Would his father never let up?
“There’s nothing keeping you at Dawson anymore,” his father continued. “Marlon explained how he’s taking on a new project and won’t be able to mentor you anymore. He agrees that without him and the private facility, your talents are best utilized elsewhere. He suggested you transfer as soon as possible while it’s still early in the semester. With your capacity to absorb information, he believes you’ll have no problem getting up to speed.”
His father said more, but Derek’s ears rang with what he’d already said. Marlon, the man responsible for murdering thousands of Fae, had contacted his father.
Putting aside the danger Marlon posed to his family, he couldn’t help wondering why Marlon would want Derek to leave Dawson. If Marlon was worried about what Derek knew, why not just kill him like he had the Fae?
Oh yeah, Marlon had tried. Or his people had. The bomb in Marlon’s lab could have been targeted for Derek and not simply a random attempt to protect Marlon’s secrets… And when that hadn’t worked, there was Beatrice to put a rift between him and Elena, ensuring they no longer worked well together.
“I’ll consider it, Dad.”
“Derek, your future is nothing to play with. The right education opens doors. There’s no limit to what you can accomplish. It’s critical you make the right choices.”
Critical for the future his father had planned for him, not for what Derek wanted. “I understand. Give me a couple of days to think about it.”
His father would have said more, but Derek cut him off, telling him he had an important test to prepare for.
In some ways, his father’s insistence he change schools was a way out. He could leave Dawson, the Fae, and Elena. Start a new life. Meet a different girl. One who didn’t hate him.
But he didn’t want a different girl. He wanted Elena.
After a warm shower, Elena lay on her bed, alone for the first time in what felt like forever. She glanced at the corner of her room where Derek had slept not long ago, the ache in her chest returning. She missed him, and in just a short while she’d return to Emain, where she didn’t know when or if she’d ever see him again.
She hadn’t gotten a chance to tell Derek before he left tonight that she believed him about Beatrice. Too many Fae were around, preventing any semblance of privacy.
There was no way Derek would go to Tirnan with her now. The Fae hadn’t ordered him to go—they didn’t even think Elena could do much good there, let alone survive. They supported her traveling to their homeland as a backup plan. Derek might have gone with her before this afternoon, but now…he’d be a fool to risk his life for her.
Derek had left her house this evening with the same closed-off expression he’d used to shield himself with when they’d first met. She hadn’t realized until now that he looked at her differently. His gaze was warm, deep blue turning black when he kissed her, expressing his feelings more than his words.
She didn’t want his life in danger. If she mended things now, he might try to leave with her, and she couldn’t let him make that sacrifice.
The only thing more frightening than putting her life in danger was putting Derek’s life in danger too. He’d lost enough because of her—his lab, a peaceful existence before he’d found her with the Fae—and she’d never forget it. But she couldn’t let him pay the ultimate price, should anything happen to him inside Tirnan.
Elena returned to her bed and curled into a fetal position. Sleep wasn’t happening; she had to return to Emain in a few minutes. And she couldn’t call and say goodbye to her family, because they’d flip out if they even suspected something was wrong. There was still no word from Reese…
Maybe she should leave her roommate another note? Or send an email explaining what had happened?
Email. Elena hadn’t checked her email. Reese could have left a message.
She jumped up, grabbed her laptop, and returned to her bed. Reese preferred texting, but what if she’d lost her phone? What if she was trapped and the only way she could get hold of anyone was by sneaking onto a computer and sending an email? Elena was grasping, but she was desperate.
Of the hundred new messages in her inbox—nearly all junk mail—she found nothing from Reese.
And then an instant message popped up on her screen.
She was about to hit delete, like she did all IMs she didn’t recognize, when she took a closer look at the profile.
HalflnzRule.
Heavy footsteps stormed down the hallway. Keen burst through the door and took in her expression. He crossed the room and glanced over her shoulder at the screen.
“Were you listening to my thoughts?” she asked.
“No, his—Marlon’s vassal. Yours give me a headache. I gave up listening to them a long time ago. Same for Derek. His revolve too much around you.”
Okay, as insulting as that statement was, it explained why Keen hadn’t said anything to Leo about Elena and Derek’s early suspicions about Marlon.
“Click on the message,” he said. “The vassal has information for you.”
“If you know that, why do I need to click on it?”
Keen’s mouth tensed as he glared at the screen. “He’s blocking me. I’m only picking up general impressions.”
“What is the point of your ability if everyone blocks you?”
His eyes cut to her in annoyance. “Most do not know how to block me. St. Just trained your abductor, or perhaps he gave him drugs. Some drugs interfere with the brain waves I read. St. Just had the boy send the message, knowing his soldier wouldn’t have enough information in his mind to be a danger to the army, and that we would read his message. Which is what you should do if we are to learn anything new within the next century.”
“Sarcasm is a human trait, you know.” She clicked on the IM.
HalflnzRule: A trade? You for the girl?
Elena’s stomach dropped. Her hands started shaking. She looked down, realizing for the first time that they had stopped jittering sometime between now and when she’d first acquired her powers.
“They have her, Keen. Marlon has her.”
“Confirm he speaks of Reese.”
“Who else would he be talking about?”
“Do it,” he growled.
Elena: Which girl are you referring to? There are about fifteen thousand on campus.
HalflnzRule: Who do you think, bitch? The blonde. Your roommate. Meet me tomorrow at 10p.m. White farmhouse off Hwy 89. Turn left at Exit 12. No physical address. The sign on the drive reads The Millers. Be there or the girl dies. It’ll be my pleasure to play with her before I kill her.
Keen grabbed the laptop and yanked the screen back. He stared at the words, his eyes turning into emerald fire. “I will kill him.”
32
At Keen’s urgent text, Derek rushed over to Elena’s apartment.
Keen pointed to the chair in the living room, indicating he should sit. “Elena must leave for Tirnan immediately.”
He knew Elena planned to travel to Tirnan, but it seemed like something had happened. Keen had the look of a desperate man. And Keen never looked unnerved.
“Someone want to fill me in?”
Keen’s gaze locked with Elena’s. She looked so small between him and one of the other Fae guards.
“Marlon has Reese,” she said, her elbows on her knees, fingers digging into the waves of hair at her temples. “He’ll release her in exchange for me. The meeting takes place tomorrow night.”
Derek wagged his head. “Not gonna happen.”
Elena looked up and her brows drew together in confusion, or surprise.
What did she think? That he’d stopped caring just because she didn’t trust him?
Keen let out an exasperated sigh. “We will not sacrifice Elena for the girl, but we will not allow harm to come to Reese. That is why Elena must leave for Tirnan now. St. Just and his band of Halven threatened Elena through Reese, but they will not stop there. More attempts on Elena’s life will
follow. At this point, Elena is better off in Tirnan, where she has a chance of developing a cure and besting Marlon. Our people have been weakened. We can protect Elena better once the disease is contained.”
Interesting how they needed Elena to regain their strength. And it was not something they readily admitted to either.
“Even if she left this minute, how could she possibly find what she needs, make a cure, and return in time?” Derek asked.
“Tirnan runs on a different timeline than the human realm. The timeline varies from season to season, but as of now, it runs slower by about three days. That allows enough time—if she hurries.”
No matter what Derek told himself about changing colleges, there was no way he’d let Elena go to Tirnan alone. He tapped his finger on the chair, thinking through their options.
They had none. Reese would die if they did nothing.
“Since when do your people care about one human life?” he asked.
A strange look crossed Keen’s face, one he quickly checked. “We do not risk lives unnecessarily. We can save the girl if we act now. You both would have left for Tirnan in an hour, regardless.”
Elena’s head popped up. “What? Derek isn’t going. Leave him out of this.”
“I’ll go, but when Elena and I return, I’m leaving Dawson.” He stared hard at Keen. “I’m transferring to a different school, and I don’t want interference from your people.”
“Accepted,” Keen said.
Elena searched Derek’s face. “Why? Is it because of what happened? I know it wasn’t your fault, Derek. I don’t blame you. You don’t have to leave.”
She said that now, but what if something like this happened again? Would she hate him in six months? What if some other Fae or powerful Halven tried to warp his mind and pit him against her?
Elena had something the Fae wanted. The best thing for her would be if he left. One less person the Fae could manipulate to get to her.
“My reasons have nothing to do with you.” A lie, but he didn’t want her to feel responsible for why he was leaving. “I’ve been offered a better opportunity at a different school, and I’m taking it.”
He’d help her in Tirnan because as a Halven he was the only person who could protect her there. He figured Beatrice’s purpose in enthralling him had been to cause a rift between them, thereby making Elena vulnerable. Why Beatrice, a Fae, would want to do that, he didn’t know. It looked like she had become a traitor to her own people. Either way, he wouldn’t give Beatrice the satisfaction. Elena needed him, and he’d be there for her.
Elena sucked in a breath, her face pained.
“Very good,” Keen said. “I’ll portal you to the outer wall of the New Kingdom castle as planned. Get Elena inside and find her a hiding place. When it’s safe, search for her mother.”
“My mother?” Elena blurted.
Keen’s face softened. “Yes, Elena. She’s your only ally in Tirnan. Trust no other.”
“Deirdre told me the same thing about not trusting anyone, except she never mentioned my mother.”
Keen raised an eyebrow. “Deirdre?”
Elena’s mouth parted, a look of chagrin crossing her face. “Deirdre sort of comes to me in my dreams.”
“She is from Old Kingdom,” Keen said. “She married your mother’s brother. Her allegiance is to Sunland now. You may be able to trust her. Only you can know for certain.”
“Deirdre is my aunt?” Elena said, her tone surprised.
“Beorhtric Rainer’s wife, yes.”
A small smile played on her mouth. “That explains a lot. She’s always been kind to me. I’m not sure why she didn’t tell me who she was, though.”
It was good to see Elena smile, if even a small one. And it was good to know Deirdre had Elena’s back.
“We’ve been instructed to give you as little information as possible. Deirdre went against orders telling you as much as she did.”
“And now it’s okay to inform me of things? Now that I’m risking my life?”
Keen shrugged.
Typical, thought Derek. They kept all this from Elena until now, when it was too late.
“How do you know so much, Keen? Shouldn’t Leo be giving me this information?”
“He would if he were here.” Keen waved at one of the guards outside, circling his finger.
Signaling for the guard to patrol the area?
“Fae do not lead like your military, particularly inside Emain,” Keen continued. “Most of us have been around a long while. We work together, and generally follow one command, but there are times in battle when a single warrior must make a decision for the good of us all. Leo understands that you might be our last hope. He will support my judgment under the circumstances. I’ll notify him directly of what has transpired once we return to Emain.” His gaze fell on Derek. “One more thing. There will be times when you must transform Elena along with you. Getting past the guards at the portal will be the first test.”
Derek shook his head. “Impossible. I’ve tried to Blend larger objects like my backpack. It can’t be done.”
“Elena is not an inanimate object. Your backpack is wider than she is. It will work, but you must hold her close.”
Derek closed his eyes, trying to remain calm. He didn’t want to hold her close. As it was, he battled every instinct to reach out and comfort her, when the best thing was for him to keep his distance.
Instead he said, “What would be the point of Blending with her if all you Fae can see me anyway?” Portia, Keen, and even Elena had sensed him while transformed.
“We cannot see you in the way I see you now. A shimmer in the air notifies us of the disguise, but it is nearly impossible to observe in low light. Even in full daylight, one must be looking for it.”
Elena’s face looked hopeful. “Let’s try it, Derek. If it works, it could save us. We’d have a chance of escaping.”
She was right. If they had any hope of surviving, they needed his ability.
Derek mentally braced his senses against the onslaught he was about to subject them to. Elena stepped past Keen and the guards, and stood in front of him.
Keen scanned their stances. “You’ll need to hold her as close as possible. Tuck her head beneath your chin and center her between your legs. Wrap your arms around her.”
Derek glared at Keen.
The corner of Keen’s mouth twitched. Keen knew Derek had feelings for Elena, just like Derek knew Keen wanted Reese.
Derek grabbed Elena’s arms and wrapped them behind his back, breathing out of his mouth so he couldn’t smell her. Bad enough her soft flesh molded to his chest. Her hands tentatively flattened on his shoulder blades and his heart began to race. She wedged her feet between his, and tucked her head close, her hair tickling his nose.
The itch to his nose distracted him and he breathed in, instantly regretting it.
Elena’s fruity scent, mixed with the smell of her skin, made his hands sweat and adrenaline surge. He wanted to mash his lips to her mouth and consume her. Instead, he tucked his head to draw closer, grazing her ear with his lips. She stiffened, but she didn’t move away. Derek Blended before he started thinking of other things he wanted to graze his mouth on.
The transition from solid state to air occurred the same as usual, evidenced by a slight tingling sensation, only faster. The adrenaline caused by Elena’s nearness helped quicken the process.
“Good,” Keen said. “We cannot see either of you. Try moving.”
How the hell was he supposed to move with her wrapped around him like cellophane?
Derek tried moving anyway, but Elena ripped from him like a piece of Velcro, his body jerking and shuddering from the separation.
“Elena has come into view, Derek.”
Derek made himself solid. “I told you it wouldn’t work.”
“You’ll need to figure out a way to move without breaking the transformation.”
They tried for several agonizing minutes, and every time Derek too
k a step, Elena returned to solid state.
“I have an idea,” Elena said hesitantly. “Derek somehow modifies the atoms in our bodies while we’re stationary. When I’m close enough to him, his body perceives me as part of him, like his clothes. What if when we move, the shifting takes me out of range?”
Where is she going with this?
“I think—I think some part of him must meld with me when we transform. That way there’s no question we are one.”
Marcus cleared his throat. Keen smirked. The other guards simply stared, as if preparing for the entertainment.
Derek was too stunned to reply.
Elena let out an exasperated breath. “I’m not suggesting what you perverts are obviously thinking. I was considering something more along the lines of…a kiss.”
Derek was speechless. He wanted to do a lot more than kiss Elena. He wasn’t sure he’d ever recover from making love to her. She’d taken a piece of him. But he’d made up his mind to stay away. Even if her kissing idea made sense—and unfortunately, it did—distance, separation, that was what they needed. Kissing went in the opposite direction.
He turned to Keen. “You have any other ideas?”
Elena crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh my God, I’m not going to molest you. I know this isn’t ideal, but it’s logical. If we’re connected…” She shrugged.
He glanced at each of the Fae, hoping one of them might come up with something better. Instead, they stared mutely back at him.
Great help, guys. Derek shook his head in frustration.
Elena dropped her arms and put her hands on her hips. He’d seen that stance many a time on his mom and scores of Southern female cousins. Elena was pissed. “Look, if you have a better idea, by all means inform us.”
Maybe he liked the fire, because at the moment, the only thing he wanted to do was grab hold of her and kiss her feisty lips the way she’d suggested. Derek’s gaze dipped down her body. She wanted a kiss, she’d get a damn kiss.
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