Enchanter (11 page)

“It was my choice.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Don’t fear the change.” His grip tightened. “This way I can come in an instant should you need me.”

“Aligning our hearts goes deeper than that.”

“It’s done, and it can’t be reversed.”

“No, what you’ve done will only add to your frustration, and mine. In the future you’ll feel—” Heck, he’d feel every acceleration in my heartbeat, because it would be mirrored within his. So not good.

He dipped his head to mine. “I know what I’ll feel, but it’s worth it to know I’ve seen to your safety. You can wield fire, and as your ability grows and you move through your rising, you’ll feel three times its strength. I can’t allow you to go through that alone.”

“I’m never alone, and my rising could be days or even weeks away. The girls’ problem might be solved by then, and us, apart.”

“That’s irrelevant. You are my mate, and if you ever need me, whether now or at any time in the future, I’ll be there.”

“Argh.” I thumped my forehead against his chest. “You’re completely irrational.”

“Yes, it comes with being mated, or so I’m discovering.” He tipped up my chin and his mouth came down on mine. He took my breath away in a scorching kiss then pulled away. “I’ll speak to you later.”

“If I speak to you at all, it’ll be to give you a blasting.” I shoved my shaky hands behind my back. “You’d better leave now before I strangle you.”

His gaze searched mine. “You’ll ’path me if you need me?”

“No.” The last thing I’d ever do was ’path him. I stormed away.

“Then it’s just as well I did what I did.”

“Sure it was.” Huh, men. I crossed the field toward the path leading to the front of the school. Boy, I needed to calm down. I couldn’t let him get to me like this. I inhaled then let out a long breath, hoping it would help. Certainly, the sooner I came up with the answer to the girls’ problem and kicked my mate out of my life, the better.

I flicked my hair over my shoulder and marched on. Some students walked in groups, nattering to each other. Others raced ahead to the locker bays. For five years, I’d attended Te Puke High. I had so many friends here, although Faith was the only one who knew of Magio. I passed blocks of two-story high weatherboard-clad classrooms, and eager to get out of their shadow and into the warmth, picked up my already speedy pace. I’d never tried to get to class this quickly.

Inside my locker, I foraged and found the books I needed. The bell pealed loud and clear, and I followed the other students into class. Faith sat at the back, sitting stiffly with a worried look on her face.

She rose and snapped out a blue-gray metal school chair. “What was that all about?”

“You mean on the field?”

“Hell, yes. I wanted to check on you. You and Guy surely know how to…argue.”

“What did I say about checking on me, Miss Nosy?” With my elbows on the desk, I plopped forward. “Argh, what am I going to do with him? He stayed in my bed last night.”

She gasped and covered her mouth.

“Nothing happened. It was a platonic sleepover. He turned up, and then just didn’t leave. Now those feelings I told you about are harassing me big time. I can’t feel this way about him.”

“You want him?”

I dumped my head into my upturned palms. “Yes, but it’s just the bond which drives him, not a desire for me.”

“This is all my fault.” She rubbed her forehead on my shoulder. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have put you in this position.”

“No, it’s not your fault, it’s Donaldo Wincrest’s. He’s the one who’s about to make the biggest mistake ever.”

“Hey.” She tugged on my wrist until I lifted my head and looked at her. “I’ve got your back. We stick together. I’ll speak to Guy if you want.”

The door to the classroom bumped open and Mrs. Gray tottered in, arms full.

“No, it’s better if I deal with him.”

She tweaked my chin. “Then cheer up. We’ll talk more about this at lunchtime and see if we can gain some more ground on my problem. That way you won’t have to see your warrior anymore.”

“Yeah, once I fix your problem, it’ll fix my own.” I straightened as the teacher walked toward me. She was one of my favorite teachers, a kindly older woman, with her salt-and-pepper hair short, straight and styled up higher over her forehead. “Hey, Mrs. Gray.”

“Silvie, you missed an important class yesterday.” She passed me a stapled set of papers. “With finals so close, I went over some of our previous English exam papers. That one’s for you, but it’ll have to be homework. Hand it in as quick as you can. Tomorrow would be best.”

I slumped onto my desk. Great. I had extra homework, training for a skill I had yet to control, the girls’ problem to sort and one very frustrating mate. What a super start to my day.

* * * *

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Faith prodded my arm with her elbow.

“I forgot to bring lunch.” Ankles crossed, I stared at the yellow leaves of the big tree we’d chosen to lie under at the rear of the school field. Bright, dappled rays beamed through the foliage and washed over us. “There wouldn’t have been time with all the bickering between Guy and Zayn anyway.”

“You want some of mine?” she mumbled as she took a bite of her ham and cheese sandwich.

I flicked the crumbs off her violet spaghetti strap top, a shirt strikingly similar to one I had. In fact, so were the frayed denim shorts she wore. “Have you been borrowing my clothes again?”

“Yep, but I found these in Hope’s wardrobe. She must have borrowed them from you, and now I’ve borrowed them from her. You’ll get them back eventually. Here.” She grasped her bag and slung it over. “I’ve got a donut left over from yesterday’s lunch. You know, it’s been ages since you made me rocky road.”

“It was like last week.” I pulled her lunch box out and nabbed the donut, one of the round ones with yellow icing. “So, what should I do about Guy?”

“You need to stop kissing him, and double the marshmallows next time in the rocky road.”

“You are so insightful, but he’s the one kissing me. You got anything else, oh-so-wise-one?”

“I really like it when you double the nuts too.” She smiled as she sat up. “I know. What if you ’path me whenever he turns up? I’ll be your go-between.”

“I can’t keep interrupting you every time I need supervision. I’m not a five-year-old.”

“Of course you can. Hold still.” She launched to her feet and grabbed a rugby ball before it hit us. She tossed it back to the guys who’d come out to play a game. “Oh, there’s Belle. Davio must have thought I needed our empath today.”

Belle skipped past the tech building in her skinny white jeans and a pale pink t-shirt. She adjusted her school bag over her shoulder and waved.

“Faith, why don’t we bring Belle into the fold? Like me, she’ll understand your problem. I could certainly use the help.”

“Hmm.” She scrunched up her face as she did when in deep thought. “You might be right. I’ll run that scenario.” Her violet eyes glazed as she focused. “Belle’s for peace, not war. I don’t see her spilling to Davio or Silas.”

“You don’t see me spilling what?” Belle plopped onto the ground beside us. “What are you two conspiring to do this time?”

Faith wriggled around on her bottom. “Get ready, because this news is a little nasty, Belle.”

During the telling of Faith’s forewarning, Belle’s face went white. “That’s horrendous. Wincrest can’t be allowed to do that, and slayers? They’re the worst of their warriors.” Her gaze jolted to mine. “Who else knows about this?”

“Hope and Guy. That’s why Guy’s still sticking around. Faith’s seen I need his aid on this, and he agreed to help me.”

“No, he’s helping because of more than that. I’m an empath, remember?”

“If he feels more, it’s only because of the bond.”

“Yeah, but the bond is also too important to simply toss aside. Deep down, he must recognize it. I certainly wish my mate had the guts to come for me.” She shoved her long dark locks over her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Belle.” For her, the loss of her mate had to be incredibly painful.

“I’ve waited almost two years.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to toss it aside, but I’ve no longer got a choice. Sorrell asked me out. I said yes.”

“Sorrell?” Faith gripped her hand. “The protector who leads the mountain team? But he’s a bear of a man and so aggressive. You two would hardly suit.”

“His emotions actually run at an even level, and that’s easier for me to process than the huge fluctuations I get around others.”

“But Sorrell? He cares for no one. Are you sure?”

“He needs to be shown love to feel it.”

“You sound as if you pity him.”

She fidgeted with the hem of her pink t-shirt. “Sorrell needs a tender touch, and I can offer him that. My decision is made.”

No, the man would stifle Belle’s emotions. He was the last person she needed.

“
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
” Faith muttered in my head.

I didn’t doubt I was. I projected my thoughts for her to read, then said, “
We’ll work on her next, but one problem at a time.
” Sheesh, this day was just getting worse. Problems abounding everywhere.

“Hey, watch your emotions, Silvie.” Belle jerked back. “I’m feeling a touch hot. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you about Sorrell, not when you’re dealing with enough issues of your own.”

“I’m good, Belle. What I can’t deal with is the fact Guy aligned our hearts.” My blood heated and pulsed at the mere thought of what he’d done this morning. “He’s too controlling, and he doesn’t listen to a word I say.”

“Okay.” Belle shuffled back farther. “We really need to change the subject, now. Think cold stuff.”

“What I’ve gotta do is deal with how I’m feeling, and not keep bottling it up.”

“No, you need to cool down. We’re at school, and there’re other students about.” Belle pointed to the half-eaten donut in my hand. The icing melted and dribbled. It splattered with a hiss and a spit onto my fingers. “That’s more than just a little bottling.”

“I had good control over my flare-up last night. I’ve got this.” Only my fingertips blazed red, not yet alight, but looking ready to go. “Oooh, that is so pretty. Maybe I should just go with the flow and consume and burn. That would be so hot.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Faith growled. “Don’t make me ’path Guy to come and get you out of here. You’re dangerously close to losing it.”

“Am not.” I held up my hands. The red glowed brighter. Oh yeah, perfect. Consume and burn. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? Look how—”

“Right, ’pathing him now.”

“I’m just teasing.”

“I’m not.”

Belle’s cheeks bloomed bright red. “Cold thoughts are your first tactical response to lowering your heat. I know you’re enjoying this, but remember what the book said.”

“Then let me enjoy it a little—”

“I’m here.” Guy stepped out from behind the trunk and jogged toward us. Water sloshed from a pail in his hands. “Faith called.”

“Don’t you dare even think it!” He was not throwing that at me. I scrambled to my feet, but too late. He dumped the contents over me and steam shot from my hands. “No. They weren’t even alight. I had it under control.”

He dropped the pail and cupped my cheeks. “What control? Faith said you needed me. Emergency 101.”

“101 means it’s a non-emergency.” I shook my head and icy water flew. “You need to learn your numbers.”

Faith chuckled and crossed to me. “Oops, I may have sounded more urgent than I meant. You want me to take you home to change?” She tucked my soggy hair behind my ears.

“No, I have a change of clothes in my locker. You. Come.” I seized Faith’s hand and dragged her after me.

Belle’s giggles traveled on the breeze, and Guy’s laughter joined hers.

Oh boy, I was so gonna get him back.

Big time.

* * * *

“There’s Zayn.” Faith pointed to where he stood leaning against a tree after the final school bell had rung.