Beauty's Beast(42)
He passed the stick to the next. Each member refused to send representatives to the Ghost Children. Blake waited for the unanimous vote rejecting his proposal. When the stick returned to him, he rose once more.
“I resign my candidacy for any position for which I might be considered. If the Niyanoka will not go to the Ghost Children, then I will go myself to thank them for their part in this battle and the victory that they have earned. I renounce my citizenship and all rights. I am proud to have led the Spirit Children in battle, but I am not proud now.”
He passed on the talking stick and left the circle.
No one spoke.
Outside, the sun was fast setting, though the days were slowly growing longer as spring crept toward summer. Blake found his father, Sebastian, waiting alone in the twilight. Blake saw his deep blue aura capped with rusty brown before he even saw his silhouette.
“Brave words and ones to make a father proud,” said Sebastian.
“Too little too late,” muttered Blake. These were words he should have said before the battle.
“What is it, son?”
“Before the fight, Aldara stayed with me, protected me from attacks by Nagi’s ghosts. When her brother suggested an alliance with the Niyanoka, I told them both that I could not jeopardize the agreement with the Skinwalkers by including the Ghost Children.”
“You were right. The Skinwalkers would have withdrawn and the alliance would have crumbled. As it is, we may form a new treaty.”
“I was wrong. This is why Alon will not come. He tried to bring us all together before the battle and I said no. Now that they have brought us the win, now that we see what they are capable of, only now we seek them out. It is a double insult.”
“You did what you thought was right. Now you feel differently. So you will act differently.”
Blake gripped his hair at both temples and tugged. “But I knew it was wrong at the time. I felt it and I still rejected her.”
His father peered at him. “Her?”
Blake dragged his hands over his face before meeting his father’s inquiring gaze.
“Dad, Aldara was more than my bodyguard.”
His father’s expression registered momentary shock, but he recovered quickly, rubbing his neck as he looked away. “I see.”
“And I kept her hidden, like some dirty little secret. She left me. I don’t blame her. I deserved it, but now that she’s gone, I realize how much she means to me. I don’t want to lose her, but I already have.”
His father rested a hand on his son’s shoulder, offering silent support as Blake struggled to find a way to win her back.
“If I went to the Ghost camp, if I found her, do you think she would listen to me?” asked Blake.
“I only know that if you don’t go, she will never know that you are sorry.” His father squeezed the muscles of Blake’s shoulder. “Do you love this woman?”
“She is the bravest, most wonderful woman in the world.”
His father gave a laugh. “No, son. That would be your mother.”
Blake smiled, suddenly grasping what his parents shared and wanting that for himself.
“I love her, Dad. I just want her to forgive me.”
Something flashed before them. Sebastian roared and pressed a hand to his chest, calling the change. An instant later his father took animal form. But Blake did not follow him, for he recognized the flash of greenish light and waited. It was a Ghostling, changing form.
A moment later Aldara appeared naked in her human shape and threw herself into Blake’s arms. His father reared up and then huffed.
“Dad, this is Aldara.”
His father blew out a breath and then lumbered off.
“You heard?” Blake asked, hugging her, willing her to never leave him again.
“Yes, yes, everything. What you said at council and what you said to your father. Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I didn’t know. I only...it only sunk into my thick skull when I saw you fighting. I was so scared I’d lose you. It made me realize that I couldn’t live without you and that you were right about everything.”
She drew back to stare at him, still clinging like a monkey, her legs locked about his waist and her hands laced behind his neck.
“You really love me?”
In answer, he lowered his head and kissed her. When they both came up for air, Aldara allowed him to set her gently on her feet. He removed his blazer, shook it and offered her a lovely lavender cape, made of wool, lined in satin and trimmed in soft wolf fur. She slipped it on, grinning, and slid her arms through the slits so she could grasp hold of his shirt with both fists.
“I don’t want you to lose all that you worked for, just for me,” said Aldara, her expression now earnest.
“I worked for a victory. It’s done. From now on I will do what I choose, and I choose to make you my wife, if you will be willing to marry a Seer who somehow could not see that the best thing in his life is you.”
Aldara started to cry. But she nodded her acceptance and managed to say, “Yes.”
Blake took her away from the Spirit Children and the Skinwalkers and the Ghostlings, traveling over the open plains to a spot on a hilltop with a view of the sunset and later of the whole wide universe. This time their joining held the sweetness of two who understand that such a union is made from the most intimate kind of worship. Afterward, when they lay upon the grass, their bodies still flushed and damp from their exertion, Aldara recalled something.
“How is Samantha?”
“She slept most of the day away. I checked on her at noon and she still slumbered. She is recovering, but very weak. Jessie Healy Chien is visiting her dreams, and my mother is with her. I’m sure she will feel stronger when she wakes.”
“Alon sent her away. He thinks he is not suitable for her.”
Blake said nothing to this.
Aldara scowled. “You agree with him?”
“Of course I agree. She’s my sister!”
“Because he is a Toe Tagger?” She was already on her feet, naked, fist clenched, ready to fight him again.
He sighed. “Because he is a man.”
Aldara’s face registered confusion and her hands relaxed. “What?”
“He’s a man and nobody is good enough for my baby sister.”
Aldara made a sound that human females make when presented with a kitten. She sank to her knees. “That’s so adorable. I could fall in love with you all over again.”
He held her, loving the way her soft breasts pressed against his chest.
Aldara drew back. “Blake, I think Samantha loves Alon. And Alon loves her. I’m sure of it. That’s why he sent her away. He’s afraid.”
“I saw your brother fight, Aldara. Alon is not afraid of anything.”
“You’re wrong. He fears that being with him will keep her from finding her true soul mate. He thinks that he, us, all those born of Nagi have no souls.”
Blake felt sick, but he came to her defense. “That can’t be true.” He pinned her with a look of horror. She could not hold his gaze. “Is it?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“But we’re going to cross the Ghost Road together. We are going to spend eternity in the Spirit World.” His voice was adamant, as if the saying would make it so.
Aldara gave him a look fraught with pain. “I hope so, Blake. But truly, I do not know.”
He gripped her fiercely then, trying to protect her from this new threat. “It can’t be so,” he whispered. “They’re wrong. All of them.”
She nestled against him and rested silently for a time. Then she spoke again.
“I have something more to tell you about your sister.”
Somehow he knew he did not want to hear it. He wished he could stop her, but instead he braced for what she might say. The worry and pain in her voice only added to his anxiety.
“Then tell me quickly,” he urged.
Her words spilled out in a rush. “When Samantha’s soul was torn free, Alon retrieved it.”
Blake sat in grim silence at this, wondering who had retrieved his soul and thankful that Alon had rescued his sister.
“He returned her soul, but he didn’t see the others.”
“What others?”
“Twin souls, just tiny wisps, but still, they were there. I retrieved them, but I didn’t tell Alon. I didn’t think it was my place. He doesn’t know and Samantha may never tell him.”
“Aldara, you’re not making any sense. Tell him what?”
“Twin souls, Blake. Your sister is pregnant with Alon’s children. She’s going to have twins.”
Chapter 20
Samantha awoke stiff and disorientated in the darkness in a small, unfamiliar room. She hobbled from the strange bed to find her mother and father in the main room of the two-bedroom cabin. They told her that she had not slept a few hours as the night sky indicated, but nearly twenty-four hours.