Protector (20 page)

The shop next door sold a wide range of lingerie and casual clothing. I took a quick minute to choose underwear, nightwear and a couple of lightweight shirts and jeans so I was covered for the next couple of days. Walking to a safe spot at the side of the building, I cloaked to hide my departure and flashed back to the apartment. Heading to my bedroom, I dropped my purchases onto the single bed and dressed in my new training clothes.

With the card back in the metal box, I winged my way to the base of Mauaō.

The rain pounding down and running a river of water along the muddy base track forced me to veer off the regular route and choosing to take the sheltered bushy path that snaked upward along the western side to the summit. Every step soothed me, bit by bit draining away the sharp press of excess energy.

Up ahead a familiar form wavered into sight, and I joined my father, slowing to run on the spot. “Sorry about the atrocious weather.”

“At least this rain will cloud Carlisio’s forethought,” he returned, adjusting a white Adidas cap on his now drenched head. “This is hideous weather. I should have suggested we run in Dralion.”

I laughed at his impossibly youthful expression, taking in his white shirt and black running shorts. “I don’t mind the rain, Dad.” I wiped at the water coursing down my face. “Isn’t Dralion dangerous for me to visit? You said so only a few days ago.”

Alexo took my elbow, his hand gentle. “Let’s keep you running since we’re both already soaked. Although yes, it’s dangerous since the dome room is located within the lower bowels of the palace.”

My brow rose. He hadn’t told me that before. “I take it that information shouldn’t be repeated?”

“Not on your life, Faith, it’s not. But do not worry,” he grinned almost charmingly. “Your faithful Wincrest blood alone will ensure you’ll never tell a soul of the location.”

“Cool. That’s good to know.”

He kept easy pace beside me. “Now that we finally have a chance to converse, tell me about your decision regarding Silvie. Will you speak with her? And when?”

In other words, I should speak to her. “I’m too angry right now, Dad.” That anger hurt so bad even though I knew I would have to come out of hiding sooner or later and address it.

“And your mate? He will be searching for you again come eight o’clock this morning.”

I navigated around several particularly nasty tree roots which were pushing up high out of the hard-packed soil into the center of the running track. White shell remains were littered around the area to both highlight the obstacle and to aid in keeping feet on the steep track.

“I saw that too,” I said as I chanced a glance back at him where he’d fallen behind as the track had thinned to single file in the dense bush area. “Do you follow the protectors and their actions often?” I asked curiously.

Tree branches snagged at his white t-shirt and pulled at his cap. He adjusted the peak down lower over his face to shield himself from the pelting rain. “Not usually since I neither have the time nor the inclination to do so, but your grandfather does by keeping spies close in their camp.”

Which reminded me of what Silas had said in my forethought. “Did you catch the part where Silas referred to the capture of Donaldo’s spy last night? That they’ve locked him in their cells with the other imprisoned warriors?”

“I did, and with great interest since I was made aware that the man did not check in this morning with Donaldo’s security team. Your grandfather was spitting tacks about it and let all within shouting distance hear of his displeasure.”

“So will another warrior be sent to take that man’s place?” My question revolved around my need to understand just how safe it would be for me should one of Davio’s protectors find me and take me to Peacio as Davio had stated.

Without realizing it, I opened up that private thought to Alexo.

“I will know through my forewarning if there is any imminent danger to you, so the answer is, it is fairly safe. It will also take Donaldo some months or even upwards to a year, to have another warrior infiltrate Peacio’s tight inner circle. There are thousands of protectors but all are known to one another within their close communities so a new warrior must be sent in at their lowest level where he first will be accepted without any familial background.”

Relief poured through me just as the rain lightened to a drizzle. At the same time, we came out from under the dense bush to hit the grassy hilltop.

“It’s a good thing Peacio is safe even if Dralion is not.”

My father’s expression turned grim as he made his way to my side. “Dralion is safe for you.” Slowly he pushed back his damp cap. “We’re almost at the top. We’ll speak more there for I have a plan.”

I focused on keeping one foot in front of the other as we hit the uppermost track. The drizzle lessened to a fine mist and the wind eased, the breeze now lifting with the smell of fresh pine and salty ocean air. Along the upper plateau, we found the large picnicking area, choosing one of the wet wooden picnic benches.

My father turned to me as he seated himself. “Sit. We’re both wet and it’s not going to make any difference if we get worse.”

I gave him a wobbly smile and sat. “Well at least with all this rain we’ve been ensured of complete privacy up here–no crowds.”

He chuckled, glancing about the area that usually held tourists and other runners coming up to the top for the dramatic ocean view. “Yeah, because only the lunatic Wincrests came running today, yes?”

“Puh-lease.” I mock-frowned. “I’m no lunatic.”

“No, but you are a Wincrest.” His smile drifted away.

“Come on, tell me everything. Tell me exactly why you and my mother aren’t together. Davio has always insisted that mates are rarely parted.”

His light colored eyebrows squeezed together. “That is the case, but Donaldo would never have accepted her as my wife or as the mother of my children.”

“So you’ve said before, but she is your mate,” I defended. “Could you not have swayed Donaldo in some way?”

“The answer is simply no. Which is why after she gave birth to you, I was left with no choice but to leave her in peace with the one thing she had ever asked of me.”

“And that was?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“You, Faith. Kate had no parents, no siblings, no family whatsoever when I found her. She had always desired children of her own, and even though I could never tell her of Dralion, I could in the short time we were together, give her at least something of what she so earnestly desired.”

“So that’s why you left her straight after my birth?”

“That and other things.” Alexo stared off into the distance, his gaze on the panoramic view of the Bay of Plenty where it stretched out before us. “I could no longer continue to hide my repeated trips out of Dralion to be with her. I had told Donaldo of her and his reaction made me fear greatly for her safety. Everything was compounding, each constant coming and going so difficult on your mother since I had no choice but to hide my origins. In the end she believed there was an affair–”

The break echoed with terrible pain. After several drawn out moments he continued, “I allowed her to believe such a thing so she would hate me and not become destroyed by my decision to leave.”

I rubbed at my face, at the hot tears tracking down my cheeks, feeling every difficult word of his declaration deep inside my heart. “Still you protect her by staying away.”

“I could not have imagined how strong you would become. It’s true that children of mated pairs carry their skills to the fullest degree, but due to your Halfling blood, I couldn’t possibly be sure. When I initially told your grandfather about Kate, he didn’t wish to risk waiting eighteen years to know. Now look at what you can do.”

“I’m not weak. I have all your skills including the coveted forethought and forewarning. I’m still not full-blooded and that’s what you said Donaldo wanted. Is my being highly skilled enough to secure my mother’s safety?”

“That’s my plan. I thought of it when we first met at my apartment, but I had to be certain of the outcome. Having Donaldo see your skills is proof the mated bond prevails over any mixed heritage. Now I’m also assured any future children Kate and I have could carry likewise skills. In my eyes, Kate being an Earthling now no longer comes into play. Donaldo has no argument.” His brow rose. “Our family should no longer be torn apart. I want, and need, to have you both where you belong.”

And by “belong”, I had no doubt he meant in Dralion. My heart plummeted. So what of Davio and my relationship with him? I might be angry at him, but I missed him. So how did I build on our bonded link from within enemy territory? Because regardless of our fight, I didn’t long to leave him.

I eased out from behind the wooden-slatted picnic table and rose to my saturated feet, feeling the complete pressure of the difficult moment. “My mother may not forgive you for leaving her. She never even speaks of you.”

Alexo moved to stand beside me, taking my arm and flashing us back to his apartment. He gave me a tender smile. “But I have every intention of trying…once I can see that the time is right to approach her.”

It seemed the decision was made.

“It would be impossible to deny me, Faith. Your blood, like mine, is the same. Even Donaldo’s constant demands for skilled grandchildren are ultimately dictating how I react.”

“I’m so sorry.” I felt for him, for the tortuous position he was constantly in. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him. “As you said, the Wincrest blood that flows through our veins is both a burden and a privilege.”

It was a burden that had kept Alexo from his family for eighteen years, a weight I had no desire to continue inflicting on him. Truly, I had so very few options left.

My father held me, as lost in his thoughts as I was until finally we broke apart.

“Go and warm up. Take a bath and change into dry clothes.” He urged me toward the bathroom.

I shut the door on the lavish room with its gorgeous marble bathtub, vanity and sparkling brass fixtures and fittings. The hot water ran clear as I poured in bath oils scented with vanilla and jasmine.

One decision-making bath coming up.

Chapter 9

It was barely six in the morning, and on top of that, Monday had now rolled around. I scrubbed a hand up and down my thighs and slapped them, for my legs were throbbing and it was the umpteenth day in a row. To think I used to like my runs.

I stumbled out of bed and yanked on my Nike running pants and t-shirt, trying to lift my heavy eyelids past halfway.

As I shoved a brush through my hair, I unblocked and opened up to my father.

Hey.

You sound exhausted.

My legs are on fire. What’s with this daily two-hour run?

I’m not sure. I only experience excess energy three to four times a month, and then that’s entirely dependent on how often I use my skills. Perhaps you should increase your usage and teleport around more.

I groaned and pushed my tired muscles to the kitchen.
I’m coming out of quarantine today. Did I tell you my head hurts just as bad?
I was sure I had.

Yes. Your fast-healing should have dealt with that. Perhaps take a rest after your run. Will it matter if you’re late to school?

You’d have to ring. Only a parent can lodge–
I stopped mid-step down the hallway, cracking my first smile in days.
Ah, that sounded odd didn’t it?

He chuckled.
It does since I don’t own a telephone. Those contraptions are out of date when one can use free telepathic communication.

No worries.
I continued around the corner.
I’ll head in. I’m going to have to talk to Silvie sooner or later
. That much I’d come to accept over the weekend.

He cleared his throat.
Your separation from Loveria is likely the cause for your headache. I recall suffering many after leaving your mother. Oh, and a word of warning–watch out for the birds.
He signed off.

“The birds?” I mumbled to myself, frowning.

Opening the fridge, I grabbed a yogurt, drank a glass of water and pocketed a muesli bar for later.

Lacing my sneakers, I lowered and stretched my legs.

Heading out, I jogged down the building’s flights of steps and came out at the front security door. Checking both ways, I crossed the road and hit the boardwalk, following it to the base of the mountain. Around me, a flock of seagulls screeched. There were a few about, and they were clearly after a free feed from me.

I ran through the throng of them lining the walkway. “No, you’re not having my muesli bar,” I snapped. “Go and get your own food.”

They took off after I flapped my hands at them.

With the birds scattering, I focused on the rocky mountain base track ahead of me. On one side, the mountain rose, and on the other the harbor water lapped in over the rocks.

Taking care, I scaled the entrance gate, wobbling as I landed on the other side. Above I heard a rush and a flap, and peering up I saw half a dozen white-feathered seagulls coming in fast.

“Oh no.” My jaw gaped open.

But the birds opened their beaks and the Pipis I couldn’t miss spotting dropped from their mouths.