“Okay, but after.”
“It’s important.”
Her voice was stern, “In a minute. You’re going to listen to this, because this is my promise to you. I promise to love you without conditions. I promise always to look on the bright side of things regardless of the situation. I promise to find a way to make this work. I promise never to give you up.”
Cami wrapped one arm around me and the other behind my head; beautiful milk-chocolate eyes closed slowly as I saw her lips coming toward mine. My lips moved on reflex as I deepened our kiss and pressed her against me. My hands longed for the suppleness of her skin and slid under her t-shirt to find it. I gently caressed the skin on her back as our kiss showed no signs of ending.
As we stood there in the kitchen locked on each other, I heard her words echo in my mind: I promise to find a way to make this work. She was serious.
The fact that I was no longer a man didn’t give her a moment’s pause. This was the love no Centaur before me had ever known. They couldn’t. Arranged marriages, or selections by Centaurides who knew nothing of the Centaurs they chose – none were ever given the chance to fall in love with the other in the beginning.
Then it hit me, Unice had felt this kind of love from Winfield. Maybe it was a curse, but this curse had a silver lining. I would never doubt Cami’s love for me.
When we finally pulled away from each other, I knew that I’d been looking at the situation the wrong way. I had missed what was most important because I was blinded by my circumstance.
I wasn’t a Centaur as a punishment from Zeus, I was in this form by my own choice. I was this way because Cami needed me to be a warrior for her. Cami accepted me without even knowing the reason. The late afternoon sun shone through the window in the kitchen behind Cami, giving her a heavenly quality. “What was so important that you wanted to tell me?”
Without hesitation, “Only that I am the luckiest Centaur ever to walk the earth.” I wouldn’t push Cami away. If she ever tired of the situation, I wouldn’t guilt her into staying with me, but I now knew the depth of her love was as endless as mine. She was more than my love, more than my Centauride or soul mate – Cami completed me.
A thought occurred to me that had evaded me before. Even if Zeus had not spelled it out for me, I knew in that moment why the arrow had given me this form. This is how I could best protect her from her own curse she carried with her every day.
I was strong and fast in my human form, but my skills before paled in comparison to now. Had I been in this form when Phineas came after her, the outcome would have been much different. Those four Centaurs wouldn’t have stood a chance against me.
I considered the events of last night, before Zeus appeared. Even if Cami had seen me and rejected me, there is nothing I wouldn’t have done to protect her. The arrow had offered better protection to the Chiron family than anyone could ever have imagined. I’d learned of the arrow when I was just a child and had been told that it carried immortal magic. Until I held it in my hand and it transformed me, I had no appreciation for the magic pulsing through it, and now that same magic pulsed through me.
Chapter 28
(Drake – Cameron’s house, SD)
Camille opened the refrigerator, “Are you hungry?”
My plan last night to raid a farmer’s freezer in the middle of the night had been abandoned. Today was the first day I had been inside, out of the elements, in five days. I unconsciously let my guard down and allowed myself to feel hunger, not just for food, but the hunger for Cami, too. I’d be able to eat and appease my appetite, but I knew the hunger I felt for Cami would never be satisfied. I reached into a cupboard, found a crumpled up, half-eaten bag of Doritos and did my best to satisfy one of my appetites.
Cami shook her head, “I was thinking eggs.”
“You can make eggs. I’d rather have these.” I didn’t want to own up to the fact that I’d eaten at least two dozen raw eggs the last few days, so they had little appeal for me now.
Cami followed me into the living room, taking a seat on the couch as I took a place on the floor beside her. She abandoned her plan to make eggs and shared the bag of Doritos with me. I didn’t want to bring it up, but I needed to know. “So, what did Phineas do to you?”
She shook her head. “Nothing really.”
I took both her hands in mine. I had imagined horrific things. I needed to know what the emotional scars were before I could understand how long it would take for her to heal. “Tell me. I need to know.”
“It wasn’t as bad as I had expected. He’s really not that bright.” I didn’t interrupt, so she finally began, “He took me to Florida. I don’t remember anything of the trip there: they’d knocked me out. Once I was there, they kept me sedated. I came to before they had expected me to, and I simply convinced them to let me go.”
I shook my head. That didn’t make any sense. Why would they go to all the trouble to take her, then just release her after she awoke? Cami was part of the Lost Herd. Had they done it to bring attention to her? To my knowledge, the Centaur Council had not been notified. Zandra chaired the Council, but even she wouldn’t have wanted Cami’s circumstances to come to light, would she? “How did you convince them to let you go?” Horrible images of Cami begging for her life filled my head.
She smiled at me. In that instant she had read my thoughts, and answered, “No, it wasn’t like that. I said I convinced them to let me go; I didn’t say I turned into a helpless little girl.”
“Show me.”
“I thought Centaurs couldn’t read minds? Only Centaurides?”
I took her hands and brought them to my lips; there was so much she still didn’t know. “I’m your Centaur, Cami. From the moment you chose me, you established a connection with me. I should be able to see any thoughts or images you want me to see.”
As I lay there holding her hands, I saw the whole image of what had happened play out in detail in front of me. She was much stronger than I had given her credit for and more cunning than any Centauride I had ever known. I felt her rage.
After she had shown me the whole thing, I was stunned by how she had “convinced” them to let her go. “You can give someone a stroke? That’s pretty lethal.”
Her smile grew. “I needed to show him that I wasn’t playing around.”
“Phineas won’t give up.”
“Now that I know you’re fine, I couldn’t care less about Phineas.” I knew how Centaurs thought. He wouldn’t let it go, no matter how frightened he might be of Cami. She had put an enormous target on her back. Centaurides weren’t the warriors of our race; they were the advisors. When word spread of Cami’s abilities, the Centaur Council could decide she was enough of a threat to extinguish her themselves. Add Zeus into the equation, and we were running out of time. I was still holding her hands as we sat there in silence. I was careful to keep my concerns for her safety hidden behind my mind’s wall. “Has anyone told you of the Centaur Council?”
“I’ve heard of it. You mentioned that they meet in Africa every year. What do they do?”
“Sometimes, it’s merely for festivities. Sometimes they act as a tribunal. Zandra is the chairman of the Centaur Council.”
Cami’s eyes widened, “Someone elected her? What’d she do? Threaten everybody?”
“No. It’s always chaired by a Chiron. Until you, Angelo was the only heir to take her seat when she was ready to step down.”
I felt her hands tense. She thought little of her uncle, Angelo. Cami had told me about meeting him at Zandra’s while we were walking the pastures in Ireland. Her opinion was shared by every other Centaur I knew. It’s customary for a Chiron to lead the Council for twenty-five years, although it is at the Chairperson’s discretion when he or she is replaced.
Zandra had been in power for nearly forty. As little as I thought of her, I couldn’t help but be grateful with all the other Centaurs for her never having passed her position onto her son.
“What about Zethus or one of
his sons?”
“I don’t know how the Council decided between Zethus and Zandra, but I think you or Cameron are more likely than either of Zethus’s sons.” Cameron was just as likely to take over the Council as Cami, but the Centauride twin was usually selected because of her skills. Unfortunately, he was also in danger because of his shared lineage to the Tak bloodline.
“But why?”
“Judging by what you did to your captors, you are more powerful. If either of Zethus’s sons could do anything close, we may never have gotten this far.”
“Do you think Cameron can do what I do?”
“I don’t know. I only met him briefly. No one knows much about the Lost Herd because, up until I met you, I didn’t even know it still existed. As far as your Centauride abilities, I’ve never heard of the Chiron Centaurs having any special skills.”
“But Phineas and William can’t do what I can.”
“Maybe they can and they don’t know it.”
We were interrupted by Cami’s phone, “Hello?”
“Oh, hi, Will.” She made a sour face. “No, I’ve decided to stay.” Silence. I wanted to interrupt, to try to convince her I agreed with Will that she should go to South Carolina for a few days, but she didn’t look my way.
“Because it’s my choice.” Silence. “I’m an adult, Will. I don’t need to run my decisions past you. At least not the ones about staying here.” I needed to warn Will, too. He and his family would all soon be targets if they weren’t already.
“Fine, but they’ll be bored at the hotel. I’m staying out at Cameron’s.” He must have told her that Bart and Beau were going to stay on. “There is one thing I need you to do for me. I want you to call Drake’s parents. Tell them I’ve chosen him.”
A short silence while Will responded to her request and then her voice fired back, “I don’t care if you think it’s a bad idea or not. Either you call them or I will.”
More silence. Her eyes met mine. Will was still on the phone while she told me, “Your father knows my bloodline’s from the Lost Herd.”
I needed to talk to Will, and given Cami’s frustration with him, now was the opportune moment. I reached over and squeezed Cami’s knee. “Can you put Will on speaker?”
“Hold on, Will, Drake wants to talk to you.”
She pressed the speaker button and laid the phone on her lap. “Will, it’s Drake. Can you hear me okay?”
He gave me a frosty response, “Yes, Drake. As I was telling Camille, I’m not sure how welcomed a betrothal to Camille will be with your father right now.”
“So, it’s true. Centaurs are aware you are from the Lost Herd?”
“I’m afraid so. So far there haven’t been any attacks, but we think it’s just a matter of time. I’ve told Beau and Bart I want them to stay up north with Camille.”
Camille cut in, “Attacks?!”
Will’s tone was soft, “Yes, Camille. I’m sorry to tell you this over the phone. Long ago, when all the herds were still at the pasture of Thessaly, Zeus became angry with our bloodline. He decreed that the Tak line be extinguished. His decree has never been repealed.”
Cami was shocked into silence. I took a deep breath. There was a good chance Will wouldn’t believe me, but it was more important that his family be ready than it was for them to think I’m sane. “Will, I’m a Centaur.”
“Drake, that isn’t a secret.”
Cami shook her head at me. I hadn’t wanted anyone to know initially, but that was before I had made the choice, before I had willingly given up my human form in an effort to save her from the dangers ahead. “No. You don’t understand. I’ve been transformed into a real Centaur. I have hooves, a tail, and I tip the scales at more than nine hundred pounds.”
Frustration seeped into his voice, “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it isn’t funny. Camille, I want you to go back to the hotel. Now.”
This time Cami interrupted, “No. Will, it’s true. I found Drake last night. When he touched the arrow at Cameron’s house, it transformed him.”
“What?”
I took a deep breath, “Zeus intends to send a messenger to address the Centaur Council. He plans to remind them about his death warrant on the Tak family.”
Disbelief colored his response, “Zeus? Zeus, the father of gods intends to go to the next Centaur Council meeting? The weather on Mount Olympus isn’t to his liking these days? That’s what you’re telling me?”
“Will, I know it’s hard to believe. He spoke to me last night. He offered to make me human again,” I paused feeling Cami’s eyes on me, “but the price was too high.” My hand was still on Cami’s knee; I gave it a reassuring squeeze. This was not the way I wanted to tell her. “He also shared that he was not pleased that the Tak bloodline was still intact. He intends to remind all the Centaurs on the Council of their responsibility to extinguish the bloodline.”
“This is Phineas’s fault. If he hadn’t pulled that stunt, everything would have been fine.”
“I think you’re past the point of assigning blame. Will, you need to get you and your family to safety. I’ll find a place for Cami and me, but I don’t want her worried about all of you. You need to go into hiding – now, before any more people know about you.”
Silence. “All right, thanks for the warning. Where are you two going to be?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet, but I promise you, no harm will come to her as long as I live.”
“Drake, has anyone seen you?”
“No. Just Cami. I think Lacey knows, and I have to assume Zandra is aware, but no one else.”
“I’m going to call Beau. I’ll have him bring an account number to you. When you two went on the run to Ireland, I had one set up in the Caymans in case you needed it. It should be enough to start a life together. Camille?”
“I’m right here, Will.”
“Cami, if this is the last time I talk to you, I want you to know I. . . I would have been better. I would have been there for you your whole life if I’d known. My only regret that I’ll take to my grave is I was never able to make it up to you.”
Cami’s eyes got glossy. She pursed her lips together as if that could discourage the tears that wanted to let loose. I saw her hand start to shake and her voice trembled when she answered, “Dad, you have nothing to make up to me. In the short time we spent together you gave me more than I’d ever wished for. Gretchen even gave me Mom back for a little while. I don’t regret calling you or anything that happened after I came to your home. We’ll get through this. We’ll find a way to make it right.”
“Camille, say it again.”
“Say what again? We’ll get through this?”
Will’s voice was full of emotion when he answered, “No. You just called me Dad.”
Even my eyes clouded when I heard her whisper, “Take care of our family, Dad. We’ll find you when it’s safe.” Cami handed me the phone and left the room; the good-bye was too much for her. I wasn’t even a part of her family, and it was almost more than I could be an audience to.
“Will, I’ve got an idea how we can keep in contact with each other. I’ll run it by Beau when he comes by. If you need us or if we need you, it’ll be a safe way to contact each other.”
“Take care of her, Drake.”
“I will.” He shared a few more tidbits of information with me, and we said our good-byes, as well.
My heart ached for Cami. She had been through so much in the past few months. No one would blame her for shutting down. Once again, she surprised me by emerging from the kitchen, eyes red and swollen, but dry. “Did he say anything else?”
“He called my parents to tell them of your choice. He said my parents know about the Lost Herd. My mother gave us her blessing.”
“And your father?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. He also said Zandra notified the Centaur Council that the Lost Herd had kidnapped her Centauride heir. She called a special session. Will thinks since you’ve made your
choice clear, she may turn her sight back on you, maybe telling the Council that you had a hand in your own kidnapping.”
“Will they believe her?”
I shook my head as if I didn’t know. Absent anyone to tell them otherwise, they would absolutely believe Zandra. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Cami. “He also said she’d tried to convince Kyle Richardson for another arranged marriage, this time to Gage’s little brother, Brandon. Kyle refused, said you’d already made your choice.”
A small part of me was pleased to hear Will say Zandra was trying to arrange a marriage to Brandon. If she were married to Brandon, no one would question her lineage. No one would dare. Instead of saying it out loud and taking Cami’s wrath, I thought the words she wouldn’t want to hear. “Brandon’s a good kid. You’d be safe if you chose him.”
“Are you insane?! I told you this whole horse thing is temporary. We get the arrow back to Zethus and have him lift the curse, end of story.”
I shook my head. It was time to share the whole truth. She needed to know I’d never be human again. I told her everything about my meeting with the Goddess Harmonia and with Zeus. After she heard it all, she sat still on the sofa, looking as though she were in a trance. I waved my hand in front of her face, worried that this had been the final straw and she would shut down. Without breaking her concentration on the wall opposite her, she murmured, “I love you, Drake. Wherever we go, you’d better find a house with big doorways, because I’m not sleeping in a barn for the rest of my life.”
I didn’t know what to say. Had she just cracked a joke? Was she delirious? “Cami, are you okay?”
Her eyes left the opposite wall and fell on mine. “You made the right choice. If Zeus knew our days were numbered with you as a human, I’d much rather have a long life with you like this, over a short life with you as a human. But I’m not sleeping in barns forever.”
I pulled Cami off the sofa and into my arms. She wasn’t angry, or hurt, or numb. She was keeping the promise to me she made the moment she arrived here today. She was looking on the bright side.
Centaur Legacy Page 22