by C. L. Quinn
“Beautiful. Cold in winter. Dull. I would ask you the same thing about Africa.”
“Same. Except for the cold. I guess we all long for something new. We should trade homes for a while.”
“I’d consider that if I didn’t know that my father would drag my ass back to Boston.”
“Powerful father figure, eh?”
“You know who he is?”
“Oh, right. Your father is the six-thousand-year-old reincarnated vampire.”
“Of a sort, yes. He’s powerful and kind, but strict.”
“I believe my mother was very impressed when she met him years ago. I’d like to meet him too.”
Crezia tugged on Fia’s fingers hanging over her shoulder. “Oh, after this, you probably will.”
“Good. Splendid start to our adventure.” Pulling open a doorway, Fia led Crezia down a long hallway and around several turns before they entered an enormous well-lit room.
“Folks, our mystery guest has arrived. May I present our 11th soldier, Crezia from Boston.”
Crezia stood quietly in place as every set of eyes in the room landed on her. No words of greeting seemed imminent, so she smiled and met each gaze with her own.
“Crezia?” Cairine threaded her way past the others and stopped in front of this woman she’d wanted to meet for many years. “I’m Cairine. My mother is the one who figured out how to save your life right after you were born.”
“Oh, Park. Yes, I’ve met her a few times. She and your father used to come by when I was a child to check on me. I’m thrilled to meet you.”
“Come, let me introduce you around.”
For several minutes, Crezia weaved from person to person with brief introductions and cautious hellos.
Luka slapped his hands together. “Now that we’re all here, may we go over your strategy?”
Eras answered. “No strategy, Luka. We’ll find the kids and use our powers to release them and bring them home. The only thing we don’t know is what you want us to do with the men who took them.”
“Don’t worry about that, I’m going to be with you when you do, along with a dozen Totem fighters.”
“Not if we go out today, you won’t.”
“I know you said no strategy, but you’re going to follow a plan. Here it is. You guys find the location where they’re keeping the kids. Do you know how to throw up a cloaking spell?”
Brigitte snorted. “Easy cake.”
“Good. Once you find them, you cloak yourselves until the sun drops and we join you. I can follow the GPS on your phones once you’re in position. Then we go in.”
“But don’t you want us to bring the kids home right away?” Fia asked.
“I’d rather they come home safe, and get the men who did this. Kids, that’s almost as important. We can’t have men capable of kidnapping supernaturals running around out there with knowledge of our existence, proof of it, and our location. It’s critical that I stop them.”
Little conversations sprung up amongst the first blood children. Crezia, still standing, watched them closely. She realized that all the others knew each other well and that she was definitively out of the loop. Dropping onto the couch, she put a hand out to steady herself and it landed on a hard denim-covered kneecap. Her eyes shot to the man who owned the knee.
“Oh, sorry! I’m so out of my element here. Um…”
His eyes sparkled almost as much as his smile. Crezia watched as he leaned in and took her hand in his. God, he was gorgeous!
His deep voice captured her. “Caedmon. Caed.”
“Ah, see how much I have to learn? I will, though, and soon. Caed. Sorry.”
“It’s quite all right. You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.”
“No, you’re a lot bigger than me.” Yes, he was!
“Stick with me, Crezia, I’ll help guide you through these wild personalities. They are all wonderful, but it can get kind of manic and bizarre.”
“I appreciate that. And please, I go by Zia.”
As he walked to the front of the group, Eras faced them. “All right. We go. Talib and Ife will be our magical GPS. Bryson and Fia will man the maps in case we need them.”
Cairine joined him. “Everyone, Kalia has provided proper clothing and gear for a trek through the rain forest. It isn’t necessary for me to point out that all of us are out of our element here.”
Beside her now, Luka nodded. “Which is why I’m sending three of the Totems with you, including my mate’s closest friend, Dhole. Your parents would kill me forever if I let you do this alone. Yes, you’re all powerful, and we need that, but you need help navigating this landscape. No bitching!”
“No, I agree with you. It’s in the sharing of this task that we will make it successful.” Talib pulled Ife with him as they followed Cairine into the hallway where Kalia had placed a table full of shirts, pants, waterproof jackets, boots, and several other clothing items for the travelers.
Caedmon looked at the lovely girl next to him. Her dark eyes were exotic, and he wondered what that odd movement he saw could be. Looking closer, he watched the motion. Swirls of silver? Did he imagine that?
“I guess we’d better join them,” Crezia commented.
“Yes. You go ahead and I’ll come in a minute.”
He wouldn’t come with her. Okay. Was that distance she saw in eyes that were so welcoming a moment ago? Crezia knew that adapting to the personalities of strangers would be challenging, she’d been so sheltered all her life, but she’d hoped that with these particular people, it would be easy. It appeared she might have been mistaken.
“Uh, okay, then.”
Pushing up, she started past the couch toward the hall, but paused to glance back. Caedmon was just rising, and held onto the armrest as he eased himself forward on the thick cushion. She noticed a grimace as he tried to lift his body from the couch and saw his legs shake before he dropped back down.
What the hell? Was he injured? She hurried back to him. “Caedmon, do you need help?”
He looked up at her then, and the expression in his eyes told her why his manner had changed. He was embarrassed. Why would he be?
“No. Just please go with the others.”
Caedmon watched Crezia’s brows come together, her lips open. Her eyes moved over his body and he felt a flood of heat. Everyone else knew of his disability, it really wasn’t a big deal, so why did it disturb him so much for her to see how weak he was?
“Just go, please.”
“But you need help. I saw…”
“Look, I’m fine. You might as well know that I have some problems, but everyone else knows not to help me unless I ask. So, please be courteous and let me do this myself.”
He waited for her to nod and leave, but she didn’t. Instead, she folded her arms and stared at him, this time with a slight smile. “Really? You need help getting off this deep couch and you refuse to take it? That’s bullshit, sir. Come on.”
Crezia reached for him and wrapped her hands around his forearms to pull him up, which she did easily. Both were surprised when the places she touched on his bare arms tingled intensely. Without thought, he wrapped his own fingers around her arms. The heat from earlier that he’d decided was either embarrassment or a sexual response bloomed into liquid fire and began to move through him.
“What are you doing to me?” Caedmon had never felt anything like this before. “Zia, what is your talent?”
“I’m not really sure. Simple tricks, manipulation of water, air, fire. A few other unexciting things.”
After a short step, Caedmon moved his leg around, and his eyes shot to Crezia’s. “That didn’t hurt.”
She noticed his shock. “It shouldn’t.”
“It always does. I’ve had sharp pain in my joints for ten years, worsening with each year. Walking is always painful. But…that step didn’t hurt.”
They stayed in place, hands held now, all twenty fingers tingling, a growing electrical charge moved between them.
“I�
��m afraid to try it again. To hope.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You did something. I’ve been partially disabled since I was a small boy.”
Surprised, Crezia didn’t know what to say. Maybe she did have the ability to heal. This trip had been a chance to discover herself and those she was meant to join someday.
“Well, if I have helped you, if my talent makes your pain less, then hope you must have. Do it.”
With only a brief hesitation, Caedmon stepped forward with the other leg. Again, his eyes moved to Crezia’s.
“What the hell?” he whispered.
“Wow,” she said, simultaneously.
“Are we taking dance lessons?” Fia interrupted their moment. She realized instantly that something was happening. “What?” she barked.
Cautious, Caedmon shrugged. “I can’t say.”
Crezia moved close to him, her left arm now around his waist. “Just come.”
Together, slowly at first, and then quicker, they walked across the room together. Caedmon’s gait was awkward for only a few steps, then became more forceful, and finally, he stopped, slipped away from Crezia, and walked from one side of the room to the other with no limp or pause at all.
Everyone watched what looked like a miracle.
Stopping in the center of the room, Caedmon lifted both arms out to his sides, his eyes on Crezia as she stood, too, five feet from him in the center of the room.
“Well then. Crezia, my heavenly angel. You’ve fixed me. For however long this might last, thank you.” He didn’t lift a hand to wipe away slow moving tears on each of his cheeks.
Her eyes glittering, Crezia shook her head. “I didn’t know I was capable of that. I’m not even sure it was me.”
“I’m sure it was. We both felt the sparks when we touched. I guess we’ll find out in time. For now, there isn’t anything to say, except perhaps where have you been all my life.”
“My father always told me that my namesake was a healer. Mother says that she believes that I may have that talent too. Maybe I do?”
Cairine moved across the room and reached for Caedmon, her face buried against him. The small boy she had protected as a child had grown into this special man she had not been able to protect. She’d had to watch his condition worsen through the years, knowing that there was nothing anyone seemed to be able to do to help him. Now, this beautiful stranger might have changed that awful fate.
Turning, she pulled Zia forward and hugged her too tightly. “Bless you, bless you, my new sister.”
Still overwhelmed by all the attention and what might be a miracle, Crezia tried to hug Cairine back, but her eyes were drawn to a large young man at the entrance. He wore hiking boots and dark apparel that looked waterproof. It was his almost hostile expression as he stared at her that knocked her off guard. Who was he and what was his damage?
As Cairine pulled away, she wiped moisture from her cheeks. “I guess we need to get to our mission. Are you up on it?”
“Uh, yeah, I, uh…Brigitte filled me in before you guys landed, and then Fia told me some more after I did. I could probably use a few more details.”
“Come with me. While we dress, I can go over what Luka and the Totems told us.” Cairine looked over her shoulder. “Coming, Iron Man?”
Caedmon hesitated, then stepped easily as he covered the room again to join them. “Absofreakinglutely!”
As his buddy approached, Eras watched him with Cairine and the American first blood warrior. Pressure in his chest showed he was having a highly emotional reaction to seeing Caed walk so normally, so pain-free, after all the rough years. He’d be immensely grateful for Crezia’s intervention…if he didn’t find it all too convenient.
The most powerful ancient vampires on the planet hadn’t been able to help Caed, yet here comes this unknown woman, human, and she fixed his lifelong health issues? He didn’t want to be cynical, but he couldn’t help but suspect that something wasn’t right. How did she have such power?
Shani. He would have her read this woman and let him know what she was. He knew that the vampire world had a lot of power, but he also didn’t believe in random miracles either. Wasn’t it odd that she seemed to have gone straight to Caedmon?
“We’re leaving in fifteen minutes, so everyone, get in your gear, grab your pack, and meet us at the entrance to this building.”
“Okay, Eras, we’re doing it. Why do you sound so disagreeable all the sudden?” Cairine finished tying the boots she’d chosen. What had happened to the irreverent jokester they all knew and loved?
“We’re killing time and we have a job to do.”
“Chill, brother.” Fia stashed a knife in her boot. She’d been practicing with it for the past three years and thought that it wasn’t a bad idea to have some sort of protection. No one else knew about it. “We’re just as committed as you, moonchild.”
“Then show it.” Eras crossed the room aggressively to join Bryson, watching Caedmon pull thin waterproof pants over his jeans. His eyes shined with unshed tears as he admitted that while he needed to find out what was really up with the new member of their team, he was thankful that Caedmon, for the first time since he was a toddler, could move easily as he should always have been able to do. This fun adventure had just gotten much more serious.
Feeling blindsided, Crezia followed Cairine’s lead and dressed quickly, her eyes locked on the angry young man who’d focused his ire toward her. What the fuck had she done to him? God, her mother would wash her mouth out with soap for even thinking like that, let alone for using a harsh word when it wasn’t necessary. Her father would have just laughed.
But here amongst strangers for the first time in her life, Crezia wanted to march up to the asshole and ask him to tell her why he had been so hostile. Then her eyes moved to Caedmon, dressed now, with a big backpack on his back.
He flexed and moved his legs back and forth repeatedly, checking his new mobility. She’d never seen such joy. His amazed expression and brilliant smile brightened her dark mood, and when his eyes suddenly moved up to meet hers, all the worry and frustration she felt faded.
Something unfamiliar jumped in her gut and she didn’t have to guess what it was. That tingle she’d felt when she touched him had traveled through her too, and if it had meant that a hidden ability to heal had manifested to help him, this journey was worth it just for that. The electricity, though, had also been her reaction to his touch.
Crezia had felt sexual urges before; there were plenty of attractive men in Boston. But her response to Caed had almost felt like an assault with that last touch, and now, minutes later, his big body so near, she had to check her reaction before she let everyone know. The feelings were not welcome. Crezia didn’t know what to do with them. Beyond this unexplained destiny that bound them all, she and this Caedmon were complete strangers.
She lifted her eyes to his again after dropping hers and found he hadn’t stopped staring at her. Without realizing it, she returned his smile in equal measure.
Yep, you’re lame. And probably half in love already. Stop yourself, girl.
Crezia shook her head as she turned away to check the backpack and figure out how to cinch the straps tighter. Heat from inches away drew her head back up.
Shani stood there, her big eyes wide. “Let the feelings in, my new friend. They’re authentic and inevitable. I may as well let you know, you two bond on a level I have never seen before. When I focus on you, I feel heat like I’ve never felt before when regarding two people. Let go.”
Cairine heard what Shani said and let her eyes move over the diverse group of young people now venturing out into an unexpected, unprotected world. They had no idea what they would face, but they had each other. With embedded talents and abilities granted by a generous universe and this living planet, she knew they would be fine.
Her eyes stopped on Crezia, trying too hard to keep her attention on stubborn straps on the backpack Kalia had just brought for her. Then they m
oved to Caedmon, now joined up with his brothers, laughing out loud, and doing a ridiculous jig to show off his incredible mobility.
It was time to face the jungle on its own terms.
Watching the party of young vampires-to-be trodding off into a landscape as alien to them as the moon, Kalia leaned against the door of the underground building her community had built decades ago when Luka came to live with them.
“The Mother protect you,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and pictured her two daughters, missing along with the others for days now. Her heart couldn’t take much more.
Blessed beyond all measure when Luka came into her life, Kalia had brought hope to her race when she fell in love with the beautiful vampire. Over two hundred Totem children had been born in the past twenty years due to Park’s insemination program. Had it not been for Luka, those children would never have been born.
Losing any one of them was unthinkable, and now with ten precious lives endangered, it seemed right that the saviors of her race would be brought home by the saviors of the earth. It had to go well. She couldn’t imagine her life without those precious children. Her two sons remained safe, thank God, but the universe would have to forgive her for demanding that all of her children be home and well.
“Come to bed, my love.”
That deep voice that revved her body every time he spoke traveled down the protective corridor that kept the daylight from the interior rooms. After securing the door, she turned and walked to him.
Luka took her face in his hands. “They’ll bring them home, Kali-cat.”
“Make love to me, vampire.”
“The things I have to do to keep you tame. Come with me.”
FOUR
It had been a rough flight. Not only had they hit severe turbulence twice over the ocean, but Rodney’s attention had been split between surveying the terrain of the grounds around the Totem community in Patagonia on a small tablet, and trying to control his worry about his ten charges.
Behind him, snoozing, his team of dedicated men, blood-bonded the same day he had been over twenty years ago, seemed completely relaxed. It’s because they trusted Rodney implicitly. They knew that while they were each given small doses of Koen’s blood, typical for blood-bonds, Rodney’s doses were larger, and a special mix that made him stronger, faster, and more talented than they were. After all these years together, living and working side by side, they knew he was well beyond human now.