“The giant squid, Hawk. I’ve dreamt of them for years. Only recently, they’ve started speaking to me. It was part of my drive to find them; it has felt like a compulsion since I was a child. But I heard her voice during our descent to Haven and she knew you too. She told me you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Oh Hawk,” his mother’s voice filled with emotion. “You brought us back salvation. They speak to her.”
Hadley gripped the table in front of her and he reached out and grabbed her hand. Her eyes looked panicked. “I’m not anyone’s salvation. It’s not like we’ve ever had a face-to-face conversation.”
He shrugged his shoulder, pretending a calm for Hadley’s sake that he did not feel. “How could you, on Earth? Don’t worry. When we get to Astor the Great Ones there will either greet you or they won’t. You did your part of this deal when you opened the portal. Now we just need to get you healthy.”
But Hawk didn’t believe his own words and the crocodile’s greeting by the lake when they arrived made more sense. The seers had seen Hadley coming; they knew what her arrival meant. It was more than likely that Hadley’s arrival signified the end of this dark time. That meant whether she liked it or not, the Royals were going to have expectations of her.
Silently, he made the first vow he’d made since swearing to protect Zamara. He would not fail Hadley. Whatever happened, she would not be hurt or distressed in anyway. All of Haven could be damned.
As he stared across the table into her green mist-filled eyes, he wondered if somehow she had heard his silent oath. He hoped somehow she had.
Chapter Nine
Hadley lay in the darkness of the guest room she’d been given and tried to make her head stop pounding. She had no idea if they even got headaches on Haven or if was just what Hawk would think of as her ‘weak human side’ that caused the pounding in her temples. So rather than ask for a pain reliever, she opted to suffer in silence.
Besides, it wasn’t as though she could take a pill that could make her thoughts calm down. Why had she told them she spoke to the giant squid? Maybe she really was just deluding herself or perhaps it had been a one-time thing. She was sure she was no one’s savior.
She rolled over onto her stomach and pushed her head down on the pillow. For a moment, she tried counting backwards in her mind to see if she could distract herself, but that only managed to make her frustrated, which left her with no choice but to roll over again.
Unsure of who had the room next to hers, she attempted to ignore the loud snores that sounded through the wall. She felt badly for whatever woman had to share a room with whoever was in there. If there was one thing she couldn’t stand, it was loud snoring that kept her up all night. Her father snored. The few times they’d gone on vacations as a family, well what constituted as family for her father, which usually meant he joined Hadley, her sister, and the nanny after a few days, she’d hated staying in adjoining rooms because she knew every night she’d be in agony, waiting for daylight.
Groaning, she covered her eyes with her hands as if she could make the already pitch-black room even darker. She heard the door creak open, and she darted up in bed and clutched the pillow to her chest.
“Who’s there?” Her voice shook.
“It’s Hawk, darling. Don’t be afraid.”
How had he known she was terrified and why was he in her room? “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to check on you, make sure you’re okay. I just had this feeling you were in discomfort.”
If she’d been back at home she would have called him a liar, but who knew how they did things in Haven. Maybe they could sense the pain of everyone in the house. “I’m sorry if my headache disturbed your sleep.”
Hawk approached the bed and sat down next to her. He placed his hand on her head and she tried not to sigh with the pleasure his cool hand gave to her hot skin. “You’re burning up.”
“I don’t feel hot. My head is just pounding and whoever is in the next room is snoring so loud I could throw something.”
“Ha.” Hawk actually snickered. “Poor Stone. Did he just lose your heart?”
Hadley sighed. If Hawk was going to give her a hard time, he could get out. “For the thousandth time today, Stone never had my heart.”
“I’m teasing you, but I know your head hurts, sorry.” He picked her up in his arms and she groaned. “It’s quieter in my room and I can take care of you there.”
“I didn’t ask you to take care of me.” Why was she being obstinate? Oh that’s right—because she was just a means to an end for him and she’d be damned if she also became a burden. “Put me down and I’ll take care of myself. I’ve been doing it since I was fourteen years old.”
That was the year she and Hailey had woken up on the morning of their birthday to find their nanny dismissed, their bags packed, and after they blew out the candles on their birthday cake they’d been deposited on a train to an all girls’ school in Connecticut.
Hawk crossed the room with her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. She might have fought him if she had even the slightest amount of energy left but rather than getting better, she seemed to be getting worse. Finally giving up, she relaxed in his arms, remembering how good it had felt to be in his embrace when they’d traveled through the portal.
It was cooler in the hallway and a small light burned at the end by the staircase. The shadows on the wall were long and thick, looking like they might come alive. She laughed, which then became a groan. “I think I must be losing my mind, Hawk. I’m having delusional thoughts. Is that one of the first signs that the poison is working? Headache and fever followed by delusions?”
“Annabelle started with fever and vomiting. Bethany had a seizure. Clarice fainted and never woke up. I didn’t stick around to watch Deirdre die. But it seems like everyone was unique in how they lost their lives.”
Hadley shook her head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you to remember.”
“I told you that you were going to die, which gives you the right to ask me about it.”
She pushed her head up against his chest and listened to the strong beat of his heart. Her sister had been a lucky woman. Even though she’d died way too young, the little time she’d gotten to spend on Earth, she’d been with Hawk. He hadn’t just considered her to be a waste of time, but rather something to be treasured.
“What were your delusional thoughts?”
She sighed. “It looks like the shadows on the wall are alive.”
Hawk opened the door to what she assumed was his room and walked inside. It was cooler in his room than it had been in hers, but not as chilly as the hall had been. He laid her down on the bed and pulled off her pants.
She opened her eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You have been wearing the same dirty pajamas for over a day now. They stink. But in addition to that, I’m trying to get you cooled off.”
His argument had some logic, and she was too uncomfortable to care that he was about to see her naked. Except, in some deep crevice of her mind, she acknowledged that she would officially have no secrets from him when this was over. She would probably be a pale comparison to Annabelle, and he’d once again congratulate himself on not being involved with a Pettigrew. A completely unattractive Pettigrew.
Her thoughts started to drift and she hoped that in moments she’d be asleep so whatever new humiliations she was about to endure she could be unaware of. Even though it made no sense, with her eyes closed she could see the shadows more clearly. They were alive and they were everywhere. But now she could see they weren’t just shadows, they held shapes. Men and women swirled around the room approaching her; soon they’d be so close, and they might eat her up. She couldn’t let that happen. Her eyes flew open.
“Hawk.” She shouted as her head turned from side to side.
A damp rag pressed against her forehead. “I’m bringing down your fever, Hadley. What you smell is herbs and holistic medicine my mother keeps ar
ound the house.”
“They’re coming for me, Hawk. They want me with them.”
“You’re not making any sense Hadley. It’s the fever.”
She shook her head. “No, the shadows are coming, Hawk. Please believe me.”
“We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
She thought she felt him lean over and kiss her gently on the cheek. “You’re cooling off, darling. Try to go back to sleep.”
“Why do you call me that?”
“What?”
“Darling.”
He stroked her hair out of her eyes. “Sleep.”
Her eyes felt heavy, and against her will they closed again. She braced herself for the shadows, but instead she was once again in the Mote museum staring at the tank that held the Giant Squid. She walked to the cool glass and pressed her hands against it.
We told you we knew he wouldn’t hurt you.
“I guess it depends on your definition of hurt. I’m afraid I had developed a little crush on Hawky-boy and he quickly rid me of that. But I believe I’ll be fine.”
So you think you’re over your feelings for Hawk? That’s why you’re curled up in a bed with him letting him take care of you while you’re sick?
Hadley wasn’t going to even answer that question. For her own sanity, it was better she continued to pretend she didn’t care for Hawk. She cleared her throat. “They call you the Great Ones. You’ve stopped speaking to them in Astor.”
The squid twirled around in its cage. We have been prevented from communicating, but now you have come and we like talking to you.
Hadley pressed her head up against the glass. “I like talking to you too, so will you speak to me when I get to Astor or will I come across like a crazy person?”
We will always answer you, Hadley Pettigrew, daughter of Zamara, Princess of Haven and Heart of the Sea. Watch out for the shadows. They are everywhere.
Hadley’s eyes felt heavy as she struggled to open them. Hawk lay next to her on the bed, one arm draped over her body with his hand pressed up against her cheek. Well, at least he didn’t snore. When she’d been a child and sick, she’d desperately wished for someone to hold her like this. An incredible sadness filled Hadley and she didn’t try to stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. Not only did this illness signify the beginning of her death, but the person who held her as if she was cherished didn’t actually have those feelings for her.
Hawk’s thumb brushed over her eye as another tear fell. His eyes flew open. “Hadley, are you still feeling sick?” He sat up, his voice rough like sandpaper.
“No, thank you, I’m much cooler.”
She rolled over, suddenly embarrassed by letting her emotions show. Looking down at herself, she realized she was covered by only a sheet and completely naked otherwise. A flood of embarrassment filled her as she remembered how little she’d protested his taking off her clothes. The sainted Annabelle would have probably put up more of a fight. She knew that was an unfair thought and she didn’t care.
“Scared me last night. You got so hot and incredibly pale.” He pushed his hand against her forehead and pulled her back against his chest. “I was worried you weren’t coming back.”
His hand absently stroked her hair as he spooned behind her. She closed her eyes again. Maybe she shouldn’t care that it wasn’t real or that he thought of Annabelle. She might be dead any day. Any affection was better than none, wasn’t it?
She sniffed. “It wouldn’t be your fault. You didn’t inject me with the poison. At least I wouldn’t have died all by myself, which probably would have been the case back at home. I guess that still might be the case when we get to Astor.” She swallowed but her throat still felt dry. A thought suddenly occurred to her and she felt ashamed. “Hawk, I’m sorry about your father.”
“Thank you, Hadley.” She swore she could hear the sadness of the universe in his tone. “I won’t let you die alone.”
At least he hadn’t made promises he couldn’t keep. No heroic declarations that he would see to it that she didn’t die at all. That would be, of course, impossible. She sighed. “Thank you.”
A high-pitched feminine scream filled the air and Hawk detached himself from her and leapt out of bed. “Mother?”
He ran out into the hall wearing only his boxer shorts and giving her a view of his back that, like his arms, was covered in tattoos. Without her glasses, she couldn’t make out what the markings were. Hopefully, Hawk had thought to take them when he’d come into her room last night.
Hadley reached over to the side of the bed and was relieved to find her glasses. She pushed the frames up onto her face and the room seemed so much brighter and more in focus. Doors opened and slammed closed in the hall as all of the Warriors responded to the scream. Hawk’s mother seemed like such a nice woman, she wanted to see if she could help.
Standing up, her knees almost buckled but she caught herself on the edge of the bed. So last night’s episode had clearly knocked some of her strength out of her. Stumbling around, she found her way to Hawk’s closet where she grabbed what she hoped was an unimportant t-shirt he wouldn’t mind her temporarily stealing. It covered her completely, almost past her knees, and even though she still felt shaky, she walked slowly out of the door of Hawk’s room.
“I just don’t see how this could have happened overnight.” Hawk shouted, but he didn’t sound alarmed or angry, but rather just that he was trying to be heard over the hubbub happening around him
She followed the sound of his voice until she was in the kitchen. Hawk and his men surrounded a woman Hadley had never seen before. The woman was simply stunning. Long black hair that looked more like fine spun silk fell down her back. Her skin was pale, smooth, and unblemished. Her blue eyes gleamed with life and laughter. Who was she and why did Hawk grip her shoulders?
Hadley cleared her throat. She really needed a glass of water.
The woman spun around. “Hadley,” the joy exploded from that one word and Hadley found herself in the other woman’s embrace.
“I’m sorry.” Hadley sputtered. “But do we know each other?”
“Oh.” A tear slipped from the dark woman’s eye. “You don’t recognize me. I’m Leopard, Hawk’s mother.”
Hadley gasped and pulled back to look at her. Dear heavens, now she could see the resemblance. Hawk looked a great deal like his mother. Same dark hair and high cheekbones that were evident on his face were now on hers. But how was this possible? The woman had regained at least forty years overnight.
“What’s happened?”
“We don’t know, but I woke up like this and it’s not just me. This entire place, everything looks so new. The roads are fixed, the trees are blooming, and I can’t remember when last we had such a sunny day.”
Hadley wasn’t sure what to say. All of her training in manners failed her. What should a person say in such a circumstance? “That’s wonderful. I’m so thrilled for you, however it happened.” Dizziness hit her like a sledgehammer and threatened to take her down to the floor.
“Hadley.” Hawk grabbed her from his mother’s arms. “You shouldn’t be up yet.” He picked her up like she was a baby and she cringed. This had to stop happening. It wasn’t okay to go through life being carried around like you couldn’t walk. “We almost lost her last night. She had a terrible headache, high fever, and some sort of delusions.”
Leopard gasped. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I knew what to do. I’m putting her back in bed.”
Hadley shook her head. “I don’t want to go back to bed.”
“Wait a minute, Hawk.” Stone’s voice filled the room. “I think Hadley is a healer. The lack of her mother’s presence nearly destroyed our whole world, so wouldn’t it make sense that, given the same abilities, Hadley is now setting things right? Maybe she is the reason things are looking new again. I bet if we retraced our steps from yesterday all of it will look better since she’s been there.”
Oh hell, more damned savior stuff.
As soon as the room stopped spinning, she would put a stop to all of this once and for all.
“She’s only half her mother’s daughter. The other half is human. Last night she almost died. I can’t let her do this for the whole world. It would kill her in minutes.”
Leopard placed her hand on Hadley’s arm. “She feels cool, that is good. She just looks pale and worn out. Put her in bed, Hawk.” Hadley tried not to watch the revolving patterns on the floor and the wall as they walked to his room. Instead, she listened to the last thing Leopard said and grimaced at the thought.
“If Hadley didn’t know she did that last night, then I don’t see how we can possibly prevent it from happening again.”
So now she was doubly in trouble. If the poison didn’t kill her, this newfound ability obviously would.
Chapter Ten
Hawk smoothed the hair on her forehead. He would never let her cut her hair. It might be ridiculous, but the night before when he’d held her close to him and done everything he could to bring down her temperature, praying to any deity that would listen to not let her die, he’d taken possession of her. At least in his mind. He realized it might take a while to convince Hadley of his ownership, considering how he’d treated her the day before.
Damn his temper. It got him into more trouble. His mother had once told him he didn’t have any filter when he got really angry between what he thought and what he said. For some reason, Hadley flustered him, and when he felt befuddled he behaved badly. It was childish. He suspected Hadley was just the sort of woman to help work on this particular issue, especially because she hadn’t backed down or lost herself in hysterics.
But for now they had bigger problems. If Hadley was going to heal the problems of everyone and anything she came into contact with, then she would be kept right where she was until he could figure out how she could do it safely. He’d brought her here to be fixed, well, it had been one of the reasons, and he’d be damned if there was something else threatening her life.
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