Birthright (Birthright Series)

by A. P. Jensen

  Levi glanced at Jordan who just shook her head. She had so much to explain and Cibrian was the least of it. Cibrian held out a hand to Levi who glanced at Mr. Parker. How the older man could make a raised brow look threatening was beyond him. Levi took Cibrian’s hand and saw the other guy’s eyes expand until no white showed. He jerked his hand back as Mr. Parker tapped his shoe impatiently, almost as if he’d been expecting this. A minute later, Cibrian blinked and stared at Levi with grave respect.

  “You’re going to be huge.”

  Cibrian ran his hands through his hair, giving himself a Mohawk. Cibrian backed up and held his hands up like a photographer lining up a shot.

  “Separately, both of you are exceptional but together… You’re incredible.”

  “So they’re supposed to be together,” Mr. Parker needed confirmation.

  Cibrian nodded. “Definitely.”

  Mr. Parker made a disgusted sound. “Cibrian, Levi needs a shower and clothes. Can you get a pair of jeans and shirt for him?”

  Cibrian had a gleeful look on his face that wouldn’t have been out of place as a fan stared at a celebrity. Cibrian didn’t move. He continued to stare from Levi to Jordan, seeing more than the bedraggled, drained teens before him.

  “Cibrian,” Mr. Parker bit out and Cibrian jumped.

  “Yeah, sure. Jeans, shirt. Okay.” He looked Levi over, taking mental measurements. “I think he’ll fit into my jeans but he’ll probably need a shirt from you or Heath.”

  Mr. Parker looked from Cibrian who was lean as a swimmer and then to Levi’s more muscular frame and grunted. Cibrian walked to the glass door behind Mr. Parker’s desk and took off at a run into the night.

  “We’ll settle this at breakfast. Shower, sleep if you can and I’ll lend a shirt. Jordan, put him in the room next to yours. It’s stocked,” Mr. Parker said and walked out of the office. A moment later the front door closed.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Levi said.

  “I have no idea,” Jordan answered.

  They sat for several minutes, staring into the flames. Jordan couldn’t get warm. She knew she needed a shower to warm her up but for the moment she soaked in the fact that Levi was alive and right beside her. Nothing else mattered.

  “Come on.”

  Levi hauled her up the stairs and Jordan pushed open the door next to her own and stopped. This room was undeniably masculine, decorated in shades of blue. This room didn’t have the princess room like Jordan’s room but it was spacious and comfortable with a desk in the corner and TV with a couch and armchair.

  Levi stood in the doorway, unmoving. “Isn’t there somewhere else I can shower?”

  “I’m sure this is how they all look,” Jordan replied.

  She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room. He moved slowly, carefully as if afraid to mark the carpet with his boots. While he stared at his surroundings, Jordan cocked her head to the side. Their time together had been so short but the desperation, fear and will to survive forged a connection that hadn’t broken. For the first time she noted how much older and intimidating he looked. He took care of her, protected her and yet now she felt awkward, as if she were looking at a stranger. They knew how to lean on one another during a crisis but how would they deal with each other now that there was no threat? She wanted to cling but held herself back.

  Levi felt Jordan’s regard and turned to her. The first thing he noticed was how healthy she looked. Her cheeks were no longer hollow and colorless, eyes no longer filled with fear and pain. She looked very young with her hair loose around her shoulders. Her clothes fit well and she looked as if she belonged here. His throat tightened.

  “I’m happy you came,” Jordan said.

  “I wanted to make sure-” he broke off and shrugged.

  Her hands fiddled with her pendant. “I don’t know if this place is safe.”

  “It’s nicer than Haven or any of the homes I’ve been in,” he paused. “Your dad’s a scary shit but he seems okay.”

  “You don’t know what he is.”

  “You said sorcerer?”

  “William was drawn to me because Mr. Parker is my dad.” She sank to the floor because her legs were shaking. “You can sense how dangerous he is.”

  Levi nodded.

  She blew out a breath. “What we can do, they call it power. With our power we draw on one of four elements- water, earth, air, fire. Most people inherit one or two elements from their parents. William and Mr. Parker have all four elements which make them the most dangerous beings on the planet.”

  “Okay,” Levi said carefully, trying to follow. “So having all the elements makes them stronger than other people?”

  “It makes them invincible,” Jordan’s voice was hoarse with memories. “Their power is constant and it never wears down. It’s what drove William over the edge. He thought I could save him because women that have all four elements absorb their power or something.”

  Levi’s eyes moved over the room suspiciously and Jordan could feel the restlessness in him. It was like watching a tiger pace in a cage. The anxiety of being confined was on both their minds.

  “What did William do to you? How come I have to touch you to communicate?” Levi asked.

  Jordan hugged her knees to her chest. “He ripped my soul in half.”

  Levi fell to his knees in front of her. “He did what?”

  A tear cleared a path through the dirt on her face. “He thought taking a piece of my soul would save him and it didn’t. Mr. Parker had to cut my tie with him. My power’s been gone for two weeks.”

  Levi was afraid to touch her. “Will it come back?”

  She shrugged. “They say it will. When I touch Knight I borrow his power.”

  He frowned. “The lion thing? Its name is Knight?”

  “His name,” Jordan corrected absently. “He was a statue I woke up. He protects me.”

  Levi shook his head because he couldn’t process all of this at once. “Who was the cowboy and the lady with the bunny slippers?”

  “The cowboy’s Heath.” She cupped the cold pendant in her palm. “He watches over the property. Kelly’s Mr. Parker’s wife.”

  “So you have a dad and stepmother. Who’s Cibrian?”

  “Kelly’s nephew. My cousin.”

  “Have any of them hurt you?” Levi asked seriously.

  “Not yet.”

  “If they hadn’t come to help we might have been killed or worse.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  They sat in silence for several minutes and then Levi said, “Maybe this place is best for you. You don’t have to be on the run, constantly looking over your shoulder. Parker isn’t going to let you go. He protected you from those people.”

  Jordan stared at him in disbelief. Fury and fear crashed through her. A minute ago, she’d been humbled by Levi’s appearance, that he would come all this way because he cared and now he was trying to brush her off as if she were nothing- like her mother, like her father.

  “What are you saying?” Jordan demanded. “Why come all this way if you’re just gonna turn around and leave me?”

  His face hardened. “I wanted to make sure you were okay-”

  “I’m not okay,” she choked. “I’ll never be okay.”

  “You will be. Look at this place,” he gestured around the room. “This is a fairytale.”

  “You think having a long lost dad show up means everything’s going to be fine now?” Jordan’s voice began to rise.

  “You have family now. William’s gone and these people can help you.”

  “Every day I wake up thinking I’m still in Haven. I tell myself a hundred times a day that William’s gone but the fear’s always there. Even though Mr. Parker took me in he doesn’t want me. I feel like I’m hanging onto sanity by my fingertips.”

  Levi reached out but she held up a hand. A tear rolled down her cheek and curved around her chin.

  “I saw people die because of me. William murdered them becau
se they were in his way. Nothing would have stopped him. He managed to link with me-” she broke off and wrapped her arms around herself. “I can’t do this alone.”

  Levi watched her for a moment. “You’re not alone.”

  Anger made her lightheaded. “I just met these people. You and I have been through too much to accept things at face value. I trust you more than anyone in the world. You think I’ve forgotten what we’ve gone through? These people may be good, maybe not. You think I would trust them over you, that I would replace you?”

  He rose, hazel eyes narrowed. “If these people can help you with your power you should stay.”

  “What does that mean?” she demanded.

  “Do you want to pop pills the rest of your life? All three of them are powerful. Anyone can feel that. They have control and Parker isn’t like William.”

  She looked at him. He was calm, cool, collected. “How are you able to control yours?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you’re like your dad and you have all the elements.”

  “Then how come I didn’t save William?”

  Levi’s lips curled in a sneer. “Why would you? He’s a bastard.”

  “I know that!” she flared.

  He glanced around. “These people want to help you. I came here thinking you were in trouble but you’re not. If you need me, you know how to reach me.”

  Something within her burst and she shouted, “Why are you trying to leave me behind?”

  He put his face so close to hers she could feel the heat of his breath. “You’re the one who walked away. I ran into Wal-Mart right after the police. I saw the bodies. I heard the gunshots.” His eyes kindled with fury. “The police took me into custody. They were holding me as a suspect because I’m the only one who knew who you were. They wouldn’t tell me what happened to you. I thought you died.” He turned away from her and paced. “Apparently, you and I don’t exist. I died three years ago in a house fire with my foster parents in Alabama.”

  Jordan didn’t know what to say. It never occurred to her what Levi did once he discovered her missing. Realizing he’d seen the carnage William left behind, made her rush to the bathroom as her stomach heaved. She was shaking violently when they heard a high pitched scream in the hallway. Levi opened the door and Cibrian rushed in waving a salmon pink shirt at Knight like a matador at a bull. Knight growled and bared his fangs. Cibrian jumped on the bed, holding the jeans aloft like a whip.

  “I’m too young to die. Jordan, do something!” Cibrian hollered.

  Levi backed away slowly from the Valor who ignored them both and walked into the bathroom where Jordan splashed cold water on her face. He rubbed his face against the back of her shoulders as she stood hunched over the vanity.

  “I’m gonna shower,” Jordan said without looking at either of them and walked out with Knight on her heels.

  Cibrian cleared his throat and jumped from the bed. He held out the rumpled jeans and creased pink polo shirt.

  “Thanks.” Levi hesitated before taking the shirt.

  Cibrian cocked his head to the side. “Who are you? You’re not blood related but you fit with this family.”

  Levi shot him an incredulous look.

  Cibrian shrugged. “I don’t see auras but I can see when puzzles fit together. It’s part of my talent.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Levi muttered.

  “With our power, we all develop talents. Our family trait is to see opportunity and I can see it in you. You’re going to have a very interesting life.” When Levi didn’t comment, Cibrian prompted, “What’s your story?”

  Levi stopped in the doorway of the bathroom. “Don’t have one. I’m nobody.”

  Cibrian clucked his tongue. “You may think you’re a nobody but you’re going to be someone everyone will know in the future.”

  Levi looked down at his shoes caked with mud and then at the spotless bathroom.

  “You were raised like Jordan?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Cibrian waved his hands impatiently. “I mean you weren’t raised in our world. You don’t know about the Parker’s or the Tolly’s?”

  “Tolly’s?”

  Cibrian rolled his eyes. “Me! Cibrian Tolly. The Parker’s and Tolly’s are famous. God, you and Jordan have a lot to learn. Why are you so dirty anyway?”

  Levi examined Cibrian’s carefully gelled hair and pressed clothes and shook his head. This guy was as blithe as a two year old.

  “Got into a fight,” Levi said and set his borrowed clothes on the vanity. He stripped off his shirt and threw it in the sink and started to wash it. He needed it clean. There was no way he would blend in any environment with a salmon pink polo unless he was at a private school. He glanced up in the mirror and saw Cibrian staring at the bruises appearing on his body.

  “Who did you fight?”

  Levi shrugged. “I don’t know. They were trying to take Jordan.”

  Cibrian sat on the counter beside the sink, eyes boggling. “How’d they get past the gate?”

  “They didn’t. Jordan was on the other side.”

  Cibrian was rendered speechless for several seconds before he slapped his hand on the marble counter. “Is she suicidal? Why would she do that? I came over to talk to her and she wasn’t in her room. I woke Uncle Van and he stormed off with Aunt Kelly and Heath. Boy, he must’ve been pissed.”

  “Uncle Van?” Levi used a pleasant smelling soap to scrub his shirt.

  “Donovan. I call him Uncle Van. Why are you washing your shirt? Aunt Kelly will freak if she sees you doing it like this.”

  “Why are you here?” Levi asked bluntly.

  Cibrian shrugged. “I live next door and Jordan took off before we finished talking. Aunt Kelly told me not to come so I snuck over to see what was going on. I didn’t expect this though.”

  “I’m not staying long,” Levi said, wringing out his shirt and draping it over the bathtub.

  “Really now? And just how do you think you’re going to get away with all these people just waiting to ambush anyone who tiptoes over the property line? Jesus. How did they find out about Jordan so fast?”

  Levi folded his arms and leaned against the counter. “Why are they trying to take her?”

  “They probably want to see if she’s compatible with a sorcerer and bind her to someone before Uncle Van can state publicly that she’s under his protection.”

  “This is crazy.”

  Cibrian sighed theatrically. “It is. But Uncle Van will take care of her. You’re loyal to her, protective too. She’s going to need all the help she can get.”

  “What does that mean?” Levi snapped, rounding on him. “You said she’d be safe with Parker.”

  “She needs people she can trust. If the people in our world find out she’s connected to William Stan’s death they’ll crucify her,” Cibrian said.

  “Why?”

  “He’s a king in our world. Everyone is mourning his death. The news says it was an assassination attempt. No one wants to believe he lost control. They’ll blame her.”

  Levi glanced into the mirror at himself and then away. “I can’t stay.”

  “Why?” Cibrian asked.

  “I just came to see that she’s okay. That’s it.” Levi moved his shoulders agitatedly.

  Cibrian let him have thirty seconds of peace before asking, “So what’s your affinity?”

  Levi let out a low growl.

  “So what are you drawn to? Which elements?”

  “You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?”

  “Nope. So what is it? From the look of you I’d have to guess earth and… hmm. Fire?”

  Levi looked startled. “How can you tell?”

  “Darsana, fire people, have orange eyes and black hair. People of the earth, Eliten, have green or brown eyes and brown hair. Since your eyes are in between and your hair is brown I guess fire and earth. Am I right?”

  Levi gave him a reluctant nod and took in Cibrian’
s blue eyes and hair such a deep red it was nearly black.

  “What are you?” Levi asked and Cibrian smiled, satisfied by his spark of interest.

  “I’m Undala and Thishe.” At Levi’s blank look he elaborated. “Undala are people of the water- red hair, blue eyes. Thishe are people of the air. Blonde hair, violet eyes.”

  “You don’t have any traits of a Thishe,” Levi pointed out.

  “Exactly,” Cibrian said like a proud teacher. “That’s why you should never challenge someone without knowing for sure what elements they have. Some people deliberately hide their affinity to an element so people will underestimate them.”

  “Challenge someone?”

  Cibrian smiled broadly. “In school we challenge each other using elements against one another. It’s a game of wit and survival. You’ll see.”

  “No I won’t.” He put a hand on the button of his jeans. “Do you mind?”

  Cibrian jumped off the counter and closed the door. He settled himself on the couch and turned on the TV.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jordan sat in the princess room, wrapped in her robe. She stared out as the first rays of light hit the sky. She expected to see an army of hooded figures in the pastures but there was no sign of anyone. Knight sprawled in front of her chair. She suspected he dunked himself in the lake because when he appeared in Levi’s room the blood was gone. She rested her cold feet in his fur. His tail had a black tuft on the end that twitched and his ears flicked back but he didn’t show any other signs of consciousness.

  Thoughts and feelings churned within her. She found herself drawing power from Knight and reaching for Levi but he was blocking her from making contact. She withdrew instantly and tried to ignore the pain it caused. She was ashamed she hadn’t thought he would come after her. She should have known he would follow her into the store. How could she be so stupid? Levi had seen her nightmare firsthand and it made her squirm uncomfortably. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she should have been able to do something to change the outcome. Could she have saved those people?

  Levi’s ordeal hadn’t ended after going into the store- he’d been in police custody and managed to escape. He thought she was dead and yet at the small spark he felt, tracked her all the way to Texas. His insistence on leaving didn’t make sense. She knew it wasn’t the best thing for him to stay when she was confronted by danger at every turn and death followed on her heels. She was in a world where nothing made sense and she didn’t know what role she had in it. She was being forced to trust a father who didn’t want her and who didn’t have time for her except to appear when she was doing something wrong. Deep down she was terrified her power would return. Even before William began tapping into her power, it had consumed her.