“I want to go into town.”
“No, it’s not worth the risk,” Callon replied firmly.
“Who’s going to come after me, Callon?” I asked. “It’s obvious Maes is keeping the Tresez and Trackers away. I feel fine, too, and there’s little chance another transformation will take place anytime soon. I’m tired of being held a prisoner by you.”
There was no reply.
“After all you’ve put me through, all the betrayal and lies, it’s the smallest thing you can grant me.”
I sat up and touched his arm. His eyes drifted to my fingers.
“You think your touch will persuade me, Cheyenne?”
“I don’t need my touch to persuade you, Callon. I want, no, need to go into town—today.” I knew if he thought about it too much, he’d say no.
“What you need is your rest.”
“I need some freedom. A little shopping trip won’t hurt. Besides, I know there’s nothing in the house to eat right now.”
Callon released a heavy sigh. He stood up, breaking my hold. “Get dressed, and I’ll think about it.”
It wasn’t a “no” yet…
“Where are my clothes?” I asked.
“In the bathroom closet.”
I nodded and began to crawl out of bed.
“I need to do some shopping as well. The weather is getting cooler, and I’m going to need warmer clothes.” I hesitated, watching his reaction. “We’ve been doing what the three of you have wanted from the beginning. It’s time I get to make some choices.” Without waiting for a reply, I walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I listened, but got no response. It was a good sign…I hoped.
I wiggled my toes on the cold travertine floor and glanced about. I was amazed at how elegant Callon’s bathroom and closet were…just like his bedroom. Warm, with a bit of old world styling. Now if only his personality would reflect that…
Soon I was showered and ready to go. As I opened the door, Callon was sitting on the bed, waiting.
“You really look much better today,” he said warmly.
“Glad you approve.” I rolled my eyes. “Now let’s go. I’m starving!”
He stepped towards me.
“We’ll do it my way, Cheyenne.”
Ah. He’d flipped into “he who must be obeyed” mode. Would Mr. Evasive be making a comeback, too?
I headed for the door. Colt and Daniel’s bedrooms were nearby, and my old room was at the end of the hall. They’d probably put Maes there. Hurt momentarily rose to the surface. Another sign of my independence lost—they wouldn’t even trust me enough to let me have my own room. I was going to be under closer watch than ever.
Callon followed close behind me. Colt, Daniel and Maes were waiting in the great room. I glanced around. The stone fireplace, where I’d enjoyed many a warm fire with Colt, stirred my feelings again, and I swallowed. The scent of the leather furniture reminded me of the hours we’d spent playing poker together. The accents of red on the pillows triggered a dull ache, as I recalled Daniel and Colt tossing them at me playfully…our carefree times together would be no more.
I looked down at the hardwood floor. The dark maple finish made me feel just as dark and moody. Even the vaulted ceiling with the wood beams seemed to be closing in on me. The sunshine from the windows near the piano brought the only warmth. Everything reminded me once more that for all the joys I’d shared, this place was still my prison. That was why I had to get out, no matter the risks. Get out and away…
As I turned for the door, I noticed that Maes was still half dressed. I shook my head.
“What is wrong with you two?” I narrowed my eyes at Daniel and Colt. “Maes can’t go into town half dressed!” I turned to Colt. “Colt, don’t you have something Maes can use today? You two look similar in size. I’ll get him his own clothes when we go shopping later.”
Colt didn’t answer. I glanced at Callon for some support, but he just shrugged. I released an exasperated breath and grabbed Colt to drag him towards his bedroom. “Come on, Maes.” Maes reluctantly followed. “Stupid men,” I muttered under my breath.
We stopped at Colt’s closet. Colt wasn’t paying attention; he was too focused on glaring at Maes.
I pushed past him and began rummaging through his shirts. I was amazed at the quantity of clothes one man could have, but then again he’d been alive for a long time.
I picked out a shirt and shoes and handed them to Maes. A smirk was building on Maes’s face. He was enjoying Colt’s discomfort.
“Put them on, Maes. I need to know if they fit,” I said.
“Bien sûr, Cheyenne,” Maes answered, an amused smile on his lips. Colt snarled, but he didn’t say anything. I rolled my eyes. They were both acting so childish.
Colt stepped closer and crossed his arms around me. I knew it was a protective response, but it didn’t stop me from holding my back rigid. Maes took a deliberately long time getting dressed, playing with the sleeve buttons, and I was all but ready to scream when he finished.
“Finally!”
We moved out of the closet. Colt didn’t remove his hands from my shoulders. We reached the great room, and Callon shot Colt a dark glare. Colt ignored him. He moved to my side, his arm still around my shoulders. Annoyed, I pulled myself free.
“Ready?” Callon asked.
“Yes.”
We loaded up into the truck, and as I’d guessed, I got to sit up front. Daniel and Maes jumped in the back, and we drove off. Normality seemed to have returned; things were almost back to the way it had been before we left for Dex and Lilly’s. I knew there was still the threat of Trackers and Tresez, but it must have been manageable or Callon wouldn’t have agreed for me to leave the cabin. Colt and Daniel chatted, and Callon was his usual tense self, always searching for danger.
Maes remained quiet. I studied him in the rearview mirror. His gaze was focused on the landscape, his head tilting occasionally as if he heard something. Was this what he was like on the drive here? I’d been so out of it I hadn’t paid attention. Was he watching for danger, listening for voices, or was he plotting something? Was he going to take advantage of Callon’s generosity and have me ambushed?
“Where do you want to eat breakfast, Cheyenne?”
Callon’s voice broke me from my trance.
“Anywhere,” I replied. “I’m famished.”
Callon took me to a fast food restaurant, and I ate the breakfast sandwiches quickly, burning my tongue in the process. Callon stared in amazement; they’d never seen me eat like this. I’d never seen me eat like this…
“Where to next?” Callon tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, eager to get going. I raised an eyebrow. Apparently he was actually allowing me to choose the destinations today.
“We need to go shopping.” I turned to Maes, to gauge his reaction, but he only nodded. His attention was focused elsewhere.
We made our way downtown and headed to a department store. Our first stop was the men’s department. All four of my guardians kept within arm’s length. Both Callon and Colt made sure they were between Maes and me at all times. I chose some items and handed them to Maes. He hesitated.
“Maes,” I said firmly. “If you’re going to be around us, then I need you to keep some clothes on. You stand out enough as it is.” A wicked smirk rose on Maes’s lips, and I rolled my eyes.
“I can pay for my own things, Cheyenne,” Maes’s accent rolled out as we neared the counter. It only seemed to come out in certain circumstance—stress and annoyance.
As he approached the counter, I tugged on the back of his jeans pocket.
“You have an invisible wallet, I see. Invisible money too?”
“I have money.”
“I’m sure you do; however, I’m buying.” Maes inhaled sharply as he laid the items on the counter. “Besides, I owe you. You saved my life. It won’t make up for it, but it’ll make me feel better.”
Maes reluctantly took his bags, and we headed for the women’s sectio
n. I scanned the racks and was soon almost buried by the clothes Colt began stacking in my arms.
“Colt, cut it out! I can pick out clothes on my own,” I said.
“Oh, right, sorry.” He stepped back. “I was just trying to be helpful.”
“You can be helpful by not interfering.”
At once, I bit my lip. I hadn’t meant to sound so harsh. Colt simply looked at me, hurt crossing his blue eyes, before he gazed at the floor. I sighed.
Once I’d paid for the things I needed, Colt and Daniel walked back to the truck, while I went with Callon and Maes to buy a sandwich. We sat outside on a park bench. The weather was pleasant for late September, and I enjoyed the warmth. I sat between Maes and Callon, munching my ham and swiss, watching people pass by. Callon casually moved closer, his arm resting on the bench behind me. Maes was still edgy.
“Maes, why are you so nervous?” I asked, taking another bite.
“I really don’t like being around humans,” Maes replied.
“Why?”
“No use for them.”
I chewed thoughtfully. I had my own ideas why he didn’t like humans. For one thing, he stood out with that eye coloring of his…I’d seen the clerk staring at him.
I scarfed down the remaining sandwich.
“They stare at you, don’t they?” I asked. “It’s your eye color. It’s odd.”
Maes turned towards me.
“Are you ever going to answer my question about your eyes? Why’s the color only on the outer rim?”
He exhaled and turned away again. “Callon, you really should teach this child some Timeless history.”
“I didn’t ask Callon. I’m asking you, Maes.”
Maes didn’t respond. Callon stiffened. My eyes darted around the park. Were there Tresez or Trackers around? Surely they wouldn’t come out in public to attack. But they could easily pass as humans; they could creep up on me before I’d even know it.
“They won’t come out in public,” Maes mumbled.
A bit of relief washed over.
“Why not?” I questioned.
Maes didn’t respond. Apparently I’d met my question quota for the day.
I glanced at Callon.
“You ate your whole sandwich, Cheyenne.” He sounded surprised. “You usually eat like a bird. I’m glad you have an appetite now. You’ve been looking too frail.”
I rolled my eyes.
Callon squeezed my shoulder, causing my body to shudder. I wanted to lash out and tell him to cut it out, but we were in public, and I didn’t want to cause a scene. He was behaving very upfront these days. We continued to wait for Daniel and Colt. They were taking an awfully long time.
“Where are they?” I looked down the storefronts.
“They’re coming. Don’t worry about it.” Callon’s fingers moved to my neck, and he began to massage it. It was his way to comfort me. It caused goosebumps to run down my arms. I tried to lean forward, but his hand remained. I shifted, attempting to move away again, but he grasped my arm and drew me closer. His warm breath passed over my neck as he leaned in.
“The agreement was we do things my way. This is part of my way. Deal with it.”
My eyes narrowed.
“You—”
“I said my way. I meant the entire day, sweetheart,” Callon whispered slyly. I had to endure the torture for half an hour before they returned. Colt kept his head down, and while Daniel was smiling, I couldn’t help but see a trace of guilt in his eyes. What had they been up to?
“Groceries?” Daniel asked.
“Yes.”
Callon took hold of my arm and ensured I was planted next to him as we headed for the truck. He was keeping a close eye on Maes. While I didn’t like being forced to stay this close to him, part of me was relieved. I didn’t trust Maes completely yet either…
Grocery shopping wasn’t difficult, though I got more than my fair share of wary glances. Then again, I was shopping with four men following me around like overbearing brutes. All I could do was smile politely and pretend there wasn’t anything unnatural about it.
As we walked through the meat section, an idea hit me.
“I’ll make you dinner.” No one replied. “Oh, come on. I won’t do the same thing twice. Besides, you’ll see all the food we buy. I won’t poison you again.”
“Poison them, Cheyenne?” Maes asked.
“I’ll tell you about it another time, Maes.” I eyed the steaks stacked in the Saran-wrapped packages. If they didn’t want dinner, I was having steaks without them. Why was I suddenly so ravenous?
“If you make it,” Callon replied, “we’ll eat it.”
I didn’t miss the edge in his voice. Huh…here I was offering to cook, even after everything they’d put me through, and Callon still didn’t trust me?
Probably a wise decision.
“I’m not going to force you, Callon,” I said flatly. “I don’t see the point in making the effort if you’re just being polite.”
“No, go ahead. We haven’t eaten in a while.” Callon paused for a moment. “Just don’t ask me to eat any dessert.”
Maes’s brow lifted. Ignoring him, I continued shopping. We went down every aisle as I piled items in the cart. Callon tilted his head slightly.
“Uh, Cheyenne, are you sure you’re going to eat all this?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
After checking out, we loaded the truck and headed home. The drive was pleasant, and I was somewhat satisfied I’d done what I wanted for a change. When we got back, I sorted my new clothes, put away all the food I liked in the kitchen, and shortly I’d plan my departure. I might as well make my stay comfortable until I left.
It was already late afternoon, so I began to prepare dinner. My guardians watched every move I made, ensuring I didn’t add any extra ingredients. Any trust I’d earned previously was now gone. It was my own doing…I’d told Dex I would leave them someday and I would. Unfortunately, that meant they’d be watching everything I did. What little privacy I’d had before would now be gone.
There was an awkward silence as we ate dinner.
“So, Cheyenne,” Maes purred as he leaned back in his chair. “What’s all this about poisoning them with a dessert?”
“They wouldn’t let me leave, so I tricked Daniel into taking me to look for some special berries…the kind that can incapacitate a person for a period of time. I made dinner and a berry pie.” My smirk was growing as I recalled my elaborate ruse. “The dinner was safe enough, but the pie was what did them in,” I lightly snickered. “They saw me eat the pie too, so they didn’t think much of it, but what they didn’t know was that I had eaten the antidote. The berries only worked for a short period, but I still it made it to the bank to find the journal before they caught up with me.”
“I see,” Maes replied, deep in thought. “Not afraid of a challenge, are you?”
I didn’t like the underlying meaning in his tone. “Don’t under estimate me, Maes,” I said coolly. “It’ll cause you trouble if you do.”
“So you’re planning to leave again?”
I twitched. I didn’t like how he could read me so easily. He gave a soft chuckle. “Interesting... ”
“Cheyenne told us she would leave again,” Callon said calmly. “I told her we’d stop her.” I didn’t meet his gaze.
“You treat me like a possession.” The edge to my words could have cut glass. “A trophy to be guarded from thieves. I’m sick of it.” Maes didn’t need to know the rest of the story; the ruins of my broken heart.
“And how do you plan on keeping yourself safe from Marcus?” Maes asked. “He knows about you now. He’ll be coming for you. You haven’t transformed yet, and even if you had, I doubt you could do this on your own.”
I clasped my fists in my lap.
“You all keep going on about how I’m the only one who can destroy Marcus. If I’m the only one, then why wouldn’t I be able to keep myself safe until I do?”
“I think
it’s a little more complicated than that. You’re still human for one thing,” Maes replied.
“Maes,” I protested. “You said yourself that my mother transformed earlier than everyone expected. Who’s to say I’m still human after my last episode? Are you going to test the theory?” I arched my brow boldly. “I know Callon, Colt and Daniel won’t. Supposedly, I’ll just know when it happens.” I paused and glanced around the table. “What if I just don’t tell you?” It remained silent.
I pushed my chair back and began gathering the plates.
“We have our hands full, don’t we?” Maes stated. “A bit of a temper as well, I see.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Callon muttered.
I took the dishes to the sink and began to wash up. I felt four sets of eyes staring at me.
“You should really find a hobby other than watching everything I do,” I snapped. No one replied as I headed for the couch.
I sat staring out the windows, admiring the scenery and trying to distract myself from my current situation. It had been bad enough dealing with my overprotective guardians; now one was trying to capture my heart, the other was loading me with guilt, and there was a new addition to the mix. Maes. He claimed he wanted to protect me…but what was he really after? He knew about my mother’s transformations, but did he actually know her? Or was he just trying to work his way inside my heart, like the others had?
Maes dropped in the loveseat and blocked my view. It was enough of a distraction that I didn’t see Colt enter with a black case in his hands until he was right in front of me.
I glared, though I was still aware of how I’d treated him earlier.
“Hell has not frozen over yet, Colt,” I said. Wouldn’t he ever give up?
“Oh, I know,” Colt replied. “I actually don’t want it to freeze over. I’d like to warm it up a bit. You know…make it a little cozier.” He pushed the case into my lap.
I glanced around. Everyone was waiting for me to open it. Sighing, I opened the latches and found an old guitar. It was perfect, but I didn’t want them to know it. I closed it again and glowered at Colt and Callon.
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