Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Training
My soles brushed the cool stone floor of the kitchen.
A few more weeks, and it would be too cold to run around barefoot.
I swung them back and forth, lightly skimming the smooth surface as I arranged my breakfast: thick peasant bread, hard Stilton cheese, salty and delicious, and seedless blackberry jam.
The jam was a new addition to our pantry, and I loved the way the sugar cut the salty cheese.
Coffee was already brewing in the French press, and the open window filled the room with a sliver of optimistic morning light.
By all accounts, I should have been happy, and I was, mostly.
I bit through the thick bread, savoring the explosion of flavors.
If only I hadn’t completely frozen the night before.
He kissed me, and there was no question I wanted him to, only it had been so unexpected, especially after the emotional rollercoaster of Darryl almost dying and then surviving only to be tied to me. For good? Ugh, more questions.
“Yes, he is probably tied to you for the rest of his life.” I jumped, dropping the bread, the cheese, and the jam, landing face down on my chest.
“Jesus, you scared me.” I didn’t look at him while I scraped the sorry remains of my breakfast from my shirt. I walked to the sink and tried to dab the purple stain from setting in. If only we had a washer and dryer.
“We can wash everything down in the caves tonight. The minerals in the water seem to remove most stains better than the well water. It’s a little late for you to be scared by me.”
“Will you please get out of my head?”
He chuckled, standing right behind me. I was annoyed and turned on, and then more annoyed for being so drawn to him.
And it wasn’t like I could hide my attraction from him, despite trying my best. Talk about sending mixed messages.
I shook my head, dabbing my now-wet shirt with a towel.
My Monster moved to the French press and poured me a cup of coffee, adding some of the Coffee Mate I bought the other day, which kept better than milk or cream.
“If you decide to stay, Corvus, after our trip, I promise to get a refrigerator up here.”
I finally turned and faced him, accepting the coffee and inhaling its rich scent.
“Do you want me to stay?”
“Why do you wish to accompany me to Mexico?” It figured, a diversion from my question.
I rolled my eyes and sipped the hot brew. “Why would you go if you know it’s a trap?”
“It’s either go and deal with it now or wait for them to come after me. I prefer peace on my mountain.”
“And you’ve decided I don’t disrupt your peace, even with my loud thoughts?”
“My own thoughts are loud and persistent enough to block yours out most of the time, but you don’t run your mouth and seem content with your own company.”
So, I wasn’t too obnoxious then? Good to know. He was more human than he liked to pretend. And now I was annoyed again to be so relieved. He wanted me around. For now.
“Answer my question, Corvus. Why do you want to go?”
“Look, you may have been alive when the dinosaurs walked the earth,” he snorted and sat down across the table from me, “but I know how things work in the current age. I can bring you in exactly where you want to be in Mexico, but in a disguise your buddies won’t recognize.
If we go as young tourists and do the whole vacation thing, you know, pretend to enjoy ourselves like everyone else, no one will ever suspect who you are.
I bet you were just planning on flying down there and demanding to know what they want.
This way, they’ll never see you coming. You can catch them unaware. ”
He leaned over the table, pulled the bread close, and sawed off a slice, eating it without jam or cheese.
“You make a valid point. They would not realize who I was if I pretended to be someone I would normally loathe, yet you still avoid the question.”
I stared at him, trying to read him, but he kept his attention on his ascetic breakfast. Why wouldn’t he just read my mind?
Why did he insist on hearing me say it? I could’ve been stubborn about exposing my feelings, not like he didn’t already know them, except I really wanted to go with him.
“I don’t want to sit here for weeks wondering if you’ll come back.
I want to be there and make sure you do come back.
I realize it’s a risk. I’m not sure since you haven’t told me anything, but if I can turn into a crow and fly away, then how risky is it? ”
His eyes met mine, boring their way into my soul.
“It will be dangerous for both of us. Being able to shift form does not mean my enemies cannot kill us. They can, and they will try to kill me, and you too, if you are with me. If you turn into a crow, they will turn into an eagle, and then they will systematically take you apart until you are no longer sane enough to heal yourself. Once they take your head, then you will be truly dead.”
“Oh.” That sucked. “Can they do that to you, too?”
“Yes, of course. I am not unkillable.” His burnt caramel eyes bored into me.
I looked away, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. My fingers rubbed the smooth surface of the old wooden table, whirling around the oval of a large knot.
“Why are they so determined to kill you? At least tell me that much, and then I’ll know better what I’m getting into.”
“The creatures who will be convening are all active in the world’s affairs in their human forms. You will not recognize any of them by name or face, as none of them are in the spotlight anymore.
But most of them counsel important people, such as presidents, dictators, and billionaires.
If they are not manipulating politics, then they are running the banks.
Futures. Black markets. Guns. All kinds of illegal trade.
Our kind controls it all. I used to be one of them.
I even ruled a few countries in my day when being worshipped as a god lost its appeal.
” He chuckled, but it sounded self-deprecating instead of boastful.
Jesus, what was I doing with this creature, this demigod?
“So, they want you involved?”
“No, I am certain they want me dead.”
“And?”
“What are you asking, Corvus?”
“Well, you keep dancing around the point. I’ve deduced your enemies want you dead; otherwise, why all the prep work? What I want to know is why.”
“Oh, the same reasons that have fueled enemies since the beginning of time: riches, power, revenge, love.”
“Love?” Whoops. I didn’t mean to say it out loud.
He chuckled. “Corvus, I’m heading down to pick up our I.Ds. I need you to stay behind and take care of the house today instead of going to the cabin.”
He didn’t quite phrase it as a question, but it wasn’t the usual demand.
Corvus, see who is at the door. Corvus, take the stew off the stove.
But why did the house need a caretaker? Especially if we were both planning to leave for god knows how long when we went to Mexico.
Hadn’t he lived for years without one before I showed up?
“I’ll stay behind. But I’m just telling you now you can’t insist I stay behind when you leave for your summit.”
The lingering smirk disappeared. He stood from the table and, with a few quick strides, walked over to me.
Powerful hands grabbed me up and out of my seat and into the air as if I weighed nothing.
His voice dropped lower than usual, grating down the back of my spine.
“I am still considering allowing you to accompany me. But don’t think for a second if I wanted you to stay here, I couldn’t lock you up somewhere and make sure all you could do was hope I made it back in time to free you. ”
I forced myself to look up, up, up into his coal-ringed eyes.
Giant neck muscles bulged under the weight of massive horns.
I dangled a few feet off the floor, half terrified and half thrilled—and not the least bit in control of any part of my situation.
Let’s get real here. Did I honestly think we were anything alike? I was so far outclassed.
A smile snuck up the left side of his mouth, revealing his impressive incisor. “Say it, Corvus.” But before I could respond or figure out what he wanted me to say, a shadow passed over his face. He set me down, talons still pressing into my delicate skin, his attention far away.
“You are in control of everything, oh almighty Camazotz. Let me offer a sacrifice in your honor. Too bad we’re all out of virgins at the moment,” I mocked.
He let go of my arms and walked past me, stoic as always, but I would’ve bet good money he was laughing on the inside. “Just stay here today, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” I bowed, trying to keep my smile from showing.
But my good mood evaporated soon after he left.
It was infuriating to be left in the dark.
Why did he want me to stay behind when I was supposed to be helping him?
Why had he struck the bargain with me in the first place?
How much was he hiding from me? I tried to read up on my homework, still completely clueless about why they were convening in this particular deserted corner of the Yucatán, but the sun shone too brightly outside my window, and I couldn’t concentrate.
I had too many questions. What did he mean about love?
Did he still love the woman who stamped her personality all over my room?
My fingers found the pendant I had taken to wearing whenever I was home.
He’d better not be planning on bringing her back.
But that couldn’t be the reason. He told me if I stayed after Mexico, he would buy me a fridge.
And maybe a washing machine. He was clearly worried we wouldn’t come back.
The more I learned, the less I knew, and it was driving me crazy.