United Eden (27 page)

Have I had a chance to say thank you for conquering the axis of evil and saving me from insanity trapped in that black hole yet? I asked, squeezing him into a bear hug.

Not yet, but I forgive you, he said, pul ing me to him Youve been kind of busy avoiding death, getting United, playing me for a fool, that kind of stuff.

Im sorry, I offered, smiling. And thank you.

Anytime, kiddo. Anytime. He tucked his chin over my head and pul ed me closer, grinning like the Cheshire cat at Wil iam.

Because youre my little brother, youre al owed to hug my wife for a few seconds. But because Im aware of your feelings for her and youre approaching a ten second embrace there, Wil iam said, shooting him a look, Il give you two more seconds to drop your arms from my girl before I rip them from their sockets.

I see the territorial aggression hasnt tapered off since being United, Patrick mumbled as he broke free of our hug, raising his hands and taking deliberate steps away from me.

Come here, Wil iam said, approaching us. You can hug her anytime you want, as long as its alright with Bryn. Were family, he said, his eyes soft as he sandwiched the three of us together into a hug that made mine seem as firm as a wet noodle.

Sure, of course were family, Patrick mumbled in between us. Since youre the one that ended up with the girl.

I elbowed him as we unwound from our sandwich. He always had the girl. It wasnt like there was a competition for me.

Ouch, Patrick said, taking a seat in front of his mountain of food. Im not even competition any more to someone as boring and hard to look at as Wil iam. This day just keeps getting better.

Enough, already, Abigail scolded, setting down a tray of French toast sprinkled with powered sugar and another with cream cheese rol ed crepes. When it came to a meal, Abigail never did anything half-way.

Yeah, enough already . . . Bartholomew, I teased, taking a seat across from him and smirking. Can I cal you Bart? I asked, going in for a muffin.

Patrick smiled humorlessly. Not if you expect me to answer, Bryny-Bear.

Do your worst, I said, unaffected. No matter what clever nickname you come up with for me, nothing could ever overtake Bartholomew.

Yeah, thank goodness Mother and Father saved that gem for you, Wil iam said, sliding into the chair next to me and shifting a whipped cream and strawberry waffle from his overflowing plate to mine. Your favorite, Mrs. Hayward, he said proudly as he kissed my temple.

Patrick made a motion of cutting his index finger across his neck before narrowing in on Wil iams breakfast. Since when did your appetite pick up to rival mine? For once, Patrick wasnt exaggerating. Wil iams plate peaked up into a mountain a good half-foot high, besting Patricks mastery of food stacking.

Since, unlike you, I was doing something other than sleeping and I plan on repeating that exact same thing for at least a year straight before sleep gets put back on the schedule, he explained, cutting into his eggs benedict, I need my proverbial energy.

Patrick grinned at his wistful-faced brother, a genuine one, as he leaned in. So was it as good as you always imagined it would be?

I flushed, more from the memories than the embarrassment.

Nah, Wil iam said, finishing his bite as a smile curled up one side of his mouth. It was like a mil ion times better.

You lucky son of a gun, Patrick grumbled, stabbing a slab of ham.

Everything is beyond delicious, I cal ed out to the four putting the last few dishes on the table. If youre up for a chal enge, Abby, Id love to take a few cooking lessons from you. I was hoping to change the subject from Patricks line of questioning, but I should have known nothing less than a firing squad could have succeeded in that.

So Bryns legendary clumsiness didnt result in any accidental punches of elbows or knees or kicks or” No, I interrupted, having enough with the Bryn-bashing already. Everything fit together just fine, thank you very much.

Patrick spewed his orange juice from his mouth. Literal y spewed it. I had a good vantage point given Id selected the seat across from him.

From that permi-grin youve manifested on your husbands face, I can see that everything
fit together just fine
, he repeated, annunciating just so.

Where are your manners? Cora scolded, swatting the back of Patricks head in passing.

I dont know, he replied, scooting out the chair next to him for Cora. I lost them a long time ago and cant seem to find them.

Cant or dont want to? I muttered into my orange juice glass.

He smiled. Both.

Enough with the sex talk and on to important things, Abigail said, coming up behind me. Four pairs of male eyes looked at her like shed just said something blasphemous. Let me see that ring! she exclaimed, grabbing my left hand and letting out a whistle. Thats not a diamond, Wil iam, thats a basebal .

So yesterday had been a bit . . . eventful and Id been in a black hole before landing smack in the middle of the kind of battle legends were made of. Id been preoccupied to put it lightly, but given most girls dreamed, planned, and agonized over the ring that would one day grace their ring finger, dont you think I would have at least noticed mine prior to Abigail bringing it up?

It had been on my finger for a few days, but noticing it now”for what I guess you would consider the first time”my jaw hit the table. What in the world were you thinking, Wil iam? I shouted, stil gape-mouthed. Its far too much. I looked at him, the weight of it seeming to give my finger cramps from holding it up. Did you rob some poor sheik of his crown jewel?

Joseph snickered. Figures youd find the biggest diamond a mans ever bought for a woman for the one woman in al history who would have been happy with a quarter machine ring.

Whats that I smel ? Patrick added, sniffing the air in my direction where my silent fuming was about to become not-so-silent. Ah, thats it, poetic justice.

I glared my warning at Patrick before turning it to Wil iam. I wasnt that girl who demanded the diamond that would put al others to shame. I wasnt even a diamond girl. I was a simple, no-fuss, gold band kind of girl, like the Unity band hed put above the monster-sized diamond last night.

Now, before you go off on me, may I have a minute to explain? Wil iam asked, raising his hands in his supposed innocence.

Proceed, I said, turning in my chair towards him. Although I cant imagine any explanation that could explain this . . .”I glanced at the ring again. I could inflict some serious damage with that monstrosity”this . . .
thing
, I settled for.

He slid in his seat to face me, tucking my knees in between his. I got this for you right after I began having dreams of you. Its big, I know, but it was the only thing at the time I could get for you that would symbolize what I felt. I wanted the very best, he said, looking at me shyly. It had nothing to do with trying to buy you or convince you of my love and everything to do as an expression of it. Please wear it, he asked, a request one notch above a beg. Ive waited to see it on your finger so long. His fingers twisted the ring around my finger. Who cares about the excessive size? I only had you on my mind when I bought it, nothing else, least especial y what anyone else would think.

Offensive
size you mean, Patrick said under his breath, but I paid it no attention. The man pleading before me could melt my heart before I even knew what was coming.

I didnt look at the ring when I answered him; I looked nowhere but in his eyes. Its beautiful, I said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. Thank you.

Il take one more of those, Wil iam said, tapping his lips. Right here.

I didnt even pretend to put up a fight”it would have been useless in the end anyways.

Sometimes I think the only reason you two bicker is so you have an excuse to make-out, Patrick huffed in his seat. I mean make-up.

And youre every shade of green right now, Patrick, Abigail said, taking her seat next to Nathanial.

So should we start or should we wait for Charles? Cora asked, as I, wanting to show some respect for his family, chose to break away from our kiss before we nauseated the rest of them.

Im here, a voice cal ed out from the front door as it closed. Sorry Im late, but it seems theres quite a bit of work that goes with the aftermath of usurping an Al iance the size of Johns, Charles said good-naturedly, rounding the hal into the kitchen.

Youre just in time, Abigail said, turning in her seat to welcome Charles. You only missed witnessing your sons immaturity.

Ah, of course, theres never a shortage of that, Charles replied, patting Wil iam and me on the shoulders as he took a seat beside Patrick. But a good laugh was just what I needed after last night.

Busy night? Nathanial asked, to which Charles gave a single nod.

How did you al . . . he began, circling around the family until his eyes fel on Wil iam and me. He went the subtlest shade of red. . . . sleep?

Everyone offered a quick reply, in the form of one word or a quick snicker, but Wil iam and I gave no answer other than the avoidance of Charles eyes.

So whats the word from Inheritor central? Patrick asked in between forkfuls of omelet.

Charles sighed, sounding tired. Most of the masterminds are dead, other than Troy, whos” Done what he does best, Patrick interjected.

Run away like a little girl, Joseph added.

Cora shot Joseph a look, standing her ful height of five foot and no inches.

You are not a little girl, babe, he said. You are a strong, beautiful woman who could kick Troys butt with your hands tied behind your back, he finished, blowing her a kiss.

Let him enjoy it why he has legs, Nathanial grumbled. He wont have them for much longer when we find him.

Wel find him. Ive already located the general area hes heading, Charles said. Im not worried about him”especial y with Hector and Paul after him”my stomach dropped a bit realizing that Paul hadnt stopped chasing Troy when theyd left the bal room yesterday. Not that I would have expected him to. Giving up wasnt Pauls thing, as I was personal y aware of. Its every one else I have to figure out what to do with, Charles continued, reaching for a piece of toast. John had thousands of fol owers around the world that were more or less forced into cooperation. We now have to begin the task of dispersing of these thousands of Inheritors into other Al iances. Not to mention hold trials for the ringleaders who are stil alive and reinstate the High Council with members that are less corruptible.

I wonder whos going to be a top runner for a position on the High Council . . . Nathanial said, pointing his eyes at Charles.

I may have been stupid enough to agree to a Chancel or position in our Al iance, but Im certainly not stupid enough to agree to a seat on the High Council. Theres a decades long headache waiting for me I dont need right now, Charles said, looking exhausted from the mention of it. Not with everything I have to clean up after last night.

Sounds like a kil er good time, Patrick said. Let me know if you need any more help on the butt-kicking end. Diplomacys never real y been my thing.

Diplomacy? Charles said, making a face. My sons?

If you wanted diplomats, you shouldnt have taught us how to shoot a gun as soon as we could walk, Nathanial answered.

Or taught us how to track anything with feet, Joseph threw in, looking to Wil iam to take his turn.

Or taught us how to take a man down with one hit, Wil iam said, smiling over to Patrick.

Or taught us muscle over mind, Patrick said, chewing through a piece of toast.

I never taught you that, Charles said, looking aghast.

Only by technicality in that you birthed the three brutes around me who taught me using my mind when they came at me with their muscles was useless.

Charles rol ed his eyes. It was the first time Id seen him do it. It didnt seem a man of Charles stature was capable of such a thing. Enough with the clean-up project in front of us”today is a day for celebration. He smiled, looking over at us, where Wil iam was managing to butter a piece of bread one-handed while he kept the other arm around me. May I ask what the two of you have planned for the immediate future?

Wil iam smiled, looking at me from the side. I trust my chosen one duties are fulfil ed?

Charles smiled back. For now.

It figures youd pick the perfect time to declare your chosen one-worthiness right before John Townsend was taken down, Patrick said, scowling into his coffee cup. It doesnt matter if you are or are not. Everyone now believes youre not only the chosen one, but god. It was bad enough when Bryn thought it. Now your master of the universe complex is going to grow to epic proportions.

Rewinding most recent rant from the brother across from me, Wil iam glared at Patrick before looking to Charles. I think an extended honeymoon is in order. An
extended
extended honeymoon, he emphasized, his eyes glinting over at me.

Id say that sounds like just the thing, Charles concurred, leaning back in his seat. Any ideas where said honeymoon wil take place?

Oh, Ive got one, Wil iam said, playing it cool. Somewhere Ive had in mind for awhile now.

CHAPTER TWENTY

RULERS OF OUR OWN UNIVERSE

Please tel me it hasnt been a month tomorrow, Wil iam said, tracing his fingers over the droplets of water dotting my skin. Lie to me, I dont care, but do not tel me were expected to rejoin reality tomorrow morning when we leave to board that plane back to the Montana.

I reclined in his arms, situating my head over his shoulder and floated in the steaming hot spring, no one around for miles, nothing but the Bavarian mountain air and the snow fal ing from the sky to intrude upon us.

Peace”at last.

Wil iam had shown me the hot spring a couple of days after wed arrived in Germany, at the foot of the Alps to be exact. His house had been rebuilt as if itd never been burnt to the ground a couple of months back. When Id asked him if there was some sort of Immortal magic I wasnt aware of that he was holding back from me, hed merely said that he
knew people
. Judging from the way the chalet had been put back together just as itd been before, square inch for square inch, that could have been the most under exaggerated use of the phrase to date.