As he rose from the floor and stretched, joints popping and his muscles protesting after the night on the torture device camouflaged as a piece of furniture, Kai thought back to the night before. He had a great time with Alvena and it seemed that she had a great time too. It appeared that she really enjoyed the flowers and chocolate he had given her, her eyes had softened and he had almost reached for her. He had held back and been rewarded. Their camaraderie throughout the evening as they ate and played cards warmed his heart and gave him hope.
Glancing down at the fireplace which contained cold ashes, he was reminded of her reaction to his ability to breathe fire. He had expected her to be afraid or freaked out when he had to partial shift, but not his mate. She had accepted it with the same determination and grace as everything else that had happened to her. When she had touched his face and his fangs, Kai had about died from pleasure. His dragon guardian had gone crazy. He wanted Alvena as much as Kai did. If he hadn’t been raised Dásreach, that would have bothered Kai, but since he had been raised knowing the ways of the guardians, he was able to accept the idea that his guardian would care for Alvena as much as he did. He would not share her with another man, any man that touched her would die, but he would share her with his guardian. His guardian was a part of his soul, just like he was realizing Alvena was.
His mind drifted and he soon found himself thinking once again about the night before. He chuckled as he remembered how Alvena had tried to cheat that first game of Crazy Eights. His mate was a trickster and very devious. She had tried to pretend that she had forgotten and then he caught her with 3 of the 4 eights in her hand. When she had run to the bathroom, he wasn’t sure what to expect when she returned, but he had taken 2 of the 3 eights from her hand and stacked the deck in his favor. Her stance when she returned had almost sent him to the floor in laughter. She had stood there so confident of herself, her hands on her hips and her stance wide. Very much the warrior he knew her to be, like the Valkyrie’s from the Norse mythology she had said she enjoyed. His Valkyrie.
His Valkyrie stood much like his mum used to do when he and Charlie would get caught in yet another situation where they were standing up for some wrong they perceived. Aye, both his mum and Alvena were like the Valkyries in the stories his mum used to tell him as a child. His mum had always come after the two boys like an avenging warrior when they were in scuffles with bullies as lads.
Sigh. Kai hoped that Charlie was alright. It bothered him that they hadn’t heard from either, Charlie or Malkum. As he walked to the window and pulled back the curtain, to see the bright sun nearing the midday mark in the sky, he figured that it was past time to contact Dar again. He had slept later than he had planned, but they had been playing cards in to the wee hours of the morning. The time had flown by as he enjoyed Alvena’s company; he hadn’t even realized how late it was until she had yawned. He didn’t hear any noises from above, so he could only assume that she was still asleep. With one more stretch Kai headed to the bathroom and then the office where the radio waited for him to contact Dar.
*
“Kai it’s about time you called me back.” Dar yelled across the radio waves.
“What’s wrong, man?” Kai asked his friend and Enforcer.
“We heard from Charlie. He called in early this morning.” A beep sounded from Dar’s side of the conversation.
“How is he? How is Nat?” He demanded, impatient to have news of his best friend and his mate.
“Hold on, Kai. I’m getting a call. Let me get rid of them.” Kai heard Dar moving around and some banging as he kept his hand on the radio button while he searched for his phone. “Shit. It’s the council on your phone. They’ve been calling non-stop since they haven’t been able to reach you or Charlie.”
“Ignore it, Dar. Tell me about Charlie.” Kai instructed.
“Okay, okay, I will. Just give me a minute to shut this thing off.” Once the beeping stopped Dar came back. “The men that were following Charlie and Nat caught up with them late last night in a little town in Florida. His plan had originally been to get to Jacksonville and fly to Tiranam Dásig.”
“So he had the same idea we did, to fly and get his mate to Tiranam Dásig?” Kai mumbled. Thinking to himself more than talking to Dar. Kai was trying to figure out what was going through his friends mind. Why in the world would he have kept driving that far away from his friends that could help him?
“Yes. He said that was the plan, but there were some issues. And, before you ask, he refused to go into details. He wouldn’t explain anything to me. Said he didn’t have time, he just wanted to let me know what he found out so that I could get the information to you.”
“I don’t like this; it doesn’t sound like Charlie, Dar.” Kai voiced his concern.
“I agree, but when I pressed, he told me it was none of my damn business what he did with his mate and reminded me that he was Beta. So, I backed off and let him tell me what he wanted to tell me.”
“How did he contact you?” Kai asked hoping that he would have a way to reach his friend once he had a way to communicate.
“He called from a pay phone, called collect too.” Dar responded, and then continued. “As I said, the men caught up to him and Nat. Charlie had no choice but to fight them. He said they were in a deserted area, so no one saw anything, but he shifted and took all but one of the men out. As he was talking to me, there was a scuffle and then he came back on the phone and informed me that he had not done it on his own, but with the help of his mate. I heard another scuffle and he changed it to help from Natalie. I hope you are having better luck with your mate than what it sounds like Charlie is, Kai.” Dar chuckled.
“Shite, Dar, focus. What happened?” Kai was losing patience.
“Sorry Kai, but I mean it. This is not instilling confidence in the rest of us.” Dar laughed again and then hurried on. “Like I said they took out all but one, the one they interrogated. From what the man said he has someone on the inside feeding him information. They knew where to find us, because someone told them where to go. He wouldn’t tell them much more than that, but Charlie said that he finally got the man to break under his persuasion. The man blurted out that it didn’t matter if they killed him, because his friends knew where to find the tallest one and his woman and would get revenge for him. Charlie kept working on him and before the man died he finally gave them a few more details. They know you’re near Baton Rouge, Kai. You need to get out of there. It’s only a matter of time before they find you.”
Kai could hear Dar switching to full Enforcer mode. Complete seriousness. How was it possible for them to know where Kai was? He had no electronics on him for them to track and no one knew of this place but him and Charlie. Well, until he had told Dar. So, everyone at the house would probably know and the Council when Dar had reported to them. But, he couldn’t think of anyone else… unless there were others around the Council that would have overheard something. This was becoming more and more complicated as they discovered more of the situation.
“Kai.” Dar called over the radio. “Kai. Come in.”
“Sorry, I’m here. I just don’t understand who would have known that information and be likely to be a traitor.” He answered.
“Me either, Kai. Only those I thought I could trust know anything. And, most have not been told about your whereabouts. I think it’s best if you take off for Tiranam Dásig as quickly as you can. Until I figure out why they are going after you so hard and why they have targeted women with contact with the tattoo parlors, I think we need to concentrate on that. Get you there, so you can complete the mating ceremony and your mate can be better protected.” Dar said in a resigned voice.
“Agreed. I’ll contact you when I can. You didn’t mention Malkum, so I assume he hasn’t checked in?” Kai asked.
“Not yet, but we’ve sent a few of the better trackers into the bayou to search for any signs.” Dar answered.
“Alright. I’d better get my mate and hit the road. I don’t want
them to find us if we can help it.” Kai said.
He and Dar shared a few more goodbyes and then he flipped the switch off. Shite. This is really ending up a cluster-fuck. He thought as he walked out of the small room and headed to the larger living space out front. Alvena was sitting at the kitchen counter with a bottle of water and a ham and cheese sandwich in her hand. She turned to him with a gorgeous smile until she saw his face.
“What’s wrong, Kai? What happened? Are Rogue and Nat, okay?” Her voice carried all of the worry in her tone that he saw in her eyes.
“Malkum hasn’t reported in yet, but Charlie called Dar this morning. He and Nat are fine. They had a run in with the men that had followed them, but they are both safe.” He tried to reassure her.
“Well that’s good news. So, why do you look so upset?” She asked.
“We have a traitor and we don’t know who it is.” He stated bluntly. Kai figured it was better to be upfront with Alvena. If he tried to protect her and she found out later, she would be angry that he hadn’t been honest.
“Oh, Kai, I’m sorry. This must be hard for you, but what does that mean for us and our friends?” Alvena had placed what remained of her sandwich on the counter, food long forgotten.
“It means that we need to get moving, because they know the general area where we are.” He looked at her as the situation dawned on her. “We need to get moving and head somewhere where I can keep you safe until we can solve this.”
“Where is that, Kai? Is there anywhere that I can be safe from these men?” She practically begged him to reassure her.
Kai walked over to Alvena and wrapped her small, delicate hands in his own. He rubbed his thumbs back and forth trying to sooth himself as he tried to sooth her. He hadn’t wanted to tell her this until they were farther along on the trip, but he had run out of time. He had hoped to spend more time with her. More time that he could have used to convince her that she was meant to spend the rest of her life with him. A life that would be extended to the long life of a Dásreach after they were mated.
“Alvena, I want us to catch a flight from the nearest airport and head to Tiranam Dásig, the Dásreach community in Colorado.” He waited, hardly breathing, for her reaction.
“Do you think I will be safe there?” She asked.
“Aye.”
“Will your friends bring Nat and Rogue there?”
“Aye. I don’t know how long it will take, but we will bring all three of you there.”
“Okay then, let’s go.” She said as she jumped down and grabbed the duffel bag.
Kai stood in shock as he watched his mate pack what meager provisions and belongings they had into the bag. She stood staring at the flowers he had given her the night before. She stroked the petals as she stared at them.
“I wish I could keep them alive and bring them with me.” She said. “It’s probably not practical, but I want to keep them.”
Alvena pulled the flowers out, dumped the water in the sink, and proceeded to push a flower at a time into the empty bottle until she couldn’t get any more in. She used the cap from the bottle she had been drinking to cap it and then placed it in the bag. She finished off the last of the water in her bottle and then turned to look at Kai.
“Hey, big guy, don’t you think you should get your boots on?” She said as she looked at his feet.
“Definitely.” He responded with a chuckle. His mate continued to surprise him.
*
As they walked through the woods, it soon became obvious that Alvena would never be able to keep up and would soon tire. After a bit of arguing, he had partially shifted and picked her up, carrying her on his back her arms tight around his shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist. He held on tight to her legs as he jogged through the trees. Kai hoped they would be able to catch a ride at the road to somewhere where they could get transportation. With her on his back they made much better time and before the sun had gotten much past midday, they had reached the road. Kai sat Alvena down and shifted completely back to man.
They walked along the road for probably an hour, when he heard a rumbling in the distance.
“Alvena, get into the woods, lass. Let me make sure it’s safe and then you can come out. If we’re lucky we’ll have a ride.”
Without a word, she hurried into the trees. She hid so well he almost couldn’t see her. Good enough. He walked to the edge of the woods and leaned against a tree as he waited for the car to come around a bend in the road behind them.
It didn’t take long and a beat up white pick-up truck soon bumped along the road towards them. He stepped up to the road and waved at the driver. It was an older gentleman and he appeared to be alone. This looked like a possible ride. From the looks of Alvena, he didn’t think she would be able to handle much more walking, so he hoped the old man would give them a lift. Kai watched as the truck came to a slow and rattling stop. The vehicle looked like it might not make it as he checked it over and approached the window. It was already rolled down and he leaned in through it as he looked into the bed of the truck, seeing only ropes, chains, and some old feed sacks. The seat area of the truck was only a single bench seat. No extended cab. There was nowhere for anyone to hide.
“Hello. I was wondering if you could give me and a friend a ride?” Kai asked, trying to sound and look harmless and friendly. Sometimes people could sense that there was something different about him and would do everything they could to get away.
“Howdy,” the old gentleman’s eyes wandered around the area to the side, back, and front of the truck, “but boy, you’re alone.”
Kai turned and waved Alvena out. She walked slowly and carefully to stand beside him.
“Doesn’t hurt to be careful. Our car broke down at a cabin we were staying at and we were out of food. No choice, but to hit the road.” He looked at the old man, wishing for him to accept what he said and give them the ride. The man took a look at Alvena and his eyes softened.
“Well, they call me Bub, and that little gal looks plum tired. Go ahead and get in. I can take you at least a little bit closer to civilization. I’m goin’ to the crossroads just before the bar outside of Grosse Tete. Will that help you out? After I turn there, I’m headin’ in to the bayou, so you’ll want to get off there.”
“That would be lovely.” Alvena responded as she grabbed the door handle.
She pushed Kai out of the way and got into the truck. She shuffled over the seat and sat in the middle. He watched as she looked around for a seatbelt. When she didn’t find one, she looked at Kai and shrugged.
“Well, get in, big guy. You’re holding Bub up.” She said with a grin and turned to Bub. “Thank you so much for the ride. I’m not used to the warmer weather or to walking. It’s a bad combination.”
Smiling at his mate, he placed the duffel on the floorboard of the truck and hopped up onto the seat. He shut the door and Bub started moving down the road again. He didn’t drive exceptionally fast, which was probably a good thing based on the sounds the truck made, but he was at least going faster than Alvena could walk.
“Thank you for the ride, Bub. I was getting worried about my lass here.” Kai said as he hung his arm part way out of the window.
“No problem, son. My momma always told me to do unto others as you want them to do unto you and I definitely would hope someone would stop if I was walkin’ along a road.” Bub replied to Kai. “So, what you all doin’ in these parts? You have a funny accent and your gal here is a Yank.” Kai laughed at the old man’s question.
“Well, I’m originally from Scotland and I live in New Orleans. Al here is visiting from up North and what trip is complete without a stay in the bayou along the waterways?” Kai responded. Shortening Alvena’s name in hopes that it would help them keep some anonymity in case the mercenaries came across Bub and asked him questions.
“That’s true, son. This area is a beaut. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay young lady.” Bub rambled as he steered the truck around the curve
s in the road.
Before long, Kai recognized that they were approaching the crossroads. Alvena was busy talking to Bub about what he thought she should see while she was in the area. She had charmed the old codger just like she had him.
“Well, here we are.” Bub said as he pulled to a stop at the crossroads. Kai could see the pub just up ahead along the road they had been traveling.
“Thank you so much for the ride, Bub.” Alvena said to the man. “Can we give you something for your trouble?”
“You are most welcome and definitely not. I’ve been blessed with your presence for a short time. That is payment enough.” He flirted back with Alvena and made Kai laugh.
“In that case Bub, may the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. That’s something my da always says.” Bub smiled as Kai finished the old Celtic blessing his da would always say when he parted ways with friends he wouldn’t see for a while.
Alvena gave him a peck on the cheek and slid across the seat and jumped down out of the truck. They waved to Bub as he turned and headed down the other road. Alvena began to walk down the road to the pub.
“Come on, big guy, I’m dying of thirst here.” She yelled over her shoulder.
Chapter 21
They walked past several motorcycles as they entered the pub. The dingy room left a bit to be desired, but at this point if the place could provide something to drink and hopefully something to eat, Kai would be happy. Fans ran to keep the stale air moving and only minimal light lit up the place. He wasn’t going to think about the germs. He looked over at Alvena as she approached the bartender.
“Can I get a Coke?” She asked.
Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) Page 22