Awakened Page 15

  Deep inhale…hold and count…exhale…. A week of pranayama and I still couldn’t calm myself down. The urge to cry still streamed through me.

  Lil!

  I jerked upright, blinked. Bran appeared on the passenger seat, his raven-black hair in disarray, emerald eyes stormy.

  13. FIRST DATE

  “Are you okay?” he yelled, eyes darting across my face as though searching for injuries, hands gripping my shoulders.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. I nodded. What was he doing here? Was his meeting with the CT successful? Not that it mattered. He was here, right when I needed a friend.

  He cupped the back of my head, closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against mine. A deep sigh escaped him as though some weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “You’re okay.”

  His presence, the whispered words of concern, the gentle way he touched me was too much. The tears I’d been fighting crested in my eyes and rolled down my face. Sobs raked my body. Strong arms drew me to a warm masculine chest. I bunched his shirt with my hands and burrowed into his neck.

  I drenched his shirt, savored his soothing words and gentle rubs on my back. His thoughts and feelings flowed into me. There was tenderness and concern, protectiveness and longing to ease my pain.

  My tears slowed down to a trickle then stopped. I became conscious of many things at once, the rhythmic beat of his heart, the special pine scent I came to associate with him, his lips brushing my forehead as he sang to me. Like an angel. Then I felt it—the loneliness underlying his other feelings. It was so deep and vast, a bottomless pit filled with despair. He didn’t feel like he belonged anywhere, neither with us nor with the demons.

  I wrapped my arms tight around him. You belong with me.

  He didn’t respond, but for a brief moment, images of me flashed in his mind—at school, by the pool, in our trailer. Beautiful and elegant, yet strong with a core of steel. Was that how he saw me? I delved deeper, needing to see more. He shut me out and leaned back, forcing my arms to fall to my lap.

  For a moment we just stared at each other without speaking, his face unreadable, mine burning. “Sorry,” I whispered.

  “Are you?”

  I wanted to say no because I now knew how he felt about me, but I had done what the trainees were afraid of, tapped into his feelings without his consent. I looked away from his face, tears threatening to fall again. I hated feeling this helpless. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to control my empathic abilities or powers, and had no right to invade your privacy and see things you’d rather—”

  “Show than tell you,” he finished and lifted my chin with his forefinger. His emerald eyes sparkled. “I don’t care that you’re an empath, Lil. Or that you can read my mind better than I could ever read yours.”

  My eyes widened. “You don’t?”

  “No.” He brushed drops of tears from my cheek with his knuckles, then reached down and took my hand in his. “What do you feel from me right now?”

  My chin trembled and I bit my lower lip to control it. I closed my eyes and absorbed his feelings. “You’re happy, optimistic about the future and excited.” My eyes snapped open. “Did the CT sanction the mission?”

  He laughed. “Yeah.”

  “When?”

  “Whenever. It’s up to the Cardinals now.”

  “That’s wonderful news.” Then something else registered. His clothes were different. Bran favored expensive, soft shirts, a leather jacket. The drab black pants and shirt, and the long coat had Cardinal Guardians written all over them. I stiffened. “Why are you dressed like this?”

  He grinned. “Here I am, gallantly rushing to your side, and all you notice are my clothes? I felt your anger and pain, thought you were being attacked. What happened?”

  I swiped at my cheeks, shook my head. “You felt my anger and pain? How?”

  A tinge of red crept on his golden cheeks. “Long story. Tell me what’s going on?”

  He was embarrassed. Now more than ever I was intrigue. “No, you quit hedging and talk to me. How you can you feel my emotions from…Xenith? Do you have other powers you forgot to mention?”

  He was out of the truck and opening the driver’s door before I could blink. “Come on. Move over to the passenger seat and start talking. I’m driving.” His voice had lost its gentleness.

  I glared at him. “Why do you do that?”

  “What?”

  “Evade my questions.”

  “Because we don’t have time and you have an insatiable curiosity, which we just proved a minute ago can be dangerous. Now, scoot over.” He stared at me with an expression that said he expected me to obey him.

  How could he be so sweet one minute, and the next act like a world class jerk? On the other hand, he’d teleported here just because he felt my anger and pain. And he cared about me and thought I was hot. “Ever heard of the word please?”

  “Never.” He kept a straight face but the corners of his mouth curled, his dimples flashing.

  I laughed, pushed the keys in his hand and maneuvered my way to the passenger seat.

  Bran settled behind the steering wheel then turned to look at me. “Well? What happened?”

  I shrugged. “I was ticked off at someone.”

  “Who?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  He grinned. “Oh, it does. Whoever you’re pissed at probably has a roaring headache right now.”

  “Good.” I hope it kept Kim awake all night.

  He chuckled, ran his knuckles along my cheek. “You sure about that?” he asked in a husky voice.

  I swallowed, cleared my throat. “She deserved it.”

  He shook his head. “You have no idea how much energy you shoot off when you’re pissed, do you?”

  I didn’t care. In fact, I didn’t want to discuss Kim or my powers. I pressed my cheek against Bran’s hand, loving the feel of skin against skin. The sweetness of his caring washed over me. I’d been so busy with school and training, I had no idea how much I’d missed Bran until now. And although Grampa didn’t approve of our friendship, I couldn’t send him away. I didn’t want to. Bran was the only person who accepted me without question. When he reached for the ignition, I covered his hand with mine.

  “I don’t feel like going home just yet.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Where would you like to go?”

  “Somewhere quiet with no people.” My stomach chose that moment to growl. “And plenty to eat.”

  He hesitated, frowned. Heat crawled up my face. His hesitation could only mean he didn’t want to be alone with me. I swallowed my disappointment, looked at my hands. “You know what? Forget it. Just take me home.”

  Bran lifted my chin and shook his head as his gaze locked with mine. “No, I want us to have dinner together. I know just the perfect place.” A reckless glint appeared in his eyes. “I want to show you something.”

  His mercurial moods were hard to keep up with, but I was intrigued. “What?”

  He stroked my chin with his thumb. “You’re so impatient. It’s a surprise.”

  I hated surprises, but with him, I didn’t mind the wait. I close my eyes and sighed. If only we were normal teenagers just hanging out.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  I shrugged and moved my head, forcing him to drop his hand. “We need to go home first. I have to change.”

  “Why? You’re perfect the way you are.”

  I grinned. How sweet. My workout outfit wasn’t suitable for a date with Bran. Not to mention the fact that I needed a shower. I was sure I smelled funky. I moved closer to the door and further away from him. “So, tell me what’s been going on? And why are you dressed like a hunter?” I threw the questions at him to cover my awkwardness.

  Bran started the truck and backed out of the parking lot, a tiny smile curling up the corners of his lips. “No, you go first. Why are you ticked off at the Cardinals?”

  “I’m not.”

  “The look on your
face and your voice when you saw my outfit said otherwise.”

  I sighed. “Okay, just one in particular.”

  “What did your grandfather do?”

  I pursed my lips. It was uncanny the way Bran always knew stuff about me. “It’s more like what he didn’t do.”

  “I’m sure he’ll come around to it, whatever it is. He loves you.”

  Yes, Grampa did, which made me wonder why he wanted me to be a Cardinal Guardian when they rejected Mom and Grandma. Bran threw me a questioning glance as though expecting me to say more. But I didn’t feel like discussing what happened at the dojo, not yet.

  I fiddled with the radio, moving from one station to another. Nothing was right for my crazy mood. I pressed the power button to turn off the radio, leaned back and closed my eyes.

  A warm hand covered mine, and my breathing stalled. Back and forth, Bran stroked my knuckles. I kept my eyes closed and smiled. He didn’t mind touching me. The thought was calming yet exciting.

  When he let go of my hand, the sharp loss snapped my eyes open. He merged onto highway 89. I studied him through my eyelashes. The corner of his mouth turned up in a lopsided smile as though he was relishing a private thought. “Have you been in Xenith all this time?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Then where have you been?”

  “Did you miss me?”

  I hated it when he hedged. “No.”

  A soft laugh escaped him. “You’re a terrible liar.”

  “And you’re smooth at avoiding questions.”

  He left the highway and drove past Motel 6. Soon he was pulling up outside my place. He cut off the engine, turned and faced me. For a moment he studied my face, then he reached out and swept wispy strands of hair behind my ear. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know once we eat. You think you can be ready in fifteen minutes?”

  “Sure. Do you want to come in and wait?” I slanted my head toward our trailer.

  “No thanks, I need to get a few things ready. But I’d like to teleport from your place, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to spook your neighbors by doing it from the truck.”

  “You didn’t mind teleporting into the truck a few minutes ago,” I teased him, jumping down from the truck.

  “I told you, I thought you were being attacked.” He closed his door and joined me. Together we walked toward my trailer. Kylie’s mother was under their awning, tending the grill. I started to wave and stopped, stiffening. She stared at us, her expression judgmental. Bran followed my gaze, noticed her and slipped his arm around my shoulders. It was sweet of him to try and shield me.

  I fished out the key from the pocket of my hoodie, unlocked the door and went inside ahead of him. The sun was still above the western mountain range and rays streamed inside our trailer, so I didn’t bother with the artificial light. Bran touched my arm.

  “Fifteen minutes,” he reminded me.

  “It’s a date.”

  His eyebrow shot up. “Is it?”

  I realized what I said and winced. I should scrawl lame on my forehead. “Forget I said that.”

  “No can do. It’s a date.” He flashed a grin then teleported, his scent lingering behind.

  I took a deep inhale and sighed. A date. I never went on date before.

  ***

  I showered then went back inside my room to change. The tops in my closet weren’t worthy of a dinner date with Bran. Neither were the gypsy skirts. If only I owned cool clothes.

  I changed into a pair of low-rise jeans I bought months ago and wore once, added a stretchy, green, three-quarter sleeves top. It was so plain, but the best I could come up with. Lip gloss came next. I slipped it in my back pocket for retouches later. Last was my hair. It was already frizzling as it air-dried. I got out the blow-dryer and got to work.

  By the time I finished, I’d taken five minutes longer than I planned. I scribbled a note for Grampa. No matter how angry I was with him for not telling me about Mom and Grandma, I didn’t want him to worry if he came home and found me gone.

  I stepped out of my bedroom with the note and froze. Grampa stood in the kitchen, his back to me. He wore his hunter clothes minus the arsenal. My eyes widened when he moved and I saw Bran on the couch. He still wore the same clothes, but his shoulder-length locks looked wet as though he just washed it. His smile reassured me that everything was okay. Still….

  “Grampa?”

  My grandfather turned, his gaze drifting to my hand. “Is that for me?”

  “Yes.” I couldn’t read his expression or his thoughts.

  “May I?” He extended his hand.

  Was he disappointed I was with Bran after he told me to keep my distance? I handed him the note, held my breath as he read it.

  He looked up and nodded. “I already had a talk with Bran.”

  “About what?” I tried not to panic as my gaze went to Bran, again.

  “About dating you.”

  “Grampa! We’re not dating.”

  He patted my shoulder and grinned. “In my book, you invite a young lady out to dinner, it’s a date.” He turned, removed the keys from the hook by the door and threw them to Bran, who was already on his feet. “Appearance is everything, son. Use the truck, and bring my granddaughter home by nine-thirty. It’s a school night.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Grampa looked at me. “Don’t forget to wear a jacket.”

  I couldn’t believe he changed his mind about Bran and me. I hurried to his side, kissed his cheek. “Love you.”

  He grunted and shooed me away. I ran back to my bedroom for a hoodie and was about to join Bran outside when I remembered the things Kim said at the dojo. “Will you be home when I get back?”

  “Sure, baby. We’ll talk then.”

  He knew. One of the instructors or trainees must have talked. “Okay. Bye.”

  Bran stood near our truck, waiting for me. My pulse quickened. His gaze swept me from head to toe then back up again, heat in his green eyes. “You look great.”

  “Thanks.”

  He made sure I was in my seat before he walked to the driver’s seat. I looked toward the trailer, saw Grampa watching us and waved. Bran did likewise then eased off our site. I didn’t know or care where we were going. As long as I was with Bran, I was happy.

  Once we hit the highway, he headed toward the city center. Inside the truck was like a cocoon filled with his scent. Part of me felt like all this, the two of us off to dinner with Grampa’s approval, was surreal. After all his objections, the turnaround was puzzling.

  I glanced at Bran, waited for him to say something, anything. But he seemed content driving and throwing pleased glances my way.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “So do you.”

  He guffawed. “Hardly. I want to do something. Promise you won’t mind.”

  I made a face. “Without knowing what it is? I don’t think so.”

  “It’s called blind trust, Sunshine.” He flashed a charming smile guaranteed to make me do his bidding.

  Funny thing was I trusted him. He wouldn’t do anything mean to me. Still, a girl had to have some pride. “Will I like it?”

  “Yes.”

  Pride was overrated. “Okay,” I said.

  At the next stop light, he lifted my single braid from where it rested on my back and tugged the black elastic band holding the tip. He pushed the band in his pants’ pocket then undid my hair, his fingers grazing my nape. I felt weird, excited and scared. From the smile on his lips, Bran knew how he affected me. By the time my hair was free, we were moving again. He drove with his left hand and stroked my hair with his right.

  “Why do you hide it behind a braid?” he asked.

  “It’s an awful color.” My voice came out breathless, which annoyed me.

  “No, it’s not. It’s beautiful…unique…like you.”

  My brain went foggy, and my inside went mushy. “Thank you. So where have you been?”

>   “At Hsia and her husband’s until the Cardinals took me to Xenith to meet with the Circle. It’s a beautiful place.”

  I didn’t care. “You mean you’ve been here in the valley all this time and didn’t come to see me?”

  He stopped stroking my hair, slid his hand down my arm to grip mine. “I wasn’t here, just came back to sleep at very odd hours. When I left with Janelle last week, she asked me to help them with water demons. I’ve been hunting with the Cardinals, Lil.”

  I shook my head. “Grampa said they couldn’t promise you anything, yet they asked you to help them? That doesn’t seem fair.”

  “No one asked me to do anything, I offered.” His hand left mine to grip the steering wheel as he left Main Street and headed east on Center. “Since Coronis kidnapped my grandfather, the Cardinals have had a hard time locating water demons. Once in the water, they use sea creatures to cover their tracks and can only be located from the air or under the sea, which is something none of the Cardinals can do.”

  “But you can?”

  He flashed a smug grin. “Oh yeah, just like my grandfather.”

  There was so much pride in that single statement I grinned. “So what are you going to show me?”

  He laughed. “Something…if you’re really nice.”

  Nice how? Should I be worried? Despite my doubts, my senseless heart thumped with anticipation. Bran cut through residential areas nearer the city center and started uphill toward the eastern bench, where the Guardians lived. Smaller and medium-sized houses gave way to two and three-story homes surrounded by fences, high shrubberies or walls.

  “So, I heard you’re getting stronger and stronger every day,” Bran said, interrupting my site-seeing. “You’re all your grandfather talks about. And I heard Hsia tell Janelle about someone who cheated to beat you.”

  Kim cheated all the time, the sore loser. And not just with me. “No one did.”

  Bran reached the end of Gibbons Parkway and into a side road lined with trees, which disappeared into a gated community. The sign read Sagebrush Drive. Tucked between two rolling hills with the mountain range rising from the background, the Guardians’ homes were very secluded. The wrought iron gate swung open, and we drove in. Bran brought the car to a stop outside a mansion with gray concrete block exterior finish and switched off the engine.