Zora's Dawn (Defender Book 1)

by Sheryl Lee

  Jake did not look quite so convinced, but agreed. Zora couldn’t blame him. What sane person would want someone who had no idea what she was doing as a member of a group such as this?

  The conversation stayed on lighter topics from then on, interspersed with werewolf/shifter barbs between the wolves and Powers. Men, thought Zora. They were the same whatever the species. She relaxed as the evening went on, enjoying the humour but staying mostly silent.

  Over coffee Axel broached the subject of the upcoming trip to Melbourne. “Little Zora, in light of what we have learned from Rusty and Jake, and the disturbing theory Shax has come up with, I feel that it is imperative we try to find this werewolf. If, as the boys suspect, she is a part of a larger group it is possible the other members are based in Melbourne. It is possible she has not yet killed because they are attempting a spell, or perhaps because they are deciding on their next move. In any case, we can check with the defenders who live there. So we leave tomorrow. Sunny, regretfully for you we will travel again by mist travel. Hopefully you will be reassured to know that we will arrive at the Melbourne residence of my mother the Queen, and will definitely not become merged with a tram or some such.”

  Rusty and Jake looked confused, Rusty asking, “Mist travel?”

  Shax answered. “You know, that freaky way the fairies and vampires have of getting around. Zora called it ‘mist travel’ and it would appear the name has stuck.”

  Rusty and Jake still looked perplexed so Marcus explained how Zora was able to see the mist of the fairies and the vampires, and also the beginnings of the change of shifters. This caused Jake to look concerned instead of perplexed. “You mean she can see we will change before we do?”

  Axel answered, “She could see which animal Powers chose before Marcus could see anything. I have no doubt she will be able to see you boys too, and you as well Shax. Don’t ever think of using magic on her without her knowledge.”

  Shax snorted. “As if! But that is very useful, because if there is a magic wielder with the rogue group – if the theory is correct – she will know before he or she tries to use magic against us.”

  Zora held up a hand. “Wait a minute, I thought magic doesn’t work on other supes? Wasn’t that what you said Axel?”

  “I did little Zora, but the dark arts are a different matter. They go outside the normal rules.”

  “So in that case what is to stop a werewolf performing a dark art spell?” Every head in the room swung to Zora, an expression of shock on the face of each one.

  It was Axel who voiced what they were all thinking. “You may be right little Zora. And if you are, that is a very worrying prospect indeed.”

  The mood of the room changed, the energy draining out of them all as they processed this new possibility. Not surprisingly, the two werewolves made their excuses shortly after. Axel rose to see them out and the rest of the group began to disperse. Wow, Zora thought, way to be a mood killer Zora.

  Since it was clear the evening was ended she began to make her way back to her room, less than pleased when Powers fell into step beside her. “You want first shower?”

  She swung her gaze to him. “Oh that’s right, I have a companion for the night. It just keeps on getting better.”

  “Oh come on Zora, it’s not that big a deal. I think you have bigger things to worry about than me.”

  “Well thanks for that cheerful thought.” Zora stomped off, trying to get ahead of Powers but he easily caught up with her and matched his pace to hers.

  At the bedroom he reached out to open the door, allowing her to precede him into the room. “It’s nothing but the truth. Go have a shower, hopefully it will improve your disposition.”

  Back stiff with indignation Zora stalked over to her bag to search for something to wear. There was no way she was going to come out of the shower dressed in the night clothes she had brought with her.

  “Relax, I’m not going to jump on you if you wear those cute purple pyjamas, just go shower so I can have one, I’m tired.”

  Zora hesitated, Powers really did sound exhausted. He was under pressure just like they all were, and he was taking his role of guardian seriously even now when she was sure they were well protected. She supposed she was acting a little foolishly considering everything else that was going on.

  Sighing heavily she picked up her pyjamas and headed into the shower. It had a huge shower head with multiple functions and plenty of water pressure. Zora spent a lot of time messing about with all the settings and more time just enjoying the feel of the water beating down on her back. It was possible to forget the whole world in a good shower, and she felt much more relaxed when she finally turned off the taps and reached for the huge fluffy towel.

  She made use of the deliciously scented toiletries provided and was feeling pampered as she teased out the tangles in her hair in front of the bathroom mirror. That job done and pyjamas on she had no other reason to put off exiting the bathroom, but still hesitated, feeling self-conscious about going into the room even though all the necessary bits were covered. It just seemed too intimate for Powers to see her in her night clothes. Why hadn’t she brought a robe? Of course to bring one it was necessary to own one and she didn’t. Why didn’t she own a robe?

  At that ridiculous point in her thoughts Powers banged on the door. “I’m just going to talk to Axel about a few things, I’ll be back in about half an hour, ok?”

  A wave of relief washing over her Zora called back, “Sure, no worries, take your time.”

  Powers snorted and a few seconds later she heard the door close. Wasting no time Zora dashed out of the bathroom and climbed into her bed. Thanking the air conditioning that kept the room cool she pulled the bed covers up to her chin and tried to go straight to sleep. Of course, since she was so anxious to be asleep before Powers returned she instead lay in bed wide awake, her mind going over the day’s events. She really didn’t want to, it was all too much and she needed a break from thoughts of werewolves and dark magic and eviscerated victims. It was like a horror movie and she had never been a fan of that genre.

  Zora searched her mind for a less worrying subject, something to lull her to sleep. Maybe cute fluffy kittens - that was a safe topic. She settled into her pillow - really this was a fabulous bed - and began to imagine a basket full of kittens. That was nice, fluffy kittens with gorgeous yellow eyes that matched their coats, and a liberal sprinkling of black spots to set off the black eyeliner around their eyes. Wait a minute, what was she imagining? Cute kittens yes, but they were cheetah cubs. Rolling her eyes mentally Zora deleted the image, she didn’t want to imagine cheetah cubs, it was like a basket full of baby Powers. Come on Zora, get it together, white kittens with blue eyes, nothing like Powers at all.

  Her eyes popped open and she groaned in disbelief at herself. Cheetah cubs were so adorable, there was nothing wrong with imagining them. How did her mind make the leap from a basket full of cheetah cubs to Powers reclining on the bed next to her wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer shorts. Wait, what? Where had that image come from? She was thinking about kittens dammit, not some hot shifter in his underwear smelling so good and looking even better. Zora smacked herself in the head. Yes she wanted to think of something other than the current events but not Powers! That was guaranteed to keep her awake. Her resolved to not become further involved was already being tested.

  She needed to think of something different, like puppies. No, too close to the werewolves. So, not animals at all. Flowers, a garden full of lovely flowers. Happy with her choice Zora began to construct a curved garden bed, filling the back of it with a long hedge. She was selecting plants for the middle section when Axel’s face formed in the middle of her hedge. Zora shook her head to dislodge the picture and held in a scream of frustration. What was wrong with her? She was thinking about flowers, not fairies. Restless and anxious she threw back the covers, thinking to get a glass of water but at that moment Powers came back to the room.

  Zora couldn’t help h
erself, as the door opened she flipped the covers back over herself and up to her chin mentally cursing herself since it was dark and she was pretty sure even Powers couldn’t see in the dark. She watched his silhouette as he entered and closed the door behind him. She was sure she heard a snicker but he said nothing, simply rummaged about in his bag, using his phone as a torch. After a few minutes he stood and moved towards the bathroom.

  Zora squeaked in surprise when he stopped beside the bed. “Trouble sleeping? I’ve been known to have that effect.”

  “Yeesh, you wish. I’m just trying not to think about everything, that’s all.”

  “Oh right, so no thoughts of me in my black boxers?”

  “No! That was an accident, I mean I didn’t mean to think that, I mean I was thinking of cheetah cubs and you know, you change into a cheetah and so then it was you but that was all. I mean, I don’t want to see you in your boxers!”

  Powers snickered again. “Whatever you reckon. I’ll go shower now, you lie there and think about that hmmmm?”

  Zora compressed her lips and refused to answer as Powers closed the shower door, his laugh lingering in the bedroom.

  She could hear him moving around in there, her imagination obliging her with images of him half naked. She reminded herself again that it was only the effects of the bond and tried to block out the disturbing mental images. It was harder than it should have been, surely it would even out once she got used to the bond. Hoping that would be the case she turned her back to the bathroom door and resolutely closed her eyes. When Powers emerged from the shower in a warm cloud of citrus and man she steeled herself for a snarky comment, but he said nothing.

  Zora was annoyed with herself for feeling ignored as she listened to him climb into his bed. Her skin tingled when he moaned in pleasure – his bed must be as fabulously comfortable as hers - and to her irritation she felt her nipples tighten in response. It had to be because of the bond that she was having such a visceral response to a man she preferred to ignore only a few days ago. Nothing else made sense. But then nothing about this new world made sense.

  She lay as still as she could while Powers rustled around for a few more minutes. Then there was silence, followed by deep regular breathing. He was asleep, just like that. Zora was left lying wide awake in her bed. How could he just accept the situation and fall asleep so quickly? She was acutely aware of him lying close to her in the darkened room. She was so attuned she could feel every movement he made as though he really was next to her. And she apparently had so little effect on him that he just dropped off to sleep in seconds. And wasn’t he in this room so he could guard her? How was he going to effectively guard her when he was dead asleep, snoring no less. Irritated, she flung herself onto her back and stared at the patch of light showing around the edge of the curtained window. She was never going to get to sleep.

  Powers woke instantly, senses alert, body poised for action. Zora was whimpering in her bed, terrified whimpers. Powers checked but couldn’t see or smell anything that shouldn’t be there. He took a few more seconds to be certain before going to her. Zora was dreaming, by the sounds of it a nightmare. He sat down beside her and took her hand, kicking himself yet again for not making her aware of her heritage years ago. No wonder she had nightmares, she had been thrust into a frightening world. She was twisting her head about on the pillow as though trying to get away from something, so he ran a hand over her hair in a soothing gesture, part of his mind noting the way the soft moonlight from the window seemed to make the strands glow under his hand.

  Zora was still whimpering, her eyes flickering rapidly under the lids. He leaned closer, making soft shushing sounds and stroking the side of her face. It seemed to calm her, the whimpering was easing and she was not thrashing about as much. Powers kept his hold on her hand and continued stroking her hair until she gradually settled back into a more peaceful sleep. He sat up and started easing his hand away so he could go back to bed. Sleeping Zora however had other ideas and would not let go of his hand, instead pulling as though she wanted him beside her.

  Powers considered his options. If he continued to pull his hand away she might wake and be furious with him for getting so close. If he continued to sit there he would fall asleep and fall onto her and she would wake and be even more furious. He sighed, wondering if he was really only justifying what he wanted to do. With a shrug he gave in, and lay down beside her, careful to stay on the outside of the bed covers. Zora sighed and snuggled against him, his hand still firmly clasped in hers. He rested his chin on the top of her head and breathed in her scent. Zora always smelt wonderful to him. He would just lie here for a little while until she was deeply asleep, and then he would go back to his bed. Even if he slept a little he was sure to wake before her.

  Zora woke in the predawn light. She was at first disoriented, with that panic people get when they wake in an unfamiliar room and are unable to remember where they are. As memory returned she relaxed, snuggling closer to the pile of pillows beside her. Wait, what pillows? She poked experimentally at the shape next to her. It was firm, definitely not a pillow. As her senses came online she realised she was breathing in the familiar scent of Powers. What was unfamiliar was his body lying so close to hers on her bed. Powers was on her bed? What was he doing there? Zora racked her brain but had no memory of Powers joining her. That meant he must have come here while she was asleep.

  There was only one reason Zora could think of, apart from a clumsy attempt to take advantage of her and she was pretty sure he would be under and not on the covers if that were the case. No, Powers just had an over developed sense of what a guardian needed to do to protect her. Well she was not having him sleeping on her bed like an overgrown puppy every night. There had to be some boundaries! Annoyed, Zora tried to get out of the bed but the dead weight of Powers had her stuck under the covers like a mummified figure. She tried to pull the covers out from the other side of the bed, but they had been folded underneath with military precision and in the awkward position she was lying in she couldn’t tug them loose. Well ok, that left one option. She gave a mighty heave that a few days ago would have shifted him a few centimetres at best, but with her enhanced strength flipped him straight off the bed. He tumbled to the floor with a satisfying thud, but was up and crouched in a fighter’s stance so fast Zora froze in shock half way out of the bed.

  They remained like that for a few seconds, protagonists in a bizarre fight, before Powers relaxed his position. “Ow! What was that for?” He rubbed his hip with one hand, the other pushing through his hair as he peered at her in the half light.

  “You were sleeping on my covers, I couldn’t get out of bed!”

  “And you didn’t think to just wake me, you had to tip me off the bed?”

  “Well you shouldn’t have been on the bed, you don’t need to sleep on top of me to protect me!”

  Powers stared at her for several long seconds as he processed that comment. “You think I was sleeping on your bed the better to protect you? No! I was perfectly comfortable in my own bed! You had a nightmare and I simply came to calm you before you woke the whole household. It was you wouldn’t let go of my hand, you who pulled me onto the bed. You wouldn’t let me leave.”

  “That’s absurd. I didn’t have a nightmare and even if I did I wouldn’t want you sleeping with me. You’re imagining things.” Zora tossed her head and stood up.

  “Imagining things? You think I would choose to sleep on the edge of your bed with you draped all over me? You have too high an opinion of yourself my girl. If I want to sleep with you, firstly we would not be sleeping much and secondly you would be in my bed, not the other way around. And I would not be shivering on top of the covers – man this air-conditioning is efficient. We would both be under the covers, and we would damned well be naked!”

  Zora gaped at him, trying very hard not to imagine the scenario he described, and grasping at her righteous indignation like it was an ephemerous cloak. The problem was that despite her anger, des
pite the fact that she knew, knew it was an effect of the bond, still his words sent shivers along her nerve endings. The thought of being naked with Powers should infuriate her, but it didn’t. Downright salacious images scrolled through her mind’s eye, causing her to blush so hotly he could probably see her face burning even in this half-light.

  Half-light? All thoughts stopped in their (bawdy) tracks Zora looked at her watch - five am. She was awake at five am. She never woke this early. She was never able to function if she did. Zora groaned and sank back onto the bed.

  Instantly solicitous Powers asked, “What, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s five am! I’m awake at five am! It’s almost dawn and I’m awake! Axel was right, I’m going to become one of those damned morning people. I’m going to be up with the birds and in bed by ten pm because I’m so damned exhausted from waking up so damned early!”

  “Is that all? You’re awake early one morning and you think life as you know it has ended?”

  Zora looked up scornfully. “Life as I know it has ended. I just wanted to hold onto one shred of normality. And it’s not one morning, it’s two in a row.”

  “So? Ok, I get you wish things had never changed, but they have. And two mornings does not a habit make. Even if you do become a morning person it just means you get to drink more tea before you have to do anything. That’s got to be good, more tea means friendlier Zora.”

  “More early mornings means sleep deprived grumpier Zora.”

  Powers sighed, she really was a pain in the mornings. He gave up talking and strode over to the window, pulling the curtain aside to let in the early morning light. Their room faced due east, so the window showcased the first fingers of dawn light reaching tentatively above the trees bordering the house grounds. Swinging around he beckoned to Zora. “Get over here, sit down, let the dawn light do its thing and I’ll go get tea for you and coffee for me. Really strong coffee.”