A deep melodic chuckle tinted the air. “Nobody attending will have that worry.”
Cole glanced at his youngest brother. “Check your stand. We’re not here to condemn.”
Vincent shuffled his feet and then redirected his gaze to the balcony.
Cole paused before responding to the query. The last thing he wanted to do was give this lord the satisfaction of an eager acceptance, though he was definitely eager to attend. His gaze flitted to Anna who had noticed the conversation and turned, resting her hands on the balustrade. His heart thumped three hard beats. Blinking his gaze back to the lawgiver, he clasped his hands.
“Of course, we’ll attend. I’ve prepared a special gift. I look forward to presenting it to you.”
Dressen’s brows jumped. “Prepared. I can’t wait to see what the Wizards of Shilo Manor have prepared for my fifty-fifth birthday. I’m sure it will be magical.”
“Indeed.”
Cole sent his gaze to Charlie, and in a moment’s thought released him to his new keeper. With no further comment, he cuffed at his cape and led the way out the door. The gift would definitely be special.
Anna peered down at the three in conversation with her lord. Her gaze gravitated to the tall man who spoke. His dark hair flowed past his shoulders and lay over the black cloak he wore. Remembrance lighted in her mind, and she glided her fingertips along her lips. Licorice and cream wafted through her senses as sentiment touched her. A kiss. A breath of life. An adorned moment.
She stepped to the stairs as he turned. He disappeared out the door.
“Clair.” The sire’s deep voice tolled in her ears, and the ferrety woman entered the receiving hall. “Charlie has joined the household. He will have a place with the stable hands. See to it he knows what’s expected of him.”
“Yes, sire.”
Lord Dressen turned to leave, and Clair motioned in the opposite direction. “Just follow me, love.”
Anna watched her lead a scruffy little man to the hall. His friendly features showed through the overgrowth on his face. Crinkles cornered his eyes, adding charm to the weathered visage. His thinned hair was tousled, and he walked with a stiff gait.
“Anna.”
She immediately looked to her lord’s call and flushed as their eyes met.
“Prepare for bed. I’ll be up shortly.”
Heavenly purpose filled her, and she darted down the hall to her room. Throwing the door wide, she grabbed the nightgown laid out on the bed and ran through the small vanity to the bathroom.
The woman in the mirror ran the short length with her. Not real. Only a reflection.
Clair told her so when she corrected her actions of the night before.
She stripped off her clothes and slipped into the tub. With a turn of the faucet, the stream of water bubbled up from the spout and cascaded over the marble ledge to the porcelain at her feet. She pulled her knees to her chest and waited for a suitable depth.
After a quick wash and rinse, she double-checked her hair for suds. She ran Clair’s specific instructions through her mind; wash thoroughly, rinse thoroughly, dry thoroughly, dress.
She bounded from the tub and grabbed a towel, running it over her body. Raking a comb through her hair, she turned on the dryer and impatiently whirled it in all directions. Vibrations ran up her arm, and the tunneled whine seemed like a drill breached her skull. Panic stung her nerves, and in a fit of urgency, she threw the tool to the floor. She dashed out the door and perched on the edge of her bed, gazed locked on the door latch.
Empty time filled the minutes and hazed her peripheral vision. A distant hum lulled her mind as her thoughts focused on the golden knob that would allow her sire’s entrance.
The latch turned.
Anna jumped to her feet.
Lord Dressen entered, his black robe loosely tied at the waist. His lips teetered into a crooked smile as he scanned her appearance. “Anxious this time, are you?”
The deep song of his voice enveloped her senses, and she blinked at him, riveted by the measure.
He sauntered to her. “Your eagerness is refreshing after the countless refusals, but…” His hand motioned to her. “I prefer to disrobe you myself.”
Anna glanced at herself. She hadn’t followed Clair’s instructions completely. She ran her fingers down her gown-less stomach. No matter. Her keeper was there and his glorified presence lighted on her.
Motion of his halted stride caused the robe’s fold to brush her thigh. With a fingertip, he skimmed the curve of her hip and then the length of her waist. He lowered his gaze and tilted his head as he traced her ribcage. The dip of her cleavage slowed his movement.
The tantalizing touch sent thrills across her nerves. Her breath hitched, and she leaned into him, savoring his touch.
“I told you if you gave me a chance, you’d be back. You could have had this all along.” His body crushed hers against the wall. Hot breath poured over her face. “I could have had this all along. All those years of being denied, enduring the gossip of others behind my back.”
He combed his fingers through her unkempt hair and knotted them in the half-dried locks. “I always get what I’m after, Anna. Soul mate or not, you were going to be mine.”
Yanking her head to the side, his lips trailed along her shoulder until his low voice rumbled in her ear. “You do want me don’t you, Anna.”
She wilted and caught her breath. “Yes.”
“Say it. You want me.”
“I want you.”
He tugged at her hair, harshly grating her head against the wall. “Say it again.”
“I want you.”
“Again!”
“I want you!”
Grabbing her hands, he pressed her fingers and thumbs together, positioning them to form a triad over his chest. He grit his teeth as he growled. “Just like last night. Say what you did last night.”
As Anna took an exclamatory breath, a startling series of bursts sounded from the lavatory. A galvanized glow pulsed across the floor, lights flashed bright, and then died.
Lord Dressen’s voice boomed. “What the hell!”
Sparks burst through the air, piercing the darkness, branding white streaks into her retinas. Shock charged up her spine and down her arms to her fingertips. A wild shriek punched from her lungs. Flaying her arms, she shoved everything from her path as she jumped to the bed and scampered to the headboard.
Anna’s ears rang in the soundless aftermath. Her heart pounded, and her chest heaved as she stared into the black void.
“Wait,” said Dressen in a low voice. “What’s that?”
She opened her eyes wider as if it would help her hear something over the thump of her heartbeat. Through the silence, soft splashes trickled.
A flashlight lit in Lord Dressen’s hand as he slid the bed stand drawer closed. Deep shadows accentuated the crease over the bridge of his nose as his brows pinched together with his frown. He pointed the torch at the floor beyond the foot of the bed. Following the dark patch of water-soaked carpet to the vanity, a puzzled expression quirked his face. “You bathed before I came, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t turn off the water?”
Anna blinked as she realized she hadn’t. “No.”
He aimed the light at her face. “Your hair’s half dry. What did you do with the dryer?”
“I threw it down.”
Lord Dressen looked sideways, and a weak chuckle passed his lips. “You threw it down. And you flooded the bathroom.” He peered back at her. “I guess they figured taking your common sense with your memory would insure compliance.”
He tossed the light on the bed and then stepped to a safe portion of the floor. “I’m beginning to see what I’m dealing with.” A long sigh hissed from his lips. “No matter. You’ll be with me while in the presence of others. All people need to know is that I got you.”
Opening the door a crack, he called down the hall for assistance. He tightened the tie
around his waist and looked at her. “I’ll assign Clair as your aide. I can’t have you electrifying yourself now that I have you. Stay there. I’ll send her to help you move to a different room.”
Anna scampered to the foot of the bed and grabbed the flashlight. Returning to the headboard, she pulled her thighs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. The light created a soft halo on the ceiling as she wrapped her arms around her legs and clutched it to her shins.
The latch clicked behind him.
Cole’s laughter rang through the study door and echoed into the grand foyer as he leaned back into his master’s chair and stretched his hands high above his head in jubilation. The image of Lord Dressen above the Utopian closed Anna’s door and then as if by second thought reopened it and head down the hall. Anna’s confused face dimmed as Cole waved his hand over the scene.
“That couldn’t have gone better if I planned it myself.” He looked toward the ceiling with a chuckle and shake of his head. “Thank you, Arylin. This had to be a love intervention.”
Vincent scoffed but smiled at him. “Go ahead, give a goddess the credit. But, I could have done it better, if you’d just let me.”
“No, you’d destroy half the house and set the entire court of Grand Marshals against us.”
“Okay, maybe I would.”
James smiled and leaned back in his seat. “As much as we’d like to call vengeance on Dressen, this has to be handled with care.”
Cole swiveled his chair to set a foot on his desk. “This needs to be done my way, Kid. Promise me you’ll let me call the shots here.”
Vincent nodded and leaned on the door jam. “This is your baby, big brother. But I’m right there when you need me. Anything to get your love life back on track.”
Cole looked back at his younger brother. The countless years of standoffs had promised a showy confrontation between the two when Vincent learned of the reason behind the kiss. But instead, he seemed genuinely pleased.
“I remember how you used to be, Cole. You weren’t always a brooding self-centered prick.”
Cole brushed at his pant leg and grinned. “Right.”
James chuckled.
“You know what I mean.” Vincent’s voice softened. “Mianna’s death did something to you. You never moved on. You used to love life. Take in every moment. If there’s a chance to get that back, I’m willing.”
“Well, getting it back is how it’s meant to be.”
“Where reincarnation is a known fact and connections are easily recognized. Father never found Mother. He said he’d tried countless times.” Vincent glanced at the Vignette sitting on the desk. “I accepted that Cornerstone Deep didn’t allow rebirth.”
James lowered his gaze. “We all did.”
“Why would he mislead us? He had to know.”
Cole picked up the Vignette. “I don’t think that was his intention. He mentioned it was possible that he couldn’t find her because we were Meridian in a foreign realm. It may just be that the Utopian can’t trace souls from across dimensions. Mianna’s native to Terra.”
Vincent furrowed his brow and frowned. “So, Mother could be out there somewhere? Here on Terra? Or would her soul have returned to Champaign? The portal was still operable then.”
The thought unsettled Cole. “I don’t know, Kid.” He looked at his brother. With the marked age difference in the three’s souls, their mother was often the one to guide Vincent while he and James took on responsibilities beside their father. Of course, he’d hold a more tender spot for her memory.
James chuckled again, and the air lightened with his humor. “Surely, she went back to Champaign. I think we’d have picked up on a five-hundred-year-old witch hanging around.”
Vincent smiled.
“So,” Cole slid the Utopian across the desk toward the youngest. “Anyone you wanting to look up before you take vows with this girl of yours? You might find Rachael or Abbey. Out of the twelve, you seemed particularly close to them.”
Vincent looked down at his feet and sighed. “I can’t do that to Elaina.”
Cole nodded and pursed his lips. In all honesty, finding a soul mate was rare at Vincent’s soul’s young age. For most, several lifetimes passed before finding their true match. His question was meant as a respectful gesture to a fellow Meridian if not an attempt at kindness to his brother for showing support. “So, she’s a special one.” He upped his brow. “You’re putting a lot of trust in her. You proposed and she accepted. She should be under our roof right now.”
James nodded but his sentiment seemed to be with Vincent. “She accepted the promising.”
“A promising only goes so far. You both know that.” Cole kicked his foot to the floor and leaned on the desk. “It may not allow her to speak openly about us, but it doesn’t instill the loyalty of a Chalice ceremony. She could easily skirt around the subject and relay the same message.”
Vincent folded his arms and leaned his head toward him, accentuating his words. “I trust Elaina.” He straightened. “But I ordered a car to pick her up in the morning. If I know her at all, she’ll have convinced her father to allow it.”
“Her father?”
Vincent cocked his head. “Her father’s a bit difficult.”
“Is he protective or just stubborn?”
“Haven’t figured that out yet.”
“Well, I plan on having Mianna here by the end of the week. If she worked for her father, chances are your girl’s at least met her. She needs to be where we can keep tabs on her doings.”
“You mean Anna.”
“What?”
“You plan on having Anna here by the end of the week.”
“Oh, right.”
Vincent looked at Cole with a stern gaze. “She might hold Mianna’s spirit, Cole, but she’s still Anna.”
“Vincent’s right.” James looked at him with the same regard. “When we unbind her soul—gods be willing we can unbind her soul—she’ll have her own personality back. Tell me you’ll accept her like that and not expect her to be someone else.”
“I know how it all works.”
Vincent’s jaw set. “Even though reincarnation exists here, these people don’t live by the same customs as Meridian.”
Irritation rippled up Cole’s chest. “And you know all about Meridian union customs?” Grabbing the Utopian, he held it up to emphasize his words. “Soul mate, Kid. Dressen said she was waiting for her soul mate.” He set the instrument down with a clunk and leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. “She was looking for me. She never married in all those lifetimes. That’s five long lives of loneliness, Kid. That’s proof of a souls’ union.”
“She wasn’t looking for you. She was waiting for a man she felt right with. It’s how they think.”
“Vincentor Shilomacj.” Cole glowered as he spoke, emphasizing the fact that Kid had one forename to represented his single lifespan. “You’re implying that in your whole first life cycle you’ve learned all about a soul mate’s love.”
James grimaced, and Vincent looked away.
A twinge of regret hit Cole for throwing such a low blow, considering his brother’s support. Vincent couldn’t help he’d only lived one life. He shouldn’t have used it as a weapon.
Then, again… Cole blinked and cocked his brow. That weapon had always been a good one.
Vincent heaved a breath. “Okay, look. I know you’ve lived an accumulation of over twenty-eight thousand years in your three lifetimes and found your soul mate, just don’t expect her to be like Mianna. Let Anna be herself.”
“Worry more about your own woman.”
“I told you. I trust Elaina. Completely. She’s as close as I’ve ever come to knowing a soul’s love, brother. If she’s not the one, I don’t want another.”
Cole looked at him and then over to James. His own surprise reflected his eyes. Was it truly possible that Kid had found his match? For Vincent, the brother who eagerly moved from the death of one wife to adding another to his l
ife, this was a serious statement.
The air thickened, and the room quieted. The thought of eternal union swirled in Cole’s mind, heated his neck, and swelled in his chest. Soft white light enveloped them, creating an ellipse within the study. Atmospheric motion ceased, and he immediately recognized the God of Life’s spiritual presence within the aura. Taravaughn had stretched forth his immortal hands, and it meant one thing; they were being prepared to communicate through The Triad of Purpose.
Sugar air permeated Cole’s being as the Goddess of Love entered the hallowed circle. Arylin’s amber wisps gently swirled, spreading warmth, pressing on his soul with each pass.
Vincent moved to stand beside James. His jaw slacked and brow relaxed with a look of awe. Recognition flashed in James’ eyes, and he squared his shoulders, lifting his chin. Their bodies washed out like weak holograms in the bright void.
For the gods to call upon the Trinity to communicate at that moment, the message had to encompass the topic their hearts had turned to—eternal union… or perhaps reincarnation? There had to be more. Cole widened his perception to channel the manifestation of truth.
In a voice, so deep it rattled Cole’s soul, pure communication entered his mind as Gryffin spoke. “Rebirth is not unique to the central realm, but common throughout the spectrum.”
Cole directed his internal response to the God of Conformance. “Yes. As it is in Meridian, it is here. If so here, it must be in the other mirror dimensions.”
“All life is sacred.”
“Yes. This was never questioned. Throughout the planes, life is a gift never to be taken.”
“Agency must be upheld.”
“Yes. Agency must be upheld.”
“Agency must be upheld.”
Cole hesitated. Surely the great god of judgment heard his thought’s voice. It pressed harder on his mind, and he repeated the covenant allowed as well as in thought. “Agency must be upheld, yes.”
“Agency must be upheld.”
Confused by the reiteration of the statement, Cole paused to ponder.
Free agency.
Heat rushed up his neck and bloomed through his cheeks so hot that he knew his whitewashed image must have tinged red. Who had accepted the role to the harvest the meek and lowly for the tyrants? As Head of the Sentinels, he’d conformed with each new law passed, coloring the meanings of their call as overseers of the Cornerstone realm since his father had died. However dressed with good intent, he’d strengthened the spells to gain more control over those harvested. From the simple calming draughts used by their father, to total compliance ordered by Lord Dressen, he had conformed. To make it worse, he’d adapted the roll to echo the nobleman’s greed and charged for the service, a needless gesture sighting money was meaningless and as plentiful as the dust surrounding them. He resisted the urge to spit the bitter thought from his mind.
The Transformation of Anna (Cornerstone Deep Book 1) Page 9