Piper LeVine, A Gypsy's Truth

  Chapter Eight

  “Sidney’s calling you,” Nicholas told me, and I looked in the direction of the sanctuary. We were way up the mountain. Could he really hear her? “She’s getting worried.” He went in a circle around me, and when he crossed in front of me he was Deception again. He circled me another time, but this time he ducked beneath my legs. I would only have to bend my legs to be sitting on his back.

  “You want me to ride you like a horse? No.” I tried to back away, but he only moved with me. “Seriously?” I grabbed onto the fur behind his neck, and he bulleted down the mountain. We were moving faster than I had ever driven. Everything swept past us in a blur.

  He slowed down when we were at the edge of the forest, and I fell off. I’d been holding on for dear life. I could hear Sidney and called out to her as I jogged into the sanctuary.

  “You took him for another walk?”

  I smiled and looked down at Deception. “Well, I felt guilty that I’d left him in my room for most of the day.”

  “Next time take Nicholas with you. You shouldn’t be walking that mountain alone.” She put an arm across my shoulders and led me toward the house. “Are you alright?”

  I knew she was talking about Rick. “I hurt him. He hurt me, and it’s over. I just want to try to forget him.”

  “Oh sweetie, I’m sorry you got hurt.” She rubbed my shoulder vigorously. “Do you want to watch an old movie? I made rice krispie treats.” I could never say no to Grandma Sidney, and so we munched the treats she’d made and watched an old black and white movie that my grandma loved. It was the movie she’d gone to see when she’d met her husband, my grandpa, who died two years prior.

  If times back then were anything like they were portrayed in the movies it was a simpler and happier time. Regardless, it helped me to forget my worries and enjoy time with Grandma Sidney. She always knew what I needed, and she was unfailingly there for me.

  I kissed her goodnight after the movie. Nicholas was sitting on my bed wearing brown cargo pants when I made it to my room. “You should have told him goodbye without the kiss.”

  “I thought you went up the mountain? Nosy.” I found a sleeping shirt and some pants and then went and changed in the bathroom. The bruises were almost completely gone. That goopy fire stuff really worked. Nicholas was still sitting on my bed when I came back out.

  “Do you love him?”

  “I love sleep. Please get off my bed.” Nicholas stood so I hopped in and sank beneath the blankets. “Are you going to bury more clothes tonight?” I yawned and covered my mouth.

  “I’m glad you told him you were finished with him.” I turned on my side and closed my eyes. “I’d like your permission.”

  “For what?” I kept my eyes closed.

  “For this.” His hand cupped my face, turning it toward him. My eyes opened as his lips met mine. Electric heat burned through me melting my insides. My eyelids fell closed, and my hand slid up his arm onto his shoulder. His hand caressed my face and was beginning to trace a finger down my neck when I realized one of my hands was on the back of his neck.

  When I let go, he ended the kiss and stood up, looking down at me. My hand was on the back of his neck? I was as bad as my parents.

  “Why did you do that?” I sat up the rest of the way and glared at him. He wasn’t supposed to be the first one who made me feel so many things with a first kiss.

  “I didn’t want you falling asleep with Rick’s kiss on your lips.” He smiled at me, though I continued to glare at him. “I want to be who you see when you close your eyes.” My cheeks burned, and I looked away.

  “Good luck with that,” I said. Where had he learned to talk like that? He had said it like he meant it. I could still feel the heat of his kiss on my lips and the steel like muscle in his arms and shoulders on my palms. I laid down facing the other way and forced my eyes closed.

  Well, he didn’t need luck after all. I could still see him standing bare chested beside my bed.

  “Sleep well, Csardasfurstin.” I didn’t know what that meant. It was probably wolf for live bait. I pressed my lips together so that I wouldn’t say something stupid and waited to hear him leave. Minutes passed like a snail across a highway, and I didn’t hear anything. I rolled back toward where he had been standing and opened my eyes the tiniest crack.

  He was looking through my bookcase. Could he read? Apparently, or he wouldn’t be looking through my books. His back was as packed with as many muscles as his chest. Every move he made was controlled and completely silent. I could hear myself blinking louder than the movements he was making with shuffling my books around. I couldn’t complain that he was keeping me awake when he was being so freaking silent.

  Nicholas pulled out a photo album, and I sat up again. “What are you doing?”

  “Just looking.” He continued to turn the pages. “You had braces?” He chuckled, and I sighed loudly. “Aw, look you lost your first tooth.”

  “Will you please stop invading my privacy? Turn off the light too please.” At least, I wouldn’t be able to see him. He flipped the light switch, and I fell asleep trying to hear what he was doing. I’m pretty sure he continued to go through the album. I have no idea what he did after that.

  “Wake up, Pipey.” Trina, my little sister stood next to my bed. Her naturally blond hair was straightened, and her makeup conservative and fresh. “Pack up your junk and come home.” She hit me with one of my pillows, and I groaned and rolled away from her.

  “I have a life too, and I’m not putting it on hold to come to the hard labor farm and watch you.”

  “I never asked you too, did I?” I hit her with the same pillow she used on me, and she took it and plopped down on my bed.

  She sighed. “Mom’s really sorry for what she said.” Trina hugged the pillow. “She was really upset. She loves you.”

  “You don’t even know what was said.”

  “I know.” Trina shrugged her slim shoulders. She was a year younger than I but already two inches taller than me. Mom put her through a lot more training than I, but I’d always assumed Katrine knew I wasn’t interested in all those boring lady refining lessons. Her blue eyes rose to my green ones, a color I’m sure I got from my birthmother. “You’re still my sister.”

  I stiffened up immediately. My mom told her about me? “I know,” I said not wanting to expose my insecurities or start crying again. She’d never know how much what she’d just said meant to me.

  Getting up out of bed, I noticed that my assumption that Nicholas would be gone was accurate. He was out working in the sanctuary as their new work hand. “How long are you staying, Trina?”

  “This isn’t my scene.” I turned toward her. “I love grandma too, but this place is like a sweatshop. I can’t stay, and I’m not supposed to go home without you.”

  I showered and got dressed. When I came out of the bathroom, I found Trina sprawled out on my bed talking on her phone. She was talking to some boy, and I wondered why I was the only one that seemed to get caught by the press. Surely, the way she was talking to that boy, she could be caught kissing.

  “Hey,” I waved at her to get her attention. “You know the rules. You’re here, you work.” She shook her head at me giggling at something her boyfriend said to her over the phone. I left her there knowing grandma would soon chase her out.

  The sun was warm, and the air was sweet from recent rainfall. I started for the barn when a black wolf fell into step alongside me. It was slightly smaller and walked with a shorter gait. I could see Nicholas unloading a truck of supplies. “Duncan?” It slightly turned its head from side to side. “Well, you’re not Deception so who are you?”

  “Hey, slacker,” Johnny shouted at me from the second barn. “Get to work. Those dogs need exercise.” I waved at him, but I didn’t head for the dogs. I jogged over to Nicholas.

  “Mmm, you smell incredible.” He came to me and smelled my hair and tested the texture of the red stripe I just couldn’t hide. His face in th
e crook of my neck made my heart speed up, and a shiver ran through me. I stepped back quickly and looked down at the imposter at my side. “That’s Adriel. He’s filling in for me while I’m in my human form.”

  “He’s obviously not you.”

  “He’ll pass.” Nicholas smiled at Adriel, and I wondered if Adriel was communicating with him.

  “He’s going to upset the dogs.”

  “No, he won’t.” Nicholas smirked raising an eyebrow at me. “Adriel is very good with animals.” He looked past me, and I followed his gaze. Trina was marching toward me with a scowl on her face. Grandma had told her to get to work, and I was sure she had taken her phone too. “That’s your sister?”

  “Yes, and I don’t want her involved in the mess you’ve pulled me into. Understand?”

  “You’re the only LeVine I’m interested in, Piper.” His brown eyes were warm as they gazed into mine. I ignored the thrill his gaze sent down my spine.

  “Don’t waste your time. I am nothing like my birthmother.” His eyebrows scrunched together and he bent towards me.

  “Where I come from we don’t talk about our parents that way. Have some respect.”

  “I-”

  “Even if she is a terrible person, which, I doubt, she still gave you a chance at life. She could have aborted you.” He gave me his back, and I stared at it dumbfounded. That came out of nowhere, hadn’t it? My face was burning and I once again felt lost. Being corrected was something I have never tolerated or appreciated very well, especially when I needed it. He was right, but there was no way I’d let him know that.

  Adriel stood stiff beside me, so I did not attempt to get him to follow me. I just turned and went to the kennels. He did follow along after all and Nicholas was right, the dogs liked him.

  I took six of them into the fenced in acreage run. I threw balls and Frisbees and got them running. They were all beautiful and had a good chance at adoption.

  Adriel was the alpha right away and had them all running and playing. I added another four to the group, and they joined right into the pack. Adriel was really good for them.

  “So, who is the new guy?” Trina asked from the other side of the fence.

  “He’s trouble.”

  “He’s really hot.” Trina was watching Nicholas, and I asked myself again how I was the one who was always photographed. “Grandma says you two are going out tonight. I have to say I can totally see why you want to stay now.”

  I turned toward her. “Trina, he’s not why I want to stay. I like being with Grandma Sidney.”

  “You’ll have to face mom sometime.”

  Tony spotted Trina standing around and I didn’t have to respond, which I was grateful for. Nicholas didn’t come near me all morning. He was a work horse. Nothing made him tired. I watched him a lot and noticed that he was not trying to look for me.

  I finished up exercising the last of the dogs and was ready for the horses. I wanted to ride. That was exactly what I needed. Wind to crash against me and hopefully blow away some of this ridiculous anxiety. Adriel followed me over to the horse barn, but once I saddled up Tonto I told him to stay and signaled Tonto into a trot.

  My anticipation was building the closer I got to the field. When we took the last corner Tonto took off into a run. He must have felt my energy. The wind rushed through my hair and blew away the dirt from the dog run. It was cool, and I felt like I was flying. One more second and I’d have to slow Tonto down so he would be properly warmed up, and then we could run again. I opened my eyes and sighed as I started to pull on the reins. Movement in the woods beside me drew my attention.

  A man was running in the woods. His eyes were black, and they were wide and staring at me from beneath a heavy hooded black cloak. He was as fast as Tonto. I pushed Tonto harder and steered away from that side of the woods, but we were surrounded by trees there in the field.

  Was he a hunter? Was he one of the “they,” that had scared my parents? It wasn’t human running like that. Was it a Baobhan Sith?

  I stopped Tonto in the center of the field and tried to think. He wasn’t leaving the shadows of the trees. My heart was racing and all I could do was sit still on Tonto and stare at whatever was staring back at me. He started moving again in the circle of trees never taking his eyes from mine, and I realized my body was growing tired even though my mind was screaming.

  Nicholas heard Sidney from the mountain. Why hadn’t I thought to call him? I tried to open my mouth and realized my lips felt numb like they’d been injected at the dentist. He was smiling at me, and I knew he was the reason I felt this way. I bit my lower lip and hugged Tonto’s neck. Not looking at him helped.

  Good, I can do this.

  He was still looking at me. I could feel it. Tonto started side stepping, and I knew he was nervous too. I ran my hand over him and prayed that thing stayed in the trees. Tonto started backing up and turned toward the sanctuary. He was scared.

  “Nicholas!” Tonto heard the fear in my voice and was bolting back toward the trees that stood between us and the sanctuary. I didn’t look, but I knew the man was in those trees. I clung to Tonto.

  Trees crashed down ahead of us, and I heard a terrible scream of agony. I rose up and saw the black robe catch on fire and burn into nothing. Standing next to the robed man were two huge werewolves. They were taller than I was sitting on Tonto. I would have been afraid of them with their wolf and man body topped with an all wolf head, but they didn’t give me a chance. As soon as the robe was in ashes they were in their small wolf form.

  Tonto ran right past them, and I just made sure I held on. I was still holding on when Tonto brought us right back to his stall. “Good boy, Tonto.” I couldn’t convince myself to let go of his neck. I was shaking, and I couldn’t stop.

  Strong hands gripped my waist and lifted me from Tonto’s back. “Are you okay?” Nicholas brushed my hair away from my neck and tilted my head up. “Piper?” He wrapped his arms around me. He was solid and warm. Slowly, I stopped shaking. “Don’t tell Adriel to stay anymore. He will obey you, and you have to be guarded.”

  “What was that?” I leaned back so I could see his face. Would he still lie to me? Didn’t he have to tell me everything?

  “It was a black Sith.”

  “A black Sith? Not a Baobhan Sith?” He was holding both of my frozen hands, and they were warming up too. Adriel was sitting at my feet looking up at me with sad eyes.

  “No, it was a black Sith. That’s not good, sweetheart.”

  I looked back toward the clearing. “But he’s dead.”

  “Yes, he is. However, others will come looking for him.”

  “You’re saying more of those things are coming?” Adriel lay down on my feet.

  Nicholas held onto my shoulders. “No, only one will come. It’ll be looking for you.” I could still picture the first one and felt like the earth was tilting beneath my feet. “You won’t be here. You’re going back to your parents’ house.”

  I could hear myself breathing loudly, but I couldn’t quiet the sound. “I won’t leave my grandma to one of those things.” He was rubbing my back. “Why me? You said they were after you.” I tried to read his face, but I couldn’t.

  “It was focused on you when we killed it.” I didn’t know what that meant for certain, and at this point I didn’t want to know. I couldn’t ignore what he had already told me.

  That thing came looking for him, and now my family is in danger.