Tainted (23 page)

His head was still in his hands.  “I get this, Grace.  I do.  But I’ve never known someone in my court so hard headed and nerve-y.  You shock me with every move.  It scares me to death.”

I bent down to look up under his hands.  “I know this.  And I’m begging you to let up.  Trust me a little.  I’m right about Kin right now.  As much as you hate it, I’m sticking to this.  He thinks he has me.”

“Thinks?” His eyes looked at me now.

“Yes, Ian.  Thinks.  He is still Kin.  Why are you so afraid that Pike or Kin can take me from you?”

“Because they can, Grace.  They can.  It’s that simple.  Until we are married, they can.”

“Then let’s have the dang thing right now.”

He smiled just a little at the corners.  “As much as I like that thought, it’s not so easy to have a Vegas wedding around here.”

Hmm!

“The ritual ceremony is part of it.  A binding. There is simply more to it.  And I can’t be the one to tell you.”

More secrets.  I folded my arms.  “
Who
do I find out from then?”

“Altheon says you have to find out on your own.”  My palms itched with anticipation.

“Well, that’s just lovely.”

“Yes, you are.”  He changed the subject that easily.

“Kin gave me this.”  I showed the charm to him.  He examined it and read the back. 

“And you know what it means?”

“Yes, Ian.  And you can guess too.  He is just making his mark.  He can think what he wants, but if I don’t follow along with this, he will not back off and I won’t know what his end game is.  If he truly says he won’t bring our court to harm to have me, then the only way is for him to think he’s getting me.  Don’t you see this?  We have to beat him at his own game.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Because I was angry that you didn’t tell me things or trust that I have an agenda too.  I can conquer him, but I need to know more.  I can move forward when I find his weakness.  And you have to tell me everything I want to know about everything including you.  It’s not fair because there is nothing you don’t know about me.”

He sighed. “Actually, you seem to shock me more than ever lately.  I can’t seem to predict your moves.  And I believe you reveal as many secrets lately that my lifetime can’t account for.  Have you got all night?”

“For you, anything.”  He tilted his chin down more and raised my mine up. 

“Tell me about you.  Leave nothing out.  Tell me anything and everything I need to know.  It’s all locked away in secret because you were posing as human.  I can’t stand this wall between us.  It’s killing me.”  This was the farthest we’d ever made it in the conversation department of coming close to all honesty.  It’s almost like I needed Kin to open that flood gate and let me see that I needed to let Ian in.  I can thank him for that too.

We talked till dawn and through breakfast and then lunch with not a soul coming near us except Danella.  It was all brought to us.  By dinner we both were a little hoarse and ready for sleep. 

I learned about all the details of the three princes playing war in the woods and how they brought him out of a long, dark loneliness.  They were scarcely the over the age equivalent of a teen when they did this.  Ian had memories of his father he shared like the time he shot the arrow into the wall behind the rail and pinned a guard.  He said he freaked more than his father when he saw the blood seeping through the guy’s shirt.  He’d been the age of a child in elementary school at that time.

I laughed when he told me about the time he fell into the fountain because he was learning how to block minds and jerked his head to answer someone but failed to watch where he was going.

And I cried when he told me how he reacted the first time he found out that there was a girl meant for him to be his queen one day and she wasn’t even born yet.  I cried until he told me truthfully that he saw me as a job, a duty until one day he realized that he’d become best friends with a girl who’d stolen his heart for years and he just didn’t realize how drawn to her he’d felt until someone tried to take her.  The day Kin had attempted to kidnap me, Ian destroyed his best sunglasses, ripped a hole in his black leather jacket, and lost the fake four leaf clover I’d doctored and given him a few years back.  My man was so sweet.  So I made him promise to give me more stories about him soon.  Sooner was just
sooner
than I thought.

After dinner he asked me to stay at the table a little longer. Everyone had left with the exception of our guards. 

“Will you join me tonight, in my room?”

My eyes went wide. 
No can do buckaroo
.  “Ian, we said we’d—"

“I just want to sleep.   To hold you.  Nothing more for now.” 

He had a hard time admitting this since I knew well his eyes danced with the same desire he just made surface in my belly and below.  “Um, will Danella let me?”

He chuckled.  “Grace, she has no choice in the matter.   She plays mother hen for your virtue only.  But I’ll not steal your virtue until the day you are completely mine in every way.  Besides, I want it freely given.”

“And you don’t think people will talk?”

“So, you said yourself they already had mind to think that way.  You and I know the truth.”  His gaze flickered away.

“I don’t know Ian.”  My fingers were digging into my legs.

He was determined.  “What if I station Danella at your door so everyone thinks you are asleep and don’t want to be disturbed.”

“Ian?”  I didn’t want people to say anything bad about us. 

“Please?” he mouthed.  He was begging me.  Why did he need this?  I examined his possible thoughts.  He was jealous.  He was fearful of losing me.  He just spent the day telling me he was a lonely child, nothing but a slave to his own mother, had only two friends in the world and lost them because of me, and would try but will have a hard time letting me do what I think is best if it includes Kin.  Okay, he needs me close tonight.  And I need sleep.

“Why not my bed?”

His cheeks raised out a little to let out his breath.  I watched his lips close slowly.  “Because I’ve
seen
you in your bed and had thoughts that will keep from any possible sleep.  At least in my room, I have the fear of knowing I almost lost you and the fireproof, impenetrable walls will keep you safe.”

“Ian, I can’t let you think that.  That’s not what I want you to think or remember.”

“Then stay with me.  Make me think different.”  He was like a lost child.  He gave so much of himself to me today. I could give him this. Who am I to argue with a hot possessive prince who is begging for me to “just sleep” in his bed?

“Okay.  Set it up with Danella.  I will get the ugliest pajamas I can muster and meet you back here in ten minutes.”

He kissed me a soft tender promise and left.  I hurried to my room, retrieved my silk gown for I owned no ugly pajamas since coming here.  I grabbed my robe deciding at last minute to brush my teeth and lavender up before I walked in that room.  I thought of the jasmine Kin gave me.  Hmm!  The differences.  I’d never had a boyfriend, so this was the closest I’ve come to appreciating what all Ian has done and I never gave him credit.  He may not have given me big presents so to speak that were labeled “just because” but he did have my room completely set up for me, filled it with my favorites including the lavender, his personal favorite.  And I'd forgetton my picnic.  My trampoline.  Ian was beyond thoughtful and I had yet to appreciate it the way I should.

I headed to the garden where an anxious Ian was waiting.  He smelled amazing.  He’d primped too.  I laughed inside at our obviousness. 

He led me to his room and stopped letting me pass through the door I had only remember leaving before but not entering.  I walked in very nervous and refused to sit or anything until he told me.  I was okay with him being completely in control. 

He walked to his own bathroom and I felt myself began to pant when he walked back out shirtless.  His ripped chest was staring at me point blank.  Calling me.  Begging to be—“And you think I can be a good girl with you like that?”  I had to admit my weakness.

The bad boy smile was back.  Lord, have mercy on me.  He walked to me, his eyes peeled wide, consuming.   “You can have the bathroom.”  His voice was deeper, less clarifying.  

I escaped to the bathroom closing the door and moved quietly and quickly.  I changed feeling very awkward and realizing at the same time he had a biggest shower area I’d ever seen. No stinking fair.  Then I blushed.  I would have that shower one day.

After changing and pulling on my robe on top of my very sheer gown I reasoned that I had nothing else to do and opened the door.  I heard the door squeak slowly beside me as I looked out.  I liked that there was a roof over his room.  That sounded odd only because of what the rest of the summer court had.  Open air.

I closed the door and walked slowly thankful for the darkness.  He was in the bed.  In the black tense space of air I had to travel, I could see his bare chest screaming at me.  Help me!

I thought seriously about returning to the bathroom and putting my clothes back on, but I pressed on.  He scooted over and I crawled in.  He immediately pulled an arm under and pulled me to him.  I was scared out of my wits at why we shouldn’t be doing this but folded into him on instinct. 

He kissed my hair.  My neck.  We were still on our backs but before long we were knee to knee.  I turned to him wanting only a real kiss.  He reacted in more ways than I wanted to admit to myself, his body was touching me at several very strategic parts.  I felt my breathing pick up and he kissed me more deeply. 

“Ian…Ian.” 

He turned over and faced away from me.  “I know.  I know.”  After a few long unreasonably loud minutes he turned back to me.  He folded his arm over me spooning me as I’ve heard it called before but certainly have never done. Desire was there, but the need to be near was greater. Tucked under his arms and enveloped into his body, I felt loved.  Protected.  Needed.

“Do you sometimes wish we could be married now?”  I said in a raspy voice to the air.

“Grace, I want that more than anything right
now
.”

I giggled the best girl power got my man by the tail.  It was silent but not completely so.  Not well, since I heard his chest vibrate against my back.   What a fabulous sensation.  Calming.  Soothing.

We were both sound asleep within minutes.

“How is it that I can concentrate and talk specifically to someone in my thoughts, hear them, persuade them even, and not anyone else?”  I asked Altheon after seeking him out.  He worked with me on this, but never explained.  It worked on the guards in front of Ian and I had yet to tell anyone or try it again. It was an accident then. 

“You really are an exquisite creature, my queen.”

I smiled in appreciation not sure what to make of the compliment. 

“The answer is simple.  Because you are you.”

Brilliant!
  I frowned.  “And that means?”

“Long version or short version?”  I grimaced.  He continued, “That you can do this. Probably more.  Others can, but still others cannot.” 

Riddles.  I expected nothing less.

“So it just happened that way.  No particular reason?  I talk to you, then switch gears and talk to another.  And maybe at the same time.  Who else can do this?”  With all the coincidences concerning my three princes and myself, I wanted to make sure this wasn’t another one.  If I am to piece together this puzzle the four of us fit into, I want all bases covered.  It could be as simple as the fact that I am half human and therefore altered all other explanations that have found the truth in the past.  But what if it’s not that simple.  A prophecy was made and I was it.  Maybe there’s another piece missing that keeps it from finishing its course.  Maybe my three princes all get their happy ending too.  Well, just not with me.  Ian is my happy ending. 

Zap!  “Ouch!  That hurt.” 

“Forgive me my queen, but I seemed to have lost you.  Your blocking abilities have increased to the point that you seem to spend excess time pondering who knows what!”

“Well, that’s a grand thing Altheon since my enemies will have me for lunch without it.”  I smiled at our sarcasm towards one another.

“Considerably.  In answer to your question, all of us can talk to one and then another.  Only one can do what you do for I've not heard of it elsewhere outside of a joined court king or queen.   Is there anything else you need of me?”

Wow!  “No, nothing for now.  Can you tell me where Ian is?”  Altheon has the uncanny sense of knowing where everyone is at the moment.  I don’t want to know how.  Maybe one day I’ll ask.

“The range.  Teaching.  Can I require something from you?”

Scared.  “Yes!” 

“The charm on your wrist there.  Didn’t you stop to think that Prince Kinsler might have had something placed on it?”

“Like what?”  I was very surprised he knew and then again, I wasn’t.

“Well, a finding charm, a curse, etcetera, etcetera.”

My face full of fear, I swallowed and ask, “I didn’t think of that.  I feel stupid.”

“Not this time, my queen.  It is clean.  I can tell.  Ian already had it checked.  But next time, be a little more careful of the charms of suitors who might not have the greatest agenda in mind.  Oh, and let the past guide you...learn from it...but leave the past...in the past.”

I lifted my pendants and bowed to him in thanks.  Always the advice giver.

He reciprocated.

***

I spent a few minutes in the garden plotting the next practice on Ian to do some mind work.  I wanted to also know how he had the charm checked since I didn’t recall it being removed.  If he took it off while I slept, then he is cleverer than I thought.  The range was a great place to catch him off guard.  After careful consideration, I had my goal.

I walked into the entrance and found the guards quiet as usual.  They didn’t announce my entrance like the movies did with swords and red carpets or their normal mind jive to Ian. 

Ian was on the far side, out of hearing distance, helping the fresh off the teenage wagon of new guards like usual.  Pike and Bane usually took the more advanced groups.  Ian’s movements told me he was giving the first lesson approach to using a dagger.  I altered my plan just a bit to fit the picture of daggers instead of arrows and searched for the one joker I needed.  Bane!  His huge build was easy to spy and bright yellow hair waving in the wind left me with no doubt where he stood.  He was the one and only long-haired guy at the court. 

I made my thought patterns focus on graduation and the small steps it took to finally shake hands with the supposed future.  At the same time, I opened my airwaves so to speak to check the radar for thoughts around Ian.  The young man he was working with had the shakiest hands I’d seen on the range.  Ian was nervous for him too, his voice reassuring him many times.  I forgot my plan immediately being able to read the young man very easily.  He was praying the dagger actual went in the right direction, but each time his shaky hands let go too fast sending the daggers behind him towards the onlookers.  Hearing them both was easy once tried.  I just had to believe I can.  I silently begged Ian to be more careful.

Ian jerked around staring wide eyed at me.  His head cocked sideways in a shock and smile combo. 
You heard me?

He nodded. 

I concentrated even harder.  I hadn’t aimed at him, but he received my message.  Intentionally now, I aimed at the young man. 
Turn and throw the dagger.  Flick your wrist down and not your hand.

He did as I said shaking his head back and forth and holding his temple.  He didn’t stop, but reached over his shoulder and threw the dagger in the right direction hitting the side of the target.

Very good
.  I told him.  His genuine smile of awe was a bit gratifying to my own ego.

I turned back to Ian to regroup my thoughts seeing his mouth wide open in the classic O pattern. 

I moved a little closer to him for privacy.  “What?”  I was afraid I did something wrong.

“Were you talking to him?  Did you make him do that?”

He didn't hear my inner voice that time.  Because I didn't direct to him?  But he heard the other.  Emotions were the key with Ian, I think.

“Yes.”  My voice was low.  Bane was beside me registering this also, but stayed silent.

“How did you switch back and forth and talk to us at the same time?  When did that start?” Ian asked me.

“I just aimed.  No big deal,” I eyed the young man with a smile as Bane was clearing his throat.  For knowing I could was half the battle. The semantics, I could work out as I go. Ian muttered under his breath, nodded at Bane, and asked if I needed him.  I raised an eyebrow and smiled deviously like a bad girl would.  He swallowed and darted his eyes to Bane and back to me.  I knew Bane was looking far away now and avoiding us like the plague. 

We separated and he walked back to the two students.  Bane took one and Ian, the other.  As I watched and waited, the same young guard stopped and faced me.  “Thank you for the advice, my queen.  You have a very calming inner voice.”             

That was my shock face showing now. I peeked at Ian again.  The O face made its appearance again.  Why was
he
so shocked?
 
I huffed silently at him for this and rolled my “you should know I’m all that” eyes back at him.

He wanted to know
now
, so I gave a little.  “Ian, I don’t know why. I already checked with Altheon. Sometimes, I just try things and they work.  Most often, they don’t.  This time, it did.”  He wasn’t satisfied, but he left it alone for the time being.

I watched the range as a whole a few more minutes before making my exit to my next quest. Number two item of the day was getting with Danella about the little something she retrieved during the graduation side visit to eat hamburgers.  I was so thankful to have Danella and needed to find a way to repay her for all she does.  She worried so much about my mom and dad that I asked Tren if she could find someone who could take over the task of cleaning the house just for the weekends.  Tren was happy to oblige and the deal was made.  I met Danella.  She gave me the object in question and I told her my surprise.  She hugged me a hundred times. 

On to the third quest of the day.

The books were stacked and the historians were hard at work adding recent events to the latest book just like I expected.  They were conversing about whether to add the attack made on the woods by none other than my undergarments.  My plan switched considerably fast and I was on it like a flea on a dog.  I concentrated hard on the older gentleman hunched over finishing the last entry while the others talked. 
Tell them it would be better left out because there was no real danger.

“I believe we should leave it out since there was no real danger.”  He shook his head slightly, but didn’t grab his head. 
Perfect.

The others looked up briefly, but complied and agreed silently moving on to the next event.  Kin’s kidnapping.  I felt this was a lost cause for my invasion of minds so I approached them and asked if all was well.  They smiled and gave me apt attention before returning to their work. 

I left them after a few questions and went to lunch completely famished.  Mind games are work.