The First Touch (30 page)

Drake
flamed on one of his hands and Ivan turned back to Helen then, “You taped it?”

Helen shrugged, “They kissed during the test.”

Ivan scowled and replied, “You said it was just a little kiss.”

Helen shrugged, “I lied.”

Flanagan replied snidely, “Which is why you deserved it.”

Helen retorted, “I did not deserve that.”

Drake
flamed off and huffed in disagreement. Ivan snapped
, “
Get your things and get out of my room.”

Helen looked hurt
,
as she grabbed her things
, and scurried from the room mumbling
as she left, “I did not deserve it.”

Ivan walked over and scooped
Autumn
off of the floor.

Drake
called out as he left the room
,
his eyes filled with raw emotion again at seeing Ivan holding her, “I’ll let the rest of them know.” Then he walked from the room, thinking,
But
first I am going to get that tape
.
Ivan meanwhile headed towards
Autumn’s
room, Flanagan following closely behind them as Ivan asked softly, “Get her something to eat please.” Flanagan nodded and disappeared, his mind still mulling over the image of Helen’s glowing body.

***

Flora answered the door much in the same way that Helen had earlier, “What is it?”

Drake
said seriously, “There is a problem with
Autumn
we need to talk.”

Flora opened the door further and
Drake
stepped inside, “She has not finished her transformation.”

The large man asked angrily, “What?”

Flora snapped, “Shush Henry.”

Drake
continued, “She hasn’t eaten yet.”

Henry’s eyes widened and he replied, “She hasn’t eaten since she awoke?”
Drake
nodded.

Henry asked, “Does Ivan know?”

Drake
nodded, “Yes, and he is with her now, in her room.”

Henry pushed h
is hands though his thick hair in exasperation
,
while
Flora asked, “Is he all right?”

“Furious.”

Henry snapped then, “Go and tell the others.”

Drake
was about to turn and stopped then he added, “There is more.”

Flora and Henry both said, “What?”

Drake
explained everything that
Autumn
had done to Helen in detail and then finished with, “She was asleep when I left her last.”

Flora’s eyes were wide with disbelief as she said, “She really healed her?”

Drake
nodded, “Then she fell asleep.”

Henry asked, “Like before?”

Drake
frowned, “Not likely, she was snoring.”

“Good news.”

Henry continued frowning, “Inform the others.”

Drake
nodded, and disappeared. Flora spoke then, “I hope they are mates. Otherwise I fear Ivan will not take their separation well.”

Henry continued frowning, “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

Flora seemed surprised by his words, “You really think so?”

Henry replied, “I have never seen a vessel’s power diminish after the first phase was complete.”

Flora replied, “She is special but she could simply be another
council
member in waiting
, what happened during
Isisa
’s transformation?”

Henry replied, “It happened in a matter of days, they never kissed and he died.”

“Then how did she change?”

Henry replied dressing slowly, “She drank from the same cup.”

Flora replied flatly, “So she might not be it then?”

Henry shrugged and then opened the door beckoning his mate out of the room. Flora walked towards him and stopped at the door looking at him incredulously, “You really think that she is
the one
?”

Henry shrugged again, “She reminds me of
Isisa
when she was younger before her mate died.”

Flora replied
,
a little happier, “I am glad then, I like her.” Then she kissed him on his cheek and smiled at his smirk, as they headed for
Autumn’s
room together.

***

Autumn tossed and turned in bed as Ivan pace
d back and forth watching her
sleep, his anxiety building. Flanagan was already sitting in the chair in the corner his eyes watching every flutter of her lids, his feelings similar to Ivan’s
,
although for completely different reasons. His mind flashed over and over again to the images of
Autumn
torturing Helen and then to her healing her. The door opened suddenly and Galen burst in, as Ivan turned and stood protectively in between him and
Autumn
,
growling low. Galen held up his hands and said, “
Drake
explained.” Ivan backed off and stepped aside allowing Galen to get a look at her
, still
sleeping peacefully.

Galen smiled sweetly at her,
“She does not look like an
eye.”

Ivan grumbled, “The jury is still out.”

Galen smiled sarcastically in response, “Yes that would make things so much easier.” Then he perched upon the window ledge
in the room
.

Flanagan spoke up then, “I disagree I hope that she is the eye.” Both men shot Flanagan a look and he shrugged in response. Then he went back to staring at her. The door flung open and Grayton and Serena burst in.

Grayton came and stood next to
Autumn’s
bed looking confused asking, “I thought she was awake?” Serena looked at Ivan for answers and he explained while they hung on
to
his every word. Flanagan gave more details during the final portion when
Autumn
lost her control on Helen.

Grayton asked still looking at
Autumn
sleeping, “Busy girl.”

“Where are the tapes at?” Serena asked.

Ivan replied, “Still in the great hall
, “

“She still has not eaten?” She reiterated.

Ivan frowned, “No she has not woken up yet.”

Grayton looked at
Autumn
obviously pained, “I am going to watch the tapes. If she wakes up send for me.”

Ivan and Flanagan nodded solemnly and Serena looked at Grayton’s stressed face offering, “I will come with you.”

He nodded and left the room still looking pained. Flanagan watched as they left the room and asked, “Grayton has formed a bond as well?”

Ivan nodded hard faced and said, “Sophia was not his mate. I believe that he is hoping
Autumn
will be the next eye, and that she will choose him.”

Flanagan replied surprised, “You’re frightened that he might succeed.” Ivan did not answer he simply stared at
Autumn’s
sleeping face and Flanagan nodded understanding immediately, “You are in love then?” Ivan nodded and Flanagan frowned and then smiled, “You are going to have one hell of a fight on your hands when she
finally changes, no matter
the outcome.”

Ivan nodded, “Yes I know.”

Drake
entered and saw that
Autumn
was still sleeping and eyed
the three men waiting for her to awake. He said nothing as he took a seat in the back corner of the room, where he fished another rock from his pocket and began twirling it slowly
again
. A few minutes later, the door opened again and Henry and Flor
a came in. Both of them observing the
men
,
all gathered in the room
,
watching
Autumn
sleep.

Flora broke into a wide smile and said, “I am not the only one who likes her.” Henry smiled and nodded.

Minutes later
,
a man ca
me in with a large pitch
er
, and glasses. The soft hum of a machine could be heard in the hallway. Glasses were poured and as Ivan absentmindedly took his first sip and she awoke with a start. Ivan was by her side at once. She smiled br
ightly a
nd slid her hand up about to caress his cheek softly when she remembered Helen and stopped
. He continued to stare at her intently,
and
she asked
, “Grayton’s here?”

Ivan nodded and replied, “He and Serena arrived a few minutes ago.”

Autumn frowned listening to the voices in her mi
nd for a moment, “He is hurting…
so Sophia was not for him then?”

Ivan nodded sadly, “Do you wish to see him?”

She whispered, “Yes please.” Ivan did not look at her then as he stood, and lightning fast
Autumn
shot her hand out and grabbed his arm. He stopped and looked at her surprised, “Can you send someone else to
get him I don’t want you to go, if that’s alright.
”

Ivan nodded and smiled weakly, so Galen volunteered, “I will get them.” Then he opened the window and jumped out.

She called after him, “Thank you, Galen.”

Galen smiled, as the wind hit
his
face, his mind told him she was the eye. He knew it then, just as sure as he knew that his feet would not touch the grou
nd. Suddenly he felt safer some
how, and the cold wind felt good on his
face. The window was open and h
e heard as he swooped in, “Grayton now you are being irrational.”

Galen sat on the ledge and said smiling, “
Autumn
is awake and she asked for you.” Grayton nodded and shot Serena a look
,
then huffed righteously before walking from the room.

Mean
while
,
Autumn
sat up in
bed frowning at Ivan
, “
You look awful. When is the last time you ate something?” Ivan looked over at the glass on the nightstand and took a sip as she watched closely licking her dry lips.

He asked concerned, “Are you hungry?”

She nodded, “I am starving; I would love some pizza.” Then she frowned as soon as the words left her mouth, “Oh you probably can’t get that way out here.”

Ivan frowned as well, encouraging her, “You are not perhaps hungry for something else?

Autumn looked at the cup in his hand and took it from him, sniffing it cautiously and made a face, “Ugh that smells awful.”

Flanagan suggested, “Perhaps if you were in your other form?” Autumn looked at Ivan for guidance,
and he nodded his
approval.

She shook her head, “I will try that after I get some real food.” Ivan looked at her apprehensively, and then she asked, “When you are in your other form real food isn’t even appetizing for you?”

Ivan frowned, “It smells alright but it tastes of nothing.”

She
was
upset by this news,
she asked,
“Re
ally?
Nothing?”
Ivan nodded solemnly, and
Autumn
replied, “So then there is no regular food here at all?”

Ivan frowned but answered, “Yes there is...
.”

She cut him off, “Then please bring me something.” Ivan nodded to a man at th
e door
who
disappeared quickly.

Ivan then turned back to
Autumn
who was ru
bbing her temples
, “I want a big glass of water too.” Ivan nodded again and another man disappeared from the door
way
. “And can you please stop whatever is humming in the hall its grating my nerves.” Ivan did not drop his gaze
,
he simply snapped and the machine was pushed down the hall away from the room.

She smiled then, “You should eat
,”
Ivan watched her closely,
then
Autumn added sweetly, “It would make me feel better if you ate.” He nodded and began drinking again. She watched as his eyes changed as he drank and then as he finished her pupils began to dilate. Then she watched as the circles under his eyes bega
n to look better
. She smi
led a toothy grin and then smelled
the food coming up the hallway towards the door.