Hidden Light

by Nikki Bolvair

  I raised one brow, then let it drop when I remembered my headache. “Will you leave?”

  “For one date.” He pulled away and floated a picture frame from the side table over to him. It was one of me and my stepbrothers.

  “No.”

  He floated the picture back and sat down on the couch. “Then I’ll just hang around.”

  “You are rude.”

  “And you are a spitfire.”

  I growled and crumpled his note in my hand. He only showed up after I read it.

  “Did you like my rose?”

  “I’m allergic,” I lied, heading to the kitchen. He needed to leave so I could take pain relievers and lie down. They would help. I was sure.

  He shot to his feet. “Where are you going?”

  I opened the cabinet where the medicine was, pulled out two pills, and grabbed a cup from another. Filling it up from the faucet, I swallowed the pills down.

  Naylor stared at me with amusement. “Really? I’m not that bad.”

  I slammed the cup onto the counter, ignored him, and started to rifle through the kitchen drawers until I found a lighter. I turned around and lifted it like I’d just won the biggest prize from the pizza game center.

  Now, Naylor seemed worried. He put his hands up. “Whoa, what are you doing?”

  I flicked the lighter on and lifted the note. “You showed up after I read this.” I shook the paper. “This is the reason you got past the wards.”

  “Don’t do that,” he warned.

  I put the note into the flame.

  “Ahhhh!” he screamed, crumpling to the ground.

  Horrified, I moved the lighter away.

  Then he started laughing. That's when I noticed the note was undamaged.

  He stood and gestured to it before it flew out of my hands and into his. “Don't you think I could have just taken it from you if I was in any real danger?” He tapped it on his palm. “Props to you, though, on finding out how I was sticking around. Shows you’re smart. I like that.”

  I folded my arms, thinking. “Well, I don't particularly like you.”

  “A date might change your mind.” I twisted my lips as I watched him lean back against the kitchen counter.

  “One date?” I asked before shimming outside on the porch again to gather up my blanket.

  He shimmed beside me, grinning. “Just one.”

  I shimmed back inside the house. He didn’t follow. Instead, he knocked and waved the letter in the window. “You’re good. You figured it out. So, about that date…”

  I glared at him. “After that? No.”

  Still feeling a little off, I shimmed to my room and curled up in bed. When I remembered the flower, I shot back up and threw it out the window. That idiot needed romance lessons.

  Chapter Eight

  I woke up the next morning feeling a little bit better from taking the pain medication and realized it was nighttime. Glancing over at the dresser, I saw the bags of clothes Mom and Myra put there for me, most likely wanting me to try them on.

  Throwing back the covers, I went to the dresser to sift through the clothes before I found a set of PJs. I went to the bathroom, did my business, and came out to find Hale there.

  Wearing light-wash blue jeans and a green shirt with some kind of design on the front, he relaxed on the other side of my bed. Arms stretched back behind his mop of black hair, he watched me enter the room.

  I shivered, wondering why he was here.

  “What's up?” I croaked, leaning back against the doorjamb.

  As if he sensed my hesitation, he patted the spot beside him where I’d been sleeping. “Come here.”

  My insides quivered more than usual, and I became acutely aware of him. Usually, I was able to control the way I reacted when he spoke. Now, an invisible string pulled me to him, and the heat in his eyes didn’t help, either.

  “I know you're sick. Patrick excused you from classes, but I brought a movie and figured we could watch it.” He gestured to the TV mounted on the wall across from the bed.

  “This late?” I asked, making my way to the bed and crawling in.

  He curled an arm around my shoulders, drawing me to his chest. “Yes.”

  For a second, I hesitated, staying stiff. Then I melted into him. “What movie is it?”

  He named an action movie we’d watched together before, and warmth filled me. I snuggled up to him, happy for the moment. “I like that one.”

  He gave me a squeeze. “I know.”

  He picked up the remote and started the movie. And like that, the conversation melted into an action flick.

  Partway through, both of us had managed to move around. I now lay on my side with my head on his shoulder, and my hand splayed out along his chest. Unconsciously, his fingers traced softly over mine. It was time to bring in the big guns. It was time to talk. Did he like me the way I liked him?

  To distance myself from him, I drew my fingers away. While the movie played in the background, Hale tilted his head toward mine, his sea-green eyes concerned. “Something wrong?”

  I took a deep breath. “I have a question to ask you.”

  Something flashed in his eyes, and he lay his hand down on his chest, shifting a little so he could see me better. Did he know what I was going to ask? “Shoot.”

  My nerves quaked. By asking this question, the fabric of our relationship could shift. Either way it wasn't good, but I had to know.

  A bright light filled the room, preventing me from taking the leap as Zander and Baxter appeared.

  I rolled away from Hale, back to my own spot, and grumped. “I know you guys are relieved and all about me being one of you, but really,” I huffed, gesturing to the two of them, “do you have to shim into my room?”

  Baxter stared at me, perplexed, as if he wasn't sure how to respond. Zander, on the other hand, came over, scooped me up, and stole me away—again.

  We shimmed into an unfamiliar living room, where Colten waited. He sat on the couch, leaning back, his face paler than it should have been.

  “You look like shit,” Colten stated, standing and joining us as Zander let my feet down.

  Holding onto his bulky shoulder, I steadied myself and shot Colten a smirk before I dished back, “Takes one to see one.”

  Zander’s shoulders shook at my simple razz, and Colten snorted and took me from him.

  “You’re saying I look like shit?” he whispered into my hair when his arms surrounded me. His strong hands rubbed my back, kneading the tense muscles.

  My arms threaded through his and around his neck to hug him close. “I just call it like I see it.”

  He chuckled and let go, his golden eyes shining once again. I didn’t like how dull they had seemed before. “Nothing a few drinks and grilled cheese couldn’t cure,” he razzed back.

  I nodded, moving away to plop down on the couch where he’d sat before. “I could go for that.”

  Bright lights again filtered in the room to announce the arrival of the other two we’d abandoned in my room.

  Colten’s face lit up. “I’ll work on that right now.”

  Zander marched over to Hale. “That wasn’t cool.”

  “Hey,” Hale said, stepping back. “You wanted her to see the house. Well, now we’re here. She's in our house.”

  “You were taking too long. And you started watching a movie! What the fuck was that about?”

  “Maybe I saw that she was tired, and I wanted—”

  I sat up, done with the fighting. “What’s going on with the two of you?”

  They looked at me, having forgotten I was there, and blanched.

  Baxter came and plopped down beside me. “This was bound to happen,” he stated, twisting me and lifting my legs into his lap. Hands that felt like heaven rubbed my feet.

  Baxter’s tone got low. “You guys should take it outside if you have a problem. Do you have a problem?”

  Immediately, they separated, and Zander answered, “No, we don't.”

  “
That's right,” Baxter stated. The pressure on my feet increased with exact firmness. I relaxed, leaning my head back on the armrest of the couch. So good. Baxter stared at them, adding, “Because we decided it's best to stick together. Right?”

  They both nodded.

  “Right,” Hale answered.

  It felt like everyone was stepping on eggshells, so I decided to move the conversation along. I gestured to encompass the room. “So, this is your house.”

  Baxter squeezed my feet in thanks. “Yeah, sweetheart, it is.”

  “You make enough to live here?”

  Hale chuckled. “The warrior program helps, too.”

  I shifted my gaze to his. “How?”

  “Every Warrior is given compensation for entering the program. Like in the army.”

  “Oh, is every Lydent guy in the warrior program?” I wondered.

  Zander shifted his gaze, cautious. “No. Not everyone. Why do you ask?”

  I swallowed, remembering the idiot who visited me yesterday. “Any of you know Naylor Frost?”

  They all froze.

  “Why?” Zander questioned.

  “He came by yesterday,” I told them.

  Baxter continued rubbing my feet. “He’s an okay guy.”

  Zanders lips pressed. “He’s an ass.”

  They all chuckled.

  “Am I going to get that a lot? Guys pestering me about...” I grimaced.

  “About what?” Hale prompted.

  My cheeks heated with embarrassment. “About mating.”

  Hale sat beside me on a sliver of the cushion. “Probably, but just ignore them. And if any one of them becomes a real nuisance, let us know, and we'll take care of it.”

  Everyone agreed.

  Warmed by their protectiveness, I said, “Thanks, guys.”

  When Baxter hit a sore spot in the arch of my foot, I hissed. He gave me a sympathetic smile. “Sorry.”

  “It's okay.” I waved him off. “Just be softer.”

  I moved my feet from his lap and stood. “So… can I have a tour while Colten makes me my grilled cheese?” I raised my brows. I didn't want to be demanding, but felt awkward being here. Like they wanted me to come, but they didn't plan what to do once I got here.

  “Sure,” Zander said. “We can give you a tour.”

  I followed him out of the living room, past a formal entry, across the hall, and down some stairs to a great room with a pool table. A couch and bar were off to one side, another TV mounted on the wall. Basically, a man cave.

  I turned to find the other guys behind us and arched a brow. “I’m guessing this is where the fun happens?”

  Hale smirked. “What gave it away?”

  I shot him a wide grin. “I’d say it was the pool table, but the bar clinched it for me.”

  Baxter laughed and grabbed my hand. “Come on…”

  He maneuvered me back up the stairs and down another hall, which split off into the kitchen. The scent of burnt toast teased my nose, and I found Colten there, flipping grilled cheese at the stove in a hurry, like he had somewhere he wanted to be.

  “Hey, slow down,” I told him as I walked to him, passing the trash can full of burnt grilled cheese. Reaching Colten, I grabbed the spatula. “Take it easy, buddy. You don’t want to flip them too soon. It takes time to toast them.”

  His shoulders dropped. “I already burned them.”

  “We know.” Hale snickered.

  “We could smell the smoke when we walked in,” Zander added.

  I bumped Colten's hip with mine. “No worries.”

  He took the spatula from me. “Go finish the tour. I promise I won’t burn these.”

  I smiled. “Find us when you're done.”

  He started to flip the sandwiches and winked. “Sure. Maybe we'll meet back in the family room and finish that movie you and Hale were watching.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Baxter agreed and scooted me out. Zander and Hale didn’t follow.

  Baxter pointed to the rear of the house. “Let me show you the backyard.”

  I rolled my eyes but followed. “You mean the one with all the trees?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, but there's something else back there.”

  “What?”

  “You'll see.”

  We went back down the hall and passed a set of stairs, through the foyer, and back into the family room.

  “Here.” He guided me past the TV and couch to the floor-to-ceiling window I missed before and flipped a lock.

  He tugged, and the whole wall of windows opened to the redwood porch. He flicked a switch, and light shone out over the space. I thought the game room was a man cave, but I now realized my mistake. Another bar, fit for a bartender, sat beside a large jacuzzi with easily enough room for twelve.

  And the view was amazing. “Why don’t our parents have this view?”

  Baxter’s arms wrapped around me from behind, and he buried his lips in my hair. “The back of their house faces a different direction.”

  I sighed, leaning back into him. “I guess that makes sense.”

  A few minutes later, Colten found us there with a plate of browned grilled cheese.

  I drew away from Baxter and grabbed one. “Yum!”

  Colten’s gaze lit up. “You think?”

  Baxter chuckled, circled his arms around me once again, and shimmed me back to the couch.

  I pushed him away as I tried to sit up. “What did you do that for?”

  “Because I could,” he said smugly.

  Zander showed up on the other side of me with a blanket, and Hale shimmed in with the movie. Colten arrived last and set the grilled cheese on the coffee table in front of the couch before sitting in a chair as everyone grabbed a sandwich.

  Hale started the movie from where we left off and sat down in another chair. While the movie played, I rested my head on Zander’s broad shoulder.

  I liked how we all were. Maybe a little too much.

  ***

  In Lydent class the next day, I felt off again. My head pounded, and my body ached. I took pain medication again and ignored it as class went on. We were discussing the different light talents.

  One of the student raised his hand. “And which ones are rare?”

  Our teacher stiffened. “The rarest of them all is a Draíochta.”

  I spoke up. “What do they do?”

  The teacher's eyes met mine. “Everything. Anything. If you're near enough, they can tap into your talents and use them for their own purposes.”

  My brows arched in surprise. “So, they steal them?”

  He nodded. “Precisely.”

  “Cool.” I made a note in my school book.

  Then, out of nowhere, an older guy popped in, holding a puppy. “Carly Philips?”

  I didn’t raise my hand. I knew. I knew. It was a pointless rebellion since I was the only girl in class.

  “Sir, this is not the time or place,” the teacher announced.

  The guy ignored him, and walked over to me with the cute brown and white spotted puppy. “Carly?”

  I shook my head. “You’re mistaken. I’m Carl.”

  The boys in the class laughed.

  The messenger grinned and nodded to my breasts. “You look like a girl to me.”

  “Mm-hmm,” I agreed, avoided the puppy’s soft curls, and tried another tactic. “Went through the change a few years ago. Can you move? You’re kinda blocking the board.”

  He set the puppy on my desk.

  I scooted back. “Nope.”

  “From Naylor Frost…”

  “Hell no.” I shimmed out into the bathroom, pacing. “Nope. Nuh-uh. A puppy! I sure as hell can’t light that on fire. I’ll freaking get attached to the dang thing and can’t even fathom giving it back!”

  My stomach twisted, and my head throbbed like the beat of a drum. I growled, frustrated with my headache and what was going on with those crazy Lydent men who kept pestering me.

  Another guy shimmed into the bathroom, alre
ady on his knees! “Mate with me.”

  I pressed against the bathroom wall. “How the hell did you know where I was?”

  He shrugged. “There are only four Lydent girls in this state. You do the math. So… is that a yes?

  I shimmed into the hallway where, you guessed it, the puppy guy waited!

  I backed away. “No.”

  “Yes.” He quickly put the puppy in my arms, along with a note. “The note’s from me!”

  He vanished before I could give them back to him.

  “It’s not your day, is it?” a voice asked from behind me.

  I whirled around to find a new guy pulling himself away from the wall. “You know, they're just going to keep coming.”

  My headache got worse, and my stomach twisted. I was getting sick again.

  While this guy was older than most of my thirteen-year-old classmates, he was still younger than me. When he moved closer, the smell of peppermint wafted my way, reminding me of the cranky man who attacked me on my first day when I suddenly appeared in his warded classroom. My stomach rolled. Ugh, was he with Hooks today?

  “Well, don't get too cozy with me,” I retorted, shifting the puppy. “I might end up being someone else's.”

  He laughed. “Like the puppy?” He held out his hand. “Jamison.”

  I shifted the pup, reached over to shake his hand, and let go. “You know Hooks?”

  He tilted his head. “Why do you ask?”

  “It's the scent.”

  “Oh,” he rumbled as he pulled out a peppermint candy from his pocket. “Yeah, I stole a few from him today.”

  I chuckled, then grimaced as dizziness shifted through me. “He's going to notice.”

  Jamison smirked like I said something funny. “Probably. Your name?”

  I rolled my eyes. “You know who I am.”

  “Yeah, you got me there.”

  When I started to move past him with my puppy bundle, he caught my arm. “I'll see you around?”

  Brow raised, I passed over the puppy and note. Then, I promptly separated myself from him. “Doubt it.”

  I shimmed out of there and into my room. Then, I passed out.

  Chapter Nine

  I woke to the creak of my door opening and shuffling footsteps came to my bedside. Weak and cold, a warm hand brushing against my skin caused me to shiver and pull the covers closer to my body for warmth.