“Uggghhhh… What happened?” Klaus groans out. He tries to sit up, but I swear he turns a little green and lays back down, bringing his other hand up to his mouth in a fist.
Alex answers Klaus while he tries to breathe through his nausea, “I’m not really sure, but I’m willing to wager it was the Matrix wall of air that exploded out from Princess and me when I kissed her.” With the last part, he throws me a smirk over his shoulder. What a little shit.
“Yeah, that’s starting to ring a bell. The last thing I remember is rushing to get to you, and then I was lifted in the air with my legs still running. I bet I looked like one of those dogs who gets pulled out of the water but they’re still trying to paddle.” Klaus tries sitting up again and this time Alex helps him up and props him against the tree.
Klaus gazes at my girl for a long moment before focusing back on Alex. “I’m so glad you two are okay. I had no idea we were surrounded when I called you. They sent five teams. I was able to take one team out and was trying to make it to you in time to help. I’m sorry I didn’t make it.”
“How could you’ve known? You aren’t a mind reader.” Alex smoothly brushes off the apology.
Klaus directs his attention toward me and says, “I’m pretty sure they placed a tracker on her of some sort.”
Fuck! How’s it even possible I didn’t think to search her from the very first moment, before we even left that field? I lift both hands to my head and rub them over my buzzed hair while turning my back to everyone around me.
I start counting again. The need to center myself by doing this has been far too frequent as of late, so much so I’m beginning to be infuriated with myself. I’m missing too many simple things, distracted by my mate. As much as I want her, she hasn’t been good for me.Maybe I should distance myself for a bit…
“Derrick, check her over for any kind of a tracker. Search for any small bumps under her skin too. We need to figure out how they keep showing up right where she is.” I give the instructions without turning around, still working on getting my emotions under control.
I want to pace, but the idea of showing weakness makes me even more uncomfortable, which is stupid because these guys are like my brothers and would never see me that way.
“I can’t get any of her clothing to move to check her limbs,” Derrick reports back.
“Well, then check the areas you can see,” I snap at him, unable to control my reactions. I swear it’s as if I've taken some kind of drug and the effects haven’t worn off yet. One-two-three-four-five. One-two-three-four-five.
Taking a deep breath, I turn around. “Sorry, man.” Derrick just glances up from where he’s crouched over my girl’s body, and offers a sharp nod in understanding. He continues to run his fingers over her scalp searching for a small bump with his fingers.
When he doesn’t find anything, he lifts her neck and searches there before laying her back down to search her chest. Moving back up, he tucks her hair behind her ears. “She’s wearing a pair of earrings. Do you think the tracker is in one of them?”
“Let me see them,” I command while holding my hand out so he can place the earrings there, after they’ve been removed. Once I have them in hand, I inspect them carefully. Before deciding their guilt, I hold them up to my ear. I focus my hearing and pick up the high-pitched radio frequency waves coming from them. Yep, guilty as shit.
“Definitely a tracker in these earrings. I think it’s best if as many of us stay with her as possible; the more protection, the better. Just one of us should take these to lead them on a wild chase. It’ll probably be best if I’m the one to do it.”
“No arguments from me,” Derrick says, squeezing my girl closer to his chest. “I can’t leave her again so soon.” I know how he feels. It’s not that I want to leave her though, it’s more like acompulsion. She deserves someone who isn’t lost to themselves, and the only way I can be that person is if I find myself again and learn to control my raging emotions.
Distance... I need distance. “You guys take her north to my cabin. We need to head that way for the Summit anyways. I'll meet you there after I ditch the earrings.” I place the earrings in my pouch for safekeeping and order my body to change forms. Sure, I could use some rest, but I need to get the tracker away from here before more mercenaries show up. I’m in no way running away from my feelings.
Chapter 21
Cecily
Five Hundred Years Ago
Alazy smile spreads across my face as I wake up, and my heart is filled with a joy I can’t quite place. I’m not complaining though, who would be upset waking up filled to bursting with happiness? I try to place my feelings with a reason, and suddenly it hits me...
Today’s the day! Today’s the day I get to leave this Fates awful place and head back to the paradise that is my home. I call it a paradise because compared to here, that’s exactly what it is. Upon my arrival, I’ll probably overcompensate and saturate my chambers at home with as much light as I can possibly flood the room with.
My anticipation increases thinking about waiting for this day to be over so we can head out. Hopefully it doesn’t drag on to feel infinitely longer than it actually is. Summoning my magic, I place clothes from where they’re hanging, onto my body. As soon as my clothes are on, I set to packing my trunks up. We won’t bring them with us when we leave tonight, but they can still be ready to be sent to us later.
All of my clothes are packed as well as any other odds and ends I brought with me. I walk over to the writing desk and spot all of my stationery. Until now, the thought hasn’t occurred to me that I never received a response from my mother. Oh well, I’ll be home soon enough. I throw my unused writing items on top of everything else in my trunk and slam the top closed.
Using my magic to lock the trunk closed, I add in a seal that will only allow me to open it, since we’ll be leaving it here for the time being. There, one item on my to-do list completed. It’s almost like I’m trying to get myself back in the swing of things. Making an itinerary of what I need to complete today...
Next item, I speak to my guards. I swing open my door and find Baxter on guard duty at the moment. “Hey Bax, can you get Frances and come in here? I need to discuss some things with the two of you.”
He offers a quick bow and says, “Yes, Your Highness.” He strides over to the room across the hall and walks into their shared room without pausing. I walk back into my chambers and leave the door slightly ajar so they can come in once Baxter grabs Frances. They walk in just as I’m sitting down, and I immediately put up the soundproof bubble to make sure we aren’t overheard.
Both of them take a knee, something I've never been able to get them to stop doing no matter how many times they were asked. I’ve come to the point where I know it’s just something I have to accept. They enjoy being able to show respect in this manner and aren’t willing to stop just because I’m unwilling to accept it. “You asked to see us, Your Highness?” Frances inquires.
“I just wanted to let you both know we’re going to be leaving tonight for home. We’re heading out as soon as Silas has retired for the evening. Don’t worry about taking your things, we can send for them later. We just want to try and make a quick escape.” I cross my legs in an attempt to get more comfortable on this chair.
