Night Angel (Angel Haven)
Page 20
Randall looked at her for a moment. “You do realize he brought this on himself.”
She nodded. “I know.” She held him tight, sighing when he kissed the top of her head.
“Angel!” a small voice cried.
Karen turned just as Ari ran into her. She knelt and pulled the girl to her. “Hello, Ari. I bet you’re glad to be home.”
“You weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?”
Karen ruffled her hair. “Of course not. I just didn’t know where to find you.”
“She was with me and our dad,” James said. “We told him about your martial arts school, and he says he’ll consider sending some of us.”
“That’s great, James. You can get in touch with me at the school. I’ll leave the name and phone number with Liam.”
James smiled and nodded. “I’ll let my dad know.” He grabbed Karen in a tight hug. “I hope I see you soon.”
“Me, too, James,” she whispered. “Me, too.”
****
Randall reverted to human by the time they reached the car. He grabbed his clothes off the backseat and was quiet as they returned to the mansion. Karen kept stealing glances at him. She smiled.
Randall caught her looking and grinned. “You’re a special lady, Karen.”
She turned to look out the window, watching the scenery blur by. “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls.”
He took her hand and squeezed it. “There’s only ever been you.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, running her thumb over the back of his hand.
“In all my long life, I’ve never been surer of anything else.”
Karen hesitated, then cleared her throat. “How long have you been around?”
He stared at the road. “I don’t really have to answer that, do I?”
“Yes,” she said, pretending to look worried. “You do.”
“I’m one hundred and twenty-four.”
She punched him lightly on the arm. “You’re kidding, right?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I told you my race was long lived.”
“So, now that I carry part of you with me, will I live that long?” She did some mental figuring.
“You should. My mother’s human, and she’s still alive.” He slowed down, turning down the narrow drive to Troyington’s driveway. She was silent as he pulled up in front of the house. He shut the car off, and they sat there. “This is something else I should’ve mentioned, right?”
She turned, grinning at him. “I’d say that would be a yes.” She got out, gazing at him across the roof of the car. “Cradle robber.”
He slowly stalked toward her, then pulled her into his arms. “Says you.”
“Yeah,” she murmured. “Says me.”
He held her tightly for another minute, then stared at the mansion looming in front of them. “I’m going to see if Jeffries is still here.”
Karen nodded and watched as he approached the front door and disappeared inside. She listened to him call for the butler, then nothing. Glancing over her shoulder, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as a chill worked its way down her spine. She rubbed her arms, wishing Randall would hurry.
“The butler’s gone,” Marshall said, appearing from nowhere behind her.
Karen jumped, her heart pounding in her chest. “You scared the life out of me. Where did you come from?” She blew out a breath. “Where’s Jeffries?”
Marshall cleared his throat and looked around. “You don’t really want me to answer that, do you?”
Karen thought. “No. I don’t.” She hesitated. “What’s going to happen to this place? Who’s going to let Bradford’s father know?”
Marshall shook his head. “That’s for the humans to do. Our part in this is over.” He stopped and stared in her eyes. “Take good care of Randall for me.”
“I will,” Karen said. “I didn’t think I’d ever find someone like him. I promise not to let anything happen to him.”
Marshall smiled and nodded.
Randall came out of the house. “What’re you doing here?”
“I’m on my way back to Louisiana. Just wanted to say goodbye.” He grabbed Randall in a tight hug. “I’m glad you’re all right, little brother. I’ll see you back home.”
“I should be back in a week or so.” Randall thumped Marshall once on the back. “Give Mother my love. Tell the High Mother everything went as smoothly as we hoped.”
Marshall nodded, squeezing Randall’s arm. “See you soon. Nice to have you in the family, Karen.”
“Thank you, Marshall,” she said, surprised at the tender hug he gave her. “I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family.”
Marshall waved as he headed toward the trees. The rumble of a motorcycle filled the air, and dust floated to them as Randall’s brother left the estate for good.
“He’s quite the heartbreaker, isn’t he?” Karen asked.
Randall rolled his eyes. “The family just wishes he’d find his own soul mate. There are too many broken hearts in our little town.”
****
Karen set the little alarm clock to wake her before the sun rose. She shivered as she yanked her clothes on and stuffed her nightshirt in her suitcase. She didn’t bother turning up the heat in Troyington’s mansion since it was just her, and she only had the one room. Randall would be waiting for her in the clearing at sunrise.
She carried her bags downstairs, setting them on the porch. She turned and stared at the mansion in the early light, glad to be quit of the place. The large house was eerie with just her there. She rubbed her arms, longing to get back to Angel Haven. She hurried to the back of the house, trotting to the woods to meet Randall.
She arrived just as he landed. He removed the pants he wore as the guardian and changed to his human half. He looked as glorious as he had the first morning she saw him here. The sun rose as he lifted his arms, reveling in the light that bathed him. This time, she knew how those muscles felt, how warm and smooth his skin was, the power in him. His power called out to her and she felt her own respond.
She heard the fairy music and she closed her eyes, swaying slightly in time to the ancient melodies dancing across her soul. From the look on Randall’s face, she knew he was listening to the same music. She leaned her head against the tree, smiling as the music grew louder and clearer.
Randall finally turned to her, holding out his hand. She ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck, returning his passionate kisses with her own. He said nothing as he undressed her, lowering her to the ground to make love to her in the light of the new day before taking her home to Angel Haven.
****
That night, Karen took Randall to the garden her father tended to let him shift in private. His wings folded around her, and she leaned against him as they gazed at the stars.
“So, you’ve gotten to meet my friends. What do you think of them?”
Randall grinned. “They’re an interesting bunch. They accepted me even after you told them what I am. I’ve never had that kind of acceptance before.”
Karen nodded. “I told you not to worry. We’re too varied to cast stones at others.”
“You’re an amazing woman, Karen.” He pulled her tighter against him. “Are you sure you’ll be happy with me?”
Karen turned in his arms. “Didn’t you hear me tell everyone to start planning another wedding?” She poked his long, purple nose. “I told you before, no more doubts.”
He rested his cheek on the top of her head and they stood in the chill night air, just enjoying holding each other.
“When do you have to return to your clan?” she finally murmured, stroking his cheek.
He closed his eyes. “I have to go back soon. I’d like to take you to meet them.” He paused. “Caledon is requesting I join the northeast clan. Leaving your birth clan has only happened a few times over the centuries.”
She could hear the uncertainty in his voice. She traced the scar on his chest.
“Never mind anyone else. What do you want to do?”
“I’d like to stay. My clan doesn’t really need me.” He looked down at her. “They’ve got Marshall and all the others. The northeast clan had their number reduced by Troyington and his men. I’m needed here.”
“Glad to hear it,” she said. “Caledon sent word he wants me to teach the children martial arts.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Go inside. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can get used to you having to work at night. Shouldn’t nighttime be ours?”
He smiled. “We’ll adjust.”
Karen watched him fly away and went inside. He’d be back when the day dawned. Closing the door to her room, she pulled on her nightshirt, then opened her balcony doors a crack so he could come in.
****
The floorboards creaked softly, but it was enough to pull Karen from sleep. Randall stood there, the light from the rising sun bathing him in a halo of gold.
He knelt beside the chair she had curled up in, smoothing her hair from her face. “It’s dawn, sweetheart,” he murmured.
She snuggled close to him as he picked her up and sighed with contentment. “Then I guess it’s time to go to bed.”
A word from the author...
I graduated from Mercy High in Baltimore, MD in 1981 and got married to an Air Force man in 1982. We have two amazing boys who have grown into amazing young men. We spent sixteen years in southern New Jersey, four of them at McGuire AFB. We currently live in Memphis, TN, where science fiction, wrestling, and hockey take up what time the cat doesn't.
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