Son of Ra (14 page)

Chapter Fifteen

The Course of True Love…

I dressed in jeans and a pink tank and slid a scarf around my neck.   I discarded the ring and decided to be done with it.  I wanted to read him no matter what might come at me.

I slipped out in the night and made it to the clearing in the woods just fine and  felt him instantly.  This time I didn’t just feel him with the super emotion Val powers talking, I could smell his dark, spicy cologne before he was there.  It matched his all in leather look that made me crazy with want.  I sang to my back, “I know your are there.”

How?

“I’d know that scent anywhere.  You’re scent.”

And I’m the Vampire.  Who’s the predator and who is the prey here?

My mother’s ruby was safe in my pouch, as well as the letters and other charms that lead me down dark paths.  I seemed to be well “charmed” in my life.  My pouch.  It still went everywhere with me, just like my knives.  They are a part of me.

He didn’t say anything else, but reached around me and lifted us off into the night.

Cas asked, “You never remove your knives?”

You
can feel them.  Do you not like them?

It’s not that.  I can’t feel you.  They hide you from me.

Oh!
  I blushed worried he’d keep the color in my cheeks and eventually make it permanent.

Most assuredly.

“That could prove very embarrassing.”

“Not to me.  I rather like that I affect you so.”

That you do.  That you most assuredly do.

I barely had time to think more on it when we landed on the balcony of my brother’s rooms.  My father was standing just inside.  He was never much for parental looks, but he sent a very fatherly look in my direction.  I moved a few inches away from Cas.

“I thought I’d say hello since I missed the previous night’s visit.”             

I smiled not knowing what Szar told him.

“I will leave you.  Have fun.”  He turned and stopped, “It is good to have you here Anastacia, even if not for me or your court.”

Was I letting him down?  I hadn’t thought of that before.

Not letting him down.  Just undecided.  He knows that.

Thanks, but still doesn’t hide his disappointment. 

He’ll come around.  And you will too.

What’s that mean?
I folded my arms at Cas.

It means, that you will figure all this out.  But for now, we will take it one day at a time.

Cas unfolded my arms and held them out wide at my fingertips closing in fast to grip his hands.

“At it again you two?  Normal people will not be able to be around you for the simple fact that you look like mime’s dancing the fandango and doing the horizontal in sign language lingo.”

“Szar!  Stop acting like
your
some kind of parental.”

“Ah, she speaks!  ALOUD, no doubt.  Shall we get the speaking parts over with so the two of you can tongue tango without my presence?” Szar said curtly with touches of solid sarcasm.

I blew the hair off my face to avoid making a rude gesture. 
He is so maddening.

But he is enjoying watching you squirm.

I poked his belly,  “And you’re not?”  I blurted out.  I turned off the school girl pouting so fast.  Not in front of them.

Cas laughed aloud, his single strand of hair falling in his eye that drove me wild as he looked down.  He glanced up from his cell phone he’d just been texting on to meet my eyes at the same precise moment.  I wrinkled my nose up a touch baring my teeth.  Grr!  I faked.

“Come on you two.”  Szar led us into his sitting room.  The symbol that reminded me of where I came from above the door.  It was above every door in the manor.  To a human it resembled the number eight.  To a Valkyrie, it meant "above".  I always said "above the rest" because I considered our kind arrogant at times.  My father claimed it meant "above" like where the god of Odin resides and we originated.  I like mine better.

                                                                     
8

  Szar had a table of snacks out and we all three sat down to munch.

“I see you know her as well as I do.”

“She is a picky one.  She wouldn’t eat if I didn’t have what she wanted,” Szar gave his best brotherly laugh.

“So what else do we know?” my brother directed at me.

Cas answered, “She wears pink a lot though I prefer the sunshine.”  And the way he looked at me.  I knew the look.  It was the same look he gave when his eyes became hidden cameras to my soul.   I moved left above him now.  His dark gaze stayed where I was. I danced right to see the pattern on.  It was just the way his eyes seemed to follow me like I was
his prey
.  Yet he was a predator in every sense. 

We are not doing this in front of him unless you’re hinting for me to leave with you and head straight for my home.
 

I stood up straighter piling grapes on my plate and obeying his command, mostly.  Thankfully, my saucy look stopped him in his tracks and I didn’t mean to lick my lips but the grape I just popped in my mouth burst at precisely the same time.  Oops!

Cas’ cheeks reddened and decidedly shut his mouth.  Szar was lucky he didn’t comment this time or I would have blown a gasket.  “I talked with Calum.  Told him most of what we knew.  He knows he is a part of it somehow, but really he already did.  I caught him up on most of it.”  I glanced at Cas uncomfortably.  “I found everything you said mostly in bits and pieces on the net.  I think, consider me wrong if you will, that we must talk with the faction leaders somehow.”  I smiled knowing one was sitting beside me. 

I’m not worthy of that praise.

I scrunched up my eyebrows in frustration. 
How do you figure that?

He never answered.

To Szar I said, “And possibly finalize who the next Hunter leader will be.” 

Szar subtly shot a look to Cas that they may have thought I didn’t catch, but did.  I gave them no reason to think otherwise so I kept on, “Talk with the Weres and assure them they haven’t a need to hurt me.  And ask father who he intends to give his title to.  I feel foolish speaking like I know what I’m talking about, but we won’t get anywhere sitting around and the powers that be seem to be waiting for something.”  I gave Cas a dubious look.             

“Wow!  You’ve been overdoing that brain of yours,” Szar teased.

“Thanks bro, but save the sarcasm.”

I noticed neither of them mentioned the fact that Szar was probably the next in line.

“Touchy.  Thorn, make sure to relax her tonight.  She needs a detox.”  The heat between the two of us hotter than the flame in the fireplace, I doubted relaxation. 

“How did you turn out so ill mannered and I…”

“What sis?  What am I?” He stood fuming like a hate meter blew a gasket.

“I see the two of you are still at odds.  Perhaps we will do well to stay away from family business.”  Cas had my arm now.

“Father aims to give you the title.  But recent events have made him question if it will happen.”  Recent events?  That’s just about every detail involved in my so-called life right now. 

“Meaning?”

“He waits to see what you choose?”

“I see.  Doubt it.  I know you are lying to me.  And I have a feeling that title is going your direction, brother of mine.  I have no desire to be at this court again.  You can rest easy and shut the—

“What about the Hunter title?” he interrupted.

“Dr. Green will take the title next week.”  Cas decided to share.

“NEXT WEEK?” I screamed.

“Calm down, Anastacia.  He has that right,” Szar came back at me.

And Calum would be next in line.  This is too much.
  Cas moved his arm down to my lap.  He gripped my knee and held. 

I asked, “Is there anything else?”

Szar nodded.  “Suicide.  You’re not going into the Were’s den and ask them to please not hurt you.  They’ll kill you before Ryan can get there and ask your party what you were there for afterword.  They don’t want this, remember?  That line was broken when...We’ll set up a meeting with exclusive individuals after talking with father and Dr. Green.  Borgon and his piss ant followers will stop at nothing to take you.   If you are so stupid that you’re ego is going to get in the way of creating democracy, then step down and let them kill you now.  It’ll save some time.”

Cas was holding me back no doubt playing the quiet game as a silent referee between the evil twin tirade.

“Okay, fine, oh so loving brother.  I know you only mean half of what you say, but please save your snarky comments for someone who freaking cares.  Because it is not me.  For now, I will focus on Green.  But if you are in line for the Val court, so be it.  I don’t want it.  I want no part of being at this court ever again.”

Szar was offended.  “Why not?”             

“Because.  It was this court who hid me.  Hid secrets from me.  Kept me from living life.  Wanted me to be forced to marry who they wanted.  Hid me from friends.  Not you.”  And there was more. 

I looked at Cas.
 

Cas, sat here beside me, in my father’s court like some suitor that might have been sent for me when I was preparing for marriage.  And that is now.  This age.  What I would do to laugh at one of the many factory owners who sent their upcoming son to take over the family business and take a wife of royalty to assure his fortunes.

I laughed out loud.  I was sitting here with a Vampire lord holding my hand, my brother next to me possibly taking over my own court, and an ex-boyfriend back at school who would eventually take the Hunter throne.
 
Was this all planned?  It dang well had to be because no one would believe it unless it all came to pass.  And what of the Weres?  I’d have to figure it out.

“Well, then that is that.”  He checked his watch.  “I need to go.  I’ll leave you two.”  He pushed play on the wall projector and the movie started up.  “Twilight.  Figured you two could bond.”  He was out the door faster than the thunder could sound after a lightning strike.

“Funny!”  I walked over and turned off the projector yanking cords around.

What’s wrong?

He was behind me, his arms on my shoulders.

He just tries to make me angry.

And he is always successful.

And of course, you know that too.

No, but it’s a little obvious.

I turned around to give my well deserved comment but...

Let’s just sit and—

“No.  I want a movie date.”

He chuckled softly.

I found the perfect one.
 
I was bent over sliding the DVD into the player.

“I like that one.  Pop quiz, hot shot.  You have a boyfriend who is extremely hungry, wants popcorn, what do you do?”

I froze in mid step, glued to the ground. 
             
Boyfriend?

Um, yeah…what else would I be?

I didn’t move.  The fear overtook me.  I wasn’t ready for this.  Didn’t see it coming.

“Or not.”  He stood and started to walk past me.

I had to react fast.  “Cas, I didn’t mean…I do love the idea.  You just caught me off guard.”

He turned back around so he was standing too close.  I rocked back on my heels.

“So, is it okay then?” he was talking aloud and looking sideways at me with that single drop of his hair falling in his eye. For a Vampire, he was a sap sometimes.

This is what I focused on rather than the fact that he just asked me if I could call him my boyfriend.  It seemed almost like I was too old for that, but even older people called it that too.  Yet, this six foot three dark angel was showing a very sensitive “boyfriend” like side of himself.  He wasn’t this hardcore heartless lord of the Vampires I’d made him out to be all these years.  I’m still wrapping my brain around the idea of him being in charge of this court since he’s so young.  Did his father die and that’s why he was in charge so young?  Will he age? 

I finally left my thoughts alone and said, “Yes.   It is very okay.” 
Ja!
  Now, I really had to talk to Calum.  Soon!

The movie started.  I grabbed the popcorn and settled in next to my Vampire boyfriend lord who was sitting in my brother’s sitting room of my father’s court acting like a normal couple might. 

It felt awesome.

At the kissing scene when the bus exploded, Cas nudged his nose up against mine.  Eskimo kissing.  “Why do you switch your languages around when you talk?”

“What do you mean?” I enjoyed the closeness.  It was still a mystery to me that the hard, crass Vampire lord was nuzzling my face close to his.  He wasn’t the spawn of the devil himself.

“Sometimes you answer in Finnish or Danish or other languages.  I speak them myself by way of being drilled my whole life too, but why the switching around.”