by AJ Anders
The elder moved closer to place a hand on Evie’s shoulder. “You’ve made quite the impression on Maximillian. That alone says something of your character. He is a half demon and can pick up deception easier than those around him. One of his gifts is the ability to tell truth from fiction. A Surmata lie detector of sorts. Can he be fooled? Well, of course, he can. Anyone with the smarts you possess would be able to figure out the weaknesses of his gift and exploit it. But, you would need to know he had the ability. You have earned his undying loyalty and with his, you also have Caleb’s.”
Evie was embarrassed to find out Max discussed aspects about her with others but at the same time, it warmed her heart to hear how Max and Caleb felt about her.
He chuckled to himself before moving away. “You have more than those two, but you will learn more about that as time goes by. Max talks about you all the time. All those times he disappeared, he teleported here and shared his experiences with me and his close friends and family. You were already beloved by others before you even arrived.”
Evie shifted uncomfortably. She had yet to meet any of Max’s family or friends. Just how many people knew about her?
The elder folded his arms in front of him, nodding for her to follow him. “You look skeptical, but what I’m telling you is the truth. Maximillian’s natural storytelling ability, and his apparent devotion to you, is well known and is shared by others. You, Evie, have a light soul, one which shines brightly. You will draw others to you if you allow the light to be seen. Now, I have talked quite a bit, and my throat’s dry. How about a cup of tea?” Evie wasn’t a tea drinker, but she didn’t want to offend the Surmata elder, so she nodded her acquiescence. “Splendid. Follow me. I ordered a cart to be brought in after your arrival. It should be out in the main office by now.”
True to his word, a gold cart sat in front of a large fireplace, complete with tea setting.
“Please have a seat, Miss Saunders.” He gestured to two large chairs positioned in front of the fireplace. When Evie sat in the one opposite from the cart, the over-sized chair dwarfed her small frame, her feet dangling five inches off the floor. “Do you take cream and sugar in your tea?”
Not sure, she nodded and stayed quiet, watching him pour the steaming hot contents into two small teacups before he doctored both with equal parts cream and sugar. He placed her cup on a saucer, his hand steady as he handed it to her. He took his own and sat in the matching chair across from her, his feet planted on the floor.
Too hot to drink and afraid to spill it, Evie held the cup balanced on her thighs. Selja Inian must have felt the same way because he set his saucer and cup on the small side table next to him.
Questions pushed at her to break the silence. “Selja Inian—”
“Please, Miss Saunders. You have leave to call me Inian.”
“Th-thank you,” she stammered out. “Please call me, Evie.”
Her encounters with the Surmata race exceeded her imagination. She’d fantasized about meeting one all her life, but those fantasies paled in comparison to the real thing. She’d envisioned a more warlike mentality in all Surmata warriors, believing them to be all about fight, death, and destruction.
She took a deep breath. “You said you had a vision of me, here, today, about three years ago?”
Inian took a sip of his tea before replying. “That’s correct. It was a silent vision, so I didn’t know what we spoke of, but I did picture you here, as you are. Normally, my visions relate to Surmata events and lives. To get a vision of a human girl was odd, which is why I knew it was important. The goddess was trying to tell me something.”
“The goddess. Who is she?”
Sitting forward, the elder tsked, “That is a story you must figure out on your own, Evie. There are several books on the goddess in my collection. If she wishes you to know more, she will guide your hand when selecting which books to read.
“Don’t misunderstand me. I would love to share my knowledge with you, but I know the goddess has plans for you. I would hate to share something that influenced you in the wrong direction. I honestly do not know how much of my knowledge to reveal. I need you to choose what to read. Through your choices, the goddess will guide my hand in this like she will guide yours in your selections.
“I have a feeling things will begin to move fast, Evie. You will need to remain strong. But most of all, you will need to learn to trust. Secrets shine in your eyes. Open yourself up to making friendships here. Like you did with Maximillian.”
“But make friendships with only Surmata? Trust only them?” Evie sipped her tea, suppressing her grimace at the soured taste, as she waited for him to answer.
“Not what I meant. You may make friends with whomever you choose, but be mindful of who to trust. There are those housed within these walls that mean you harm. Of that I am sure.” He stared down at his teacup, his face thoughtful. “I sense you will face many obstacles in your future. Your path is not set yet. Your choices determine which path through life you follow. Some decisions will lead you closer to happiness and fulfillment. Others will lead you to your destruction. The paths are always changing, so a decision today can alter tomorrow’s path. Nothing is finite. Nothing is certain. But learn and grow with each choice. Rely on the friends you come to trust, they will help you overcome your fear.”
Chapter Thirteen
Evie spent the next morning walking the campus, memorizing alternate routes to her classes. She’d learned early on to never become predictable in her daily habits. To do so, could spell disaster from an unforeseen enemy.
By the time she made her way back to the human side of campus,, the sun had moved closer to the western horizon. The late afternoon beckoned to Evie, too beautiful to be stuck inside. She ran back to her dorm and changed into a pair of leggings, sports bra, and a racer back t-shirt, replacing her Converse with her trainers and bunching up her hair into a loose ponytail. She was determined to take advantage of the late afternoon sunshine. With the days still warm, the nights cooling off by about twenty degrees created the perfect opportunity for a therapeutic run.
Earlier, she studied the campus map to determine where one of the main trails began. Headed in the right direction, she popped her earphones into her ears, selected her favorite playlist, and took off at a slow paced jog.
Evie loved to run. It allowed her to escape from the world around her, finding peace within herself. The steady pace, the feel of her muscles warming up, the music blaring in her ears. All were nirvana to her. She loved the outdoors, hardly tolerating being trapped indoors on a beautiful day. Growing up in various camps across the country her entire life fed her adoration of the outdoors. They may have lived in cabins, but she rarely stayed inside, preferring to run amok among the heavily wooded forests that surrounded their settlement.
Evie savored the sensation of her muscles relaxing as her body heated with exertion from the slow pace of her run. She entered the head of the trail a short time later. Taking a deep breath, she inhaled slowly. The fresh scent of pine trees mixed with the smell of damp earth filled her nose, making her feel at home in the forest.
Twenty minutes into her run, the path widened considerably, spilling her out into a large clearing. Evie paused in her run to admire the exquisite view presented before her. The clearing wasn’t overly large, maybe a hundred feet across. The lush, deep blue-green grass looked like freshly planted sod. On the other side, a small waterfall cascaded down a cliff face into a spring. Through the crystal clear water, the rocks that pebbled along the floor of the natural pool were visible. In the center of the spring arose an island created by a large, flat boulder, big enough for two or three swimmers to stretch out, sunbathing on a hot afternoon.
Evie bent down to test the temperature, surprised at the chilliness of it. In mid-summer, when the temperatures soared to the highest of the season, the spring would be refreshing. But right now, she needed to be a polar bear to swim it.
“It’s sixty-eight degrees, year round.” A de
ep voice informed her. She jumped and spun in a complete circle, trying to locate the speaker.
“Up here.”
Evie’s eyes darted up along the cliff face until she spotted the figure who stood at the top; the afternoon sun shrouded him in shadow. She squinted to make out his features, but it proved impossible with the sun positioned directly behind him. Hoping the change in position would give her a different vantage point, she walked towards the outcropping of rocks, careful of her steps. When she came to the shortest of the boulders, she hopped on top of it, then climbed to the larger one next to it. About six feet off the ground, the added elevation allowed her to clearly see who spoke to her.
Towering above her was a man dressed casually in a blue button-down shirt and a pair of well-worn, faded jeans that rode low on his hips. Scuffed hiking boots adorned his feet. Black hair, trimmed short on the sides but left long on the top, hung over one side, almost to chin level. A five o’clock shadow hugged his cheeks and chin to give him a fresh-from-bed appearance. His pierced left eyebrow was the only piece of jewelry she spotted. His eyes grabbed her attention. At first glance, they appeared hazel, like a humans, but when the sunlight hit them, the green deepened, becoming a sparkling jade-green color that glinted in merriment.
The man smiled down at Evie before he disappeared from sight. She heard scraping noises and realized he made his way down a hidden path blocked from her sight. He came out from the behind the rocks, and from her perch, she now stood gazing down at him.
“What’s a pretty little thing like you doing here all by yourself?” He held out a hand to help her down. She took it without hesitation, overwhelmed by a sense of familiarity.
At least a full foot taller than her, he dwarfed her small frame. His strong jaw led to chiseled cheeks, and up close, he looked like an angel etched in marble. All sharp angles and fine lines. Almost too beautiful to be real. From farther away, he appeared spectacular. Up close, his physique became lethal to her young heart. His eyes held her prisoner, helplessly caged within their depths. Back on the ground, and in close proximity to him, her body warmed with a different heat.
“Something wrong?” His eyes shone with mirth.
Evie realized she still held his hand while she stared up at him. She blushed, a red hot flash of heat flaming her face. Embarrassed, she shook her head and released his hand. Growing up like she did, sheltered from the world, she wasn’t used to interacting with people, especially gorgeous men. At the camp, people her own age kept their distance from her because of her father. Even the adults never interacted with her unless they needed her for something. She grew up solitary and alone for the most part with Max as her only friend. He forced his friendship on her, never giving her a choice of whether to accept it, not letting her shyness drive him away.
The man in front of her smiled, his eyes alight with laughter. “I’m Cyne. What’s your name, love?”
“Evie,” she whispered, forcing the sound from her parched throat.
Unnerved, she clenched her hands when an unfamiliar need swept through her. The boys she encountered at camp never stirred these types of emotions within her. A chance meeting, and this Surmata male fired a longing deep within Evie that made her body shake with the desire to reach out to him. His essence called to her, hungering for her, a plain human.
Impossible.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Evie. I haven’t seen you around.” His head tilted to the side, long bangs swaying as he studied her. “You must be part of the latest batch of reprobates brought in.”
“Reprobates?” Hurt lanced her heart, and the warmth in her belly cooled. She backed away, ready to retreat into the forest.
Cyne’s eyes widened in surprise at her retreat. Putting his hand up in a placating manner, he cajoled, “Relax, love. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m teasing you. There’s no way a sweet girl like you would take part in such a foolhardy undertaking.”
Evie’s mouth opened to correct his misconception. Innocent of any wrong doing, she was still the daughter of the man who ordered all those terrible deeds. Forcing the damning words past her tight throat took courage, but she managed to somehow squeak out a confession. “My father…he was…yeah…he was bad.”
Well, it might not be a full confession, but she was relieved to push those few words out.
“No worries, love. I know exactly who your father is. I won’t hold it against you.” He grinned down at her, reaching up to brush back a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail.
As he gently tugged it back behind her ear, goosebumps rose up on her skin at the small contact. His movements slow and gentle, he treated her like spun glass. Finished with the errant strand of hair, his thumb and forefinger caressed her cheek, running down tenderly until he reached her chin. His thumb rubbed small circles on her skin, and he stared straight at her lips.
His eyes weren’t shining with humor now. They darkened to almost jet black. Heat stirred low in her belly, and she licked her dry lips. The small movement ripped a groan from him. The sound stroked a cord deep within Evie, igniting a kernel of desire.
“You left the trail reserved for humans. What should I do with you now?” His husky words inspired no fear in Evie. Instead, it fanned the flames a little higher.
Evie fiddled with the edge of her shirt, biting her lip in uncertainty. She didn’t know how to react. These feelings unsettled her, leaving her adrift in unknown territory. Surely, he didn’t want to kiss her? After all, they just met. Add in his Surmata heritage, and no way would he be interested in a human girl. Plus, why would she have the urge to kiss a complete stranger?
She really needed to investigate her pheromones theory.
“You left the path, now you’re in serious trouble.” His eyes lightened with humor, letting Evie know he wasn’t serious, and the unsettling moment passed. “Hmmm, what am I to do? Should I turn you in, make an example out of you?”
“Um, no.” Evie giggled, amused at the stern expression he tried to make. His eyebrows waggled, ruining the effect.
“Well, then. I think your punishment is to accompany me.”
“So being in your company is considered a punishment?” she asked, trying to keep her expression serious.
Laughing, Cyne moved closer. “Oh, we are going to get along fabulously!” He grabbed her hand. “Come on, love. Let me show you a sight most humans don’t get a chance to see.”
Cyne walked her down a path on the other side of the clearing. Evie would never have spotted it on her own, the brush camouflaging it neatly from sight. They walked side by side in companionable silence. Cyne would stop from time to time, pointing out animals or new paths that lead in different directions.
When they reached their destination, Evie was instantly immobilized in shock, surprised to witness a large number of Surmata warriors in one place. Cyne brought her to a training field. One far more advanced than anything she’d seen before. Warriors, in all forms of dress, or undress since many lacked shirts, practiced their combat skills. Some hand to hand, others with weapons on large targets that had been set up on the other side of the field. Several hundred warriors stood in groups, watching and cheering on their teammates.
“These are the training rings. All warrior trainees must attend these specialized classes until they graduate from each training ring. Only then will they carry the title of Sutori and work out in the field. There are five training rings in total. Do you know what the Voima are?” Cyne asked, eyes on the field.
“Yes.” She nodded, glad she remembered from her conversation with Selja Inian. “It’s the abilities a Surmata are born with.”
“Correct. A warrior will begin training in the first inner ring, practicing their weaker talents, their Heikko. Even though these abilities are weaker, they still need to master them before moving on. The second ring focuses on their stronger abilities, their Mahti.
“The third ring is the first true ring that separates the men from the boys. I know, I know, there are women train
ing, too. It’s an expression.” He holds up his hands, forestalling any argument. “This ring moves the warrior to the more physical activities. It’s centered around one-on-one combat skills. The fourth ring concentrates on weapons training. And the final ring, which most warriors take years to master, is Kaveri training. Bonded units must learn to work together, harnessing their strengths, working in harmony to overcome an enemy.”
Evie searched her mind for questions. “Are you part of a Kaveri?”
“Yes, I am. You’ve already met a few of my brothers. I’m hoping you will accept Max’s dinner invitation, so you can meet the rest of them.”
“What dinner invitation?” Evie hadn’t spoken to Max all day.
Cyne grinned down at her. “Max asked if I saw you, to make sure I invited you to dinner.”
“He did?” Evie asked again, stupidly.
“Yes. At our house.”
“Our house?” Evie shifted her attention from the men on the training field to the man beside her. “You live with Max?”
“Yes, Tiny Tot. Max and Caleb live with us. Max wasn’t sure he would run into you, so he asked my entire Kaveri to be on the lookout. Otherwise, he was going to waylay you later, giving you no time to say no.”
Evie laughed. “That sounds like Max.”
“You have a beautiful laugh,” Cyne sighed, his tone sincere.
Unused to compliments, Evie stared down at her feet. “Th-thank you.”
“So, you will come tonight?” He ducked down, serious eyes catching hers, begging for only one answer.
Suddenly shy, Evie nodded without speaking.
Cyne fist pumped the air. “Great. Max will pick you up at six. That should give you plenty of time to shower and do whatever girls normally do to get ready.”
Motion caught Evie’s attention, and she turned to watch a young man run over to them. “Soturi Cyne. There’s been an incident in the fourth ring.”
