Team Inez (House of Garner Book 2)

by Erin R Flynn

  Yup, my period was certainly coming in a few days.

  Next we did neck circles to stretch, his mellow voice guiding me to think about my neck, the tension there. And then my head, my brain, and what was on my mind most, accepting there was too much there, as that was the first step.

  I actually felt lighter after doing that. It was like the moment I admitted I was upset and there was too much instead of trying to brush it off or pushing myself to be stronger to carry it all, I felt better. It was okay to say I was struggling and overwhelmed, allow myself that instead of trying to just move on like it didn’t matter.

  It did matter. My pain and emotions mattered just as much as making sure there was food to eat and we had more ammo.

  I just didn’t know what to do about that yet.

  We rolled our shoulders and did a lot of arm stretching with twisting. I liked that part.

  “This is where I start shaking things off,” he told me. “Young Taylor Swift had the right idea there and shaking off the bad instead of just ignoring it, pretending it’s not there, is much healthier.”

  I nodded, actually knowing the song as we had been collecting iPods as we found them for more music since I could charge them. It wasn’t like we could download music anymore, but hey, at least someone would enjoy the iPods instead of them left as trash, forgotten. It was a weird thing to care about in the apocalypse, but I’d talked with Vance, Asher, and Darius, and they felt the same.

  Someone had loved those songs enough to download them. The music spoke to who they were as a person. That shouldn’t be forgotten just because they were gone or we’d never met them. There were a few iPods I adored the music on and knew if things had been different, I might have been friends with the ones who’d owned them, talking for hours on the songs and artists.

  Darius said it was a good way of processing and giving our souls the music they needed, as it wasn’t like there was going to be more coming out. Which made us all incredibly sad to admit, and I cherished those iPods even more.

  He started working me through several different arm and leg movements that went together, like a slow dance, repeating them so I got it.

  “Now that you’ve listened to your legs, your whole body overall as it’s moved together, taking stock of yourself and needs, I want you to focus on something else. Something you’re going to lift off of you and hold out to the wind.”

  I nodded, understanding how that went with the movements of sliding my hands out from my shoulders, over my upper chest, and then pushing out like a swim stroke.

  “You turn with it, shaking off the lingering feelings, pushing your arms out again and making sure you’ve got it all,” he guided. “Then you start to drop it, lifting your feet one at a time because you’re going to step down on that burden and work it into the ground, knowing it belongs as part of the ground, buried and over, nutrients for the earth even like emotionally pooping.”

  That last part almost made me giggle, which I had a feeling he put it in so it wasn’t all serious and the end goal wasn’t tangible. There wouldn’t be butter at the end of this churning, but less on me.

  In theory.

  We went through some lunges, more foot work where he said it would make the problem one with the ground and help me find my feet again. All the imagery was really, really helpful.

  “Now tell me about your first ghost,” he said gently. “Or you don’t have to tell me, just think about it, deal with it. Look at it through your eyes now, not the girl then. Take it off of you and work through it, leave those emotions that weigh you down with it as we go through the movements again.”

  I nodded, not wanting to talk about it but willing to try it. Seconds later I stopped moving, letting out a soft sob as I was overwhelmed with the memories and so much pain. I turned away from him as I covered my face, upset I’d reacted like that and so strongly.

  Muscled arms wrapped around me, pressing my arms against my body and holding me to his strong body. “It’s okay, I’m here, Inez. It was too much for your first try. I get it. I get it.”

  I nodded, taking in deep, shaky breaths. Fuck, once the dam broke it was so wide open. I felt broken, like I was desperate to put the bricks back and seal it all up. I got what he meant that this time I had to have less behind the dam when I did that, but that didn’t make it easy.

  “Please don’t cry, love,” he whispered in my ear, his warm breath tickling my skin. He kissed my neck, pressing his body into mine more and sliding his hand under my arm so his fingers grazed the underside of my breast.

  “Please don’t,” I rasped, upset he was taking advantage of the moment.

  “Shit, sorry, sorry,” he breathed, moving his hand and kissing my hair. “Sorry. You are so fucking beautiful, even when tragically so, and I just want to make you cry in a different way, the good way. I’m sorry. This wasn’t the right moment.” He sighed when I nodded, meaning it in agreement. “I know you’re hurt, Kristof hurt you and your hurt is valid, but please don’t shut out the rest of us who might love you.”

  “I can’t risk it again,” I argued, moving to pull away.

  “Oh, love, you—he’ll make it right. He’ll realize what he’s missing and—you don’t have to be so scared of him. He would never hurt you physically. He just wouldn’t. It’s not for me to tell, but I know him well enough for that.” He seemed to realize there wasn’t anything for me to say that didn’t sound like arguing and kissed my hair again. “Just don’t shut me out.”

  “I liked the idea of being your friend and trusting you with this,” I admitted, that crumb about all I had to give.

  “That’s a bloody good start,” he murmured, giving me one more hug before letting me go and turning me to face him. “Okay, we’re going to try again.” He shook his head when I went to argue. “Failing your first time will do more damage. I want you to think of the wiener lad. This time see him through the eyes of knowledge you have.”

  “I don’t get that,” I admitted, giving a huff and hating I hurt, feeling too pushed. I knew he was pushing me up the hill like I needed, but being pushed was still being pushed.

  “You know more now than you did. See the lad, not the corrupted he became. Would that lad have wanted to kill others on that ship? No, and not only did you prevent that, but you gave him peace, Inez. You know this now, as others have seen ghosts, and we know that, the seeds you get—all of it. You feel the deterioration and that hurt, but he doesn’t hurt, love, he’s where he should be.”

  I nodded, getting it now even through my exhausted and foggy brain from all the crying and upset. We got back into place, and I let him lead me through the movements, thinking on the ghost whose name I’d never gotten. Seeing him as the guy, not the dirty and scary monster who’d wanted to eat me, and I realized what was also missing.

  I forgave him. It wasn’t his fault he’d wanted to eat me, he’d been dead already, the corrupted part of him, the undead part that had reanimated his body had tried to eat me. That wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t his fault that I’d then seen and felt his ghost. Even singing the damn jingle wasn’t his fault. It was all just… Part of him that had needed to move on so his soul was complete and went where it belonged.

  This time it was relieved tears that welled in my eyes. I’d done that. I’d freed him. I forgave him, and I was filled with relief that it was over. I’d not gotten eaten, and he’d made it to where he belonged. That was what I’d been missing as I’d scrambled to survive, the pieces I didn’t have before.

  I dropped the weight of the encounter and the pressure it had added to me. I let those feelings fall off of me and move on, melt into the ground under my feet since I’d stepped off the mat even. I glanced down, almost feeling it dissipate like the ghosts did.

  “Well done, love,” Cerdic whispered as he reached out and wiped the tears on my cheek with his thumb. “It’s time to start freeing yourself from some of this pain as you did that lad.”

  “Thank you,” I rasped, hugging him tightly. It w
asn’t like he’d saved my life or pulled off a miracle, but to me, maybe it was a bit of both. I’d needed that path, that hope of not just doing better and learning more moving forwards but dropping that weight.

  “You’re very welcome,” he murmured. Then he went ridged and swung me up in his arms, racing towards the camper. “Someone’s coming!”

  I blinked, and Darius and Jaxon were with us. Another moment and the leopards were hurrying over, not able to move as the vampires could. I gasped as Kristof appeared as well, his eyes on the sky.

  “I was further west scouting,” he told us. “I felt the shifter flying in, and it took me a bit to get back.” He glanced at Cerdic. “Good you were here to warn them.”

  I checked out the sky like they were, thinking it might be the very rare plane that hadn’t been hit with an EMP or like I’d seen a few crop dusters in Europe that could be used even with the electronics down since they didn’t go as high as jets or passenger planes. But we just stared at the sky, and I didn’t hear anything.

  And Cerdic was still holding me. I tapped his arm to say let me down, and he frowned. “Really?”

  “Put me down, you goof,” I chuckled. He did, and I was pulled into Jaxon’s arms.

  “I like you all fluffy and fuzzy,” he teased me as he ran his hands over the pajamas. “You’re all ready for snuggles and cuddles.”

  “I am,” I agreed, making my point by snuggling my face against his wide chest, feeling better than I had earlier and his arms made me feel best now.

  “Even your ass is fuzzy, and I’m liking that, but don’t get a hairy ass.”

  “You’re such an asshole,” Darius chuckled, bursting out laughing as did some of the others. Jaxon probably knew he was cutting the tension, and I glanced back at the sky. So how much notice did they get? I mean, they felt a guy in a plane, great, but how long did we have to wait?

  And how did they ever get a moment of just peace if they could sense someone in a plane I couldn’t even hear yet?

  There was a loud squawk and a pretty hawk flew by, circling back and landing on the ground a bit away. It was cool to see one so close, but we were waiting for the shifter so I was about to glance back up… And the bird turned into a man.

  “Holy. Fucking. Shit,” I whispered, tugging on Jaxon’s shirt. “He’s a shifter. He flew. The hawk’s a man.”

  He blinked at me, nodding. “Yes, what did you think we were waiting for?”

  “A shifter in a crop duster,” I answered, rolling my eyes when I got it. “It’s not like I’ve gotten a list of possible animals shifters can be.”

  “Yes, but we’ve named some,” Darius reminded me.

  “Yeah, but it’s not like you said a hawk shifter was flying in,” I grumbled.

  “Jaxon of house O’Cleirgh, your mother sends her love,” the stranger announced, holding out an envelope I hadn’t noticed. I’d been a bit focused on the whole bird turning into a hot naked guy.

  Jaxon moved me over to Darius and went to the guy, giving him a questioning look as he took the envelope. “This is her seal. How did you find us?”

  “Your mother dreamed of you,” he answered with a shrug. “She’s worried for you. That’s all I know. Your sister and I are close, and she asked me if I would find you. Your mother knew your whereabouts.”

  “Thank you,” he muttered, glancing at the envelope again. “You must be hungry and weary after your long trip. Please rest and refuel as you need. We have ample provisions.”

  “Yes, thank you, that was a rather exhausting flight,” he accepted, looking like he’d gone about twelve rounds with packs of corrupted and not slept in a while. He turned to me and bowed. “Princess, I apologize for not greeting you first. I’ve not made such a long flight in many years. There was some urgency it seemed, and I’m a bit off kilter.”

  “Of course, whatever you need,” I forgave, giving a glance to Jaxon to take lead.

  “Asher, can you show our guest where he can clean up?” Jaxon asked. “Someone else clothes and food.”

  “Sure, we have leftovers from breakfast.”

  The stranger gave Jaxon a quick look, nodding before his gaze cut to me. “Your mother and sister are unaware you’ve joined a court.”

  “She’s accepted me, and it wasn’t like I could call them,” he answered, his tone firm but saying that was about the only answer he’d get.

  He accepted it, dipping his head to me again before letting Asher lead him away.

  Everyone was quiet several beats, and Jaxon stared at the envelope like he was excited and scared.

  Oh boy, what trouble were we in now?

  And when had I accepted his request to court me officially?

  8

  Jaxon

  I was overjoyed and terrified at getting word from my family. Mother having a dream of me and my whereabouts was exceedingly rare, but then to dispatch a messenger was what really terrified me. No, she couldn’t just call me, but that hadn’t been an option always either.

  Then again, there used to be a working mail system before. Still, I was worried while hoping there was news they were all well as I stared down at her wax seal.

  “Do you want us to give you some privacy?” Inez asked softly, the worry in her eyes letting me know that I’d missed conversation or questions around me. “Do you want to rub my fuzzy butt for good luck?”

  I leaned down and kissed her. “Yes, I would love that, thank you.”

  “Why are you so worried?” she murmured as I hugged her, taking the offer and groping her pert ass.

  “Because he’s about to be tested in a way Kristof and I can’t be,” Darius muttered. “Deciding if he can put you before his family coven, especially given he’s not sworn to you yet.”

  “Don’t answer for me,” I warned him. “I hadn’t even gotten that far in my head. I’m still stuck on whatever made Mother dream of me, worried something has gone wrong at home or we’re facing danger.”

  “So it’s a rarity she has these dreams,” he surmised, nodding.

  “Yes, and the last one had me moving my ass to avoid WWII bombs,” I admitted. I hugged Inez to me when she went to move away, kissing her soft hair. “My loyalty is to you, My Princess. I’m loyal to you.”

  She angled her head so her chin rested on my chest. “She’s your mom. It’s fine. We don’t even know what it is. It’s not like she’s going to ask you to hand over my head, right? You said she was nice and it’s a good coven.”

  I swallowed loudly. Yes, Mother was nice, and it was a good coven, but if she thought Inez was a threat to our family or her coven, she would absolutely ask me to take her head and painfully so no one threatened our family again. I lifted Inez up and wrapped her around me, kissing her with all I had. “I would never. I could never hurt you, not even if it meant my family got hurt. You are my heart and soul.”

  “Me too,” she whispered, hugging me tightly. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

  Glad one of us thought that way.

  I set Inez on her feet, opened the letter, and quickly read the Gaelic script that was specific to our region and even a much older form, as it was what Mother had learned and taught us. Someone who knew Gaelic could probably read enough to pick out the topic but would miss most of the nuances.

  I heard the shower going and turned to the others, speaking at a level the shifters wouldn’t hear and not even Inez. “He is sleeping with my sister and will report everything. Watch him.” I darted inside and grabbed a notebook and pen, quickly writing out what the letter said, including what Mother meant, and handed it to Darius. If the situation were reversed, I would demand to know what was going on.

  I grabbed Inez and blurred us out of there, going a significant distance away so there was no chance of being overheard. She was breathless when I stopped, her eyes wide as she gasped for air, still not used to that. It was understandable. It took a while, and most wouldn’t even trust people to not bring them somewhere that could be a trap.

  I waited until she re
covered, cupping her face and brushing her lips with mine. “I love you, Inez. I am absolutely, totally, and completely in love with you. I know you think last night was a meltdown, but it was the moment I gave you the final piece of my heart.” I leaned my forehead to hers. “You kept apologizing because you were so worried about us.

  “How could I not love you?” I paused, giving her a moment with the confession. “I need you to hear me, believe me before we handle what that was all about. I need you to know I’m on Team Inez. I am yours forever.” Again I paused, swallowing loudly. “Is there any chance you could feel the same for me?”

  “I think I do,” she whispered. “I don’t remember my feelings for anything. I have nothing to build on, not family love or any of it. No friends. I just know I would die if I lost you or you were hurt. It’s more than I feel for the leopards. That’s like sexy friends.” She moved her head and touched my cheek so we were looking at each other. “I think I love you too. I wanted to be completely sure before I said it though.”

  “Thank you for caring enough to do it right, caring for me enough to not hurt me,” I breathed, kissing her again. “I felt your confusion about what I said, you accepted me, and I’ll explain everything and more. I just needed to tell you and—I’m on your side always.” I waited until she nodded. “Inez Garner, will you accept my request of engagement?”

  “I have no idea what that is,” she whispered, giving me a worried look again.

  “I know, and I know you thought I meant that you accepted my request of courting, but I left it vague so we could talk. Think of it like dating. That’s courting. Engagement is more. It’s the next step before a noble gives their oath to a princess. I’m asking you to take the next step with me. I’m asking you because I love you. I’m asking because it will also protect you and show where my allegiance is.”