Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice (13 page)

Just sit up. Pour a cupful
.

Nev straightened. “I’ll get that for you,” he
whispered.

“Thanks.” Her voice croaked, thin and
parched.

“Can you sit?” He tipped the pitcher over the
cup. Clear, cold water cascaded down. The burbling trickle promised
relief.

Erynn pushed away from the bed, pulling her
legs under her. Pain didn’t race after her movements.

He held the rim to her lips. Her hand slipped
over his, guiding the cup to tip farther against her mouth. She
drank. Cool liquid eased her sore throat, loosening her voice.
“Thanks.”

He poured more and held it out to her.

Erynn took the cup and sipped. “Have you been
here the whole time I slept?”

“I didn’t want you to wake up and be
alone.”

“Someone else could have stayed.”

He smiled, shaking his head. “You still don’t
get it, do you?”

She glanced around the room. “I get it.”

“Good. Then stop questioning why I want to be
with you.”

Her gaze traveled back to his shadowed face.
“Can I go? To my quarters?”

“It’s late. Or should I say early. Stay here
until morning, and then you can go. I want you to take it easy,
though. For a day or two.” He grinned. “No chasing monsters.” Nev
sat on the edge of the bed, took the empty cup, and set it on the
nightstand. He motioned for her to lie down and pulled the covers
around her. “Do you want something to help you sleep?”

“No.” She frowned and yawned.

He laughed quietly. “Okay, but if you can’t
get back to sleep, do you promise to tell me?”

“Promise,” Erynn said, her eyes already
closing.

BREAKFAST HELD NO APPEAL. ERYNN stared down
at the tray, knowing she would have to eat something before Nev
allowed her leave the Medical Unit. She needed to talk with Cale.
Convincing him to let her go to Deanaim was more important than
ever. There had to be some written proof of the four portals’
existence. Without this knowledge, it could take years to find them
if she didn’t discover a map, or a guide of some kind. Deanaim was
as good a place to start as any.

I don’t have much time. Dhoran grows
powerful and will start another war. Soon. This time, he might
win
.

Voices in the corridor caused her to pick up
the fork. It poised over an orange-colored lump of…“What is this?”
Erynn whispered, her nose wrinkling at the spicy scent wafting up
from the plate.

The curtain drew back. Nev and Cale entered.
Erynn dropped the fork and slid off the edge of the bed. Her boots
made a snap when they hit the stone floor. “Cale. I need to tell
you about what happened. I talked to—”

“I know. You spoke with the man who attacked
you.” His voice was too loud, cutting off her account.

“Yes I did. I mean no. I didn’t.” She shook
her head. “Not a man. I told you. He was a Shifter. But that’s not
what’s important. I also—”

“Enough, Erynn.” Cale’s tone changed to one
of pity. “You were confused. Your injury made you hallucinate and
see things that aren’t possible.” He turned to Nev. “May I speak
with Erynn, alone?”

Nev nodded and tipped his head. “Sure. Try
and get her to eat.” He smiled at Erynn, his eyes wide, and such a
beautiful, bright, silver-blue. “I have real sick people to attend
to, unlike you.” He spun and walked away.

Erynn’s attention whipped to Cale, and she
gritted her teeth.

Cale watched her. He grinned and put a finger
to his lips. “Wait,” he whispered.

Her mouth opened in surprise. She listened as
Nev’s footsteps disappeared down the hall.

What is this about
?

Cale moved the tray. He sat on the edge of
the bed and patted the spot next to him.

Erynn joined him.

Cale studied her. He rubbed his chin. His
eyes narrowed. “Nev knows we, you and I, have visions, prophecies,
and certain abilities. That much was necessary. Everyone on Arranon
and Korin believes you’re something special. Nev doesn’t know
everything regarding you or me, though. But by now, I’m sure he has
questions about you. Our physiology differs from others that are
not of mixed parentage.” He reached back behind Erynn’s head and
tapped lightly at the base of her skull. “Here. Those of mixed
blood have a slight anomaly. There’s an additional, small lobe in
our brains not present in those of pure Korin or Arranon
heritage.”

Erynn rubbed at the spot when Cale removed
his hand. “Nev doesn’t know? I mean, that you have a blended
heritage?” She glanced at the DVSL. Dark clouds built against a
blue sky. It would snow soon. She frowned. “What about flight
physicals?” She turned back to Cale.

Cale nodded. “I have a trusted friend, a
byan. She takes care of that for me. Always has.” He glanced at the
DVSL, then back to Erynn. “I’m sure Damon knew enough not to take
you to just any byan. He had someone he trusted with you.”

Her brow wrinkled. “Yes, but…I guess I never
realized that it was because I was physically different.”

Cale put his arm around her shoulders.
“Special, Erynn.” He squeezed, leaned in, and kissed her cheek.
“That you see and communicate with Zander must remain a secret. I
want to keep this between Tiar, Sean, and Jaer. Unless Tam knows.”
His lips threatened a smile.

Erynn shook her head. “She knows Damon isn’t
my real father, but we never talked about Zander. Tam hasn’t asked
a lot of questions.”

His voice softened. “I trust Tam. She knows
to keep what we discuss private. When Nev releases you, come to my
office. We’ll talk about what happened last night, and what Zander
told you, in private.

“What do I tell Nev? I mean
if
he asks
about me. Why I’m diff…not like others?”

“You can tell him the truth. You’re of mixed
parentage. I believe not telling Nev the reason for your physical
differences would cause more questions than him knowing your
secret. Nev took a privacy oath and I trust him to adhere to his
ethical vow. That, and he’s fond of you. But don’t tell him about
your parents. Your mother or father.” Cale gave her one last hug,
stood up, and moved toward the corridor. He turned back. “Nev
probably believes that Damon is your biological father. He will
probably question you about who your mother is.”

“Wait. Will Nev even connect the physical
difference with my being of mixed heritage? Maybe he’ll just think
the extra lobe in my brain is an abnormality solely unique to
me.”

Cale stared past the door, to the bright,
empty corridor. “Nev is intelligent. He’s a good man. I was lucky
to recruit him as the base byan.” He was silent for a brief moment.
“An accident was bound to happen eventually, to one of us. Not just
you or me. There’s Sean and Tiar now, also. Nev has questioned my
situation for some time, asking me pointedly why I don’t allow him
to do my flight physicals. I believe Nev had his suspicions about
me. And now he has a physical explanation for your extraordinary
abilities.” Cale’s gaze dropped to study the clean, white stone
floor. “He’ll ask,” he whispered and left Erynn’s room.

Nev showed up again after she’d picked at the
food and eaten as much as she could handle.

He glared at the tray and sighed. “I guess
that will have to do.”

“Can I go, then?” She heard the harsh tone in
her voice. Any ease she had begun to feel around Nev was gone. He
couldn’t know her, not truly.

Not like Jaer does
.

This truth made her angry, but not with Nev
or Jaer.

I’m the one with secrets
.

Nev shook his head, pulled a small computer
from his pocket, and switched on the device. “Give me just a couple
of
timnents
, Erynn. I’d like to clear up a few medical
questions I have first.”

Okay, here it comes
.

Erynn bit her lip and crossed her arms.
“What?” She clamped her jaw tight to keep the shake out of her
voice.

Can I do this
?
After a life spent
hiding the truth, can I share my guarded past
?

Nev’s forehead creased as he stared at the
computer in his hand. “An anomaly was detected on your brain scan.
Nothing to worry about,” he added hurriedly and turned his
attention to Erynn. “I believe for
you
this is…normal.”

Erynn only nodded. She didn’t trust her
voice.

“You don’t seem surprised. Perhaps you were
told by other byans of this—”

“No. I didn’t know until today, just now.”
Erynn shifted from one foot to the other. “So if it’s normal for
me
, can I go?”

Nev tipped his head. “Aren’t you curious?
Maybe this is the reason for your abilities, the visions and
dreams.”

“Yeah, and maybe it isn’t. I’d rather not
become someone’s science project. I like my brain in one piece, not
dissected so you can figure out what makes me different.”

The muscles in his jaw bunched. “Erynn, I
would never…And you aren’t different. Unique, yes. You are rare and
precious to me.” He took in a deep breath. “I’d like to ask you
about your mother. Is she…Is it possible she may have been
from…Arranon?”

Erynn’s fingers curled, nails biting into her
palm. “Why? Why is that important?”

Nev stared down at his hands. “Erynn, I…Okay.
You can go.” He edged around the curtain toward the empty hall. “If
your head starts hurting again or your vision blurs, let me
know.”

“My mother died before I was a day old. I
never knew her.”

Nev turned back to her, quiet, waiting.

She shrugged. “At least that’s what I was
told. My dad told me she was beautiful, smart, funny. He loved her
very much.”

“Did he tell you your mother was from
Arranon?”

“You’re asking if I’m aware that I have a
parent from Arranon and a parent from Korin.” She paused. “Yes. I
understand I shouldn’t be alive.”

Nev took a shambling step, then another, and
another until he stood in front of her. He brushed the backs of his
fingers across her cheek. “But you are. I’m so glad you’re alive.
You can’t begin to understand how happy I am you’re here.” He
smiled, the half grin making his eyes dance.

The door glided open, and Dhoran entered the
tidy workspace. Warm air swirled in ahead of him. Static popped off
his fingertips, arcing to the doorframe. This body no longer
resisted his will. He could feel his old power growing stronger
each day.

Soon, it will be time to begin my assault
on those who oppose my authority
.

Behind the desk, the fighter wing commander
General Gaden stood up and bowed his head. Thick gray hair slipped
across his shoulders. “My Lord.” He straightened, his brown eyes
wide. “Did the Shifter’s trick obtain the information you
sought?”

Dhoran dropped into a chair and glared at
General Gaden. “Erynn hides the truth about her Arranon mother. But
why? She admitted her mixed parentage, but nothing else. Why
conceal the truth about her mother?”

Gaden settled back into his seat. “The birth
records—”

“A man as powerful as Damon Yager could have
easily falsified the records to protect his child.” Dhoran sighed,
the sound more growl than just a release of breath. “Gaden, what
did you find out about the supposed mother? Did she exist?”

Gaden turned to a monitor on the desk,
swiveling the screen so Dhoran could see. He pointed to the
monitor. “She did exist, My Lord. Her family was influential,
wealthy, and powerful in Korin’s political world. There is a
marriage certificate, a commitment document, between her, Alessa,
and Damon Yager. Then, of course, her death record was filed the
same day as Erynn’s birth confirmation.” He swept a thin finger
across the screen to display those two forms.

Dhoran snorted. “Tampered with. They must be
fake, imitations.” He sat there, staring at the monitor, and
smiled. “Doesn’t matter.”

“My Lord?”

Dhoran’s grin widened. “Zander’s daughter is
somewhere on Arranon. Is she as powerful as her father?” He
shrugged. “Maybe not. What if she didn’t inherit all her father’s
abilities? Will I find her in time to carry out my plan? Erynn is
powerful, and she’s here now, accessible to me.” He stood up and
walked around the desk to stand behind Gaden. He grasped Gaden’s
tight shoulders. The man flinched, and the tension in his muscles
increased.

“Yes, My Lord?”

Dhoran massaged, digging his strong fingers
deep. He leaned down and whispered, “Erynn made the wind stop.” He
chuckled and tipped his head. His lips nearly touched Gaden’s ear.
“What would the progeny of two such extraordinary mixed bloods be
capable of achieving?”

Aven stood in the hall. He gave Erynn a weak
smile. “I’m to watch you. No more attacks, or Jaer will…Well, I’d
rather not go there.”

Erynn stared at him. She knew this was
coming, but not with Aven. She thought that maybe Jaer himself
would take over guarding her.

What if he had, what then
?

A part of her wished it had been Jaer.

“Where’s Jaer?” She turned and walked away,
not wanting Aven to see the disappointment she knew clouded her
face.

Aven stepped in alongside her. Long dark hair
cascaded over his shoulder. “He didn’t think you wanted him
around.”

Erynn bit her lip. “It’s not that I don’t
want him around. It’s hard for me to be around him.”

“What’s the difference?”

She watched Aven. He had the same dark eyes
as Jaer, the same intensity.

Aven glanced up the tunnel. “You don’t think
this is equally difficult for him? He loves you.” He chuckled. “I
never thought that was possible of Jaer. You changed him,
Erynn.”

“He’s not mine,” she mumbled.

Aven sighed. “Ah, but he is.”

Her heart skipped and her breath caught.