Enchanter (4 page)

I straightened the silver threaded tablecloth covering the long oak dining table. Through the wide bay window adorned with silver-edged emerald curtains, the iron gates of the gatehouse rolled open. Protectors rode out on horseback toward the river where Guy had dropped me off. To think he knew of that spot, had watched the castle from that close. How many times had that happened? And when? The male felt the drive to seek out his bonded mate when she received her skills on her eighteenth. Even though unskilled, my eighteenth had passed a few months ago.

“Silvie?” Zayn held out my chair. “You look a little lost, like you were when I first saw you in the kitchen. Is something up?”

I sat and poured cereal into my bowl. Zayn was a trusted member of our inner circle. Anything I told him would remain between us, and it appeared I couldn’t lighten this dark mood. “I met someone yesterday, well more than someone.”

“Who’s that?” He poured my milk then nudged a spoon toward me.

“Guy Moyer, a warrior.” I shoved a spoonful of cereal into my mouth.

“You met a warrior?”

“He’s my mate, although we released each other.”

“I’ve heard of him.” He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “He’s the last remaining enchanter in the Moyer line. Are you all right? That had to have been hard.”

“Even though I barely spent any time with him, he got under my skin.” I shoveled more food into my mouth. My chest tightened with each mention of Guy’s name.

“It must have been difficult.” He resumed eating. “I’ve told so very few about this, but on my eighteenth, I felt the urge to find my soul-bound one.”

What? He was mated? No way. “You’ve never said. Why not?”

“Because the direction of that drive leads toward Dralion.”

“Damn. I’m so sorry.” My heart lost a beat as his words sank in. “So, you understand how I’m feeling?”

He squeezed my hand. “More than you could ever know. It’s a bond I’ll never be able to embrace, and the finality of that is a burden I can barely stand. If you ever need to speak of what you’re feeling, then I’m here. I usually make a great listener.”

“How do you deal with it? I’ve at least met my mate and given our relationship closure.”

“I don’t have a choice. It can never be, and the dome ensures it.”

“Yeah, the dome sucks. Thanks for understanding.”

“You’re not alone. Half our people remain unmated, and I’m certain their bound one is beyond their reach. So many don’t speak of it. What’s Moyer like?”

“He cares about Faith and Hope, although he was quick to tell me we wouldn’t work out. So I guess, honest. I met him in the outback.”

“Wincrest Station?”

“Yep.”

“Which means you may come across him again since he’s close to the girls. They are his princesses.”

“I think we’ll manage to keep our distance from each other.” My stomach churned, and I shoved my plate away. I didn’t want to keep my distance from him, but I’d get past this. As time moved on, it’d get easier, or at least, it better. “Since we’re playing hooky, we have to hit the beach.”

“Sold.” Pushing away from the table, he grinned. “Papamoa beach sound good?”

“Perfect.” I gripped his arm. “Lead the way, my chauffeur.”

He chuckled as he ’ported us, and then we arrived, our feet sinking into the glorious white sands of my favorite beach. What a perfect spot for tossing out a towel, lying back and lapping up the sun’s gorgeous rays.

“We are sooo gonna have some fun today.” I shielded my eyes from the glare. Surfers rode the farthest breakers of the mighty Pacific Ocean, and seagulls squawked and circled for fish. White capped waves tumbled in and surged to our feet. I darted back, keeping my toes dry.

The surf hit Zayn’s legs and sprayed over his shorts. “Ahh, now that’s what I’m after.” He stripped his shirt over his head and wrapped his sunnies inside before lobbing the bundle toward the dunes. “Are you coming in?”

“I’m not a fan of cold water. I’m here for the sun, but you have fun out there.”

“Will do.” He ran into the waves, let out a whoop then dived.

Oh, this was the way to have a day off. The wind coming off the ocean whipped my hair about my face, and I raised my hands to the sky and soaked in the warm sunshine. Purrrfect.

Such peace after the turbulence of yesterday.

Hmm, except for the girls’ problem. I should have been giving it my full attention. Only, what on earth did I do to prevent Wincrest from allowing two of the leading eight to court the girls? I dug my feet into the sand. Oh yeah, the heated grains cocooned my toes and sent a tingle of pleasure through me.

“Silvie?” Guy’s voice rumbled from close behind. “I know I shouldn’t have come, but there’s a problem.”

My heartbeat thundered as I whipped around. Oh boy. It really was him. My mate stood before me when I’d never believed I’d see him again, and not fair, looking smokin’ hot as well. Yum. Whoa. Eyes up. Get it together. “Ah, what kind of difficulty?”

“Faith told me why she brought you to the outback. The moment she factored you into her forewarning, it dissolved. She told me you’re the key, except since you and I ended things—” He shoved one hand into his hair and tossed his silky black locks about. “—she had another.”

“Forewarning?” Oh no. Faith had far too many of those, and I hadn’t sorted the current forewarning yet.

“Yeah. She’s now factored me into it, and I hate to tell you this, but it appears I somehow aid you in being the key.” The wind rushed along the beach, plastering his shimmery gray shirt against his wide chest.

“Aid?” He couldn’t be serious. The task would be hard enough as it was without the distraction of him. Oh, and talk about toned abs. His silk shirt coated each defined dip. See, distraction. I planted my hands on my hips and forced my mind back on track. “As in assisting me? Together?”

“Not together, together. But definitely the two of us working as a team.”

“I can’t believe this.” Faith better not be playing with me. Although, my best friend knew I’d never stand for any lies between us. Damn it, she really must have had another forewarning. “So, you’re saying our relationship is still done? Finished?” I had to know what I’d be taking on if I accepted his help.

“Yes. Nothing changes. For the girls’ sake, do you think we can work together on this problem?”

“If Faith says it’s necessary, then of course. I don’t like it, but I can handle it.” Provided he covered that impressive chest with something less flimsy than that shirt. A jacket would be good. I should make that a stipulation he wear one. “Can you handle it?”

“If I—” His gaze slid over my shoulder and narrowed in on Zayn as he body-surfed the waves toward us. “Who’s that? And why aren’t you at school?”

“I’m on a date.”

“Already?” He thumped his thighs covered in black rawhide pants. “With him?”

“Yes.”

He snarled, and I jerked back. Okay, he wasn’t allowed to get territorial. I’d have to make that a stipulation too. “Mated ones cannot speak a mistruth, Silvie. I can sense your lie.”

Drat. I should have known he’d pick up on the lie. “So it’s not exactly a date, but I needed someone to talk to, and Zayn was there. He knows about us. He’s a protector.” And why was I defending my actions? He’d given up the right to question me.

“You should have spoken to Faith or Hope, not him.”

“They weren’t there, and Zayn’s trustworthy. He knows about them too.”

“Next time speak to me. You’re my mate.” His pale blue eyes rimmed with silver narrowed.

“Yes, your mate. But one who you released.”

“We’re still soul-bound, and now working together. You can come to me until the girls’ problem is sorted.”

“No thanks. You said nothing’s changed between us.” I patted his chest, and a sizzle of heat scorched my fingertips. Well, apart from that. I really liked touching him.

“That doesn’t mean— Hell.” He caught my hand and held it tight. “I’m sorry, this is a strange situation. I’ll get some control and stop making demands. I shouldn’t have overstepped my mark.”

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” My pulse sped, and I couldn’t stop myself from wriggling closer. “How’s your day been? ’Cause mine’s been crappy.”

“The pits. I didn’t know it would be this hard.”

With my free hand, I tip-toed my fingers across his chest. “Well, we can be moody together, if you like?”

“Silvie, stop that. It’s dangerous.” Heat pulsed from him.

“I like danger.” I glanced at his mouth. What would it be like to kiss him?

“No.” His voice was raspy and hard. Oh yeah, I liked. “I can see what you’re thinking. You’re doubling the danger.”

No doubt I was, but his being here wasn’t helping either. “Why don’t you leave then? No matter what Faith said, I can figure out the girls’ problem without any help. We don’t have to put ourselves through this turmoil.”

“She was insistent, and I can’t let her or Hope down. I gave my allegiance to my king and country. They’re my princesses.” Slowly, he reached out and touched his mother’s ring swinging freely over my top. He pushed his little finger through the hole and slid it halfway on. “Mum had the tiniest fingers.”

I slid my pinky finger around his, knuckle to knuckle with the gold band warm between us. “If you want the ring back, you only have to ask.”

“No, it’s yours.” He stared into my eyes, and I wanted to drown in the soulful depths. “I’ll never forget the moment she gave it to me. She was so sick toward the end. The healers said there was nothing they could do about her sickness. It had come too fast.”

“I promise I’ll keep it safe.”

“Thank you.” With a groan, he slipped his finger free.

“You don’t have to stick around. It’s probably best you don’t.”

“I know.” He pointed at Zayn. “You need to ditch him. I’d feel more comfortable.”

“Nope. I need to ditch you.” Making the first move, I backed away, headed toward Zayn and waved.

He swam in and jogged over. “Who’s that?”

“Guy Moyer.”

“Ahh, I see.” He shook his shirt free of sand then yanked it over his head and plopped his sunnies on.

“He just wanted to make sure I was okay after we ended things. I said I was.” Best not to spill on Faith’s problem. Zayn was too close to Davio and Silas and might say something.

“Right, and since he’s not leaving, how about you introduce us?” He took my elbow. “And preferably before he comes over here and knocks my head off. That’s one dark scowl he has.”

Guy shoved his long sleeves to his elbows and met us half way. Double daggers sheathed at his wrists glinted in the sunshine. “Take your hands off her.”

“You ended things.” Zayn flexed his hand then smoothed it down his thigh, right where his sword normally lay. “But nice of you to check on her, not that it was necessary. You can be assured we protectors look after our own.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a good fight. Silas was the last protector I had some fun with.”

I edged between them. “Just stop this now. I have enough to deal with, and I don’t need you two coming head to head.”

“We hadn’t finished speaking. Excuse us.” Guy glared at Zayn as he backed away and took me with him.

Good grief. Talk about an overabundance of male bonded drive. “What are you doing?”

“I have no idea, except I need to control these impulses you’ve fired in me. We’ll begin working on the girls’ problem this evening. You okay with that?”

“I can’t do it this evening.”

“Tomorrow night then?”

“Yes.” I forced a step back then shooed him away. “Off you go.”

“You’re not to date another while we work together, and that’s final.” He shimmered and disappeared.

Argh, us working together wasn’t Faith’s best idea, but since we had to, we’d simply keep it to a minimum. Only, drat, I wished him right back again.

Zayn joined me. “Are you all right?”

“I will be. Thanks for asking.” I squeezed his arm.

He jumped back and gawked at where I’d touched him. “You just—” My fingerprints were burnt into his skin. “Unbelievable.”