Synchronicity (Scintillate Series Book 3)

by Karen Tjebben

  “Being away from your family and friends will also help you train faster. We have no idea when Nick will contact us. You’ll need to be ready to go when Nick finds her.”

  Guilt punched Kate in the heart. She was so busy thinking about herself that she hadn’t thought about what she needed to do to get ready to rescue Hayden. Of course she needed to get away from her family. Even if her dad hadn’t been attacked, leaving home would have been the best choice. When Nick gets a lead, they’d have to leave quickly without any hindrances, and her parents would have tried to prevent her from going. They’d have too many questions that she didn’t have answers for. “You’re right. This is for the best,” she murmured.

  Kate relaxed as they pulled onto the freeway. It was if each mile that distanced her from her family confirmed her acceptance of her new life. A life that she realized was dangerous, exciting, and filled with the possibility of love.

  Music played softly in the background, and the stress of everything caught up with Kate. She closed her eyes and dreams soon found her.

  She dreamt of a life long ago with Alex. Although the life she experienced in her dreams was through another’s eyes, she felt his touch on her skin. These dreams of the past were frequent and, ever since the day she talked with Sarah, she embraced them. These dreams were a part of her, somehow a part of her history, and she needed to know as much about the past as she could.

  His hand warmed her thigh. His grip tightened as he gently shook her leg. “Kate. Kate. We’re here,” Alex’s words coaxed her from her dream world and awakened her.

  She blinked and felt the weight of his hand on her thigh. She moved her legs, stretching them out, and he removed his hand.

  “Looks a lot nicer than I thought,” she said, impressed by the log cabin that stood before them. “When you said we were going to a cabin, I was afraid we were going to some shack in the woods.” She smiled at him, and he felt relief at her joy. “I thought we were going to stop at the grocery store.” Her stomach rumbled at the thought of food. They’d driven all day without stopping.

  “We did. I let you sleep.” He smiled, hoping his face did not betray his thoughts. There had been no way he was going to awaken her. The way she mumbled in her sleep, he knew she was dreaming of him. And he wasn’t about to ruin it, because she was enjoying the dream. “I got the basics and your favorite junk food necessities.”

  “Ahhh, thanks.” Her face brightened at his consideration. She was glad he couldn’t read her mind. If he knew what she’d been dreaming, she’d die of mortification. “Are we unpacking everything tonight?”

  “Probably not.” Alex gave a quick shake of the head. “It’ll be dark soon. Let’s get the groceries and do as much as we can. We can always finish tomorrow.”

  Kate grabbed a couple bags of groceries and headed towards the log cabin. It was nestled on a grassy knoll near the woods and close to a lake. The pleasant calls of animals and the gentle swoosh of the leaves brushing together filled the air. She felt as if she’d stepped into a scene from a fairytale. This place was beautiful, and she wasn’t even in the other dimension yet.

  Alex unlocked the front door and led her into the large family room. A stone fireplace was the main focal point of the room, and windows lined the walls looking to the backyard. The head of an eight-point buck was centered above the fireplace. “Wow, this place is beautiful,” she said. “It looks like you’ve updated since you first bought this in … what … 1770?” she teased.

  “Ha, ha. We haven’t had it quite that long.” He could sense she liked it, and that made him happy. He didn’t want her to be displeased. Her happiness brought him happiness. “Every so often we update all our properties.” He pointed towards the kitchen.

  “All your properties?” Kate said with a grin. “That sounds extensive.”

  “We have a few, here and there. Sometimes we need a place to regroup.”

  “Hmm.” That made sense. Kate wandered into the kitchen and set the grocery bags on the countertops. She ripped open the box of granola bars and bit into one as she took in the room. Everything in the kitchen was top notch, from the stainless steel appliances to the tiles that accented the granite. This cabin looked like someone’s every day home, not an occasional retreat.

  Alex walked up behind her, his light footsteps giving him away. The tiny butterflies in her stomach fluttered. She took a breath, enjoying his scent, and then turned to face him. “I guess you are more like a lord traveling from home to home,” she teased and bit her lip.

  He could easily wrap his hand around her waist and pull her to him. But he didn’t. He controlled himself, or perhaps he was being too cautious. After hearing her murmur in her sleep, he didn’t quite trust himself. “We don’t even cook over open flame anymore,” he replied playfully with a wink.

  Goose bumps prickled her skin as his eyes scorched her with desire. If he were Nick, he’d press his body to hers and assault her with kisses. But he wasn’t Nick. He was slower, more analytical, and that left her confused. She wanted to kiss him, but she sensed his hesitation. “I guess that would make it pretty hot,” she said, her cheeks flushing red. She was certainly feeling hotter, but what a lame thing to say. She needed to think before she spoke.

  Alex enjoyed the rosy hue that flushed her cheeks. “I’ll show you to your room,” he said, letting his fingers trail down her arm. Alex sensed her nerves, and he understood them. She was young and inexperienced. All of this was new to her. As much as he wanted to hold and kiss her, he would wait until she was ready.

  She battled for control over her nerves. She was alone in this house with him, and her feelings for him were growing. When she’d thought he may die, she was ready to declare her love. Now that she knew he was safe, she was thankful that he was taking his time, not pressuring her. If this was really ‘it’, if he was the ‘one’ for her, then she wanted to take it slow and enjoy the process. Soon enough her dreams would become her reality.

  “Your room is down here.” Alex led her down a little hallway off the family room. He opened the door and walked in.

  Kate was in love. The room had the feel of nature, but elegance abounded at the same time. The wood beam walls were in contrast to the white birch tree, four-poster bed. It was unlike anything Kate had seen before. A soft wool blanket lay folded at the end of the bed, and a bear skin rug covered the wooden floor beside the bed.

  Alex opened a door that led to the en suite. “The bathroom is here.”

  “This is my kind of cabin,” Kate said, peering into the bathroom. She knew she would enjoy a long soak in the garden tub. She padded across the tile floor and leaned against the granite counter. “Where are you sleeping?”

  “Upstairs. There are two more bedrooms.” Alex wouldn’t be getting much sleep for a while. He was too excited about his relationship with Kate and also too concerned about Nick and Hayden. He wasn’t sure how to go about that situation. Daevas would be unstoppable as long as he wore Vires. That was a huge problem. Hopefully Evan and Zoe could figure out a solution.

  “Sounds good.” Kate nodded. “I guess we should finish unpacking.”

  “Yep.” Alex followed Kate back towards the front door. He turned on the outside lights, and they unloaded everything that night since neither thought they’d get much sleep anyway.

  ~ ~ ~

  Kate found the bowls and grabbed the cereal box. She sat at the kitchen table and looked out the window that faced the backyard. A light fog rose from the lake, making it look mysterious. If she’d been a child, the fog may have scared her. Reese would have told her that some monster was coming to get her. But now, now that she knew such wicked creatures existed, the fog was beautiful. The fog wasn’t the problem. It helped conceal the terrors in life so she could enjoy the beauty around her. Everyone needs a little more fog in their life.

  Alex sat across from her. He lifted his coffee to his mouth and inhaled. He’d always loved the smell, and this brand was his favorite. “We’ll work on controlling yo
ur skills today. You’ll have to be able to access your powers instantaneously.” He pressed his lips to the cup and let the warm brew wash over his tongue.

  “Sounds good,” Kate said with a smile. She was used to feeling the power swell within her, but she knew the day would come when she’d need the power instantly. She sucked in her bottom lip and thought about all the times she’d used her powers in the past. She’d defended herself, even killed, but she didn’t want to rely on Sarah’s power. She wanted to rely on her own.

  “It’s important… to understand your power,” he added.

  Her spoon clanked against the bowl as she pushed the cereal that clung to the sides of the bowl into the milk. “Is it hard?”

  “No.” Alex set his cup down. He wasn’t sure how Kate would react to his teaching. He’d never taught an anomaly like her before. Having Sarah’s powers overtake her when she was threatened had protected her, but it had also confused her advancement. She seemed to learn things out of order, but what concerned him most was that she relied on Sarah’s powers and not her own. He wanted to remedy that as soon as possible. “For most of us, it’s the only way it gets done. You just have to focus and know a few tricks.”

  She chewed the clusters and thought about how far she’d come since she first learned of her Asteri heritage. The things they did were amazing; some would say miraculous. But Alex didn’t consider their acts to be difficult. Their achievements were just a natural part of their lives. And isn’t that how life is? What’s hard for one person is easy for another. Everyone has to find their own niche. Trying to be something you’re not will never be easy.

  “Finish up here, and I’ll meet you outside.” Alex placed his cup in the dishwasher and headed out the back door. He wanted to clear his head. His thoughts were too distracted just sitting there with her.

  Kate watched him through the window as he walked towards the lake. He picked up a rock and skipped it across the water. She wished she could read his mind, know his thoughts towards her. Was he disappointed that she wasn’t Sarah? She saw how happy Nick was to find out that Hayden was alive. Nick’s focus was on Hayden alone. If Sarah somehow came back in another way, would Alex’s feelings for her evaporate like the fog in the warmth of the sun? Kate knew the answer to that question. Of course his feelings would evaporate, and he would feel guilty for betraying Sarah. Kate would be left alone again, holding her crushed heart in her hand. Nick at least had his ‘job’ excuse for their relationship. Once Hayden was rescued, would he even mention his brief relationship with Kate? She decided to leave that up to him. Hayden had obviously been through enough. She wasn’t going to add to it.

  Kate rinsed the bowl and put it in the dishwasher. She slipped into her running shoes and joined Alex outside.

  The dew on the grass moistened her socks and tickled her ankles. Two geese flew overhead and honked as they passed. Kate loved nature, and it was in abundance here.

  “What do you think?” Alex asked, nearing her.

  “I thought it was nice last night.” She did a slow turn, taking in the sights. “I was wrong. It’s breathtaking.” The surrounding woods offered various shades of green and splotches of color from flowering plants. A two-story wood and stone boathouse sat on the lake. The first floor walls were made of stone, and the top floor resembled a log cabin.

  “And it’s secluded,” Alex said. “We don’t have to worry about prying eyes.”

  “Good, ‘cuz I have a feeling we’ll be doing some freaky things.” A blush washed over Kate’s cheeks as soon as her mind caught up with her mouth. That came out all wrong.

  Alex didn’t let his mind linger on her misspoken words. That would be a dangerous path to go down right now. Instead he knelt by a log and picked up a tiny frog. “Come here.” He waved Kate over. He held the frog in his palm with his thumb resting gently on its back, holding it in place. “This tiny frog protects himself by using camouflage. You cloak yourself, which is your camouflage. You can teleport objects. I’ve even seen you command fire.” That had shocked him when she killed Daevas’s army. As each attacker burst into flames, Alex felt the flames within his heart burn hotter for her. “But it’s imperative that you can summon your power instantaneously.”

  Kate nodded, because when it truly mattered, she’d failed. When Alex had needed her to heal him, she’d failed. He’d needed her hands to knit his flesh together, stop his bleeding, and she’d struggled. It hadn’t made sense to her at the time. Why didn’t Sarah help her? Why would Sarah allow the love of her life to die? Why not give her the power she needed to save his life? Kate didn’t want to rely on Sarah anymore. She was responsible for her actions, no more blaming Sarah.

  “Did you hear me?” Alex asked. He knew she wasn’t listening. Her eyes gave it away. She was off someplace; someplace she didn’t like.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?” She blinked a few times as she refocused on him.

  “We’ll work on fighting with weapons and summoning your power today. You already have a good base with the karate. Follow me.” Alex headed towards the boathouse. “It’s funny,” he continued, “we live in a world of technology, yet we still fight with old world weapons. Do you know why?”

  “We want them to die a slow death?” Kate gave him a flirty smile.

  Alex chuckled. “Well, old world weapons do tend to draw out one’s death, but that’s not it. Hijacking.”

  “Hijacking?”

  “Yes, too many moving parts that your opponent can render useless. Try firing a gun with a jammed magazine or a damaged firing pin. A sword, on the other hand, is wielded by its master without interference from another.”

  “So it’s all about power,” Kate said. She gazed at the boathouse’s reflection in the still lake.

  “It always is.” Alex unlocked the boathouse door and stepped inside.

  “Wow,” Kate said. It was far nicer than she expected. Water gently lapped against the stones. There were two slips, but only one boat sat safely on a floating dry dock; the other slip was empty. On the walls hung fishing and boating paraphernalia, and a locked steel cabinet sat in the corner. A staircase led upstairs.

  Alex headed up the stairs. “We’ll grab a few things and then head outside.”

  The upstairs floor was one giant room. A sparring mat was centered in the middle. A punching bag hung in one corner. Objects hung on the walls. Kate wasn’t sure what some of the stuff was or if she’d ever have to use it. A wall of safes ran along one side of the room. Alex walked to the first safe and punched in the code. When the door swung open, a menagerie of weapons was displayed. Some lined the walls of the safe, while some lay on shelves.

  “We’ll start with the xiphos.” Alex pulled two short swords from a drawer in the bottom of the safe. “These are practice swords. You’ll get a real one when you’re ready.”

  “That looks familiar.” Images of the night Kate developed her first taste for blood played before her. That was the night at Jordan Lake when she was shocked by the blood and gore that seemed so common to Nick. He’d killed Ramel without guilt or trepidation. But what shocked her the most was her response. She’d never witnessed anything like that before. But instead of revulsion, she felt relief, happiness that Nick was safe. She was glad Ramel was dead. Nick had been her ‘knight in shining armor’, yet her true knight stood before her now.

  “Yes, the xiphos is Nick’s favorite. He killed Ramel with one,” Alex said, holding the short sword towards Kate.

  She wrapped her hand around the handle and studied the blade. She ran her finger along the dull edge. “The xiphos is a warrior’s weapon,” she stated.

  “Yes.”

  “Good, because that’s what I am.” Kate needed to have that conversation with Alex. She was an Avenger like Nick. Would Alex look at her differently? Would he be disappointed? What was Sarah? From Kate’s dreams, she seemed dangerous, but so was Alex. Was Sarah a Guardian like Alex? Is that what he wanted for her? Would he still love her if she sought to destroy wickedne
ss, or would he rather have her protect the weak while hoping to deflect a fight?

  He shut the safe door and locked it. “Next time, you’ll open the safe. You need to learn the combination.” He held his sword out towards the stairs. “After you,” he said.

  Kate smiled and shifted her sword from one hand to the other. Fighting with swords seemed so archaic. “Why don’t we just use our mental powers?” She looked over her shoulder at Alex as she descended the stairs.

  “You already know that answer to that,” Alex said. “Your powers alone wouldn’t have helped you rescue Trevor and kill the Dolum. Your powers are just one weapon at your disposal. Too many of the enemy know how to shut us out, essentially rendering our mental powers useless.”

  Trevor. When she thought about him, an emotion filled her heart that she didn’t quite understand. It wasn’t pride or guilt. Perhaps it was contentment. Saving Trevor from the possession of the Dolum and rescuing the little boy tied to the bathtub had given her a high that she didn’t understand.

  Kate walked out of the boathouse and into the sunshine. The warmth of the sun on her skin invigorated her. She slashed her sword through the air, cutting down imaginary villains. “I’ve never had any sort of fencing or sword training lessons,” she said, lunging forward as if she were piercing the flesh of an adversary. “You’re gonna have to start with the basics.”

  Alex smiled as he watched her wield her sword and prance about. “Yeah, I’ve pieced that together,” he said, his voice light and teasing.

  Kate’s sword froze in the air as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Is it that obvious?”

  He laughed, his eyes brightening with joy. “Yes, painfully so. But that is to be expected from your generation.”

  Kate laughed and tried to balance her sword in her hand. The sword fell and the point lodged into the soft ground. “My generation,” she replied. “It must be odd to watch people age and die but never have the cycle touch yourself. How many generations have you survived?” she asked, snatching the sword from the ground and eyeing him.