Awakened (39 page)

Someone snatched me and tucked me in protective arms. I closed my eyes tight. The hairs on my skin rose as biting winter air replaced the warmth of the throne room. A rumble shook the ground under my feet then silence followed. I didn’t move. Couldn’t move. My body shook so hard my teeth rattled.

After what seemed like forever, feathers tickle my face. My eyes popped open. Bran had wrapped his arms and wings around me. He was also shaking. I checked his psi energy. He was bruised again, but nothing serious. I looked around. We were in a gorge, snow covering the alpine slopes on either side of us. Hundreds of Guardians dotted the area, talking, laughing, telephathing. They did it...Coronis and her followers were gone forever. There were injuries but no one seemed bothered. Where was my Grampa—?

He appeared before I completed my thought.

“Is the castle gone?” Seth asked.

“And most of the island and the people, too,” Grampa answered.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Valafar’s demise. That was something I’d analyze later. “Did Celeste and…?”

“Did my brother and sister make it?” Bran asked at the same time.

“Yes, they did. Gavyn took her to L.A.” Grampa nodded at everyone. “Our work here is done, Guardians. Let’s go home.”

THE EPILOGUE

The doorbell rang and my eyes went to the clock by my bedside. I put the hairbrush down on the dresser and hurried to open the front door.

“You’re not dressed?” Izzy asked. “The party is less than an hour.”

“And you’re the guest of honor.” Kim gave the living room a sweeping glance. She hadn’t been to my house since we moved in a few days ago because she and her mother had gone home to Xenith for a week. They just got back last night. “Nice furniture,” she said.

“Thanks.”

“We brought make-up and the curling iron,” Izzy added.

“I can do my own make-up and hair.”

“Sure you can.” They brushed past me and entered my bedroom, which was through a short hallway to the left of the living room. Both girls wore skinny black pants, high-heels and silky tops—Izzy’s was turquoise and Kim’s fuchsia. They must have decided to tone down their styles for the sakes of their parents, who’d be at the party along with the Cardinals and Guardian camps from around the world. Everyone wanted to celebrate Coronis’ demise.

“You did an amazing job in here,” Izzy said.

Kim looked around. “Lemon walls, mismatched furniture…. Where did you pick up this stuff?”
Garage sale?

“I heard that. If you must know, antique catalogue. I like a mixture of the old and the new.” My antique bed, dresser and the wicker chair with colorful cushions balanced the modern lounge, the T.V. and the computer and printer.

Kim picked up a moss-colored chair and checked the tag. “You should have gone with a canopied bed and a more colorful décor,”

Izzy laughed. “Like your fuchsia and magenta bedroom? That’s so not Lil. When I move into my own place, I’m going all out. Each room will have a theme.” She patted the vanity stood in front of the dresser. “Sit, Lil.”

“Is this what you’re wearing tonight?” Kim fingered the teal skirt with matching tights. Intricate gold designs dotted the hem and the slit that came to the waist. The golden and teal tank top had puffed up sleeves and was short enough to leave midriff bare. And the matching scarf had gold coins dangling from the edges.

“I haven’t decided yet. What do you think,” I asked.

“It’s nice.” She sounded surprised.

Izzy glanced over. “Nice? It’s gorgeous. That’s gypsy, right?”

I nodded. “It used to belong to my mother.” I plucked the picture of my mother from my dresser drawer. “See? She’s wearing it in this photograph.”

They looked at the picture then gave me puzzled looks. “But you said you didn’t have pictures of her except that.” Kim pointed at the framed photograph I always kept by my bed.

“I didn’t. This one came in the mail yesterday along with the dress,” I added in a whisper.

They stared at me with rounded eyes when realization dawned on them. Kim dropped the dress like it was diseased and stepped away from my bed. “Valafar.”

“He’s alive?” Izzy whispered.

I nodded. “I mean, who else could have sent them?”

“Does your grandfather know?” Kim asked.

I shook my head. “I want to tell him, but I don’t know how. Maybe I should just burn the dress. On the other hand, it was hers and...and….”

“You want to hold on to something of hers,” Izzy finished.

I nodded and braced myself for their verdict. Silence followed. I scrunched my face. “What do you guys think? Should I?”

Kim gave an exasperated sigh and shook her head. “I wouldn’t keep it if I were you. I know Valafar is your father and he told you where Coronis had taken us during that mess last week, but the fact remains that he’s evil. People don’t change overnight, let alone demons.”

I winced at her brutal response. “No, of course they don’t.”

As if the subject was closed, Kim picked up a bottle of cream from my dresser, opened and sniffed it. She scooped some and rubbed on her hands. I turned to Izzy and caught her watching Kim with narrowed eyes.

“I disagree,” Izzy said. “The outfit was your mother’s, Lil. Something to remember her by. Yes, Valafar maybe a duke in the devil’s hierarchy, but he loved her once. And he obviously wants you to have her things. I say keep it.”

“What if it has some demonic energy to lure Lil to his side?” Kim asked in a hard voice.

I rolled my eyes. “I already swiped it with the kris, like, ten times. It didn’t combust or anything like that.”

Izzy gave me thumbs up. “Good for you. Did it come with a letter? A card?”

“Just the picture. No return address. The postmark on the package said L.A. and I just assumed it was one of the things I’d ordered. I didn’t check the name on it until after I opened the box, otherwise I would’ve known it came from him. He’s the only one who calls me Lilith.”

Izzy stepped back and studied my face with critical eyes. “Like I said, keep it. Wear it. You sure you don’t want help with your hair?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks.”

As Kim started for the door, her gaze went to the dress on my bed. “I think you two are wrong, but,” she shrugged, “why listen to me. See you at the party.”

Izzy made a face. Her expression said, “I don’t know what’s her problem.”

After they left, I searched for Grampa. He was at the HQ. I changed into the gypsy outfit, brushed my hair and tied the scarf. I studied my mother’s picture and compared it with my reflection. Except for my hair color and darker skin tone, I looked just like her.

“You look lovely.”

I jumped at Grampa’s voice. I hadn’t broken the habit of leaving my door ajar despite moving from the trailer and my shoe-box bedroom. “You think so?” I turned.

He leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms. He’d already changed into a suit, the only one in his closet. “You look just like your Grandmother, a
Kalderasha
princess.”

I grinned. I walked to where he stood and showed him Mom’s picture. “It came in the mail with the dress.”

He studied the picture without touching it then closed his eyes and sighed. “I know.”

I didn’t bother asking him how he knew. He probably knew Valafar was alive before I received the dress. Was he disappointed I’d tried it on? When Grampa’s lids lifted, his eyes were sad, like an old man who’d fought too many battles and lost. Guilt punched me in the gut. “Are you angry with me? I can remove it and burn it if you want me to,” I added.

Grampa shook his head. “No. I understand you have questions, and he appears to have the answers. Just don’t mistake his need to manipulate for love. You can’t trust him.”

I nodded. “I know.”

He fingered the gold coins framing my face. “Your Grandmother bought this outfit for Tatiana when she was your age. They both loved it.”

A lump formed in my throat. To wear this dress on the day I was presented to Council members from around the world as a Guardian trainee was poetic justice. Guardians never accepted my grandmother because she was a gypsy. Would they accept me now that everyone knew my father was a demon? I bet no other Guardian had a dysfunctional family like mine.

“I think she would’ve wanted you to have it,” Grampa said.

“Really?” He nodded. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Grampa.”

“For what?”

“For being such a wonderful grandfather. Love you.”

He patted my arm, smiled. “Same here, baby.” He turned and walked toward his bedroom.

I went back to the mirror. I loved the dress, but part me wondered what Valafar hoped to achieve by giving it to me? Sway me to his side? Never in a million years.

I was checking my reflection for the umpteenth time when Bran’s energy brushed mine. I smiled.
Where are you?

Outside. Are you ready for the party?

Come in and find out.

He laughed.
Where are you?

I’m in my bedroom.

He appeared in the mirror, his dimpled smile flashing. My breath caught. He looked drop-dead gorgeous in black slacks and a green silk shirt. His hair fell in wavy mass around his beautiful face.

I stood and his eyes widened at my outfit. I didn’t give him a chance to say anything. I floated into his arms and kissed him. He cupped my cheeks and took over. I wrapped my arms around his neck and poured all my love and yearning for him into the kiss, my heart pounding and knees turning into noodles. He leaned back and guided my head to his chest. For a moment, I listened to his pounding heart and smiled.

He stepped back, studied me from head to toe and back up again. “Wow.”

I spun around, the skirt frothing around my ankles. “You like?”

“No. I hate,” he answered with a deadpan expression.

“What?”

He laughed, wrapped his arms around my waist and whirled me around. His beautiful laughter was infectious, and I found myself grinning. I hated it when he teased me. I was never sure whether he was serious or not.

He sprawled on the lounge, taking up most of the space, and pulled me down beside him. “You look amazing. If Sykes drools on you, I’ll punch his ugly nose.”

I rolled my eyes. “He doesn’t have an ugly nose.”

“Does too. And his teeth are a little crooked.”

His jealousy of Sykes was baseless. “So are mine.”

“On you, they look gorgeous.” He lifted my chin and pressed his lips to mine in a gentle, lingering caress. I closed my eyes and let him mesmerize me.

When he stopped, I waited until my heart wasn’t threatening to explode before I spoke. “I love you.”

“I know.”

I giggled. He had no modesty, and he’d never told me he loved me even though I knew he did. I didn’t mind waiting for him to get around to it. “I wish Gavyn would let you live here.”

He shrugged. “He’s coming around. I mean, he allows me to come here, hunt with the Cardinals. We’ve got to give him credit for that. The rift among the Hermonites won’t affect the demon world for long, and he’ll want to head back to L.A. and his old life as soon as things calm down. If he does, I’m free to live wherever I want. If he stays in Park City, I stay. That’s what we agreed on for Celeste’s sake.”

Bran’s determination to save his brother from a demonic lifestyle was admirable. I just hated that they lived in a different town. Even Grampa wanted him to relocate to the valley and join the Guardianship program.

“Celeste would love living here,” I murmured.

“I know.”

Grampa cleared his voice, and we looked up. He watched us from my bedroom doorway. “Nice to see you’re ready too, son.”

Bran hustled to his feet. “Evening, sir.”

“At ease. Where’s your sister?”

“She’s at home with Gavyn.”

“See if they want to join us. We couldn’t have made it in and out of Coronis Isle without Gavyn’s help, and I plan to tell anyone listening tonight.” Grampa disappeared from the doorway.

Bran blew out air and shook his head. “Whoa.”

“I think he’s just joined your battle,” I said.

“What battle?”

“The battle to save your brother from himself.”

Bran leaned down and gave me a resounding kiss. “Have I told you I love you?”

I grinned, my heart skipping. “No.”

“I do. Very much. Wait right here.”

He dematerialized and left me with sappy grin on my face. I knew he’d come around to telling me he loved me. And whether Gavyn liked it or not, Bran would be the next Cardinal Water Guardian, the position his grandfather held until fifty years ago. As for Gavyn, the poor demon didn’t stand a chance against my grandfather. He’d have him fighting with the Cardinals before he knew what hit him.