Chapter 27 #2
Only then did they both look past her to Race again.
Ash saw it instantly—the brief flicker of wariness, the subtle bracing as they took in his height, the breadth of him, the quiet intensity he carried like a second skin. Mum’s smile stayed courteous, but Dad’s didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Don’t mind, Dad, she mind-linked with Race, keeping her smile. He’s really protective.
As it should be. He kept my mate safe.
Her heart melted.
Unable to throw her arms around him right there, Ash squeezed his hand instead and drew him closer. “Mum, Dad—this is Race. Race, my parents, Charles and Emily James.”
“Mr. James,” Race greeted her father. Handshakes were exchanged.
You seem surprised, my mate? Did you think I’d hold out a claw?
She bit her lip, stifling a nervous giggle. Mercy, please. I almost peed my pants.
A wave of warmth swept through their bond, steadying her.
“It’s good to meet you, Mr…” Her father paused expectantly.
Ohhhh, crap!
“Pyr’xian,” Race said.
Brilliant save, Ash teased him.
Though nothing showed on his face, she could feel his amusement as he gave her mother a small, graceful bow. “Mrs. James.”
Her mother’s hazel eyes twinkled in delight. “Really, it’s our pleasure, Mr. Pyr’xian.”
“Just Race, please.”
“Let’s have tea, and we can catch up. Come.” Mum led the way to the dining area.
Dad’s on the quieter side, Ash told him. Mum’s a bit of a chatterbox. Then she moved away to help her mother prepare the tea snacks.
“He’s absolutely gorgeous, darling,” Mum whispered, her eyes shining. “I didn’t realize Eastern Europe had men like him.”
Ash laughed, her nerves settling. Mum was always easier to talk to, but Dad, on the other hand…
She brought the two plates, one with savory meat pies and samosas, the other with tea cakes, and set them down. Race rose, saw Ash seated, then waited till her mother sat before he did so again. Her father blinked at that.
“So, Ashaya tells us you’re in security work. What type of security?”
Her father went straight to the important stuff, while Mum was likely chomping at the bit for more juicy details of how they met.
“It’s mostly confidential work,” Race said.
Ash knew the Guardians stayed under the radar. Humans could never learn that immortals existed—let alone that demons wandered among them, some even living on Earth, disguised as mortals.
Michael had given her permission to tell her parents the truth, as long as they kept it confidential or their memories would be erased. But Ash chose to wait, at least until she was certain they were ready to hear it.
She passed Race his black beverage, and his thumb brushed her skin as he took the cup—it soothed her a bit. Aware he didn’t care for sweet things, she plated a few savories, set them next to him, then took a sip of her tea—
“How exactly is this going to work?” her father asked, and Ash nearly choked. “You work in Romania, Ash lives here in England.”
Heavens. Ash set her cup down carefully, nerves knotting so tightly she could barely breathe. “Oh, we’ve…we’ve been thinking about that…”
Calm down, heart-fire, Race’s voice drifted in her mind. Just ease them into what you have to say.
They’re normally quite understanding. Kind even…
” Ash gripped her teacup to warm her chilled fingers.
I mean, they adopted me after my birth mother died.
No one wanted me. Female babies aren’t valued in parts of the Himalayas—especially ones with strange eyes.
Still… She sipped her tea. I hope they don’t have a heart attack over this.
I won’t let them. A flood of warmth soothed her frantic thoughts.
With a deep breath, Ash set her cup down.
“Dad, Mum.” She half rose, then sank back into her chair. “There’s something else I must say first. Remember how my abilities—”
“Ash—” both her parents said at once, their expressions tense with warning.
She smiled. “He knows. He got caught in one of my ‘little’ rainstorms back in the mountains. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is those abilities appeared because of who my ancestors are.”
“Darling, I know people from the Himalayas can be superstitious—”
“Mum, let me explain, okay?” She pushed up the long sleeves of her t-shirt, so sure fire ants were crawling beneath her skin. “It’s something I learned while searching for Janika.”
While it wasn’t exactly true, it was one way to get her parents to listen. “Anyway, some of the locals refused to talk to me, being a woman and all that. One thing led to another…”
She met both their horrified gazes and scrunched her face. “I grew upset, and well, rain fell—just a tiny shower,” she said quickly. “They called me a witch. You can imagine how that went over, so I ran. That’s when I crashed into Race. He saved me.”
Finally, you admit it, he teased.
She dropped her hands under the table and tried to pinch his thigh, but his hard muscles had no give. No, I admit to nothing. This is for my parents’ peace of mind.
“Oh, sweetheart, I should have gone with you,” her father said, his face pale.
“It’s fine, honestly.” She cast him a warm smile.
“Anyway, Race, er, came with me hiking and camping in the mountains, and we got to know each other—okay, I’m digressing.
” Ash rubbed her palms on her jeans. Ugh.
Stupid nerves. “What I was trying to say about my ancestors… There’s a group of people who actively search for their descendants. ”
“What do you mean ‘your ancestors’? Who?” Dad asked, skepticism edging his voice. “Like in Hindu mythology—Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati? Those are just stories.”
Ash sighed and rubbed her temple with one hand. “No, Dad, and not Hindu. I don’t think it’s mythology, not when I exist, and others like me do too.”
Her father was a scholar of ancient texts; she hoped he might understand, at least a little.
His gray brows drew together. “Ash—”
“Charles, do let her explain,” Mum said gently, touching his arm.
Ash glanced at Race, who nodded. “This has to do with the Watchers, remember those biblical angels?”
Her father leaned back in his seat and folded his arms, his eyes narrowed.
“What about them?” Mum asked.
Echo had filled her in last night, while Race was out on patrol, about their shared ancestry, the Watchers’ fall, and their dark prophecy. More, it had blown Ash’s mind to see the angelic runes Echo had inherited imprinted on her.
“It seems the Watchers’ leader, Zarias, set a prophecy into being before he was slain. Their mortal descendants—women—would be born carrying fragments of their immense powers. Proof of what heaven tried to erase. And, it looks like I’m one of them.”
Her parents’ eyes widened as if she had just told them she intended to fly solo to discover unknown planets.
Then Mum shook her head. “This is rather far-fetched, darling.”
Something tight twisted in Ash’s chest. She jerked to her feet. “You both go to church! So I don’t understand why this is so hard to believe—”
“Ash.” Race rose and gently grasped her arms, and warmth threaded through their bond, quiet and soothing. “Look at me.”
“Darling—” Mum’s gaze darted upward, a little frantic. “You must calm down.”
Ash’s gaze followed hers to the ceiling, to the churning cloud above their heads, heavy and swollen. Damn it. She clenched her tingling fingers and forced herself to take deep breaths.
“I suppose you believe this Watcher tale, too?” her father asked Race.
“I think it’s best to let Ash finish,” Race said evenly.
“I’m sorry.” Ash rubbed her hot face as the cloud thinned and dissipated.
“It’s all right, darling,” Mum murmured, her gaze troubled.
Her father remained silent, his expression a lot like the dark cloud she’d unintentionally summoned.
Sighing, Ash gripped the back of her chair. “It seems I possess one of those angels’ powers—”
“Calenai,” Race supplied. “That was his name, and you also have his eyes.”
Ash nodded, then her gaze rushed back to her parents. They looked as if they might get up and walk right out.
Christ. “Mum, Dad, you can’t tell anyone about this. There are protections in place, and if it spreads…things get taken out of human hands. I don’t want that for you.”
Their expressions turned grim.
She pushed on. “Being who I am, I need protection—”
“Enough!” Her father shot to his feet. “Is this some cult you’ve gotten mixed up in, Ashaya?” he demanded. “Only they would demand secrecy to hide their own madness.”
God. She glanced helplessly at Race.
How did this end up being such a disaster?