Dixon (Stratham Shifters Book 6)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “I never thought of it that way,” Nathaniel replied, and Laura managed a smile.

  “I guess we have a lot to learn from each other,” she said.

  It wasn't far to the park, but Nathaniel's heart was nearly beating out of his chest as his mind swirled with the possibilities of what could be happening. He was so distracted that he bumped into someone on the street.

  “Oh, I'm sorry,” he said, usually a graceful witch. But when he met the person's eyes, his heart stopped.

  “Grego? Are you Grego?” He recognized the face of the alien staring back at him. Grego had been a CEO of half the construction operations in the city. He had been a quiet businessman who seemed to have it all. Until one day, he took to the top of one of his buildings and jumped.

  The whole city saw what was left of him as the news crews struggled for the story. The galaxy covered it for months, trying to figure out why this being who had it all would end his life.

  Why he had done it had never come to light. The only thing they were sure of was that Grego was dead – splattered across the payment.

  Except that Nathaniel was staring at him right now.

  Grego blinked twice at his name being called, and then he took off down the street. Nathaniel stood, stunned.

  “What the heck is happening?” he asked Laura.

  ‘Nathaniel.’ Sienna's voice entered his mind then, frantic, and Nathaniel let Grego's face leave his thoughts. He and Laura took off in a jog toward the park, their breath coming out in gasps.

  Nathaniel had been in the city center many times at night, and it was always crowded. But this seemed more chaotic than usual. Beings were walking around with dazed looks in their eyes, unsure of what was happening. Nathaniel had no doubt that half of them were dead.

  They had to elbow their way into the park, calling out to their Tiros several times. Nathaniel eventually found Sienna huddled by the lake against Devon's arm. They were shivering, and the boy was holding his side in pain, his face pale.

  Nathaniel rushed to Sienna, putting his arm around her as Laura dropped to Devon's side.

  “What's happening?” Sienna asked, referring to Devon's pain. Nathaniel shook his head, bewildered.

  “I don't know,” he said, as Laura triaged her Tiro. “I don't know. But we have to get you back, and now.”

  Chapter 10

  “It seems so many years have gone by, and yet it's still the same boy in those eyes,” Dorian said to Desmond with a small smile. He was hooked up to every monitor in the med bay that Tara could possibly find, but everything was coming back normal. At this point, all those who had seemingly returned from the dead were being monitored and given every test known to the Academy. It was going to be a long process, but if there was anything wrong with them beside the fact that they had just returned from a long death, Tara was going to find it.

  Desmond was sitting by his side, the curtain drawn. There was so much noise on the other side of it as everyone moved about and tried to figure out what was happening. There was beeping, confused voices, and cries of surprise as more people were reunited.

  “Mmm,” Desmond answered. “So much has changed, though. I don't feel like the same person.”

  “What has changed?” Dorian answered. “If all this is true, then it's best I am up to date on it.”

  “Uh,” Desmond answered, “that is many years of history, Maestro.”

  “Indeed,” Dorian replied. “So start with the things that aren't. You and Mariah are still close, although I see that she has lost her sight.”

  “Yes.” That was an easy one. “It was ten years ago, while on a mission. For a moment, it stopped her, but she has learned to adapt; learn to heal. She trains those who have lost their senses and has become a great resource to the Jurors.”

  “Of course,” he said. “Mariah has always been destined for greatness. And Reynolds? Did he rise the way we thought he did?”

  “Reynolds…” Desmond's mind flashed back to the last time he saw Dorian. Dorian had praised him for taking on Reynolds, the powerful boy who everyone thought would go on to do such great things. “Reynolds chose to rebel from me. He chose to use Acheronian magic when he was eighteen. Turned his back on the tests; turned his back on all of this.”

  “Oh my.” Dorian shook his head. For a witch to choose the dark magic side instead of the Nature side that they chose was unforgivable. They used their magic for evil; they were shamed, and it left those who knew them heartbroken. “I am sorry.”

  “He's still alive,” Desmond said softly. “Every morning, I check on him – just reach out to feel his signature. He is still somewhere out there.”

  “It must have devastated you.”

  “It did.” Desmond took a deep breath. “Had it not been for Mariah, I would not have survived it.”

  “I am glad she is still a great support to you,” Dorian replied. “I am also glad that the Jurors have not threatened either of you for the support you give each other.”

  “Maestro,” Desmond answered, “did you not always know me to be discreet?”

  “Mostly,” Dorian said. “I also knew that tearing you away from Mariah was pointless, and I stopped trying to give you guidance in that area. You knew what you were doing.”

  “Sometimes it seems that it's the only time I knew what I was doing,” Desmond answered.

  “And where did you go after Reynolds?” Dorian prompted.

  “Christa,” he smiled. “She lost her Maestro, and we found each other in a state of grief. She is a well-renowned pilot now.”

  “A happy ending,” Dorian replied, “thanks to you.”

  “From Christa, there was Nathaniel,” Desmond said. “Which brings us to the present day.”

  “You are still training him?” Dorian did the math in his head.

  “No. I picked up Nathaniel late in his life – at thirteen – and so he stayed with me late as well. I thought he would be my last. That Mariah and I would retire. She trained his best friend; those were the years.” He smiled in memories. “But Nathaniel was not quite ready to be independent, and we found Sienna together. You will meet them both. However, Sienna has the acridid gene. She also has enough power to blow the entire galaxy. So, you can imagine why the Jurors made a choice to let us both train her.”

  “The acridid gene?” Dorian answered. “Your Tiro–”

  “Should be dead,” Desmond answered. “But she is not, and we are coping. It's an effort, I grant you, especially at my age, but it takes a village as they say, and I have a village.”

  “Well then, I should very much like to meet her,” Dorian answered. “I am proud of you, Desmond.”

  Even though he must be confused, with a thousand thoughts running through his head, Dorian still managed to set Desmond's mind at ease. There was nothing like his Maestro's confidence to make him feel he could conquer anything.

  It was with a calm demeanor that he approached Nathaniel that night after most of the Academy had settled down. Nathaniel was at his desk, looking tired, with papers spread out in front of him. Desmond could see from his monitor that he had tried to place several calls to Eliza, all unanswered.

  “Hi,” Nathaniel said, pulling papers off his second chair so that Desmond could join him. “What's that like, having your Maestro back?”

  “Exactly as you would imagine,” Desmond answered. “Disturbing, and yet calming at the same time. Are you writing a formula to figure out why it happened?”

  “Nobody can figure out why a thing like that could happen,” Nathaniel answered. “So, at the moment, I'm grading mathematics quizzes and praying it distracts me. Eliza's not answering, and neither is the general palace line. It's worrying.”

  “Perhaps she's busy,” Desmond replied. “It could happen, you know.”

  “I know,” Nathaniel said. “It's just that she asked me to look into something, which is how that whole situation with Laura began.”

  “Eliza asked you for something and you fell into bed with Laura?” De
smond raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I see.”

  “Don't be like that.” Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “You don't know what it's like.”

  Desmond crossed his arms, leaning back in the chair. “I don't know what it's like to manage an extremely difficult relationship that I'm not supposed to have?”

  “No,” Nathaniel shot back. “You don't know what it's like to be with more than one person. To have that agreement. To manage that.”

  “Which are not things we should know at all,” Desmond pointed out, and Nathaniel sighed.

  They stopped moving as they felt Sienna shift in the next room. It was a momentary jerk – probably a bad dream – and she settled down easily enough.

  “How is she?” Desmond asked, and Nathaniel sighed.

  “She's fine,” he said. “Or fine for her, at least. She got a scare in the park, though. Laura's Tiro, Devon, is just as unwell as she is, apparently. His is known and better managed, so he slowly dies without feeling much pain, unless they make a mistake in meds, which they did tonight. He'll be fine, too, but she's traumatized by it.”

  “And Laura takes warrior missions?” Desmond asked in shock.

  “Until the day he drops dead on one,” Nathaniel said, shaking his head. “Not something I agree with, obviously.”

  “But those things can be put aside when there are other matters,” Desmond replied, and Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

  “It was once, all right?”

  “Nathaniel, I am not the person to criticize you on this,” Desmond said, and leaned forward. “I am not your enemy; do not mistake me as such.”

  “I know.” Nathaniel ran a hand over his face. “I'm sorry. You just…when you came to get me, I imagined the worst.”

  “What is the worst?” Desmond prompted, trying to see where Nathaniel's mind was leading.

  “That Sienna was dead,” he said and Desmond smiled.

  “There was a time when that would not be the worst thing to you. You didn't want her, if I recall.”

  “There was,” Nathaniel answered. “The worst thing in the world at that time would have been Eliza not calling me back. Now I know that she is just busy, and I spend the moments in between missed calls checking in to see if my Tiro is still breathing. Which, she is.”

  “Life changes,” Desmond reminded him, thinking of his conversation with Dorian. “But the important thing to remember is that we are all still here.”

  “Or here again,” Nathaniel answered. “I imagine the library will be quite busy over the next few weeks while people try to figure this out. Are they…I mean, they are being tested, yes? They are alive?”

  “As alive as you and me,” Desmond answered. “He would like to meet you and Sienna in the morning. Do you have time?”

  “To meet the man who trained you?” Nathaniel grinned. “Of course. I have many questions to ask him. And stories to share.”

  “And if any of those prove embarrassing, I'm sure I can make sure you get a mission on a trash compactor,” Desmond grinned, standing up. “If I leave you to your proper duty tonight, will I trust that you remain alone?”

  “You can,” Nathaniel said. “I promise. I'm tired. Although, you should know this thing with Laura is not serious. You know my heart belongs to Eliza. It's just nice to have someone to talk to who understands what we are going through.”

  “Am I not enough of a conversation piece, Tiro?” Desmond questioned quietly. He wondered if he had failed Nathaniel, or had failed to be supportive enough.

  “No, you are,” Nathaniel assured him. “But for lack of a better term, she's young, like me. Devon is also her first, and to know that we will lose them, that way…”

  “But you don't know that,” Desmond said. “Anyone of us could drop dead tomorrow, Nathaniel. There's no use in thinking that way.”

  “Mmm,” Nathaniel answered quietly. “I know. I just–”

  “Don't dwell on it,” Desmond said as he got up. “We must live each day as if there is a tomorrow. As if Eliza will call you back tomorrow.”

  “She better call me back tomorrow,” Nathaniel said, grinning. “I can't think of anything I did to make her mad.”

  “Does she need a reason?” Desmond teased as he left Nathaniel's room. “Mariah doesn't.”

  “Can I tell Dorian?” Nathaniel asked. “About Eliza? I assume that's where you learned your own walking of the grey line from.”

  “You can tell him,” Desmond answered. “And he will be supportive, but he does not share the sentiment. I did not learn it from him; he did not endorse such a relationship. It just happened.”

  “Well, at least he won't cut my head off,” Nathaniel answered. “I look forward to meeting him. Get some sleep.”

  “And you,” Desmond replied as he left. It wouldn't be an easy night, but he felt safer and calmer than he had in a long time. His Maestro was back, his Tiro wasn't in the med bay, Mariah was meeting him for breakfast, and the Academy was not in danger.

  Despite the chaos and uncertainty swirling around him, it didn't seem like a bad night at all.

  He let himself into his own room, readying himself for bed quickly. He was tired, and the lights went out as quickly as they went on. He expected to sleep the night and wake at dawn as he always did.

  He did not expect Nathaniel to bang down his door at five a.m., his face pale and his jaw set.

  “Eliza is missing,” said his former Tiro. “And the Jeffroian palace is destroyed.”

  Desmond blinked as he stood at the doorway, the harsh, electric light wounding his eyes. “Destroyed?”

  “Blown up,” Nathaniel answered. “It's on the news. Desmond, I think she's dead.”

  Chapter 11

  “The reports coming out of Jeffro is that the palace was blown up about three hours ago,” Thomas said as they gathered in the Council rooms. “It was an inside job, likely someone who knows the layout of the palace itself. There were no survivors.”

  Nathaniel stumbled against Desmond who grabbed him before he fell. This was a dead giveaway that his relationship with the queen was more than just friendly, but neither of them cared. Nathaniel righted himself quickly, but his eyes were frantic.

  “Eliza was telling me something right before the attack. She thought that her cousin, Ladd, the one who kidnapped her, was back from the dead. I thought she was crazy, but when Dorian returned, I see that it's now possible. We have to get to the bottom of this. We have to–”

  “Nathaniel, we are peacekeepers,” Thomas said. “We are protectors. But more importantly, we do not go where we are not wanted. Unless someone on Jeffro invites us, we cannot simply turn up.”

  “We are search and rescue!” Nathaniel protested. “We protect those who cannot protect themselves. This is an attack on–”

  “The Jurors will not send a team to Jeffro until we know more,” Thomas said firmly. “And that will be the end of it. If you wish to be on that mission, we can consider your request. But right now, we wait for news. If the planet is not stable, we cannot risk your life.”

  “I don't care about my life,” Nathaniel said quickly. Desmond grabbed him before it was too late, throwing a hand over his mouth.

  “Come, Tiro,” he said firmly. “We are dismissed.”

  It took everything he had to drag Nathaniel out of the room. Frankly, given his former Tiro's energy and mouth, he was surprised this was the first time he ever had to do it. Nathaniel was shaking, somewhere between rage and shock.

  “We have to go.”

  “There is nothing we can do but wait and see,” Desmond said.

  “Sienna,” Nathaniel suddenly said. “Sienna could reach out to ping Eliza, even this far away. She has a connection with her ever since she brought her back.”

  “And every time she uses that kind of magic her stomach contents end up on the floor,” Desmond reminded Nathaniel. “Listen to me. No, stop talking and listen. Are you listening?”

  Nathaniel nodded, although it was with great difficulty.

  “As wi
th every other great disaster this galaxy has been through, we will wait here at the Academy until we are told where we can best be used. It could be a few minutes; it could be a few hours. Eliza is smarter than everyone is giving her credit for. If there was an attack on the palace, she and her team would have gotten out. I have no doubt about it.”

  “But…” Nathaniel started.

  “It's a twelve-hour trip to Jeffro. What if you are halfway there and find that you've wasted time because they've evacuated elsewhere? What if the next attack is here? What if Sienna needs you?”

  These words seemed to bring some sense into Nathaniel who took a deep breath. He wasn't calm – his hands still shaking – but he did loosen his shoulders a bit. Desmond awkwardly patted his arm.

  “Come on. I promised Dorian that you would meet him. I've arranged breakfast for all of us.”

  “All of us?” Nathaniel answered, confused.

  “Christa is here as well,” he said. “I can present my whole timeline to my former Maestro and wait for his judgment.”

  Normally, a joke like that would get a smile out of Nathaniel. Today, it got nothing. He glanced at his watch, sighing. “I'll shower and I'll meet you in your rooms? I don't think I could stand being in the cafeteria right now.”

  “It's a sound plan,” Desmond replied. “You call me if you need anything.”

  “It is just past six o'clock,” Nathaniel pointed out. “So, you call me if you need anything.”

  “Right.” Desmond paused and pinged Sienna, who was predictably still asleep. “I'll get her then.”

  “Thank you,” Nathaniel replied, turning on his heel. His mind was so distracted that he almost ran straight into a post. Luckily, his magic alerted him before his brain did, and he turned at the last second.

  That move, however, nearly made him run into Laura.

  “Whoa,” she said, grabbing him. “What's on fire?”

  “So much,” he answered. “We're on emergency call. The Jeffroian palace...is gone.”

  Laura gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. “Nathaniel, I'm so sorry,” she said.