Keeper of the Stars: Part Three

by Aliyah Burke

  Table of Contents

  Legal Page

  Title Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  New Excerpt

  About the Author

  Publisher Page

  A Totally Bound Publication

  Keeper of the Stars: Part Three

  ISBN # 978-1-78430-009-8

  ©Copyright Aliyah Burke 2014

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright April 2014

  Edited by Rebecca Douglas

  Totally Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Simmering and a Sexometer of 1.

  KEEPER OF THE STARS: PART THREE

  Aliyah Burke

  Part three in the Keeper of the Stars serial

  Heaven can be found among the stars.

  Settling into her new life in Oregon, Lana faces more potential dangers while a newcomer to the vineyard sends her life in a new direction. Her bond with Lian is increasing as are her feelings for him, but will it be enough or will someone from her past shove a wedge between them?

  Dedication

  Thanks to Totally Bound for giving me the opportunity to try a serial. It’s been a blast. Thanks to my readers who are always ready to come out and show their support for my work. My heartfelt thanks to y’all!

  To my husband who is my rock, always there no matter what comes.

  And as always, to the men and women who protect the country, your selfless sacrifices for myself and those you’ll never meet is something I will never forget. God Bless each and every one of you.

  Chapter Seven

  Lian crossed his arms, staring at the woven basket resting upon his oak table and frowning at the contents. “There was nothing accompanying this”—he waved a hand—“delivery? At all?” I really don’t need to be dealing with this right now. What is the purpose of this being dropped in my lap?

  “No, sir, Mr Yang. Two of the vineyard workers found it out by the south end.”

  He scowled further and bent in closer. A baby. Who would leave a baby in a field? Had whoever abandoned him seen the workers? The infant chose that moment to open his eyes. His face scrunched up and he emitted an ear-piercing wail, one someone his size shouldn’t be able to make. Babies always surprised him with what they could do, though, and what they could survive. Yes, they were fragile—however they were also incredibly resilient. So while he knew he shouldn’t be taken aback, there would never fail to be a small part of him that found these little beings to be so completely full of amazement.

  “What’s his problem?” His ears rang. “Is he hurt?”

  “I believe he wants to be held, Mr Yang.” The statement was delivered deadpan.

  “Don’t suppose that’s something you’d care to do, is it, Maxwell?”

  “No, sir.”

  Lian sent him a knowing grin. He’d not truly expected the man to do so. Exhaling sharply, he wiped his hands off on his pants prior to carefully lifting the baby free. His fingers found out the truth in seconds. He’s wet. “We need some cloths for a diaper, Maxwell. As quick as possible.”

  “Right away, sir.”

  It had been years since he’d been around a baby, longer since he’d cared for one. The child kept up a steady stream of cries, his pale face becoming a mottled red.

  “Easy, little man. We’ll have you fixed up in no time.” He reached into the basket and frowned. Also wet.

  “Here we go, sir.” Maxwell came back with a tray of items.

  “Thank you. Spread a towel out and—” He shook his head. “Nope, change of plans. Come with me and bring all that along.”

  In the bathroom, he pulled out the trash can where he tossed all the—albeit few—ruined, soiled pieces of clothing the baby wore. Once done, he knelt before the tub and adjusted the water before spraying him off.

  The crying stopped and happy, gurgling noises came from him. With care, Lian bathed him then wrapped him in the large towel Maxwell handed him. The boy’s laughter turned to soft coos as he blew bubbles and stared at him with light blue eyes.

  Who let you go, baby boy? Laying him on the bathroom counter, Lian then quickly diapered him, grateful the knowledge hadn’t stayed gone given the number of years it had been, and secured the pins on the side. Changing the towel for a warm, dry one, he then covered the infant up and placed him in the crook of his arm.

  “I’ll take care of this, sir.”

  “Thank you, Maxwell. I will see what I can find him to eat.”

  “Would you like me to get some formula and bottles, sir?”

  “Good idea, Maxwell. Can’t really fix him a sandwich to munch on.”

  “I will go immediately after I finish here.”

  “Thank you.” Lian left the bathroom, eyes on the baby. “What am I going to do with you, little one?” His plans surely didn’t include a child.

  With a small yawn, the baby smacked his lips and tiny babbling noises escaped along with some bubbles. Lian nuzzled him as he went to his office and sat behind his desk.

  He stared at his phone before reaching for a phonebook and thumbing through the pages until he found the number he was looking for. Then he drummed his fingers along the desk blotter and weighed his options.

  The appearance of Maxwell startled him—two hours had passed. Glancing down at the bundle resting in his arm, he was glad to discover the baby still slept.

  “Sorry it took me so long, sir.”

  Lian rose, careful not to disturb the baby, and walked with Maxwell who led the way to the kitchen. There were bottles sterilizing on the stovetop and a few canisters of formula sat on the light brown countertop.

  A smile tipped his lips when he saw a couple of outfits stacked there as well. His man never disappointed him, and he was thrilled with what he’d picked up for the baby. All stuff that he didn’t mind sending with the baby when they came to take him into their care. Maxwell met his gaze and offered a grin. After readjusting the hold he had, Lian used the stainless steel tongs to withdraw a bottle, nipple and cap. Maxwell rinsed and dried them while Lian opened a can of formula.

  After reading the instructions, he made up a bottle then Lian went to a hard-backed chair and sat as he offered the infant the food. “Take that stuff up to the room beside mine, please, Maxwell.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Alone in the kitchen with the baby, Lian thought about his decision to not call social services. I could call the cops and they could place him somewhere. On the other hand, he could stay here for the night and I could call them tomorrow. That way he’d get a good night’s
rest and maybe, just maybe whoever dropped him off would come to the house. If he could be with his mother and father that would be best. Although any parent who would leave their son in a basket on some stranger’s property doesn’t deserve to have him anyway.

  He’d just begun to feel confident with his choice when a lance of fear shot through him. Lana! He nearly dropped the bottle and only his reflexes kept the baby in his arm as well. As fast as the fear had come it went. His heart pounded and he rose, determined to go find her. A whimper tore his attention from the door to the one he held—the small innocent one who reached out with tiny fingers to the bottle he hadn’t returned to him.

  “Lana,” he muttered.

  He strode to the doors leading from the kitchen outside and threw one open. He tested the air, seeing if he could make out any danger. His power flared out but he couldn’t get a bead on anything—and that included where Lana may be. Still, it bothered him how quiet the forest had got. When a forest went that deadly still, it meant a predator lurked about within it. And the type of predator he was worried about wouldn’t hesitate to recapture or kill Lana. In the next second, however, it seemed to return to normal, as birds began chirping and other typical ‘forest’ noises joined in. He gazed about, not buying it but unable to do anything while he held a baby.

  A flock of black birds rose to the east, creating a cacophonous sound as they did. A chill skated up his spine and he took three more steps outside. The tiny wail that reached him stopped him. He was torn—baby or Lana. He backed inside and hoped he wasn’t wrong about Lana being safe on his own property.

  * * * *

  The dusky black fell away and Lana swallowed hard as she stared at the woman standing before her. Tall and voluptuous she stood there, looking down her nose at Lana, scrutinizing what she saw. The red of her eyes segued into a blending swirl of earth brown and emerald green.

  Lana wanted to run but her legs wouldn’t move. She struggled to get moisture in her throat and mouth even as she altered her gaze—it was almost too much to stare directly at her.

  “Look at me, Lana Tennesol.”

  Bolstering as much confidence as she could manage to find, Lana lifted her head and met the waiting eyes. The woman was gorgeous—flawless sienna skin and black hair, which was threaded through with hues of auburn, brown, and silver. And flowers—the wealth of black silk that flowed around her held a vibrant array of flowers. Red, pink, blue, yellow, and purple. Varying shades but beautiful. Each petal gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the trees.

  Lana wasn’t sure how they stayed there, for there was no braid they’d been added to. They remained in place and didn’t slide down. It was stunning. However, despite the woman’s beauty, Lana’s unease didn’t fade.

  The amethyst and indigo blue dress draped around her brought to mind some of the Grecian clothing Lian had shown her in a book. Silver stands wove through the soft material, glinting when the sun hit them. Her belt had been created from a braided rope of white and purple flowers.

  It didn’t hurt to meet her gaze, as it had on the previous attempt.

  “I won’t tell you anything.

  “You have no reason to be frightened of me, child.” She tipped her head to the side. “Well, almost no reason.” Her voice was soft and almost soothing. Almost, because Lana’s fear increased. She’d been around those before with soothing voices. They’d only managed to engage her body with false promises and eventually more pain.

  She reached out a hand and Lana hesitated when she spied the tattoo on the outstretched palm. The design matched the pendant that rested against her skin, noticeable because of the deep cowl neckline on the dress. Both of the images this mystery woman wore matched the one on Lana’s skin. She should be more specific—it matched one of the marks contained within the design on her wrist, part of that intricate knot.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  Lana couldn’t get her heart to slow down. “No.” Did she want to? The jury was still out on that one.

  “You may call me Ala.”

  She didn’t know the name at all. “Ala.”

  “You are scared of me.” She—Ala—made it a statement.

  “Yes.” She could admit the truth.

  “Interesting,” she said softly. “I doubt there is need for that. You were chosen. By me.”

  Funny, those words didn’t make her feel any better. “You chose me? For what?”

  A smile curved up her lush lips. “Walk with me.” Ala moved by her and Lana pivoted to watch her. She swore everything gravitated towards the woman. Ala’s back was exposed by the style of dress she had on, and it showcased more markings that covered the expanse of skin shown.

  “Come, Lana.” She didn’t slow or glance back with her two word order and Lana hurried to catch up.

  No words were exchanged as they walked. Ala turned along the path and they eventually ended up in the place Lana had chosen as ‘her’ spot. Completely surrounded by the tall trees of the thick Pacific Northwest forest, it was a small open meadow. It was here that Lana had discovered the most solace. Here she’d allowed the tears—of both anger and sorrow—to fall. Here she wasn’t judged by the trees or flowers. She was just her, a young woman who’d been through a harrowing experience and needed to grieve.

  “This place speaks to you, does it not?”

  Lana shoved her hands in her pockets and rocked back on her heels. “Yes.” While she didn’t want to admit it, something inside her informed her Ala knew the truth.

  The woman placed her hands on a tree trunk, and as Lana stared, vines roped around the thick trunks before flowers bloomed. Large blossoms in light yet vibrant hues dotted each of the green ropes.

  “Do you know why I chose you?”

  Lana huffed and scratched, frustrated at the mark on her wrist. “Why? How could I know that when I don’t even know who you are or what you claim to have chosen me for?”

  Behind Ala’s eye colour—more green than brown, presently—spikes of red flashed and Lana took an instinctive step back.

  Ala stared down at her bare feet. “You are tied to Lian Yang.” She walked over to more trees and, to Lana’s ever increasing amazement, a double swing appeared, more flowered ropes descending from the greenery. Ala sat and swung gently, her dress blowing in the breeze.

  “Lian told me.”

  She canted her head to the side, nearly resting it on one of those floral strands. “Do you believe him?”

  “Sort of. I feel it’s the truth.” Lana sank to the ground and delved her fingers in the plush grass. “But my brain still rebels at the idea from time to time.”

  “You don’t trust him?”

  “I don’t trust either of you,” she snapped, not liking the fact this gorgeous woman—or whatever she was—spoke with such ease about Lian. Her Lian.

  She nodded with a knowing smile on her face. “Protective of him, I see. Good. You will need to hold on to that. Now back to me. Why don’t you know who I am?”

  Lana plucked some grass and wove it together in a simple braid. She mulled over her response before canting her head to the side and shrugging. “Why should I?”

  “Because I chose you.” Ala swung higher, legs crossed at the ankles.

  Which tells me nothing. Not who you are. Who you are supposed to be to me. Nor why I should know anything about being chosen. “So you’ve said. I still don’t have a clue who you are.”

  Ala stood before her and Lana blinked repeatedly as she scrambled backwards, the blades of grass falling to the ground. With a simple hand gesture made by the one standing, Lana found herself hanging, suspended in the air before Ala. The next second pain filled her extremities and she screamed.

  As if she were being torn apart from the inside out, Lana struggled to escape the pain to no avail. She was as immobile as if she were back in their lab, strapped to a table, naked, completely exposed and at their mercy.

  This is what I get for trusting even a little bit. Peering out of her periphery, Lana f
ocused through her tears on the flowers. Anything to allow her mind to travel to a different place. The pain stopped and her body was bathed in a warm, pulsing wave. Lana closed her eyes in defeat. Pain. Soothe. Pain. That was how it went most of the time and she had no will to fight anymore.

  She opened her eyes again when she was repositioned from vertical to horizontal only to find Ala stepping into her line of sight. The woman reached out and laid her hand on Lana’s shoulder.

  “I am truly sorry. I know now why you don’t know me. Memories will return. Knowledge will become available. Do not give up. Your immense strength is what will be needed.”

  Lana shut her eyes once more and when she opened them the next time, she discovered she lay on the ground. The swing and Ala were nowhere to be seen. She sat up slowly, unsure what to expect.

  Even so, everything appeared to be normal. She could see clouds floating by overhead. Birds chirped and she listened to the rustle of the leaves in the wind. Still shaky, she lay back and allowed herself to regroup as she took deep breaths. Each inhalation brought her the rich, scent of sweet grass.

  What just happened? What did she mean? And do I really want more memories to return? My past is full of nothing but pain and sorrow. I don’t want to relive it more and more.

  She needed to ask Lian if he would tell her more about this woman. Ala sure seemed to know him. More jealousy speared her fiercely and she hated it. What good would it do her to develop emotions for a man? Even Lian, who’d said what he had? But she wasn’t positive, no matter how right the words sounded when he spoke them.

  Lana sat up and stared at her wrist, focusing on the mark there. She was pleased that she shared it with Lian, but apparently she also shared it with Ala and she honestly wasn’t sure how that made her feel.

  She got to her feet and peered around again. No vines with large flowers, no swing, and no woman who had the ability to lift her into the air. Was she crazy? Had it been the day after she had escaped, she’d have debated her sanity with the drugs that had been in her system. But now, well aware no drugs had been shot into her, she wasn’t so willing to push things off as crazy.