Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  Emily nodded, “I have the Durango outside.”

  They walked out to the Durango as Kyle blocked reporters from getting close to Emily. She crawled into the driver’s seat and took off when Kyle was seated, then headed for Council City.

  “Are you ok?” Kyle asked after a few minutes.

  Emily smiled, “I’m fine, why?”

  “He loves you.”

  “He has a funny way of showing it.”

  Emily pulled up to the front doors of the palace and turned off the engine.

  “Not putting it in the garage?” Kyle asked, frowning.

  “I’m not staying that long. I just need to get Alexis, and I’m leaving,” she said, and opened the door.

  “Shall we pull it in for you, Lady Emily?” a guard asked.

  “No, leave it please,” Emily said, and went inside.

  Kyle followed her, “Where will you go?”

  Emily turned and faced him. Her eyes were filled with tears, “It’ll be easier if you don’t know.”

  Kyle took her hand, “Please, tell me.”

  Emily kissed him lightly, ignoring the gasps and hisses from the guards and servants, “I can’t.”

  She pulled away from Kyle and walked into the Council room as Derrick called after her.

  “Emily?” Quinn asked, looking up from some papers.

  The prisoner on trial watched her carefully, not sure what was going on.

  “Emily, can we help you? We’re in the middle of a trial,” Zohn asked.

  Emily ignored them and walked up to Chevalier and took Alexis. He smiled at Alexis and then looked at Emily, “Let’s talk, meet me upstairs in an hour, ok?”

  She didn’t say anything, but walked down toward the trial room door.

  “She’s leaving,” Kyle said, and stepped in front of the door.

  “Leaving? Where?” Maleth asked, looking up.

  “Please move, Kyle,” Emily asked, stepping up to the door.

  “Don’t go like this,” Kyle begged.

  “When will you be back?” Quinn asked.

  “Kyle, I’m begging you to just let me go,” she said softly. She looked into his eyes pleadingly.

  “Please don’t go, not now,” he said, watching her.

  “Look at me, Kyle. I’m not mad. I’m not leaving in anger. It’s just time to go away for a while,” Emily said, and touched his cheek softly.

  “Emily, I just spent 2 months in jail for you… I’m asking you nicely to stay, for me,” Kyle said. He knew it was hitting low, but he was desperate for her to stay.

  Emily sighed and thought before speaking, “Ok, but only 2 months. I’ll give you back what the jail took.”

  Kyle smiled, “That’s all I can ask for, thank you.”

  “I hate this place,” Emily said to Chevalier.

  “I know,” he answered softly.

  “You two,” Emily said, looking at Quinn and Zohn. “Stay away from me.”

  Emily headed for the trial doors.

  “Eat too, will you?” Kyle asked.

  “Don’t push it,” Emily said, and left the room. Kyle went and took his chair to finish out the current trial.

  Chapter 23 - Apart

  “I have to, I’m sorry,” Chevalier said from the chair.

  “Why can’t Zohn go?” Emily asked, confused.

  “When it’s a high ranking Coven Leader, it falls to the Elders.”

  “So send Quinn.”

  Chevalier smiled, “I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. Kyle’s here, he’ll watch the Council around you.”

  Emily sighed, “Great, 4 weeks to go.”

  Chevalier nodded, “I know, I’m counting.”

  Chevalier studied her as she looked into the empty fireplace. She was still losing weight, and the bones in her wrist and neck stood out against her pale skin. The puncture wounds she wouldn’t explain were gone, but the dark circles under her eyes were deeper.

  “Em, you would tell me if you were sick, right?” Chevalier asked.

  “I’m not sick.”

  “But if you were, would you tell me?”

  Emily shrugged, “Probably”

  “It’d make me feel better if the doctor came to look at you before I leave.”

  “No”

  “When’s the last time you ate?”

  “I had coffee for lunch,” Emily said.

  “I mean food.”

  “I’m just not hungry.”

  “Which is why I want the doctor to come up. It’s not healthy.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with me,” Emily said. Chevalier looked at her again, and she looked fragile enough to break if a small breeze came up.

  “If you aren’t feeling better when I get back, I’ll have him come up,” Chevalier told her.

  “Quinn is still planning something against me,” Emily said, and turned her head to Chevalier.

  Chevalier sighed, “I really don’t think he is.”

  “I saw him, Chev. He was talking to someone in the shadows about me.”

  “I asked him about that. He wasn’t even in the palace during that time,” Chevalier said.

  “Sure, believe him.” Emily turned back to the fireplace.

  Chevalier kissed her softly and frowned at how hot and dry her skin felt, “I’ll be back in a week. Please, tell Kyle if you start to feel sick.”

  Emily nodded and went back to staring at the darkened stones in the fireplace.

  Chevalier stepped out of her room where Kyle was waiting, “Did she agree to see the doctor?”

  “No, but I’m sure she’s lost even more weight, her skin is hot too. She has to be sick,” Chevalier said, glancing back at the door. “She still thinks Quinn is after her.”

  “I’ll watch her, if she gets any worse then I’ll control her and she’ll see the doctor,” Kyle sighed.

  Chevalier grimaced, “Not unless it’s an emergency though. I hate to take her free will away.”

  “I won’t, I promise,” Kyle said, and watched as the Elder walked down the stairs.

  Kyle went into the bedroom and sat down by Emily, “Want to go riding?”

  “No,” Emily said, watching the empty fireplace.

  “You’re making us all nervous, you know that?”

  “How’s that?”

  “You just sit in here all day. You don’t sleep, you don’t eat, you don’t want to do anything you used to do,” Kyle said bluntly.

  “I’m just tired is all.”

  “What can I get you for dinner?”

  “Coffee”

  “I mean food,” Kyle said, frowning.

  “I don’t feel like eating.”

  “Fine then, a nice calming tea at least, no more caffeine. It’s no wonder you aren’t sleeping.”

  Emily shrugged, “Sure.”

  Kyle poured her a cup of tea from the pot a servant brought up. She stirred in a tiny bit of sugar and sipped it slowly.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Emily asked.

  Kyle smiled, “Sure, ask away.”

  “Why are heku so big? I mean… I don’t think I’ve seen a short heku, other than maybe Lord Thukil.”

  Kyle laughed, “Em, you’ve been with us for 10 years and you don’t know?”

  “I guess I never thought to ask.”

  “It’s part of the process. Once the mortal become immortal, they tend to grow taller and more muscular. It happens all within a few hours,” Kyle explained.

  Emily frowned, “You’re joking.”

  “Nope”

  “So what happened to Lord Thukil?” She hoped she wasn’t being too nosey.

  “There are rare occasions where no growth occurs, no one really knows why.”

  “Hmm,” Emily said, and sipped more tea.

  “Anything else?” Kyle asked. She seemed like she was hesitating.

  “Yeah I guess. Why is there like… 100 times more men heku than women?”

  “Some of that is the militaristic lifestyle, it appeals more to men generally. Then the
re’s the growing process for them too, and it turns a lot of women off of the idea,” Kyle explained, and watched Emily closely.

  Emily frowned, “The women grow too?”

  “Not as much, but yes, and most women don’t want to have that happen.”

  “Why did the Council choose you for Chief Enforcer?” Emily asked.

  Kyle frowned, “What do you mean?”

  “Chevalier and Damon, and even Vaughn, they were hot tempered, mean, and tough as nails. I assume all Chief Enforcers are,” Emily explained.

  Kyle gave her a half-grin, “I’m not sure I like what you’re implying.”

  “You’re even tempered and sweet. It just seems to me like the opposite of what a Chief Enforcer would be.”

  “So you don’t think I can be good at my job?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Emily told him.

  Kyle laughed, “But you thought it. Believe it or not, I have a bit of a temper.”

  “You do not.”

  “Yes, I do, but I have very good control over it. Besides, I killed Damon easy enough.”

  Emily smiled, “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “So my turn,” Kyle said, and turned to face her.

  “Ok”

  “Where are you running off to in 4 weeks?”

  Emily chuckled, “Like I can tell you that.”

  “You can, as Chief Enforcer, no matter how wimpy, I can’t be questioned,” Kyle said, grinning.

  “I didn’t call you wimpy.”

  “So where are you going?”

  Emily just stared into the fireplace.

  “In general… you don’t even have to tell me a state,” Kyle said, watching her. He was uncomfortable with the way she held perfectly still and watched the dead fireplace. Emily was hyper and high-strung, and it was extremely uncharacteristic behavior for her to sit for long periods of time.

  “Exavior bought me a place,” Emily said finally.

  Kyle raised his eyebrow, “He did?”

  Emily nodded, “He said that Chevalier was going to cross the line someday, and that I would need a safe place to go.”

  “You do realize the entire Valle faction could know where that place is,” Kyle said.

  Emily smiled slightly. Exavior had never actually given her a place, but she knew of one of his houses out in the middle of Louisiana that she planned on taking over now that he wouldn’t be using it. If the heku looked closely at their Valle Coven book, they would find one page missing.

  “Do you still love Chevalier?” Kyle asked suddenly, afraid if he waited any longer he would lose the nerve.

  Emily sighed, “I wish I knew.”

  “He still loves you.”

  “I know.”

  “So do I,” he whispered.

  “I know that, too.”

  “The offer still stands, you know,” Kyle said, wondering if she remembered when he once offered to take her away.

  Emily nodded, “I won’t do it though.”

  “Why not? It was a good offer.”

  “Because, for my short life, you would be happy. Then, when I die, you would be alone and factionless. You belong here in the palace, you even out the Council.”

  “Even it out?”

  “Yes, you are the steady rod in an electric environment.”

  Kyle leaned his head back and laughed, “You think way too highly of my control.”

  Emily finished her tea and leaned her head back, “I’m so tired.”

  “Come on, I’ll carry you to bed,” Kyle said, grinning. He was shocked when she didn’t argue, so he lifted her up carefully, reveling at the feel of her head pressed against his neck. As he laid her down, he caught an odd scent and frowned.

  Kyle picked up her wrist and ran his nose along the soft flesh.

  “Are you smelling me again or are you about to bite?” Emily asked.

  “Smelling you again, there’s an odd scent.”

  “Stop smelling me, it’s creepy,” Emily said, and rolled onto her side.

  Kyle grinned, “But I like to.”

  “Creepy,” she whispered.

  Kyle watched until she was asleep and then turned off the lights and stepped out of the room, shutting the door quietly. He slipped into his room and quickly fell into a meditative trance.

  “Kyle… Kyle wake up,” Emily said frantically.

  Kyle looked at her and frowned, “What’s wrong?”

  Emily was looking at the door, “Hurry, come here.”

  Kyle jumped up when Emily took off running out of his room in a nightgown, “Em, at least get dressed.”

  Emily took the stairs two at a time down to the game room and then disappeared inside. Kyle followed her and she shut the door behind him. He flipped on the lights, but she immediately turned them off and took his hand. She led him to the mirror and with a small turn, they were both thrown into the old bar.

  “What’s this all about?” Kyle asked, uneasy at how fearful she looked.

  “Damon’s alive,” Emily said, panting.

  Kyle relaxed some, “No he’s not. I personally banished him.”

  “He’s alive, and last night he was talking to Quinn about me.”

  “Emily, I banished him, he’s not alive,” Kyle said, touching her arm. He slipped off his cape and wrapped it around her shoulders.

  “You have to believe me. I got up last night to get something to drink, and saw Quinn in the hallway, talking into the shadows. I watched and saw Damon step out. They are going to build a house, here in Council City, and I’ll be locked inside, forever,” Emily explained.

  “Neither Chevalier nor I would let that happen. Quinn’s not after you, and Damon’s not alive.”

  Emily frowned at him, “You don’t believe me?”

  “It’s impossible,” Kyle said. “Now, you can’t go around accusing an Elder of something like that.”

  “I’m not accusing, it’s true,” Emily said, and angrily returned to the game room, followed shortly by Kyle.

  “Come on, talk to me,” Kyle said, and followed her out of the room.

  Emily threw the cape back at him and headed up the stairs.

  “Good morning,” Quinn said, smiling from the fifth-floor landing.

  Emily gasped and looked up at him as her eyes narrowed, “I know your little secret, and it’s not going to happen.”

  Quinn frowned, “Excuse me?”

  “Don’t think for one second I wouldn’t ash you,” Emily said, and ran past him into the room.

  Kyle sighed, “Elder…”

  “What was that? I don’t have to stand for threats,” Quinn said angrily.

  “Come to your office please. She can’t see us talking,” Kyle whispered, and walked down to the Elder’s office. Once inside, Quinn sat at his desk.

  “Emily said she woke up last night and saw you talking to Damon,” Kyle explained.

  Quinn frowned, “Clearly a dream.”

  “Yes well, she said you two are building a house here in Council City and plan on locking her up inside.”

  “She’s confused, lack of food maybe,” Quinn suggested.

  “I don’t know, maybe. She’s getting thinner by the day, and I don’t like it.”

  “I saw that. She’s looking emaciated.”

  “There’s an odd scent, too. I can’t place it, but it’s somewhat familiar,” Kyle said, thinking.

  “Is she pregnant?” Quinn asked.

  “No, it’s not an enticing scent.”

  “I take it she wouldn’t let me see.”

  Kyle shook his head, “Not a chance, not if you’re in a conspiracy with Damon.”

  Quinn growled.

  “I mean in her eyes, I know you’re not,” Kyle said quickly.

  “She’s never made it a secret how much she hates Council City, and how much she dislikes myself and Zohn, maybe her mind is finding justification for that and it’s coming out in her dreams,” Quinn suggested.

  “Maybe, I’ll keep watching though. Tonight, I want to
watch her door and see if she even leaves the room.”

  Quinn nodded, “Let us know.”

  Emily and Kyle talked most of the day and into the night. He was amazed how many questions she had about his species even though she’d been living with them for so long. When she got tired, she crawled into bed and Kyle laid beside her on top of the covers.

  “If I see Damon tonight, I’m going to turn him to ash,” Emily said, watching Kyle.

  Kyle nodded, “If you see him, then you should.”

  “You still don’t believe me, do you?”

  “I’m not taking sides right now,” Kyle said.

  Emily grinned, “Very diplomatic of you.”

  “If I get you some soup, will you please eat some, just for me?” Kyle asked her.

  Emily shrugged, “I’m not hungry. How about some tea?”

  “What can I bribe you with to get you to eat something?”

  “Nothing,” Emily told him.

  “I can stop the coffee and tea.”

  Emily frowned, “Don’t, please.”

  “Tell you what, eat something tonight, and I won’t stop the coffee, ok?” Kyle knew it was being mean, but she was wasting away in front of him.

  “Eat what?” Emily asked skeptically.

  “A sandwich, something simple.”

  “Then you promise not to stop the coffee?”

  Kyle smiled, “I promise.”

  “I could threaten to tell the Council you fed off of me in jail if you stop my coffee.” Emily grinned slightly.

  Kyle laughed, “They’d be as mad at you as they would be at me.”

  Within just a few minutes, Kyle went to the door to get her sandwich. She figured he’d been planning on this and that it was already made when he requested it. He came over and sat it down on the bedside table.

  Emily picked it up and looked inside, and she smiled slightly and took a bite. The food tasted awful and she had to fight to keep from gagging as she chewed it. She swallowed it dryly and sat it down.

  “One bite doesn’t count,” Kyle said. He jumped up when Emily dove out of bed and ran for the bathroom.

  She came back out a few minutes later, “Keep the coffee, that’s not worth it.”

  Kyle sighed, “Could you be pregnant?”

  “No,” Emily said, and pulled the covers up. “You should be able to smell that.”

  Kyle pulled her wrist up to his nose again and caught the foreign scent.