Awakening (31 page)

Lionel bristled at him calling him a coward. Nathaniel knew Lionel never left a fight. With gritted teeth, he muttered, “She can also teleport like Declan.”

“A very rare talent, but we have multiple teleporters on our side as well and we outnumber them, so I don’t see a problem.”

He swallowed deeply. “Yes, but more so with her.”

Nathaniel raised his eyebrows. “Explain.”

“She can teleport others with her. I’ve never seen anyone have that ability.”

“Neither have I.”

“When I was preparing to leave with your son, she and Declan arrived mere moments later. Declan saw the shape that Garrett was in, and told Caitlyn to take Garrett while he tried to handled me. I was shocked to see her just touch him with her hand and then they were both gone. She took Garrett somewhere to safety.”

“Now why would she do that?”

Lionel looked down at the floor. “She is… involved with him. Garrett is in love with her. You will never get him to leave the Trust as long as she is with him.”

“It seems that you have left out a lot of information, Lionel. I am not pleased that not only you have left out information regarding a very strong new Actual, but also have neglected somehow to tell me that my son is involved with said person which would make it much more difficult for retrieval! Tell me, Lionel, am I missing anything else? Are there any other surprises you wish to tell me?”

Lionel swallowed deeply. He was going to need to tread very carefully with his next few words. “Not anything of that significance, I assure you.”

Nathaniel stood up and began pacing. Lionel did not like it when he paced. “We should retrieve both. If she is as strong as you say, they would make a very powerful couple. I am sure we could convince her that it is best.”

Lionel shook his head. “It will not work. Declan and Councilman McPherson have their claws too deeply in her. She has shown that she is fiercely loyal to the Trust and will not leave it.”

“What is plan B, Lionel?”

“We can still retrieve Garrett and have him be loyal, Nathaniel.”

“I’m listening.”

“If he feels a great betrayal by the Trust, it will be the catalyst that is needed to bring him back on his own.”

“And how will this happen?”

“Through Caitlyn. The beautiful part of this plan is that there is nothing we need to do really. This will happen on its own if we let it. It may take a while, but trust me.”

“I am not following.”

Lionel smirked. He knew that Nathaniel hated not knowing information, but he got a perverse pleasure from it nonetheless. “Caitlyn is going to betray Garrett.”

Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed. “And you know this because?”

“Because I know enough about Declan.”

“Lionel, if you do not stop talking in cryptic sentences, I will change my mind on my leniency for your failures.”

“Declan won’t even admit this to himself, but he is deeply in love with Caitlyn Young. I’ve seen the two of them together throughout her months of training. There is a deep attraction buried deep below the surface from both of them. Any observer from the outside can see it, but they are oblivious. They are a time bomb waiting to happen.”

“Interesting. Continue.”

“I saw this from the second day they were in the mentor/student relationship. Your son was already involved with her. Knowing how you wanted him back, I had been trying to encourage Declan to pursue this in order for this to be the trigger rather than my cover being blown and the last time I spoke to him, although he wouldn’t admit it, I knew he was wavering. Unfortunately, since you had set certain timeframes I had to meet, I needed to get more directly involved.”

“How do you know she will choose him?”

He shrugged. “After she left with Garrett yesterday, instead of staying with your son as any woman in love would have done, she came back to the fight. I saw the look of concern she wore for Declan as she fought me. It was not the look of possibly losing a friend, or of the student losing her teacher. It was the fear of losing a lover. They were not together, but I would not be surprised if this fight was the vehicle that triggers it. And if your son is anything like you, he will not be so quick to forgive.”

Nathaniel’s sinister grin made Lionel realize he was in the clear. For now.

D
eclan pinched his nose as he stared at his father. He would be lying if he did not acknowledge that the past two weeks had taken its toll on him. The amount of information that had been compromised spanned wider and deeper than the Trust had even feared.

Every password, every system had to be reset and reconfigured. It was a daunting task and Caleb, Michael, and the other specialists were sleeping two hours a night, trying to make everything secure. Declan was sure that Lionel was off somewhere far, grinning knowing that they were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. He took a deep breath, trying to sooth the recent wounds of betrayal.

His father stood up silently and poured himself a glass of water. He looked from behind his shoulder at his son. “Would you like some?” He asked, lifting a glass.

Declan just shook his head no. Jonathan then moved back to the table, sitting down. “You look exhausted, Declan.”

“Dad, none of us have slept much in the past two weeks.”

“Yes, but you look particularly worn.”

He rolled his eyes lightly at his father. “You did not have me come here for a chat about me did you? What’s up, Dad?”

“Always to the point lately, aren’t you? Two things. The first is regarding Garrett Stevens-”

“Garrett Livingston.” Declan interjected.

His father was perturbed by his interruption. “As I said, Garrett
Stevens
is going to be released tomorrow. I thought you may want to let Caitlyn know.”

Declan did not welcome the news although he knew it was coming. As it was, he had not even seen Caitlyn in the past two weeks, instead sending Andrea to train with her for healing. She reported that while Caitlyn was exceptional and could potentially be a decent healer, she was distracted. Declan knew that he was at least partially responsible for that. In truth, he wanted to reach out to her and talk with her, but he had not had a free moment to spare. At least, that is what he told himself. Perhaps he had put off their conversation a bit too long. Garrett returning would complicate things. Declan would need to see her tonight. They had to sort some things out before he came walking back into her life.

His father smirked at his son as Declan realized he had caught him lost in his thoughts. “And what is the second thing?”

“The Tribunal has made a decision.”

His head shot straight up, looking his father square in the eye. Declan did not need him to clarify what decision. The Trust had been debating on what actions to take, if any, regarding this treason.

“And what is the decision?”

Jonathan took a sip from his water. “The decision will be declared tonight in a closed joint session with the Councils and the Tribunal.”

There was a pronounced sadness that hung in the air from the last syllables his father spoke. There had only been two other times when there was a joint closed session. This was not a good sign. “Declan, we would like you there. We are inviting several others to the session as well.”

Declan’s eyes shot up. Allowing non-council Actuals in the session was unheard of. “Excuse me?”

“You are going to be given specific directions this evening, which you will follow to the exact letter over the next several weeks under a complete shroud of secrecy. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“The meeting will take place in two hours’ time, just enough time for the delegates of the foreign Council and the Tribunal members to get here. I expect that during that time you will pack. Pack lightly, but smartly. You will be leaving as soon as the orders are completed.”

“What about Caitlyn?”

“What about her?” His father’s voice held surprise.

Declan sighed. That was a question he really had not meant to have voiced out loud. He pushed down his thoughts and replied, “Well, what about her training? It’s almost complete. I’ve barely spoken to her at all.”

“We are making other arrangements.”

“Such as?”

Declan knew the answer before his father said it. He had just hoped he was wrong. “Since Garrett is returning tomorrow… well, you and Councilman Riley wanted him to try and teach her projectile telepathy. Now is as good a time as any. Unless you have objections?”

Jonathan eyed him as he emptied his glass. Declan had a lot of different objections. He still felt that Garrett should not be trusted, no matter how much faith the Tribunal gave him. He felt that after seeing Caitlyn and how hurt she was by the betrayal, she should not be subjected to him. But most of all, he simply did not want the rival for her affections anywhere near her, even if Garrett may have had her first. But those were not valid reasons in his father’s eyes. “No objections.”

He nodded. “Good. It will be of the most benefit to Caitlyn while you are away. I will make arrangements and will make sure that Garrett is debriefed. I suggest that you begin to get ready.”

Declan’s mouth dried up. He stood to leave, knowing his father was done. He needed to speak with Caitlyn at some point this evening, even if it was just for a few moments.

Four hours later, Declan emerged from the Tribunal meeting with a heavy heart and a sense of foreboding. In a span of two hours, the world can change dramatically, the perspective of what needs to be a priority can alter significantly. Declan’s first order of business per the Tribunal was to go to North Dakota. Instead, he found himself transporting outside Caitlyn’s door.

Declan stared at the shut door, alone, trying to sort out the feelings he had been holding at bay for the past two weeks for Caitlyn. And now, when any rational man would be fighting for her attentions, he was practically sending her into the arms of his rival. He could do this. He needed to do this. Declan reached out to Caitlyn in his head.
“Are you available? I need to talk.”

Caitlyn’s response came quickly.
“Yes. I am at my apartment.”

Declan closed his eyes for a brief moment and transported inside. Caitlyn was sitting on her couch, legs criss-crossed, with a magazine in hand, skimming through the pages. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, looking comfortable in sweats and a tee-shirt. Declan thought that she was breath taking. She stood when she saw him.

Declan strode over and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. He was glad when she returned his embrace. He allowed himself just to stand there for a minute, enjoying the moment before it faded. He whispered into her hair, “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. But where the hell have you been? You practically disappeared without a trace. I know the past couple of weeks have been crazy, but seriously? You can teleport! Don’t tell me you could not have stopped by for even an hour, a minute, a second for God’s sake.”

He pulled away from her. She was right of course. He should have stopped by, talked about what had occurred between the both of them. Instead, he hid behind the pretense of being so incredibly busy that he did not have time. Declan corrected himself. He was busy, busier than any sane person should have been, but it still did not mean that he could not have stopped in. “I didn’t know what to say.”

“You didn’t know what to say? Really? Is that all you’ve got?”

“What do you want me to do?”

Caitlyn tugged at her hair frustratingly. “How about talk about what passed between us? You sound as if you suddenly regret it.”

“I don’t regret it. In fact, very far from it.” He took a step closer to her, wanting to stay near her.

“Well then, if not that, then what?”

He looked sharply into her eyes. “There just hasn’t been time to process what happened.” Declan lied. Truth was, the kiss invaded every other waking thought he had. He motioned for both of them to sit down on the couch and Declan stared at the discarded magazine that now lay on the floor. He grabbed her hands. “The kiss was amazing. But there isn’t…” he trailed off.

“There isn’t what?” Her eyes darkened and then became embarrassed. “Did you not think there was a spark between us?”

He couldn’t help but smirk at the comment. He leaned in, his lips now pressed very close to her ear, and heard her catch her breath. “Caitlyn,” he murmured affectionately. “There was most definitely a spark.”

He pulled his lips away from her ear and cupped her small face in both of his hands, staring into her depths, his lips only a few inches from where they wanted to be. He felt the heat of her breath; saw the longing in her eyes, and the anticipation that waited on that mouth. All he had to do was lean in, show her exactly how much he wanted her, and confirm that she wanted him in the same way.

It would be so easy. Just Caitlyn and Declan, together. But life, in reality, was never that easy. Declan now had a major responsibility placed on him, and it was something he did not take lightly. Four hours ago, he was going to fight for her. Four hours ago, he was going ask her to think long and hard about whom she really wanted. And now, he couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to ask Caitlyn to choose him when he wouldn’t even be around. She deserved to be loved the way she should be.

He closed his eyes, cursing for the first time his life. He couldn’t hide the sorrow in his voice. “There isn’t time.”

“There is not time for what?”

He pulled himself away from her. The moment was gone. “For me. For us. For me to fight for you.”

Her head cocked slightly as it often did when she did not like hearing what Declan was telling her. “You are talking in circles.”

“Caitlyn, you still care for Garrett, don’t you? There is no way that because of one… indiscretion, every feeling that you have for him simply went away.”

The answer that he was met with was silence. Declan had wished that her answer would have been an emphatic no, but he was not naïve enough to think that. His words were quiet. “See? You still have unresolved feelings for him that you need time to work out. There is a lot that needs to be said between the both of you. For what it is worth, Caitlyn, I understand. Besides, you are probably better off with him.” Another lie Declan tried to convince himself was the truth.