Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora Series Book 1) (15 page)

“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings today.” His quiet voice barely reached her ears.

She locked her fingers with his, murmuring, “It’s all right, really. I’m confused and emotional right now.”

“You have just cause to feel that way. I can learn to be more sensitive, if you’ll be patient with me.”

Her residual anger melted at his sincere tone and sweet intent. She leaned her head against his shoulder until she noticed her uncle’s glare.

“Hi, Uncle Charles.” She stiffened, lifting her head. “Did you have a good ride this morning? How did Gwendolyn behave with Grandmother?” Luckily, her distracting question seemed effective, as his scowl disappeared.

“Your grandmother had no trouble making Gwendolyn perform. She’s got a way with horses, for sure—didn’t even use a bridle.”

“That’s simply the way of things in Laegenshire, but I could easily get used to the way of things here. Pushing a toggle to get water—it’s wonderful.” Raelene lifted the glass in her hand, taking a long swallow.

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like. We’ve got plenty of room.” Uncle Charles lowered his voice, bestowing a warm smile.

“Thank you, Charles. You’re so generous.” Her cheeks flushed.

“I feel like I have more energy than I thought.” Kaevin squeezed Alora’s hand.

“Me too. I’ve kind of gotten a second wind. Do you want to go to the dance after supper?”

“Certainly.” His dimples flashed as he winked. “You can teach me the Cotton-Eyed Joe.”

“Why have yo
u
returned so early?” Vindrake demanded. “You should be miles from here.”

“Yes, Master Vindrake.” The short man shuffled from one foot to the other, staring at his feet. “But we’ve heard something that seemed too important to wait. A man told us Graely had been through his shire yesterday afternoon inquiring about a girl of fifteen years.”

Abbadon observed the interchange with interest, always alert for an opportunity to promote himself to his unpredictable master and guard against his ire. In recent times, he’d grown increasingly short-tempered, apt to kill anyone who displeased him without a second thought. No one wished to be the bearer of bad news to the master of Water Clan.

“So... it is as I feared. Graely must know about Lena, and now he is searching for her as well.” Vindrake’s jaw muscles bulged as he clenched his teeth.

“But … there is more, Sire.”

“What more? Don’t waste my time. Out with it.”

“The man reported seeing a young girl of about that age riding fast and alone on a white horse some half-day behind Graely’s party. She was wearing a green cloak. He assumed this was the girl Graely had been searching for.”

Vindrake released a string of curses. “How has Graely managed to draw the girl to him?”

“If I may, Sire,” Abaddon said, “Graely has merely done our work for us. We need only take the girl from him while they are on the road.”

“I fully intend to take Lena from Graely. We will follow and strike when this vile potion has run its course,” declared Vindrake. “We will need our gifts.”

Abaddon fought against a growing dread. His prosperity, and perhaps his life, hinged on the success of his potion. He had to convince Vindrake the bloodbond mask was essential for Lena’s capture.

“But Sire,” Abaddon reasoned. “This can be accomplished easily while we are masked. Graely’s men won’t sense the bondmark, so he won’t be on alert. Two men can walk into the center of camp on pretense of hunger. When they locate Lena, they simply put a knife to her throat and walk away with her. Graely wouldn’t risk her life by attacking them.”

“And Graely? You suggest I miss my opportunity to kill him?”

“On the contrary, I believe you should kill him when he comes to retrieve the girl, after the potion’s effect is gone and we have regained our gifts.”

“Yes.... Yes, this could work,” said Vindrake with increasing excitement. “Lena must have reached him by now. There is no need to chase after them. We can simply wait for Graely to return on the road to Laegenshire while the potion wears off.”

“However, Graely might not return to Laegenshire with Lena. He might attempt to hide her farther away from you. Perhaps you should send some men after Graely’s group to ensure our success.”

“No, he will want to train Lena to use her gift. Only Raelene can teach her, and we know Raelene is still in Laegenshire.” He rubbed his hands together. “They will return with her, and we will be waiting.”

“Still, it can’t hurt to send four men to chase them. If they find Graely’s party is returning this way, they can merely allow them to pass to us. But Lena is too valuable to risk losing should Graely not behave as anticipated.”

“Very well,” Vindrake agreed with an impatient wave of his hand. “Make the needed arrangements to send a small party after them.” His black pupils dilated, almost covering the dark blue of his eyes. “Soon I will have Lena in my grasp.”

*****

“Are you sure they’ll let Kaevin into the school dance?” Alora asked Beth, glancing at the teachers standing by the entrance.

“Just let me handle it. Mrs. Parker is manning the door, and she and I are like this.” She held up two fingers and crossed them. “I bring her chocolate chip cookies about every other week, so she loves me.”

“I need to try that trick with Mrs. Bennington. I’m doing terrible in Pre-Calculus.” Wesley laughed.

“What’s chocolate chip cookies?” asked Kaevin.

“Kaevin, you poor deprived boy. You’ve never had chocolate chip cookies? I’m going to make you some, I promise.”

“And Beth’s are the best. You haven’t lived until you’ve had her chocolate chip cookies,” Alora declared.

True to her promise, Beth finagled Kaevin’s entrance to the school dance. They stashed their coats, and Wesley wandered to the refreshment table with Kaevin in tow.

“Don’t look now,” Beth whispered to Alora, “but Shanna Wallace is checking Kaevin out. I guess she’s tired of Justin and ready for a new challenge.”

Alora felt a surge of irritation at Shanna’s blatant appraisal of Kaevin. The insipid girl even nudged several of her cheerleader friends who joined her in ogling him. Had he noticed her assessment? He seemed oblivious, talking and laughing with Wesley, sampling the snacks. She had to admit, he looked good. The muscles on his broad shoulders were trying to burst out of his shirt. His long hair somehow suited him, framing his strong square jaw and emphasizing those amazing green eyes. As if he felt her gaze, he turned his head toward her and gave her a devastating smile, displaying a set of adorable deep dimples.

She’d only known him for a week, and she was already obsessed with him. Maybe her grandmother was right. Maybe they weren’t soulmates, as Kaevin had insisted. Maybe she was just head over heels in love with him. Or was it infatuation? Her grandmother had called it “young love.” Well, whatever it was she was feeling, it came with a healthy dose of possessiveness, because she was about ready to sock Shanna Wallace in the jaw. Shanna and her friends surrounded the two boys, and Shanna flirted with him, using exaggerated laughter to
accidentally
brush against him.

“Well, don’t just stand there,” Beth teased. “Do something.”

She blinked, and Kaevin was standing beside her. His surprised expression changed to a grin. “If you’d called my name, I would’ve come of my own accord.”

Shanna and her cronies were staring, slack-jawed.

“I didn’t actually mean to do that.”

Beth laughed so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. “
Oh
.
My
.
Gosh
. I wish I’d had a camera to snap a picture of Shanna’s face.”

Wesley joined them, hiding his smile behind his hand. “I think Shanna would probably rather know you snatched him magically away instead of thinking he left of his own free will. Nobody’s ever walked away from Shanna Wallace.”

“I’m sorry.” She tried to hide her heated face. “I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t think I was the jealous type.”

Kaevin put his arm around her waist. “I plan to be jealous if the need arises.”

“No worries. No one’s going to be flirting with me. Guys don’t like me. I guess I’m too tall and awkward.”

“Is that really what you think?” Wesley frowned. “Plenty of guys like you. You just don’t ever talk to any of us. I only got the courage to come to your house this week because Beth talked me into it.”

“I don’t believe you.”
Alora knew it couldn’t be true. Not a single guy had ever asked her out.

“Alora, you can be so dense. I don’t know how we can hang around each other all the time and be so different.” Beth grabbed Kaevin’s hand. “Let me borrow Kaevin for one dance, to teach him how to two-step. Don’t get mad and send me to the middle of the lake or something.”

“I won’t. I promise.” She stood beside Wesley in uncomfortable silence. “Ahem. Why did you say that… about guys liking me?”

“Why wouldn’t guys like you? Except you refuse to give any guy the time of day. Beth had to convince me you weren’t a total snob.”

“A snob? You thought I was a snob? I’m just shy, that’s all. I’m nobody—why would I be snobby?”

“Don’t get mad at me. I know you’re not snobby now. But it’s too late anyway, since you have a
soulmate
now.” He rolled his eyes before surveying the dance floor and offering his hand. “Wanna dance?”

“I’m not very good, and I’ll probably step on your feet.” She let him drag her onto the smooth polished wood.

“I’m not worried—I’ve got boots to protect my feet.” They joined the myriad couples moving and swirling in rhythm. “I just hope Kaevin doesn’t decide to punch me out.”

“I think he trusts you. Oops—sorry!” she said, missing a step.

He ignored her clumsiness. “Kaevin’s a good guy and fantastic with a bow. He almost beat me on the targets. He says he wants me to meet his friend Jireo and Jireo’s sister, because they’re both even better than he is.”

“Maybe when I get better at transporting, I can bring them here for a visit. Oops—sorry again.”

“No problem. We’re leaving really early tomorrow to go hunting. But don’t worry, I’ll have him home shortly after dark so you guys can hold hands again.” One side of his mouth lifted in a half smile.

“I’ll expect to see you before curfew, or you’ll be grounded.” She poured on the sarcasm. But in her distraction, she stepped on his foot again.

“Ow!”

“I’m sorry! I’m hopeless!”

“No, it’s my fault. I forgot to keep my feet out of the way.”

The music ended, and Wesley made his escape. “I want Kaevin to meet some of my buddies. We’ll be back.” He snagged Kaevin and shuffled him across the room to a table full of guys.

“I guess you won’t feel you need to snatch him back from
that
group,” said Beth. “He’s a really good dancer. You’ll have fun dancing with him. I gave him a quick polka lesson, too.”

“He needs to be a good dancer, because I’m terrible.”

“He shouldn’t be here at all,” said a snide voice behind them. Shanna Wallace stood glaring with her arms crossed, backed by her entourage. “He’s not a student here, so he’s not allowed to come to a school dance.”

“Mrs. Parker gave him permission,” said Beth. “He’s my cousin.”

“Your cousin? I guess that’s why he can’t afford a haircut,” sneered Shanna.

“But I like his long hair—” Her friend snapped her mouth shut at Shanna’s sharp scowl.

“My father’s on the school board, so he can hire and fire Mrs. Parker. We’ll see what she says after he speaks to her on the phone.”

Wesley and Kaevin returned with some of Wesley’s guy friends in tow.

“Hey, Shanna,” said a boy who stood almost as tall as Kaevin and even broader in the shoulders.

“Hi, Justin,” said Shanna, giggling. “I... I uhmm... didn’t know you were coming tonight. I thought you were getting your wisdom teeth out.”

“That’s next week,” he said. “Did you meet Kaevin? He’s cool! He can ride without a saddle or a bridle, and shoot a bow at the same time. He’s gonna show us how next week.”

“Oh... that’s great, Justin. Uhmm...”

“Shanna was just explaining to us how she wanted her dad to get Kaevin kicked out of the dance,” said Beth.

“Why would you want to do that?” Justin frowned.

“I was just kidding,” said Shanna. “Let’s go dance, Justin.” She tugged him onto the dance floor, throwing a scathing look over her shoulder at Beth.

“If she was the Wicked Witch of the West, I think she’d be setting you on fire right now,” Wesley joked to Beth.

“What do you mean, ‘If she was’? There can’t really be any doubt, can there?” Beth and Wesley pealed in laughter, and Alora couldn’t help joining in, forgetting her tension at Shanna’s aggression. She laughed even harder when Beth tried to explain to Kaevin who the Wicked Witch of the West was.

“Come, Alora. Dance with me.” Kaevin begged.

She let him drag her onto the dance floor, ready to make a fool of herself.
He’s going to hate me when he finds out what a terrible dancer I am.
While the other couples were dancing close together, in a polish-your-belt-buckle position, Kaevin held her in a formal dance pose, like the dancing couples in
Pride and Prejudice.
Within seconds, she tripped over her own foot and lost her balance, landing hard on his toes. Kaevin held her up, never missing a step.

“Lucky for you, I didn’t find out you couldn’t dance before I fell in love with you.” His eyes twinkled as he laughed.

“Lucky for you, I didn’t know you were so mean when I fell in love with
you
.” The teasing words slipped from her mouth with ease, but she felt a bit silly saying them.
Am I really in love? I like him a lot, and I feel all giddy around him. He did risk his life trying to save me when I broke through the ice on the lake. But do I really love him? I’ve always scoffed at the movies where people fell in love at first sight.

She stumbled again, and was mortified when she realized how many people were watching them. Of course, in a small school, everyone was curious about the “new” guy. Especially since the new guy was super hot.

“Kaevin.” She stood on tiptoes and leaned forward to whisper. “I can’t dance while everyone is staring at us. It’s embarrassing.”

Kaevin’s eyes never left hers. “Let them stare. They’re simply jealous because my dance partner is the most beautiful girl present.”