by A. Bulthuis
While she was preoccupied he snuck over to her truck, testing the latch he begged for it not to squeak, a high pitched peal startled a lizard out from underneath her cab. He saw a bag laying in the seat and a manila envelope stuck out from the top. Looking up he noticed a dark shadow hanging in front of the driver side door, but it appeared frozen. Panicking he grabbed a few pages from the envelope, ripping the bag in his rush before gently closing her passenger door just as she opened hers. Blending back into the brush he watched her confusion over the bag but shrug it off and start up the vehicle. As she drove off he looked at the papers in his hand. What he found made a bead of sweat form across his brow and his heart pump full of adrenaline.
They were found and now if she made a report all would be lost. He didn't wait to consult anyone he just reacted. Shifting mid run he bolted thru the drying palms and Cyprus and erupted out onto the road. His hulking shape took up the whole road as he watched her truck approach at a dangerous speed. His reptilian eyes widened when he realized she wasn't going to stop in time, her attention occupied to the side of her interior. When her head popped up in triumph and then quickly turned to panic he almost wanted to laugh but didn't. He watched as she swerved and then the rest of what happened sped thru his memory.
The warm soothing scent of eucalyptus shook him from his train of though. The natural springs fed over the dormant volcano hot air pockets were one of the main reasons they chose this area of the island in the first place. It always calmed his beast being in here. The group’s sole fae female gestured to the water’s edge, herself kneeling in wait. Walking into the water he turned to face the ledge and gently spread her body onto the edge. His hands hovering under her neck and across her hips. He cradled her as an excuse to stay close even if he wasn't needed. Clucking her tongue the woman spread her hands, coated in magick, out centering them over Autoras stomach then circling them outward, small orbs of light followed her fingertips drifting along over the top of the skin. The trail leaving in their wake made her skin glow ethereally. Reaching down the fae cupped some of the water in her palms bringing it up to Autoras forehead, dribbling it across her eyes and arcing it like a crown across her brow. Pink rivulets rolled down from her hair and pooled under her neck. Words of strength, peace, and healing sifted thru the air to mingle with the sandalwood and eucalyptus. Every minor ache he had floated away into the moist air as he waited impatiently for Autora to awaken, his hands itching to crawl over her body and wake her up one way or another. He hadn't been this nerve racked before over any woman. Growing more and more frustrated at her unconsciousness he gently slid his hands out from under her and stepped out of the water. The fae never stopped her chanting even as she noted his absence. Her tone of voice changed when he stepped out. Bending over she whispered into Autora's ear.
"Ya pos ylayu tebya obratno. Vy prosnetes! Kog da vy priyeolete. Vy dolzhny predupredit' ikh ob proiskhodyashchego. Vy budete pomnit' vse!"
Surrounding Autoras body with a powerful spell she bowed over with the force of the travelling spell she was equipping. The ripple of power burst outward as Autoras body shimmered within it. Winking out the fae slumped over onto the ground, using the last of her strength she broke her connection to the male fae living with this lair. Her eyes dimmed as she closed them. Fadan felt the change too late, coming in and dropping to his knees in agony as the female breathed her last. Autora was gone and now their female fae. A loud roar could be heard coming from the volcano along with a terrible rumble that shook the birds from the trees. The natives trembled and the visitors huddled in their hotels fearing the worst. But it was yet to come even as the air on the island became thicker and more charged.
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A continent away, a bloody body landed face down on an austere office desk scattering papers and pictures to the floor in a flurry. The desks occupant jumps from the thick black swivel chair and looks down in anger and confusion. A smooth dark skinned hand reached out and lifted the tangled black locks from around the face, the other hand resting gently against the small of its back. A sharp inhale of breath lingered in the room before a rich timbre spoke one word.
"Tori?"
Chapter 6
Crete smashed his palm against his speaker phone yelling into it. "Get my medic here. Now!" Scooping her into his arms he ignored the shards of wood scraping the back of his hands and arms as he rolled her over onto her back and carried her to his overstuffed lounger. Slipping her to the soft fabric he tore off his jacket and covered her immodesty. Brushing her hair away from her face he had to peel it away from where the blood had dried against her cheeks and shoulders, He winced seeing the dark bruises under her eyes and the swelling along the bridge of her nose. A swelling and cut upper lip along with a scratched up right cheek joined the injuries to her face alone.
Seconds later his door banged open and a middle aged man with dark rimmed glasses rushed in and laid out a black medical bag. Pulling out a small pen light and his stethoscope. Looking up at Crete he waited for approval, receiving a nod, he knelt down and placed the end of his utensil and listened intently for a few seconds before putting it away and pulling back her eye lids shining his light back and forth watching her pupils dilate. Taking a deep breath he gingerly pressed the tip of his fingers along her ribs and lower abdomen before checking her arms and legs for breaks. Pushing up from the floor he placed his instruments back into his bag.
"Milord, I thank we are in luck. Other than a couple of cracked ribs and the broken nose and split lip she is perfectly healthy. I believe she is just unconscious due to the pain. I'm going to give her a shot straight into her spine to ease the discomfort when she does awaken. I will need your help to keep her steady so I get the needle in there straight, if you'll just sit her up and bend her forward just slightly then I'll prep the needle."
Leaning over Crete went to one knee and wrapped his arms under her arm pits. Pulling her legs off the side he slid them to sit sandwiched between the lounger and his legs. Cupping her head to rest gently against his shoulder and arching her slender back in just the right way. Despite her being unconscious he still rubbed his palm up and down her back soothingly. The doctor re-approached with a 5 inch long needle braced in his hands. Squirting out the air bubbles he prepped the small of her back with an alcohol wipe and stretched her skin taut as he pushed the needle into her spine between her vertebrae. Easing the numbing solution into her spinal fluid he pulled it back out and taped on a cotton swab to stop any bleeding.
"There that should lessen the pain and make it more manageable. Do you want me to call for an aide to help you get her to an apartment or someplace comfortable to wait out her minor coma?"
"Just call Fransica to make up the guest room in my townhouse and have my car ready in five minutes to take us."
The man nodded and started issuing orders into the phone. Wrapping an afghan around her limp body scooping her up into his arms and hurriedly strolled out of the room. The distance from his door to his car sped by. His personal driver opened the back door of his luxury sedan allowing him to slide his willowy frame into a seat, adjusting her to rest against his chest and shoulder. Sitting back he drummed his fingertips against her thigh as he counted down the minutes till they arrived. Too many thoughts swirled around his head to concentrate on one. He was going to find out what happened. Someone was going to pay.
Burying his head into her hair he took a deep, slow breath. Her usual scent of cinnamon was overpowered by the coppery scent of her blood and a new mixture that was unfamiliar to him. A growl of possessiveness erupted from him as the sharp bitter smell of another male lingered underneath it all. His best friend and sister was in a coma, hurt and this male had something to do with it.
Why the council wanted her to have gone on that mission he wouldn't understand. They were going to hear about this. That stuffy old dragon in the American seat was way past his prime and t
oo stuck in his ways. Golds always thought they were on top.
The car pulled up to the curb of his building. Not waiting for his driver, he kicked open his door and walked thru the revolving door, ignoring the strange looks he received he bumped the call button for his private elevator. Slipping in and standing close for the retinal scanner to pick him up and the cab to taxi him to his floor. It opened straight into his townhouse, the pure electrical smell of his home greeted him along with the silence. His maid was paid very well to keep out of the way and everything spotless. He used varying shades of brown to make his home feel warmer and more welcoming. The guest room though swam in the warmest and softest creams and ivories. He kept this room for one woman only despite that she'd never been here. And now the one time that he got her here she had to be unconscious. You'd think his best friend would have been by at some point. Walking into the attached bathroom he walked into the large open shower and switched on the water, setting it to a steamy warmth. He tossed the afghan out onto the floor and carefully removed his shirt and jacket adding them to the pile. Backing into the warm water he held her and cleaned her off till the water flowed from her body in clear rivulets and the only scent left was his and hers natural warm cinnamon and apple. His pants and shoes were soaked but waited to kick them off till after he had her dried and laid down comfortably in the middle of the bed surrounded by thick blankets. Leaving her there he went to his room across the hall to change.
Chapter 7
Making a call to the council headquarters in Inverness, Ireland he apprised them of his situation making it clear he was none too pleased. Ending his call he hung a towel around his shoulders and checked in on his guest. Her breathing seemed even and peaceful. Knowing she was going to be out from awhile he went to his kitchen and brewed himself a cup of coffee. Leaning back against his marble countertop he crossed his legs and leaned back on his elbows. He lost himself into thought. A small tick under his eye started up as his anger surfaced.
"Those freaking idiots! Why couldn't they send more than one person? Why not someone more trained. Certainly she didn't appear like anyone from Evren. But for fucks sake why use a woman when they have so few of them." Something didn't smell right and it wasn't that rival males scent. Speaking of scents, the warm rich smell of cinnamon reached him.
Twisting around he growled protectively at the comforter clad female standing inside his doorway. Autora looked at him in confusion. She whispered his name with a slight catch in her throat.
"Crete..."
He opened his arms wide with a gentle smile. She crossed over and wrapped herself in his embrace, stifling her cries of hysteria into his chest. He pulled her head in under his chin and held onto her until she stopped shaking. Caressing her hair like a child he brushed it away from her face and swiped away a tear with the pad of his thumb.
"You’re safe Tori, I promise. What is it with you woman. I beg you for years to come stay in my guest room and to do it I had to get you unconscious."
He cracked a small smile and tilted up her chin to look at him. She sniffled and smacked his chest weakly.
"Ever the brat aren't you." Closing her eyes she laid her head onto his shoulder blade and breathed deep of that crisp apple smell she had grown up with. He smelled like home. "How am I here brother? Did you come for me? What happened to Fadan and the group of rogues? Did you shut them down? What's...?”
He shushed her with one of his long fingers. "Whoa, whoa little sister. What rogues? And who the hell is Fadan. That slimy bastards scent that was coated around you?"
"You didn't come for me did you? Then how did I get here?" She pulled back from his arms and started pacing, her heart racing as she heard broken Russian words hurriedly whispered into her head. A female’s voice she didn't recognize echoed over and over, one word getting louder. Remember. Her loud growl of anger set her skin to ripple, shades of silver and pink arching across her skin. Coming across the room Crete cupped her shoulders and held her in place.
Concern marred his expression. In their time together he had never seen her shift. He knew she was an orphan but just always assumed she was a silver. "Tori, stop and take a deep breath. We will get it figured out. Together. I've already contacted the council and informed them of your return and the shape in which you came back to me."
"I'm the reason I was unconscious. They wouldn't let me go and I shifted. I tried fighting back and they used a bubble which sent my attack back on me knocking me out. While unaware their female fae sent me back after healing most of my self-inflicted wounds. She was a resistance hidden among these groups of rebels. I landed back here somewhere." She looked at him and begged him with her eyes to believe her.
"We don't need to go over everything today. The council is going to convene in 3 days. I want you to rest here until then. I'll have some of your things brought over here from your apartment. And don't even think about telling me no or arguing with me. For once you’re too weak to fight me. You can do that later after your better. Come on I know you’re starved. Surprised you didn't decimate my food stores already." She rolled her eyes and clutched at the blanket.
"Do you think I can get a shirt or something you perv?" She giggled and shrugged her shoulders emphasizing her indecency. "Oh no just for that you have to stay in the blanket the whole time. It's rather fetching don't you think?" He tilted his head and smirked teasingly.
"Wipe that look off your face before I hit you. Now clothe me and feed me." A wave of Deja-vu had her shivering under the blanket. “Tori, are you okay?" He had seen her pause and stood up behind her capturing her in a hug. "Stop thinking about it, about him and relax. Your with me and you know I'll always protect you little sis." She relaxed back into his embrace and nodded, turning her head to kiss his cheek. 'I know you will and thank you. You are truly the best brother ever."
Taking her hand in his he lead her back to his room where he found one of his smaller shirts and tossed it at her, then a pair of gym shorts that wouldn't hang past her knees. "I'll have some of your clothes sent over, or we can go shopping if you want? My treat and I'll take you to this awesome hole in the wall Chinese place I found one day. They have some killer sweet and sour chicken and pork fried rice." A loud grumble followed his words. "I know at least one part of you agrees with that plan." She chuckled and pulled on the clothes. "You always were a good guesser about what I liked."
"Damn straight wench, now let's get going." God it was so easy to fall back into the old days. She missed their constant teasing. Pinching her cheeks he ran around her and called for his car while trying to keep out of her reach. She jumped onto his back as he stopped to press the button for the elevator. He yelped as she scrambled to hold onto his shoulders as her legs wrapped around his hips. Her laughter whispered into his ear. He hefted her up higher and wrapped his forearms under her thighs and carried her piggy back onto the elevator. "Hey darling press the ground floor button with your toes will ya?" She obliged and wiggled her legs just to annoy him. He tickled under her knees in payback. By the time the elevator dinged on the bottom floor they were practically falling over with the force of their laughter. The lobby attendant looked over with a perturbed expression and held a finger to his lips in a shushing manner. They both tried stifling their chuckles which made them snort. It was what Autora needed. The tension and anger fully forgotten as she looked forward to the day. They worked in the same building but hardly ever saw each other. Him being a noble born and her an orphan made all the difference. Despite that his parents took her in she was still considered an outsider. She had to work her way up just to get to where she was now. Seeing how much fun she was having he speared the attendant an icy glare and swung out onto the street as the doorman pulled open the outside door, his car waiting for them. After dropping her unceremoniously into the back seat he pushed her over using his hips and slid in beside her. Pressing his intercom release he ordered his driver quote “To the stores!"
Chapter 8
Several hours later, a full tr
unk, full stomachs, and a burning credit card later they pulled up outside of Autoras apartment. "You are to stay here in the car while I run up and check your apartment and grab some of your necessities. I'll be right back." She wanted to protest but felt too tired to do anything. The weariness was catching up to her as she waved her hand over her head as she laid sprawled across the backseat, missing the pillow of his lap. He chuckled and patted her head with a small smile. Using the spare key she kept hidden under an overhang he let himself into the Victorian remodeled to be three separate apartments. Something didn't settle right as soon as he walked in the door. It seemed cold. The soft black, white and greys were Tori's favorite. He stalked forward and checked every room. Nothing seeming to be a miss or out of place. He shrugged it off and went into her bathroom gathering a few supplies into a small makeup case. He looked around the apartment once more on his way out, a small black envelope laid on her coffee table. He picked it up and saw her name scrawled on it in silver. It looked like a party invite so he brought it with him wondering if she had seen it yet since it didn't appear to be open.
Locking up behind him he pocketed her spare key just in case someone saw him use it. He would always protect her. Tossing her bag onto the car floor he lifted her sleeping head back into his lap. The car pulled away silently with him running his fingers thru her hair, stroking it in an even rhythm helping her to slip into an even deeper sleep. One untouched by nightmares or Russian voices.