Deception (21 page)

I turned and looked at the two boys who were seemingly disjointed and motionless.  “That was fun,” I giggled.  I thought that went very well.  Two points to me.  No, fifty points.

The guys still were not moving. 

“What do you think?  How did I do?”  I knew they wanted me to stay silent, but the creature seemed harmless and needed a little nudge to do my bidding.  Besides, he was easy to persuade!

They finally moved out of their trances and looked at each other swinging their heads back and forth.  It was the first time I’d ever seen them both on what seemed like the same page.  And not speaking their minds. 

“What?” My thoughts were incoherent and aching for answers as to why I or something else would render them speechless simultaneously.

“You hypnotized him or something?” Ian said in disbelief.

Pike jumped in, “Looks like you got something else besides thoughts about me going on in that Fey body of yours.”

Ian wasn’t keen on him commenting on my body in any way, I guessed.  He threw daggers in the way he looked at him now, growling. He was mad.  Madder.  Madder than I had ever seen him.

Pike just laughed not guarding his inappropriate thoughts or comments in the least with a hearty,
Yes Grace, I like what I see also.  The feeling is mutual. 

I could only guess what else he was thinking.  “I just asked him to carry the message.  He didn’t seem to think I was the real queen so I gave him a little nudge.”  My mind was an explosion of possibilities.

“If that’s what you call a nudge, we are in severe trouble.  Not a male alive will survive your
nudges
.”

I huffed at his exaggerated assessment. 

“How did you know he doubted you,” Pike asked.  He wasn’t acting like the Pike I met before…or Christian. He sounded nicer somehow.  For the moment.

“Um,
how
did you know he doubted you, you couldn’t read his mind, could you?” Ian looked scared.

I looked away, deliberating.  “I guess I,
saw
his feelings.”  I didn’t know what else to say.  I didn’t feel like I did anything but get in tune with how he felt so to speak.  That’s not strange, just intuitive.  “A nuance, I think.  One in the same really.”  Although I really wasn’t so sure.

Neither of them spoke again, but looked at each other like before.

“Oh, stop that.  I know you two are talking to each other.”

“Why did you pull out the amulet?” Pike asked, obviously curious and still searching for an answer.

“He needed proof.  And I wanted my way,” I stood up taller.  “I didn’t like the way he was looking at me or his obsessive use of his tongue and teeth being pointed in my direction.”  I really wasn’t sure where my confidence came from, but I wasn’t about to let my guard down.  I kept my voice level normal to ask, “Now, do we need to get back and write this message?”   

Pike leaned in next to me as we walked back, “You really should weigh your options, princess.  You obviously have some skills.  You and I, we balance out.  When you are ready, I will teach you everything I know and even throw in a little extra.”

Saying anything to Pike will just be turned back against me, so I smiled, nodded, and moved to get beside Ian.  Better to keep him guessing and in a good mood, I figured.

When we returned, both were giving me the silent treatment.

“Oh, come on.  You would have done the same if things were going downhill fast?” I persisted, arms folded.

“No, that would have never worked for me!” Pike snorted sarcastically.  “Not even if I were wearing that.”  He motioned his hand waving over my body.

Ian’s turn came next with, “No, that wouldn’t have worked for me either.”

Harrumph!  What was wrong with them? And what is wrong with what I am wearing?

“Not what’s wrong!  Quit thinking you don’t look every bit of beautiful as you are. Trust me, it is all
very
right!  I can see that with my own eyes. Every guy here can.”  Pike’s eyes glossed over and he released a large outward sigh. 

Ian growled.

“And the two of you are suddenly simpatico!  What is up with that?”  I snorted.  Did Mr. Tall, Dark, and Venomous just give me a mostly tasteful compliment?  They kind of remind me of cops with the way they both stood with the arms folded towards me.

Pike
un
folded his arms and threw his hands straight in the air as if in defeat.  He was still listening so I aimed one at him. 
Correction
on
the
beautiful
,
I
believe
Aiden
said
tasty
.

“Why are good-looking guys always so cranky when the situation does not present itself to their advantage?”  It was out before I realized what I’d said.  I looked away embarrassed.  “I mean, well that was rhetorical…I mean.”  I blushed immensely.  I didn’t want to remind Pike that I gave any indication that he might be “good-looking.”

The boys both folded their arms again, but said nothing, only huge smirks on their faces. 

I mumbled under my breath, “They also have no sense of humor.”

Finally, Pike broke the silence, “You had a way about you.  Some kind of
persuasion
.”  Pike glanced quickly at Ian before I could notice if it might be confirming his opinion.  “You almost looked like you breathed some kind of spell on him.” Pike sounded like he was trying to reason it out or maybe tell between the line hints to Ian.  This didn’t gel with me since I knew he could just tell mind-to-mind conversations without me.  He mumbled something aloud.  I heard him, but pretended not to.  "Now she is putting spells on them.  Why not?  It seems to work on us.”  I wasn’t sure who he meant, the Nym or himself, or both.

“What?  You two are crazy,” I pressed. 
Did.I.really.do.that?

They gave it a rest, but both agreed verbally to investigate later.  They changed their stature, I noticed.  Both boys shrugged and loosened their stance, then faced each other again like they might pounce each other.  They were having a good old-fashioned talk and it didn’t look nice.  Betting all odds—I was the subject of it. 

Her metamorphosis is obvious
, thought Pike. 

Stop pretending like you know anything about her
, Ian glared at him.

She should not already be able to realign others thoughts
, he glared back
.  She is gonna have some power in that bod.

And I will be the only one enjoying that pleasure,
Ian smarted back.

We will see who she chooses in the end,
Pike returned.

I watched them scream at each other in a silent argument with their chests inches apart.  And worse, Pike somehow made sure I heard it.  It was weird though.

“Would you two stop screaming at each other long enough to give me the pleasure of knowing that I am really pissed to have just learned that you, Pike, can direct your thoughts at whom you please and block others at will?  I am so going to have my mind reader turned back on by whatever magic I need so that I can piss the two of you off at will.  Now when the two of you have your balls untied, head back to join me.”  I stomped off before I could bust up laughing at my well performed monologue that was sure to have left their panties in a wad.

I quickly sat and started chatting with the horned dude at the map table making small talk.  I asked him about what it was like working with Pike.  He nervously whispered words like grouchy and grumpy. Knowing he was almost upon us and within earshot I told the little man, “So you are saying that Pike is an overbearing grump with mood swings and shows extreme frustration buildup that sometimes blows and spews all over everyone in his path.”

Wouldn’t you like to know how to relieve that frustration buildup?

Not the response I was expecting. 
Wow, not so volatile.  Why the sudden change?

You did say you preferred the more tasteful compliments.  I was simply saying that you would be great at relieving my stress, Beautiful.

I folded my arms and refused to continue a conversation that would go nowhere but bad.

Pike spoke aloud for all three of us, “Let’s get the message made.” Turning back to the events of the day, he snapped his fingers at someone off to the side and somehow the little creature knew to bring whatever it was Pike requested. 

As I walked to sit down, Pike brushed against the back of me and whispered, “You should not think about what I look like if you don’t want me thinking of what gifts you bring to the offering table.”   His eyes were showing every bit of wanting. A picture of myself in his eyes emerged in my mind, not innocent and certainly not nice. 

Unnerving, but I wouldn’t budge.  He wasn’t mister hearts and flowers but definitely…persistent.  I was too transparent about my reactions to Pike.  He read me too well. 

A piece of rowan tree bark was sitting in front me now, Pike on my left, Ian on my right, and a scribe across the table.  Said to be magical to Fey, rowan had many uses.  I learned this from Danella the night I heard the prophecy.  The scribe would carve the message we wanted to say and it would be like a blood oath even if it was a simple everyday message. So the Fey never took writing on the rowan lightly.  I left most of it to Ian and Pike, but only insisted that it have my signature keeping the safety of others at the forefront.  I wanted no one to get hurt or accused of wrongdoing on my account.   When all was finished, Pike took it to someone off to the side of the table and came back to sit down.  He looked at me for a little longer than I wanted to be looked at.  Ian got uncomfortable and cleared his throat with an obvious threatening tone.

“You are not what I expected,” mumbled Pike as he got up and walked away.  "You didn't...you are not what Kinsler said you would be."  He stopped and turned but didn’t look at either one of us, “There is a tent set up for you on the east side of the lagoon.  Will you be leaving in the morning?”

I looked to Ian for I knew nothing of what was to come but the day before me.  He told Pike we would stay and wait for an answer.

I found myself talking to Pike in my head once again and not near enough afraid of what he would think or analyze too much about why I thought what I did.   He could think what he wanted and I didn’t care too much about his opinions, but he was a great source of answers. 

I was wrong.  You are much more than we thought you could be.

Why is that?
I asked him in my head but he never answered.

Ian told Pike, “We will await your word on any news of Kinsler, but leave with the morning light.”

Pike looked like he was about to say something, but turned and left.  He brushed his fingers through his unruly hair that now held little spike to it like in high school and walked away.  We didn’t see him again that night.

The two of us walked to where the tent was set up but stopped and looked at each other when we saw
it
.  Neither of us wanted to say anything.  The
tent
looked more for one person than two.  He looked around.  I looked around.  All of the tents were the same size.  He was definitely not being treated like royalty, not that he asked for any.  Perhaps there could be two tents, but he seemed fearful to suggest it as much as I.   Maybe he thinks I would be upset if he asked,
or
think him less than a gentleman if he did or didn’t.

I had much of the same thoughts he did by the way I read his face.  When I walked up to the tent and bent to look in there was even less room that it projected.  Not wanting to say the wrong thing, I didn’t want to seem forward either so I stood back and looked at him, the silver in his eyes becoming more clear than dark.  He was definitely thinking the same thoughts I was.  A smile crept on my face as I felt the color coming into my cheeks.

And then we were both laughing.  He took my hand and said, “Why don’t we watch the stars a bit?”             

“That sounds great.” I sounded too relieved. 

He walked us over to the small fire lit beside our tent where someone had left some cheese and bread out beside it.  He sat and pulled a piece of bread out to me.  I took it, sat down, and said, “Thank you,” in a soft, still voice sounding
too
relieved by the diversion.

“You needed saving, did you not?”

“And you, also?”  I asked not looking up.  I opened my mouth to say something else, but he reached up and closed it by putting a piece of cheese in it.  My heart shuddered as I laughed and chewed at the same time. 

“Strong or weak?” he asked.

“Always strong,” I said smoothly, “but you meant the cheese didn’t you.”

“Not always.  Not when you are around,” he said to the fire as he popped a piece of cheese in his mouth.

“You are right, strong and compassionate, and always a romantic.” 

“We are not talking about cheese, are we?” he inquired with a luring voice. 

I didn’t answer attempting to be witty but he might know what that deep sexy tone did to me.  He would overuse it for later, I was sure, if not already.

When our stomachs were full, we moved to lie down under the open sky.  It was hard to believe how much we’d come full circle in even our Friday night rituals. No, it’s not Friday in my old world, but in this world, time seems to stands still.              

His hand found mine.  I stressed beyond belief that my palms were sweaty but the stars calmed my nerves as I looked up.  The same tension we’d felt all those nights on the trampoline was pressing in but now finally touching, the momentum growing.   Even if it was just hands, our bodies spoke in an inaudible language to each other. 

“Are you thinking about our trampoline nights?” he asked nudging his shoulder to mine.

“I thought you said you can’t read my mind?” I acted like I was upset, but wasn’t really.

“I cannot.”

I laughed to ease his worried frown.  “Well, I will confess something you probably already knew from all of those nights combined.  I lay there every time picturing you and me and waiting for you to say or do
any
thing that meant you were more than just my best friend.”

He turned over sideways to lie on his side and face me. 
Oh, boy!
  He propped his arm up to see me. 
Yes, yes?
   “You are my friend, and my queen, and…”

I turned to face him on my side, “And what may I ask?”  I remembered every single time we did this back home and he would knock my shoulder to his and turn away.  I would like to think now he was as nervous as I was.

He leaned in and kissed me. I felt my body relax into him though our bodies were not even close.  His lips lingered there and said into my mouth, “I love doing that, you know.  Always wanted to.  Now I know how it makes you react, not just in mind.”

I slapped his chest.  “YOU! And what does it do to you?”

“Oh, I think you know what it does to me.”

I smiled, a slight giggle releasing. “Will you just hold me tonight, in the tent, until I fall asleep?”

“Yes,” he relaxed his chest against me, “I’d love too.”

We laid there for a long time, just watching the stars in each other’s arms.

Oblivious to us, or so he thought, or maybe not, someone was lurking in the dark, watching and listening.  I knew it was Pike who stomped off back into the woods alone.