Determinant, a YA Paranormal Romance (Book 3 of The Guardians of Vesturon)

by A. M. Hargrove

  All the siblings spoke of their memories of him and as I watched Rowan and Annalise, I wondered how they withstood the grief. Parents were not supposed to outlive their children.

  Sharra, Rykerian’s only sister arrived last night and she could barely remain standing. Maddie supported her on one side and Rykerian on the other. Everyone stood linked together, drawing inner strength and fortitude from each other.

  There was one female in attendance that was not a family member. Her name was Athyna Monteveldo and she barely said a word. She looked like she had turned to stone. She clung to Tesslar for dear life. There was something odd about her though...something I couldn’t put my finger on.

  I asked Maddie about her later and she told me that Athyna had always loved Therron. Athyna’s father had been Rowan’s best friend but had tried to ruin Rayn because he wanted Rayn and Athyna to be mated. When Rayn showed no interest, Voldruk Monteveldo committed treason and ultimately took his own life. Athyna was so angry with him because she never had eyes for Rayn, only for Therron. Everyone always assumed they would be united one day.

  My heart went out to this Athyna. How sad to lose her only true love.

  Later that night, Rykerian and I were talking in bed and I told him how sad I was for her.

  “Yes, Therron was always a blind fool where Athyna was concerned and we told him so. I think they had worked things out when this idiotic war broke out and pulled Therron away. The Xanthians have caused us way too many problems.”

  “Rykerian, what are you thinking?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t be hedgy with me. I can see your wheels spinning. I don’t want you to go back there. You could have died and I would be the one mourning you now. I can’t even go there.”

  “The Xanthians must be stopped January. We must figure out a way to do that.”

  “Fine! Get someone else to go. Let Jurek and his men go. They can go in their energy forms. They can’t die then!”

  “January, you don’t understand.”

  “No, Rykerian! You don’t understand! This is exactly what I meant when I told you I was scared. Do you remember that conversation we had when I came back from Jurek’s space station? I told you I was afraid of losing you! This is what I meant! I couldn’t survive losing you! I mean it Rykerian. If anything like that would ever happen to you I wouldn’t be able to...I couldn’t...” I had worked myself into tears, and I was shaking and my voice had become overwrought with grief.

  “Okay...sshh. It is okay. I will not go to Xanthus love. I will not leave you. Okay?” His hands were gripping my shoulders, his eyes boring into mine.

  “Do you promise? Swear to me!” I sniffed. I took his face into my hands and my eyes implored him to promise me. “Swear to me Rykerian because I couldn’t live without you in my life!” Suddenly the events of the day crashed into me and I was an uncontrollable sobbing mess.

  “I swear to you my love. I will not go to Xanthus.”

  I buried myself in him, trying to stem my flow of tears and regain control of my emotions. The thought of going to a memorial service for Rykerian simply threw me into a fit of hysterics and I just sobbed like an idiot.

  I finally seemed to get it out of my system. “I’m sorry I went all emo and geeked out on you,” I said, taking in a big gulp of air.

  He tangled his fingers in my hair and looked me in the eye, “Do not ever be sorry for telling me how you feel. Do you understand me? I do not ever want you to hold that back from me.”

  “Okay,” I nodded.

  The next day the family made the procession to the town central where the final service was to be held. Thousands of people lined the streets. Flowers had been placed everywhere with notes and tributes.

  We were all attired in black. The men wore black robes with black ropes at their wastes and the women wore black gowns with similar ropes on our wastes. They were very simple with no adornments. We wore no jewelry and our hair hung straight down our backs.

  The ceremony was formal with the Council of Elders presiding. The Guardians of Vesturon were present, dressed in their formal uniforms, and they did a formal greeting to the family and then a formal send off to Therron. Finally, three council members eulogized Therron. The first one talked about his years at the Academy. The second one talked about his years in servitude as a Guardian. And the third one talked about Therron as the outstanding male he had grown to be. It was a very moving, uplifting and emotional ceremony.

  Afterward, the family processed back to the palace, where we greeted various Heads of State and Council members. I was ready to collapse by the time I saw Jurek and his men enter the palace. As they neared us, I felt Rykerian tense a bit, but much less than he normally did. The Praestani were dressed much more formally than usual. Gone were the leather pants, vests and criss- crossing straps across their chests. Their hair was neatly trimmed and they had no signs of facial hair what so ever. I saw the corners of Jurek’s mouth turn up so he knew where my thoughts were. I bit my lip to keep from grinning and Rykerian looked at us with a raised brow. I just shook my head, not trusting myself to open my mouth.

  Jurek bowed to Rowan and Annalise first, and then to all of us. His men followed suit. In his deep voice he offered condolences from himself and his men and spoke about Therron’s courage and bravery.

  I was impressed by the seriousness of his tone. Gone was his sarcasm and hardened nature. In its place was a proper gentleman. Even Tak stood at attention, bowing to my in-laws in deference.

  “They are most impressive when they want to be,” Rykerian observed.

  “I know, right?” I agreed.

  Finally, Athyna Monteveldo walked in. Her grief was palpable and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I saw her. I felt this inexplicable attachment to this bereaving young lady...why, I had no idea. Then the strangest thing happened. She headed straight for me and threw herself into my arms, sobbing.

  I held her tightly against me as I didn’t know what else to do. Rykerian looked as though he would lift her away from me, but I shook my head indicating otherwise. Athyna needed this for her own reason and I would do whatever I could to help her.

  Eventually, she lifted her head and said, “I find that I need to be near you and I must beg you for your forgiveness for overstepping my bounds.”

  “Please don’t say that! You are a part of this family Athyna and I know how much you loved Therron. There is no need to apologize. And besides, I find this strange attachment to you as well.”

  I caught Rykerian staring at us both, looking back and forth.

  “What?”

  “It is nothing. Athyna, please, will you join us upstairs?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Athyna and I walked arm in arm up the huge staircase to the family quarters, where refreshments awaited us. I couldn’t wait to get off of my feet for I was exhausted. We plopped down onto one of the sofas and Rykerian brought us some drinks. He kept staring at us strangely. Athyna and I made some small talk, mainly trying to fill the awkwardness that had fallen between us. Jurek and his men came in and he pulled me to my feet and gave me a huge hug. Then he did his awesome energy thingy by placing his hand on my forehead and I immediately felt his warmth flowing through me, followed by a surge of energy.

  “Where were you an hour ago? I thought I was gonna collapse down there!”

  “Sorry your highness,” he smirked.

  I just stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed. I don’t know why I insisted on repeating that childish gesture with him, but I guess it was because he always thought it was funny, and admittedly, I liked making him laugh.

  “Oh, Jurek, this is Athyna Monteveldo. Athyna, this is Jurek Herdekian.”

  They exchanged greetings but Jurek kept looking at us strangely, like Rykerian had.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “No. What are you looking at?”

  “You and Athyna. You look alike is all. Your eyes are exactly the same
color.”

  My eyes swung to hers and hers to mine. We both stared at each other and our mouths formed huge O’s. She was about my height but a bit larger framed. Her hair was blond, but more golden than silvery, but her eyes were definitely a very pale ice blue, exactly like mine.

  By now, everyone in the room had joined in the “Let’s all stare at January and Athyna contest.” The silence was deafening.

  “Rykerian,” I said in a monotone, not taking my eyes off of Athyna. He was holding my hand in the next second.

  “You told me Athyna had no siblings, correct?”

  “That is correct.”

  “What does it feel like when one of your siblings enters the room?”

  “It feels like your heart is attached to theirs by a string of sorts. It is different than how it feels for you and me. For us it is a current that blankets us. For siblings it is more of an attachment.”

  “Yes. Do you feel their pain?”

  “Yes. Not as much as I would yours, but yes.”

  I turned to Athyna and said, “You are my sister.”

  Chapter 3

  The room erupted in bursts of chatter, coming from every corner.

  “How?” “When?” “Where?” And so it went.

  I turned to Athyna, saying, “Did your father ever spend much time on Earth?”

  Before she could respond, Rykerian shouted, “Father!”

  Rowan immediately joined us, along with Annalise, Maddie and Rayn. We were all standing in a circle. Behind us stood Xarrid, Tesslar and Jurek.

  “January, Athyna’s father did indeed spend time on Earth. In fact, when Athyna was a young girl, Voldruk went rogue for a time and roamed the Smoky Mountains. It was difficult period for us as well as Athyna and her mother.”

  “Yes, I remember my mother crying all the time,” Athyna said. “I don’t really remember much else because I was at the Academy then.”

  “I went after him several times trying to talk sense into him. Voldruk and I were friends since childhood. He was always the one who bucked convention. We remained friends for life, until...”

  “Yes, well, as we all are aware, he wasn’t the most upstanding of males,” Athyna finished.

  “In any event, he did spend time in North Carolina January.”

  “Then that must’ve been when he raped my mother.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t have been so blunt about it, but I had come to terms with it a while ago and didn’t think about it before I said it.

  Athyna’s face lost every bit of remaining color, which hadn’t been much to begin with. Then she crumpled to the floor.

  I smacked myself on the head and said out loud, “Excellent work January. Just what the poor girl needed. First, she loses the love of her life. Then she finds out she has a sister and now I tell her that her dad’s a rapist. Sweet God in heaven I’m such a friggin’ idiot!”

  I was on my knees trying to wake her up but Rykerian picked me up instead and carried me upstairs.

  “Wait, where are you taking me? Rykerian, put me down! Stop!”

  Of course, he completely ignored me and didn’t stop until he dumped me on the bed. He joined me there and sat back on his heels, rubbing his neck.

  “Heavens, what a day!” he sighed.

  It was the first time I had a chance to really look at him all day. Gawd, he was impossibly gorgeous. Would I ever get used to this boy—I had to quit saying that? He was no boy. This was a man...or a male as the Vesturions said. And he was pure male through and through. And no, I doubted very seriously I would ever get used to looking at him.

  Before I could stop myself, I sat up and faced him, and stretching out my hand I laced my fingers though his oh-so-pretty hair.

  “Have I ever told you how amazing you are?”

  His eyebrows lifted, most likely at my shift in thought, but I didn’t stop.

  “I know I’m drastically shifting gears on you, but I need to say this here and now. Your hair is the most extraordinary color I have ever seen. It baffles me when I try to describe it. I’ve laid awake at night trying to come up with the perfect name for it, but no can do. It looks like every single strand was individually hand painted. And then there are your eyes.” I moved my hand from his hair to his face, cupping his cheek with my palm and tracing his eyebrow with my thumb. “They are the color of the most magnificent cobalt sapphires that have ever existed. But the fact that they send currents of heat through my body when you look at me is what thrills me the most. And those lips of yours—sweet heavens Rykerian, I so love your lips. Soft, yet demanding and oh so knowing. Mmmm...and yummy.” I leaned into him and kissed him and traced the outline of his lips with my tongue. “Yeah...just as I remembered. Totally yummy lips.” The corners of his lips curved upward, but I didn’t stop...I couldn’t stop. This male was pure perfection.

  My fingers danced down his neck across the spot where his pulse beat. I could see it picking up its pace as I bent my head to run my tongue around and around it. I heard him suck in his breath and I smiled. There was only one thing I wanted now, but our robes were in the way so I tugged viciously on his.

  I felt his laughter deep in his throat and he put his hand on mine saying, “Are you trying to destroy these?”

  “Maybe.”

  “May I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “Does it bother you knowing that Athyna is your half sister?”

  I froze briefly and thought for a moment. “Not at all. Your family obviously loves her. Therron loved her. You’ve known her your whole life and I imagine you love her. Her father...my father..and your father were close at one point, so no. It’s actually kind of cool that I even have a sister. Well, two sisters. But a Vesturion sister.”

  “You couldn’t have a better one,” he said, pulling me to him, crushing his lips to mine. He somehow managed to remove our robes and finish what I had begun earlier.

  Later, as we lay entwined together, I breathed, “I meant what I said earlier Rykerian. You really are the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. And I didn’t get close to finishing describing you.”

  “I appreciate the compliment, love. But...”

  I cut him off by placing my fingers over his lips. “My turn. You’ve complimented me over and over but now I want to tell you some things. Sometimes, like right now, I am so filled with love for you, I can’t express the right words. I know it sounds so lame but...”

  He took his fingers and placed them over my lips. Suddenly I felt his mental blocks fade away and our minds merged. All of our emotions flowed between us—love, happiness, sorrow, pain, joy, etc. It was the most mind-blowing and extraordinary thing I’ve ever experienced.

  I hadn’t even realized I was crying until he took the sheet and wiped the moisture from my face.

  “Why didn’t you tell me we could do that?”

  “I thought it best for us to take things one step at a time. You know, sensory overload and all.”

  My breathing was still uneven and my trembling hadn’t subsided, when I said, “So we don’t ever need to speak, do we?”

  “Um, not really, but then I would be cheating myself from hearing your lovely voice,” he finished as he grabbed my chin and placed his lips on mine. It didn’t take long before the flames of passion consumed us and we were lost in each other again.

  Chapter 4

  Something kept tickling my nose and every time I swatted it, it came back with a vengeance. I was getting totally annoyed now. Then the darn thing moved to my ear. It was tickling it, nibbling on it and then blowing in it. Wait a minute!

  I opened my eyes and Rykerian’s face came into view. “I did not think you would ever open your eyes sleepy head. I was wondering whether you wanted to go and chat with your sister.”

  “What?” I rolled over and then, “Oh my gawd! My sister!” I jumped out of bed and tripped on the rug, stumbled into the chair and crashed on the floor.

  “January! Are you okay?”

  “Owww! My toe! I s
tubbed my darn toe!”

  Rykerian, of course, was there in a millisecond. He gently inspected my wounded toe and declared I would live.

  “Well, duh! I knew that! The darn thing just hurts!”

  “Would you like for me to kiss it for you?” he chuckled.

  “No, but I have something else I’d like for you to kiss,” I suggested.

  Before I knew it, we were rolling on the floor, doing those wickedly naughty things to each other. I guess we were both making so much noise, that at first we didn’t even hear the pounding. When it sounded like the door was going to be torn off its hinges and split in two, Rykerian yelled, “Do not even think about entering this room or you will regret it.”

  “If the two of you could pull yourselves away from each other for several minutes, there are guests here that would like to speak to you,” Xarrid’s voice came through the barrier.

  “We will be down shortly,” Rykerian answered curtly.

  We quickly dressed, washed our faces and brushed our teeth and headed down to the kitchen, where everyone had congregated for breakfast. As we made our way to the stairs Rykerian started chuckling.

  “What are you laughing at?”

  He reached over and began to pick carpet fuzz out of my hair.

  “Holy moly, I forgot to brush my hair!”

  He was biting his lips to keep from laughing.

  “It’s not funny!”

  “I have never seen you look more...er...sexy!” he said, flashing a wicked grin.

  “Whatever! I don’t want to look sexy right now! Give me a hand.”

  We both made a feeble attempt at restoring order to my uncooperative, straw-like, and now slightly matted and fuzz-covered hair.

  When we made it to the family kitchen, I knew we had failed miserably by the looks everyone cast our way.

  Then came the remarks. Of course, with Jurek in attendance, I should have expected as much. I guess we deserved it. After all, it was ten o’clock in the morning!