Protector (13 page)

I saw by the stiff set of his shoulders he meant it.

Silvie bumped my arm and handed me a small paper plate of hot food. “Why don’t you just eat, hmm? You two can chat later.”

That was Silvie–forever mothering me. I sighed and pulled the fish apart with my fingers and slipped a morsel between my lips. My taste buds rejoiced. There was nothing better than fresh fish caught that morning by the local fisherman.

Looking around our group, I saw Zac pull Viv closer into the vee between his legs as he settled their joint plate on top of her knees. His arms circled her and warded off the breeze. Up until now, I’d never seen the two of them just relaxing together.

I found myself frowning. Zac smoothed his free hand down the back of Viv’s dark locks, tucking the flyaway strands between their bodies where his chest was pressed to her back. She turned her head around to smile at him, even reaching back to kiss his cheek as he lowered his face.

For a second all I could think about was wishing my mother had had a man to care for her in that way. Instead as a teen mother, she’d had to dedicate her life to raising me. Yet witnessing Zac holding Viv touched me. I hadn’t exactly seen true testimony to any real relationships between men and women as I’d grown up, and the obvious dedication in Zac’s eyes toward Viv was something special.

Letting out a slow breath, I glanced out over the ocean, seeing the full descent of the night dropping in.

Everyone ate, and only the light drift of crackling smoke from the fire and the scent of salty fish permeated the air.

“You made a good fire, Zac,” I said softly, breaking the relative silence some minutes later.

He’d been quietly murmuring to Viv but now he looked at me. Belle and Silvie stopped eating and Davio stared at me across the flames.

“I never leave home without flint in my pocket,” he answered.

Viv laughed and squeezed his leg affectionately. “I believe I’m the one who always remembers the flint. Although you would happily zip home for some food from the main hall rather than bother to cook.”

He tweaked her nose and tipped her head back against his chest to kiss her. “I love Meggy’s food. What can I say?”

Viv pressed a gentle finger to his cheek in reprimand. “That, at least, you like mine as much?”

He laughed and their attention seemed to zoom right back in on each other, dismissing the rest of us as if we weren’t even there.

Zac and Viv weren’t just protectors–they were close, their mated bond shining through for all to see.

Was that what Davio and I were supposed to have?

Belle spoke up, breaking my tortured train of my thought. “So, Davio, what are our orders now that Faith can teleport?” She leaned forward as if focused and ready for his answer.

I was not.

Still I waited for him to speak as everyone else did.

He cast his gaze out to sea where the moonlight touched the creamy white surf as it rolled in. The night sky was black, yet a ribbon of stars twinkled above.

Taking a swig of his drink, he braced his elbows on his knees. “I have to admit I’ve been sitting here considering my mate’s primary concern–that of the warrior who attacked her.” He turned his gaze in one swift move of his head from the ocean to me. “Perhaps your security is not as necessary as I first believed. You can teleport and well. I can see that more clearly as I didn’t before.

“Oh?” My brow rose and I clutched my plate of half-eaten food. Had I aggravated him enough to make him change his mind?

With his steely gaze boring into mine, he continued, “I believe that because your father didn’t attempt to take you with him after he first attacked you or, for that matter, during any time over the past eighteen years, I’ve come to the conclusion he’s not likely to now. The only logical assumption is he is after me, not you. So, with that being the case, all I insist on is that you abide by my safety precautions.”

“And those are?” I bit out.

“Quite simply that you inform me, at all times, of your plans.”

I frowned and rose to my feet. “So you mean like the fact that right now I’d like to take a short walk.” He stood. “I meant alone.” I set my shoulders straight as I waited for him to debate that requirement.

His jaw flexed. “As you wish.”

“I do wish. It seems I need to flick off this foul temper you tend to heap on me.” I didn’t wait a second longer. This was my chance for some much-needed space.

Stepping over the log, I strode off into the dark. What I needed to do was take control of my own situation, because I sure needed some time and personal space to come to grips with my very new, and very dominant, mate. Davio was in my life now, and I understood that.

I had already accepted our bond.

I kept walking, finding the dark eased my discomfort and calmed my mind.

In hindsight, this was what I wanted. I wanted freedom. No, scrub that–what I wanted was what my mother had never had. I wanted a man who would be there to protect me, and sadly, I wanted to know more about the father who’d given me life and then walked away from me. I had a past to put to bed before I could embrace my future. I only knew Davio was undoubtedly that man in my future. He was generous and attentive–obviously too attentive, but I no longer wanted to quibble over that. We could work things out.

Weaving in and around the sand dunes I recognized just how few people I had in my life. I had Mum, Silvie and her mother Seriah, but next to them, I had no one else. And to think I had a father who came from another world. He may be a warrior, but still I had to meet him.

I lifted my wrist and pressed the small light to illuminate the time. I should go now–while the time to make my escape was so easy. I had the image. The safe location.

At the sound of movement coming from back near the fire, I made the decision to go. I only had a few seconds because already I heard Davio calling my name, his tone a tight mix of demand and concern.

So I brought forward the image of the safe room the warrior had left imbedded in my mind. Only at the last moment, I realized something very important. How had my father known ahead of time I would have the ability to teleport there?

Only the treacherous thought came too late.

I had arrived.

Chapter 6

From darkness to darkness, I was here. Wherever here was.

My heart thundered. Had I done the right thing?

“You did.” There was a sliver of light chasing in under the doorway, and I heard the answer coming directly from beyond.

From someone who had just read my thoughts.

“Come. I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this moment.”

I’d always considered myself brave, only right now my legs shook. My feet tapped at the ground, and I fidgeted from side to side. “H-how can I trust you?” I clamped down on my tongue, hating the sudden giveaway of nerves.

“You’ve always been able to trust me, only you’ve never known me.”

I heard the voice of a stranger, of a man I should have known for eighteen years and hadn’t. In that defining moment, I found my courage and set it in place. I could do this. I had to do this. Enough with the indecision–this was my only chance for answers.

I took a step forward, the sliver of light guiding my direction.

Squinting though the darkness, I clutched the door’s cold, round knob.

“Y-you’re reading my thoughts.” Stupid nerves made me stutter. Get it together. Turn the knob. Open the door.

I twisted my fingers to the right, the knob slipping under the slickness of my palm but I got it, then yanked, steel scraping over steel for all of two inches before I halted, the hairs on the back of my neck pinging up.

Hell. Why such thick steel for a door?

“I will explain. Your strength skills have come from me. Your ability to read thoughts, and soon the full force of forethought and forewarning will be upon you. I have seen yours–it will be as strong and precise as mine.” He paused, forcing the door open from his side before I could react.

Before me, he was real and solid–and I stood like a block of ice. “Don’t you go moving any closer. This is a lot to take in.”

“I realize that.”

“You’re truly my father?”

“Yes. Your mother is bound to Earth, whereas I am bound to Dralion, although from what I’ve seen, Carlisio’s grandson has enlightened you to at least that much. Now come out of the dark and stand before me.” His hands snapped to his sides.

“I’ll stand before you,” I huffed, “provided this steel door is not leading me into some kind of cell. Let’s not forget, the last time we met, you hit me on the head.”

The man’s heels clipped together and he disappeared from the opened doorway, light blasting through from where he’d stood. “It’s no cell,” he said over his shoulder.

I took care as I chanced a glance at the room I was leaving. As depicted in my mind, with the light now streaming through, it was a simple square room of white walls. There were no furnishings. Not one item except for a lone, odd-looking chair.

With a sigh, I looked ahead and took a step, halting under the arch.

“Close the security door behind you and ensure you block your mind against the protector known as Belle. It would be unacceptable if she chose to telepath. This time is for us alone.”

“Belle can’t reach me. I’m already blocked.” The four walls smelled of fresh paint but were an icky gray color and there was nothing else in the room apart from two plastic chairs and a basic round table. “You better not hurt me this time.” Then I stepped cleanly into the room.

He looked at me, his black coat dropping stiffly to the floor over a vivid blue shirt and black leather pants. “I would never harm you.” He lifted a brow. “That is again. You are my flesh and blood and the thought of distressing you in any way is abhorrent to me.”

He angled his blond head, which I mirrored since I only hoped he meant again the same way I’d mean again
.

“I speak only the truth, for you should never fear me.” Turning his back, he pulled out one of the plastic chairs and sat.

“I’m staying because I want answers.” I shoved the heavy steel door shut, noticing the newly painted walls reflecting patches of silver here and there. I spun to face him. “Why are you trying to hide the steel walls?”

He scrubbed a hand across his jaw, edging out his foot to scrape around the second chair, the unpleasant screeching making me squish my nose. “This entire room is steel reinforced. The walls are freshly painted since I saw your initial distress, and wished to eliminate it.”

“Saw? You mean with your forewarning?”

He rubbed his large hands on his knees as he leaned forward. “Sit with me. There’s a chair, and I will explain all.”

“I can see the chair.” I frowned. “Let me read your thoughts first through my forethought.” I’d barely made the demand when his thoughts opened fully to mine, the surge of information and images taking my breath away.

I clutched at my racing heart.

He’d made the quick decision to try and disguise the steel walls by painting them in the half hour before I’d arrived. He’d been “forewarned” that I’d be upset and he showed me the forewarning.

He saw–so brilliantly and with crystal clear perfection. It was like nothing Davio and Belle had told me it would be. This was real, vivid with colors, as if I watched the event of forewarning in real time.

“It’s impressive, isn’t it? I have to admit I saw Davio explaining Carlisio’s forethought to you, but both you and I are born from the mated bond. The strength of ours is unequalled.”

I itched now to know more.

Crossing the metal flooring, I sat opposite him, for I could not help my interest. This man was my father. He had passed skills onto me I needed to learn. I wasn’t leaving until I knew.

He smiled, following my movement with his gaze. “Our forethought is strong.” He firmly gripped my forearm. “Your skills grow fast. They are cementing and strengthening as your powerful lineage demands.”

“How do you do that? You’re reading my thoughts even though I’m blocked.”

“We are one and the same. You can block your thoughts from me, as you wish only you’re currently not doing so.” His fingers tightened. “You believe you’re blocking, but that is not the case. Look for yourself.”

I did, opening my eyes wide as I saw the truth. “I was so sure.” How had I not seen that?

He released me. “It is natural for our blood-bond to direct our motives into complete compliance of one another. In the future if you wish to block from me, you will need to focus more firmly on the task.”

So I did, only a second later finding I didn’t care for it. I wanted him to know the truth of my thoughts, for now was not the time for any hidden agenda. “You can read what you wish.”

He watched me closely, inclining his head. “Then let me take you somewhere more comfortable.” He eased upright. “We have much to discuss and little time to do so.”

As he strode out the door that opened behind the small table, I followed him from the room.

“Okay, so exactly why the steel room? I know why you painted it, but why have one at all?”