Soul Mates: Scent (The Soul Mates Series) (23 page)

“You look… older…” Gideon frowned. “No longer a high school boy; not that many of the humans will notice that. They will just say you have matured, grown into yourself.”

“I think I can handle that,” I replied. “I have done a lot of growing up in the last couple of weeks.”

“I think we will forgo the battle I had planned. You have Gaia’s power in you, as well as Fae and Jaguar. Not to mention unbelievable will power. I think you are ready to face Frederick when the time comes.”

“Thank you Gideon, for everything. I’m sorry that I disappeared on you for part of our training.”

“It could not be helped and I think it was fated to happen that way. If it hadn’t Gaia wouldn’t have blessed you with her energy. Do not over think it young Prince Max.”

I nodded and shook Gideon’s hand. Together Anna and I walked back into the labyrinth of hallways to say goodbye to Auberon and Tatiana.

Auberon and Tatiana walked with us to the Faerie Mound entrance. I turned just as we were about to walk through the door to thank Auberon and noticed the concerned look on his face.

“I will be fine Auberon, thanks to you and Gideon. Don’t look so worried.”

“You should have had more training. If I hadn’t…”

“Just stop right there. If you hadn’t done everything you had in the past, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I’m glad you did what you did. I like who I am, I like being Fae and Jaguar.

Auberon nodded. “You are right of course. Go now, we don’t want you to be late getting home.”

I opened the Vette’s door for Anna and climbed in next to her. We waved to Auberon and Tatiana as we left. We drove in silence to Anna’s cabin, being back in the mortal world almost felt surreal. As if it wasn’t as real as the Faerie Mound had been. It felt strange to be leaving Anna at her house and I said as much.

“I don’t like this.”

Anna smiled. “I know mon amour. I do not like this either, but it will only be for a little while. We have a lifetime to be together.”

I pulled Anna close, my hands lingering on her back as I kissed her breathless. “I’ll pick you up in the morning. First thing,” I whispered softly.

“I know.”

I kissed her again, pressing my lips firmly to hers, not wanting to let her go and leave. I knew I had to get home, pretend to sleep before school. There was no way I was going to be able to sleep without Anna near me. I shook my head and smiled at her as I climbed into the Vette.

I don’t remember much of the drive home, just that I got there quickly. Mom had dinner waiting for me and after that I took a shower and headed up to bed. I lay for what seemed like hours tossing and turning before I decided the only way I was going to get to sleep was to get Anna. With that thought I flashed myself to her, into her bed, scooping her up and flashing us both back to my bed.

“Max, what are you doing?” she murmured softly.

“Couldn’t sleep without you. Needed you here,” I mumbled back. “Go to sleep,” I said stroking her hair. It was just after midnight, we had about six hours before I had to flash her back to her house so she wouldn’t be missed.

“Mmm, shouldn’t get into this kind of habit, Max…” Anna replied as she snuggled into my shoulder.

“Why not, you are a good habit…” I said with a grin.

I felt her smile as she drifted off to sleep. I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off as well with my arms wrapped around her.

My alarm went off at six a.m. and I gently kissed Anna awake. I could feel my desire for her stirring as she came awake in my arms. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

“Mmm, good morning my Max.” Anna stretched in my arms like a cat, arching her back and pressing her middle to mine. “Sleep well?”

“Better than I thought I would without you,” I said with a grin.

“Mmm, well I had best get back home before your mother walks in and finds us together.”

“I could lock the door,” I said suggestively.

Anna giggled softly. “Soon, soon you will have me all to yourself. Now I must go. You will pick me up?”

“Always.”

I felt bereft as she flashed herself back home, but I knew I would be seeing her again soon, so the feeling did not last long.

“Max, breakfast!”

I quickly dressed for the day and hurried down stairs. I took a few minutes to eat and then grabbing my backpack I headed out the door. I was at Anna’s within a few minutes. I knew I was really early but I couldn’t help myself. I had this crazy need to be near her. I could feel the danger in the air and unless Anna was close by I couldn’t breath for all the worrying.

“Max, I can take care of myself. You do not have to worry about Frederick coming after me. He is after you, mon amour.”

“Not the point Anna. I will protect you, no matter what the cost. I don’t want you out of my sight. As a matter of fact, I want to make a stop on our way to school.”

Anna looked at me wearily. “Where?”

“The Faerie Mound.”

“Why?”

“I want Auberon and his guards at the game tonight, sitting with you so they can protect you should Frederick show himself.”

“Max that is not necessary…”

“It is necessary, Anna. I’m going to be out on the field and I won’t be able to concentrate if I’m worrying about you. Now let’s go, we don’t want to be late.”

Anna sighed and climbed into the passenger side of the Vette. I leaned over and kissed her softly before revving the engine and taking off for the Faerie Mound.

We arrived a few minutes later and Anna waited in the Vette while I knocked on the Faerie door. I waited patiently for the door to open and was surprised when it finally was. Daire was standing guard at the door.

“Daire, what are you doing on guard duty?”

“Auberon had a feeling you may stop by, so he put me in charge of the door, however I think he is still miffed at me for taking you into Never Never.”

“Oh, sorry about that.”

“No worries. Did you need to see him?”

I rubbed my neck trying to decide exactly what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to go inside and leave Anna alone. I glanced over my shoulder at Anna and turned back to Daire. “Well, I do want to see him, but I don’t want to go in, can you get him a message?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“I would like for he and Tatiana, as well as you and Cole to come to the football game tonight. Keep an eye on Anna for me while I am occupied on the field, you know?”

Daire smiled. “You are asking for Fae protection? You?”

I rolled my eyes. “Look, I’m asking for help from my great grandfather who is very powerful as well as from his best guards. I can think of no one better to watch my back and keep Anna safe while I’m away from her.”

Daire grinned. “I will relay your message. Would you like to wait?”

“Do you think he will have a quick answer? Anna and I have to get to school.”

“Don’t worry, I shall have an answer for you momentarily.”

I waited while Daire disappeared into the Mound. I stood just outside the door, tapping my foot, waiting impatiently for his return. It didn’t take him long, as he promised. “That was faster than I thought it would take. What did he say?”

“Auberon, King of Light and Illusion accepts your generous invitation to watch this football thing and is honored that you requested his protection for your consort.”

“Thanks Daire. The
game
starts at six, but I will need you all there around five to watch over Anna.”

“We shall be there my young prince.” Daire replied with a slight nod.

“Great. Well, we gotta go, see you tonight,” I said as I jogged back to the vette and Anna. “It’s all set.”

“I can protect myself mon amour, you do not have to worry about me,” Anna said with a sigh.

I glanced at her and let her feel my determination to protect her no matter what the cost. I would not lose her, to anything. Not Frederick, not an Unseelie, not anything. She was mine. My mate, my love, my life. I would use all of my resources to keep her safe.

Anna nodded and stroked my face. “Just so you understand mon amour, I feel the same about you and will stand and fight at your side, not cowering behind a shield of Fae. We are partners, mates, equals.”

I didn’t want to see her hurt and so I didn’t say anything, but she heard my thoughts anyway.

“And you think I want to see you hurt? Equals Max. Where you fight, I fight as well. When Frederick comes I will be there at your side. We take him on together. You can bet he will not be alone.”

I pulled the vette into the school parking lot and parked. “All right, we do it together,” I said as I reached for her, pulling her face to mine. “I love you Anna,” I whispered before I kissed her. Suddenly I felt the hair on the back of my neck raise, we were being watched. I slowly pulled away from Anna, I didn’t want to let whoever it was watching us know I knew they were there. “Can you feel them?”

“Yes, where are they?”

“Not sure, not even sure what they are yet, give me a minute. I’m going to get out of the vette and walk around to let you out. It will give me a second to scan the area.”

Anna nodded and gave me her sexy little smile. I opened the door and stepped out. I bent over, scooping up my backpack I scanned the area. It definitely wasn’t human I was feeling. The humans were all focused else where, toward the school. I straightened up and adjusted the bag and walked around the vette to Anna’s door. As I opened it I studied the feeling, I recognized it, I had met this energy before.

“Relax. I know who it is,” I said with a smile as Anna stepped out of the car. “Over my shoulder, through the woods, I think Rik is waiting to chat with us.”

“Well, that is unexpected.”

“Come on, we better go see what he wants before we are really late.”

Anna and I hurried into the woods and found Rik waiting just out of sight. “Rik, well met. What brings you out of the Mound?”

“Auberon asked if I would patrol the area around the school, make sure no lions show themselves. Told him I would be happy to do it. Thomas would have come too, but…”

“Yeah, a dragon might have drawn some attention.” I grinned.

“James is on the other side of the school, at least he is supposed to be. You know how distracted wolves get when they get a scent. He could be half way to Kentucky by now,” Rik laughed.

“I heard that!”

“You are supposed to be on the other side of the school.”

“Yeah well I heard the vette pull in. Thought I would come say hello. Do the friendly thing.”

“Hey James, thanks for this.”

“No problem Dude. Still owe Gideon, besides, I’ve always wanted to kick some lion ass,” James said with a wolfish grin.

“We gotta get to class, so we’ll see ya later.”

Anna and I ran all the way to homeroom and made it just as the bell rang. As we slid into our seats I pulled out my homework. I couldn’t remember what it was I was supposed to have finished for the day.

I glanced up from my book to find Steve staring at me, a frown on his face. I frowned right back at him. I wasn’t as hurt as I had been. Funny how a month in Faerie had given me the distance I had needed to get over the hurt I had felt over Steve’s betrayal. Now it felt like a distant memory.

“Dude, you look different… something’s changed. You’re like massive, when did that happen?”

I glanced down at my chest and arms and they did seem a bit bigger than they had before I had gone to the Faerie mound. My tee shirt was feeling a bit tight now that I thought about it. “Guess it’s all the weight lifting I’ve been doing. Must be paying off finally.”

Should
I
change
my
shirt?
Is
the
muscle
change
that
obvious?
I asked Anna.

It is very defined, and you are more sculpted and massive than you were yesterday. You might want a larger tee shirt if you don’t want it noticed. If you want my opinion… don’t change your shirt, you look good, dangerous, in a don’t mess with me kind of way. I like it very much.

I looked at Anna and grinned. My face heated up at the images she was sending me of what she would like to be doing to me and all of my muscles. I sent her back a sizzling image of my own with a promise that it would happen once we were married in a few weeks.

Sitting back in class it was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that in just a couple of short weeks I would be getting married. None of my friends from school would be there, well maybe I would invite Tony. He would be the only one who could see the Fae and knew what was going on. I couldn’t imagine continuing on with school once Anna and I were married. What would be the point? I suppose I had to though, for mom and dad’s sake. But college? Doubtful. Diana had plans for Anna and I, and somehow I doubt they included college.

“Max, mon amour, the bell rang. Are we going to Anglais?”

Oui,
I
am
just
distracted
this
morning.
I smiled up at her.

“Max you are thinking in French, no wonder you are distracted.” Anna grinned.

I laughed and walked with her to English. I felt like I was in a living dream. It was all very strange and so hard to describe. It was as if I was playing at being a teenager when really I was a grown up in disguise. The going to class and doing assignments seemed so much like time wasters while I waited for the main event to get here. And watching the people around me interact was like watching some high school drama show on TV and I was above it all. Too mature to get involved. And was it just last week I was the king of it?

“Such thoughts will only make you crazy mon amour. The human’s live such simple lives, it is easy to envy them. They do not know what we know. That there are real monsters out there. That there are things in this world bigger and more fascinating than they can even imagine.”

“I know, and I wouldn’t trade places with any of them for anything in the world.”

Anna smiled and took my hand as we entered class.