Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice (6 page)

Familiar faces, and some not so, glanced at
her as she passed through the common room. The DVSL showed a split
screen of several tunnels and warrens. Everyone was doing his or
her part, keeping watch. At least now they had an idea of what
might be out there.

One man in particular followed her course,
his deep-hazel eyes tracking her progress. “Are you leaving the
quarters, Erynn?” He stood up. “No one should go out alone,
especially with the news you brought back.”

Erynn stopped. “I’m just going to see Cale.”
She frowned. She didn’t know this man.

He knows me
.

He smiled. The lines around his mouth
deepened. “I’ll go with you. I’m not doing anything. Better to be
safe.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Zach.” His smile faded. “I’m an old
friend of Jaer’s.”

Of course, Zach would be a
friend
of
Jaer’s. He was tall, muscular, and powerful, wearing a black tunic
and pants.

Anbas.

“I see,” Erynn mumbled. “Well let’s go,
then.”

Erynn was able to go right into Cale’s
office. He was alone, a rarity these days. Zach remained just
outside the door.

Cale stopped what he was doing at his desk
and leaned back in his chair. “Erynn?”

Erynn cleared her throat and stood to
attention. “I want to apologize. I should have told someone I was
going out and why, sir.” She continued to stare at a gray-green
swirl on the smooth stone wall behind Cale’s head. “It won’t happen
again. I am sorry.”

Cale sighed and glanced away from her for a
moment. “Erynn, do you remember what I told you when you first came
here? That you could come to me with anything? That I was here for
you?” He stood up and walked around the desk.

Erynn no longer stared at the wall. “Yes,
sir.” She watched his movements as he came toward her.

He wrapped her in a crushing hug. “What
happened to calling me Cale?” he asked in a hushed tone in her
ear.

She put her arms around him, returning the
hug. “I’m sorry, Cale. I really thought I was helping you. It
seemed so simple. I’d just go get the soldiers and bring them
back.” She buried her face in his shoulder. With her voice muffled,
she said, “The last thing I wanted was to make you angry.”

He squeezed her even tighter. “I was
worried
, Erynn. You’re part of my family. I love you like my
own daughter.”

Erynn nodded. A slight grin formed against
the crush of Cale’s hug. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.” Cale pushed away to stare into
her eyes, still holding her. “You aren’t alone, Erynn. You don’t
have to do these things
alone
anymore.” He brushed at her
cheek with a gentle touch. “We take care of each other, help each
other here.”

Erynn shook her head. A smile pulled at her
lips. “I’m trying to remember. It’s good not having to hide what I
can do, but still, it’s new for me.” Years of not being accepted,
of it just being her dad, made this sudden belonging difficult to
acknowledge.

He gave her one last encompassing hug.
“You’re doing fine. Well, you were until today.” He chuckled,
released her, went to his desk, picked up the DVSL’s remote, and
turned toward the large screen. “Now, you wanted to know about
Shifters.”

Erynn faced the DVSL. The scene quickly
scanned through myriad views of the base, settling on the split
screen of tunnels, changing to another set of corridors, and then
another. “Do you think Dhoran is back?” Her voice was low.

Cale glanced at her. “What did Zander tell
you about Dhoran?”

Her brow knitted. She nodded and pursed her
lips. “He told me that hundreds of years ago, Dhoran was born to a
parent from the surface and a parent from the underworld of
Arranon. Dhoran was powerful because of his mixed parentage, like
the children born with a blended heritage from Korin and Arranon.”
Erynn took in a breath. “Dhoran convinced the underworld, and some
from the surface, to fight for him. He wanted to rule all of
Arranon.” She glanced at Cale.

He sat on the edge of his desk, watching her.
“Go on.”

“Arranon didn’t want the war between the
realms. She showed those fighting against Dhoran more of her magic,
aiding them. Dhoran was eventually driven underground, his army
depleted and crushed.” She paused. “Zander didn’t think Dhoran’s
evil could die. What do you think?”

“It would take a lot to bring him back. Was
the alien invasion enough?” Cale shook his head and shrugged. “I
don’t know. Just because Shifters are coming into the open, doesn’t
mean it’s at Dhoran’s orders. It’s like any other rare life form on
Arranon. Occasionally they will be sighted.”

“Why are they called Shifters?” Erynn had a
good idea why, but she needed to hear it from Cale.

He stared at her for a long moment. “Shifters
have the ability to take on the form of other creatures, even
humans, for short periods. They seduce their prey with promises, a
comforting appearance, and a calming sense of reassurance before
they kill.”

Erynn tipped her head. “Short periods? Then
why can’t the victims escape them?”

“It’s long enough,” Cale stated in an exhaled
breath and stood up. “Once a Shifter begins his deception, the
quarry becomes hypnotized. When the Shifter does reveal his true
form, the victim is in a trance, unable to break free.”

“I only saw black human shapes, tall and
thin. Nothing else. I heard no sounds. Felt nothing but
uncomfortable
around them.” Erynn watched the changing view
on the monitor and shivered.

“Maybe your presence startled them. They were
more curious about you.” Cale also stared at the DVSL, the split
screen of warrens and tunnels changed. “It’s odd. Besides Zander,
you’re the only human I know of that’s ever seen a Shifter and
lived to tell anyone.”

“Yeah, well, I hope I never see another one.
If it hadn’t been for the maejen coming for me and taking me to
safety, I’m sure the Shifters would have grown bold, their
curiosity changing to something much worse.”

Cale watched her, an expression of wonder in
his eyes. “This connection you have with the animals. It’s
amazing.”

Erynn frowned. “If no one lived to share an
experience, how do you know these things about Shifters?”

Cale shrugged. “Ancient writings. Tales
passed down through the generations.”

Her stomach rumbled.

A smile spread to his blue eyes. “How long
has it been since you’ve eaten?”

She brushed at the material over her stomach.
“Ummm, yesterday evening, a protein bar and some water.” She
grinned. “They may be complete nutrition, but I don’t want to eat
them if I don’t have to.”

“Go to the dining hall. Then get some
rest.”

Erynn’s brow drew together. “I need to find
Jaer first. I want to apologize to him.”

Cale put his hand on her lower back and
pushed her gently toward the door. “Jaer’s down in the lowest
tunnels, testing the security of our perimeter. You can’t go down
there. Jaer wants no one in the area while he and his people are on
patrol. It’s too dangerous.” Cale stopped before the door. “Jaer
takes the security of this base seriously. His need to protect you
is personal. Go eat. Jaer’s over being angry with you. He can’t
stay mad at you for long.” He chuckled.

Erynn’s head jerked toward the hall. “So
what’s with Zach, my guard?”

Cale’s eyes narrowed, his smile gone.
“Protecting, not guarding. Give us this one small concession,
Erynn.”

Erynn nodded and felt the corners of her
mouth turn up a bit. She stepped through the door. “Come on, Zach.
Hope you’re hungry. We’re going to the dining hall.”

Zach remained in the common room, giving
Erynn her space, but making sure she was aware of his constant
presence. In her quarters, she watched the world outside the base
on the DVSL. The sky darkened as night approached. Snow fell. Large
flakes raced sideways when the wind gusted.

According to Cale, Jaer was no longer angry
with her, but she hadn’t heard from him since his reprimand in the
transport bay.

Exhaustion won as the day outside succumbed
to night. Erynn crawled under thick covers, asleep before the next
gust slammed against the mountainside.

More disturbing dreams haunted her sleep,
only this time the shadowy beings moved closer.

Deformed faces with wide black eyes and
mouths full of pointed teeth took shape out of the gloom. They
danced and writhed around a raised stone alter. A large form slowly
came to a sitting position on the dais. His face in shadow turned
to her
.

Erynn sat up and gasped, wide awake.

Jaer stepped through the door, sliding it
shut behind him. The dim light from the corridor briefly cast a
faint radiance around him. “I did not mean to startle you.” He sat
on the edge of her bunk and pulled her into his arms.

“Jaer.” She nestled against him, breathed in
his spicy scent, took comfort in his closeness.

He stiffened, relaxed, and drew her closer.
“You were dreaming. What was it?”

“Nothing. Cale and I talked about Dhoran
today, about the Shifters. They were on my mind and I dreamed about
them. That’s all.”

“Are you sure?”

Jaer understood that her dreams were often
more than what most people experienced. Sometimes they were visions
or predictions of the future.

Erynn glanced up in the dark. She reached
out, grasped the back of his neck, and pulled his face close. “I’m
sure.” She found his mouth with hers.

“Come back to my quarters. Sleep with me
tonight.” His lips curved in a smile. “It has been a long time
since you stayed with me. I need to hold you, know you are
close.”

“Let me get my boots and coat.”

“No. I will carry you.” He wrapped her in the
blanket and scooped her off the bed.

Erynn laughed quietly as he sidestepped
through the door and into the quarters next to hers.

He set her gently on the bed. “I will be
right back.” He disappeared into the washroom.

She was still on the edge of the bed when he
came out wearing warm, baggy sleeping pants and turned off the
light.

He slipped onto the bed behind her and
propped himself up on his elbow. “Light, dim,” he called softly,
and a globe above the head of the bunk glowed with a faint
radiance.

Erynn turned her face to him. His bare chest
radiated heat, muscles bunching under his smooth skin. “I thought
you wanted to sleep.” She reached out and ran her fingers against
the silky texture of him.

He smiled and patted the bed with the flat of
his hand. “I do.”

She snuggled in next to him, still wrapped in
the blanket, her head rested on her hand, elbow bent. She frowned.
“Do you want…” She bit her lower lip. “I mean…don’t you—”

He put a finger against her lips, tracing
their outline. “When the time is right, we will both know.” He
rolled to his back, reached a powerful arm around her, and pulled
her against him. “Light, out.” The room went dark. “There is no
hurry, Erynn. I do desire you, very much. I want to have that
special bond between us, but I can wait.” He chuckled. “As I told
Cale once, my experience with women before you never included love.
I want you to understand that what we have is…true. The real
thing.” His breathing became soft and slow.

A peaceful sleep surrounded them—his, and
hers. Erynn floated in Jaer’s arms, and he was safely wrapped in
hers. Breathing in time with him, their heartbeats were in harmony,
as one. His heat was hers and her warmth his. Their two souls
combined, joined. Where one stopped and the other began was
impossible to determine.

Erynn sat up, pulling out of Jaer’s sleeping
embrace, and screamed, “Noooo!” She leapt out of bed, tripped over
the desk chair, and hit the wall next to the door with a crash.

Jaer was there, catching her as she rebounded
off the hard stone surface. She slid to the floor cradled in his
arms. His voice shook. “Erynn, what is wrong? Lights!” he
shouted.

His face swam out of focus. The salty,
coppery taste of blood contacted her tongue. She frowned, trying to
force clarity.
Concentrate
! her mind shrieked.

There was something. Something important.
I need to remember. To warn Jaer
.

The fog in her brain cleared, and she
struggled to stand. “It’s happening again. An attack. The Shifter
is back.”

Jaer picked her up and laid her on the bunk.
“Stay down. You are injured.”

She sat up and wiped at her nose. Blood
covered the tips of her fingers. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Jaer pushed on her forehead, forcing her back
down. He tapped his computer. “Contact all teams. Sweep the
tunnels. Check for intruders.” He rushed to the washroom and
returned, slipping into his tunic. Jaer held a moist cloth in one
hand. He pressed the cool compress to Erynn’s nose and lip.

She took the cloth, held it tight to staunch
the bleeding, and sat up again, tucking her legs under her.

“Do you know where?” Pulling pants over his
sleepwear, Jaer reached for boots.

“There are large crates stacked along one
wall.” She squeezed her eyes shut, took in a deep breath, let it
out slowly, and stared up at Jaer. “Not in the tunnels. It’s the
back of the transport bay.”

Jaer stepped to the computer and tapped.
“Aven, take a team to the transport bay. I will meet you
there.”

Erynn climbed off the bed still holding the
bloody cloth tight to her lip. The stone floor was cold under her
bare feet. “I’ll get dressed, go with you.”

Jaer spun to her. “You are staying here.” He
took her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. He guided her
back to the bed, helping her to sit. “Maybe Zach should take you to
the Medical Unit.” He was out the door and gone before she could
respond.