All For One [Nuworld 3] (55 page)

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Chapter Thirty

A cycle later the house was full of chatter as everyone stood waiting to head into

the town for the New Winter celebration. The smell of spring was in the air and Fulga

had opened all the windows, to air the winter out.

Ana came down the stairs wearing her Runner clothing and her hair down—with

no headscarf. Syra and Torgo stood at the bottom of the stairs holding hands and Ana

couldn’t help but notice the obvious bulge of Syra’s tummy. She remembered drinking

some Gothman potion her grandmama had given her when she’d gone to visit her

during her mama’s stay in the hospital.

Reena, Tara’s Gothman mama and once the primary physician of Bryton, told her

the solution would make her cramp and pass blood only if there was a child inside her.

She’d sat up the entire night holding her knees to her chest on her bathroom floor until

the pain had passed. It had been several weeks after that before Gilroy prodded the

story out of her.

He’d been very understanding and made incredible headway with her when he

told her he had no desire to start creating a long line of bastards the way his papa had

and he certainly wouldn’t try to claim her before she was ready. Her heartbeat raced as

she thought of the sultry look he gave her when he asked if she used the anti-

conception pills now.

They’d hiked up into the cliffs surrounding the war game field and when she told

him she did, he’d tried to make love to her. She told him no—just to see if he’d stop.

Much to her surprise, and disappointment, he did stop—and hadn’t tried anything

since. Now, a week later, she wondered if he would again any time soon.

“Are we all about ready to go?” Tara looked around at her family and couldn’t help

grinning.

Syra and Torgo looked so happy and there was talk that their new house would be

finished by the summer. She knew the gossip would fly as the couple appeared together

at the celebration, with Syra obviously pregnant. But that would be overshadowed by

the talk over the news that Mik’s claim had been identified as Rayla’s murderer.

It was discovered that both women were equally as far along in their pregnancies

and the jealous claim, overcome with grief, had killed her man’s mistress. The gossip

stemmed around the fact that Gothman was slowly changing when two Gothman

women resorted to violence over a man’s promiscuous behavior. Runners were blamed

for this.

“You’re not taking anyone to the celebration?” Lord Darius wrapped his arm

around Tara as he looked at his son.

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Andru grinned mischievously. “I’m meeting them down there.”

“Them?” his father laughed.

“Like father, like son,” Syra chided as the group moved toward the front door.

“And what about you? Why isn’t anyone taking you to the celebration?” Andru ran

his hands through his sister’s long hair.

“I thought I’d let you show me the sights. I’ve never been to the New Winter

celebration before.” Ana smiled up at her brother.

“So, you’re saying no one asked you to go with them?” His eyebrows narrowed as

he held onto her long hair twisting it in his hand.

“I got asked. I just said no.” She met his eyes and he smiled then led her out the

front door by her hair, not that he was hurting her…he held it loosely.

“You’re not tagging along with me and Beel, not tonight,” he told her.

They reached the bottom of the porch steps when Ana realized the rest of the family

had left. Gilroy sat on his glider wearing a crest on his leather jacket that indicated he

was a commander of Lord Darius’ guards. “If you won’t accept a date to the celebration

then you’ll have an escort. Gilroy, don’t let her out of your sight.”

Gilroy simply nodded and then Andru leaned forward to kiss his sister on the

cheek. He took off across the yard slapping Beel on the back as they went.

“I’ve been replaced,” she moped as she turned to face Gilroy.

“Maybe it’s time you replace your brother with another man,” he answered quickly,

then taking her arm gently, he brought her to him and she climbed on in front of him.

* * * * *

“You’re not going to cry on me again, are you?” Torgo wrapped his arm around his

claim and pulled her close. They sat on his glider watching fireworks go off in the sky.

His brother sat next to him and Tara cuddled behind him with her chin nestled on his

shoulder.

“No, I just never expected anything like this. You and I are together and I’m

carrying our child.”

“It’s far from over, my beautiful lady.” He reached around and patted her tummy

and she looked up at him and smiled although he still saw her fear. Across the street he

could hear Beel and Andru laughing as they talked to several Gothman girls.

Fireworks exploded above them, and people surrounding them clapped their

appreciation of the show.

Darius and Tara watched as Gilroy turned suddenly and lifted Ana off the ground

and placed her on the back of one of the jeeps so she could see over the crowd.

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“Andru told us the dog-woman said all must be for one before the evil could end,

he did.” Darius spoke gently and then wrapped his arms around her turning her

sideways and kissing her affectionately on the lips. “We had to live through all of it to

get here, we did.”

“You’re right,” she said as her head rested in his hand and she gloried in those

charcoal-colored eyes. “I can’t help but think I could have done some things differently

and still got here. What’s done is done, my Lord, and all are for one now.”

Andru didn’t notice that the girls were no longer standing with them. Beel looked

so confused when he’d mentioned Crator that it got him going. He started sharing his

knowledge of Crator and the dog-woman and Beel had millions of questions. The two

of them noticed no one around them but grew completely engrossed in their

conversation.

Andru even gave up keeping an eye on his sister from out of the corner of his eye.

Gilroy quickly noticed he’d finally given up watching him like a hawk and decided it

was time to ensure this town knew Ana was no longer available.

“Why did you put me up here?” Ana stood in the back of the jeep and glared at

him.

“I got tired of listening to you say you couldn’t see anything.” He put his hands on

his hips and smiled up at her.

She looked around quickly at the activities going on in the middle of the street.

Dancers and jugglers worked their way down the street and Gothman and Runners

packed both sides of the roadway. She saw her parents across the street surrounded by

guards. Her father looked directly at her and she walked to the edge of the jeep to jump

down. Gilroy grabbed her wrists before she could jump, though, and pulled her down

to her knees so she faced him eye to eye.

“What are you doing?” Fear sounded in her voice.

“I thought you wanted to see everything.” He pulled her wrists enough to cause her

to fall into him. She scrambled to regain composure but he wouldn’t let her move. “Are

you afraid of something?”

“My papa is watching me,” she whispered. “Let me down, Gilroy, please.” His face

was inches from hers and his blue eyes were hauntingly dark.

“Are you ashamed to be seen with me?” He cocked his head and then released her

wrists and quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, forcing her hands to brace

herself on his chest. “Do you not wish anyone to see you in my arms?”

“Gilroy, please.”

“Are you?”

She relaxed her body and leaned into him. “No.”

“Good, because I plan on getting your family real accustomed to seeing you where

you are right now.” He slid one hand up through her hair to her neck and lowered his

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lips onto hers. She felt a pulsating heat in between her legs as she realized the statement

he was making by kissing her in front of everyone.

“There are plenty of places that are better than this for that kind of activity,” Andru

said from behind Gilroy.

“Yes, my Lord, you are right.” Gilroy smiled at Ana before pulling her down to the

ground and then facing her brother. “But this is the perfect place to do what needed to

be done.”

“I think your point has been well made.” Andru smiled knowingly and glanced

around the busy streets. “Join us for some Gothman wine.”

Andru extended his hand and Gilroy secured Ana under his arm then fell in behind

the brothers. As the four of them walked across the street toward their parents, the

crowd parted for them. They could hear some of the whispered comments around

them. Gothman and Runner alike commented on Beel and the uncanny resemblance to

Andru. There were words exchanged about the Bryons including a bastard in their

home. At these words, Andru looked down at Beel and smiled reassuringly. Others,

predominantly the female population, sulked and whined that Gilroy was no longer

available. And just as many men scowled that Gilroy had successfully pulled off a claim

that most had viewed as unobtainable.

By the time they’d made their way through the crowd to stand in front of Lord

Darius and Lady Tara, all had an earful of what the town thought of each of them. The

guards spread themselves around the family members keeping the crowd well out of

earshot of their conversations.

“Bella!” Andru turned and yelled to one of the barmaids who walked down the

street holding a tray full of empty mugs. “Bring wine, our family wishes a toast.”

Darius crossed his arms and smiled, affectionately, at all of the family that

surrounded him. Tara wrapped her arm around his shoulder and winked at Torgo and

Syra.

“You’ve done well, Darius,” Torgo said after the scantily dressed barmaid showed

up with several girls to help pass out mugs and pour wine.

“I sure can’t say I get all the credit, no.” Darius pulled Tara up so she sat sideways

on the glider with her legs hanging off the side.

“Has your vision been satisfied?” Tara looked at her son as he handed his sister a

cup of wine.