by Vella Day
“Technically Derrick did, but I get it. What did your friend find out?” Zulema had worked hard to keep a low profile.
“You’re an expert markswoman, you basically see to it that your family is taken care of, and you don’t seem to take any time for yourself—as in you don’t have a personal life.”
That was impossible for anyone to know. “You’re making that up.”
He grinned. “I might not be as intuitive as my Fairy sisters, but I know women. That last part was my personal observation.”
Bevon implied she was some inexperienced virgin, and she was not. She just hadn’t had time to date much. “I’m a bodyguard by profession. It doesn’t lend itself to going to parties nor having a lot of time to go on vacation.”
“That is a shame. I bet it doesn’t pay all that well either.”
Despite her training, heat rushed up her face. Zulema sat up straighter. “I do okay for myself, but my mother’s care is not free.”
He instantly sobered. “I’m sorry. That must be very hard on you. Does your sister work?”
She huffed out a laugh. “You don’t know?”
“Ouch. I didn’t ask Logan to do a deep family dive. I only wanted to know your capabilities.”
“Don’t tell me you were actually worried I could harm you?” He’d basically said he was indestructible.
“Not really, but as I said, I do bleed.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Chapter Nine
Dinner wasn’t what Zulema had expected. Up to now, Bevon hadn’t been all that serious, but the moment they discussed how they were going to whisk her mother away from the nursing home, he’d sobered, acting as if this mission was the most important one in his life.
For Zulema, that meant a lot.
“Go over the plan once more,” Bevon said. “We have to be on the same page.”
She inhaled. “I’ll do the teleporting since I know where I’m going. We’ll land outside the nursing home and walk in.”
He shook his head. “I think it would be better if we just appear in your mom’s room.”
“What if a nurse or doctor is there?”
“Hmm. That could pose a problem,” he said.
“I’d rather follow protocol and sign in.”
“You know best.”
Her mind spun. “First, we’ll talk to the head nurse to warn her that we’ll be transferring my mother to a safer place. I’ll even tell her that there has been a threat on her life. If a doctor or nurse is there, we’ll wait until she is finished.”
It looked like Bevon was holding in a smile. “I like your logistical mind. That works for me.”
The logistics were still a bit unclear even to her—and she’d come up with them. “Can you create a portal inside the hospital room, or should we teleport her outside?” Zulema didn’t know the extent of his talents.
“I can create a portal inside a room, but I suspect it might cause some damage. Let’s go with your second method.”
“Okay.”
Their meal arrived and she dug in. “Mmm. This is incredible.”
Zulema hadn’t meant to moan, nor did she want him to think she’d never eaten an expensive meal before, but she didn’t eat in these kinds of restaurants unless her client was paying.
“It is good, but didn’t you sample some of the food on Feyrion while you were there?”
“I wasn’t there for long. I think I ate some crackers. Your aunt served me some drink that kind of tasted like tea. It was delicious but very different from anything I’ve ever tasted before.”
“That might have been camtandor. It is a delicacy.”
“Yes! That was it.”
“It comes from an exotic plant we grow on my homeland. It is something I miss here on Tarradon.”
“Why don’t you grow some here then? The forest is a fertile place.”
His brows rose. “Grow, as in dig up the earth and plant something?”
From the sparkle in his eye, he was kidding her. “Is that beneath your station, Prince Forrester?”
He guffawed. “I don’t think anyone has called me prince in years.”
Now she was curious. “Why is that?”
He shrugged. “My brother is next in line to be king. I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Having to meet with the powers-that-be to discuss strategies would bore me to death. Since I don’t return home very often, there is no one to call me prince. It’s not something I mention when in Edendale.”
That made sense. “If gardening isn’t in your wheelhouse, what do you like to do?” Zulema had no idea why the man intrigued her, but he was different from anyone she’d ever met.
“Enjoy life. I like people and pleasure.”
“That sounds…empty,” she said.
“Ouch, princess.”
Princess? Well, she was one for speaking her mind. “Convince me I’m wrong.”
He leaned back in his chair, picked up his glass of wine, and tossed some back. “Challenge accepted. I like to help people.” He nodded to her. “Case in point.”
“That doesn’t count. You’re helping yourself. You even said you don’t want to fend me off or look over your shoulder for the rest of your eternal life.”
He chuckled. “Interesting take. I say after your mother and sister are safe on Feyrion you give me a little crossbow demonstration and maybe even a lesson or two. I want to see what I would have been up against had you gone through with the plan to kill me.”
“Aren’t you afraid I might turn my bow on you and make you bleed?”
Without warning, he disappeared. His chair moved. What the hell? Then she felt pressure on her shoulders, but it disappeared quickly. The chair returned to its original position, and Bevon came into view. Only this time he was grinning. “That was to show you that even if you shot your crossbow, I’m fast enough to either catch it or get out of the way. And if I disappear on you, I’ll be hard to hit.”
Zulema wasn’t sure what to say. “I guess I should say thank you for joining forces with me. My question is why wasn’t Derrick Valoric aware of your talents?”
“Derrick Valoric. Oh, yes. I never understood what my cousin saw in him. She claims they were mates.”
“Why do you doubt it?” Zulema didn’t want to say that she was feeling this extremely odd attraction to him too.
That’s because he’s your mate, her dragon proclaimed. I never thought you to be so oblivious.
Zulema nearly jumped. Her inner dragon hadn’t said anything in a very long time. And the first thing out of her mouth is a lie? Or was it?
I heard that, her animal said. I am not lying. You feel it. I know, because I do too.
Zulema had other things to think about than the hot man in front of her. Let me get my mother and sister to safety and we’ll talk, she shot back.
Denial is an ugly trait.
Since when did her dragon become so cynical?
Bevon reached across the table and cupped her hand. “Are you okay?”
Zulema never lost focus like that. “Yes. I’m fine.”
“Where did you go?”
Shit. “Just going over the plan in my mind.”
His brows rose. “It looked like you were arguing with someone. Your dragon perhaps?”
She stiffened. “How do you know about…”
“About your inner dragon? My brother’s mate is a dragon shifter.”
Ah, yes. Tory Sinclair. “My animal was asking if I was right in trusting you.”
“Sure, she was.”
Zulema wanted to redirect the focus to him. Besides, the more she understood his abilities the better. “Do you have any kind of inner voice?”
“Are you asking if I have a conscience?”
“I suppose that is what it is called.”
He shook his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“I see.”
“Trying to understand my family is futile though. I’ve yet to truly know what my sisters are capab
le of. They even creep me out sometimes.”
Zulema couldn’t help but smile. “Good to know.”
As if they could read each other’s minds, they finished their meals. Her appetite wasn’t the best, in part because she was worried this plan might go wrong, but she ate anyway. Zulema needed her strength.
When they finished, Bevon paid, for which she was thankful.
“Ready?” he asked.
She inhaled. “Yes.”
Once they were outside, he turned to her. “We’ll cut through this back alley, so we can teleport without curious eyes.”
Zulema stepped close and grabbed his arm. A split second later, they were standing behind the nursing home.
“Nice,” he said.
“What? Didn’t you think my teleporting skills would be accurate?”
“Just saying it was nice. Nothing more.” He had that cute little smirk. Always with the smirk, though she had to say, it was rather charming.
Maybe she was a bit jumpy. “Let’s free Mom.”
Inside, she signed in. “It’s after visiting hours,” the desk person said.
“I’ve been out of town, and I just need to check up on her. We’ll be quick.” Really? Ruth had seen her come and go over the last year every few days.
Ruth hesitated. “Your friend needs to sign in too.”
“No problem.” We both added our signatures to the roster. “We’re good?”
“Yes, but don’t stay long, and please, try not to draw much attention.”
What was that supposed to mean? Zulema never caused a stir. “We won’t.”
Zulema took off with Bevon on her heals. When they reached the nurse’s station on her mother’s floor, she slipped an arm in Bevon’s. She wanted it to appear as if they were a couple. The main nurse knew all of the residents’ visitors.
“Zulema,” the night nurse said. “We’ve missed you.”
She’d only been gone a few days. “I’ve been busy.” She looked up at Bevon, pretending as if they were in love. When the idea didn’t offend her, she dismissed that fanciful notion to nerves.
“I see,” the woman said with a grin.
“Actually, I’ve been away in part because I learned my mother is in danger of being killed.”
The nurse sucked in a breath. “From whom?”
Zulema didn’t need to get into it. “From a group who call themselves the Zon. It’s why Bevon and I are going to take her someplace safe. I didn’t want you to worry when you find her missing the next time you do rounds.”
“Your mother can’t be moved. Her health is too fragile.”
Zulema figured the woman would claim that. “We’ll take that chance.”
“Where are you going?”
Zulema had expected that question too. “It will be better if you don’t know.”
Not wanting to answer any more questions, she and Bevon headed to her mother’s room. When they entered, she was pleased to see that no one was there. Zulema turned to Bevon. “I’ll let you take it from here.”
He looked at the equipment her mom was hooked up to. “Don’t worry. She won’t be needing any of this medication.”
“If your mother can see to my mom right away, we can also leave the oxygen behind too.”
He looked to the side as if he was telepathing with his mother and nodded. He turned back to her. “My mother is ready. Go ahead and unhook her.
To Zulema’s surprise, her mother didn’t wake up during the process. Her breathing was a bit raspy, but that wasn’t anything new. Once they freed her, Bevon stood on one side and Zulema on the other. “I’ll teleport us to behind the facility. Then you can create the portal.”
Bevon flashed her a quick smile. “I can do that. You know, we make a good team.”
Zulema couldn’t think about that. “Ready?”
“You’re in denial. I’ll have to work on changing that.”
Not wanting anything to do with Bevon and his smug attitude right now, she teleported the three of them to the back of the nursing home. Together, they placed her mom on the grass. The cool air must have revived her, because her mother opened her eyes.
Zulema dropped to her knees. “It’s okay, Mom. We’re moving you to a place where you can get better.”
“Zulema?” She reached out, and Zulema grasped her hand.
“Yes, it’s me.” She looked up at Bevon. “Any time now.”
“Sorry.” He stepped to the side, swung his arms in a circle, and out of nowhere a portal appeared. Bevon stepped back to them, squatted down, and lifted her mother as if she weighed nothing. He rose and walked to the portal. “You coming?”
Like she’d let him take her mother by himself. Zulema rose and jogged after him. They stepped through the portal. Instantly, the warm, clean air, wrapped its comforting arms around her.
Bevon turned to her. “Hold on. We’ll teleport to my house.”
Zulema took hold of her mother’s hand so that the three of them were connected.
“My mom just telepathed that we should take your mother to the blue room.”
Keeping a hold on her mother, the three teleported once more. Only after Bevon placed her mother on the bed, did Zulema let go. His mother appeared next to the bed. “Why don’t you two grab something to eat while I do my magic.”
Zulema wasn’t so sure that she wanted to leave her mother alone with this woman, but Bevon’s mom did seem to be powerful enough to do whatever she wanted.
Bevon placed a hand on Zulema’s back. “Come on.”
“Okay.” They didn’t need to eat, but clearly his mother wanted to be alone.
A second later, they appeared in the kitchen. The teleporting without warning was becoming rather disorienting. Not having had the chance to look around his parents’ home before, she checked it out. The kitchen was huge. And it had three chefs. Three!
“Master Bevon, it’s nice to see you back so soon,” said a rather elderly plump woman.
“Nice to be back. I miss your cooking.” He turned to Zulema. “What would you like to eat?”
“We just had dinner, but I could use a glass of wine.”
Bevon rattled off a brand she’d never heard of. “Let’s sit in the drawing room. They’ll bring it to us.”
“On second thought, as much as I would like some wine, Maylora will be rather frantic. I told her we would come for her a little after ten.”
“One glass, and then we’ll rescue her.”
“Maybe we should go now,” Zulema said.
“Give my mother a few more minutes. You’ll feel better knowing that your mom has improved.”
“What can she do in only a few minutes?”
He chuckled. “Oh, ye of little faith.” Bevon glanced downward and then nodded.
She knew the signs. He was telepathing his mother. “What did she say?”
He smiled. “You’re learning my tells, I see. Your mother is asking for you.”
Zulema’s heart dropped to her stomach. “Is my mom okay?”
Bevon stood and held out his hand. “See for yourself.”
Since she had no idea where the blue room was in relation to where they were, she clasped his hand. A moment later, she was looking at her mother, who was sitting up in bed. Her color had returned, and her breathing wasn’t labored. “Mom?”
“Zulema. This wonderful woman has brought me back from the brink of death.”
Zulema looked over at Queen Arianna. “How?”
“I’m a Fairy, my dear. I’m happy to have helped. Your mother needs her rest now though. Tomorrow perhaps, she’ll want to go outside and explore the garden.”
An overwhelming sense of relief and wonder filled her. If this woman hadn’t been a queen, Zulema might have hugged her. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“As long as you don’t try to kill my son, it will be repayment enough.”
“I promise.”
Bevon placed a hand on Zulema’s back, and his touch elicited something inside of her she wasn’t re
ady to address—at least not until Maylora was safe. She turned back to her mother. “Bevon and I are going to bring Maylora here.”
“That would be wonderful.”
The wine would have to wait. They teleported outside. “I’ll create the portal. Once we’re in Tarradon, I’ll let you take us to your sister’s.”
Gratitude overwhelmed her. She turned around, stood on her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. It had meant to be casual, but her body betrayed her. Zulema cleared her throat. “Sorry.”
The right side of his mouth turned up. “For what? I rather enjoyed it. Anytime you want to continue, I’m happy to oblige.”
His cavalier attitude made her laugh. “You are something else, Bevon Forrester. Now please make a portal.”
He did so, and they portaled to his house. “Let’s save Maylora.”
Zulema grabbed his hand and teleported into her sister’s living room. The lights were off, and even though it was close to eleven, Zulema was a little surprised that her sister wasn’t waiting up for her. When she spotted her pink suitcase near the front door, Zulema relaxed a bit. Instead of teleporting to the bedroom, she raced up the steps, making enough noise to rouse the dead. “Maylora?”
Her sister’s bedroom door was wide open, and a trickle of dread filled her. She rushed in and flipped on the light. Shit. Her sister’s bed was still made. Wanting to be thorough, she checked the bathroom. Where was she?
Zulema rushed downstairs, hoping her sister was hiding somewhere. She called out again but received no answer.
“You didn’t find her?” Bevon asked.
“No. Her suitcase is by the door, so she was ready for us.”
Bevon walked over to the front door and ran a hand down the edge. “The door has been forced open.”
Zulema’s knees weakened. “Oh, shit. I bet Derrick Valoric took her.”
Bevon rushed over to her and clasped her shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”
“How?”
“We’ll make him come to us.”
“You think he will?”
“I have my ways. Now, how about returning to my cabin to brainstorm our next move?”
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Ten
Bevon had never felt this helpless before, mainly because his powers were so strong. This time was different. A lot was at stake, and he didn’t have a plan. Lure Derrick to them? What had he been thinking? He hoped that between him and Zulema, they would be able to figure something out.