Protecting Tova (Iron Mountain Book 1)

by Havana Wilder

  Still unsure if she’s correct about Kage and Elon, I glimpse at her soft, forgiving eyes. “Thank you, Brecklyn, for being so kind, and I promise, I’ll try my best.”

  Reaching for the door, she suggests, “It’s getting close to when they should be back. Want to head inside and get things started in the kitchen?”

  Pierce and I nod yes, and he states, “We’d love to.”

  Brecklyn leads the way inside with us close behind, Pierce escorting me with a hand at the small of my back.

  24

  Pierce

  The three of us made quick work of preparing dinner and are now setting the table for the meal. Dad and Kage finally got home and are just finishing getting cleaned up after cleaning the fowl for dinner.

  “Tova, you sure know your way around the kitchen.” Mom raves as she sets out the glasses.

  “Mama and I do this before each meal. It’s one of our favorite past times. The more beautiful the table setting, the better,” Tova explains with a bright smile.

  “Oh, I bet she and I will get along just fine. I love my old china set; it’s been in the family for centuries. When we have her over, we’ll break it out and use it then. Well, not literally break it.” Mama laughs, waving her hand as if to dismiss her silly pun. “Oh, you know what I mean.”

  “She would be delighted to meet all of you!” Tova says as she folds each linen napkin and places them beside each plate. “Actually, we should plan a get together before the ceremony. Mama said she’d have my dress done in about six weeks.”

  “Darlin’, let’s make it a habit of having Sunday brunch or dinner all together. You and Pierce, your mama, and our family,” Mom declares, following after Tova setting out the silverware.

  “I’m sure she’d like that very much. Thank you for being so inviting.” Tova beams, placing the last napkin.

  “Sweetheart, please, stop thanking me. It’s what family does.” Mom shuffles to Tova and presses a kiss to her forehead.

  Smiling at their exchange, I head to the refrigerator, grab the pitcher of tea, and bring it back out to the table. I catch Tova eyeing the pitcher and give her a wink as I cross behind her.

  “Where are you sitting? I’ll fill your glass with water,” I whisper as I pass.

  Looking over the table, she whispers back, “Umm, beside you. So, wherever you’re sitting, just fill the one next to it.”

  “What are you two whispering about?” Kage asks, appearing in the entry between the kitchen and living room with a teasing smirk.

  Tova jumps, and I snap, “We’re discussing where we’re going to sit if that's okay with you, you nosey asshole.”

  “Oh, well, if that’s all it is, let’s get to sittin’ and eatin’,” he laughs, walking towards the table and pounds me on the shoulder as he passes.

  Dad comes in shortly after Kage, and we each take our seats at the table. Having already introduced Dad when they got back with their catch, we all sit down, Mom and Dad at each end, Tova and I on one bench, and Kage on the other directly across from me. We pass the food around, filling our plates, and devour the delicious meal. While we’re eating, we enjoy small talk about Dad and Kage’s hunt and our journey here on the horses. We still haven’t mentioned anything about mine and Tova’s plans or her sight transformation, but we’re getting to that. I figured everyone having food in their bellies first would ease the news.

  “Well, Dad, Kage. I have some exciting news to share with y’all,” I say as everyone gets close to finishing their meal.

  Dad pushes his back into his chair, ready to listen, as Kage leans in and places his elbows on the table. Oh no, that’s not intimidating, not at all, but I don’t care. I’m not changing my mind whether he likes it or not.

  Tova reaches for my hand underneath the table, weaving our fingers together and holding on tightly, a clear sign her anxiety is through the roof at the moment. Attempting to soothe her, I rub my thumb across the back of her hand softly as I speak.

  “I’ll get straight to the point. Tova and I have grown very close over these past few weeks. It’s easy to see we’re attracted to each other, but it’s much more than that. We can’t deny our connection and love for each other. I’ve asked Tova if she’ll be mine. I choose her. There’s no one else for me.”

  “And I choose him. There’s no one else for me either,” Tova utters, barely audible, as she looks adoringly up at me.

  Dad exhales and clasps his hands together as he leans forward with a wide grin. “Son, I’m thrilled for you two.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I was actually wondering if you’d perform the ceremony?” I turn to look his way.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Dad responds, his eyes gleaming with delight and pride.

  Mom is the first to move, jumping from her seat and dragging Tova and me in a warm hug with Dad and Kage following quickly after offering congratulations. Even Kage admits to me he’s happy for us. With another round of hugs, Mom ushers all of us into the living room. As we settle comfortably in the living room, Mom, oh so casually, mentions the sun is sinking much too close to the horizon for us to make it safely back to Tova’s farm before dark. She insists we stay the night with them, assuring we’ll have plenty of time to return Shenan’s horses after our regular training in the morning.

  Knowing there is no use in arguing with her, Tova and I settle on the loveseat with her tucked close against me and my arm around her waist. Mom and Dad sit side by side on the couch across from us while Kage wanders to the glass door, staring out of it deep in thought for a moment.

  After a minute or two, he turns to observe us; then he motions towards our spot and summons, “Tova, would you mind if I speak with you a moment?”

  Gripping her side, I stare him down and lean over to tell her, “You don’t have to.”

  She dismisses me. “It’ll be fine,” she assures me and turns to face him. “I don’t mind at all, Kage.”

  She stands and walks out the back door, Kage close on her heels as they exit. It’s easy to see them through the glass door, but I don’t like that I can’t hear what they’re discussing. My palms start to steam reflexively.

  Mom and Dad seem to think it’ll be alright because Dad chuckles as he chides, “Pierce! Kage isn’t going to steal your girl. Calm down.”

  Jerking my head toward Dad, I snap, “What the hell, Dad? I wasn’t even thinking that! I don’t want him to say anything to make Tova feel uncomfortable or try to drive her away, is all.”

  “Why would you think he’d do that?” Dad asks, clearly skeptical of my concern.

  I shove my fingers into tousling my hair and lean forward in my seat, holding my forehead in my palms. “Well, he’s been tough on her at training, even opened her wound back up by shooting her with rubber bullets in the arena. He knew damn well she was just barely healed from a stray arrow that shot her shoulder, slicing her back while we were at the track.” Frustration edges my voice.

  Dad rubs the scruff on his chin in thought before he responds, “Hmmm, I see. I think he’s taken special consideration in trying to train her right. He probably sees that she’ll make a fantastic Superior Protector one day and wants to get her ready for that. Plus, he’ll make sure she’s more than ready for when y’all go on your first hunt this fall.”

  Gesturing toward the porch, I notice my hands are all but glowing from my intense emotions as I say, “I told Tova the same thing. That he sees potential in her, but Dad, I was so pissed when I saw the blood seeping from her wound he reopened. I would have pounded Kage if I could have gotten my hands on him.”

  Leaning back into the couch, Dad affirms, “Son, that’s just the Protector coming out of you. You’re doing a fine job guarding and being a good man to her. I’m not sure what her story is, but she’s lucky to have you.”

  Mimicking his position, I relax back into the loveseat, but my hands are still smoldering. “Thanks, Dad. I reckon I just need to simmer down.”

  “Just take some deep breaths, like I showed y
ou when you first found your gift, and you’ll calm down quickly,” Dad advises.

  “Yes, sir.”

  I get up to go back into the kitchen, needing a distraction because seeing them without hearing them is about to drive me crazy.

  “I’m getting more pecan pie. Do y’all want any?”

  Mom and Dad say they’re good and don’t want any, so I go ahead and bounce toward the delicious goodness that awaits me.

  25

  Tova

  Sitting down in a rocker beside Kage, he turns to face me; I still have a clear view back inside the house as I angle to face him. I try to focus on Kage, but it’s apparent, even at this distance, that Pierce is visibly upset. Redirecting my attention to Kage, I declare, “This conversation had better start with an apology.”

  Grinning from ear to ear, Kage asks, “Now, what would I go and do that for?”

  “Oh, I don’t know…for being an asshole!” I glare back at him.

  “I’m the nicest asshole you’ll ever meet,” Kage laughs with a cocky grin.

  “Okay, asshole, why do you hate me so much?” I cross my arms in defiance of his attitude.

  Looking baffled, Kage chuckles, “What on God’s green earth makes you think I hate you?”

  “Are you kidding me right now, Kage? Are you freaking kidding me?” I ask incredulously, scrunching my eyebrows together.

  “Seriously, why do you think that?”

  I release my folded arms and gesture with both arms flailing. I all but shout, “Because! I’m busting my butt during training, and you make it your mission to see that I fail!”

  Kage attempts to cover a smirk with his hand, “Ha, I’m not seeing to it that you fail. Not at all. I’m sorry I ruptured your shoulder back open. I truly am. But you need to know that you’re one of the strongest, most stealthy students I have. You move so fast and so quiet that it’s like you’ve already perfected the ‘step of the cat’ or ‘pas de chat’ that I teach the Protectors, and some guys can take years, if ever, to get it.”

  I laugh a little on the inside. If he only knew why I’ve seemed to have mastered this “step of the cat” maneuver, he’d probably laugh too. Snapping out of my train of thought I continue to listen.

  “You’re difficult to track, that’s for sure. You keep me on my toes, but that’s not why I’m hard on you. I’m pushing you and teaching you what you can expect from outside that stone wall. One day I see you taking over as the Superior Protector for the women’s training. I’m confident that you’ll be ready for that by the time you graduate. One thing that you need to work on the most is not leaving your group. That’s when you’re most vulnerable. I need you to listen to your surroundings and not stay focused on just taking out training targets. Listen for others approaching you, trying to find you and take you out. Once you get that, you’ll be unstoppable. I hope you’re healed enough to join us tomorrow. But none of this is why I wanted to talk with you.”

  Now I’m the baffled one. “Uh, okay. What is it?”

  Kage’s soft smile turns into a stern stare in a matter of seconds. “I see the way Pierce looks at you. He’d give his life for you, in a second. I don’t know if you know this or not, but Pierce is loyal to the core. When we were younger, I fell out of the barn’s rafters, and he wouldn’t leave my side. I was injured pretty bad, but he saw to it that I was mended the best he could manage and then hobbled me back up to the house so Mama could take me to the clinic.” Kage pauses to ensure I’m fully attentive then resumes, “He’s labored away on this farm his entire life. He’s a damn hard worker. He’s proud of where he comes from and stands up for what he believes. He’s like Mom and wears his heart on his sleeve, but most importantly, he’s the best damn brother anyone could hope for. All I ask is that you don’t break his heart.”

  I go to interrupt him, “Kage…”

  But before I can finish, he continues, “I don’t know you all that well, only what I’ve observed over the past year of you pulverizing the pavement at the track. You’ve always been in your head, ignoring every other guy that has approached you out there, but for some reason, you’ve taken kindly to Pierce.” Hesitatingly, he stammers, “I… I have already mangled his body with scars that will forever be my reminder. I can’t undo that. So, if there’s anything I can do, I will. I’ll do my dead level best to make sure he doesn’t get hurt unnecessarily ever again. He deserves love. Please, Tova, for the love of God, promise me you won’t crush his heart.”

  Trying to calm him down, I place a hand on his shoulder. “Okay, Kage, now it’s my turn. I appreciate your concern for Pierce. But let me be the first to tell you, I never intend on crushing Pierce’s heart. I want to protect it with every fiber of my being. I never in a million years thought I’d have what I have with him, and I don’t intend to let it go. He’s one of the good ones. He thinks with his heart, not with his head. I also asked him about all the scars on his arms, and he told me what happened. It’s not your fault the Dust has changed you. And, while you may see mangled scars on Pierce’s body, I see beauty. Those scars mean that he’s lived life and has something to show for it.” I remove my hand and carry on. “Pierce is a wonderful man. I’m so glad you see that he deserves love, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but doesn’t everyone?”

  Looking down at the well-honed wooden planks creaking beneath our rockers, Kage admits, “I’d like to think everyone deserves love, but I just don’t know.”

  Seeing the hurt in his eyes, I stretch out and set my hand on his knee with a gentle pat. “Kage, you have to forgive yourself. You never meant for Pierce to get hurt. I know that, you know that, and he knows that. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to love and be loved if it comes to you because you’re afraid of accidentally hurting them.”

  Clearing his voice, Pierce squeaks the outside door open just to a crack and asks, “Everything okay out here?”

  I push off of Kage’s knee to stand and glace down at him. “Kage, everything’s going to be alright. And thanks for the bode of confidence,” I smirk, then I stroll over to Pierce.

  Walking inside, Pierce loops his arm around my back. “Y’all were out there long enough. What in Sam Hell did y’all talk about for so long?”

  Slanting my head up at him, I smile softly. “It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in tonight after we get ready for bed. I’m emotionally exhausted.”

  “Okay, babe, we can tell everyone good night,” Pierce concedes, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.

  After saying our goodnights to his family, I jump into the biggest, fluffiest bed I’ve ever seen and yank the covers up to my neck, snuggling into the warmth of it all. “Oh, this is so much better than the hay bed in the loft! It’s so soft!”

  Crawling into the bed next to me, Pierce steals a little bit of my covers and, to his credit, lasts all of five seconds before questioning, “So…inquiring minds want to know…”

  Twisting onto my side to face him, I offer an indulgent smile. “Yes, love, I know. And as promised, I’ll tell you. Kage was being an overprotective brother bear, making me promise not to crush your heart. I told him I had no intention of doing so. He still struggles with the pain and scars he’s caused you; you know that? I told him he needed to forgive himself and allow himself to love and be loved when the time comes. Oh, and I may have gotten an apology out of him for being an asshole.”

  “My, my, my how the tables have turned. I guess you’d better heed to your own advice and realize that you are worthy of love,” Pierce teases, tugging me close.

  “Haha. I’m here, aren’t I? Not alone in the girls’ cabin or alone in the loft. I’m with you, and that’s where I plan to stay. Forever.”

  I plant a big ol’ sloppy kiss on his juicy lips and flip over so he’s behind me, molding his body to mine. The way we fit together is a perfect fit. Dozing off tonight will be even easier than when we sleep in the loft.

  26

  Pierce

  Silencing the blaring alarm, I roll over and peck
Tova on the cheek, “Rise and shine, baby.”

  Not wanting to wake up at the crack of dawn, Tova grumbles and tosses her pillow at my head. “Mondays should be optional.”

  “You know you want to show me up on the track today,” I tease, pitching the pillow to the foot of the bed.

  “That may be so, but I want another few hours of sleep more.” Sighing, she stretches her arms over her head and arches her back.

  “Come on, bleary eyes. We’ve got this.”

  Approaching the track, Kage notices the two of us walking toward the grassy patch off to the side where we can stretch when he yells, “Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. Look who decided to train with us today. You feel up for it, Campbell?”

  Kage rotates his body as he stands in the middle of the track while he continues to watch the other trainee’s jog.

  Tova hollers back as we sit to change and lace up our shoes. “Underestimate me; that’ll be fun.”

  “Well, stop hem-hawing around and hit the pavement,” he declares, turning back toward the rest of his troops. Tova sticks her tongue out at his back.

  Laughing at her, I pat her thigh while rising to stand. “Give ‘em hell, babe.”

  “Oh, I plan on giving him more than that, like a punch to the throat,” she grumbles.

  “Y’all’s love-hate relationship is brutal,” Adi sneers, lacing up her sneakers.

  “Yeah, I love to hate him,” Tova says, frowning in Kage’s direction.

  “Ready, babe?” I ask when she bounces to her feet at my side.

  “I was born ready,” she affirms.

  As we sprint side by side, she expresses, “I’ve never run with someone before. Not sure I’ll be good at conversing or not. I usually just admire the wildlife and scenery.”