Blood Debt (Touched Series Book 1) (39 page)

The guard seemed to have no problems talking to Gage, “The necklace is enchanted.  It requires her obedience to
Zandra
and to you.  You will be permitted to remove it from her after you are married,
” he added sadistically, “
if you choose to.”
  The guard
’
s voice held no sympathy for me.
  His comment, “if you choose to,” wasn’t lost on me either.  I’m sure if I had been betrothed to this guard
,
he would never remove it.

Gage’s voice was full of volume when he yelled at the guard, “Are you insane?  She’s bleeding!”

“She is fully aware of the power of the enchantment.  As your fiancé
,
she should have listened to your warning.  The necklace does for you what you are too kind to do to
her
.  She will not run
away.  She will not change her mind.  She will be an obedient wife.”

I could see the horror on Gage’s face.
  He commanded,
“Guard, leave us.”

“I’m under orders from
Zandra
.  You two are not to be left alone.  I serve as her guard and her escort while you are on the
premises
.”
 

Zandra
appeared from around the hedge closest to the house.  I knew she had witnessed what had happened or at least pieced it together.  She flashed
Gage
a warm smile and held out her hand to him,
“Gage, so glad you could stop by this morning.  I’m afraid Camille has lessons in the garden every morning.  You’ll have to come back later to acquaint yourselves with each other.”

“M
is
s
Zandra
.  I believe Camille needs a doctor.
”  I could see he struggled momentarily for the right words.  “
Her necklace has rubbed her neck raw.”

Zandra
’s warm smile broadened when she said, “The necklace teaches her lessons more effectively than either you or I could teach her.  She is not in need of a physician
.  Camille
is in need of better manners.  I believe she’ll find them soon, don’t you agree
?
”

Gage reached down, took my hand in his and politely asked
Zandra
, “It’s really a beautiful day
,
and we’ve hardly had time to
acquaint
ourselves.  Would it be all right if we spent some time getting to know each other now?”

Zandra
eyed him suspiciously.  “Very well.  Do not leave the gardens.
”  The polite tone she used with Gage disappeared when she addressed me, “
Camille, we will continue our lessons
tomorrow
morning.
  I suggest you
use this time to fine tune your manners.
”

Gage showed no fear, but an overt respect for her authority,
“Uh, M
is
s
Zandra
, would it be possible for her escort to give us some privacy?  I understand that we need to stay in clear view, but I’d like to get to know Camille a little better.  Could he watch us from the
ga
rden’s entrance?”

Zandra
agreed and motioned for
Aragon
to move the fifty feet toward the elaborate entrance, in between two marble centaurs.  Gage still held my hand but motioned for me to sit down.  “What has she done to you?”

“She’s been teaching me about
Greek
m
ythology, mainly.”

“What’s the story with the necklace of horrors?”

“She didn’t like some of the things I had to say
,
and I tried to escape
.  T
he next thing I knew I was going through some twisted version of electric shock therapy.”

“I’m going to have to leave for a few hours, but I’ll be back, I promise.  Is there anything I can get you?”

“Could I . . . I mean could you . . .  I’d really like to see . . . Never mind.”

“Who?  Your dad?”

“I can’t say her name.”

Quietly, he nodded that he understood.  “I’m saying this for the necklace’s benefit more than yours, okay?”  He waited for me to nod
,
then said, “You may say anything you want to me.  An opinion or a question is not disobedience.  You should not be punished for being inquisitive
.  I
t pleases me that you have a strong spirit.”

“Thanks.”  I was so
embarrassed
of the position I was in
,
it was hard to look him in the eye.

“So, now that is out of the way.  Why did you choose me for your husband?”

“
Zandra
chose you.  She didn’t tell me why other than she really wanted my mom to marry your dad.  Mom ran away before the ceremony. 
I just found out
that we were engaged
last night.
”

“Last night?   But she and
D
ad have been talking for over a month.  You had no idea?”

I shook my head, still nervous about talking out
loud. 
Gage breathed a huge sigh of relief
. 
I wasn’t sure why
,
and he didn’t explain.  “Is there anything I can bring you when I return?”

“A cell phone.  I haven’t talked to anyone in
like
forever.” 

Gage nodded.  He stood and took both my hands in his as I remained seated.  “I’ll do my best to smuggle it in, although mine was confiscated when I arrived this morning.  I was told that the marriage was your idea.  You’re saying that isn’t true?”

I started to answer but stopped myself before I could say the word.  Telling him the truth might be construed as disobedience to Zandra.  I shook my head in response.

He bent down and kissed my hands.  It sent shivers through my body.  I
’d
had more human contact with him in the short time he spent with me than I
’d
had the whole time I’d been here.  It felt good to be with someone who wasn’t trying to manipulate me
,
someone who didn’t believe kindness to be a character flaw. 

“I’ll be back soon
,
”
he promised.

As I watched him walk away, I wondered if he’d really be allowed back.  Zandra could change the enchantment
on the gate
to ban him as well.  I wasn’t sure if I could make it another month living like this.  I looked back at the guard and wondered where
Phineas
was. 

Chapter 29

I was surprised to see Gage back
before dinner.  He wasn’t alone.  Bianca and Drake were both with him as
he
stepped through the massive entryway.  Bianca ran to me, threw her arms around me
,
and squealed, “Camille, I’ve been so worried about you!”

I was so excited to see the friendly faces that I couldn’t make a coherent sentence.  Drake stepped through the entryway and brought in suitcases.  I looked questioningly but couldn’t pe
e
l myself away from Bianca. 
I could feel his eyes on me
;
they were heavy and I couldn’t read his expression.  My mind jumped to our lunch at Andolini’s, the last time all four of us had been together
.  T
he excitement of that day seemed so long ago.  I wasn’t sure I was even the same person anymore.  I felt weak, frightened, broken – a far cry from the euphoria from my last day of freedom.

Zandra
walked down the staircase, suspicious of the people
who
had arrived without an invitation.  “Gage, so lovely to see you again.  I see you’ve brought friends.”

“I spoke with my father this morning and told him how well Camille and I had hit it off.  I knew Camille and Bianca were good friends, but as you know
,
Bianca is betrothed to Drake Nash
.  I
t would not be appropriate for me to travel with another Centaur’s fiancé.  My father recommended that I bring Bianca and Drake
for a stay with you until we are wed.”

“Your father suggested this?”

“Yes, M
is
s
Zandra
.  He knows Camille is new to the Centaur way and thought having the three of us to keep her company may make her transition into our society less . . .problematic.”

Zandra
’s expression was stern, but she did not argue.  “If it is at your father’s request, I can hardly deny you.”  She looked at my guard, “Aragon, take their luggage upstairs
.  There are several open bedrooms in Camille’s wing.  N
otify the staff that Camille will have company for dinner this evening.”  Without another word, she turned and walked away.  The guard looked perplexed.  I had not been left unguarded since the day I set foot here. 

Aragon looked at the suitcases, then at me, then back to the suitcases.  Gage could see the guard’s internal struggle as clearly as I could.  “Aragon, Camille will be safe with us.  She won’t bolt out the door.  If M
iss
Zandra
wants you to take our luggage upstairs, I wouldn’t neglect her direction.”  He made a motion with his hands around his own neck, emulating the necklace I wore.  The guard
agreed
and took the suitcases.

As soon as the guard was headed up the stairs, Bianca whispered, “Gage told us.  Don’t worry, we’ll find a way to get you out of here.”

“I can’t believe you’re all here.
  How long are you staying?”

She answered conspiratorially, “As long as it takes.  Drake
works for his dad
,
so it was easy for him to take the time off. 
Gage
told his dad what he’d seen
,
and Kyle said to do whatever it took to keep you safe.”

We knew watchful eyes were on us.  Bianca, Drake and Gage were full of excitement, funny stories, and a real love of life.  It was therapeutic just
to
be in their presence
,
and I was more grateful than I could have ever expressed to any of them
,
to have them near me after so
much
loneliness
. 
After we had
eaten dinner and
spent several hours together, Bianca announced, “Okay, I’m
exhausted
.  Drake, will you walk
me to my room?”

“I’d be happy to.  Good night, Gage
. 
Good night, Camille.  I think I’ll turn in, too.  See you both in the morning.”  The two walked arm-in-arm up the stairs
,
leaving only Gage, m
e
and my guard in the sitting room.  Gage walked across the room, sat down beside me on the sofa and whispered, “There is nothing you could do or no action you could take that would be disobedient to me.”  He pressed his lips to my forehead.  When he stood up, he moved his hand to my cheek and looked lovingly in my eyes, “I need a word with M
is
s
Zandra
.  Will you accompany me?”

Reeling from our tender exchange
,
I wasn’t sure how to react.  Was he testing my necklace to see if I would refuse?  I didn’t.  We found her in an art studio, working on a beautiful oil-painted landscape.  Gage cleared his throat, “M
iss
Zandra
,
g
ood evening.”

“Hello, Gage, Camille. How are you two getting along?”

“Very well, thank you.” 

She looked at her watch
;
it was after 11:30p.m.  “You’re up rather late this evening.”

“We were both going to turn in.  I had another request that I hoped you’d consider.”

Zandra
set her paint pallet down and looked
at
him.  She seemed to have all the patience in the world for his requests.  “Camille tells me that her guard is posted in her room while she sleeps.  Although I’m sure it is for her protection, she hasn’t been sleeping well.  As her fiancé, I’m none too thrilled that another man is permitted in her room while she sleeps.”

“You are correct, Gage.  The guards are for her protection.  It is not negotiable.”

“I was afraid you might say that. 
Well, thank you for your consideration.  I need to phone father tonight and let him know that we arrived safely.  I’ll escort Camille to her room then step outside
the gate to retrieve my cell
.”

He had just threatened her.  I didn’t have a clue what sort of power Gage’s dad had over
Zandra
, but her eyes widened and she stammered, “You know, as her fiancé, I’m sure you have her best interests at heart.  If it pleases you, her guard will remain outside her room while she sleeps.
  We do have a phone in the house that you may use.  There is no reason for you to have to brave the mosquitoes and the bats walking to your car; her guard will show you where it is.
”