Changer's Blood (Balancer's Soul cycle) (88 page)

Jillian
’s golden eyes gliste
ned as she said “Happy Birthday!
” She got back up as did Sarah
and
they
gave each other a hug.
Her f
ather caught
her
eye as he came over and wrapped his arms arou
nd the two of
them
. He also said “Happy Birthday
, dear one
.”
and
he
kissed the top of
his youngest daughter’s
head.

As
they
released
their hug Connor’s tires could be heard crun
ching
in
the snow on
the driveway. Sarah
smiled and said “He’s here. Let’s get my birthday started.
”

Jillian
smiled and patted
her
shoulder. “
Excited, are we?
Let’s go.”

Sarah
grabbed
her
brown pack while
her f
ather easily grabbed the other two.
She
stepped outside with
her
father while
Jillian
closed and locked the
f
r
ont
door. Connor w
as getting out of the truck as they
started
to
walk towards hi
s truck
. He walked up wearing just a simple black sleeved shirt and black pants. His hair was finger brushed back and his piercing hazel eyes were softened as
he gazed
upon his wife
. He smelled nice as he took the bag from
her
hands with a playful smile.
She
asked as he took the bag to put in the bed of the truck “Aren’t you cold?”

He tossed the
bag in
the rear
and
Jack
followed him to do the same. He held the
bed
cover up with one hand and said “Not really, Princess. I love the cold for some reason. It’s better than the unbearable heat of the summer.” He smiled
her favorite smile and she
forgot
the
next question. He shut and locked the
bed cover. “Hop in the cabin. It’s warm
er
in there.”

Enough said. She
walked around the front of the truck and opened up the front passenger door.
She then
leapt into the front se
at and closed the door behind
in one quick motion
. Connor was right because t
he cabin was comfortably warm. She
put
her
hands to the vent and let the streaming warm air caress
her
chilled
, slender
fingers.

Jack and Jillian
hopped into the back seat quickly through the back
,
driver’s side door.
Jillian felt frisky and
was mean when she put he
r cold fingers on the back of Sarah’s
neck.
Sarah
jumped
and squeaked
which made her
mother giggle
all the more
. She tried doing it again
to
Connor
, but was stopped by
his
penetrating glare as he hopped inside the cabin
,
behind the wheel. At that
Jack
chuckled until
Jillian
put her cold fingers
down his neck.
Jack
jumped instantly at the sudden feel of
his
mate’
s icy fingers
, much to her
satisfaction
.

“Ah, it’s good to be back.”
Connor said via telepathy into
Sarah’s
mind. He smiled as he put the truck in reverse and then drove down the road.

About ten minutes later
,
and
Jillian
’s fingers were
finally
warmed
and
she couldn’t attack anyone
anymore
, Jack
asked “Connor, could you tell us about this place that you found out in the woods?”

Connor looked in the rearview mirror for a moment before returning his eyes to the road.
H
e then decided to change his tone to sound more confident.
“I actually misspoke about finding the place.”
Sarah
looked at
her
mate
’
s strong jaw and li
ps as he spoke. “I actually created
it
all by
myself
. And only I can access it
right now
.”

Jillian
leaned forward in her sea
t. “What do you mean by that?” She asked
calmly
, but her excitement filled the small
truck
cabin
.

“You’ll see soon enough
when we get there
.” He smiled again
in a way that
said
he wouldn’t budge. “Sit tight. We’ll be at the park in an hour
or so
.” Connor glanced at Sarah
with his passionate eyes and it se
nt an erotic chill throughout her
entire body.
She hoped to never get used to such feelings.

An hour later
they
arrived at the park. This
had been
Sarah’s
first time going to this specific forest. Getting out
of the front seat,
the cold air hit
and she
wanted so badly to get back in the cabin, but Connor did something
special
for
her
and
her
parents.
She
looked up and saw a clear blue sky
on this chilly
winter’s
morning
. All of the oak trees and some of the others were all barren of all leaves for the winter. The only green
around
came
from the evergreen trees
because they stay the same color year round.
The p
ark
lay
immersed in fluffy white snow
. It was a beautiful sight.
She
thought to
her
self;
This place would look great during the spring time
with all flowers in bloom
.

As Connor gra
bbed her
bag from the truck and
Jack
did the same for his bag and
Jillian’s
,
they
heard a
deep
ma
le
voice
in the distance
.
“Good Morning, Connor!
” The middle aged slender man came up to
them
wearing a brown park ranger’s uniform along with a circular hat
to keep his scalp warm
.
He also has a mustache that covered his entire upper lip
like a furry caterpillar
.
B
lack leather gloves
clad his hands
and boots. He looked like a pleasant man to talk to.

Connor locked the covering to the truck
and walked over to stand next to
Sarah. With her
bag strapped over his left shoulder he offered his right hand
in greeting
. “Good Morning, Bill.” Bill shook Connor’s hand as soon as he
came
close enough
.

Pulling his hand back, B
ill took off his hat.
She
then
noticed that he was balding. “Well Son, this group doesn’t look like your usual
weekend
customers.”

He was right about that on so many levels he couldn’t understand.

Connor smiled.
Jillian
walked over to stand at
Sarah’s
right and
Jack
stood to her right as well. “I guess introductions are in order.” Connor started by pointing to
Jack
. “This is my father-in-law
;
Jack.” He then pointed at
Jillian
as she
slipped her arms through the
backpack
straps
. “This is Jillian
,
my sister-in-law.” Connor then put a loving arm around
his favorite set
of
shoulder
s
. “And this Bill is my lovely wife
,
Sarah.
Today is her birthday and she always goes camping for her birthday.
”

Bill
smiled and
shook her
parent’s hands quickly with his gloved hand. As
they
shook hands
next
he said “Connor never said how beautiful you actually are
,
young lady
.” He pulled his hand back. “You’re a lucky woman. Connor is the best man
I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.”

Sarah
grinned at Bill and then to
her
mate. “Why do you think I cla
i
med him before some other woman
dug her claws in?
”

Bill smiled and chuckled. “That’s a good way to look at it
,
young lady.” Connor suddenly reached in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He pulled out a fifty
dollar bill
and tried handing it over to
Bill. The ranger looked from Sarah
and up
to
her
towering mate. Bill held his hand up. “Connor, how about we make a new arrangement
between us
.”
Her
love’s brow furrowed. “Since you have been coming here for the past six months and haven’t left the first
piece of garbage, how about I come to you and collect the fifty if I ever find anything?”

Connor studied the shorter man for a moment. “I think I can handle that
.” H
e put the money back in his wallet and then into his back pocket. “Thanks for that
,
Bill.
It will save time for both of us.
”

“Just have a good time
out there
.” Bill started walking away. “Be safe
!
” He
waved
goodbye and
disappeared
.

Connor stepped
around
to look at the three of
them. His eyes were talking to Sarah
, but he spoke to
them
all. “We’ll walk until we hit the trees. It will be a fairl
y long distance, but if we
run
we’ll arrive there in forty five minutes.
Otherwise it’ll take three hours to find it.
”

Jack
said “That’s fine by me. I need to stretch
out
my legs anyway.”

Jillian
nodded her sentiment.

As they
walked behind Connor towards the tree line
Sarah felt him in her
mind.
He seemed worried all of a sudden.
“Princess, are you up for this? Will running harm the baby?”

Smiling inwardly she
thought
“Yes, I’m up for a nice run. Don’t you remember me saying that a Balancer can’t miscarry a
n unborn
baby
unless
the child is struck
from the outside
of my abdomen?
Don’t worry so much. Neither you or I will let anything strike my belly for the next
year and a half.”

Connor look
ed over his shoulder to study her
fo
r a moment. He finally smiled her
personal
, private
smile.
“I didn’t forget, but I had to ask. Remember,
I’m your protector?”

She
smiled back to him.
“That’s one of the reasons that I fell in love with you
, remember?
”