“Impressive, Sis. Very impressive, but...”
“You are not a Jedi yet!” Lia shouted, and we all laughed.
“Well played.” I looked at Art, grinning.
He narrowed his eyes, and his gaze went to my glowing hands. “Why are your hands glowing?” He asked, annoyed. I shrugged, innocently but didn't say a word.
“What the?” He asked scrambling away from me. The snakes passed me and followed him as he retreated, startled. He jumped back, but they kept moving towards him. “Shit! Stop!” He yelled.
One of the snakes began slithering up his leg, and he jumped so high. I held my stomach as I laughed. Art started running all over the training ground while the lime green snakes went after him. He had lived here for two thousand years you'd think he would know these particular snakes weren't poisonous. They were just following him. Seima offered me her hand, and I stood. We laughed as Art shook and jumped out of the way.
“Men,” Lia said, reaching us. She handed us a bottle of water each.
“Thanks,” I whispered, while my hands glowed again, and began to drink the water. I was so freaking thirsty after all this training. My eyes tracked the snakes as they stopped following Art and slithered towards the trees again.
“So, who won?” Lia asked, and Seima chuckled. “No one. We all cheated.”
“Just wait until I tell my brother,” Art said, standing in front of me.
I almost spewed the water. Lia handed him a bottle while Cathair and Eghan joined us.
“We both know your brother doesn’t interfere with my training. He prefers to think it’s not actually happening.”
Art made a face, and he chugged half the bottle. Unlike the others, he was actually wearing a shirt. He always wore a black Nike cooling tee to train. Pouring the other half over his head and face, he then took his shirt off. He pulled at the band holding the longer part of his hair and pushed his fingers through it. The water slid down his corded neck and chest, scurrying towards his abs. It was then I realized we were all pretty much drooling over him. And he knew it too. The top of hair fell to the side, and he scowled as Cathair walked to Seima and whispered something to her. They turned and walked away towards the Warriors' weapons rack. Eghan followed them. I was so clueless as to what was going on with this bunch, particularly at this moment. Everyone was acting so weird.
It barely registered though. I was pretty much hypnotized. I knew I should look away from Art, but damn that water was trickling down his chest and abs highlighting his muscles so perfectly. I was definitely going to Hell after totally drooling over my brother in law. Art smirked as though he knew exactly what I was thinking. It made his lips curve sideways, just the way Cyn's did and his copycat perfect little dimple formed. I couldn't stop my gaze from going to his dimple.
“Hey!” Art said, bringing my attention back to his eyes. “You can drool over my body all you want, in fact, I'll even give you pictures, but my dimple is not yours to enjoy.” My jaw dropped, and I was sure I had turned bright red. His smile widened. “You have two perfectly sexy dimples at home. Stop lusting after mine.”
And they say men didn’t gossip. “Ugh! You are so annoying!” I pushed him back, and he laughed.
Art kissed my forehead. “Good training today, Sis. I like how quick your reflexes are. Now go home. It's getting late. I'll meet you guys for dinner later. Enjoy your dimples!”
“Don't make me zap you again!”
“He chuckled and raised his hands in surrender walking backwards. When he turned, he tucked the corner of his t-shirt in his back pocket and took one last look at Cathair.
Lia shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Men.” She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “See you tomorrow, Linda. I'm tired. I think I'll just eat in and go to bed.” I nodded, offering her a smile. She turned around, catching up with Art who was waiting for her at the edge of the training grounds. I needed to sit down and finally have a serious talk with her. If she wasn't drooling over Art, she was drooling over Cathair. Not that she didn't drool over the rest of the male Warriors too, most of them were hot as hell and they all trained without a shirt. Even I was guilty of ogling them. It would be a miracle if I ever made it through practice without blushing. Lia and I seriously needed a girl's night, though.
Maybe after all this was over.
Sighing, I turned on my heel and walked away.
I walked towards Eisha' hut before going home. I needed to talk to her. I wanted an update. I slowed down when I saw the door open, and Ronan stepped out. I smiled and waved at him, then I stopped in my tracks. Felix stepped out of the hut. Ronan smiled and held Felix's arm guiding him away. Felix's eyes found me, and he immediately averted my gaze. They walked away in silence while I stood there. I took a deep breath trying to control my anger, then closed the distance between Eisha’s door and me, just as she appeared through it. “What the hell is he doing inside the village?”
Eisha sighed. “I had a vision. A prophecy about the Romans. I am too weak to go to him, and there were important questions to be asked. I had a great need to talk to him, Bri. I asked Ronan to please bring him to me.” I nodded. She stood aside so I could go in, so I did. I sat on the table, and she picked up the two empty cups, taking them to the kitchen. “Would you like some tea?”
I Nodded and waited for her to sit down again. “Did you manage to find something? During the vision, I mean?” She offered me an apprehensive smile and took a sip of the Tea. “Ok, what is happening? What did you see that has you so distressed?”
She put the cup down and looked straight into my eyes. “I saw them. They were in a strange room with monitors. I think that is what Felix called them. The screens had a map of this place, of the rainforest. They know we are here Bri.”
“Impossible. How do they know? How long have they known?” I stood and paced to the window then stopped. I looked at her. “If they know we are here, why haven’t they come?”
“They are planning on it. I saw them making preparations. Marcus was there and an old woman. She seemed like the one giving orders. They had a group of men before them, and they were talking about… About attacking.”
My pulse accelerated. The Romans had another thing coming if they thought I would let them hurt anyone else I cared about. These people were my people too. The Warriors were my family, I was one of them now and we "stood beside each other" which for them meant we protected each other. No matter the cost. I looked down at my hand and saw my engagement ring. Cyn was my family, my future and there was nothing I wouldn't do for him.
“What else did you see?”
“There was a date on their wall. A calendar. It said August twenty first, and they spoke of being ready to leave the next morning. They said the attack would be the day after they arrived. They are preparing to surprise us. Felix said that today is August twenty first. Bri, they are coming tomorrow.”
My fists trembled as I took deep breaths. The emotions ran through my body, I tensed. I needed to regain control. I had been training for months. This was our chance to finish this fight once and for all. “Call the Warriors and tell them tomorrow we fight. We will locate the Romans as soon as they arrive, we will let them settle and then we will surprise them in their own camp. It's time they realize what it feels like to be persecuted.” I turned around and walked to the door.
“Briana, wait!” I looked back, saw her stand, and walk towards me. She seemed nervous, unsure.
“What is it Eisha?”
“There is something I have not told you yet.” Her eyes bore into mine, and I could see the fear growing in them.
I held her hands. “What is it, sweetie?”
“I saw the center of their plan. They spoke of this as though it was their primary objective.”
“Just tell me.” I urged her.
Her eyes became glossy. “Leigh was there too, and he was speaking to Marcus. Telling him what he should do. They are going after, Cyn. They want to kill him.”
The hold I had rup
tured inside me. Rage, fear, and contempt filled every corner of my body. It spread until there wasn't an inch of me left empty. I welcomed it.
“Over my dead body. I will kill them all before I let them touch him.”
The smell of Cyn’s delicious beef stew reached me the second I opened the door. He stood by the hearth scooping the soup into two bowls. He looked at me over his shoulder and smiled. The beauty of his smile warmed my heart and it truly let me feel him in every recess of my soul. The way his eyes filled with love every time they got a glimpse of me, made thank the stars that he was in my life. I hoped with everything I had, that he saw the same in me when I looked at him. My chest constricted and I closed the door, walking in.
“I added extra carrots since I know you love them.”
I nodded smiling while he placed the bowl on the table. I walked silently towards him and turned him around. My hands caressed his chest on their way up, and his smile slowly disappeared as he noticed the underline emotion in my caress. My fingers traced his jaw and lips, his nose and the curve that led to his eyebrows. They followed the line to his temples until they finally settled on either side of his face, and I cradled his cheeks.
“I love you, Cynwrig Bressall.”
“I love you, Briana Anwell.” His eyes shone as he spoke and I was sure he felt the emotions in me through our connection.
I leaned in and rested my forehead on his. Taking a deep breath, I vowed to myself, to him and anyone that could hear me that I would never let anything hurt him. Ever. I closed my eyes, and I think for the first time it was me who claimed his lips. I kissed him like I had never kissed him before. With all my love for him, all the hope I had for us, and our future as a family, and even the uncertainties I carried about what might happen tomorrow. No one could be certain of the future. Not even Eisha. Anything could change, but there was at least of one thing I was absolutely sure of. I would give my life for his in less than a second. No one would take him from me.
Cyn leaned into me, melding into my body while I assaulted his lips. I nibbled on them as he often did with mine and I heard a small sigh escape him. I couldn't help but grin. My arms wrapped around his neck and he pressed me against his body as the kiss suddenly changed, and he took control. We kissed until there was no more air left in our lungs and although we had our share of make out sessions before, it had never been this way.
He rained small kisses all over my face, starting with my nose. When he was done he placed one last one on my lips and looked at me. His eyes were dazed, just like mine.
“Will you let me know what happened?”
I nodded. He held my hand, and we sat on the table.
“I spoke with Eisha before coming here. She was finally able to see something.”
His posture changed and his eyes became focused. “What has she seen, my Goddess?”
“They know where we are.”
“That is impossible, we are warded, and the rainforest is incredibly vast. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“I know. I have no idea how they did it, but Eisha saw a map with our exact location.” Cyn took a deep breath, and I could almost see the scenarios forming in his mind. Suddenly the Chief was sitting in front of me. Not Cyn, but the High Priest and Warrior. “They will arrive tomorrow, and they spoke of attacking the village the day after they were settled.”
“Has Eisha formed a plan?”
“Yes. We spoke about it. We will locate them with your help as soon as they arrive, and allow them to make camp. They need to think everything is going according to plan. Then, we will infiltrate their camp, and attack at night.”
His gaze became intense as he ran the scenario in his head and I could see the battle between his Druid side and his Warrior side. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and I knew the Druid in him was winning.
“You can’t deny that’s the best course of action, Cyn. We need to use the element of surprise against them. We can’t allow them to get to the village.”
He leaned back in the chair and looked at me. “I agree. Nevertheless, I'm not comfortable with attacking at night while those soldiers are sleeping. They are just following orders, the same as our Warriors. It is not their fault their minds have been infected by lies. They were born into that life like we were born into this one. We are not the Romans, Briana. I will not reduce us to their dirty tactics. If they have come for battle, then we will give them one, but for the right reasons. I will fight them to protect our people. I have no other cause. If we must fight, then it will have to be fair.”
“They will never be fair. The element of surprise is our best advantage, Cyn. We have to…” I took a deep breath rubbing my temples. I didn’t want to fight with him. He stood. “Where are you going?”
“To speak to Felix. I must know how they found us.”
“I’m going with you,” I said, standing up and saw him shake his head. “I’m not going to hurt him, Cyn. I want answers, just like you.”
He stared at me weighing his options then sighed and turned around, opening the portal. We crossed into a part of the jungle I hadn't seen before. It wasn't the cave. A small hut very similar to ours stood about fifty feet from us.
“Where are we?”
Cyn looked at me and began to walk. “This is where Felix has been staying for the past four months. The Warriors built it for him. Ronan has been staying with him a few days each week, and keeping him company.”
I stopped in my tracks. “Excuse me? What is this, The Rainforest Inn?”
“Briana.”
“Don’t Briana me, Cyn. What the hell is he doing here after everything he has done to us? This isn't a tropical vacation. He is our prisoner.”
“He is no such thing.”
“Excuse me?” Oh, I was going to kill this man. “He is not our friend, Cyn. After everything, he did to me, to Lia… He is one of them. How can you treat him with decency when he hasn't shown us any?”
“Everyone makes mistakes, Briana. How can we declare we are different from the Romans if we behave the same way? They take prisoners. We do not. We cannot allow him to leave the rainforest, but that does not mean we must be merciless towards him. As long as we make sure he does not become a threat to us or himself, he can stay here.”
“Well congratulations, Cyn. Now we know how the Romans found us.” I strode past him without waiting for an answer.
So much for not fighting with him tonight.
I banged on the door.
“Ronan. It is I, Cyn.” He said, standing beside me and looking down at me.
“Don’t you look at me that way,” I hissed facing the door. He sighed.
The door slowly opened, and Ronan smiled when he saw Cyn. His eyes widened once they settled on me. He looked into the hut nervously then opened the door and stood back to let us pass.
The hut was very much like ours. It had a hearth, a vanity with a small sink, and a partition with a tub at the end. The table sat in the center right in front of the small kitchen, the bed was modern though, a twin bed, nothing fancy.
Felix stood from the table the moment we came in. It was evident they'd been having dinner. He wiped his hands nervously on his pants and looked at me expectantly. Except for the glimpse of him I caught earlier, I had not seen him since the day I threw him against the wall. The day he said all those horrible things. My chest tightened, and the anger stirred, but I repressed it.
I allowed myself to take a good look at him this time. The first thing I noticed was he seemed different. He had been nursed back to health, and his body filled his clothes like they had when I was at the office. I could see his toned muscles under the soft cotton of his shirt and his jeans. The color of his skin was tanned once again, and even his hair looked healthy. He stood straight and without effort. He wasn't weak anymore. I frowned when I noticed the barely there “blond highlights” in his otherwise brown hair were still there.
I guess those aren’t fake after all.
However, none of
that was the reason why he seemed different to me. It was like something in him had changed.
“Please, sit down,” He said, gesturing to the table.
I realized then I had been standing by the door, staring at him all this time. I cleared my throat and stepped forward, allowing Ronan to close the door.
“I'm not here to jump on you. We just want to talk.”
He almost chuckled. “Even if you do, is not like I don’t deserve it, so…”
I frowned. What kind of game was he playing? I tensed. Whatever it was, I didn’t believe it for a second. I knew what it cost to trust him.
“Briana said you spoke to Eisha about her vision,” Cyn said walking passed me.
Felix nodded. “I answered a few questions about what she saw.”
“I hope you do not mind if we ask a few more. They might be analogous,” Cyn added. I almost rolled my eyes. He was going to answer whether he wanted it or not.
“How did they find us?” I asked before Cyn could speak and he let out a slow exasperated breath. I ignored him.
Felix looked at Cyn, then at me. “I have no idea. We never had any clues that would lead us here. This was the last place we would ever think to look.”
“Yet they found us,” I said crossing my arms. “And they did it after you were taken from the cave. What a coincidence don't you think?”
“I promise, Briana. I have no idea how they did it. I have no way of communicating with the outside world even if I wanted to.”
I chuckled humorlessly. “I’m sorry if this offends you Felix, but your promises mean nothing to me.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
“Think. How could they find us?”
“I don’t know.”
I took a deep breath and sat down at the table. Cyn and Ronan sat on either side of me.
“Do you know the place where they were meeting based on Eisha’s description?”
He nodded. “The main quarters, in Washington DC.”
Renewed Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 2) Page 21