Hidden Hope (Hidden Saga Book 3) (11 page)

“Of course. There was also some seafood in there—shellfish and stuff—but I’ve never had that, and I didn’t know if you liked it either.”

I rummaged through the pantry, finding the tea bags, and started filling a kettle with water. “You’ve never had seafood?”

He shrugged. “You know I hadn’t traveled far from Altum prior to that quick trip Vancia and I made out here to find you last month. I’ve had fish, of course, but only the lake and river varieties you can find in Mississippi. It’s not like we have a seafood truck stopping by and making deliveries to Altum.”

“Right. Well, you should try it while you’re here. I mean, look at where we are.” I gestured out the large picture window overlooking the ocean and Malibu beach. “I’ll cook it tomorrow.”

He grinned. “Great. A trade out.”

I watched him stirring the fragrant chicken in a deep pot. The scent of garlic and some sort of herbs filled the air.

“So... I would never have suspected you could cook.”

“I hope you’ll like it. I don’t cook that often, but I used to hang out a lot in the kitchen at home with our chef Petra. I picked up a few things. Soup, I can manage.”

Noticing some chopped fresh vegetables on a cutting board near the stove, I had to smile. “I guess so. You really
are
good at everything. I kind of hate you.” I set the kettle on the stovetop and turned on the flame.

Lad didn’t look up from the pot, but in a more somber tone he said, “Sometimes I think you do.”

“Lad—” What did I want to say? Did I hate him? No. I couldn’t. He had hurt me, but I understood his reasons now. He’d been trying to protect me.

And the betrothal to Vancia was something that had been arranged for him as a child—an obligation he was determined to honor. 

No, I didn’t hate him. In fact, if I was being honest—part of me still loved him. My attraction to Nox didn’t magically erase the love I’d felt for Lad. It was simply a love I’d never do anything about. Too much had happened. There were too many complications—and other hearts—involved now.

“I don’t hate you,” I finally said. “I consider you a friend. And I appreciate you coming along and trying to help my mom.”

He finally looked at my face. “I’m happy to. I’m helping my people, too.”

Of course. His people. Priority number one.

“This thing with the Dark Elves has gone too far now,” he continued. “I could no longer ignore it and refuse to get involved.” He paused a long time before continuing. “But even if that wasn’t the case… I’d still be here. I
should
have been there for you before. I’m sorry Ryann. I thought I was doing what was best for you. Instead, I hurt you unforgivably.”

Speechless now and blinking back tears, I walked over and gazed out the window at the sun setting over the beach. “I think I’ll go for a quick walk before dinner.”

“This has to simmer for about thirty minutes. Can I join you?”

“Oh, uh... okay.” Didn’t he realize the point of my walk was to get away from him? I couldn’t exactly say that, though. Not after I’d just told him I considered us friends. Still, I searched for an exit hatch. “You think it’s okay to leave the stove going like that? I’d hate to burn down Nox’s new guest cottage.”

He smiled as he joined me at the back door and opened it for me. “It’s on low.”

Left with no more excuses, I stepped out onto the deck and then the warm sand beyond it. Lad followed.

“So this is only your second time to see the ocean, right?” I asked, eager to change the topic from our earlier conversation.

“That’s right.” He gazed out over the color-changing water. “I still can’t get over how
big
it is. I thought Altum was huge. But the world—I think my father was wrong about venturing out and mixing with humans. There’s so much to see.” He darted his eyes at me. “So much beauty. So much I’ve missed.”

“Well, it’s a long life. In fact, you’ve got forever—to travel the world or do whatever you want to do.”

He leaned over and grabbed a shell from the sand, tossing it into the surf. “And yet… I can’t actually
do
what I want to do.”

“You mean your obligations as Light King?”

He nodded. “That, and the current crisis with the Dark Elves. I owe it to my father and my people to make... certain choices. To keep the peace, rule wisely, provide an heir someday. If there were another way....” He shook his head in dismay, knowing it was pointless to finish the sentence.

“What would you do?” I prompted.

“If all my people were safe, if the humans were safe, and the Dark Elves were content to leave them alone? I’d travel, see some of the places I’ve read about in books. I’d do what
I
want to do... make my own choices.” He glanced quickly at my face and then back out over the horizon. “What would you do if you had total freedom?”

“Hmmm... you know what’s funny? I’ve had about enough travel. I’d stay in Deep River, close to my friends, my family, the land, live the simple life, you know?”

“You’d probably make a better ruler for Altum than I would,” he said with a sad laugh. “Who am I kidding? My life is what it is. Father always called me a ‘dreamer.’ I guess he was right.”

“Dreams are good,” I assured him. “I think we’d go crazy if we couldn’t dream.”

“I agree,” he said quietly. The back of his hand brushed mine as we walked, almost as if he had started to take it and stopped himself. “I like talking like this with you. It reminds me of how it used to be, you know, before...”

Before Vancia came into the picture. Before Lad had rejected me and I fell for Nox. Before things got so complicated and confusing.

I liked walking and talking with him like this, too, but I didn’t say so. Instead I said, “We should turn back. If we keep going this direction, supper will burn by the time we make it back to the house.”

“Okay.”

We did a U-turn, walking through the shallow waves lapping the shore, and headed for our new home-away-from-home. The sun had almost reached the horizon line. Its orange glow bathing Lad’s face and golden hair made him look like some otherworldly creature. Which, of course, was what he was. He’d never looked more beautiful and less human to me.

Catching me looking at him, he gave me a sad grin. “Do you ever think about living forever?”

“No,” I answered honestly. “Because I’m not sure I will. Until recently, I never even knew it was a possibility. Chances are I
will
have an extended lifespan compared to most humans but not immortality. Who even knows? Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I think about it sometimes. Everyone talks about it like it’s a gift, but it doesn’t really seem like one, you know? I mean, it’s almost depressing. Eternity just seems so…
long
.”

I hated the look on his face. Haunted. Trapped.

“You know... you
can
choose. Your birth doesn’t have to determine your whole life.”

“It does, though,” he said.

“It has so far. But if you really want to, you can change things, have the life you want. I think eternity wouldn’t seem so long, it
would
seem like the amazing opportunity it is, if you were happy with your life. Everyone should look forward to the future. Including you. Maybe your mom could rule in your place.”

“Has to be a male.” He winced, anticipating my reaction. “Elven law.”

“
So
sexist. All right, there must be some eager council member in the Light Court who’d be happy to take your place. Like Davis did in the Dark Court when both Nox’s and Vancia’s parents died and they all believed he was dead, too.”

“And look how well that turned out,” he said with a grim smile.

“Okay, maybe that’s not the best example. But what I’m saying is, there’s always somebody who wants to rule. Let them do it. Abdicate your throne, if that’s what you want.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Maybe it is.”

We’d reached the back door of the beach cottage. Before going in, Lad slid an arm around me and pulled me close for a quick hug. “Thank you. You always know the right thing to say—even if it
is
just a dream.”

I grinned up at him. “Happy to help.”

Vancia came around the side of the house. “I’ve been knocking. Where were you?” She didn’t sound jealous, exactly. Annoyed would be more accurate.

Bristling at her accusatory tone, I opened the door and went inside, letting Lad answer.

“Getting some fresh air. Dinner’s ready. You hungry?” he asked her as they followed me in.

Sniffing the air subtly, she visibly relaxed. “A little bit, now that I smell food.” Walking over to peek inside the pot, she said under her breath to Lad, “You need to be careful.”

“I know,” he said, sounding like a henpecked husband already.

Clearly the conversation wasn’t intended to include me, but I couldn’t help but overhear and wonder. Was she
that
afraid of him being seen out on the beach? Would he be instantly recognizable to the malevolent Dark Elves who might want to harm him? Or was her warning about something else?

“All right—everybody grab a bowl.” Lad ladled the fragrant soup into a heavy ceramic bowl and set it on the countertop.

Reappearing from the bathroom, Vancia lifted the dish and carried it to the nearby dining set before coming back for the other bowls. So… maybe she wasn’t a
total
princess. She didn’t expect to be served.

Inspired by Nox’s suggestion, I had made my special recipe sweet tea. I filled glasses with ice and the sugary concoction and carried them all to the table, choosing a chair across from Vancia for myself. It was odd to sit down family-style with her and Lad.

She watched as I took a long drink from my glass, eying her own.

“So you’ve been drinking saol water for a while?” she asked.

“Well, I had it a few times after meeting Lad. And then he suggested I use it in my sweet tea, but I actually haven’t been drinking it lately. I haven’t wanted to waste it.”

“Waste it?”

“Well, yes. I make sure all the saol water he delivers goes into my sweet tea for the business. And, I don’t consume the merchandise. We need to sell all of it we can. It’s a precious commodity, you know?”

She nodded, taking a sip from her own glass. “Wow. This is good. I’m surprised you can resist it.”

I didn’t want to get into the real reason I had stayed away from drinking it. It reminded me too much of Lad. In my mind, saol water would always be inextricably linked with him, with our first encounter as children when he’d used it to save my life.

Though I’d brought a vial of saol water with me on my first trip out to L.A., I had ended up keeping it in my purse and taking peeks at the copper flask from time to time. I hadn’t had the heart to drink it and experience that euphoric, warm sensation I’d only ever felt in Lad’s presence. My heart didn’t need that vivid reminder.

I hadn’t actually had any—or even tasted my own sweet tea—since before I’d gone on that rescue mission to bring Emmy home. Taking another swallow now, though, I had to admit there was nothing like it. No wonder the Magnolia Sugar Tea Company was enjoying such robust early success.

“So, how did it go with Davis?”

“Did you see my mom?”

Lad and I asked our questions at the same time, just as Vancia spooned in a mouthful of soup.

She looked from one to the other of us and swallowed. “It went well, I think. He seemed to buy my explanation that I was here to work. He was disappointed
you
weren’t with me.” She nodded to Lad. “But I assured him I’d just seen you and would see you again shortly, and that I was doing my
job
.”

“Did he ask you about the engagement?” Lad said.

She stared into his eyes. “Of course. I told him the truth—that it’s on, that we haven’t set a date because your mother’s still in mourning.”

“What about Mom? Is she with him? Did you see her?”

“She’s there. I didn’t speak to her. She was in the room with him, but she didn’t say anything or even look up. I think she was pretty deep under.”

Worry pooled in my belly. “I knew it. There’s no way she’d go this long without calling me or Grandma unless she was glamoured. How did she look?”

“I didn’t get a good look at her. The room was sort of dark. She’s alive, though, and she’ll stay that way as long as he needs her for his plan.”

“Which is... what?” Lad asked.

Vancia shook her head. “I’m still not sure. He did mention the Boston Olympics, though. Seemed pretty fired up about it.”

“Oh—Nox said he and the Hidden are going to perform there, at the Opening Ceremonies. Maybe he’s found out something about it. Have you spoken to him today?”

Vancia paused and her gaze fell to her bowl. “Not face-to-face.”

What did that mean? Had they been communicating mind-to-mind? She said she’d been at Davis’s house when she wasn’t working. How far was that from Nox’s house? Were they able to communicate long distance the way we had that one time?

It occurred to me I hadn’t heard Nox’s voice in my mind since coming back to the city. But then, I hadn’t been here that long, and in spite of his invitation earlier, I hadn’t yet reached out and tried to send him a message. I would have to try it later this evening, as soon as I got some time to myself.

As it turned out, it wasn’t necessary. Toward the end of dinner there was a knock at the door. We all looked at each other. We couldn’t answer it. No one was supposed to know we were here.

A minute later my phone buzzed with a text from Nox.

It’s me. Let me in.

I flew to the door and opened it. “I’m so glad you could come back tonight. I wasn’t sure if you could get away.”

“I wasn’t either. And I don’t have long.” He stepped in and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “I need to put my car inside.” He crossed the hall to the kitchen and then the garage door. “Be right back.”

We heard the sound of the garage door opening, his car pulling in, the garage closing again. And then Nox came back into the kitchen.

“What did you find out, Van?”

She recapped her reconnaissance for Nox while Lad and I listened.

“Good work,” Nox said, squeezing her arm with a warm smile.

Vancia’s face glowed at his praise. She never looked like that around Lad. Did Lad notice it? Did Nox?

I would have loved to attribute it to their childhood friendship, but my glamour for emotional empathy didn’t allow me such blissful ignorance. Unable to resist, I extended my glamour senses in her direction.

Yep. I was picking up attraction. Big time. Of course any female within a mile of Nox exuded the signs of attraction—that was what he did to women.

But this was… different. It was
more
. Nox didn’t seem to notice. He was engaged in deep conversation with Lad.

“What do you know about the Olympics in Boston?” Lad asked him.

“Alfred says it’s the next step in taking the plan worldwide. There are already fan pods across the globe. There’s going to be a performance during the live broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies featuring all of Alfred’s top clients—kind of like a modern version of “We Are the World.” Not just singers, but actors, athletes, models—recognizable names and faces joining together for this big one-time-only performance. Only this song isn’t about feeding hungry children. It’s going to be a message influencing the humans to accept Elven rule.”

“Oh, I get it. The electronic signals enhance the glamour,” I said. “And if it’s all of Alfred’s biggest clients, that’s going to be a whole lot of glamour up on the same stage at the same time.”

“And it’ll be broadcast across the world. Okay, I guess I get why Davis was talking about it like it was such a big deal,” Vancia said. “Something like that will push the Elven takeover ahead by years, maybe decades.”

Nox grimaced. “Well, he’s already got me and the band on the roster to be there, so at least I’ll be able to monitor it from the inside and see what’s going on. I’ll let you all know as soon as I get a look at the song lyrics.”

“Too bad
you
don’t get to write them.” Vancia gave Nox a shoulder nudge. “You could throw in something ‘international’ about sombreros and mezcal.
If
you can even remember them.”

He barked a loud laugh but calmed quickly, going red in the face and darting a guilty glance in my direction. “We took a quick trip over the border a couple weeks ago,” he explained. “I may have been a tad
overserved
.” He pointed at Vancia in a mock-threatening way. “Which is totally your fault for suggesting I needed a break from the Dark Court. I owe you one hangover.”

It was clear he
did
recall at least some of the trip—the happy memory was all over his face. Funny, he hadn’t mentioned a spontaneous getaway to Mexico with his childhood sweetheart in any of our phone conversations.

“All right mister. It. Is. On.” Vancia pushed the remaining dinner dishes aside and placed her elbow on the table, presenting her cupped hand to Nox in an obvious invitation to arm wrestle.

He grinned widely. “Really? Really? Do you really think you can take me on now? I’ve filled out a bit since seventh grade, you know.”

She raised one arched brow and looked him over. “Obviously. But I wonder if you’re still
afraid
of losing?”

Straddling a chair, he planted his elbow opposite hers on the tabletop. “All right. You asked for it. No mercy rule.”

She met his grin straight on. “No mercy.”

The two of them clasped palms and began grappling with each other. I was surprised at how well Vancia was holding him. Either that or Nox’s threat had been an empty one and he was taking it easy on her.

As their wrists and forearms intertwined, the two of them stared into each other’s eyes, alternately grimacing and laughing. Yet another thing they shared from childhood apparently—a fondness for arm wrestling.

I tried to enjoy the show as much as they were enjoying putting it on but failed. Leaning against the edge of the sofa, I waited for Vancia’s territory marking exhibition to end.

Perhaps noticing my expression or how quiet I’d gotten, Lad sat on the sofa back next to me. He leaned close to my ear. “You okay?”

You know what’s pathetic? When your old boyfriend feels sorry for you because of how your new boyfriend is interacting with another girl. With
his
girl, no less.

Lad’s sympathetic reaction made me study the arm-wrestlers more closely. Their hands were clasped tightly around each other’s, their faces close together and bright with amusement. If I used my emotional glamour on Nox right now, what would I feel?

I shouldn’t.
I was almost afraid to. And it wasn’t right to invade his privacy. Besides, I trusted him.

But still.

I couldn’t help myself. I had to know. Extending my senses toward the two of them, I let myself feel what they were feeling, and the sensations nearly knocked me backward onto the couch cushions.

I literally winced as my mind was assaulted with a combination of enjoyment, excitement, and pleasure. And it wasn’t all coming from Vancia. Nox liked touching her, too, liked competing with her, having her sole focus and devoted attention.

Unable to stand being in the room any longer, I jumped up and speed-walked into the kitchen, opening the freezer and looking for nothing in particular, letting the rush of frigid air hit my hot face.

“Ryann?” The quiet voice behind me was filled with concern.

“Want a cold drink?” I asked Lad in a loud, overly bright tone. “I’m getting some ice.”

He opened a cabinet and pulled out a glass, silently handing it to me. When our eyes met, his were filled with pity.

I snatched the glass from his hand and whirled back around, filling it with sweet tea and downing nearly the whole thing, wishing fervently he’d just go away. I didn’t need his pity. And really, he should have been worrying about his own business.

He should be at least as upset as I was. Why wasn’t he furious with his fiancée for flirting so outrageously with Nox? Maybe he couldn’t sense their hot-blooded reaction to each other as well as I could.

A crashing sound followed by raucous laughter drifted in from the living room.

“All right, all right. Enough,” I heard Nox say. “I give. We’re going to break something.”

“Yeah, run away now that I’ve kicked your ass.” Vancia laughed.

“You didn’t kick my ass. I got tired and let you win. Besides, I didn’t want to hurt you. Hey, where’s Ryann?”

Ugh. He’d just
now
noticed I’d left the room?

Nox’s big frame filled the doorway to the kitchen. He glanced between me and Lad. “Hey guys. What’s up?”

Vancia was right behind him, hanging onto his shoulder, still laughing. “I think you did hurt my arm.”

His eyes danced with amusement as she once again succeeded in drawing his attention away from me. He looked down at her. “Are you kidding? The only thing hurting around here is my ego. I nearly got beat by a girl.”

“Again,” she teased and laughed out loud as he made a face at her. Glancing at us, she explained. “We used to compete with each other over everything. I was taller than him pretty much our entire childhoods. And faster.”

He gave her a droll look. “Thanks for revealing my secret shame to my girlfriend, Van.”

Her smile faltered a bit at his last few words, but she rallied like a champ. “Oh you better watch out—I know
all kinds
of juicy secrets about you.” She grabbed his hand with both of hers and attempted to pull him back into the living room. “Want to go for best two out of three? If you win, I’ll keep my mouth shut about the time we skinny-dipped in your parents’ hot tub.”

Slicing a glance back at me, Nox’s face went serious. He yanked his hand from her grasp, causing Vancia to stumble backward and nearly fall.