Night Angel (Angel Haven)

by Miller, Annette

  A light female voice, reminding Karen of wind through trees, answered, “They caught a glimpse of them further downstream. They couldn’t follow them any further because they went more inland.”

  He snorted. “I’m surprised they followed them as far as they did. What about the brownies? Have they seen anything?”

  “They found a small cabin up in the hills. They say work has been done on it.” Karen crept up behind a large tree and leaned around to watch them. Randall looked so serious and a small woman paced in front of him.

  He rubbed his chin. “It’s got to be where they’re moving the kids to. Ask the wood folk to keep watch on it.”

  The woman with Randall couldn’t have been more than three feet tall. Her skin was light tan, her spring green hair resembled leaves falling down her back, and her arms were thin. Karen couldn’t see the rest of her because she was dressed like the goth teenagers at the mall. She wore large pants that covered her feet and a tight black T-shirt with a pink skull emblazoned across the front. Black studded bands encircled both wrists, matching the choker around her neck.

  The change in Randall was amazing. His voice had lost that hard edge she’d heard when he spoke about Bradford or his men. His body was more relaxed and a heck of a lot more desirable. Karen wished he could be like this all the time, but knew until his mission was complete, there was no hope of that happening. She watched him a few more minutes then stepped out from her hiding place. “Randall?”

  The small woman’s head swung around. She gestured to the trees near Karen, speaking a word in a strange language. Vines snapped to life as leaves flung themselves at Karen’s face, their brittle stems stinging her skin. She dodged the first few vines, but more shot her way, ensnaring her wrists and ankles. She pulled against them, but the more she fought, the tighter they became.

  “Hey, cut it out!” she shouted.

  “It’s all right, Raesheen,” Randall said. “Cut her loose.”

  The woman glared at Karen. “Are you sure? She could be one of Troyington’s spies.”

  Randall smiled, placing his hand on her shoulder. “She isn’t. Trust me.” He headed for Karen.

  The woman scrutinized him, then shrugged. “Suit yourself.” At her command, the vines released Karen, letting her fall to the ground in an undignified heap.

  She rubbed her backside as Randall pulled her to her feet. “What just happened?”

  “My friend. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” He walked her back to where the woman waited. “Raesheen, this is Karen. Karen, this is Raesheen. She’s a dryad.”

  “That explains the plant attack,” Karen said with a smile. “It’s very nice to meet you.” She stuck out her hand.

  Raesheen eyed her warily, then grabbed Karen’s hand in a strong grip. “She’s the one we sensed?”

  He nodded. “Yes, and be nice. She’s believed in us all her life.”

  She narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Karen. “I can’t feel any evil in her, nor can I pick up any hidden agendas. I believe she’s here to help us.” The dryad stood back. “I approve.”

  Randall smiled at his friend. “Glad to hear it.”

  The dryad walked around her and studied her more intently. “The Oracle certainly knows what she’s talking about. The dragon spirit is the very essence of her strength.”

  “I know,” he agreed. “It pulls you in with its power. I didn’t think humans had that kind of ability in them.”

  “Would you two quit talking about me like I’m not even here?” Karen interrupted.

  “Sorry,” Randall said. “We may have more information on the children.”

  “That’s great,” Karen said, thinking how normal it felt to be standing in the middle of the woods with a dryad and a breathtakingly handsome man, talking about kidnapped werewolf children. “Where do you think they might be headed?”

  “A small cabin in the hills,” Randall said. “The wood folk say Troyington rents it to hunters.”

  Raesheen lifted her head, listening to the wind. “I have to go. I’m being called by the Court. I’ll be in touch.” She laid her hand on Randall’s arm. “Be careful, my friend.” Staring at Karen, she said, “Be well. Keep yourself safe.” Walking to a tree, she disappeared inside it.

  Karen stared after her for a moment. “She doesn’t look like any dryad I’ve seen in books. I didn’t think dryads were into the goth look. And was she wearing combat boots?”

  He nodded. Taking her arm, he led her back to the path. “She decided to modernize herself when her mother, the queen, retired and moved to Tahiti. The rest of her subjects followed her lead. Most fairies these days don’t dress in traditional clothes any more. Raesheen developed a taste for the goth style. A lot of the wood folk wear jeans and work clothes. Most of them carry cell phones, and you don’t know gaming addiction until you see a gnome with a video game.” Randall grinned at her. “We’re people, just like humans.”

  There went those wobbly knees again. She cleared her throat. “People that humans think don’t exist,” she said. “She’s queen of the fairies? How long have you known her?”

  He drifted closer to Karen as they walked. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. And she doesn’t rule everything, just our piece of it down south. Her mother was queen of the southern realm. Raesheen and I grew up together in Louisiana, and when I was called north, she came with me.”

  Karen’s brows drew down as she tried to make sense of what he’d said. “This doesn’t sound like any of the tales I read when I was little. According to the stories, fairies didn’t always get along.”

  He shrugged. “Fairy courts are usually very territorial, but everyone is up in arms about the werewolf children. We both have permission to be here from the clans that rule this part of the country.” He frowned. “There’d been several rescue attempts before I got here. Troyington thought at first they were just human, but Harmon found out from the animals who they really were. Troyington knew who I was the minute I arrived and knew I had powers of my own, so he kept me alive, but on a tight leash. I work around the estate, usually under Cray’s supervision. Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to slip away.”

  Karen’s arm brushed his and she jumped. His touch constantly sent shockwaves through her body. Now, with all she’d learned about Bradford and Randall, things were getting more complicated all the time. “How could Bradford kill creatures of magic?”

  He stared straight ahead. “We all have our weaknesses. Turns out, he found ours. Harmon compelled the animals to tell him. The people that work for him have abilities, like you. I figured it had to be someone with power to take on the northeast werewolf pack and get away with it.”

  She watched his eyes darken with checked anger and sadness over what had been done to his brethren. Power rolled off him in waves and her own answered strongly, making her shiver. Oh, Bradford, you’ve really opened a big can of worms.

  “Troyington made me sign a contract stating I wouldn’t harm him or his people.” He winked at her, and the disarming grin was back. “I snuck in my own clause when I signed. It says if it’s in the children’s best interest, I can do whatever I think necessary to whoever I want.”

  A headache began behind her eyes. She rubbed the back of her neck. I don’t think I can take in too much more information. “Why can’t you just do what you need to find the children?”

  He stopped, turning her to him. “When any magic creature signs a contract or makes a promise, they’re bound by it to uphold it to the best of their abilities. I have no choice. I’m bound by the contract I signed. That’s why I amended it before putting my signature on it. If they do anything to the kids, I can take matters into my own hands in the pack’s best interest.”

  Karen laid her hand on his arm, savoring the feel of his skin under her fingers. Again, her power flared at the contact, and she was ready to jump him right then and there. She saw light glow in his eyes briefly as he watched her. “Harmon said you upset his animals. How? I thought animals and the
fairy world got along.”

  “We do. I was talking to the horses to find out what they’d seen.” He shrugged. “He walked in when I was getting answers. He saw it as they were upset. I saw it as finally getting an intelligent answer.”

  “You talk to animals too? Why am I not surprised?” They continued walking back to the mansion, Karen shivering in the chill morning air. “Why aren’t you ever cold?” He still wore no jacket outside.

  He shrugged. “I’m not affected by the weather as much as humans.”

  Karen watched him glance at her, and she smiled just a little. “I’m still having a hard time believing you’re not human.” She ran her hand down his arm. He felt as warm as if he’d been in the summer sun for hours. “You feel human.” Really, really human. Her face grew hot as she stared at him.

  He cocked an eyebrow, the look on his face saying he suspected what was going through her mind. “I’m half human. My mother’s human. My father’s a guardian, like our mutual friend.”

  She searched his face. “He said you have feelings for me.” She stared into the depths of those magical eyes. “Do you?” She could almost feel what he kept protected in his heart. Knowing more about him, she could see the inhuman part of him, the wildness she had sensed, dance in those blue, blue eyes.

  He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “Yes,” he admitted. “I do.”

  She closed her eyes and held his hand to her face. She stepped closer to him. “We can be together, right? I mean, your parents are together.”

  “Yes. She gave up everything to be with him. She understood how important the guardians are to the fairy world.” He leaned down and whispered, “Could you give up everything for me?”

  “Right now, yes, I could.” Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.

  He leaned a little closer, dropping his hand to the side of her neck, then to her collar bone. “But it wouldn’t be for just now. It would be forever.” His finger traced a line down to the top button of her shirt.

  Karen ran her hands along his chest and up to his face. The warmth of his skin flowed into her hands, filling her whole body. He leaned closer as she caressed his face.

  “Dupré!”

  Cray’s shout shattered the stillness, ruining the moment. Randall stepped back, smiling as Karen’s cheeks burned. “We’d better get back. We don’t want Troyington’s men to find us out here.”

  “No.” Disappointment swept through her. But didn’t this kind of stuff always happen in fairy tales? The path to true love was always filled with obstacles. Yes, she thought. But why does my path have major construction signs?

  “Go back the way you came.” He nodded off to his right. “There’s a shortcut down that way I can take to come out at another area on the estate.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “Promise me you’ll be careful.” She gazed at his face, searching for the magic they’d shared moments before. She held him tighter when he smiled, turning her legs to jelly. If he doesn’t quit that, I’ll be helping him from a jar.

  He gazed in her eyes. “Everything will be fine. Trust me.”

  “Dupré!” The shout was much closer this time.

  Randall ran down the path and in moments had disappeared. Karen resumed her leisurely stroll, drifting out of the woods not ten feet from Cray. “Good morning, Mr. Cray. Was that you shouting just now?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m looking for Dupré. Have you seen him?” Cray glanced over her shoulder, searching for Randall.

  “No. I was taking a walk. Mr. Troyington said I should stay on the path. I’m waiting for Edna.” She smiled what she hoped was an innocent smile. “If I see him, should I tell him you’re looking for him?”

  “If you wouldn’t mind.” Cray stomped off toward the mansion.

  Karen sagged against a tree, breathing a sigh a relief. A squirrel sat near her feet, staring at her. Again, a blackbird’s mocking call echoed around her. Making her way back to the house, she had a strange feeling that the animals were spying on her. A dull ache started in her temple, and she rubbed her head.

  ****

  “Edna, good morning,” Karen called. I’ll bet your morning wasn’t nearly as exciting as mine. Her face grew warm, still feeling Randall’s light touch. If she put his impish grin with it, she may as well confess every feeling he crammed into her body.

  Edna slammed the door shut she’d just come out of. “Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, thank you.” She nodded at the door behind the older woman. “What’s that room?”

  Edna looked over her shoulder at the door she’d just locked. “This is Bradford’s private study. He does all his important work in there. I help him sometimes.”

  Did Edna seem a little nervous? Karen mentally shrugged. It was probably her own close call with the handyman outside coloring her perceptions. “Oh. Do you think he’d show it to me sometime?”

  “I’m not sure,” Edna said slowly. “He’s particular about who goes in there. I think I’m lucky I get to go in.” She smiled at Karen, taking her arm and leading her away. “Oh, let him have his secrets. What shall we do today?”

  Karen had her own plan in place. “I was hoping you could show me around. I’m sure I haven’t seen half of this place yet, and I didn’t want to wander around by myself, just in case there were places, like this room, I wasn’t supposed to go in.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea.” Edna winked at her. “Then you’ll see I know what I’m talking about when I tell you Bradford is right for you.” They stood in the hall while Edna thought. “Let’s start on this floor. We’ve already been through the basement pretty thoroughly.”

  She took Karen into the library. Karen inhaled the scent of the leather-bound tomes lining the tall shelves. French doors opened into the garden and the curtains were drawn back to let the morning sun light up the room. “Do you think it would be all right if I borrowed a book while I’m here? I forgot to bring my own with me.”

  “I don’t think Bradford would have a problem with it. I think there’s very little he’d deny you.” Edna peered closely at her. “You’ve been staying away from that Dupré fellow, haven’t you?”

  “Of course.” Did her feelings for him show on her face? “I realized everyone here knows him much better than I do.” But that’s slowly changing, she thought.

  Bradford’s regular study was sparsely furnished compared to what she’d seen of the rest of the house so far. Just a desk and a few filing cabinets with a small stereo on a table by the wall. Next door was the billiard room, which led to the ballroom. The air felt stale and unused. “Does he use these rooms much?”

  “Not really.” Edna gestured around the room. “He added them because he found out his neighbors had them. He didn’t want them thinking he couldn’t keep up.”

  That fit with what Karen was finding out about the millionaire so far. He wanted things others had and planned to get them. The fact that he took werewolf children in order to claim their abilities spoke volumes about his character. Adding on a couple of rooms to keep up with his neighbors was nothing to him. How much time did Randall and the children have left before Troyington got impatient with not being able to do the things they could? The dull throb in her temple intensified.

  Karen went on with the tour, trying to ignore the incessant pounding in her head. This might be the only chance she’d have to look around without Bradford being there. All her body wanted was to lie down. Preferably with Randall. She gave a mental sigh, wishing her mind would quit sneaking in those totally distracting comments.

  The kitchen turned out to be much smaller than she expected. “I would’ve thought the kitchen would be huge with an army of cooks.”

  Edna chuckled. “No, he’s only got one cook. He had the kitchen redesigned to her specifications. She told him she didn’t need something the size of a barn to fix meals in. This suits her just fine. And it’s just her, no one else. She’s very possessive of the kitchen.” Edna opened a door in
the far corner. “Let’s go upstairs and I’ll show you the other bedrooms.”

  She led Karen up the back stairs, and they came out at the end of the hallway. Most of the bedrooms near these stairs were closed off, curtains pulled tight and covers draped the furniture, making odd shapes in the near dark. The air felt stale and dust tickled her nose. She sneezed. “Are these rooms ever used?”

  Edna pulled a small pack of tissues out of her pants pocket and handed them to her. “Very rarely. They won’t be opened now until next summer. He always entertains in the summer.”

  They went a little further down the hall, and Edna opened the door closest to the main staircase. Karen knew instantly it was Bradford’s room. It reflected the man himself, soft, yet masculine. The ivory and tan colors were light and restful, the furniture definitely for a man, but not the heavy dark things one would expect. His closet was its own room, leading to a huge private bathroom.

  “All this luxury could really ruin a person,” Karen said, craning her neck to see everything at once.

  Edna laughed. “I’ll show you my room. It’s not nearly as grand as this, but it suits me.” She led Karen to the door directly across from Karen’s room and flung it open. “Here it is.”

  The room was pastel blue. Little pink flowers brightened the wallpaper, the comforter, and the matching curtains. “I have this room every time I come here.”

  “It’s very sweet,” Karen said. “Just like you.”

  Edna lightly slapped her wrist. “Stop. You’ll have an old lady blushing in a minute.”

  Karen walked around the room, admiring the white antique furniture and the view from the windows. She could see the wood shed where she and Randall always seemed to meet up. Had Edna seen them together? If so, had she told Bradford?

  As she turned, a sparkle of sunlight on the floor caught her eye. She stepped closer, cutting the glare and saw a medical syringe.

  Why would a syringe be in Edna’s room? Did she need insulin or some other medication? Was she a drug addict? Karen wasn’t sure if she wanted to consider the other options. What if Edna was somehow involved with the missing werewolves? Karen’s face froze into the smile she’d pasted on. The headache lanced through her temple as she tried to keep Edna from suspecting how she felt.