Runes (Paranormal Romance, YA,) (20 page)

He grinned wickedly.

“Do we have a deal?”

“Deal.” He leaned closer until our faces were a few inches apart and whispered, “But you have permission to mess with my head any time you like.”

My mouth went dry. He was so close if I moved an inch, our lips could touch. How would it feel to kiss him? My lips tingled.

“What makes you think I want to?” I asked.

“You don’t have to want anything, Freckles. You just do.” He shook his head as though puzzled. I couldn’t tell whether he was confused by why I affected him or by my inability to understand how I affected him.
 

This time, I refused his help with the helmet. I was sure Mrs. Rutledge was cataloging everything we did. “This looks new,” I said, adjusting the pink strap.

“I bought it for you.”

That was sweet. “Thank you.”

Another wicked grin from him, then he put on his helmet. Holding him was this morning all over again. His warmth sipped through our clothing and crept under my skin. I shuddered, hating the way my body betrayed me when I was with him, yet craving his nearness. Loving it.

“Freckles?”

“Let’s go,” I said in voice that sounded strangled to my ears.

He chuckled and started the engine. We went at a regular speed until we hit I-5 and headed north. Then he picked up speed, just like this morning, until the scenery became blurry again. I wasn’t sure where we were going, and I didn’t care.

When he slowed down, I saw the sign to Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfalls in Oregon. It was about an hour’s drive from Kayville, but Torin got us there under twenty minutes. Unlike regular waterfalls, Multnomah Falls fell in two drops. The upper and longer waterfall crashed halfway down the hill to a pool before falling again. It was one of my family’s favorite spots, and the lodge at the base served amazing dishes.

As soon as we parked the Harley, Torin grabbed my hand. “Come on.”

His excitement was contagious. I didn’t complain or pull away. Holding his hand felt natural. Still, guilt followed as thoughts of Eirik crossed my mind. I pushed them aside as we ran toward the paved trail leading to Benson Bridge. The waterfalls were breathtaking against the colorful fall foliage, the climb to the bridge steep but exhilarating.

It was a short hike. On the bridge, I let go of Torin’s hand, ran to the rail, and looked up at the top waterfall. Memories of family trips here washed over me, and my throat squeezed. I missed Dad. So much.

Arms wrapped around me from behind, offering me comfort. It was as though Torin knew I needed it. I let my head rest against his solid chest, my hands covering his. For a moment, we just watched the water cascade like a curtain of silk and crash below. When I was calm enough, I said, “It’s beautiful.”

“It is.”

“How did you find it? I mean, you’re new here.”

He chuckled, and the sound rumbled through his chest and my body. The effect on me was weird. My knees grew weak, and I wondered if I would have crumpled on the ground if his arms hadn’t tightened around me. “I’ve been across this area several times before.”

“Doing what?”

“This and that,” he said vaguely.

Of course he wasn’t going to tell me. I turned, and his arms dropped to his sides. I felt cold without them and shivered. He’d pushed his sunglasses up in his hair, baring his brilliant blue eyes, but the wicked twinkle was gone. His gaze was intense as he studied my face. Then he looked away, but not before I saw the flash of pain in the depth of his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Rules suck.” He glanced at me and smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I want what I can’t have and need what I shouldn’t need.”

The cryptic talk made no sense, but then I remembered his words to Andris that night at the club.
There’s no room for love and sentiments in this business, just rules and punishment if you break them
.

“Whose rules?” I asked.

“My superiors.” He snagged my hand again. “Come on, let’s toss coins in the pool and make wishes.” He pulled out mixed coins from his pocket and put some in my hand.

I walked to the other end of the bridge facing the lodge and threw a penny. Light bounced off the coin as it flipped through the air. It fell in the pool at the bottom of the second waterfall.
I wish I could help Torin, so he’d stop hurting.
When I turned, he was watching me with a peculiar expression. “What?”

“What was your wish?” he asked.

I cocked my brow. “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

The wicked grin came back. He threw his coin and watched it sail to the bottom. Then he chose another, but I grabbed his hand. “Don’t. One wish at a time. If you add more, you’ll dilute the first one.”

“Says who?”

“My father.” I stared at the viewing area of the lodge, remembering the first time we came to the falls. I’d skipped to the lodge’s viewing point, almost falling on the steps in my haste. My father had to carry me to the bridge. I smiled. “My family used to come here every summer. This is my first time here in the fall. It’s even more beautiful.”

“Do you miss him?”

I nodded, but I didn’t want to discuss my father or I’d end up crying. “Eirik said you were an orphan. Do you miss your parents?”

He frowned. “Seville said that?”

Actually, he’d said Torin didn’t have parents. “Yes. What happened to them?”

“My parents died a long time ago. Do I miss them?” He made a face. “No. I might have at one time. Whatever memories I had of them were erased a long time ago.”

I frowned. “You make it sound like it’s been gazillion years.”

“About eight hundred.” He crossed his arms, leaned against the bridge beams, and watched me expectantly. I opened my mouth then closed it without speaking. “I told you I’d give you answers. Ask me anything,” he added.

“What do you mean by
about eight hundred
?”

“I’m an Immortal, which means I’ve lived for a very long time and will probably continue to do so for twice that long if I want to.”

I tried to see if he was joking, but I couldn’t read his expression. “Are you saying you are…?”

“Old.”

I studied him, feeling hurt that once again, he was messing with my head. “Are you done poking fun at me?”

He sighed. “You don’t believe me.”

“Do you blame me?” Several people were walking toward us, so I stepped closer to the rail and stared at the waterfalls. Just once I wished he could be honest with me instead of playing games. Sometimes talking to him could be so frustrating.

“Which part don’t you believe?” Torin asked, coming to stand beside me.

“All of it. Look at you. You are what? Eighteen?”

“I was turned when I was nineteen.”

I blinked. ‘Turn’ was a word I’d heard him use before. He’d told Andris not to
turn
any more human girls. “Turned?”

“The moment I gave up my humanity and embraced immortality. I was born in England during the reign of King Richard the Lion-hearted. My father, Roger de Clare, was an earl and a favorite of the king, so I was able to join the army when England established a crusade to fight in the Holy War. It was an exciting time, and every nobleman wanted to be in the crusade or their sons to be part of it. I was only seventeen, and James, my brother, was nineteen. We traveled with King Richard, fought valiantly, and captured Cyprus. I was nineteen when James died saving my life. I gave up the de Clare surname and took up his name. He was a saint.”

Of course, St. James. I studied his face, my heart sounding loud and erratic in my ears. No one could make all that up. “You’re serious?”

He nodded.

He was ‘turned’. “But you’re not a vampire,” I whispered.

“No.”

I swallowed, trying to wrap my mind around everything he’d said, things he could do. “What are you?”

He sighed. “That’s one question I can never answer. I’ve broken enough rules just talking to you. Just accept that I’m an Immortal.”

“But you promised to answer my questions,” I protested.

“Some. As for my real identity, you’ll figure it out by yourself.” He sounded sad, like he hated keeping secrets from me, which was very unlike him. He always acted like he got a kick out of shocking me.

“So St. James isn’t really your last name,” I murmured.

“It is now. The de Clare line died when I ceased to be Mortal.”

“But you were a nobleman.”

He shrugged. “That was a long time ago.”

It explained the trace of British accent. “Now you roam the world as an Immortal doing what?”

He grinned. “This and that.”

Once again, snippets of the conversation I’d overheard between him and Andris flashed in my head. “You, Andris, and the girls are here on some kind of a job, right?”

A wry smile titled the corners of his lips. “You could say that.”

“And it has something to do with the swim team,” I added.

Torin stiffened and glanced over his shoulder. Several people were walking toward us. He gripped my arm. “Let’s head back to the lodge.” We started toward the trail. “Who told you about the swim team?”

I couldn’t tell him I’d eavesdropped on him and Andris. “Does it matter how I know?”

He became silent as he mulled over my question. “I guess not.”

“Why are you after us?”

He frowned. “You could say we’re scouts. You know, we search for talented, athletic people and recruit them.”

Immortal scouts? Sounded surreal. From his expression, he was uncomfortable talking about it. Still, curiosity egged me on. “Recruit them for what?”

He shook his head. “I can’t discuss that either. There’s only so much I can tell you without breaking more rules. Ask me anything, except about my job.”

I sighed with disappointment. “Who turned you?”

“A woman. She came to the battle field to treat the wounded. The first time I saw her, I thought she was an angel. She had a glow around her. I didn’t know they came from the runes on her body. I’d just promised my brother I’d do my best to survive, yet there I was fatally wounded and dying.” Torin stared into space as though reliving the moment, his expression hard to describe. There was sadness and regret. “She gave me two choices. I could either die peacefully and move on or agree to serve her and become an Immortal. I was stupid and cocky, and I wanted to be by my king’s side when he won the Holy War and conquered Jerusalem. I chose immortality.”

He became quiet as we walked around the lodge and headed to the parking lot, where he’d left his Harley. “She used the runes to heal you?” I asked, hoping he’d continue talking.

Torin nodded. “Yes. After that, my wounds would heal every time I was hurt. One night, after a gruesome battle, she told me it was time to intensify my training. While King Richard went home triumphant and my father and mother were given the news of my death, I went to her castle for further training. After several years of mastering the right skills, I became like her, moving from place to place, recruiting more able young men.”

“What about women?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Don’t give me that look. I didn’t make the rules. Women weren’t involved in wars. They stayed at home while their men went to war, so men were recruited. Things have changed now. Physical abilities aren’t measured by how you wield a sword or how valiant you fight. Skills are tested in arenas, stadiums, and swimming pools. We’ve adapted, but the objective stayed the same, recruit as many people as we can for the cause.”

 
“Which is?” I tried again to see if he would slip up.

Torin smiled and shook his head. “Nice try, Freckles. Telling you more than I already have has consequences I can’t live with.” He sounded serious, almost apprehensive.

“Okay, I won’t push for answers. Do you live with her?” I asked, jealousy rearing its ugly head, surprising me.

“My maker? No. Once I finished my training, she provided me with a place to stay, a cache of gold for expenses, and left. If I had known what I’d signed up for...”

The loneliness in his voice was hard to hear. I found myself doing something I would not have thought of doing an hour ago. I slipped my hand through his. He froze, then smiled and squeezed my hand. Walking hand-in-hand, I didn’t speak until we reached his Harley.

“Will you ever finish repaying your debt to her and become free?” I asked.

“No. This is a lifetime commitment.” He let go of my hand, picked up the helmets, and handed me mine. Our excursion had started on such a happy note, and now all I felt was sadness. His situation was hopeless. Another thought crept into my mind, and a shiver ran up my spine.

“Did you turn me when you healed me? I mean, will I become like you?”

“Hel’s Mist no,” he murmured, peering at me. “I know you didn’t believe me when I told you before. You would have died if I hadn’t healed you, but I wasn’t the first one to mark you. I was just as surprised when I saw the runes appear on your body. Unfortunately, they were protection runes against
mortal
accidents. They’re completely useless against an attack by an Immortal. There are things I cannot share with you, Freckles, but I’d never lie to you about this.”