FALL (The Senses) (17 page)

“Is
Xamien near?”

She
huffed; if he only knew. “Yes. The guest room next to Jedrik’s.”

She
pictured him giving an abrupt nod. “I’ll be there tomorrow morning before you
leave.”

Of
course he would. He wanted to make certain she was following orders. “Whatever.
Why are you calling so late?”

Silence.
He never answered her questions. She went to hang up when he called her name.
“Delara?”

She
could hear his breathing, the steady inhale then exhale; it paused for a second
too long and hers matched it.

“Despite
what you might believe, Delara, I…I miss you.” He didn’t wait for a response,
not that she had one. She heard the distinct click and then he was gone.

For
several minutes, she sat holding the phone, shocked at his words. Confused by
them and angry too. She wondered if there was a catch to them. Did he want her
to give in and meekly go off to Spain? Was it to get her to stop arguing the
issue? Or had he really missed her?

Sometimes,
she felt as if a cement block was tied to her ankles, keeping her anchored to
Waleron. The weight was so familiar now that cutting the chain would be like
severing her legs. She’d hated herself. Hated whom she’d become because of her
love for a man who no longer wanted her.

But when
she left the Talde and him last year, she found an inkling of herself that
she’d lost. She could feel it growing, that sexy, mischievous woman who had
spirit and fight. This time, no matter what Waleron or Tarek or anyone else did
or said, she was holding onto her. She was going to fight for what she needed
and right now that was revenge on Tarek.

“Kitten?”

“Have
you ever been in love, Xamien?”
In all the times they’d been together, he never spoke of other women he’d
been with and she never spoke of other men. It was their unspoken rule. It kept
what they were doing more impersonal, she guessed.

“No.
Infatuated maybe and it was a long time ago.”

“What
was she like?”

“It’s
a story that has no place here, Kitten.”

“How
long ago?”

She
heard him sigh.
“Sweetness, it was a long, long time ago when my brother and
I were young and foolish.”

 “Brother?
You had a brother?”

“Yes,
still do. Although, he doesn’t classify us as brothers anymore.”

“I’m
sorry. That must be hard.”
She wondered if she’d met him. Most likely not considering it was rare the
Taldes from across the ocean ventured here.

“Kitten,
you have no idea how hard. Now what about some sleep?”
Xamien said.

Delara
nodded and then remembered he was not lying next to her. She kept forgetting
that they weren’t in Spain at his house, laying curled up together after he’d
made her body release into a thousand particles.
“Will you sing?”
On
occasion just before she nodded off, he’d curl up close to her, his hand
resting on her stomach and he’d sing to her.

“And
what do I get in return, Kitten? Tonight I don’t even have you to hold in my
arms.”

“Name
your price.”

“Dangerous.”

Yes, it
was with Xamien. He had all kinds of ideas that made her want to run screaming,
but still had her coming back for more.

“
The
horses. Remember what I told you?”

Damn
him. She’d been expecting some sexual want of Xamien’s, never this. Xamien had been
trying to get her on one of his horses for years. She was terrified of them and
refused to go anywhere near the massive beasts.
“I remember. Fine. Next time
I’m there.”

“That
might be tomorrow, you realize.”

“Like
hell.”

“Close
your eyes, Kitten.”

Only
when she finally shut her eyes, did Xamien begin to sing.

Chapter
5

Xamien
leapt out of bed the moment he heard loud voices. “Jesus, Kitten. Two days in a
row?” He threw on jeans and a white T-shirt then vaulted for the door with
disheveled hair, bare feet, and a brain still in the fog of REM sleep. He ran
down the stairs to the front foyer.

God,
they’re irascible love was going to cause them both to self-destruct. He
noticed the handprint on Waleron’s face and winced. Delara striking unprovoked
was unlikely; however being around Waleron might make her react irrationally.

Waleron’s
eyes were ice shards. Motionless and unyielding as he glared at Delara, his hands
clenched at his sides and his muscles twitching in his jaw. Xamien figured he
was walking on a tight rope by intervening, but he was a damn good mediator and
this situation was in desperate need of one.

Xamien
stepped forward. “Waleron what the—”

“Stay
out of it,” Waleron ordered without even glancing his way.

“What’s
with him this morning?”

“He
came to make certain I was going to the airport. Even took the liberty of
packing me a bag. I told him I wasn’t going.”

“Come
on, Kitten. I’m so looking forward to the horses. And I’m warning you, my limit
is up.”

The
front door banged against the wall letting in a cold gust of air, then it slammed
again as Ryker came in. He stopped abruptly, staring at the three of them.
Xamien had said few words to the guy, but he knew the story behind Ryker’s
haunted eyes. His wife Hannah had been killed by Rayne’s guardian slash
husband, a real fucker of a bastard who wanted to do some experimenting with
Senses. Ryker had been locked in the sub-basement for nearly a year dealing
with his rage issues.

“No sign
of Tarek. Two GQs, one Long Neck, and a Pest down. Lost one human,” Ryker
stated, his face expressionless. He rubbed his jaw as if the gruff stubble was
irritating him. His dark brows were drawn together and his strongly defined
nose twitched. Something was bothering him and Xamien’s guess was that he was
pissed about losing a human to a CWO.

“Any
Lilacs?” Waleron asked. Still hoping for a trace of his nemesis Jasmine, no
doubt. The bitch had stolen Delara and Waleron’s daughter Rayne the day she was
born, and Delara had gone twenty years believing their baby had died. It wasn’t
until last year that Delara discovered Rayne was alive. Waleron lost it when he
found out Delara had hidden her pregnancy from him. He lost it even more when
he found out Rayne was his daughter. Rayne was raised by Jasmine’s asshole
accomplice. It was only last year that the Lilac tried to trade Rayne for
Waleron. When she failed, Jasmine disappeared. 

“No.
Damien is on his way back. Ask him. He hunted the north with Jedrik. Something
about sunglasses,” Ryker said, then walked past them.

Pests
were CWOs that wore sunglasses to hide their yellow eyes. Their saliva was
laced with something that made your skin itch for days. Spain had very few of
them, the area being more burdened with the vamps and GQs.

Delara
was leaning against the wall, arms crossed and her hips sort of pushed forward.
A sexy as hell stance that had him shifting uneasily. Damn jeans; he threw them
on commando. He knew she was contemplating how she was going to get Waleron to
change his mind.

“Guess
it wouldn’t help any if I came over there and threw you over my shoulder and
ran you back downstairs?”

She
immediately changed her posture, standing up straight.

Waleron
met his eyes and Xamien felt the Taldeburu’s anger. “Xamien, this is personal.”

Xamien
never liked being told what to do and even if he and Delara had no strings,
he’d protect her with his life. “So is my job.”

“Then
you should have been at the airport by now.” Waleron glared at Delara. “Go to
the car. The jet is ready.”

 “Fuck. You,”
Delara said. Xamien noticed the twitch in Waleron’s cheek. Rumor was that his
mother hated swearing and Waleron rarely did it unless he was livid.

“I’m not
leaving, Waleron. You can’t force me.”

“This
isn’t a fight you can win,”
Xamien warned.
“Let me take you to Spain, Kitten.”

“I’m
your Taldeburu regardless of the fact that I have slept with you.” Xamien
noticed her flinch. “So, yes you will do as I say or I will put you in DS and
you won’t have a choice.”

“You’re
not giving me a choice now! You’re using your authority as my Taldeburu when
this is personal. If this was anyone else, you’d let them stay and fight. You
wouldn’t hesitate because you know that this is what needs to be done.”

“Delara,
just do as I tell you.” Waleron ran his hand over his shaved head.

Xamien
stepped forward and stood beside Delara. “Waleron, come on—” Oh fuck, Waleron
was furious and it was directed at him. Xamien grunted as the blast of energy
surged into him and he crashed backwards into the wall, knocking a picture off
the hangers to bounce off his head before hitting the floor.

“Xamien.”

“I
have to get out of here soon before I do something I regret.”
The resentment flowed through him for
several seconds and then he took a quick calming breath. It wouldn’t help for
both of them to go off the handle. A battle had its time and place and this was
definitely not one of them.

“Feel
better?” Delara asked glaring at Waleron while coming to Xamien’s side and
shoving the picture and broken glass away.

Waleron
calmed his voice. “Delara, I cannot let you be harmed. Understand why I must do
this.” He hesitated then added, “Please, Maitagarri.”

“I get
it. Your oath to the Senses. But I never asked for your damn oath.”

Waleron
shook his head, his jaw tight. “I cannot take the risk.”

Xamien
came to his feet.

“Stop
suffocating me, damn it!” Delara exploded. Before Xamien could grab her arm,
she ran at Waleron, her fists plowing into his chest. “I can’t breathe! You’re
all around me and I can’t fuckin’ get free! Damn it just let me go. Treat me
like a Senses and let me live.”

Xamien
noticed the unease in Waleron’s eyes as he grabbed Delara’s forearms to try and
stop her assault without doing her harm. A difficult task when she was hell
bent on sending Waleron into his grave with her fists. Xamien understood her
frustration and she was right from what he’d witnessed; Waleron overprotected
Delara. If she were any other Senses, Waleron’s decision would be far
different.

“You
want to be let go, Delara?” Waleron’s voice was unrecognizable. A graveled,
hollowed sound that caused shivers to spread across Xamien’s skin like dominos.
He yanked Delara back from Waleron, who continued yelling.

“You
want to leave the Talde? My Talde? Cause that’s what I’m fighting here. That’s
what the council wants. If you go to Spain, I get to keep my Taldeburu. You
stay and they take it away. I’m a liability around you, it seems.”

Jesus
Christ. No wonder he was adamant on Delara leaving Toronto. It was not only to
get her away from Tarek but to keep the most important thing in his life—his
Taldeburu. They all knew it was what he lived for.

“Waleron,
I…why didn’t you tell me?”

Xamien
knew exactly why—Waleron’s pride was all wrapped up in his Taldeburu. To have
it questioned was breaking him down and if Delara hadn’t pushed him, he’d have
never told her.

“They
are satisfied with your temporary stay in Spain. If I can prove myself, then
they will reconsider. I don’t want you here anymore, Delara. So do as you’re
told, so I can at least have one thing in my life I care about.”

Xamien
swore beneath his breath. 

Waleron
nodded to him.
“Get her out of here. Take her to Europe.”

“Damn,
Waleron, that was harsh.”

“She’ll
forgive me. I need her gone.”

“Doubt
it,”
Xamien replied.
“She’s suffered too much already.”

Waleron’s
chin abruptly rose as he met Xamien’s eyes. Unwavering, like a panther watching
its prey.
“Do you think I don’t know that? You did not witness it. I did!
You did not see her struggle to take her next breath as she lay dying on the
side of the road. Her broken bones were from Tarek snapping them with his bare
hands. And swellings and bruises covered every inch of her body. I witnessed
it. I watched her suffer and I will do everything I can to make certain it never
happens again. Even if it means her hating me. I lose my Taldeburu, I can’t
protect her.”

Xamien
hesitated. He’d been referring to Delara suffering from Waleron, not Tarek, but
he wasn’t about to point that out. Waleron suffered more than anyone and for him
to witness the woman he loved so brutally beaten…well it was something a man
should never have to live with.
He gave an abrupt nod.