TheHealers (22 page)

“You really have lost your mind, haven’t you? If anyone tells Alexander about this he will definitely kick your ass until you’re thinking clearly again.” My eyes skidded along all of the somewhat familiar faces that were trying not to stare at us, unsuccessfully. I quickly picked myself off of Madden and pulled my knees up from the grass in their straddling position. I was grateful for the dry ground, since I was not a fan of wet grass or dirt. My hand decided against offering him help up this time. Fool me once and all that.

Madden pulled his body up next to mine and we continued off toward the tables.

“I’m willing to take that risk, Layna. Alexander doesn’t scare me. Besides, I’m a lot more worried about you.” Malachite and emeralds swirled around in his eyes as Madden locked his gaze on me.

We had made it to the café now and my stomach rumbled in hunger. The scent of the grilled sandwiches coming from the kitchen wafted over my nose and soon my tongue shot out over my lips while I joined the line. There were only about five people ahead of us, but it was enough for me to realize we might be waiting for a few minutes. I looked toward the patio that sat in between the river and the Guard building and realized it was worth the wait. I didn’t want to have this discussion now with Madden, but maybe if we whispered no one would pay any attention to us.

“Why would you be worried about me? I’m pretty good at taking care of myself
—
in fact, that’s what I’ve been doing while you have been hanging out here with Guards all around you.” The words escaped my lips in a tone that was just a notch below normal speaking level. Plus, the other people in here were engaged in their own conversations, so they wouldn’t be focused on us, right? I shifted my bag to my left side to shield us a little from the others since Madden stood on my right.

“Why do you think you’re learning to fight?” An arrogant question. It sounded as though he knew the answer before asking. His eyes burned as they looked at me. Not in a fearful to me way, but in a protective way. Interesting.

“For my safety.” I wondered what he was going to say next.

“Why would you need to protect yourself if you have a Guard? I think they’re planning something. Something that’s going to leave you alone.” His words caused a slight bubbly feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“It was my idea to learn to fight.” It was, wasn’t it? My mind tried to focus on the conversation Alexander and I had about it, but just then it was my turn to order.

As we both made it through the assembly line, his words continued to bite through my mind. Alone. Madden had no idea what kind of emotions that one word invoked into me. I started off in the world with a family and then quickly, they left me alone. Then I built up a group of friends that were my family and being a Healer robbed me of them. Now, Madden was telling me that they were preparing me for something that would rip me away from my new family. Suddenly the hunger in my stomach was forgotten with all the new acid that spilled through my body.

My feet stumbled a little as I almost missed the table with my tray.

“Layna, it’s going to be okay. You’re not going anywhere.” His hand shot out to grab my tray with one hand and the other hand tightened around my waist to guide me into the chair. I was suddenly surrounded by a comforting embrace. It was then I realized Madden had soothed me with his healing gifts.

“Madden, don’t do that to me. I don’t need it. And you’re wrong about the other thing. I need to learn to fight. It’s for me.” I reached over to grab my sandwich and take a huge bite. Just to prove how unaffected I was by this conversation that was not real.

“Please just be careful, Layna. I don’t want to lose you.” His hand reached over to caress my cheek. It felt a little tingly and nice. I was a complete lush for human contact. “Just don’t agree to go on any healings yet.” The usual Madden smirk appeared on his face again and I turned around to see Claire coming to join us.

Excitement sparked out of her violet eyes as she announced, “I found it!” Her tall slender body made its way to our table. Claire was a few years younger than me, but we seemed to have a lot in common. In particular, our careers. She had been a school counselor.

“Was the line long?” I noticed she already had her lunch and I could have sworn the line had doubled when Madden and I had gotten our food.

“It wasn’t bad. I was on the phone most of the time so it went by fast.” Her eyes averted my gaze.

“So, how’s James?” The nervousness of her body betrayed the confidence she was trying to call on with her words.

“Good.”

I bet. “Any plans for the weekend?” This got me thinking about me and Alexander for the weekend. Just then my knight in shining armor appeared out of the Guard building. It was hard to not notice the way my heart started pumping at a faster rate. I almost wondered if everyone else could hear it, too. The long black exercise pants he wore brushed up against each other with each stride. My head flooded of thoughts about what lay under his pants. His strong arms were flexing against the shirt stretched over his sculpted chest. That fit body belonged to me. He guarded my body and soul. One word echoed in my head.
Mine
. For a moment I wondered if it came from my thoughts or his.

When he was close enough, I was able to see the dark dravite gaze that demanded my attention. His eyes went smoky in an instant and I knew we both wished for fewer people and less clothes. Smiles touched both of our faces. I tried to sit patient and calm. Playing hard to get was good, right? Then I threw caution out the window. Why hold back? We belonged to each other. My feet pushed against the ground to scoot out my chair and I went at him full speed.

My body pushed firmly against his muscular frame as he caught me mid run. Lips crashed in a closed mouth kiss that had more passion than any tongue action I had ever gotten from any other man.

“I’ve caught you and I’m not letting you get away.” The pun in his words did not lose its meaning on me. I understood.

“I wanted you to catch me. I think I’ve been running towards you my whole life. What took you so long to find me?” My head fell against his chest. That was as far as I could reach without standing up on my tip toes. His hands caressed through the soft strands of hair that cascaded all over his chest. Our bodies stayed that way for a few moments when I realized we should probably go over and join Madden and Claire. I’m sure they just gawked at us from afar, much like the Healers who surrounded us now. The Guards didn’t seem to stare as much. They were more disciplined in their actions, at least it seemed that way in public. I’m not sure if I was accurate in distinguishing the two groups, but I did notice that the Guards were usually geared up in workout clothes.

I leaned back to look up at Alexander and he had a look on his face that reminded me of when I had bad news to tell a patient. That train of thought struck little pinpricks throughout my senses. Guilt, guilt, and more guilt. All the people I had left behind. No, I know I couldn’t save the world, but I was making a difference in their lives. I needed to start healing again.

“Iostus wants you to see Marissa.”

“What for? I saw her today. We waved at each other when I was on my way to class this morning.” It wasn’t that I didn’t like Marissa, but there was something about the way she’d looked at me in Iostus’ office that first day. Guilt and pity were mingled together and I was a little fearful to find out why.

We both stood facing each other now. Alexander wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me closer.

“You know how cute you are when you’re being a smart ass.” Laughter rang out from his lips. “I just can’t resist it. I want to spar with you and kiss you all at the same time.” His warm lips dropped kisses all over my nose and cheeks while I inhaled his scent. It teased my senses with an aroma that was all man. It kissed my whole body until I felt warm and tingly.

“You think I didn’t notice that you still haven’t answered my question.” I attempted to wiggle out of his grasp, but he just held me closer.

“Let’s talk about it later. For right now, I’m going to pretend that I don’t see Madden having lunch with you again. That man has a death wish.”

Chapter Twenty-two

It
was
hard and heavy in my hand. Excitement licked up and down my spine as I rubbed my fingers over it. This was what I had been missing.

The power of a girl and her gun.

Scyrus had brought me to this section of the Conservatory almost as soon as I got here. Self defense necessitated gun practice. Luckily, handling guns had been commonplace for me already. Didn’t everyone in Texas own a gun?

“You like it, don’t you.” Her voice reveled in pride as she saw the drool on my face.

“I’m fucking in love. Don’t tell Alexander, he might get jealous.” I gazed at the dravite colored panel that went down the side and it reminded me of my hunky Guard’s gorgeous eyes.

Everything else on the gun was covered in sleek black. A Baer 1911 S.R.P. I fondled it once more and then turned to Scyrus.

“Let’s shoot.”

I loaded my target sheet on and pressed the button to send it out. Scyrus and I had a bet going. Whoever had the best target sheet would be buying drinks later. I slid over to the cubicle on my right and spoke loudly since we both had already put on our ear protection.

“Just want you to know I’m in the mood for a good bottle of wine.”

“Best you can afford.” She quipped back at me.

With my already loaded pistol in hand, I took aim. A slight tilt downward helped to ease the kick back on this beauty. When I first learned to shoot, I would force down as I pulled the trigger, causing me to shoot my target in the feet every time. If you aimed down to begin with and allowed the gun to move naturally, it gave a better shot. My small fingers grasped the gun well since it held a single stack mag. This made it smaller and easier to conceal.

The trigger is a hard piece of metal to pull on. Accidents don’t happen with guns. It’s damn deliberate when a trigger is pulled. The gun
accidents
that fill our news stories are gun negligence. Big difference.

A hard tug back and the bullets flew at the flimsy paper clipped at the end of the room. The power and control hummed over me with flames. Vengeance over the Hunters channeled into rage.

The anger blinded me, but at the same time, I saw my target perfectly. The anger fed my beast and allowed me to put one large whole in the target. The result of many shots in the same place. I smiled as I looked over to Scyrus’ target. Drinks were on her…

I pulled the glass to my lips and then changed my mind as I lifted it to Scyrus. “Thank you. For the wine and that hot piece of metal that I kicked your ass with.” I sat back in my chair and took a nice long sip. Bold and red. A perfect combination. The garden we sat in provided us with a safe place to get away and drink without going to a bar off of the premises. Alexander had confined my body to the Conservatory after my last adventure with Madden. He feigned it was for my safety, but I believe he wanted to keep me away from any loitering men.

Either way, I stayed.

“How are things with you and Alexander?” Her voice schooled itself with innocence, but I saw the intent in her face.

“Go ahead and ask. What do you want to know?” She had an agenda.

“I noticed you still won’t move in with him. I wondered about that.” The tenderness in her voice showed her care for him. Family looked out for each other.

I grabbed the bottle and refilled my glass.

“You’re kidding, right? I just met him. In the
normal
world, people get to know each other for years before taking that step.” I pushed a stray hair behind my ear and took another sip from my glass.

“We don’t live in the
normal
world, Layna. You two belong to each other. You can pretend to be all tough around everyone else, but I know you. I see the inner struggle.”

Funny how I barely had gotten to know Scyrus and she understood me with more clarity than people who’d known me for years. With the exception of Alexander.

I laughed out loud as a guy walked by unable to keep one foot in front of the other. Scyrus shared a glamorous smile with him and I thought he would drop dead right there in front of our table.

“Hi, I’m Gavin.” He put his hand out to Scyrus. “You must be Scyrus,” then he turned towards me, “And you are definitely Layna.” The green in his eyes shone clearly through the dark. The Garden was full of people sharing drinks and conversation just like us. The darkness made it difficult to see them all, but the hushed voices filled my ears. A sliver of moonlight and subtle night lanterns that hung intermittently provided us with the light we needed.

I noticed another man hovering close to Gavin. Oh hell, why not?

“Would you guys like to join us for a drink?” Daggers started to shoot at me from Scyrus’ eyes. This would curb any more talk of my relationship issues. She knew what I was up to.

“One drink would be great. Maybe you can join us at a party after. We were just on our way.” Gavin and his unnamed friend took the empty seats at our table.

“We wouldn’t want to keep you from your plans.” Sugar poured from Scyrus’ words.