Guardian (15 page)

“Where to today?” she asked enthusiastically after breakfast.  I lost my high about then.  I knew where we needed to go next and I had avoided it till we just couldn’t anymore.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked as I smiled loving the idea of her able to read me if...then I remembered I couldn’t read her at the time. 

“I’m thinking about my mother,” I lied.  “We have to go visit Pike,” I said after to cover my hidden weakness for not letting her see how my mother affected my every aspect of daily life. Grace wouldn’t understand the idea of an “unloving” mother.  Her mother risked everything to keep her safe, not throw her willingly into danger for her own gains. I picked at the bread in front of me to forget I just lied to her since bringing her here.  She loved the bread that I’d spent a lifetime hating simply because it was all that was provided half the time.  To her, it was frews and warm and letting on her tongue.  Her words, not mine.

“Who?” she asked.

“You already know him.  Don’t be alarmed when you see Pike...” then I mumbled to myself “...in all his glory.” She looked confused so I added with my voice scratchy and sissified, “He really is on our side.” I was making a fool of myself.  “He has watched over you too.  It was his job to keep the Nyms and Unseelie court uninterested in you.”  She was curious now by my own doing.  I was in for it. 

“Tell me more about the Nyms,” she quizzed me for a while, then other things.  When we made it far into the trip and her quizzical nature didn’t stop, I found myself cornered again with the boldest Grace I’ve ever seen.  “Why do you always walk behind me?  Even in high school. You were too clever at sneaking up on me then.”

“Can’t a guy be a gentleman?” I called from behind her.

“Maybe!” she paused, “Or maybe you just want to get a look at my rear bumper.”

“Perhaps!” I raised one eyebrow, stopping to see her face analyze every inch of its purpose. It wasn’t a lie, but her safety was first and foremost.

She fumed.  The O in her mouth made me think other things.  I cleared my dangerously paved mind when it came to Grace and said, “But still, one is a gentleman and your safety is important to me.  If I can’t see you, it makes me nervous.”

She huffed and continued on.

“What?” I asked her when she slowed a little later in the trip.  The before part was turning out to be quite amusing.  Leave it to Grace to always keep me on my toes.

“Nothing, I was just trying to imagine what my mother told my dad happened to me.”

“I can tell you, if you like,” I shrugged.  I knew I was about to rile her up again and looked forward to it.  She tried to stop me by grabbing my chainmail.  Her fingers lingered there just inside a small opening while I just watched her become intrigued by it.  Then I couldn’t stand it anymore.  I needed more.  Up close to her mouth I breathed, “She told him we ran away together to Vegas.  That you left a note.”

She jumped forward and up.  “What?  Does he think we got married?  You’re just joking, right?  Why didn’t you tell me all this?”

“No, but he suspects,” I let out a wicked smile, “your note, according to your mom, said that the two of us would be back when we were ready and that we were possibly enrolling in college somewhere.  Your mom is clever.  More clever than you realize!  She knew this day would come.  She just didn’t know what you would choose.  And I didn’t want to worry you.”

Her face said she thought I might be joking.  I kissed her lightly wanting it to last.  When she gave me my favorite pouty lip, I kind of hugged her to shake what I really wanted to do and pushed off imparting, “Come on Juliet.  We have business.”

“Pike stays here for the very reason that nothing can just slip up on him.  Enemies would meet their death first.”

“Where is everyone or are we not there yet?”

“It’s glamour. All Fey use it to hide from humans.  Humans see what they want to see, remember?”  I touched her arm allowing her to see.  Everything.

“Why couldn’t I see them before?” 

“You will now.”  Or Pike will make sure of it.

“And you can touch my arm and make me see?  And alter my feelings, I noticed.”

“You caught that?” I didn’t realize she’d managed to figure out my ability to sooth others.   It worked rather well on her.  I frowned, “a perk for being the son of the Seelie Court’s high ups.”  That reminded me of the jobs my mother seemed to always have waiting when I’d return to court.  Many years.  I hadn’t had to worry with it till we returned and hoped that nothing would be asked of me or at least I’d be able to avoid any unwanted tasks in the future.

“You don’t want this?”

“No, Grace.  I don’t want any of this like my mother does.  But that isn’t for me to decide.  I am a protector.  A fighter.  A guardian.  And yes, calming you is a magic I take comfort in because it comforts you.  I will not apologize for that.” 

Grace slid a slow smile on her lips.  Her mind was lingering somewhere else because Danella announced, “But not from me little lady.”

What did my unpredictable girl say in her pretty little head?

She continued acting as if I didn’t just hear that.  “And you said I was able to see through this glamour for a while now.  Glamour is what you meant by my ability to see things for years.  Sometimes my own hidden magic leaked through.  Like strange animals I see in the trees.  They were never animals, were they?”

I nodded.  “Mostly, I let you.  And other ways,” I naturally thought of Pike and Kinsler, “but there were times you did it on your own.  You were born from a Fey woman.  You showed signs of magic as a small child.   They say children are more apt to believe in the unbelievable.  You saw many of the Fey in their true form even as a baby.  Your mind turned them into fairy tales where I couldn’t.”

“Why is that?” 

“Only half human, Grace!  Your magic will grow.”  She was so damn observant.  “Come on!  Let’s go, Supergirl!” I guided her on.

The bridge was ahead.  I knew Grace recognized it from our hikes.  She would realize soon enough I’d been bringing her here for years.   

I shook hands with the taller by three inches, ladies man of all men, Pike.  He would put on the charm the second he saw her.  Too late.  Grace was already checking him out.  I watched her thoughts through Pike as he “
let
” me see how she saw him.  It sickened me. 

“We meet again.  Shall I say Princess or Queen Grace,” he told her helping out her innate ability to realize she was in some kind of déjà vu.  She couldn’t figure out where she recognized him from.  He tilted his head to me as I tapped my hand to Grace’ s back.  I can’t believe I just saw Grace sniff the air.  What was it with her keen sense of smell?

I cleared my throat not meaning too, “We believe queen, but we are not sure, yet.”

Pike cracked his knuckles too make some idiotic point then glared at Grace meaning aiming to keep her gaze on him.  I shook my head at Pike begging him to leave her alone but he insisted I be the one to show her who he was. 

She needs to know.
He told me through his thoughts.

Pike was too close to her.  In front of her now.  I touched her arm hating every second of knowing what was coming.  She now saw Christian, the boy from school who worked at the Burger Giant in town.  I watched her thoughts through Pike as she traced her memories of him.  All tall, dark and dangerous thoughts.  At least she thought he was a jerk though he would find even that appealing.

Pike told her what he wanted to say in lieu of her description of him, “Appreciate the compliment.  Glad you noticed.”

I jerked my head at her as if she’d done something wrong pulling on her arm in a natural reaction.  She knew he could read her thoughts now at least.

What?” she spun around to face me.  Dang if I couldn’t read her now.  He closed her off from me but I knew she was strangely furious at all the deception centered around her entire life.

“I told you we are everywhere.  This is Pike.”  That was all I could muster, eyes on Pike.

“
Who
else?” she asked astonished and most assuredly, pissed off. 

“Didn’t share all of our secrets, I see,” Pike sneered at me. 

Pike hid what she was thinking now purposefully. I was mad as hell! 

“Funny, that’s how I feel about you,” Pike told her in the deeper voice he always used on his women simply to let me know she was too focused on anything but what she should be.  Him!

“You’ll know who soon enough.”  I meant the part about others hearing her, but she clearly thought something else.  I’d never survive this. 

Obviously, her mind was still going because Pike laughed for no reason.  “No time for small talk.  We can get more acquainted later,
Grace
.”  I didn’t like the way he said her name. 

And he laughed too suggestively. 

Grace huffed, folding her arms.  At least he put her in a pissy mood.  Might fare well for me.

Pike smacked his lips shut and said, “Shall we get started?  Time is being wasted.”

 
“I took the glamour away while you are here,
my queen
, so as to not create a hindrance to you.” 

“Have you read my mind all these years?” Her face appeared not to be lodged by Pike.

“There was no need most of the time.  Ian had it well covered.”  Pike smirked.  She glared at both of us.  A hit to me in his eyes, no doubt.  Her look said she was pretty much in agreement.

“You’ll find me very helpful, very soon,
Princess
.  If you know what’s good for you, you’ll behave.”

Resilient!
she’d said to him.  For some reason, he
“let”
me hear that. I hated Pike’s innate ability to choose what he deemed appropriate to hear and not.  

“Such big words from a…”

She stalked off in a tizzy cutting off the muckhead and only getting a few feet away before I caught up.  Trying to cool her off, she jerked her shoulder away thinking instantly that I was trying to calm her with magic.  Well, maybe I was, but she shouldn’t be pissed at me for caring. 

“Can we have a private minute?”  I seethed never giving Pike the time of day.  It was intended towards Pike, but I watched the beloved woman whom I’d planned on spending the rest of my life with instead of his ugly mug.  Pike mumbled about getting on with it, but I didn’t bother with a response.

“How do you know it’s private?  I don’t trust him,” she glared at Pike.  That was satisfying to hear. 

“It is!  I promise!”  She doubted me.  “I promise,” I repeated with an incensed voice in Pike’s direction because he was reading her like a human thumb drive.  I
blocked
her in overdrive.

“Ian,” she admonished me like a child using just the sound of her voice, “you can’t run to my aid and “calm” me with your magic calming thingy every time there is conflict.  He just wants to piss me off.  He just announced that my whole life has been private to very few.  I have a right to be angry.  You don’t know how that feels.”

I let her take a breath and tried my best not to smile.  Man, she was hot when she was angry. “First, I do know.  All Fey, and especially royalty, can read others.  We have to be a little more covert about reading humans.”  I looked away.  “I’ve had every thought I’ve ever had, read by my own mother.  How do you think that feels?”  I tried to be gentle about this.  “Pike can and has always been able to read my mind, but he and I both possess the ability to block it out.  You will too. I can block my mother, but she is more powerful than me.”  I looked at my wrist and then hers knowing what would possibly be there one day.   It would mean more when certain intimate events took place.  “I can’t,” I tried to think of a proper analogy, “walk and chew gum at the same time. There is connection you’ll learn about later that strengthens both you and I.  My blocking doesn’t last as long on her as it can for say, Pike.  And second, he hasn’t needed to read your thoughts as long as I was always close.  I’m the only one who needed to until now.”

She interrupted, “How do you know for sure?  And why
now
?”

I placed one finger across her pink lips, “I can also sense when someone,” I blinked and finished, “someone breaks in, so to speak.  I am the prince of the Seelie Court.  It comes with perks.” 

Pike, freaking Pike was attempting a break in. 
Jack another mind, dude.

Grace relaxed, finally.

“Yeah, like calming hands and reading minds and now blocking them too.  What else?”

I wrapped one arm around her waist and spoke directly into her ear just to irritate Pike who had his peep Tom eyes all over her.  “I would protect you from anything, just ask.  And I wasn’t trying to “calm” you, I was simply trying to comfort you because…” I wanted the right words, “…I love you, and I me...myself might comfort you.”  Lord, I was going all soft.  I couldn’t form a complete sentence around her.   This girl would have me die young if I didn’t get over the thrill of simply watching her face change reactions all the time.

“Of course it does,” she said in a daze.  Did she not want to hear that from me?  “And I’m sorry I didn’t control myself better.” 

I kissed her not knowing what else to do.  She stopped holding her own weight.  When I caught her, I didn’t stop the laugh inside me.  I did that to her.   

“That’s definitely one of your perks,” she whispered out of breath. 

“Only on you!  Do I really make you go weak in the knees?” I wanted Pike to know her true feelings despite her drawn to him looks she gives him. 

“You have no idea.”  She grabbed my sleeve when I tried to move away.  “Why is
he
so annoying?  There has to be reason.”

She thought Pike was annoying.  Holy great news!

I avoided her eyes, “I’ll tell you sometime, more private.”  Grace didn’t need to know how much hatred Pike had festering inside of him.  She’d figure it out soon enough.  I knew Pike well enough, he’d blow soon.

“And he can read your thoughts where I cannot.  We might need him to help protect you.”  Just a damn fact I couldn’t escape now.  Her smile eased my aching heart.

Pike wanted to smash my face in at the moment.  Nothing new.  Grace watched him with too much interest though and he used it for all the glory he could get.  I watched as she eyed him head to toe and noted his friggin’ animal like sex god look he likes to hold over the females.   

Whatever she was thinking now, he didn’t like because his kill face turned on her.  I gave him an unwelcomed warning in silence.  He all but promised to make good on punching my face in.
 

We sat around a campfire after learning of the clearing where we would visit with the Nyms.  Pike told her what she needed to know but he talked only to me.  I wasn’t sure of his aim yet on why he ignored her for the information sharing session.

“Grace would like to see the Nyms.  She wants to know what their reasons are for the hatred they hold.  And why they won’t let them go.” 

Pike continued his same punctual glowering look of late. 

Didn’t tell her much.

Didn’t need to.

She is blind.

She will learn it in time.

Pike’s kill all glare at my girl
still
didn’t go unnoticed by her as he nodded a yes to her.  Pike spit into the fire and warranted a disgusted look from Grace.  Nice!

The two of them conversing in their heads killed me to see! I ignored my gut and let Pike give her more information about where the Nyms were camped and how they live in the mountains not far from where we are now.

“You mean there are that many.  And humans don’t know.  How?”  She asked and then recalled the clue to it all, “Glamour.” 

“The Nyms think they can take over us, but they are led by a traitor who only uses them to gain his own favor.  He will fail.”

Talking of Kinsler was like poison to him too.  Grace didn’t know who he meant, but once again she would know the whole truth soon. Too soon!
 

Pike spit again and cracked his knuckles. 

“Do they have a leader?” she asked watching Pike too closely.

“Kinsler.” I answered vile and loathsome like.  She detected the edge in my voice now reminding me to keep my cool. 

Just tell her.

NO!

Just then, Pike opened the pathway I didn’t realize till now I was unable to block.  He was strong enough to get through my block and listen to her.  Damn!
              ... to tame the testosterone.

I heard her suggest.  It was the tail end of something she’d thought, but either way it was about us or men or something. 

And now maybe I want to read Ian’s mind.  At least I want an on and off switch. I...

Pike spoke up after letting me hear what she’d thought next, “I’ll arrange a meeting with a messenger from the Nyms.  You’ll get a firsthand look.  You can arrange a message to be found if you like for Kinsler.  If it’s a meeting with Kinsler you want,
you’ll get it
.”

I looked at Grace still trying to figure her thoughts out.  Pike wasn’t giving me the full access of course.  Only the parts he deemed to get me fired up and damn near killing something.   

“What is better?” she asked me.

What was said?  I missed the whole of it seething over her thoughts. 

Meet with Kinsler
.  Pike refreshed my memory reading me now too. Kill! Was the word fresh in my mind.

Finally I answered, “Meet with the Nym and ask any questions you may have, then if it feels right, we’ll arrange a meeting with their leader.  In the meantime, Pike will inform you better on details about Fey and Nym events of the last two hundred years.”  Pike nodded in agreement.

Pike’s permanent scowl met hers and an “accidental” window opened for me to hear her. But I don’t think he meant it for the right reasons.

Used to this by now, mute boy.
Why are you so angry all the time?  If you are listening to my thoughts, perhaps you can at least enlighten me on why you hate me.

Pike neglected to close that proverbial thought window on Grace’s mind a little longer.  He didn’t answer her either.               

I cracked a laugh before we stood to leave and I motioned for her to walk in front of me.  Pike followed, and then all of the guards.  In the privacy of the magical shield Pike placed, we talked about what would happen.