“Good night, Weathers,” he said, still trying to control his breath.
“Good night, Snyder,” I replied yawning. He was warm, which made me comfortable, and I drifted off to sleep.
****
“Dawn.” I heard Adam’s voice, and I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He was radiant in the sunlight coming through my window.
“Good morning,” I said, lifting my head from his chest.
“Good morning,” he uttered back, smiling down at me.
“How did you sleep?” I asked, softly stretching my legs.
“Must have slept well – it’s ten in the morning,” he laughed, kissing my forehead.
“Damn, and nobody came to get us up at the crack of dawn.” I groaned, feeling like I was about to explode.
“No, I guess it’s an off day,” he assumed, running his fingers up and down my spine.
“Would be a first,” I said, sitting up and looking down at him. His eyes were sparkling — something I had not seen in such a long time.
“We better get going; I’m sure that the compound has something new for us today.” He pulled out from under me and stood up stretching. That’s when I saw the tattoo on his arm. I had never noticed it before. I sat on my knees and reached for him, placing my lips to the symbol of a flaming sword.
“When did you get this?” I asked softly.
“You are just now seeing that. I got it when I went home for the first time. Found it fitting for all of the things going on right now.” He laughed, turning to face me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and gazed up at him.
“Flames?” I asked, a shy smile crossing my lips. “Why, flames?”
“I think you have an idea why,” he said hoarsely, his eyes shooting to the window.
I looked at him and felt like bursting into tears. I knew precisely why the sword was flaming.
“How long have you felt this way?” I suddenly asked as his hands came up and cupped my face.
“For a long time,” he said softly, pressing his lips to mine. We were back to the amazing electricity. He pulled away and frowned.
“What?” I asked, a hint of pain in my voice.
“We need to keep this between us,” he said unexpectedly. “We cannot tell them what’s going on.”
“What is going on?” I asked, confused.
“Dawn, we crossed the line from friends to something else. I don’t know what that something else is yet. I want to play this out and figure out where we are,” he said sternly. I understood why he wanted to keep it a secret. He didn’t know how our parents would take it. Not with my track record at least. I looked up at him and nodded. He gave me one last kiss and left my room through the attached door.
I laid back down on my bed and giggled. I felt like I hadn’t felt in a long time. There was no fire in me wanting to consume him. This was me as a girl, liking him as a boy. Finally, something was coming from me and not from the blood. No Claims, just the feeling of warmth and pounding heartbeats. I felt like I was thirteen again with no knowledge of what I was.
I heard a knock on my door and shot into a sitting position. My father entered the room with a massive smile on his face. He sat down on the edge of the bed and placed his right hand on my ankle.
“What’s up, Dad?” I asked, trying to control the thoughts in my head. Shielding what I was thinking was going to be tough. He had been training me on what to do to block out invading telepaths. It was going to be harder getting around my mother.
“We thought we would give you a day off. You girls have been working hard, and you deserve a day to do as you want. I thought you and I could go to lunch in town; there is a lovely little diner there.” He patted my leg and smiled at me.
“Won’t they recognize you?” I asked, slowly looking at him, my eyes watering. I was trying so hard to mask my emotions behind all the pain. So much so, that it was bringing back too many bad memories.
“No, I think we are safe. We worried about the sheriff, but your mother was able to glamor him,” he stated with a shrug.
It was funny to know that my mother had the ability to glamor humans. It made me curious. Why had she not thought of this when they were discussing sending me here all those months ago?
“Then yes, Dad, I think that would be great.” I smiled at him as he looked at me with approval.
“Then get up, get dressed.” He patted my leg again and got up from my bed, looking down at me. “You are glowing, Dawn. I don’t think I have ever seen you glow.”
With that, he left the room.
****
I carried a change of clothes to the bathroom with me and took a hot shower. The water felt great on my skin. I was catching myself daydreaming of Adam, the oddness of it all. Everyone had said I needed to talk to him. I wasn’t expecting this, not expecting him to feel for me what had just recently started blooming in myself. I dried off and threw on a dark purple sweater with blue jeans, then looked in the mirror.
What does he see in me? All I am is eyes and hair.
I frowned at my reflection, painfully brushed my hair, and wrapped it in a towel. Grabbing my dirty clothes, I left the bathroom and wandered back into my room. At the dressing table, I looked at the stacks of make-up on top and sighed. I took a purple eyeshadow and lightly put it on my lids, followed by the dark black lines that had become my norm. I heard the door open but did not turn to see who entered. I could hear his heartbeat, slow and steady; a pair of arms wrapped around my waist, and that’s when I jumped.
Nick broke into laughter as I turned to look at his well-built figure behind me. I smacked him on the arm and gave him a dirty look.
“What are you doing?” I laughed, rubbing my arms. I was going to have to pay more attention than I thought.
“I was coming in to say hi. The girls are still sleeping, and your dad said you were up.” He smiled provocatively. My cousin had a way of causing the blood under my skin to boil.
“So, did something happen, did you find the fourth?” I asked, excited by the prospect of the final puzzle piece.
“She’s been hard to track. I don’t know what this girl does to get away, but every time I get close to her, she’s gone again.” He looked annoyed for a second then smacked me on the arm. “I have an idea. I wanted to run it by all of you, but now that I think about it you might be all we need. You and that mortal boy.”
“Do what?” He had lost me already.
“She’s scared. These creatures have been trying to track her down, and she is running when she senses their power. I figured your mortal boy has a better chance of talking to her. I cannot ask him to go alone – I will need you to go with him, you know, to protect him.” Nick smirked. Was he seriously passing his job off on to me?
“What did my mom say?” I asked.
“Well, she wasn’t too happy with the idea, but your dad was ok with it.” He smugly shrugged.
“Why did he seem so happy about it?” I growled. I hated how they discussed my fate without having me in the room. They had no regard for what I might think is best for me.
“You two would be going to Dallas. The girl got a job at a tattoo parlor in Deep Ellum. I stayed back far enough so that she could get settled, but she needs to be told.” He sighed. “I’m too intimidating. She didn’t seem convinced that I could be into her. I tried to hit on her to get her to trust me, but that didn’t work. Maybe she likes those skinny boys resembling your mortal,” he snarled. Apparently, few women, supernatural or not, had ever turned Nick the Prophet down.
“No wonder he would be happy. It means that he has a place for us to stay. That would also explain why he wants to go to lunch. I will let you know what is going to happen, Nick, I’m sure my mother and father have managed to produce a plan.” I sighed, yet in the back of my mind, I felt a little joy. I was going to spend several nights away from home with Adam. That should give us enough time to figure out what was going on between us. I took back the hateful things I had thought when Nick was hatching his p
lan. This was going to work out in my favor.
“Can you grab Adam and meet me downstairs in ten minutes? I need to speak to him before you go to lunch with your dad.” Nick’s eyes twinkled.
“Yeah, I think he’s still sleeping; I will check in on him.” I swallowed hard, and Nick raised an eyebrow at me.
“Is something going on between you and him? Your heart rate just increased,” he stated, grabbing my face, and looking in my eyes.
“No, I’m excited about getting away from here for a little bit. You know, not having my parents on my ass will be nice for a change,” I lied. I was trying my hardest not to panic. I had no idea that Nick had the ability to sense changes such as heart rate.
“All right.” He eyed me suspiciously. “Ten minutes,” he reminded me before turning and leaving my room whistling Dixie.
Why the hell was everyone all about the Civil War tunes all of a sudden?
I walked to the adjoining door and pushed it open. Adam was sitting on his bed looking at his phone, a small smile on his face. He looked up at me when I entered and put it back on the nightstand. He stood up and grabbed me around the waist, crushing his lips to mine.
“This is going to be harder than I thought,” I breathed when he let me go.
“Why do you say that?” His eyes opened wide.
I looked at him and pressed my lips together. He should already know the answer to that question.
“Ah, yes, the growing number of telepaths in the area. I bet Shawn already knows,” he groaned. “He has you on a permanent link.”
“I don’t think he will say anything,” I said, thinking about my brother.
Shawn was good at keeping secrets when it came to Adam. I had a feeling he already knew this was going to happen. I honestly wouldn’t put it past him to create the right ambiance to bring the truth to light.
“Well, here’s hoping nobody says, or figures out, anything until we know what is going on.” He leaned in and lightly kissed me again.
In response, my body melted in his arms.
“We need to get downstairs. Nick has this idea that he thinks will work when it comes to getting the fourth here. I’m going to lunch with my dad, so I think you should take some time to get all the details. This is your first quest, Mr. Snyder.” I smiled slyly at him as he broke out into laughter.
“I have to kiss you one more time. It’s far better in real life than it was in my dreams.” He cracked a smile and pulled me closer.
“You dreamed about this?” I asked, standing on my tiptoes.
“Since the day I met you,” he whispered, his lips meeting mine.
I was at a loss. Had I been so blind not to notice? I remembered when Helen blew up at me, saying that something was there whether I wanted to believe it or not. Had I been so preoccupied with Wesley and Aaron; I didn’t notice that the perfect man for me was right under my nose?
Chapter 6
Dallas
“So, what is the plan, Dad?” I asked as we took our seats at one of the diner’s booths.
“What plan?” he asked me, his eyes sparking. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
“The fourth!” I groaned excitedly. I hated when he played dumb. The man could read my mind; he knew damn well what I was talking about.
“Oh, yes, that.” He went quiet, and I kicked him softly under the table.
“Yes, that,” I directed. I was hoping the conversation would lead toward the trip to Dallas, but I wasn’t sure now that it ever would. The smirk on his face meant he was being difficult.
“Oh, yes. I called Mona and told her to prepare an apartment for you. Something close to downtown so that you won’t have to drive, yet far enough, so you aren’t in the slums.” My father opened his menu and smiled. “This place brings back so many great memories.”
“That’s nice. So, continue,” I requested, tapping my fingers on the table. There was no need to look at the menu, I knew he was going to order for me.
“Ok. Man, you are pushy.” He flipped the pages of the menu. “I have a flight ready for you and Adam this afternoon. Mona will have Mitch meet you at the airport and take you to the apartment. There are two rooms, and I expect you to use both of them.” He looked at me sternly. I had to hide the fact that I wanted to blush, and I pushed a painful memory to the forefront of my mind, hiding the encounter with Adam behind it.
“Of course, father of mine.” I rolled my eyes.
“From there, the rest is up to you. You no longer need me to hold your hand. Remember, it is just you and Adam. The girls won’t be there to help you; all you have is the fire.” He smiled as a pretty waitress walked toward the table to take our order. My father did just as I predicted; I was apparently getting a burger and onion rings.
“What do you mean, up to me?” I asked, looking around the small diner. Nobody was paying any attention to us.
“Nick mentioned that Adam needs to be the one to approach her. She’s skittish, and Adam has a calming effect to him.” My father pulled out a napkin from the dispenser and put it in his lap.
“That’s not the point, Dad.” I groaned. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then, you will just have to figure out another plan.” He sighed, and the waitress returned with our drinks. He smiled sweetly at her, and she blushed before walking away. “This is a big step up for Adam. He’s worked hard to get where he is, and I will admit the boy has promise. He may wind up being selected to be a Protector.”
The idea of Adam being like the man who married my mother, made my skin crawl. I didn’t want him in a loveless marriage, only being there to mask a Celestials existence. As my mother had once said: the best way to not be Angelina Weathers was to become Angie Peterson. The thought of anyone doing that to him ripped my heart apart. He deserved a life of happiness, not one of duty.
“I figured you would be thrilled,” my father said, taking a sip of his soda. “I mean, becoming a Protector is important. Only a select few are chosen to take on such a high honor.”
“I suppose to become Protector is some great human feat,” I said dryly.
“Not all Protectors are like your stepfather. Your mother chose him because she needed someone quickly, not because she wanted to. He was the best of the best. You know what, he kept her safe.” My father nodded at me, and I had to take a moment to agree with him.
“So, is this some sacred thing amongst mortals? Do they ascend?” I asked, rubbing my temples in frustration.
“In their own way, yes. I don’t know much; Protectors aren’t meant for demons. We have the ability to Claim, as you have learned, which in a way is the same thing. We are sort of indebted to our Claimed ones. I love Mona, just not in the way that I love your mother.” He coughed as if I wasn’t supposed to hear the last part of his sentence. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow as a smile spread across his face.
“Mona is a good woman,” I said, taking a sip of my drink.
“She wasn’t always a good one,” he sighed. “She has her share of skeletons.”
“What about me?” I looked out the window at a young couple sitting on a bench. It must be nice not knowing what is brewing in the air around you. Having time for meaningful relationships and a normal life.
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “You don’t hold a truce to either side. If you did, I would suspect you would have joined the Queen’s Army.”
“Why do you say that?” My eyes shot to my father. I could feel the heat burning behind the iris. How could he assume such horrible things?
“There is so much bitterness in your heart.” He tried to smile, but it failed him. “Not that I blame you for it. First, Wesley is taken from you, then Aaron. It’s no surprise the pain has taken you over.”
“I will always love Wesley, there is no question about that.” I closed my eyes and fought the lump that had formed in my throat. “He was my first love, and to only have him for the short time I did saddens me. Aaron started out as nothing other than a toy, and h
e turned into so much more. I care about him, but I feel a sort of ease knowing the Claim has been relinquished.” Our waitress arrived with our food, and I instantly latched my mouth shut. She stared at my father for some time, and it began to make me nervous. Had she recognized him?
“I don’t think we ever get over our first loves,” he mentioned, smiling at the girl as she finally turned to walk away. “It’s good to move on, away from everything. Find something, or someone, new to put all our emotions into.”
“I don’t want to Claim another soul, Daddy.” I had hated the gift from its first use. It had its perks, but it had its drawbacks as well. It could be that I never understood the gift, or maybe I was too scared of it.
“Sometimes you don’t get that option. You cannot control the souls you Claim.” My father grabbed the ketchup and began to pile it on his plate.
“So, I cannot control it?” I groaned. My food no longer looked appetizing.
“Not, really.” Why did it seem that this was not affecting his appetite? Maybe because this was everyday life for him.
“That’s not very comforting.” I poked at the burger.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, honey. It is a condition about your blood that you have to accept.” He gave me a sympathetic smile before shoveling fries into his mouth.
“I get that now,” I responded hoarsely. There was more to me than I had tried to understand. I couldn’t control the Celestial gifts no matter how hard I tried. The only part of me that I could control was the fire.
He had finished his food and was eyeballing mine. He didn’t even have to ask as I scooted the plate toward him.
“I think you and Adam make a good team.” He changed the subject on me.
“Huh?” I looked at him, confused. Where had that come from?
“We are trusting you and him to bring the girl back. We haven’t let Helen off her leash since she arrived. So, when you think about it, this is a pretty big deal. Taking a trip to Dallas for a mission? The other girls would kill for that.” My father laughed softly.
Wild Fire (Wardens Series Book 3) Page 4