“Try a long donut.” I squirted in the cream and added a dollop of jam and passed it across.
“Even better,” he mumbled around a mouthful.
I cupped his jaw. “The silver in your eyes is lighting up.”
“At least your hands aren’t.”
“No, I seem to have gained some control over my emotions, even while you’re this close. Hopefully it’ll hold. Faith will soon let me know if it doesn’t.” I ruffled his black hair, removing the dusting of flour still on the ends.
“I’m glad she’s here to watch over you.”
“We look out for each other. We always have.”
He eyed the door the others had left by. “Since you’ve got plenty of aid on hand, and you appear stable, I should go.”
“Can’t you stay a little longer? Please?” I didn’t want him to go, not even into the next room.
“Loveria and Carver are here. They seem okay with me still hanging around, but I doubt it’ll last long.” He undid the ties of his apron and pulled it over his head. “Thank you for loaning me this.”
“I want you to stay.” I couldn’t stop my needy request. “I mean, don’t feel you have to rush off.” Yeah, that wasn’t going to cut it either.
“I’d like to stay, which is another reason why I should go.” He pressed the apron into my hands.
“You’re worried about our bond building?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I should be.” I just couldn’t consider that when he was this close, though.
“We have to take care, Silvie. Any time we spend together should be kept to a minimum.”
“Ooo-kay.” I could hardly argue that fact. “It was nice having you here.”
“It was nice learning how to make the most delicious donuts ever.” He fingered a lock of my hair then lowered his hand to his side. “It’s hard not to touch you.”
“Same.” I wanted to touch him, so badly.
“Tomorrow evening, my mate.” He bent his head in a short bow
So proper, and so fast, he flashed away.
Gone.
My mated one had left me again.
I swirled a hand through the air where he’d been, my heart as heavy as a stone. This moment hurt. Not good.
“Is lunch ready yet?” Faith bounced into the room. “The masses are hungry.”
“They’re all done. I’ve got dinner to prepare for Zayn’s family next.” I slid the dish to her, my appetite gone. “Take these in for me, okay?”
“Sure.” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “So Guy left?”
“Yeah.” I slumped onto the countertop and stroked his mother’s ring. “I think I’m in trouble.”
“What did you do?”
“I have feelings for him.”
“You don’t like having them?”
“What do you think? He’s the last enchanter in his line and Wincrest expects him to marry another warrior woman. We’ve released each other, and there’s no going back.”
She rubbed my back. “That sucks.”
“Big time.” I dropped my chin into my upturned palms, wishing things could be different. They never would be. “Did you know he lost his mother when he was young? This is her ring.”
“He gave you his mother’s ring? No way.”
“It was her last wish, that he pass it along to his mated one.” I eased myself upward. “Don’t tell anyone else, okay? It’s kind of private.”
“You got it.” She gave me a hug, squeezing me tight. “Will you be all right?”
“Yeah. I can deal. What with your problem, my fire skill and Guy coming and going, at least I’m not twiddling my fingers.”
“Well, you’ve always got me, and that’ll never change. I can probably promise a ton of future problems for you to fix too.” Violet eyes twinkling, she picked up the dish. “I’ll go feed the hounds before they chase me in here.”
“Thanks. I’d like some quiet time, just me and my kitchen.”
“You got it.”
Definitely no finger twiddling. I got busy with the night’s upcoming meal, preparing a deep lasagna dish that would feed an army, or certainly Zayn’s family of twelve. Afterward, I made a gooey chocolate brownie, one large enough for double servings. Without a doubt, there was plenty for all.
As the skies darkened out the window, I cleaned up.
Yeah, it was time to change, and to take this mountain of food to where it was needed.
I hurried down the passageway to the north terrace and raced up the gray marble staircase to my rooms on the second floor.
I crossed my sitting area, a space which was all mine, and one I adored. Gold throw pillows graced two long comfy couches in deep red. Those two colors had always bathed me in their warmth. No wonder, really, that I loved the colors of a blazing fire now I’d received the fire skill. I skimmed my fingers over some of my favorite cook books stacked on a redwood bookshelf behind my study-desk. Yellow notes poked from between many of the well-worn pages, beckoning me. So many recipes I had to get to. After finals there’d be more time.
I continued on to my dressing room. From my drawers, I grabbed a pair of skinny red jeans and a soft yellow blouse embroidered with red on the capped sleeves. Nice bright colors to keep bumping up my mood. Cooking for Zayn’s family had helped. I just had to keep busy. I dressed then searched the bathroom vanity for my wide-tooth comb. My reflection in the mirror over the basin showed a fright, although nothing unusual for me after hours in a hot kitchen. My hair was a frizzy bird’s nest, the long spiral curls of red-gold matted together. I gently detangled the knots then set a clip at each side, gold with a small ruby stone, the set gifted to me from Silas for our last birthday. Okay, that was a little better. With a touch of berry flavored lippy, I was done.
Hmm, what would Guy be doing now? He’d said in the evenings he attended to whatever awaited him in Dralion. He’d likely be seeing to Wincrest’s bidding then. Being mated to a warrior really wouldn’t have worked, or at least that’s what I’d keep telling myself.
What I needed to do was get some control over my fire skill, sort the girls’ problem, and then I’d no longer need Guy. Not even the smallest bit.
Today had definitely seen my reliance on him grow, when I shouldn’t need him at all. I was an independent woman.
“Silvie, it’s Zayn. You ready?”
I tapped my head and smiled. Nice. I liked the telepathic skill. “Hey.” I scurried from my room. “Everything’s made. I’m coming down now. I’ll be five minutes.”
“Great. How’s your afternoon been? Any more fire?”
“Just a touch, but Faith warned me, so I didn’t burn anything. Sorry about not getting to show you around. What’d you get up to without me?”
“I took another swim at your beach. Oh, I see the chocolate brownie. You’d better hurry or I might start on it.”
“Don’t you dare.” I picked up my pace, fairly flying down the passageway. Whoa. Too fast. Not like me at all. I almost took out the vase of white roses perched on the recessed wall shelf as I skidded around the doorway into my kitchen. Bending over, I grabbed in a breath. “Phew, I’m here. Fingers out.”
Grinning, he licked his thumb. “Too late, and I thought you said five minutes.”
“My speed’s up.” I grabbed the brownie. “Look at that hole. I’ll tell your mother you did that.”
“Yeah, she won’t be surprised.” Still grinning. “Hey, you want to work on your fire skill tomorrow? I’ll be done with my day’s duties by the time you finish school, and I found this amazing spot about twenty miles farther down the beach from where we were today. It’s secluded and perfect for what you’ll need.”
“Sounds great.” He was the best, for wanting to help me.
He tucked the shirttails of his loose-sleeved white shirt into his brown rawhide pants. He must have dressed on the run. “I can’t wait to see all you can do. You could whip some serious butt with your skill.”
“You mean burn it.” I nudged
the lasagna dish toward him and kept the warm brownie in my hands. “Zip-zap, please.”
“You got it.” He scooped up the dish with one hand and held my arm with the other. “Be prepared for a lot of noise. That’s the only warning I’ll give you.”
I laughed as we ’ported, and moments later we arrived on the stony road between the woodland ranges and the village of Merodyne. I adored the countryside, the remoteness and the quiet. Moonlight bathed the tree tops a silvery hue, and from a sprawling wooden-shingled home, smoke rose eerily then vanished on the wind.
“How gorgeous.” Lanterns lit the square-cut front windows, sprinkling a yellow glow over the beamed porch railing. “I can just see you running about these woods as a kid.”
“Yeah. But I’m not sure where all the noise I promised you is.”
“Do you come home often?” He had rooms in the village closest to the castle where an arena, training facilities and a dining hall provided all our protectors needed.
“A couple of times a week, but only for a short—”
“Zayn!” A girl of about ten bounded out the front door and across the front yard dotted with yellow flowers. Her blond ponytails bobbed and her grin slashed from ear to ear. She plowed into him, puffing from her mad dash. “Oh my goodness, that smells yummy. Please say I’m allowed to eat that now. Is that cheese on the top?” Her nose was in the dish.
“Yes. Giggi, say hi to Silvie.”
“Hi, Silvie. Mmm, what have you got? That smells like chocolate.” She wafted across to me.
“It’s a brownie, with loads of gooey chocolate for sure. It’s nice to meet you, Giggi.”
“Same. Can I take that for you?”
“Be careful, it’s heavy.” I passed it across.
She winked and rushed back to the house. “Last one inside misses out.”
“Well, she’s a delight.” I’d always wished for a sister, but it was only Silas and me. Thankfully Faith had filled that void.
“Giggi’s always on the go. Come and meet everyone else.”
He led the way up the front step and through the opened door. The heat blasting into the entrance from the living room drew me toward the doorway. A fire blazed in the hearth. I’d never want to leave this room if I lived here. Two teens lazed on knitted throw cushions, and three younger ones sat cross-legged on colorful mats playing with thin painted sticks. Each took a turn, adding their stick to the growing platform. This was a game of skill, and one I’d loved playing with Silas as a child.
I leaned into Zayn. “I always won this game. Silas had such big hands and always knocked the sticks down.”
“I had the same problem. I’ve won that game twice, ever, and that was purely by chance.” Lifting his hand toward his siblings, he called out, “Hey, everyone, this is Silvie.”
A chorus of hellos came at me, and I waved back.
“Come on. We’ll take this dish through to the kitchen.” I had to force myself to follow him down the hallway and away from the fireplace’s heat, the only incentive being he’d said kitchen. “Here we are.”
Oh, nice. Brass pots and pans hung over a wood-fired stove, and beside it, a cane basket overflowed with kindling. “Since your home has two fireplaces, I believe I might move in.”
He chuckled. “I’m taking you to the next village bonfire night. You’ll love that.”
“Yes, please, if you can drag me out of this room.” His mother’s kitchen was clearly the hub of the home. On the scuffed wooden countertop, a pail overflowed with ripened red apples. Tasty. And beyond, a wide dining area held a chunky pine table draped with a crocheted cloth. Giggi knelt on one of the slatted bench seats before it and set the brownie on top.
“Where’s Mum, Giggi?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll go find—”
“I’m right here.” Zayn’s mother swished into the room in brown skirts and an apron. Long golden hair, the same shade as Zayn’s, swung in a thick braid down her back. His mother’s eyes widened as she took in the dishes. “Oh, that looks delicious.”
Giggi pointed to the corner of the brownie. “I didn’t do that.”
“I’m sure you didn’t. Thanks, hon. You go and call your father in. He should be out by the woodshed. Let him know we have a guest.” She smiled at Zayn. “Pop the lasagna on the table, Mr. Taste-tester.”
Zayn grinned and slid his dish where she’d said. “It’s gets a ten out of ten, if you’re wondering.”
“I’m sure it does.” She crossed the room and grasped my hands. “Lovely to meet you, Silvie. Thank you so much for bringing dinner. I can’t believe this is the first time we’ve met, although I do remember seeing you in the arena stands at Zayn’s rising. I’m Briarlee. Zayn speaks about you all the time.”
“He does?” Zayn’s cheeks had flushed.
“Mum, what did you do to your hands?”
“I picked berries today.” She twiddled her stained fingers in the air. “I’ll try and have another scrub at them.” At the sink, she picked up a slab of soap, one close to a half pound of butter in size. “Tell me all about your day off, hon.”
“Silvie took me to her favorite beach.”
“You two went out together?” She peered over her shoulder at him. “That sounds intriguing.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?” Her hands disappeared within the mound of bubbles she’d built.
“It’s obvious. Anyway—” He scratched the back of his neck. “—Silvie came into her fire skill today.”
“What?” She flung her hands into the air and suds flew. A blob landed on Zayn’s head. “The fire skill, but that’s— Wow. We haven’t seen that skill in far too long.”
“I didn’t have very good control of it. First day and all.” But I would.
“That’ll only take a little training.” She nabbed a towel and patted Zayn’s head. “The fire comes from your fingertips, right?”
“Yep.” I lifted my hands, and with barely a thought, the fire flickered to life.
Eyes wide, she reared back. “Oh, that’s incredible.”
I waved my hands in front of me and the glowing red and orange sparks licked higher.
“Okay, that’s also hot.” She edged further away. “How do you put it out?”
“Thinking of cold stuff, or getting doused in water. I prefer neither.” Still, I got down to the nasty business of conjuring the iciest winter day possible. A chill soon penetrated my bones, and I shivered and stamped my feet. Ick.
“That’s very clever. Your flames are out.”
“You controlled that quickly.” Zayn examined my hands, turning them over. “It’s obviously better for you to get a handle on things as soon as the fire appears. We’ll practice whenever you wish. You’ll need to be ready for your rising when it comes.”
Oh boy. I didn’t want to think about my rising, the time when our skills came to fruition and burned at three times the strength. I would need a mountain of control for that. “You’re really up for helping me train?”
Briarlee patted my shoulder. “Of course he is. My son won’t have a problem keeping an eye on you.” She pinched Zayn’s cheeks. “Ahh, my firstborn who has the battle skills. I’ll never forget your rising.”
I’d been there that day in the arena too, just a few months ago. A massive crowd had gathered and packed the spectator’s seating, eager to see him become a fully-fledged protector. It was an honored occasion, when one relied on their closest to get them through the long hours ahead. Down on the sandy-floored arena, Zayn had worn his black combat leathers, headgear and guards. His power that day had been phenomenal.
One’s rising was the most spectacular event to watch, and Zayn’s just so as he’d drawn his sword against one opponent after another. Even Davio and Silas had taken turns, not long past their own risings, but neither had been able to keep up with him.
“I hope I manage mine as well as you did yours, Zayn.”
“You will, and if you wis
h it, I’ll be there.”
“That will be a sight to see.” Briarlee smiled. “As is your dinner. I’ll go check on where Giggi got to. I can’t let your food spoil.” She hurried away.
“Your mother is lovely.”
“She’s also nosy, and probably won’t stop quizzing me about you from now on.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Have you thought about joining the protectors once your rising is done?”
“I have culinary school. It’s not something I want to—oh, she’s fast.” The sound of stampeding feet was impossible to miss.
“Another warning.” Zayn whisked me off my feet and tucked me into the corner behind him. “Beware of the tribe.”
5
“Oh my goodness. I did not see that forewarning coming.” Faith’s voice rang clear in my head.
“You see everything, so that’s impossible. And I hardly call what you saw a forewarning. You were being nosy. You shouldn’t spy on other people. It only means you’ll see things you shouldn’t.” I yanked my yellow cotton sleep-shorts on and hauled my white singlet over my head as I readied for bed. “I’m going to sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“Zayn’s becoming too attached to you. He had his hands on you during the family dinner.”
“Not in the way you’re implying.” She was totally overreacting. “He’s kind and considerate, plus I have to move on.”
“With Zayn?”
“We’re friends, and I’m not supposed to be with Guy.”
“I get that. Hold on.” She was gone one moment then back the next. “Oops, the water beckoned to Hope and she just walked straight into the watering hole, boots and all.”
“You’re in the outback?”
“Yeah, she was driven to have a moonlit swim. Crazy, anyway, you’ve got enough to do right now without adding any further complications, that being Zayn.”
“Zayn’s offered to help me train.”
“Then I’ll ask Guy to.”
“What? No.”
“Yes.” She broke our connection.
Argh, unbelievable. I had to spend less time with Guy, not more.
I slid under my bedcovers and stared at the overhead lightshade. The crystal drops teetering from the edges of the delicate chandelier shimmered with gold from the light, like a small burst of sunshine.
Enchanter Page 6