Arryn: Mystic Protectors Series (2 page)

“You having any troubles?” Renie looked up when someone touched her on her hand. Jerking back from the man, she watched as he took a step back from her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t.” He nodded but said nothing more as he sat down. “I don’t want any company, thanks. I’m here to work.”

“I was to tell you that there is an apartment upstairs that you can use while you’re here. It’s part of the deal that we made with the systems that brought you here.” Renie didn’t show how excited she was about a place to stay, but stared at the man. “I’m Agon; Judith is my wife.”

“Good for you.” He smiled at her and she thought of flowers in the spring. Shoving such a stupid thought out of her head, she snapped at him. “I’m really busy here. The sooner I finish the sooner I can get out of here.”

“You do know that you’re not going anywhere, right? I mean, you’re here until your six months are up.” Renie didn’t bother telling him that she didn’t have that long, but she’d bet anything that he knew. “What have you found out about the accounts? Can you tell me why we’re all losing money on a weekly basis?”

She didn’t know this man. Nor, as with most people, did she trust him. But she handed him her notes, knowing that he’d no more be able to read them than if she’d written them in Spanish or some other language.

He studied them, and when he seemed to be reading them over, Renie went back to work. There was something there, something just on the edge of this that she could almost figure out. Bringing up the next page of numbers, she started to read them over when a number, the amount of it, touched something deep within her.

“What bank are these accounts with?” When he didn’t answer her, she looked up. Not only was the man gone, but it looked as if the store was closing up as well. When Renie looked at the time in the lower right side of her computer, she was surprised to see it was well after seven o’clock.

Judith came toward her with a brown bag with the logo of the shop on it. “I’m going to take you to the apartment now if you’re ready. You really get into your work, don’t you?”

“It’s what I’m supposed to be doing for you.” If Judith had a comment, she didn’t say it aloud. “Are you going to lock me in nightly? Is that how you’re going to keep me here?”

Judith stopped on the stairs they were going up and Renie took a few steps back. There was fury there and Renie was afraid. When Judith put out her hand, Renie flinched from it as if she’d been struck, something that happened to her a lot.

“Who did this to you?” Renie looked where Judith had and pulled her sleeve back down over the large wound. “Did they hurt you in the jail, Renie? Did someone there do this to you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When she searched this time, Renie closed her out. “Don’t. I don’t need you trying to take care of me like a baby. I’m hurt but I’m sure that what’s coming for me will be plenty worse.”

“I heard about what happened to you. No one should…do you see her? Your mother? Do you know where she is?” Renie said nothing but Judith seemed to understand. “I guess that the two of you don’t talk much, do you?”

They went up the stairs after a few more seconds. Renie felt like she’d been run over. Not just from fighting the woman to stay out of her thoughts, but she really was drained from everything that had happened over the last two weeks. As she was shown around the beautiful place, Renie asked what was going to be expected of her if she stayed there.

“Nothing but the work you were contracted to do. I need to know what is happening with my books. Something is always coming up missing. And there are other accounts, too, that are missing money…I don’t know how to explain it.” Renie had an idea but said nothing just now. “Anyway. If you want to work up here instead of down in the dining room, I’m okay with that. But don’t be surprised if we bring you up meals. I think you’d forget to eat if we didn’t.”

After Judith left her, Renie walked around the spacious rooms again. The bedroom was huge, and fully furnished. The kitchen was complete with a small dinette table and two chairs, as well as all the things that she’d need, such as a coffee pot and a tea maker. The cabinets were full too. As she pulled down a cup with a small tin of teas, she thought of living there. It wouldn’t be that bad if she could work up there all the time and not be bothered. Going to the living room area with her hot tea, Renie thought of her last conversation with her mother, Penny.

She’d gone to her house, the one that Renie had bought and paid for when she’d gotten her first million dollar contract. After sitting in the living room for over an hour and being ignored, her mother finally spoke to her. It wasn’t really surprising that she didn’t care for her, but Renie was hurt by her words all the same.

“I’ve no use for you any longer.” Renie looked around the house, at the things in it that she’d paid for when her mother had money too. Not as much as Renie did, but she’d had it. She’d wanted to tell her mom that she’d gotten a better job, one that would pay her very well. That had gone over like it usually did. Nothing. “I want you to go away. You can send me money every month. It’s the least you can do for how I had to be raped for you to be here. But I should tell you that you’re dead to me now. You have been for a long time.”

“I see. My money is good enough, just not me. Why have you always hated me? Is it because I’ve done something to you? It can’t be just the rape. You do know that I had nothing to do with that, right?” Her mother just stared right through her. “Penny, why do you hate me?”

“I sold you to him.” Renie asked her who she was talking about. “That demon. I called to him one night when you were a baby still screaming in your bed and I told him to take you away. He said he would later.”

“Later?” Her mother looked at her then, and Renie could see the insanity. It had always been there, but it was more visible now. “What are you talking about? What demon? You mean a drug dealer?”

“No. A fucking demon. Why is it you expect me to listen to you go on about shit I do not care about when you won’t fucking give me the same curtesy? A fucking demon came here and I told him he could have you, but I wanted to live forever.” Renie wanted to tell her she was nuts, but she thought perhaps this time her mom might have been telling her the truth. “He said I could live forever and once you turned twenty-five, something about you being made just for him and that you’d be the payment. And you will go with him, Reyna. I’ve suffered a great deal because of you. You owe me this.”

Renie had sat there while Penny told her what he’d said to her. That Renie would be his, his bed partner, until such time he grew bored with her. Then he would let his minions have her. She would be in hell for the rest of her days. Her mother had taken great pleasure in telling her this, Renie could see.

“Why? Why did you tell him you’d give me to him? Why didn’t you just put me up for adoption if you didn’t want me? I don’t understand why you’d do this to me after I’ve done all this for you.” Her mother just shrugged. “You just gave away your child because you had no more use for me? Or was it because of something else? What was it, Mother? What made you give me to a fucking demon?”

“Because I hate you and everything about you.”

That had been about two years ago. Since then she’d seen her mother once more, and it had not gone any better than the last time. But this time she’d come away with the contract between her and this demon. Her mother didn’t know that of course, but Renie had it. And she’d not found a single thing in it that would let her out of her mother’s promise except one thing. And that was fucking going to never happen, even if she didn’t fully understand it.

Chapter 2

Arryn watched the children playing in the yard. He was there with his own charge, but he watched him with a heavy heart. The child would not see his next birthday and everyone knew it. Boss had even been kind enough to tell him the date of the young man’s death. It would be the day after tomorrow. He would simply go to sleep and never wake.

“He is having fun, it seems.” Arryn didn’t look at Michael when he spoke, but nodded. “I have come to tell you that when he comes to us, Boss would like for you to be with him until he is settled. It will only be for an hour or two, but he fears he will be very upset about things.”

“I’ll stay, but I don’t think you’re going to have any problems. He is ready, I think. I’ve been…preparing him.” Michael thanked him. “I hate when children die. I understand that it has to be, and he does suffer so much daily, but I do not have to like it.”

“None of us do.” They both looked on as the boy’s mother came to wheel him closer to the swings. He was no longer able to sit in them, his body was so sore and weak. But he did enjoy watching the others play. “There is someone I’d like for you to see. Not…she is most unusual, and Boss would like for you to spend her remaining days with her.”

“I can’t. I know that this is an assignment that you need me to do, but I can’t watch another child die. Not right now.” Michael told him she wasn’t a child but a full grown woman. “Then have her own protector take care of her. I just can’t.”

“She’s your other half, Arryn. I was to tell you that before you meet her. But she has…Boss has missed something with her and she will only live for a few more months before she will be taken away.” Arryn looked at him. “Her soul belongs to another.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.” Michael nodded again and Arryn continued. “You mean she’s meant for the underworld and you want me…he picked her for my wife, and then she’s to be taken from me? I just…why would you do that to me?”

“I have told you, there was a mistake.” Arryn said nothing but watched his young charge. “There was no mention of her name on the charts. We know, it’s the way we do things when someone has gone to the other side. But this was done without her knowledge. Without any of our knowledge. Her mother did this. Sold her to the demon for the chance to live forever.”

Arryn looked at Michael before speaking. “That’s not possible. Why would a mother sell her child to a demon? You must have it wrong.”

“Nay, I do not. Only if that could make it right. But in a few short months she will go and we will all feel her loss.” Arryn would not be one of them. He would not do this, he told Michael. “You will refuse this?”

“I must. I know that…I have seen the others with their mates. Even after such a short time, they are besotted with them to the point of silliness. I cannot…I would suffer greatly should this come to pass, and I think you cruel for asking me to do this. Nay, Michael, I fear neither my heart nor my mind could take this willingly.”

“I thought as much.” Michael stood up and Arryn stared at him, almost waiting for him to tell him he had to do it. Arryn even had himself prepared for such a fight, because fight he would. “I will inform Boss. I would not be able to do this either, Arryn. Perhaps…well, it matters little now. Good day to you.”

After Michael left him, Arryn sat there for a long time. He watched his charge, and saw how Jim suffered greatly when another child made cruel remarks to him. Arryn went to him then and told him that others did not understand him, could never understand him, and that he was a brave boy for not lashing back at the child. As they traveled home Arryn told him over and over what a brave and strong boy he was, and told him to cherish the fun he’d had with his mother.

Late that night, with the child sleeping with his monitors on and the nurse dozing lightly in the chair next his bed, Arryn thought about the young woman. Who could do this to their child, sell them to something like a demon?

“I know that you’re there.” Arryn sat up on his perch and waited for Jim to say more. “I know that you watch over me all the time and keep me safe.”

“It is my job.” It was the first time he’d ever spoken to a charge directly. Arryn let him see him too. “You should be resting. Tomorrow you and your mother are going to the pool, if I remember correctly.”

“It will be my last outing with her.” Arryn said nothing. It was true, but he didn’t tell him that. “I’m very tired; you know that, don’t you? My body is hurting more and more each day. And I know…I’ve figured out that it won’t be long now. She thinks that I can’t hear her.”

Arryn had heard his mother as well. She cried nightly for her child, and there was no one there to help her with her grief. Her mate—husband—had left her a few years ago when it was apparent that young Jim was not going to get any better.

“She will miss you greatly, but you will no longer suffer as you are now.” Jim nodded and lay there, so very still. “Should you like to know when? I am not supposed to tell you this, but it might help you when you have your outing to help her.”

“She needs this. Not to know that I’m going to be gone soon, but this outing with her. She…Mom will hurt so much when I’m gone. I don’t want her to cry, but I know that she will.” Arryn told him it was because she loved him with all her heart. “If I could…do you think it possible that I could see her when I’m gone? You know, visit her to make sure she’s going to be okay?”

“It would not be good for either of you should you do that. She will…a mother will know that her child is with her, and it will be harder for her to…not forget you, but to have the pain of your passing lessen a little more each day. And you will need to adjust to your life too. Seeing your mother so much would only hurt you longer and longer until you both are suffering more than you do now.” Jim nodded and wiped at the tears. “Do not cry for her, Jim. She will suffer, yes, but she will not leave you when the time comes. You will not be alone when you pass.”

“Did you love her?” The question startled him and he asked him what he meant. “Whoever you miss when…when one of us dies. You said this was your job. So I’m betting that there was someone that died that you miss a lot. Did you love her?”

Arryn had not thought of her in many years…not fully anyway. She was always a part of him, but he never…. “Yes. I loved her. Very much. But not in the way that a man loves a woman. She was…her kindness touched me in ways that no one had before or since.”

“I bet she was a good mom too. Mine is the best.” Jim closed his eyes and Arryn realized what this might be costing him. He told him he must rest, but Jim shook his head. “I will rest soon enough. I just want to…I remember when my dad lived here and he would try to get me to play ball. I wanted to play with him so bad, but I just couldn’t do it. It hurt.”

“I was there.” Jim nodded and his smile grew. “Your mother helped you. She said that she’d hold the bat for you and you’d hit it. Do you remember what she said to you when you hit the ball?”

“She said it was a grand slam.” Jim looked at him. “You were always there for me. I remember…you spoke to me today too. I thank you for that. What’s your name?”

“Arryn. They call me Arryn the Avenger. I am that bad.” Jim laughed then coughed hard. The nurse woke and helped him to sit up a bit, but his mom came in and took over. When she laid in the bed with Jim, Jim spoke as if they were still alone.

“Don’t leave me alone.” He told him he would not and his mother told him the same. “I love you.”

“I love you as well.” His mother cried that night, hard but quietly. Arryn’s heart broke as well as he watched her hold her son like he was her world. He supposed that he was. He watched over them both until the sun came up. And then he watched the little man take his last breath, a day sooner than he’d been told.

Jim stayed with his mom while she sobbed at his passing, and asked to stay with her until the doctor came…he didn’t want to leave her alone just yet. Holding Arryn’s hand, he told his mom over and over how much he loved her, how much better he felt. When the police came with the ambulance, Arryn told him it was time. As Jim’s body was carried away, Arryn took his charge with him. They were seated, waiting for the word that he could pass through, when Jim looked up at him.

“You have to find love, Arryn the Avenger. If you don’t, then…then everything will have been for nothing. You have to try.” Arryn held Jim’s hand and told him he’d try. “No. You can’t try. You have to do it. Do it for me. Even if it’s just for a minute, you have to find someone to love you. So…well, I guess you don’t die, but she will. Don’t let her die all by herself.”

Arryn sat in the waiting room for what seemed like only minutes, thinking about what he’d said to him. Jim had…someone had put him up to it, he first thought. Then he realized that no one would do that, least of all Michael or Boss. But he didn’t want to find love. Not with this woman, not when she belonged to another. Going to his rooms, Arryn sat on his bed thinking. He just could not do it.

~~~

Kala sat as still as she could. Something was wrong and she was afraid that it was trouble for her babies. She had three weeks to go and she wasn’t as ready for them as she’d hoped she would be by now. Of course, she would have been had someone not confined her to bed and hired people around the clock to make sure she stayed there. When the pain in her back took her breath away again, she looked up at Dusty.

Almost as if she knew that she was looking at her, Dusty looked up from her drawing. It was another ad campaign and Kala had been throwing out ideas since she’d come to see her. But the look on her face must have alarmed Dusty, because she stood up, dropping everything to the floor as she did.

“What is it? The babies? You?” Kala nodded. “I don’t want to freak you out or nothing, but that fucking didn’t help me.”

“Yes, the babies and me. Does that help?” Dusty nodded, then shook her head. “And how do you suppose that is helpful?”

Dusty laughed. “Yeah, not so much. Who should I call for you? Riss? He’ll be no help if this is the real deal. The last time we thought this was it, I thought we were going to have to sedate him instead of you.”

“I think we should call the doc—” Her water broke. She felt it as it flooded the bed and her legs. “This is the real deal. Get them all.”

The room was suddenly not just filled with people, but they were on the ceiling as well. Wings as wide as them were spread out as they hovered over her and the bed. The only one that seemed to be calm was Boss, and He told them all to leave. In the next heartbeat, they were alone save Dusty and Riss.

“We’re ready for this if you are.” Kala told Him she had been ready for weeks. “So you have. So you have. We have a very good doctor coming now. I have handpicked him myself. Riss, are you going to faint again?”

“No. I don’t…is this really it? We’re having our babies?” Kala nodded at her husband and he looked a little faint. “I’m ready. I think.”

“Well, I certainly hope so. Or do you want me to try to put them back again? I’m still working on that, should you like to know.” Riss covered his cock and backed from her. Kala looked at Boss, who was laughing loudly. “This is not funny. I’m…why am I not in pain?”

“You just hold my hand and we’ll not have any of that. You’re too precious to me to let you suffer for the birth of our first baby protectors.” Kala nodded and looked at the man dressed in all white. It was blinding in its purity and she smiled, thinking of angels made in snow. When His wings spread out behind Him, Kala felt as if everything was going to be just fine. And when Riss kissed her cheek, Kala told him she loved him.

There was a little pain, mostly pressure she thought, but when the doctor told her to push, Kala wasn’t sure what to do. Her mind, like her body, seemed to not belong to her. Then she saw Arryn. He was standing behind the doctor and she could tell that something had happened.

“Arryn?” He nodded but said nothing. “Come here. Tell me what happened. Did Jim pass away?”

“You can talk to him later, my dear. Things are progressing quickly now.” Kala wanted to tell him to leave her alone, she’d talk to who she wanted to, when she felt an enormous weight being lifted from her. Then her first son was laid upon her chest.

The rest was a blur. She knew that they were healthy and that someone was caring for them, but for the life of her, all Kala could focus on was Riss. His face was right in front of her, telling her to breathe when she was ready to pass out, or to tell her she was doing fine. She didn’t think she was, but soon she was told to close her eyes. And she did.

The room was quiet when she woke. Kala reached out into the room and knew that Boss was there as well as Riss. But the man standing in front of the dark window was who she wanted to talk to most of all. Calling out for Arryn to come to her, she wasn’t surprised when he moved silently across the room.

“They are beautiful. I’ve seen them all. Riss would not allow any of us to touch them until you did, but we did peek in on them several times. You did a wonderful job.” She asked him if Riss had fainted. “No. I was surprised by that myself. He was strong and sturdy. Do you have names picked out yet?”

“Yes.” He nodded and she saw the sadness again. “Did Jim pass away today? I’m sorry if he did.”

“He died in the arms of his mother, as it should have been.” Kala nodded, but before she could ask him anything else, he continued. “He knew I was there. He spoke to me with his last breaths. Told me that I should find love and enjoy it.”