7. Chapter Seven Rhowyn
Chapter Seven: Rhowyn
I hugged my girls as they left for the day, my heart tugging in a million directions as I tried to tell them all goodbye, unable to give them a time frame for my return. Based on the information I had, I feared I would be gone by next week when their next training session with me was. Better to say something now than to disappear without a trace. After taking my mom's words to heart, as hard to hear as they’d been, I began making preparations for my departure. Over the last several days, I’d made arrangements to have another fighter train the girls so they would continue to have the stability they needed, spoke with the owner of the gym about needing to leave for an indefinite amount of time, and made sure to get my bills in order. There was still the matter of what would happen if my visit went longer than the few days I was counting on, but I hoped my mother might rise to the occasion for once.
Rubbing my shoulder, I watched the girls leave, trying to ignore the steadily increasing pain and discomfort that was localized over my new mark. Yesterday, it started burning, and the more I tried to push it from my mind, the more intense the pain was. My co-workers thought it was simply a new tattoo, and I hadn't bothered to correct them. How could I explain it exactly? I barely believed it myself. Only the memory of the excruciating pain and the random appearance had convinced me and that was mostly because I had experienced it. To be honest, a part of me still didn't believe it, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry. So here I was, getting ready to walk out of the life I’d worked so hard for, leaving for gods only knew where. There were the inevitable questions from everyone when I said I was leaving, but I simply explained that my grandmother from out of town was sick and needed someone to care for her while she recovered.
I grabbed my bag and hugged the other trainers, leaving through the front door to walk to my apartment just up the road. It was a muggy evening, and the sky glowed in pinks and oranges. The hot Texas day was finally starting to cool off. Putting my headphones in, I selected my Dermot Kennedy playlist, and Better Days started playing. I turned the volume down so I could hear the ambient noise from the street, the need to always remain alert pressing on me. I'd learned my lesson the hard way about what happened to young girls who walked distractedly on the street. As hard as the lesson had been, I was one of the lucky ones. No matter how much I was tempted to get lost in my thoughts, I only ever did that in my own apartment. Somewhere that was safe for me to be alone.
I passed a sandwich shop and one of the clothes boutiques that were popular in this district. Not that I had any idea what they held; fashion had never been my forte, but the windows always held cute outfits, the mannequins more put together than I could ever hope to be. My wardrobe was always function over appearance, and since I spent most of my days in the gym, I had a large selection of yoga leggings, tank tops, and rash guards. On the rare occasions I went out, it was blue jeans, boots, and T-shirts.
Catching sight of the taco shop on the corner, I debated if my budget allowed me to grab a few burritos. I really wasn't in the mood to cook, especially not after goodbyes and packing, and desperately needed some comfort food right about now. Deciding to stop, whether it was prudent for my budget or not, I slowed my pace, noticing a car behind me going much slower than the surrounding traffic. Even though there were plenty of explanations for the vehicle’s actions, my gut was telling me otherwise.
I stopped to pretend I was window shopping at one of the boutiques. The glass reflected the street as I watched the car from my peripheral vision. Instead of continuing on, it pulled over to park. Deciding not to take my chances, I turned and jogged to the taco shop, planning to use it as a deterrent for any untoward advances. Ducking inside the shop, I jumped into line while returning greetings from the employees. Because of its location and convenience, I ate here often. Studying the menu, even though I knew it by heart, I waited for the occupants of the car to find me. Somehow, I knew they’d been following me. A simple jaunt into the restaurant wouldn’t deter whoever was looking for me, but at least here, there would be witnesses.
When it was my turn, I placed my order and took my table number. Looking around, I found a vacant table that allowed me a view of the door so I could see who was coming and going. By the time my food was served, I hadn’t seen anything that set off my internal alarm system. Deciding it had been my mind playing tricks on me, nervous about what was coming, I relaxed enough to enjoy my food all six street tacos. Okay, so after the amount of training I did, I had a very healthy appetite. Shoot me.
The jingle from the front door pulled my attention from my food, and I paused mid-bite, immediately recognizing the man I had given a tour to earlier. Since I didn’t believe in such coincidences, the only logical explanation was that he’d been following me. Despite the warnings from my brain, I was intrigued. I should have been more wary, but something about the man seemed familiar. Well, more familiar than he should have felt after only a brief introduction.
I finished taking my bite and watched him as I chewed slowly. He placed a large order, clearly for more than just himself. His slender but athletic form filled out his t-shirt well and the jeans made his ass look amazing. He clearly took care of himself, which meant there was no way he was about to consume all of that food alone. After placing his order, he turned to scan the restaurant, and pushing through his sandy brown hair as the light caught his bedroom gray- blue eyes. Add to that the five o’clock shadow and you had one very attracted female. It wasn't often that I felt this pull toward someone, normally preferring to stay away from trouble. And there was no doubt in my mind that he represented a whole mess of problems for me.
Despite knowing the danger he presented to my libido, I was curious about why he was here now. He had flirted innocently as I’d showed him around as if this was something he was used to doing, his demeanor relaxed and confident. His playful personality had been infectious, and I’d found myself genuinely enjoying his company. Personality was huge for me when it came to attraction. Because of what I’d been through, I’d developed a knack for judging others, easily discerning the assholes and playboys, and made it a point to steer clear of those types.
Just like any red-blooded woman, I had fantasies and desires, but my history made connecting with men difficult. Most of them didn’t want to put in the effort it took to break down my walls. Other than the occasional one-night stand here and there, I had never been in a real relationship before. I was too much effort in the long run, which was okay with me since I didn't want someone who wasn’t willing to fight for my attention. I knew my worth, and I demanded the same acknowledgment from anyone I spent time with. A part of me was secretly hoping that this mystery man would put in the effort.
I smirked to myself at the idea of getting to know him and took a drink from my Dr. Pepper. As I wracked my brain for his name, it finally came back to me. His name was Baer, and he was now looking at me, his eyes lighting up when they met mine as if he was genuinely surprised to find me here. Questioning my initial assessment that he’d been following me, I watched as he strode confidently toward my table, his long legs eating up the distance quickly.
“Evening, Rhowyn,” he greeted me when he finally stood in front of my table. I didn’t bother standing, as I let my surprise show on my face at him remembering my name.
“Hi, Baer. What brings you here?” Not seeing the point in hiding my attraction, I smiled as I tried to flirt. Granted, it probably looked more like a grimace, but I was committed to seeing this through. Now that my stomach was full, another hunger rose to take its place.
“Well, since I was new to the area, I wanted to try out the local foods, and when I asked around, I was told this place had the best tacos.” His smile widened, his hands going to his pockets as he rocked on his heels. If I wasn’t reading this all wrong, he was flirting back.
“They weren’t wrong. However, I’m not sure I buy that reason for you being here. Something tells me there’s more to this story.” Unable to keep up the charade, I cut to the chase. Playing games had never been my strong suit, and I wasn’t about to master it now.
He laughed in response, obviously amused with my forthright honesty. “May I sit?” he asked, pulling out the chair across from me, though he at least waited for me to give him an answer before sitting, more points in his favor.
Instead of giving him the okay he was hoping for, I took another bite while I waited for him to answer me first. He only thought he could get away with skirting the truth about why he was here. Realizing I wasn't going to respond, he studied me like he was trying to find the right words. Finally, seeming to come to a decision, he started. “You are correct in the assumption that I was hoping to see you again, but it was more than just the fact that I find you attractive that led me here. Certain circumstances have led me to you today, things that are too difficult to explain in this setting.” His eyes darted around to indicate the full restaurant before meeting mine again. The serious tone placed me more on guard than his admission of guilt at stalking me.
It finally dawned on me that the reason he was here was because of the mark on my shoulder, but I had to be sure before I agreed to anything more. “Does this have anything to do with my new tattoo ?” If he was indeed a fae, like I suspected, he would know exactly what I was referring to.
His eyes widened briefly in surprise, but he quickly hid it. “Yes, it has everything to do with that tattoo .” His inflection on the word tattoo told me what I needed to know. He glanced around to make sure no one could eavesdrop, then leaned forward over the table. “I have much to discuss with you about that and many other things. Things which may come as quite a surprise. Although, I'm beginning to suspect you know more than we originally thought.”
“Well, I can assure you I don't know very much at all. None of which I fully believe,” I replied, leaning back in my own chair, and crossing my arms across my chest. “So, Baer, tell me what all of this is supposed to mean. I've heard one version, but it's not from a very reliable source, and I'm not sure how much stock I can put into it. Fair warning though, I may not believe your version either.”
We studied each other closely, neither willing to dive into this conversation just yet. Staring him down, I noted that his eyes were more gray with flecks of blue in them, and I wondered if they changed colors depending on his mood. The cashier approached our table with a large bag full of food, interrupting our stare down.
Narrowing my eyes, I tried again to pull information from him. “That’s a lot of food for just one person?” My statement ended on a question, clearly indicating it was his turn to open up. After all, he was the one hiding things from me.
He laughed loudly, taking the bag and handing over the table number. “As tempting as this food smells, this isn’t all for me.” His humor dimmed slightly, returning to watchful. “It's also for the other two men that traveled with me. We thought it best that only one of us approach you at first, not wanting to scare you or come on too strongly.”
“Gee, I’m so grateful for your consideration. It makes me want to trust you even more.” I made sure my sarcasm was thick enough that there was no way he could mistake it for anything else.
He winked at me, a charming smile sliding into place. “Sure thing, darlin'.” Though he was using southern words, they sounded much better in his British accent. I always did have a weakness for a Scottish, British, or Irish accent.
Not wanting him to know the accent and overt flirting was getting to me, I cut through the bullshit. “So, why exactly did y'all come all this way for little ol' me?” I made sure my Texas accent thickened as I drawled the words.
“Is there any way we can go somewhere else to discuss this? We really can't say anything here. Too many others and chances to be overheard.” His eyes pleaded with me to agree as he shifted slightly on his feet. I still hadn’t let him sit with me.
I narrowed my eyes, not sure if I could or should trust him, but my gut was telling me I could. Logic said I shouldn't. A part of me knew I needed to at least hear what he had to say, and the only way I'd be able to do that was if I met him somewhere else. Decision made, my mind immediately began running through the options as I sat up straight and uncrossed my arms. “A couple of blocks from here is a small park. It has a couple of picnic tables and a jogging trail. At this hour, it shouldn’t be too busy, especially with the heat. I'm not comfortable going anywhere less public or riding in a car with you. That is as secluded as you're going to get with me. Take it or leave it.”
Without waiting for his response, I rose from the table and walked away from him. He would either follow me or not. Either way, I wouldn't be losing anything. I'd either get some answers, or I'd be able to sit by the creek and enjoy the peaceful, secluded spot in the middle of the city, something I often did in the evenings.
Not more than a few steps outside of the shop, I heard the telltale jingle from the door, and I turned back with a smirk to confirm he had decided to follow me. “Rhowyn,” he called after me, “wait. Can I bring the guys with us? If not, I need to let them know where I'm going. They're not exactly from around here and have no way to get back or anywhere, really, without me.”
I pushed my hands into my blue jeans’ pockets, debating. “Fine. It’ll give me the chance to hear what y’all have to say and will keep me from having to repeat my decision once I’ve made it.”
At my answer, his smile lit up his face. “Great! Let me go grab them now. It'll take two seconds.”
I nodded with a look of begrudging acceptance and watched as his long legs closed the distance to the car I had noticed following me earlier. I raised a single eyebrow in recognition, not really all that surprised that I’d been right. He leaned down to the passenger seat and spoke to someone inside. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell who it was with the glare of the sun obscuring my view, but then Baer stood back up and glanced back at me as if to make sure I was still there.
Both the front and rear passenger doors of the car opened almost simultaneously, and as two more men emerged, my breath caught. Holy shit, these guys were all ridiculously hot. Man, if they were all fae, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. I laughed at my internal thoughts. Down girl! I chastised my libido. It seemed me and my pussy might be at odds frequently if these guys stuck around.
I studied both of the new men as they made their way to where I waited on the sidewalk, their pace unhurried as I waited. The blond one was the tallest, well over six feet, with a clean-shaven face and short hair that reminded me of a soldier. He had a slightly crooked nose and a scar that cut across his cheek, noticeable even from this distance, but it by no means detracted from his looks. His green eyes scanned the crowds that surrounded us, his posture stiff as he approached me. This man was a fighter, more likely a soldier of some sort. With that realization, I instantly became more wary of the situation I was putting myself in. It wasn’t that I felt unsafe exactly, but more the fact that my subconscious recognized a formidable foe. The tension in my body built as I wondered just what I was agreeing to.
The second man was the polar opposite of the first. His hair shone a blue/black color in the setting rays of the Texas sun, longer and more unkempt, but in a more purposeful way than just being too lazy to manage it. Their slow approach allowed me to watch the way his hips rolled when he walked, relaxed and confident. No fear evident for even a second as his lean frame drew closer. A smile was pasted on his face, but it didn't meet his calculating, icy-blue eyes. In this lighting, they were extraordinarily pale, like his skin which seemed to reflect the sunlight. I knew he was sizing me up, and my own gaze hardened in challenge as I pulled my hands from my pockets.
Baer was, without a doubt, the friendliest of the three, so it was no surprise they’d sent him to make the first approach. As they finally stopped before me, I felt the need to move under the intensity of their combined gazes. My thighs involuntarily met that need, clenching together as I gravitated toward Baer. Compared to the other two, I felt much safer with him. An unnatural instinct was encouraging me to get closer to him. Fighting it, I turned my face away from Baer's smiling eyes that made my entire body relax, looking in the direction of the park.
“Rhowyn, this is Arryn.” Baer’s words drew my attention back to them as he gestured to the soldier, whose green eyes skimmed down my body appreciatively. “And this is Lennox.”
Lennox's smile grew wider, and his relaxed posture held a tautness that told me the lazy and charming air he was presenting was an act. This man was dark, but I didn't get an evil vibe. He was unquestionably dangerous, though. That was okay, though, because what none of them had realized yet, was that I was also dangerous. I was the actual wolf in sheep's clothing. They had already been assessed and categorized; their threat level filed away as I made my judgments about their characters.
“I'd say it was nice to meet you, but I haven't decided if that's true or not yet.” I held out my hand to shake the two newcomers' hands. Neither of them accepted my hand as they eyed me with narrowed brows.
Baer laughed nervously, as if he too could sense the tension between us all. “Like I said, they're new around here.” He turned to them. “Here on Earth, it’s customary to grasp a person's hand in greeting, like this.”
He grabbed my hand and shook it in demonstration. “Why?” Lennox asked as if the action was idiotic.
“You know, I'm not sure why exactly, but people do it all over,” Baer answered as he tried to think of an answer.
I rolled my eyes at Lennox. “It was started several hundreds of years ago to show that you had no weapons and meant no harm. Today, it's to assess someone. You can learn a lot from a handshake.”
Lennox nodded in response but made no move to attempt a handshake. I shook my head subtly at the weirdness of this entire encounter and conversation, shoving my hands back in my pockets. Turning my back on them while also keeping all of my senses trained on their movements, I made my way to the park. The sooner I got answers, the sooner I could be done with this whole ridiculous encounter.
Their whispers followed me as I walked, but it was low enough I couldn't hear the words. I could guess that there was a disagreement of some sort, but they seemed to settle it quickly. Good because I didn't want to be caught up in the middle of whatever it was.
I sighed heavily, already over today, and drew up next to the picnic table that sat under a couple of trees. Not wanting to sit on the rubber-covered metal, I remained standing. The Texas heat had a way of heating these tables to near melting points; even if it was in the shade, the temperatures were relentless. Baer set the bag of tacos down on the table and started handing out the food. The other two sat down, shifting on the overly warm benches with grimaces of pain.
“Who would choose to live in this miserable heat? Even Summer Territory isn't this hot at home,” Arryn complained, wiping sweat from his skin.
I laughed because every Texan questioned their sanity this time of year. “You get used to it. And it's usually only this hot for about a month to six weeks before it cools to something more tolerable. On the plus side, winter is pretty mild. We rarely get any snow, which is nice.”
Arryn considered my words but remained silent, not bothering to respond like this was a normal conversation. Instead of launching into an explanation like I had assumed they would, they started eating. Lennox took a hesitant bite, his eyes widening slightly before quickly consuming the rest. I leaned back against the tree trunk, waiting for them to finish their meals, my arms crossed over my chest. My thoughts wandered as I watched the other people enjoying the park. When I turned back to the guys to judge their progress, I found them all staring at me with various expressions. Baer was smiling widely, Lennox gazing at me with a scowl, and Arryn seemed impartial but curious, one eye still scanning the horizon for threats.
I eyed them all, still waiting for them to fill me in. This whole situation felt like a waste of my time or my comments. They were the ones who supposedly needed me. Before I could turn and walk away, the men glanced at each other as if holding a silent conversation between them, until Baer started speaking. Finally.
“I know what I'm going to say is hard to understand, and I know I'm being repetitive, but for someone who was raised here, it will undoubtedly require some time to understand. I'm sure you will have plenty of questions, and we'll do our best to answer them. That said, I think you know some of what I have to say already, though I'm not sure how or what you do know, so just stop me if you need more time. I don't think it will be...”
I held up a hand to stop his rambling, slightly amused. “How about I start with everything I know for sure?” He nodded at me to continue. “I was going about my own business a few days ago when I experienced excruciating pain out of nowhere. When it had faded, I had a mark on my shoulder, kind of like a tattoo, but totally smooth, as if it had always been there, more like a birthmark. You said in the taco shop that you could explain this tattoo . My mother has tried to explain, but I'm not sure how much of what she says is true. I won't repeat what she told me, preferring to hear your explanation to see if the two stories line up.”
Baer nodded again in understanding while the other two continued to eat. For all appearances, they seemed uninterested in the conversation, but I knew they were hanging on my every word.
“I can explain that. However, I think that we should start...”
Baer was interrupted again, but this time by Lennox. “It means you're Chosen.” He didn't elaborate or even bother to look at me when he said it. Asshole . It seemed he no longer found me worthy of the charming facade. Which was better. I hated games.
“Erm...” Baer stumbled over the best way to elaborate on Lennox’s revelation. Arryn simply scanned the area, not bothering to join the conversation.
“Okay. And what exactly does that mean? I'm this Chosen? What if I don't want to be chosen ?” I bit off my words, directing my irritation at Lennox as if it was his fault I was in this position.
“You don't really have a choice.” He still studied his plate, not bothering to even look at me. His attitude was really starting to piss me off. Before I could tell him where exactly he could shove this chosen idea, because no one tells me what I can and can't do.
Baer jumped in, obviously trying to salvage the mess Lennox was making. “What Lennox means is that you will feel an undeniable pull to return home, the trials calling you, getting stronger the more you resist.”
“And what happens if I do resist?” Again, I directed this toward Lennox. Smugly, if I might add.
“Don't be ridiculous,” Lennox said at the same time Baer jumped in.
“We're not really sure. No one has ever tried to resist before. It's considered one of the highest honors to even have the chance to compete.” Baer shot a look at Lennox, who just shrugged.
“Compete? And for what? Seems silly for me to go compete for something that I definitely want nothing to do with,” I snarked back, my temper rising.
“You'd be competing for the right to become our new queen. The trials are essentially an assessment of your character as it determines the fae who’s most fitting for the role.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I can save us a lot of time and trouble right now. I don’t want to be Queen. I don’t want to go to your world. So, what do I have to do to withdraw? I've got people here who need me, and I can't just abandon them.”
“You mean humans ?” Lennox sneered at that thought. Okay, now I was pissed. How dare this asshole. I moved toward him with the intention of decking him, but Baer jumped between us, his hands going gently to my shoulders to hold me back. Arryn tensed, his hand instinctively going to his side out of habit but remained empty. Whatever he was reaching for remained unobtained.
“Listen here, asshole, these humans are better than you could ever imagine. Sure, there are apparently douchebags in every species, but these humans are good, and they need me.”
“Lennox, maybe you should just let me handle this?” Baer asked, his own annoyance slipping into his voice.
“I'm done talking to this dick. If you want me to listen, he'll need to go.” I walked away from Baer so I could glare at Lennox. He just shrugged and stood, followed by Arryn, who kept quiet. Still. Leaving everything behind, they walked back toward their car .
“Ugh! Asshole can't even pick up his trash. Guess he feels a kinship to it.” I moved to snatch up the debris, not wanting to leave it.
Baer seemed unsure of how to respond. Instead, he helped me clean up their mess. “I’m sorry Lennox acted like that. It's out of character, at least from what I know of him. I do know he's under a lot of pressure right now with this whole Chosen thing. I hope you’ll still listen despite his attitude.” He threw the trash in the can and stopped next to me, looking into my eyes as he finished apologizing for the asshole.
I sighed. “Look, for whatever reason, I like you. Even if it’s against my better judgment. Arryn hasn't said much, so I really don't know about him, but Lennox seems to be an entitled asshole that’s used to getting his own way. He's not the first guy I've come across like this, and he won't be the last. If I took it personally every time someone was a jerk, I'd become one too, always angry over stupid shit. The way he acts is on him, not me.
“That said, I'll listen to what you have to say. To be honest, I'm curious about this whole situation, but I can't be your queen. I have people here. People forgotten and abandoned by everyone they've ever known, and if I leave them now, when they need me, I'm no better than all the others who walked out on them. Does that make any sense to you?”
Baer chewed on my explanation as he moved to sit at the table. I remained standing, needing to move, nervous energy building inside me as I waited for his answer. Normally, I did me and didn't give a shit what strangers thought of me, but I found myself wanting his approval. Finally, Baer looked back up to me. “As much as that thought saddens me, I can understand your loyalty. However, it's worth considering that just maybe the Fae need you and that loyalty just as much. I can answer any questions you have along the way or get the answers when I don't know. To be honest, though, I doubt I’ll be with you much longer. My current assignment was to bring Lennox and Arryn to Earth. When we return to Avalon, I’ll return to my post, which is guarding the portal between the worlds. I want to protect you and return your loyalty, but I'm not sure how feasible that will be. I just want you to know before you decide either way.”
While distracted by my churning mind, my hand rubbed my left shoulder, soothing the ache while I analyzed this information. “Is there a way to decline this chosen status?”
He watched me as I walked back and forth, answering, “I'm not sure, but if anyone knows the answer to that, it would be Master Jude. He's the Court Priest and is the closest to the land outside of the Queen and her consorts. He’s devoted his life to the study of our magic, so if anyone could sever the connection, it would be him.”
Was I crazy to believe this? If I was, it couldn't hurt to find out for sure. I'd just go and tell this Master Jude thanks, but no thanks. Granted, a lot could go wrong, but this pain in my shoulder was only getting worse. Baer said it was because of the magic pulling me back to Avalon, giving me no choice in the matter. Sure, I could probably resist the pain for a few more days, but what would happen if I ignored the call? Would the pain stop, or would it become debilitating until it had forced my hand?
I stopped pacing, and faced Baer, my decision made. “I'll go back with y'all. I'll get Master Jude to sever this connection, and then I can come back.” He stood in excitement and accomplishment, but I interrupted him before he could speak. “But I have a condition. I'm not crazy enough to go anywhere foreign to me without having someone I trust with me. That would just be stupid. And for whatever reason, I trust you. So, if I have to go, you do too.”