The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (43 page)

I wanted him. I wanted him so bad and for the first time I could plainly see his eyes shining with the same need.

“Willa...” he said huskily, but whatever words he was about to say were cut off by the sounds of voices that were coming closer and closer in the hallway.

“Robert, Sabine and Gabriel are coming,” he whispered

I almost grabbed his hands and teleported us the heck out of there. The one time I felt like Mathias was going to show some emotion towards me was ruined.

I thought blaming Sabine sounded perfectly reasonable.

There was a light tap on the door, and Mathias barked, “Enter.”

Robert, Sabine and who I assumed was Gabriel came into the office somewhat apprehensively.

Gabriel was indeed a young man. His dark blond hair looked artfully messy in a shaggy cut, and he still had a slight baby face. His hazel eyes though looked friendly and a little confused.

“Mathias,” Sabine asked, “Why all the drama and secrecy?”

“I called you three in here today because I need to talk to you a bit about Willa.” Mathias said. “There are some things that you need to be aware of concerning her and her rather different abilities.”

“What’s so different about her?” asked Gabriel

“Willa is the daughter of Cecily and Cormac. She is the first and only known child to be conceived by a Gypsy and a Fae,” he answered

“Very unusual indeed but what’s the big deal?” Sabine asked dismissively

“Well, maybe I should conjure up my fire and shoot it at you that way I can show you what the big fucking deal is.” I replied dryly

Sabine gave me a nasty look and Mathias just sighed before he continued.

“Willa inherited not only her mother’s great power but her father’s as well. She is a very powerful Caster. From my understanding, her abilities have yet to be completely understood. We do know of a few special ones that she possesses.”

“Like what?” Robert asked curiously

“Her witch fire can kill vampires. The Rau and the Solas alike,” he answered

“Impossible.” Sabine remarked as she swept her hair over her shoulder.

“I have seen it for myself. So far Willa has killed four vampires.”

“Five.” I interjected. “Don’t forget Serena’s murderer.”

“I did forget,” he said. “Her blood has also been tested at length. Oliver has determined that her blood is poisonous to vampires as well. Willa is a deadly weapon to any vampire.”

“That’s amazing.” Robert said. “I’m stunned.”

“So why is she here? Surely you could’ve told us this yourself Mathias?” Sabine asked

“Willa is here because, not only do you and Robert, need to acclimate to her scent should the situation present itself but Gabriel does as well.”

Gabriel took a step back. He looked almost scared. “What does she smell like?”

“Willa’s scent is richer and deeper than any other Gypsy or Fae.” he answered

“I’m not sure I’m ready.” Gabriel said. “I don’t want to hurt her. She’s Archie’s granddaughter.”

“Relax junior, if you feel yourself wanting to rip my throat open just remember that you’ll be dead in a heartbeat.” I said flippantly

“Willa is not in any danger.” Mathias said reassuringly. “I’m here and I will not let you or anyone else hurt her.”

Sabine’s eyes narrowed and Robert’s lit up with amusement. Gabriel still looked unsure but nodded before taking a deep breath.

I decided that was my cue to unmask my scent. I murmured the short chant and Mathias pushed me behind him protectively.

I saw Robert and Sabine’s nostrils flare and their eyes widen, but they made no movement whatsoever. Gabriel however was a different story.

A growl emitted from Mathias’s chest, and I muttered up a short prayer. I did not want this kid to get hurt or even worse killed.

“Gabriel?” Robert’s voice asked in surprise. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” he answered. “She smells different but it’s not like it’s a big deal.”

“Are you sure you smelled her?” Robert asked in disbelief

“Well, I took a good whiff and I’m over it already, if you’ll excuse me?” Sabine asked

Mathias nodded, but his attention focused on Gabriel. When Sabine left the room we all were silent. Every vampire who had ever inhaled my scent reacted in some way. Why hadn’t Gabriel?

“I’m not sure if I should say this.” Gabriel started to say

“Say what?” I interrupted

“Well, you smell like Katya does to me,” he answered. “Katya smells like Robert and you smell like Mathias.”

Robert’s face broke out into a huge grin, and I found myself returning his infectious smile. Mathias however was frozen in his spot.

“I mean I get the whole thing. Katya told me this morning how it was all a big scandal with her and Robert. I’m sure with Willa being a princess and all it’s a little different, but it’s not something that you can help, right?”

“Exactly,” I smiled fondly at Gabriel. Amazing how a young man could grasp that but not Mathias.

“Gabriel, I think we should keep this to ourselves for the time being.” Mathias suggested

“I’m going to go to the hospital because honestly it’s not like anything is going to be resolved here today.” I said walking towards the door, turning I looked at Robert. “I forgot to ask you Robert, do you and Katya need a place to stay? I have a nice guest room?”

“Thank you Willa,” he said warmly. “But we are staying at Mathias’s house.”

“Where are you staying?” I asked him

Mathias raised his eyebrow. “Robert, will you take Gabriel down to see Milton?”

“Of course,” Robert replied. “Bye Willa.”

“Bye Robert, bye Gabriel. It was nice to meet you.”

“You too,” he replied walking out of the room. Once he shut the door I turned to Mathias.

“Where are you staying?” I asked again. If he says, he’s sharing a place with Sabine; I was going to burn this entire building down to the center of the earth.

“With you,” he smirked

Chapter Six

“What?” I sputtered. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Mathias smiled while I stood gaping at him. “Winifred and I discussed it before I left. We both agreed that you should be guarded at all times when the Fae arrive. Riah will be with you during the day and I will be with you at night.”

“At night?” I asked. “I’m assuming you mean you’ll be outside the house pacing the property?”

“What good what that do?” he asked. “No, I’ll be listening to the dulcet sounds of your snoring for the foreseeable future.”

I covered my eyes with my hands and let out a small laugh. Was he on drugs? Had he been smoking the wacky weed while he was away?

“Mathias, I really am going to have to put my foot down. I understand the cause for concern, but I would much rather Riah stay with me at night.”

“Unfortunately I have a real job, unlike Riah, so I do not have time to babysit you during the day. To be honest, I think Christopher would be a better fit for you as your Guardian.”

“As much as I do like and respect Christopher that’s not going to happen. Riah is a great Guardian. You would’ve never chosen him when you left if you weren’t certain of that.”

“That was before his declaration of love last night.” Mathias said

“You were listening!” I said loudly. “Then you realize our mutual affection for each other is one of friendship.”

“Yes, I do realize that,” he admitted, much to my surprise. “But because Riah does care about you he may let you get away with things that you shouldn’t be doing.”

“This part of the discussion is over. Riah is my Guardian. End of story.”

“Fine, I’ll let Riah continue as your Guardian if you agree graciously, with no arguments, that I am your night Guardian.”

“Mathias.” I sighed.

“What?” he asked intently. “Is there something wrong? Is there a reason you don’t want me in your bedroom?”

I sucked in my breath. Surely he wasn’t this obtuse? Did he not realize that I was going to humiliate myself every single night by throwing myself at him? Was he not aware that after the first few times he rejected me I would want to fling myself off a cliff?

“No.” I said softly. “There’s a very comfortable chair in the office that is off my room.”

“Sorry but I have to be within sight of you,” he said

“Why? My room is like Ft. Knox. No one is getting in without either of us knowing.”

“The Fae can teleport Willa,” he explained. “Don’t you realize that all this Fae Lord has to do is teleport in your room, grab you and go? Hell all of them are capable of that.”

I bit my lip. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Well I did, in fact, I have thought of nothing else in the last four months.”

“Me or the Fae?”

“Both,” he said finally after a long pause

“Are we going to talk about this now?” I asked. I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or terrified.

“No,” he said. “You need to go to the hospital and be with your family.”

“Are we ever going to talk about it?”

“I tried last night, remember? You didn’t want to have a conversation. Well now I don’t,” he said bluntly

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I asked in disbelief. “You tried last night? Last night when we just found out my grandfather who we all thought had been dead for a hundred and thirty some odd years was alive? That was the time to have this discussion? Not like right now when we’re alone?”

“No.” was all he said

“Fine,” I chuckled. “Well, you know what? I’m not sure if I am ever going to want to talk about it again. How do you like them apples?”

“Be careful what you say,” he said warningly

I arrived in the waiting room of the hospital and scared the crap out of Maxine the receptionist.

“Willa Cecelia,” she admonished. “I told you not to teleport in my waiting room. You are certainly capable of walking the few feet from the outside into here.”

“Sorry Maxine.” I said sheepishly. “I forgot.”

“Don’t let it happen again,” she replied with a huff

“Where is everyone?” I asked

“Oliver, Rhoswen, Cecily and Augusta left a short time ago,” she answered. “Julia and Jeremiah are in the room with Queen Winifred and Prince Archibald.”

“How’s he doing?”

“Prince Archibald is doing as well as can be expected.”

“Wow, you’re a wealth of information.” I replied

She just looked at me irritated. “Room ten at the end of the hallway. You better walk there.”

“What if I run?” I asked with a grin

“You better be fast girly,” she said before turning her back on me deliberately.

“You can’t have any fun around here.” I muttered

“I heard that,” she yelled

I walked slowly down the hall trying to calm myself before I went into the room. Mathias was going to be in my bedroom every night. The decision that was made months ago and I was just hearing it now. I wasn’t ready for this. Did I want to have it out with Mathias? Yes. Did I want to hear his rejection and then have to be in his presence every night for the next several days, if not weeks? No, there was no way I could handle that.

I had to get out of this. Maybe if I watched a chick flick every night. A little ‘Steel Magnolias,' some tears and Mathias would be begging Riah to change shifts, if that didn’t work; I would bring out the big guns. Musicals from the last fifty years ought to do the trick. To see his reaction to me singing along with ‘The Sound of Music’ would be almost priceless.

I was a bit more resolved as I knocked softly on the hospital room door. I let myself in and was relieved to see Winifred, Jeremiah and Julia smiling.

“Willa.” Julia said. “I was getting worried about you. What took you so long?”

“I tried to pull the stick out of Mathias’s ass but it wouldn’t budge.”

“Willa.” Winifred sighed and shook her head.

I heard a loud laugh coming from behind Jeremiah, and that’s when I got my first glimpse of my grandfather. I was surprised. I had imagined that he would be old and sickly looking, but that was just the opposite.

Archie had a full head of gray hair, dark brown eyes that twinkled, and a handsome, distinguished face that had a broad smile.

“Willa, this is my husband, your grandfather, Archibald.” Winifred said proudly

“Hello Archie, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Your other two cousins called me grandfather right away,” he said