by Dannika Dark
When she reached the dining room, she opened the door to the gym and tiptoed down the narrow stairwell. Since there weren’t any lanterns, there were a lot of dark corners, which created spaces where spiders liked to hang out. Christian called them natural pest control, but they gave Gem the heebie-jeebies. The second door at the bottom opened with an easy push, and she drifted a few steps through the recessed hall. It was pitch-black, and she felt all along the wall for the switch. When she turned on the overhead lights, the first thing she saw was Niko.
Wearing nothing but a pair of hakama pants, he was breathtaking.
The outfit also made it clear how much weight he’d lost. Yet despite his sinewy physique, Niko exuded strength with every move on the mat. With his eyes closed, he executed maneuvers as if battling an invisible entity. He turned and extended one leg forward, sweeping his arms as if he were shaping the horizon. Gem was awestruck as he twisted around and stomped the mat, his technique so flawless that she’d never seen anything like it.
The song kept repeating, “Move me,” and Gem pressed herself against the wall in hopes he wouldn’t open his eyes and notice her light. She could watch him do this forever. When he bent over and picked up a katana, Gem held her breath, spellbound by how blindingly fast and precisely he moved.
Spying on him was too invasive, so Gem backed up slowly and returned to the dining room.
“Is he still in there?” Switch asked from one of the booths.
She spun around with her back to the door. “When did he go down there?”
Switch finished his sandwich and wiped his hands on his grey-and-black shirt. “Before I woke up this morning. Want one? I’ve got good bologna game.”
“I’ll pass.”
After wiping his circle beard with a napkin, Switch tucked his hair behind his ears and stretched out one leg. He dressed the part of a man who rode a motorcycle: black boots and sometimes a bandana over his head. He was handsome, and Gem wondered why he would give up finding a mate for the next ten years to be a nanny. People never ceased to amaze her.
He stared at her for a beat. “Is this normal?”
“Niko working out?”
“No. Earthquakes, trees on fire, team members in a coma… that kind of weird shit.”
Gem shrugged.
Switch draped his arm over the back of the bench and gave her a wolfish grin. “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”
Gem rolled her eyes and reduced the distance between them. “I hope you don’t use those cheesy lines on real women.”
“If you’re not a real woman, what are you?”
She plopped down in the seat in front of him. “Didn’t Viktor give you all the rules?”
“You mean the one about eating with the team or the one about debauchery?” Switch looked at her long and hard, questions dancing in his gorgeous brown eyes. He obviously wanted to know more about her and Niko.
She folded her arms on the table. “That wasn’t what it looked like. Viktor wanted us to stay together, and I needed rest.”
“Looked like you two were pretty cozy.”
Flustered, she picked up his uneaten sweet pickle and took a bite.
Switch laughed as if he’d been holding it in. “I’m just messin’ with ya. What goes on around here is none of my business. I’m not trying to start trouble. I’m used to being around a pack, so the solitude here lately is getting to me.”
“Maybe you should go out more.”
“I do. Sometimes I ride out and hang with a few buddies, but the long part of my day is spent here. It takes getting used to.”
“Where’s Hunter?”
“Napping. Kids need it at his age. Hell, I need it.”
“He’s so adorable. I’m not good with children, but I love having him around. He’s unpredictable, like me.”
“You seem like the type who would be good with kids.” His eyes skimmed up to her colorful hair, then back down to her blue nail polish.
She finished the pickle and tossed the nubby end back on his empty plate. “And you seem like the type who would repel children. Sometimes people aren’t what they seem.”
He gave her a one-sided smile. “Point taken.”
“How do you like it here so far?”
Switch swung his gaze up to the ceiling, and his eyebrows knitted together. “It’s a lot different from my previous jobs. Quieter. I’ve never had to look after just one kid. Usually it’s a house full of them, and packmates are always coming and going. Sometimes I spend a whole day here and never see another face.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s not a bad thing.” Switch rested his chin in the palm of his hand, and Gem couldn’t help but notice his biceps.
Swell. Another workout fanatic.
“You’re welcome to use the gym,” she offered. “Viktor would never restrict you from using anything in the mansion. Well, except for private rooms. And eating with us.” She felt her face flush. “I’m sorry it has to be like that. We do important work here, and we discuss confidential matters over dinner. It’s the one time when we’re all together, so I don’t know if that’s something we could change.”
When Switch shook his head, his brown hair sprang free from behind his ear and curtained half his face. “No big deal. As long as we can still hang out now and then. Raven likes rock climbing, and we go down there sometimes. Wyatt just likes to chill, but he can be a real ass.”
Gem chortled. “It’s a Gravewalker thing. You’ll get used to it. They think they have life all figured out.”
“Well, he needs to figure out some fair prices on that vending machine. What’s up with the five-dollar donuts?”
“If you want snacks, you’re better off buying your own and stashing them in your room. Kira creates the shopping list using Viktor’s budget, and we do the shopping. Money for anything additional we want has to come out of our own pockets, and there’s no guarantee she won’t toss it if we put it in the kitchen. She’s all about whole foods.”
“I like her. She works hard and has a way with Hunter. Maybe it’ll help for him to bond with someone else who doesn’t talk. She has a keen intellect and no trouble communicating what she wants.”
Gem played with the ends of her sleeves. “Do you think he’ll ever talk?”
“Maybe. Life is harder when you can’t or won’t communicate with the rest of the world, but it’s not impossible.” Switch inhaled deeply and sighed. “It doesn’t mean he won’t become a good man.”
“But how will he earn a living? Sensors working with law enforcement have to communicate. Even if he chooses sensory exchange, he won’t be able to communicate with his customers.”
“I’d be highly surprised if he uses his Sensor gifts to make a living. Sensory exchange isn’t something every kid dreams of doing when they grow up. There are only so many jobs with the higher authority, and the sensory market is saturated. Relics have more opportunities, so he’s got a choice. He’s a smart kid, and I think he’ll be fine as long as the people he loves make him feel like he’s enough just as he is.”
Gem leaned back. “So we should stop trying to make him talk?”
Switch tapped his ear. “He listens to everyone. Every comment you make about it will chip away at his self-esteem. Leave that to his father and me. He whispers, so he’s not mute. And it’s not going to hinder his learning. We’re working on his letters and doing a lot of reading. He loves books. He also loves climbing, so I’m going to ask Shepherd what he thinks about buying special harness equipment and taking him into the rock-climbing room. I think he’s been in there a few times already, but gearing him up and setting a goal might build his confidence.”
“He’s braver than I am.”
“Just remember, he might look like a little kid who’s not paying attention, but Hunter is very observant. Scarily so. Be careful what you say around him and also what you feel. He doesn’t always wear those gloves around the house. Sensors his age aren’t supposed to be familiar with
complex emotions, but he is.”
Gem frowned and glanced into the empty gathering room. “That has to do with the man who raised him. He was a monster.”
“I hope that monster got what he had coming to him.”
“He did.”
When the music shut off, Gem and Switch looked toward the door. The hinges creaked as it opened, and Niko emerged, covered in sweat.
“Behold! He lives,” Gem announced.
Niko wiped his flushed face. “Is something the matter?”
“I wanted to see if you’ve heard from Viktor.”
Switch eased out of his seat. “That’s my cue. I’ll be in the courtyard working on my tan if anyone needs me. Hunter won’t be awake for another hour. I’ve got to get his lesson plans ready for next week,” he said, talking to himself as he swaggered out of the room.
Niko headed to the dining table and picked up one of the water bottles he must have placed there. After gulping down the contents of two of them, he collected the plastic and headed for the kitchen. He was panting as if he’d run a marathon, but after a few deep breaths, his breathing regulated. Gem followed him into the kitchen and admired the clean space.
“I sure am glad we don’t have to cook anymore,” she mused, having flashbacks of kitchen fires and dirty dishes.
Niko dropped the bottles into the recycling bin and closed the pantry door. “Viktor called this morning. They still haven’t found Kallisto, but Claude picked up a scent trail at the scene, and they’re tracking him. Kallisto has no money or contacts. Cyrus didn’t like working with others, and when he made exceptions, he didn’t want his men getting involved. It’s going to be hard for Kallisto to get out of the city if that’s what he has in mind.”
“Where on earth are they staying? I hope they’re not sleeping on the streets.”
“Viktor booked rooms at a hotel in the heart of the city. That gives them a central meeting place. Kallisto knows the higher authority put a bounty on his head because of the men he killed during his escape, so he won’t be going out in the day.”
Gem followed Niko toward the front of the house while watching beads of sweat sliding down his back in rivulets. “Couldn’t he just kill a human and steal their car?”
“Anything is possible. But without a valid alias and ID, he risks human law enforcement pulling him over in a stolen car that’s connected to a dead body. He would have no one to bail him out except for the higher authority. But if he grows desperate, he might decide to risk it.”
“What else did Viktor say?”
When Niko neared the stairs, he reached out until his hand found the wide stone railing, then he started ascending the steps. “They’ve been asking around, and there have been a few sightings. If Kallisto still has his long braid, he’ll stand out. They have a good chance of finding him, especially as he grows more impulsive and desperate to know what happened to his brothers. He never made it to the apartment. It’s located on the opposite side of the city from where he was traveling.”
“How do they know he didn’t go there?”
“The tape that the cleaners put across the door was still in place. Viktor thinks he’s heading that way, so he gave Christian the exciting task of waiting in there in case he shows up.”
Gem hopped onto the landing and skipped ahead of Niko. “I bet Christian just hates sitting on his behind.”
“It depends,” Niko countered, retaining his slow pace. “He worked as a guard for many years. If anyone has patience, it’s Christian Poe.”
When she reached the second floor, she pivoted right and headed toward Niko’s room. To conserve supplies, Kira only lit candles during the day in the windowless halls. Keystone had incredible architecture with its high ceilings and arched hallways. Whoever had built it had paid attention to the details. The stones in the floor were flat and even, and the sculpted railings were exquisite. Some of the statues were a little creepy, and Keystone felt more like a castle than a home. Maybe the previous owners came from the Old World or were royalty. Gem had heard about purebloods among Shifters.
Gem lollygagged until Niko caught up. To avoid slamming into walls or flying over banisters, Niko rarely flashed in the house, but he had no trouble navigating his way around the mansion. He let his hand run along the wall and probably counted the doors he passed to know his location.
When they reached his bedroom, she leaned against the outside wall.
He turned the knob. “Come in.”
“I thought you were going to shower.”
“I am. But we haven’t finished our conversation.”
Gem folded her arms. “I’m not showering with you.”
He threw back his head and laughed. Gem loved it when something genuinely tickled Niko and he couldn’t control his laughter. He always apologized for the outbursts, which was endearing but so unnecessary.
“Apologies,” he said as if reading her thoughts. “That wasn’t the invitation I had in mind. You’ll have to bring in candles from the hall if you want light. I have no need for such things.”
He went inside while Gem collected two lanterns near his door. She set one on the bedside table and the other by the fireplace. The water turned on in the bathroom, and while Niko showered, Gem tipped the candles to empty the pools of wax. The action exposed more of the wick, allowing for a brighter burn.
She decided there was no point in shouting through the archway, which would only remind her that he was naked in there, probably covered in suds. Instead, she marveled over how simplistic his room was. People usually filled their private space with the things they loved. Raven enjoyed red accents, Wyatt had a strange affinity for cats and gargoyles, Shepherd hoarded weapons, and Niko had blankets. That was about all he had in his room that stood out in her mind, very soft blankets. Texture was important to him. He’d gone out of his way to install wood flooring, and even the towels in his bathroom were ultra plush. But Niko didn’t collect anything, not unless one counted the katanas mounted on his wall.
Niko emerged from the pitch-black bathroom, towel-drying his hair. The towel around his waist was short, and when he turned away, she could see his Keystone tattoo. They had all inked themselves in inconspicuous places. Gem’s was on the bottom of her right foot.
“Why did you put your tattoo on the back of your knee?” she asked, staring at his right leg.
After he finished drying his hair, he flipped the towel over his shoulder and started selecting some clothes to wear. “Have you ever seen me in shorts?”
She smirked. “You never know what I might slip into your wardrobe.”
“I have something I wish to do, and I want you to come with me.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see. Can you run down to the courtyard and get a shovel? I’ll meet you there.” He slipped into the bathroom with a handful of garments.
Gem loved surprises. She dashed out of the room and down to the courtyard without delay. Good thing she hadn’t put on a pair of chunky heels. Her purple stacked sneakers clashed with her outfit, but they sure made running a lot easier.
When she reached the courtyard, she noticed Switch had dragged the glider out onto the lawn. His torso and arms were already brown, and when she glanced down at his bare feet, she imagined him having chalk-white legs.
“Don’t get any ideas about nude sunbathing,” she called out.
He chuckled. “Now that you mention it, I might have to even things out.”
Gem veered right. Just past the hot tub in the covered veranda was a tool shed. Viktor had hired a Breed lawn service company to do all the big maintenance, but the team still pitched in to do basic gardening in the courtyard. There were different types of shovels, some long and others wide. Not knowing what Niko had in mind, she grabbed the wide one and headed back.
Switch grinned as he looked over his shoulder at her. “Digging for treasure?”
“I’m digging your grave if you don’t keep your pants on.”
As much as Gem loved snow, she also
adored spring weather. The birds were singing, including a mockingbird. The native wildflowers provided an array of colors in the courtyard, and the weather made her want to plant a long row of purple flowers alongside the veranda wall.
Niko stepped outside, wearing his usual black T-shirt and pants. He squeezed out a few drops of water from his damp hair and walked onto the grass. “Let’s cut through and go out the back way.”
The courtyard was centered within the walls of the mansion. He had no need for Gem to guide him around the winding trails that he’d memorized. When they reached the door, they briefly went inside until they exited through the back door that opened to the expansive estate.
Gem used the shovel like a staff and sliced the earth every other step she took. “Where are we going?”
“Switch told me which direction to head, but I can see it just fine. The power lingers.”
When she caught sight of the black tree, she began dragging the shovel instead. The wind crept up from behind and blew her hair in front of her face. Now that their lives were back to normal, she wanted Claude to return so he could touch up her roots. Gem hated her natural hair. It was so pale it almost looked white. Why couldn’t she have been blessed with Kira’s amazing locks? She’d even settle for Raven’s black hair or Blue’s sable brown. Her thoughts danced around dye jobs in a futile attempt to avoid thinking about her last moments with Niko’s book.
Once they reached the charred spot, she stared down at the blackened earth. The burnt area spanned about ten feet in diameter, and even though the wind had blown the loose ashes away, the intense energy must have burned the dirt all the way to China.
“This is an eyesore,” she remarked. “It’s nothing but ashes. Do you want me to cover it up with fresh dirt?” She drove the spade into the ground. “Maybe we should buy some sod.”
“That’s not what I had in mind.” A gust of wind carried away more of the ashes at their feet. Niko reached into his pocket and withdrew the opal stone. “This doesn’t belong with us anymore. We must return it to the earth.”
“Why not keep it?”
“For what purpose? Taking something without fair trade is bad karma. I spent centuries protecting the world from a book I stole, and it cursed me. Raven may have bartered for the blade, but we’ve taken all we need from it. This is no ordinary stone; it still has some of your energy within it and always will. We can’t begin to understand the residual power it holds, and if you keep it, you risk losing it. Someone might tap into that power, maybe even use it to tap into your power.”