Fields of Thunder

by Aliyah Burke

  “Wanted to make sure you were doing okay after last night.”

  She rocked back slightly in her chair. “I’m fine. Why?” Her brow furrowed as dawning leeched into her gaze. “You were attacked.”

  “Not attacked, but they did break into my house.” He shrugged. “They were clumsy.”

  She half rose from her chair only to settle once more. “I’m sure they were for you. Are you positive you’re okay?”

  The amount of concern in her tone made him want to smile. “I am fine. I wanted to make sure no one came after you. They wanted the artifact.” He sat in a chair across from her and did his best not to think about how she’d looked sprawled over the top of it as he’d fucked her.

  “No one since Trent.”

  He tensed. “He is one of Them?”

  “No, he’s a member of The New Order. Not high up enough in the food chain to be one of Them.” She drummed her fingers on the desk. “I really need to take you to the vineyard.” Worrying her lower lip, she scowled. “When are you free?”

  “Right now.”

  “Okay.” She stood. “Let’s go then.”

  He followed her lead and took to his feet. Altair waited patiently as she grabbed her briefcase, purse and jacket.

  “After you.” He forced the words past his lips when what he really longed to do was push her behind him, just in case there was any more danger lurking around.

  “Mellie,” she called out before drawing her office door shut. “I’m out for the rest of the day. Take messages or call my cell.”

  “You got it, boss.” She waved without looking up from what she was typing on her computer.

  They went down the stairs to the first floor and stepped outside. The clouds had moved back in, bringing with them the promise of more rain.

  “I have to go to my place and change first. You can follow me there then we can ride out there together. Unless you want to drive yourself?”

  “I will ride with you.” He wanted to know where she lived.

  “Great. That’s me over there, the green Subaru Outback.”

  “I have a silver truck. I will be right behind you.”

  The sixth sense he’d had when he’d served tingled and Altair knew they were being watched. His fingers flexed and he wished he had a weapon. Part of him was still digesting what they’d discussed last night and part of him wanted more explanation. Demons. Evil. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in those things, but believing and potentially facing them were two different things.

  He got in his truck and pulled out behind her when she left the parking lot. As they drove, he continually checked for a tail, all senses on high alert. She pulled off soon at a building and parked in a spot with an empty space beside it. He took that one.

  “May I help you carry something?” he asked, when he reached her side.

  “That box of files, please.”

  He lifted it with ease and trailed her into the building then up to a door on the second floor. She again took the stairs. No wonder her legs are amazing.

  She juggled her items and unlocked the door, pushing her way in. He grabbed the keys from the lock on his way by and kicked the door closed. It was a studio apartment. A large table occupied the majority of the space. Her bed was narrow and pressed against a far wall.

  “Just set it on the table, thanks.”

  He did as she’d said while she rooted around then dashed into the bathroom. Moments later she returned looking entirely different. The jeans, T-shirt and boots added an air of innocence to her. She’d also undone her hair so her natural curls fell around her face.

  “Did you want a drink before we go? Or we could stop on the way?” She picked up a backpack and checked her watch.

  “I am fine. Thank you.”

  She smiled then paused. “What?”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “You keep staring at me. Why?”

  “Because I want to kiss you again.” He ran his gaze over her body. “For starters.”

  Chapter Five

  Roz kept her left hand on the wheel and tapped the lid of her coffee cup with her right. Beside her, silent, sat Altair, his presence seeming to take up more than his fair share of the space and oxygen in her car.

  “Tell me something.”

  God, his voice was hot enough to melt her panties. The slight accent just made it even sexier.

  “Wh…what’s that?”

  “How does one recognize a member of The New Order?”

  “They will have a tattoo, the one I described last night, on their body somewhere. Now I’m not saying strip search everyone you meet, but some wear it in a more obvious place.” Though not all, being as I was fooled by Trent for so long. “Most of the men I’ve come across have the military cut for their hair. They have this thing about them, at least for me—most of them do, a feeling they give off.” Which makes me wonder why I didn’t pick up on it with Trent. “I don’t really know how to describe it other than it’s ‘off’ and makes my skin crawl.”

  “You said your sign helps you. Does it let you know?”

  “In most instances.”

  He sipped his own drink. “Not all?”

  Back to Trent. “No, not all.” She glanced at him again. He had a strong profile.

  “How do you know your mate is not going to be part of the New Order?”

  His question gave her pause. She’d not thought about that. “I don’t know. I just assumed they wouldn’t be. I mean, if we are supposed to fight them, why would the ones who are supposed to help us be for the other side?” She quirked an eyebrow. “Are you saying you have that New Order tattoo?”

  His grin was sinful. “Want to pull over and check me out?”

  Her pussy throbbed. Yes! “I don’t think now is the right time for that. Besides, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you naked. I don’t recall anything like that on you.”

  He waggled his eyebrows. “Maybe you should double check.”

  “If you’re up to it after this visit, I’ll do just that.”

  He held her gaze. “Make no mistake. I will be up for that.”

  Her hands shook so she took a sip of coffee to try to calm her nerves. “Any other questions?”

  “Many.”

  “Like?”

  “What happens between us now?”

  She slowed to a halt before the stop sign. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, are you moving in with me or are we getting a larger place elsewhere?”

  She put the car in gear and turned left. “You want to live together?” Why the heck is my voice so high?

  “There are people after both of us now. You said it yourself—we were in danger. If we are meant to be together, as you claim, I will not stand by while you are attacked. I cannot protect you if you are living away from me.”

  “You seem mighty agreeable to this being mated thing.” The real question was, why did that make her belly tighten in anticipation?

  “What is there to be upset about? I get you in my bed every night. I see that as a winning scenario.”

  “What if we aren’t compatible?”

  “If all you have said is true, I find it hard to believe they would mate two people who are not compatible with one another.”

  Okay, so he had a point there.

  “You will want to live on the vineyard?” She was surprised.

  “I think if you feel the need to have a place in town, we should keep it. But I would prefer to keep my house instead of selling it to rent a larger apartment.”

  His words were logical and she nodded. I can’t believe I’m sitting here talking about this in such a calm manner. Or that he is.

  “I don’t have much stuff. I can move it quickly.”

  “We can discuss it later.”

  She was glad, because they had just passed the sign reading Tennesol Winery. Slowing as she drove up the long drive, she calmed as the presence of the horses flowed through her. She looked to the right when they moved out of the trees a
nd smiled as she saw them, thundering along the fence line, keeping up with her.

  Roz parked next to Tiarnán’s truck. After a shared glance with the man beside her, they both climbed out. She opened the back where she grabbed her pack before slinging it over one shoulder.

  “Come on inside. I’m sure everyone is scattered about.” She watched him as he took it all in. Not overwhelmed, but cautious. She could see his military training at work. Unwilling to rush him, she waited until he joined her on the steps leading to the front door.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes.”

  His word was the most tense she’d heard from him. He even carried himself a bit different than he had before. Not a major difference but a subtle one—she probably wouldn’t have even noticed had she not been staring at him so much.

  She warred for a short spot of time about whether to draw attention to it. She didn’t, just letting it go. She opened the door and pushed into the house she’d spent a major portion of her childhood in.

  “Roz,” Taylor said from the stairs. “Good to see you. Oh, who’s this?” She came down to the floor and the women hugged. “He’s hot,” she whispered in Roz’s ear.

  “I know,” she said, keeping the same low tone. “Taylor, I’d like you to meet Altair Sagal.”

  She looked between the two. Altair gave Taylor a nod, his face composed, hiding any thoughts.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said, offering his hand.

  “And you. Roz doesn’t bring people out to visit often so it’s always a pleasure to meet her friends.” Her smile was full of welcome.

  Roz was glad to see she’d settled in so well. She had been so withdrawn when she’d first arrived, keeping to herself. “Where’s everyone else?”

  “Cale and Billy were playing pool, last I knew. Wolvie is out skulking somewhere on the property.”

  She laughed. Only Taylor could get away with calling Tiarnán Wolvie. “I have to take something to the safe, then we’ll find everyone.”

  “Wonderful, I’ll let them know you’re here and— Wait, the safe? Like where…? He’s your mate.”

  Altair stepped closer to her, allowing her to feel his body heat, but he didn’t wrap an arm around her or touch her in any way.

  “Yes, I am.”

  Taylor’s smile grew impossibly wider and brighter. “Well, that’s different. You’re not just a friend of Roz’s. You’re family.” She clapped her hands together. “This is worthy of a celebration. Fair warning, Altair. I’m a hugger.” She hurried off, stopping to look back and giggle before vanishing through the doorway.

  “Did she just giggle?” he asked.

  “Yes. That’s Taylor.” She headed toward the room they briefed in, which also contained the safe.

  He fell into step beside her. He didn’t speak as they waited for the doors to slide silently open then stepped into the room. Immediately she headed for the corner where the safe sat.

  “Roz?”

  “Hi, Edmond,” she said, searching the corner of the room he typically occupied.

  “Haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been, and who is this?”

  She put her bag on the counter and opened it. “Edmond, Altair.”

  “Welcome to the family,” Edmond said.

  “How do you know who I am?” Altair asked.

  “Only Guardians or their mates would be back here, so if Roz brought you back then that’s who you are.”

  Altair had mixed feelings about all these assumptions he was her mate, and at the same time, he liked it. There would be no questioning who he was. All of it was crazy. He watched her pull the statue from her bag and he frowned.

  “What happened to it?” he asked, forgetting Edmond for a moment. Correction—he didn’t forget him, just wasn’t totally focused on him.

  “I haven’t a clue. I haven’t touched it since I put it in here last night. It’s different.”

  He heard Edmond walk away and moments later the entire room filled with light. Altair reached for the statue, glad when she handed it over without question. A light tapping filled his ears and he glanced to the corner where Edmond typed furiously on his keyboard.

  Altair angled it and stared at the piece. “Before, this looked like sycamore.” He tilted his head and tried to make sense of what he was witnessing.

  “And now?” Roz asked.

  “This is redwood. Lace burl, to be exact.”

  “How do you know?” She touched it and the lightning appeared.

  He ignored the flashes of light and answered her. “This feathering in the grain… Do you see it? It is almost peacock-like in appearance.”

  “Wow,” she breathed. Her body pressed against his as she gazed at it.

  “Roz,” Edmond said. “Set it on the plate so I can scan it in, then you can put it in the safe with the others.”

  She did as he’d ordered and Altair kept moving his attention from the three-dimensional image that popped up and the safe Roz was by. He stepped closer to Roz.

  There were two other items in there. A gold pendant with rainbow sparks traveling along it and the attached chain. Then there was a wishbone pendant with a beautiful stone in the center. Ribbons of soft green and purple flowed around that one.

  He watched avidly as she placed his statue on the top shelf. The lightning bolts continued, even after she took her hand away and locked the door. The lace burl was becoming even more prevalent.

  “Let us know if you find anything, Edmond,” Roz stated.

  “Always. Nice to meet you.”

  She slipped her hand along his arm. “Come on. Let’s go meet the others.”

  He allowed her to lead him away, though he took several looks back at the statue in the glass case.

  “How is that a safe if it is made of glass?” he posed his question once they exited the room.

  “It’s not really glass. Just looks that way. It’s some material that Inaki created—not sure what—but as far as I know, it can’t be broken.”

  He stopped. “Who’s Inaki?”

  “I didn’t mention him?”

  He shook his head. “Not even once.”

  “He’s our weapons maker.” She cleared her throat. “And a demon.”

  “You have a demon living here?”

  “Pretty much. More below—he has to be able to access the lava.”

  “Lava.” Maybe this woman is insane.

  “Something else I neglected to mention. It’s what he uses to forge our weapons. The lava that flows below this mountain chain. He adds in some magic as well and, voilà, there we have weapons.”

  He crossed his arms. “Let me see this weapon.”

  “We really should get to the others.”

  “Show me a weapon, Roz.”

  “Okay.” She held out her hand and as he stared, one second it was empty, the next a gleaming object lay there across her palm. It almost resembled a throwing star but no one would be foolish enough to think these edges were blunted.

  “What is that and where did it come from?”

  “It is one of the many hira shuriken I carry. It comes from Inaki. I don’t know how come I can call them at will, but I can. I think of the weapon I want and it appears in my hand. I have a limit of how many I can carry—or how much.”

  With that, the weapon vanished and he blinked, lifting her hand to look at it closer. She closed her fingers over his for a quick squeeze. “Come on.”

  He allowed her to lead him to a large open room with a television on a wall, a pool table in a corner and overstuffed sofas and chairs placed around. A dartboard hung off to one side.

  “Hey,” Roz said.

  Everyone in the room looked at her, smiles on almost all the women’s faces and suspicion on the males’.

  “Taylor said you were here and had a friend with you. Nice friend,” a slender Asian woman said with a whistle.

  “Thanks,” Roz replied, without heat or rancor. “Guys, this is Altair.” She looked back at him. “Altair, meet everyone.
You’ve met Taylor. The one beside her in the surfer shorts is Cale.”

  Cale waved then wrapped his arms possessively back around the redheaded Taylor.

  “Next to them are Billy and Mal.”

  Each raised a hand in acknowledgment when Roz said their name.

  “The one who spoke earlier, that’s Aminta.”

  She gave him another smile and wave.

  “Next to her is Dracen.”

  The one woman who hadn’t smiled at him when he entered. She nodded.

  “And beside her… Well, you’ve already met Tiarnán.”

  “Hello,” he said in return.

  Another presence behind him had him turning. An older Asian stood there, dressed in white and holding a cane in his hand. In the two seconds of eye connection, Altair wondered if the man didn’t know everything about him. That was how it felt. The man smiled.

  “My name is Lian. It is my sincerest pleasure to meet Roz’s mate.”

  The silence was deafening. Altair faced the others to see looks of shock, amazement and mistrust. That would be from Tiarnán.

  “Your mate?” numerous voices called out at once.

  “I also hear,” Lian stated, his powerful voice easily carrying over the ensuing chaos, “you also brought your artifact.”

  Questions were fired at them from all directions. The only two who didn’t speak were Dracen and Tiarnán. He was the one that Altair was most aware of. The man didn’t like him and, to Altair, it was obvious that Tiarnán didn’t trust him.

  “Yes,” Roz replied. “We did. It’s already locked in the safe and Edmond has scanned it, so he’s looking to see if there are any other clues he can find on it that we didn’t see.”

  There was a moment of controlled chaos while people offered up their congratulations to Roz. While it occurred, Altair learned more about the woman he was mated to. He’d always gotten more from watching and it served him well here, also.

  She was closest to Aminta—that was obvious by the way those two shared hugs and whispers. The ground was the shakiest with Cale. The bottom line was she loved all of them with a ferocity that he could understand. And respected. Lian retained most of her respect—it was almost a reverence. It was a feeling shared among them all.