The Lost Chalice (The Relic Seekers Book 3) (23 page)

“Don’t be an ass,” he said to himself. Nathan would protect her. He would give his life for Kendall. That was some solace, but not enough to ease the ache in his heart.

When he finally slept, he was tormented by dreams of his mother telling him to find something. He saw her face clearly, her beautiful eyes pleading, afraid. Then his dreams turned to Kendall and Nathan kissing. But his dream didn’t stop with a kiss. He saw them touching, bodies pressing close and finally coming together as one. He saw Kendall’s eyes flare as Nathan entered her and her hands gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer.

Jake woke in a sweat. He stripped off his underwear—he couldn’t sleep without them if his mother could be in the house, moving through the walls like Raphael—and climbed under the cold spray of the shower. Kendall and Nathan. Kendall and Nathan. Even the rushing water seemed to taunt him with their names. Tense with frustration, he got out and dressed. He wouldn’t leave her. He didn’t care who his father was, Kendall belonged with him. He wasn’t going to give her up. Nathan would have to settle for her friendship.

He dressed, packed a bag, and jumped into his Jeep. He’d wasted enough time.

The trip from the airport to Aunt Edna’s seemed to take forever. Kendall and Nathan alternated between bouts of silence and talking. Kendall kept thinking about Jake, wondering if he was all right, and though Nathan wouldn’t have admitted it, she knew he was worried about Jake too.

“He’ll be OK,” Nathan said after a long silence.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him like this.”

Nathan stared out the window of the rental car they had picked up at the airport. “I have.”

She had forgotten that Nathan had known Jake longer than she had. “After you rescued him from that Iraqi jail? I’m sure that wasn’t fun for either of you.”

“He looked half dead. They had beaten the shit out of him.”

“You really did save him.” The little boy she had loved and thought she’d lost had saved the man who would end up being her lover. And if that wasn’t confusing enough, they had all known and betrayed each other many lifetimes ago.
Stop it, Kendall
. She had determined that she wouldn’t keep thinking about that damned vision until the chalice was safe.

Nathan rubbed a hand over his short hair and gave an empty laugh. “I saved the Reaper’s son.”

“We don’t know for certain that the Reaper was his father.”

“He is.” Nathan said it without anger. “I was right the first time. He was connected to the Reaper. Jake just didn’t know it.”

“Just because Jake’s mother knew the Reaper, that doesn’t mean he’s his father.” But she knew deep down that he was. So did Jake. “Is that the only reason you rescued him? Because you thought he would lead you to the Reaper?”

Nathan seemed to be searching for an answer. “I don’t really know. I just needed to do it.” He swerved to avoid a dead animal in the road.

Kendall was certain there was more behind Nathan’s motive than just spying on an enemy. He’d felt something for Jake. Maybe he’d sensed that they were both alone, and if Raphael was right about King Arthur, Nathan and Jake were connected on a deeper level. Her mind started going there, but she pulled it back. “I think you sensed a kindred spirit. Neither of you remembered your parents, you both had blank spots in your pasts, you both put up walls to keep people at a distance. Other than all your money, you’re both a lot alike.”

“If that’s why you—” He clenched his hands on the wheel.

She didn’t ask him to finish. She knew what he was going to say. That it was the reason she had feelings for Nathan and Jake.

“You’re alone too,” he said, interrupting her musing. “Your father is dead. You didn’t know your mother. We’re all sort of dysfunctional.”

“But we’re not alone now.” Kendall patted his shoulder. “We found each other again.” Now if she just had Jake. They would be complete.

They rode in silence for a while, and Kendall searched through her memories for any hint of the chalice. But she had nothing. “What will we do with the chalice if it is at Aunt Edna’s?”

“Put it somewhere so that it’s safe from the Reaper.”

“With the Spear of Destiny? Wherever you hid it?”

“I’m not trying to hide it from you. I figured you’re better off not knowing until the Reaper is out of the way.”

“Now that I’m the keeper, you’ll have to tell me.”

“Are you pulling rank?” he asked with a hint of a smile.

“If you don’t show me, I will.”

“I will. Let’s just hope we can find the chalice.” He shook his head. “To think everyone’s been looking for the Holy Grail, and I was the one who took it. I’m a bloody relic thief.”

Kendall smiled. “You didn’t really steal it. It belonged to your father, and you didn’t know what you were taking. You haven’t stolen anything since. Have you?”

“No, I got my collection legally. For the most part. I brushed the line a few times.”

“You always had an adventurous streak,” Kendall said, smiling as she remembered. “You never cheated, but you knew how to push the envelope. I guess that’s what made you a good businessman.”

“My father’s money made me a good businessman. He left me a lot of money. It’s one thing to succeed when you have to start from nothing. I had a helping hand.”

“How much do you remember about your father?”

“More than I did, but there are still a lot of holes.”

“His collection was magnificent. Everyone wanted it.”

“Did we ever see it?”

“A few times. We weren’t allowed to go inside the room unless he was with us. He didn’t really like anyone looking at it. But we sneaked in a couple of times.”

Nathan smiled. “Did we get caught?”

“No. We were very good at sneaking.” She smiled. “He kept it in a secret room off his study. There was an old lock, ancient, probably a relic itself, but nothing like we’d seen. You were fascinated with it.”

Nathan’s gaze had left the road and steadied on her. “Your eyes light up when you talk about it.”

“We had fun. It was an exciting life, if a little odd. Uncle John knew everyone in the antiquities community,” Kendall said. “Sometimes we went to big cities to attend museum openings or some fund-raiser where the men wore tuxes and women dressed in lovely gowns. Do you remember that?”

“I remember hiding upstairs and looking over a balcony.”

Kendall laughed. “That was in Amsterdam. Uncle John was there for some big fund-raiser.” She turned to Nathan. “I’m sorry. I still feel like it’s my fault that he died. I never dreamed that my trespassing could cause so much grief.”

“It’s not your fault,” Nathan said.

“You heard Marco talk about the curse, and they died right after I broke into the chapel and took the vow.”

“You didn’t know you were taking a vow—”

“You did,” Kendall said. “You tried to stop me. You knew something bad was going to happen, didn’t you?”

Nathan shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t know anything for sure, but it felt off.”

“That should have been my clue. You were never scared of anything. I’m sorry. It is my fault.”

“It’s the Reaper’s fault. He’s the one who killed them. He must have known my father had the chalice. If you want to assign blame to someone else, look at me. The Reaper killed my father for something he never had. I had already stolen the Holy Grail. Maybe if he’d found it, he would have left him alive.”

Kendall touched Nathan’s hand. “That’s not likely. He killed other collectors besides your father. Look at Brandi and Thomas’s parents. He killed them and they didn’t have the Holy Grail.”

He sighed. “None of us can change the past. We just have to accept it and go on. Besides, if we’re who Raphael thinks we are, reincarnations of King Arthur and Guinevere, then there must be a reason why they came back now. You taking the vow could have been meant to be.”

She ignored the troubling vision and concentrated on the safest part of the theory. “I hadn’t thought of that. It’s as if we were chosen. Doesn’t that just blow your mind? You were once King Arthur.
The
King Arthur.”

A slow smile started on Nathan’s lips. “It’s bloody insane. I always wanted to be King Arthur. I used to dream about it.”

Kendall felt a bubble of excitement at his smile. “They were probably memories, not dreams.”

“If this is true, you were there too. And Jake.” Nathan’s mouth twisted. “Lancelot.”

And there she went, headfirst into the pit of guilt. The love triangle of all times, Kendall thought. History repeating itself with a twist. She changed the subject, hoping to put the smile back on Nathan’s face and keep herself from going insane. “We’ll have to be careful not to mention any of this to Aunt Edna. She’s a gossip.”

“I remember,” Nathan said, with a hint of humor. “She knew everything about everyone.”

“Still does. She sends me e-mails to keep me informed.” And to offer the latest selection of potential bridegrooms. Kendall already had one too many men to choose from.

“If your father was born centuries ago, how can she be his sister?”

“She’s not. She’s my mom’s distant cousin by marriage or something crazy. My mom and dad didn’t have any real family—now I know why he didn’t—so when he died, Aunt Edna stepped in and adopted me. I thought she was my real aunt until I was grown.”

“She loves you like family. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. Let’s just hope the chalice is still there,” Nathan said.

“Aunt Edna has every drawing I ever sent her when I was a kid. She never throws anything away.”

Nathan frowned. “But doesn’t she sell a lot of stuff in her antique shop?”

“Oh God. You don’t think . . .”

Aunt Edna’s house was a Victorian, like many others on this street. It looked just as it had when Kendall was a kid, like a gingerbread house with the fancy trim and bright colors.

Aunt Edna was waiting for them outside, face lit with a smile. Like the house, Aunt Edna never seemed to change much, but this time she looked all
fixed
up
, as she would say. Her gray hair showed signs of a fresh perm, and instead of a plain, solid-colored dress, she wore one with flowers so bright it looked like a patch of spring.

“She looks different,” Nathan said. He’d met her a few times.

“Maybe she’s having a fling with old man Wilson.”

“He’s the one with the farm behind her house?”

“That’s him. They’re always bickering, but I think they’re really flirting.”

Aunt Edna’s dress flapped like petunias in the breeze as she hurried toward the car, chattering away before Kendall could open the door.

“. . . so long since you’ve been here.” Aunt Edna wrapped Kendall in a hug, and the smell of White Shoulders wafted up her nose. Her aunt stepped back, smiling at Nathan. “And this must be your . . . boss.”
Rich
was the missing word. Aunt Edna’s hands were clasped in excitement, and Kendall knew her aunt was dreaming about weddings.

“Yes, this is Nathan Larraby.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you,” Aunt Edna said. “I’ve heard such nice things about you. Well, come on inside now, and let’s have a little visit. You can tell me what Kendall’s been up to. I worry about her. She’s always been a handful ever since she was little. You can’t imagine.”

Nathan grinned. “I think I can.”

Kendall wished she could tell her aunt who Nathan was. Aunt Edna had been there for Kendall while she grieved for him, but as much as she loved her aunt, she wasn’t the most discreet person. The last thing Nathan needed was the press getting wind that he had another identity, a boy who was supposed to be dead.

“Did you get a new car?” Kendall asked, looking at a sporty little Mazda.

“No, that belongs to one of my guests.”

“Guests?”

“I’m taking in guests now.” Aunt Edna glanced across the street at the Happy Hearth Bed-and-Breakfast, owned by her archrival, Doris Clune. “Doris’s isn’t the only bed-and-breakfast in town now.”

“You turned your house into a bed-and-breakfast?”

“Why not? I have plenty of room, and it brings in some money.”

Did she need money? Kendall had helped her out once when she was about to lose the shop. “Are things OK?”

Aunt Edna waved her hand in dismissal. “Oh yes. This is my cruise money, and having a bed-and-breakfast keeps me busy. Between that and the antique shop, I never get bored. Idle hands and all that.”

Aunt Edna had never gotten bored. If she had a moment of spare time, she was visiting her friends to get the latest news, serving as Hillside’s resident gossip.

Aunt Edna waved her hands. Her nails were bright pink. “Don’t worry, it’s just a couple of guests. I’m sure they won’t trouble you.”

“We can’t stay long. Just a quick visit.” Long enough to find the chalice and get it to a safe place.

“You’re staying the night?”

“Maybe one night. We have a busy schedule.”

“I’ll be glad to have a strong man in the house,” Aunt Edna said. “We’ve got a burglar on the loose.”

“Here?”

“He’s made two attempts. The sheriff’s still looking for him. I think it’s Doris trying to undermine my business. That’s just the sort of thing she would do. But the sheriff won’t listen to me.”

“When did this happen?” Kendall asked.

“Night before last, but I scared him off with my cowbell. Oh, there’s the phone. I’ll be right back. Make yourselves at home.”

“That’s a bit strange,” Nathan said. “We find out the chalice is here and someone tries to break in.”

“Could the Reaper have found out?”

Aunt Edna came back and interrupted any further discussion. “Another man wanting a room, but I’m booked. Too bad. He sounded handsome. Now look at you, empty-handed. Let me get you a glass of tea and we can catch up.”

They caught up for a long time, as Aunt Edna told Nathan every embarrassing story she knew about Kendall when she was a girl. Then she gave them a tour of the house to show them all the work she’d done. She’d done some painting, but the house still looked the same. Except for the number of pictures of Kendall as a girl. Kendall didn’t remember all those. She was touched, and a little embarrassed. Aunt Edna was the only family she had left, maybe not blood relation, but she was still family. Kendall should have visited more often.