Chaos Burning (21 page)

“But he’s back now. And Lark has something important to tell us as well. We’ll take the food and drink in my chambers, please.” Cross kissed his wife’s hand and she blushed.

Simon managed to make his way over.
“Mameri!”
He swooped in and hugged Tila tight as she laughed and clearly loved him right back.

“Darling, you’re here. I should scold you for being gone so very long. But as you’re here, I won’t.”

He kissed her cheeks and turned to Lark. “I’ve brought Lark with me. Isn’t that a point in my favor?”

Tila looked back at Lark and then smiled up at her son. “I do like your little bird, yes. Maybe she’ll get you back here more often, mm?”

Simon blushed. “Perhaps. It might take some work though. Maybe it would help if you made venison dumplings?”

Lark burst out laughing though her stomach was tight at all the importance they seemed to place on her being there with Simon. “You’re shameless.”

“When it comes to
Mameri’s
dumplings, I really am.”
Mameri
was an affectionate term for mother, she knew and clearly this woman was all that and more to the group in the house.

“I was worried my brothers might have tossed you over a shoulder and run with you for the hills.” He winked and she shook her head.

“My boys have all brought home females with some spark. They like it. I have no idea why.” Tila’s mouth twitched and then let go into a smile.

“I’ve never seen that color in hair before. Were you born with it? Is it a spell?”

“This is my youngest sister Sarayah.” Simon looked back to her, affection all over his features. “We’ve got to meet right now with Papa. You can quiz Lark on her hair color when we get out.”

The girl who looked like a teenager clearly adored her brother and nodded. “Promise?”

Simon nodded. “I do.”

“You’re staying the night at least, yes?”

“Yes, but then we have to get back. Things are happening and Lark has to take care of them.”

She loved that he said that and some of her anxiety eased as he got back to the subject of this visit. He recognized and respected her job. Which was sexier than his naked back and that said a lot.

“Come on.” Simon put an arm around her shoulders and led her after his father and brothers up a beautiful wooden staircase and down a long hall. “His chambers are here. As the Alpha, this is where he does his business. My brothers have chambers up here too.”

As they got settled at a table in the corner, the wall of windows looking out over the lake and woods, Tila and a few others brought in drinks and snacks. Whatever it was it smelled so good her stomach growled and she had to force herself to just put a few on her plate and not eat the entire platter.

“May I ward this space?” she asked Cross when she’d finished chewing that first quick bite.

“We’re safe. None would dare attempt to attack. Warriors are legion and all within easy distance to repel any violence.”

“Not this kind of attack. I need to ward against any sound leaving this room. What I have to tell you is very sensitive.”

Simon’s oldest brother frowned but nodded his head. Cross indicated she continue with a flick of his wrist.

And they all watched as she worked so she shoved it out of her mind and did what came naturally.

Simon admired her when she worked her magick, but it was stunning to see how much his father and brothers seemed moved by her as well. Magick swirled around her like dust motes, glittering on the breeze she made. Her eyes were open but her gaze was on something far away. Her hands danced as she spoke under her breath. The feel of the wards locking and knitting together went up his spine.

When she finished, she turned and nodded, all business. But he couldn’t help but smile as she took her seat again right next to his.

“What have you heard about a being called the Magister?”

Chapter 17

SHE
found herself standing in a building that had to easily be ten thousand square feet, with a ceiling that vaulted up three stories. The place was filled with Lycian warriors, including Simon, who all stood facing Cross Leviathan. Each warrior wore nothing more than some tiny shorts. Many had very long hair with warrior braids at the temples. The women also wore the shorts but had a shirt of sorts as well. Though she’d seen a lot of casual nudity since they’d arrived some hours before, she understood this was as much about the ritual as the actual use of the clothing, which they’d shed when they took on their beast anyway.

“A very long time ago, back when I was very young, my grandsire told me about a threat on the wind. A dark storm gathering in the land of the Fae. This storm was attempting to break free and roil into the worlds we all inhabit on this side of the Veil. This storm killed thousands of Fae, rolled over the land and nothing existed in its wake. We don’t know how this storm was stopped, but one day it was simply gone. And the Fae it took never returned.”

The hair on her arms stood as the growls
began to rise, rumbling through the building, vibrating straight to her gut.

“This threat has returned. Only this time it’s on Earth and is working with outlaws who’ve begun to attack and kill Others on that plane. Seymeon has come to us with his
ne’est
to warn us, to see us prepared should the Magister break through the Veil and return once more. It will want to steal our magick, the essence of our beings. WE ARE LYCIANS!” He thundered this and it echoed up and up, booming from the walls as the warriors assembled howled in assent. “We are no one’s prey. We will be prepared, won’t we, Warriors?”

The entire room shook right down the foundations when the two thousand warriors shouted their assent to this question. Lark watched, utterly speechless and impressed by the way they reacted in unison. So much discipline.

Watching Simon do this, watching him as a warrior made her tingly right down to her toes. It wasn’t that she didn’t know he was a badass. Hello, she could still remember the way he’d cocked that giant fist and taken down her attacker with one blow. But this was different. This was Seymeon the Lycian, Seymeon the prince. It was unbelievably hot and appealed to her on so many levels it was totally disconcerting.

He was totally unexpected but everything she’d ever wanted. Honor. Decency. Strength. Integrity. All in a very hot, hard, muscled package in tiny shorts.

She was in big trouble.

“ARE
you full? Would you like more food?” One of Simon’s sisters paused to check in on her. The room was full of people. At least two hundred sat at tables that ran the length of the space. The noise was nearly deafening, which was all right as she had a lot of stuff to think about and she didn’t really have to talk if everyone else was.

“I’m so full I might explode. I knew I should have worn a skirt today.”

Simon’s sister, um, Sarayah, yes, that was her name, laughed and sat, shoving Simon over. He barely noticed as he was telling some story to his brothers and laughing uproariously.

“You can unbutton the pants. No one will care.”

“Simon and I only started, um, seeing each other, whatever you call it. I can’t go getting lazy yet.”

“Seeing each other? He’s marked you. He called you
ne’est
in front of everyone.”

“Marked? Ne’est?”
That had been the word he’d used with his father earlier. “What does it mean?”

Sarayah smiled, all mystery and coyness. “He didn’t tell you?” She shook her head. “Males are always surprising me with the things they do. Ne’est means key. You’re his key.”

“Key?”

“Yes, as in lock and key? It’s an ancient Lycian term for, um…” She thought a moment, clearly searching for the right term. “Like a chosen one. He’s marked you by holding you out as his woman in public. He’s been preening around since you arrived. He even growled at one of our cousins who stared at you too long. Can’t say I’ve ever seen him this way over anything before. Not even a weapon.”

This made Lark laugh. “I can see the other females here. Why would he choose me instead of one of them?”

“He is a Lycian warrior-class male. I’ve heard them talking about you. You’re a warrior too. You have calluses on your skin from holding a weapon. Scars from battle. This is irresistible for a male like my brother. It’s really one of the best things about being Lycian. After you showed Pere and my father your sidearm earlier I’m certain every male in this pack has a crush on you. They prize viciousness, self-reliance and skill with weapons. This means you can protect your family. Though I probably don’t have to warn you that Lycian males are incredibly bossy and will try to push you to do what they want if for no other reason than that they believe they’re right. Takes a fierce female to keep a Lycian male and children in line.”

Lark knew she blushed but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Lycians were remarkably blunt. Which took a little getting used to as Simon was far smoother when they were in Seattle. But she liked it. Liked knowing where she stood without any confusion.

“Well. Okay. I guess. I don’t really… I’ve only known him a short time. I… this is more than I can…”

Sarayah patted her hand. “It’s all right. I know we’re a little overwhelming. But I’m glad to meet you anyway.”

“Don’t you guys have you know, non-warriors? And if so, can they unbutton after a huge pig-out?”

Again the laugh. “You fit in here just fine. Yes. My mother is a healer. We’ve got teachers and mechanics and all that stuff. But everyone, and I mean
everyone
is trained. That’s how you protect the pack. If we’re attacked, we all respond. There is no hiding the women and children. This is pack; we all protect it to the best of our ability.”

Which made sense and she felt even better for putting together the block watch program back in Seattle. Get the witches of all stripes involved in their own protection.

“Interesting. And cool. It makes total sense to me. That way you’re giving people the tools to provide for themselves, even their own defense.”

“Each of us has our own skills and gifts, as well as our own weaknesses. If we all work together, we can fill in those spaces where others might lack and they do the same to us.”

Yes, that was community.

“This is what I’d like to bring to the witches. Preparedness.”

“I think you can.”

She wondered if that was so and realized she’d never worried about failing before. But of course world-ending stuff didn’t happen in her life on a regular basis. By this token, the random violence in L.A. seemed a sad parody of what she faced just then. The stakes were not just higher, they were monumental. And she had no idea if she could stop it.

She needed the why, damn it.

Simon leaned around his sister, leaning on her as he looked to Lark. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “Yes, yes. Just thinking about work. Your sister was going to tell me stories about you as a young male.”

Sarayah laughed gaily. “Oh, let’s do.”

Simon got a look. “Let’s not.”

“Uh oh, he thinks I don’t know that he most likely nailed three-fourths of the women here he’s not related to. As if I have no ability to watch and see how females react.”

His sister thought this was uproariously funny but
Simon didn’t want Lark spooked. Well, any more than she already was. He caught the wariness in her gaze, even as she clearly enjoyed herself with his family. Yes, yes, he probably had nailed quite a few of the females in this very room, but none of them expected more than a few nights of passion and they all certainly understood what his father told them when he purposely referred to Lark as his
ne’est
. He hadn’t really been expecting that. But Cross Leviathan did nothing without a reason. He underlined Lark’s importance and her connection to their pack as well as to the Leviathan family. She was theirs.

She most likely had no idea of this. He’d skirted the subject when she asked him earlier when he’d told his father what she was to him. But she was bright and sharp and he knew once she got him alone she’d ask. Or worse, get sick of waiting and ask Sarayah instead. And while he loved his baby sister and knew she’d never say or do anything to harm Lark, he wanted to tell her himself.

“Go back to your family. I promise not to ask to see photographs of you learning how to use the potty or anything.” She winked and it made him laugh.

“I’ve eaten so much I think I need a walk. The torches on the paths are all lit. Would you like to see the lake?”

Her eyes lit with the same excitement she’d shown over many things in his world. He liked it a lot that she reacted this way. Seeing it through her eyes had also brought home to him just how much he’d missed visiting. How much he’d missed his parents and family. How much he wanted her to be part of this aspect of his life as well.

“I don’t want to take you away from your family. We can go for a walk any time.”

Sarayah got up. “You’ll want to see the path. It’s really pretty. And believe me, there’ll still be a hundred people here six hours from now. Plenty of family to see when you return.”

He sent his sister a grateful look and she melted off to another group, leaving him free to sidle closer to Lark. He liked the way her lids dropped just a bit and the speed of her pulse. “You know I can hear your heart beat faster when I get close to you.”

She licked her lips. “My heart likes you.”

“I like that compliment.” And he did. “Walk with me. Let me show you my favorite places.”

She allowed him to help her to stand and then he folded her into his side as they walked through the doors out onto the expansive lawns between the house and the lake just beyond.

As he’d said, torches lit the path ringing the lake. Lighting the way home for the rest of his family and the other pack who lived nearby. A signal to anyone around that Leviathan watched over this place and would brook no incursion upon it.

“Wow.”

He took her hand and they began to walk. He should have known she wouldn’t be the strolling type. She walked as fast here as she did back on Earth.

“This is so beautiful. I love the reflection of the flame against the water. The moon in the center. Gorgeous. Like a painting.”