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “I haven’t figured that out yet. Befriend her and then strike at the last minute maybe.”

  ***

  The tension in the council chambers was intense as the Equites Council watched the ten Valle enter, Exavior in the lead.

  “Was there such a strong need for more?” Damon asked him.

  “Perhaps,” Exavior said, swinging the side of his cape over his shoulder.

  “We have called for Emily.”

  “We cannot do the removal, not with the situation as it is,” he said.

  Maleth frowned and looked at Chevalier, “He knows.”

  Maleth looked at Exavior with wide eyes.

  “I’m not here to take her, unless I see signs of abuse,” Exavior said.

  Emily opened the door and stepped in. She was pale and shaky.

  The Valle shifted nervously and turned away from her, all except for Exavior. He shut his eyes and opened them slowly, completely in control.

  Exavior eyed her cautiously and turned back to the Council, “One moment, please.”

  He turned away from them and went to Emily, “Are you injured?”

  She shook her head, “No.”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, angrily.

  “Morning sickness,” she said, and gave him a half-smile.

  He relaxed and smiled, “Oh, right.”

  Exavior took Emily’s arm and helped her toward the Council. Chevalier’s fingers dug marks into the wood as they tensed into fists.

  “She looks unharmed,” Exavior said.

  “Of course, we don’t abuse her,” Damon said, irritated.

  “That remains to be seen, now doesn’t it?” Exavior said to him.

  “Are we to expect your visits regularly?” Leonid asked.

  “You may go,” Exavior said, looking at Leonid, who frowned. Two of the Valle ran quickly out of the room and Exavior spoke again, “Yes you may. Though not weekly, unless the need arises.”

  “Who exactly appointed you her guardian?” the Equites Chief Interrogator asked, angrily.

  “I do believe she did,” he answered, casually.

  Emily listened to them, the voices sounded like they were coming from a tunnel. She could tell they were talking about her, but their words were slurred and not making sense. She could feel the ground begin to move as a voice called for her.

  Exavior caught her just before she hit the ground and laid her down gently.

  “Emily?” he said, touching her face.

  Chevalier was at her side in a blur, “Em?”

  She opened her eyes, “I won’t go.”

  “Go where?” Chevalier asked her, and glared at Exavior until he moved his hand away.

  “I won’t go to him, he can’t make me,” she said, groaning in pain.

  “It’s the rune,” Exavior said. “Is the owner here in the palace?”

  “Yes,” Chevalier replied, angrily.

  “Well… shut him up,” Exavior scowled.

  Damon called for Kyle and blurred from the room. A few minutes later, Emily opened her eyes, panting. She sat up and Chevalier helped her to her feet. He kept her steady with a hand on her back.

  “I’m ok,” she said, looking around.

  “Go lay down,” Exavior said, and she nodded and left the room. When she was gone, he adjusted his cape and turned back to the Council as Chevalier took his chair.

  “Was there anything else you need? We have things under control,” Maleth asked.

  “You do?” Exavior asked, irritated.

  “We look forward to your next visit,” Leonid said.

  Exavior nodded and smiled, then walked out of the room with the other Valle.

  Chevalier left the council chambers, frustrated, and went up to Emily’s room. He walked in without knocking and looked around the empty room. He could hear her in the bathroom. He went over and tried the door, when he found it unlocked, he went inside and sat down.

  Emily was lying back on the floor with her eyes closed.

  “Déjà vu,” Chevalier said.

  “Just go away,” she said, adjusting her face to a new, cool spot.

  “Put this ring on and I will leave you alone,” he said, knowing it was a low blow.

  Emily put her hand out for the ring, and Chevalier handed it to her. Without even opening her eyes, she dropped it into the toilet. His hand shot out and caught it just before it hit the water.

  “Funny,” he said, slipping it back into his pocket.

  “Can I ask you a question? Get my mind off things?” she asked, not moving.

  “Sure,” Chevalier said. He was glad her eyes were shut. It gave him the ability to look her over well. He didn’t like how pale she was, or the way her hands shook when she moved.

  “Why can Exavior eat?” She opened her eyes and looked at him.

  “He can?” Chevalier seemed impressed.

  “Why?” Emily scooted until she was sitting up against the wall.

  “It’s an acquired skill that takes a lot of time and dedication. Some use it when they interact with mortals a lot, it helps them fit in,” he explained.

  Emily nodded and shut her eyes.

  “How did he see it?” he asked, after a few minutes of silence.

  “Is it really bugging you that bad?” she asked.

  He nodded, and then realized her eyes were still shut, “Yes, it is.”

  She sighed, “Jeff…”

  “What about him?”

  Emily opened her eyes and looked at him, “He… got a little… pushy.”

  “Define pushy,” Chevalier asked, gritting his teeth.

  “He’s just, stronger than I am, I guess,” she said, watching him.

  “How far did he get?” Chevalier asked, angrily.

  “Exavior stopped him,” she said.

  “How far?” he asked again, studying her face.

  “I don’t want to talk about this.” Emily shut her eyes again.

  “Why do you always get ashamed when someone does something stupid?” he asked, irritated.

  “Maybe it’s just embarrassing to admit that... yeah... once again, I was out strengthened by a mortal man,” she snapped.

  “Of course you were. You can only defend against heku. That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he said softly, trying to diffuse the anger.

  “And maybe I’m not wanting to admit that men think they can take advantage of me only to find out they are right,” she sighed.

  “How far did he get?” he asked again.

  “Drop it.”

  “No, how far?”

  “It didn’t happen, ok?” she said, softer.

  “Did he get your clothes off?”

  Emily frowned at him, “Will you drop it if I tell you?”

  “Yes”

  “Then yes. So drop it, ok?”

  “I hope Exavior killed him,” Chevalier growled.

  “He didn’t. He just paralyzed him from the waist down,” she told him.

  “Nice,” Chevalier said, then shut his mouth when Emily glared at him.

  “Go away,” she said again.

  “When you are feeling better, Kyle and I will work with you again. We had the one training, but never really got into the mortal part,” he said, remembering that day with Travis back on the island.

  Chevalier’s heart thudded when he saw a tear fall down her cheek.

  “What, Em?” he asked, softly.

  “Why can’t you bring Travis back?” She looked up at him.

  “We can only bring back ashes.”

  “Why though?”

  “That’s just how it works.”

  “If I burned in a fire, could you bring me back?” she asked, honestly.

  Chevalier frowned, “Why?”

  “Just curious.”

  “No, I don’t think we could.”

  Emily used the counter to stand up and looked in the mirror. She walked over and turned on the water for the jetted tub.

  “Go away,” she said again, watching him.

&nb
sp; “Why? I’ve seen you naked.”

  She frowned, “Just go, please.”

  “No, I’ll join you,” he said, standing up and starting to undress.

  “Chev, no,” she frowned. “We’re not married anymore.”

  “Wimp,” he said, stepping into the water. “Damn, this is hot.”

  Emily glared at him and stripped quickly. She felt his eyes on her as she stepped into the water and sunk down, feeling the water burn her skin. She reached over and hit the jets, keeping to her side.

  “Give in, Em,” Chevalier said, pulling her feet toward him and slipping his legs under hers. “There, better.”

  Emily leaned her head back and shut her eyes, letting the hot water and jets work at her muscles.

  Chevalier pulled one of her feet up and began to massage it. She opened her eyes and looked at him. “What are you doing?”

  “Wooing you,” he said, laughing.

  “Will you let me endure morning sickness alone if I put on that damn ring?” she asked, her vivid green eyes locked on his.

  “Probably not.”

  “You’re a pest,” she said, and leaned her head back again.

  “I’m sorry, Em.”

  “No you aren’t, you were mad.”

  “Yes I was. I wish you could understand why.”

  “I wish you could trust me.”

  The frustration built within him. He couldn’t understand how she could admit to being overpowered by a man in one breath, and then tell him to trust her to protect herself in the next.

  “You, I trust, it’s everyone else I have trouble with,” he said.

  “Do you trust Exavior?” she asked, as she ran her hands along the bubbles floating on the water.

  “I owe him a great debt.”

  “That’s not what I asked,” she said, looking up at him.

  “No, I don’t trust him.”

  “You thought I slept with him,” she said with a small grin.

  “I did not,” Chevalier frowned.

  “Yes you did. I saw you checking out my ring. It’ll be good for you to not have that visual representation of my loyalty.” She smiled fully and leaned her head back, “Besides, I don’t see a ring on you.”

  Emily felt the water shift, and then felt his body press into hers and he kissed her.

  She turned her head to the side, “No.”

  “Damn, an order I have to obey,” he said, and brushed his lips against hers lightly, then crawled out of the tub.

  “Is it sunny outside?” she asked when he left the bathroom.

  “Yes, hotter than hell too,” he said, and walked out of the bedroom.

  Chevalier went to meet Damon and Kyle in Damon’s office. He knocked and then entered as they were discussing shift rotations.

  “Gah, you smell like her,” Damon said, staring at Chevalier.

  “Sorry.” He grinned.

  “Do you think Emily would notice if we posted guards on the fifth floor?” Kyle asked the Elder.

  “Yes, not much slips by her, why?” he asked, and looked over the rotations.

  “She won’t take a personal guard, so we’re trying to improvise.”

  Chevalier picked up the list and studied it, “Oh that reminds me, I promised Emily another self-defense lesson.”

  “Good idea,” Kyle said, nodding.

  “This one’s a mortal one, though,” Chevalier said.

  Kyle frowned, “Why? She’s not being attacked by mortals.”

  “Remember Jeff?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Kyle’s eyes narrowed, “What did he do?”

  “Something Emily won’t admit to. All I know is that Exavior stopped whatever it was and paralyzed him from the waist down.”

  “Why didn’t he kill him?” Kyle asked.

  “I’m guessing to make him suffer.”

  “I knew I liked him some,” Damon laughed. “I want in on this self-defense class.”

  Kyle grinned at Chevalier, “We could use another attacker.”

  “Oh let me,” Damon said, enthusiastically.

  “Can you tone it down? You’re supposed to be mortal,” Chevalier asked, shaking his head.

  “Sure I can.” He grinned.

  Chevalier handed the rotation list, “Looks good except for Sunday, you doubled up on the front doors for an hour.”

  “Damn,” Kyle said, and erased a few things.

  A panicked call came down, “Get off the roof, now, now.”

  Kyle stood up and frowned, “What now?”

  “Now! I said get off the roof,” a voice called from above.

  Damon stood up and blurred to the roof, followed by Kyle and Chevalier. On the way up, they passed the guards, who didn’t even stop when their leaders passed.

  “What’s up with them?” Damon asked, and opened the door to the roof. The three stepped out and looked around, confused.

  “I don’t see anything,” Kyle said, and they walked forward a bit.

  “Ahh” Damon said, pointing off to the west side of the roof.

  They all looked over and saw Emily, lying out on a lawn chair in her bikini. She had her sunglasses on and was leaned back, relaxing.

  “Erm…” Kyle said, turning away, “I think I’ll go finish that roster.”

  “Hmm,” Damon sighed, looking at her.

  Chevalier cleared his throat.

  “Oh, sorry, yes… I’ll go help,” Damon said, and followed Kyle.

  Chevalier sat down on the side of the roof by Emily, “You cleared out the roof.”

  She jumped and sat up.

  “It’s just me,” he said, chuckling.

  Emily laid back down, “I didn’t tell them to leave.”

  “Yes… well… between your looks and your scent, I’m imagining they felt it better to leave,” he said, smiling.

  She looked down at herself. “What’s wrong with how I look?”

  “Nothing, that’s the problem.”

  “I just wanted some sun while I’m not worshipping in the bathroom,” Emily said.

  “Worshipping?” Chevalier started to laugh, “Feeling better then?”

  “For right now.”

  Chevalier studied the curves and contours of her body while she bathed in the sun.

  “You’re staring,” she said, not opening her eyes.

  “Yes I am.”

  “Did you want something?”

  “You have no idea,” he said, grinning.

  Emily looked up at him, “You’re in my sun.”

  Chevalier moved off to the side and Emily closed her eyes again.

  “Marry me,” he said, amused.

  “I did that already,” she reminded him.

  “Yes but then I became an…” He thought.

  “Ass?” she suggested.

  Chevalier laughed, “Ok, an ass, and I’m asking you again.”

  Emily’s phone rang and she grabbed it from the ground by her chair.

  “Hi, Exavior,” she said, smiling.

  “Mostly,” she said, looking up at Chevalier.

  Emily smiled widely, “Yes I will, thanks.”

  “Yes I know how many days are left, good-bye.”

  “I said good-bye,” she said, and then hung up the phone.

  Chevalier couldn’t help but ask, “So… how many days are left?”

  “Until the bond is gone,” she said. “He’s worse than you are at reminding me.”

  Emily laid back down in the sun.

  “Oh, he’s encouraging you to put it on?” Chevalier asked, surprised.

  “Yeah, go figure,” she said.

  “Ok, I give up. I’ll let you suffer morning sickness alone if you’ll put it back on,” he said, handing it to her.