She rolled her eyes but then stopped and crinkled her face. “Okay, you got me. Rob is going to be here tonight.”
“That’s what I heard. What about Ryan?” I asked with a chuckle, remembering how Jason had practically thrown him off the dance floor at the New Year’s Eve Party. Thank goodness Hannah had erased his memories and he had no recollections of the incident.
“Yes, him too. But don’t worry; he won’t be a problem once he realizes you and Ash are an item.”
“Oh yeah, that.” A pained expression crossed my face.
She laughed and grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s go sit down and catch up. I want to hear all about your trip. And you need to bring me up to speed on this game of charades we’re going to be playing so we can fool the Senior Council into thinking you and Ash are a hot item.”
I cringed. “Stop reminding me.” She plopped down on the sofa, and I said, “Let’s go out on the balcony. The air-conditioning is messing with my sinuses.”
“Outside it is then,” she said. As we settled into a couple cushioned rockers outside, Jessica commented, “I can’t believe you got your own room. I’ve never even been down this wing before. Usually it’s reserved for the VIP’s and married folks.”
“Well, I definitely don’t belong here then,” I said. Leaning forward, I looked over the railing, hoping I might catch a glimpse of Jason. Guardians wandered along the stone pathways of the beautifully landscaped grounds. People disappeared into the Ponderosa Pine Forest with their luggage, on their way to the cabins. Others gathered in groups at the picnic tables down by the river. “Did you know Ash and I even have adjoining rooms?” I said irritated.
“You have what?” Jessica exclaimed.
Glancing at her, I stuck out my tongue. “Yep.”
Silent for a bit, she started rocking faster and faster. Finally, she pronounced, “Makes sense. You’re a Dentelle so you’re going to receive VIP treatment everywhere we go.”
“Wonderful.” My voice was ripe with sarcasm.
“You’re like a celebrity, so you better learn to deal with it.”
“I’m just me,” I said.
“I know. And don’t worry; I’m not gonna give you any special treatment.”
“I’d unfriend you if you did,” I threatened with an easy smile. As I stretched my legs out, the sun beat down on my skin. I delighted in the sound of the raging Missouri River and the chatter of lively voices down below; they were somehow reassuring. I hadn’t spotted any of my friends yet, but a few faces looked familiar.
She tapped her painted orange fingernails against the armrest. “Sounds like the Council is gung-ho to get your relationship with Ash into high gear. The question is why?”
Leaning back into the rocker, I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I studied the distant rolling hills, which I’d been told were called the Rocky Mountain Front. Dakota had mentioned something about they stretched a good 150 miles in front of the Rocky Mountains. “Jess, sit back and listen,” I finally said, “I’ve got some things to tell you.” I proceeded to tell her about my conversation with Michael. She was surprised there were rumors circulating about Jason and me, because everyone in the Bellingham Circle had been really hush-hush about our relationship. She was even more shocked to hear why Michael thought the Senior Council might be encouraging my relationship with Ash.
“Marriage and kids?” she stuttered. “Unbelievable. If that’s true, we need a new set of leaders.”
In order to gain a better understanding of how and why certain rules were in place, I asked her to explain again why Amethysts and Guardians were banned from having relationships. I hated broaching the subject since her mom had once been an Amethyst and had given up her ability to be with Jessica’s dad – a Guardian. Jessica didn’t seem upset in the least, just contemplative as she nibbled on her lower lip.
To this day, no one, including Jessica, knew how her mom had changed from an Amethyst to basically, an Innocent. It wasn’t spoken of, and many members within the Network still looked down their noses at the Nelsons. Whatever Mrs. Nelson had done, she’d lost the healing ability of her Essence along with that defensive ability that burned a Guardian. That had allowed her to follow her heart and be with Mr. Nelson. Even though they’d been kicked out of the Network for a while, three children later – two Guardians and an Amethyst – they were allowed back in.
Sometimes, in the back of my mind, I toyed with the idea of doing the same thing Mrs. Nelson had done. I didn’t tell anyone about these thoughts; they were too personal to even write in a journal. And I knew it wasn’t right for me. No matter how much I wanted to be with Jason, deep down inside, I knew I couldn’t go through with it. An Innocent had lost his life once when I’d made a choice to ignore a premonition. That had been a defining moment in my life, and I’d vowed never to lose another life again.
“Well,” Jessica said, tapping her boot against the deck, “eons ago, before there wasn’t a rule against it, there were a few Amethyst-Guardians marriages. But those relationships never worked out. Because of their inability to have physical contact, the relationships became volatile. All that dissention eventually led to nasty break-ups. Members of the Circle were forced to take sides, people had to move or be moved. And then, of course, there’s exactly the issue you’ve been talking about.” She looked over at me and nodded.
“Huh? You lost me.”
“Kids,” she said simply. Standing up, she walked over and leaned against the railing. “A Guardian and Amethyst couple only had one day a month where they could be intimate. Not only are the odds stacked against a loving, long-lasting, and faithful marriage, the chances of having offspring are close to none.”
I slid out of the rocker and joined her at the railing. Upon hearing a sliding door and voices coming from the balcony below us, I lowered my voice. “Then that’s it, isn’t it?”
“Has to be. The Senior Council wants to ensure our population is growing and remains strong, especially with the ever-increasing Ray-pac attacks. We are going to need every advantage, including our not so secret – secret weapons.”
“Amethysts.”
Jessica bumped me shoulder to shoulder. “You got it. And ever since Amethysts have been marrying Innocents or other Amethysts, the success rate for immediate Amethyst offspring has been extremely high. So, with everything we’ve discussed, it just makes sense that Amethyst-Guardian relationships are forbidden.”
“Still doesn’t seem right,” I said, kicking the plank floorboard with my bare foot.
“Hey, there’s Max and Laci.” Jessica called out to them and waved emphatically, so I followed suit. They were walking hand in hand down by a huge marble water fountain. A moment later, Jessica said, “I agree it doesn’t seem fair. And now that we have a living, breathing Dentelle in our midst…”
“Oh, stop,” I groaned.
She clapped her hands together. “Well, it is pretty awesome to be best friends with a Dentelle. In a way I can understand why the Senior Council is so excited. You are making history – you’re legend, and with your combined abilities, you have incredible power that could advance our kind even further. Besides that, you just know the current Council members want to be around when you have kids – just to see if you’ll bring more Dentelles into this world. With you being, as you say, ‘everlinked’ with Ash, the Council doesn’t want to let a golden opportunity slip through their hands.”
“What golden opportunity?” Ash’s voice startled us as he opened his slider and stepped onto his balcony.
“Ash, it’s so good to see you!” Jessica exclaimed, running over to greet him and grabbing him by the shoulders.
“Oh, Jessica, you wicked little thing you. That energy burst is just what I needed.” He offered her a winning smile and she beamed. “And besides that, it’s great to see your radiant face.”
She gave him a playful shove. “You’re such a rake.”
I laughed. “Been reading more English novels?”
As Jessi
ca shrugged and rolled her eyes, Ash raised a questioning brow and asked, “What exactly is your definition of a rake?”
“Simply put,” Jessica said jovially, “a wealthy guy with promiscuous habits.”
“Oh,” Ash said with a frown. He tilted his head slightly as if deep in thought. After a moment, a smile crossed his lips, and he said proudly, “Yep. Sounds about right.”
Sighing, Jessica and I exchanged disgusted looks and she said, “Well, it’s good to know some things never change.” Glancing at her watch, which looked like some kind of rhinestone accessory, she declared, “It’s gotta be about dinnertime.” Just as she said that, a loud dinner bell started ringing from somewhere down below.
“You have impeccable timing, Jess. But I think what you really mean, is that it’s show time,” Ash said, throwing me an empathetic smile. Sauntering over, he took hold of my hand and squeezed gently. With a smile exuding confidence, he added, “We can do this. Just think of it as entertainment for the masses. Only the joke is on them.”
Sprawled out across the second level, the cafeteria style dining room was monstrous and impressive. Douglas fir timbers with black steel columns elevated the ceiling to great heights, with the focal point being an octagon center held together by ringed trusses. Rather than small tables everywhere, there were long rows of wood-slab tables, which I later learned had been salvaged from fallen cedar trees. The room was noisy and busy as Guardians quickly claimed seats, some reserving whole sections for their entire Circle. The pub-style tables next to the lofty windows, which offered a panoramic view of the mountains, had already been snatched up by the time we entered the dining room.
I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw Jason and Madison waving us down from the corner of the room next to a flashing “Pasta Bar” sign. Jason had already explained that the set-up was similar to a fancy Vegas-style buffet, in which there would be several designated food stations and we’d help ourselves to whatever looked good. Of course, I’d never been to Las Vegas, so I didn’t have a clear picture in my mind. Glancing around now, I had to suppress a giggle. With all the extravagance and flashing lights, it was easy to forget we were nestled in a Montana valley. This was more like we were in a flashy hotel smack dab in the middle of a metropolis. There were signs for sushi, pizza, seafood, burgers, country-cooking, cowboy cut rib-eyes, and even soup, salad, and potato bars.
As I followed Jessica and Ash through the crowded room, flames from the wood-fired pizza oven burned bright. I could even smell the freshly baking pizza dough. Occasionally, someone would bump into me and jump back, clutching their arm or shoulder. Stunned, they’d look at me all tongue-tied and wide-eyed. I’d just smile and mutter, “Sorry.” People might know of me – the infamous Dentelle – but not many knew what I looked like, so the hot sting came as a shocker. Besides that, Jason had informed me that the burn acquired from touching me, was a little more sizzling than that from a typical Amethyst.
My heart sped up as I made eye contact with him. He was wearing that aqua-colored polo shirt that matched his eyes and made me want to devour him. But I knew I had to play it cool. I couldn’t sit next to him or even flash him a smile. Of course, that only made my desire to do so, that much fiercer. I held his gaze for a second, then turned and greeted the rest of my friends. In all, there were 17 of us representing the Bellingham Circle. From our close-knit group there was Jason, his parents, Max, Madison, Jessica, Laci, Shelby, Trevon, Ash, and myself. There were also six others who were part of our Circle but didn’t hang with us on a regular basis. Because the Bangor Circle wasn’t represented, Michael, Sienna, and Izzy joined us as well. Jessica and Izzy immediately hugged and started catching up.
As we were getting situated, Dakota appeared and said rather breathlessly, “We’re so happy you’re all here.” She hugged Jason’s parents and continued, “Mr. and Mrs. Walker, I was hoping you all wouldn’t mind if I steal Lexi and Ash away. Izzy, you and I have to catch up later; it’s been way too long.” She grabbed Ash by the hand and didn’t let go. Her long, black hair flowed over her shoulders, and her equally black, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with mischief. With her darker skin, slender build, and perfectly-plucked black eyebrows, she really was beautiful. She’d also replaced her sheer blouse with a more suitable black wrap-around one. “My parents and grandparents would like to meet them, and then I’d like to introduce them to several people tonight.” She smiled at me, “Really, it’s an honor to have a Dentelle, and,” she winked at Ash, “her handsome partner here with us. I’m sure the overwhelming attendance this year is because everyone wants to get a glimpse of you two. So, what better way to make everyone happy, than to present you.”
Biting my tongue, I tried to smile politely.
“Oh come now. You can do better than that,” Ash said, invading my private thoughts, which were thinking of all the ways I could strangle Dakota.
“I don’t enjoy being paraded around and put on display.”
“I don’t know. Might be kind of fun.”
I groaned inwardly “You would think that.”
Grabbing my hand with his other free hand, Ash said aloud, “Dakota, I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening than with two gorgeous ladies – one at each side.” He looked at all our friends, “No hard feelings everyone, but I can’t pass up this opportunity.”
Dakota laughed heartily and looked at me. “I bet you have to keep your eye on him, don’t you, Lexi?”
I happened to glance at Dakota’s hand, which was still laced with Ash’s, and saw she was caressing his skin with her thumb. What a flirt! Next to me, Madison huffed, probably perturbed with Dakota’s presence. Struck with an idea, I grabbed Madison’s arm and caught the conversation taking place between her and Jason. “Dakota is almost as much of a nuisance as your ex and she’s gonna destroy Lexi.”
“No, she won’t. Give Alex a chance. She’s strong-willed. No way she’ll let Dakota walk all over her. She just needs to stop worrying about my feelings and play her part.”
He looked straight at me, and I knew he was talking for my benefit. Ultimately pissed at the world for even being in this position, I suddenly had no trouble deciding it was time to stop being so nice. Time to turn up the heat and prove I was a force to be reckoned with. Wrapping my arms around Ash, so that he had no choice but to drop Dakota’s hand, I smiled up at him and turned toward Dakota. “Oh Dakota, Ash may talk big, but I know where his loyalties lie. Besides, when you’re the only Dentelle alive, and your touch is as incredibly hot, you just don’t worry about other women posing a threat.” Gazing back at Ash, I moved a little closer and ran my finger along his lower lip. “Isn’t that right, honey?” Then I added, for his ears only, “Now who’s walking out with the Oscar?”
He was trembling slightly, but he smiled and said in a velvet, smooth alto, “That’s right, baby. No one’s touch feels like your touch. I couldn’t leave you if I wanted to.” In my mind, he said, “Isn’t that the truth?”
“Well, all-righty then,” Dakota mumbled, obviously not used to being upstaged. “On that romantic note, I guess we’re off.” She looked at the rest of our group. “You all have a wonderful meal.”
Totally into my part now, and having no desire to see the expressions on my friends’ faces, I turned on my heel, as I’d so often witnessed Madison do, and I held my head high as I followed Dakota. I made sure I was the one dragging Ash behind me.
The rest of the evening wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d anticipated. First, Dakota introduced us to Kohana, her linked partner, who was broad and muscular but very short. Actually, he was about five inches shorter than she was, but he watched her every move with adoring eyes. Going on first impressions, I’d say it was obvious he held her in great reverence, while she wanted nothing to do with him. He was at her beck and call, and she knew it, even used it to her advantage. Proving my point, she immediately sent him to fetch her a salad and a drink. No doubt their linked partnership had been mandated rather than freely chosen, but Kohana w
as more than happy with the arrangement. While talking with a group of her friends, Dakota flirted unmercifully with Luke, a tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Guardian, who belonged to the neighboring Boise Circle. He immediately accepted her invitation to join us after dinner and help take us on that tour of the property.
Eventually, we situated ourselves at the head table with Dakota’s family. Her grandparents and parents seemed like very warm, sincere people. They involved Ash and I in their conversations and seemed genuinely interested in hearing about our backgrounds. I immediately hit it off with Dakota’s grandfather, Ahanu. Literally, his name meant “he laughs.” Sitting on my left, Ahanu’s warm, wrinkled eyes sparkled as he spoke proudly of his heritage and their involvement in the Blackfoot Confederacy.
He offered a history of the ranch, and I quickly learned why his grandparents had named it the G.O.L.D. Bar Ranch. The letters stood for “Gathering of Linked Defenders.” Evidently, before the term Guardians had been adopted – back in the days when his grandparents had built the Ranch – they’d originally referred to themselves as Defenders. The Ranch’s name was a double entendre, referring not only to the Defenders who gathered there, but also to the gold medals the first place competitors would receive. Ahanu promised to take me down to the library, where they had a 400 ounce gold bar – worth about $640,000 – on display in a thief-proof case. An investor in rare coins, he couldn’t wait to show me his collection. He was a kind-hearted, intelligent man who reminded me a lot of my own grandfather.
While eating my spicy wagon-wheel pasta dish, I listened intently to the conversation at our table and tried not to be distracted by all that was happening around me. But the cafeteria was loud with voices, clanking silverware, and chairs scraping the floor. A lot of people took small servings and then excused themselves so they could sample other cuisines. When Ash finished eating, he sat back in his chair and rested an arm around my shoulder as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He smiled and chatted with Dakota’s parents while I talked more with her grandparents. The moment I started to rise and excuse myself so I could get another glass of ice water, he jumped to his feet and said, “Let me get that for you, babe. You stay here and enjoy yourself.” He was a natural born gentleman when he wanted to be, but it was so strange, because I was used to that from Jason, not him.
Dentelle #3 Guardian series Page 7