“See, Janine?” he said, in a patient voice. “I told you, you could finish the entire kata. Did you practice at home like I told you?”
The girl’s face lit up, and her mouth spread into a grin, revealing missing front teeth. “I have, Sensei,” she lisped. “Every day.”
He ruffled her curly mop of hair affectionately. “Good. If you keep it up, you’ll only get better, I promise. Now go and get some water before we start again.” Janine flashed him another smile before she ran off to join her classmates.
“Sensei Stevens!” Betty called. “We have some visitors here.”
As Anders got up, Darcey fought the urge to run and hide. Her swan didn’t like that at all, and pecked at her to stay there.
“Hey, Betty,” Anders greeted as he got up and turned. “Who are—Darcey?” Surprise flashed across this face as his jaw dropped.
Darcey swallowed hard as her stomach flip-flopped. “Anders.”
“Oh.” Betty’s gaze went from Anders to Darcey and back again. “I didn’t realize you knew each other already.”
“Who is this guy?” Adam asked, eyeing Anders suspiciously.
“H-he works with Daniel,” Darcey managed to say. “Our brother-in-law,” she explained to Betty.
“How lovely that you’re already acquainted,” Betty said.
“What are they doing here?” Anders asked, his gaze never leaving hers.
“I’m taking them on a tour,” Betty explained. “They want to volunteer here.”
His lips pressed together. “That’s nice.”
She bristled at his tone, because it was obvious he wasn’t crazy about them being here. Or at least, her.
“I should get back to my students,” he said curtly.
“Of course, Sensei,” Betty said. “You have about fifteen minutes left, right? We’ll just stay on the sidelines and watch the rest of your class, then we can all head to the lunchroom for snacks. Maybe you can tell Darcey and Adam more about volunteering here.”
He nodded and pivoted, clapping his hands to catch the kids’ attention. They all immediately went back to the mats to take their positions. Betty led them to one of the bleachers, and they sat down.
Darcey watched, unable to take her eyes off him. All the students deferred to him, listening to every word he said.
“Sensei Stevens is one of our longest-serving volunteers,” Betty explained. “Actually, before he was a volunteer, he used to come here all the time to take karate.”
“He did?”
Betty nodded. “He was one of Sensei Toyama’s best students. Eventually took over the class when Toyama decided he wanted to retire and go back to Okinawa six years ago. Sensei Stevens teaches three times a week when his schedule permits and hires a substitute paid out of his own pocket when he works days. He also comes in the mornings to bring us supplies and donations or do odd jobs after class before he heads off to work.”
Was she hearing things? Anders took time out of his week to come here and volunteer? It was just so … so not him. Everyone had told her about Anders’s reputation, and not one of them had good things to say. Selfish. Uncouth. Prick, even. But not this.
Turning back to the class, she watched as he had them practicing kicks and punches in pairs. He ran a tight ship, and all of his students were focused on their tasks, though he would stop every once in a while to help someone who was having trouble or to give them tips.
Did she step into some kind of alternate dimension? Maybe this wasn’t Anders but his twin, except that instead of being evil, this was his altruistic twin. Or a body-snatching alien.
As class wound down, everyone went back to their positions. Anders crossed his arms over his chest and scanned his gaze over them. He shouted something—Japanese, it sounded like—and everyone knelt down on the mats and closed their eyes.
He approached Janine and tapped her on the shoulder, then knelt down in front of the class.
“Dojo-kun,” Janine shouted in what she probably thought was a fierce voice, but ended up sounding adorable. “Seek perfection of character.” Her lisp made her sound even cuter.
“Seek perfection of character,” everyone repeated.
“Be faithful,” Janine added.
“Be faithful.”
“Respect others.”
“Respect others.”
There was a pause. Janine opened her eyes and looked to Anders, who had cracked one eye open. As he fought the smile on his face, he mouthed something to her.
Janine nodded, closed her eyes again, and cleared her throat. “Refrain from violent behavior.”
“Refrain from violent behavior.”
Anders said something in Japanese, and the kids bowed. He bowed to them, and they all bowed together before standing up, then did a final bow before he said, “Class dismissed.”
“Thank you, Sensei!” came the delighted chorus of the children, then they scattered about.
Anders picked up his water bottle from the corner, took a swig and grabbed his bag, then made his way over to them.
“Great class as always,” Betty said. “Mary and her staff should have the snacks out. I’m sure your students are hungry after all that exercise.”
Darcey cleared her throat. “This was really a great tour, Betty,” she began. “Um, maybe we’ll give you a call and let you know—”
“We’re not going yet, are we, Darce?” Adam asked. “Betty hasn’t even told us where they need volunteers, and I need this on my application. Can’t we stay? It’s not like you have anywhere to go.”
Anders raised a brow, but she ignored him. “Right. I suppose we can stay and chat.”
“Excellent,” Betty said. “Let’s go to the lunchroom.”
They followed Betty out of the gym, the kids hurriedly jostling around them as they streamed out into the hallway. When they entered the lunchroom, food was already laid out on the tables, and each place setting had a tray with healthy drinks and snacks. Betty motioned for them to join her at the corner table with the other staff as the children excitedly took their places.
With everyone already seated and Adam needing to roll in at the head of the table, Darcey had no choice but to sit next to Anders, gingerly sliding along the bench, trying to seat herself as far away from him as possible without totally falling off the edge.
As they ate the snacks, Betty and the rest of the staff chatted and joked, asking Adam and her questions and telling them more about the community center, but Anders remained silent as a stone next to her.
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” she whispered to him, unable to bear the awkwardness between them. “I won’t come here if you don’t want me to.”
“Good,” he said gruffly, then bit into his sandwich. “I’d prefer it.”
Her shoulders slumped. Well, there was the Anders everyone knew and loved. She knew he had to be lurking in there somewhere. Grabbing her juice, she tore the top open and shoved a straw in, then took a sip.
“So, Adam,” Mary, the lady in charge of the kitchen began. “Are you here to take Sensei Steven’s class too?”
“Oh no, this young man’s here to offer his help. He says he’s good at computers, maybe he can finally fix our printer.” Betty grinned. “But, that’s a good idea too. Anyone is free to join the class.”
“I don’t think so,” Adam said bitterly.
“Why not?” Anders asked.
“Why not?” Her brother’s eyes narrowed. “Are you stupid or something?” He glanced down at his lap.
“You poor thing. Was it an accident, dear?” Betty asked sympathetically. “Or were you born like that?”
Darcey gripped the edge of the table. Oh no. The only thing Adam hated more than talking about his disability was the pity and condescension from people who’d just met him. She knew it wasn’t Betty’s fault; she was trying to be nice, as were most people. They just didn’t understand. Adam, please, she prayed silently. Not here.
Adam’s lips pulled back into a thin line. “My dad beat
the shit out of me when I was a kid, and I’ve been in a wheelchair ever since. Then my mom couldn’t stand taking care of a cripple and so she left me in the care of the state.”
“Adam!” she berated. Betty and Mary shifted in their seats uncomfortably, their faces red. “I’m sorry. He’s not usually rude like this.”
He sent her a glare. “I’m not the one being rude. Why do I have to shut up so people don’t feel offended when I say the truth?”
Anders snorted. “Maybe you just can’t hack my class, kid.”
“Kid?” Adam bit out, then slapped his legs. “How the hell am I supposed to do all those moves with these?”
Anders took a deep breath, stood up and stepped out of the bench. Looking over the lunchroom, he caught someone’s eye and then waved them over. A teen boy about Adam’s age came forward to Adam, stopping two feet away. He wore the same white uniform as everyone else, though he had a brown belt around his waist. To Darcey’s surprise, Anders made a motion with his hands, and the boy gestured back. Sign language, she recognized.
The teen bowed. Anders bowed back, then immediately reached out to strike the kid. Without flinching, he blocked Anders’s hand, then the other, before grabbing them and twisting around, putting Anders in a lock with both arms behind him. With a quick tap, the boy released it, then the two faced each other and bowed. A smile spread across Anders’s handsome face, and he signed something to the boy before he left to go back to his friends.
Turning to Adam, he said, “Well?”
Adam merely huffed. “It’s not the same, though, is it?”
“Don’t be a dumbass,” Anders said.
Darcey looked at him incredulously, about to tear him a new one for calling her brother a dumbass, but he kept talking.
“What, you think Hector’s got it easier than you? That he somehow lives in a different world that doesn’t treat him less than someone who’s ‘normal’? Let me tell you something, kid, if you couldn’t tell yet, life is hard. The world’s going to kick your ass, whether you’re small and defenseless or big and capable. Best you can do is learn to kick back. Now, apologize to these ladies for your language and ruining their meal with your shitty attitude.” He turned to Betty. “Sorry about my language, ladies. I should go clean up the gym.” Without another word, he spun on his heels and walked out of the lunchroom.
She just stared after him, not knowing what to say. Adam, on the other hand, muttered a “sorry” to the rest of the table.
“Apology accepted, Adam,” Betty assured him. “And I apologize as well if I came off as condescending. It won’t happen again.”
The tension dissipated, and the rest of the meal passed by quickly. Darcey enjoyed chatting with the staff, which was why she felt sad at the thought that she couldn’t volunteer, not when Anders didn’t want her here. He was here first, and they needed him more than her, so she would have to respect that. Adam could still come if he wanted to, but she would stay away.
After helping with cleanup, she headed out into the reception while Adam went to use the bathroom. She was about to take a seat when she heard a commotion outside. What was that?
Bounding out the door, she stopped at the threshold as the disturbance grew louder. It wasn’t just any kind of ruckus, though. The harsh, heated words and cries were familiar enough to someone who’d grown up the way she did.
“I said, get in the car, Michelle!” The shabbily-dressed man bellowed. Tucked underneath his arm was a small figure with a mop of curly hair.
Janine!
The woman in front of him tried to make a grab for the girl, but the man pushed her away. “Ted, please!” she cried. “Don’t hurt her.”
“If you didn’t want me to hurt her, then you shouldn’t have run away,” he scolded. “Now why would you do that? Did you think I wouldn’t find you? Do you want to make me mad? Why do you make me like this?” He turned to the beat-up pickup truck behind him and opened the door.
Fury rose inside Darcey. And when Janine let out a pained wail as she was shoved inside the truck, something snapped inside her. Her swan blew out a hoarse whistle, raising its wings high. “Let her go!”
Ted pivoted, his bloodshot eyes training on her. “This is none of your business, bitch!”
An inhuman squawk ripped from her throat. A tingle rippled across her skin as her feathers pushed out of her arms.
“W-what the hell?” Ted’s eyes widened.
Her clothes fell around her as her body shrank into her swan form. Pushing her shirt out of the way, the swan raised its long neck and let out a long hiss directed at the foul man.
“Y-y-you’re a—”
The swan lunged, wings snapping forward as it hit the man. One. Two. And again. Thwack! Thwack!
“What the—ow! Ow!” he cried as the swan’s beak opened up and bit his nose, drawing blood. “God Almighty!” He swung his arms, but the swan was too fast and too strong. “Get it off me!” His body slammed on the ground with a thud as the swan continued its attack.
Darcey raged inside her swan, urging it to keep going. However, it let out an indignant shriek as something caught it from behind and pulled it away.
“Shh … shh … come on now, beautiful,” a familiar, soothing voice cooed. “Calm down, Darcey. That’s it.”
Ooooh. The warm hands on her swan’s body made Darcey go limp, as did her animal. It trilled excitedly and lay its head on a broad, muscled chest.
Oh no.
Of course it had to be him.
“There you go, beautiful.” Anders smoothed a hand down the swan’s wing, making it shake its head smugly. “Calm down now. It’s fine. She’s fine. Here.”
The swan found itself deposited promptly on someone’s lap—Adam’s. Her brother held her gently, and she watched as Anders stalked toward the truck and the man who lay in a heap on the ground, bloody and wounded.
“Bastard,” he spat as he stepped over the man and reached inside the truck, carefully taking out a tearful Janine. “You okay, sweetheart? That’s right, don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”
He handed the girl over to her waiting mother, who embraced her as the woman sobbed. He spoke softly to her and she nodded and thanked him. Then, he walked back over to them, picking up her discarded clothes before taking her from Adam again. “Betty’s already called the police. I have the bastard’s keys, but I don’t think he’s going anywhere.” He shook his head. “You sure did do a number on him, beautiful. C’mon, let me take you to the bathroom so you can clean up.”
He brought her inside the community center and headed to the female bathrooms. He placed her in the stall in the end, which was actually a shower, and hung her clothes on the hook. “I’ll be waiting outside when you’re ready,” he said before shutting the stall door.
Ready? Oh God, was there a window here so she could escape? She didn’t think she’d ever be ready to face him. Not after that.
Her swan, however, was practically glowing with happiness. Preening, really. Beautiful. Their mate called them beautiful. To be honest, she’d never been called that before. She was, after all, unusual, to say the least.
Slowly, her swan relinquished its hold on their body. Her feathers retracted back into her body, wings thinning back into arms. Soon, she stood naked in the shower stall. With a deep, calming sigh, she began to dress. But not in a hurry. Maybe if she took long enough, Anders would lose his patience and leave. Pushing the door open, she tiptoed out.
“Darcey?”
Dammit. No such luck. “Uh, hey,” she said with a gulp.
Anders stared at her with an awestruck expression on him face. “So, you’re a—”
“Swan,” she finished.
“A black swan.”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes, thinking back to the day she shifted in her adult form for the first time. Her cygnet form looked like any other swan’s—gray downy feathers with a black beak. Then one day, sometime around her eighteenth birthday, she had an uncontrollable shift when a boyfriend grabbed he
r by the wrist during an argument. Much to her surprise, instead of white feathers and an orange beak, she was black with a red beak.
“How are you feeling?”
That question unhinged her, and she burst into tears. As she covered her face with her hands, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her. Oh.
“Shh … beautiful …”
His embrace tightened, and she pressed her cheek against his chest, inhaling his maddeningly delicious scent. She knew she shouldn’t do this. Knew that she should step away. But he just smelled and felt so good.
“What happened back there, Darcey?” he asked as he rubbed a hand down her back, the move sending a delicious thrill up her spine. “You know you can’t just shift like that. In Blackstone it would be fine, but out here—”
“I know,” she said. “I couldn’t help it. I just … I get triggered when I’m nervous or angry or I see … I see someone getting hurt.” Seeing that bastard shove Janine around like a rag doll brought back painful memories she didn’t dare say aloud.
He stiffened. “Can’t you control it? Did no one teach you? What about your parents?”
She sniffled. “I was adopted. Dropped off at an orphanage when I was a few days old. Wednesday isn’t my real last name. I mean, it’s my legal last name, but the nuns at St. Margaret gave it to me because that’s the day they found me on their doorstep.”
“And when you first shifted, you never practiced?”
“No. I rarely shifted into my swan. The nuns had been careful to conceal what I was. They thought if anyone found out I was a shifter, no one would adopt me.” She let out a bitter laugh. “Not that it ever happened anyway. Don’t get me wrong though, the nuns were kind to me. But I turned nine, and they couldn’t let me stay. I went into the system, into different foster homes. I had to work harder to conceal my real nature. And then …” She hiccupped. “I met Adam in one of those homes, and Sarah came a few months later. We made our own family.”
“I did wonder,” he said. “I didn’t know Sarah was your sister, with her being human. But what about your real family?”
Blackstone Ranger Rogue: Blackstone Rangers Book 4 Page 7
