Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (10 page)

“Don’t worry, Ana. We won’t let them do that.”

Chapter Six

“What are you doing while I’m gone during the day?” Gilroy asked as they lay in

bed one morning. She seldom slept with clothes on anymore. It seemed pointless,

anything she wore to bed eventually ended up on the floor anyway.

She relished Gilroy’s touch and gently rested her hand on top of his as he glided his

fingers across her body. He stopped on the hardness in between her hipbones. She

hadn’t begun to show yet but her body was changing and both of them enjoyed

exploring the newness of it all. She felt butterflies when he squeezed the hardness that

grew inside her.

“Why do you ask me questions when you already know the answers?” She rolled

over on her side and wrapped her leg around his body.

“To ensure that you answer me honestly,” he growled, but sounded more seductive

than scary. She smiled and ran her fingers over his lips. He grabbed her hand and then

nibbled on her fingertips, refusing to let her hand go when she tried to pull back.

“You are going to have to learn to trust me, my lord.”

“I do trust you. I just need to make sure the people that influence you can be

trusted.” He rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him, enjoying the way her

growing breasts felt against his bare chest. “My papa has given me some land south of

Bryton, right outside of the clan site. I have already started making a house for us. I

thought I’d take you down to see it today. Would you like that?”

Her face lit up and he smiled, loving how she looked when she was happy. He

rolled both of them over and crushed her mouth with his, barely giving her time to grab

air.

“I love you, Ana,” he whispered into her ear. He never wanted to care for another

person the way he did her. The urge to protect her overwhelmed him at times.

* * * * *

Ana loved her new house. Gilroy was having stones unburied from the hills for

their outer walls. The stones were white and round. A huge pile of them lay next to the

large wooden skeleton that would be her house. He walked her through the structure

announcing each room as they entered it. He told her they would have wooden floors

and long, wide windows in every room.

The house would be big, having the potential for five bedrooms in all. There was a

formal living area for entertaining and then a family room next to it. The dining area

and kitchen opened into each other and there would be a large pantry. A spacious office

would be on the other side of the kitchen. He’d taken into consideration that she would

lead the Runners someday.

All five bedrooms were on the second floor. He wouldn’t let her climb the stairs

with everything still so open and under construction. He did stand in the living area,

though, and point to where each room would be. Gilroy made no secret about the fact

that he wanted lots of children. The way he babied her now that she was pregnant, Ana

didn’t think she’d mind obliging.

Some time later, she walked through the clan site where she’d spent most of her

time since she’d returned home. There was a fair amount of snow on the ground, but

the sky was cloudless and blue. She walked toward her mama’s trailer deciding she

would check in with some of the clan sites she’d contacted up north. No one had seen

Lara or any of the she-witches since the fools’ festival. She knew her “sister” hadn’t

disappeared into thin air.

“Andru, what are you doing here?”

Ana smiled at her brother who sat comfortably in one of the chairs in the living

room of the trailer. She pulled off her headscarf and gloves before helping herself to

some coffee. Jolee sat at the landlink waiting for a printout to finish. When it was, she

handed it to Andru.

“I think this is the latest report,” she said as she handed it to him.

“I appreciate this. Where did you say my mama is?” Andru stood and studied the

printout Jolee gave him.

“She’s overseeing military procedures.” Jolee smiled at Ana. “I’ve got all

communications transmitted recently from the clans ready for you in your file.”

“Thanks, Jolee.” Ana watched her brother study the printout.

“Well, I need to get down to Tara. Will you join us soon?” Jolee pulled on her coat.

Andru looked up at his sister, curious to hear her answer.

“Yes. I’ll be down after I see what the clan sites have to say.” She turned her

attention back to her brother. “Would you like to check out the Runner armies with

me?”

“Yes.” He turned to Jolee. “We’ll be down there shortly.”

Ana walked past him to sit at the landlink after Jolee left. He moved in behind her,

pulling up a chair so he could see the landlink with her. She figured Andru knew of her

communications with the Runner clan sites in the Norther country and was here to find

out what they had to say. Without speaking she opened the file and accessed the first

response. She went through several more before leaning back and sighing.

“Why hasn’t anyone seen any of the she-witches?” She closed her eyes as Andru

began twisting her hair. He had done this to her since they were children and the

affectionate touch relaxed her.

“Either they’ve moved out of the Norther country or they’re intentionally hiding.”

His voice was raspy behind her and she turned around to face him.

“They were hauling too many supplies to move out of the Norther country,” Ana

guessed.

“Agreed. You said Lara was a Runner. Maybe she’s not appearing as a she-witch

anymore.”

“I couldn’t describe her. I’ve never seen her face.”

“I have.” Andru’s gray eyes sparkled at her.

“You remember what her face looked like?”

“I remember a lot of things about that night.” His hand moved to stroke her cheek

but she jumped up quickly.

“You’re the one who said we would put that behind us,” she said nervously. Then,

tossing her hair to shake the fears that grew inside her, she smiled sheepishly at her

brother. “But I remember that night too.”

“Are there any good memories, Ana?” He whispered the words and she could see

straight through to his soul when she looked into his eyes. He was in pain. Heir to all of

Gothman and respected by everyone, he held his head high and took on all of his tasks

aggressively. Yet, here was something he hadn’t taken on. He’d washed his hands of it

and grief was eating him alive. Instinctively, Ana reached for him.

“Don’t be mad, but the only good memory was waking up in between the two of

you.” She whispered the words. “I felt more safe and protected at that moment than I

think I’ve ever felt. I wanted to stay there forever and at the same time I knew I needed

to get out of there as quickly as I could.”

Andru held her hand in his but didn’t comment. He stared at her and she thought

she saw some form of peace quietly work its way through him. His thoughts

bombarded her suddenly. In a whirlwind. Briefly, just for a moment, and then they

were gone, like a quick breeze. It was a sensation she’d experienced from time to time

when they were alone and their emotions were strong. She looked into the face that

looked so much like her own and gave him a questioning look.

“I want to touch you,” he said quietly, and when uncertainty crossed her face he

added, “Don’t worry. I just want to feel.”

He placed his hand on her abdomen and held it there firmly, lowering his head so

she couldn’t see his eyes. Her belly protruded, although not visibly through her clothes.

It was hard, though, and obvious to the touch that she was pregnant. His hand held that

hardness and the heat from him warmed her. His other hand held her arm and she

relaxed, letting him enjoy the life that grew inside her.

“Dr. Digo can tell you who the papa is,” he whispered hoarsely without looking up.

“Andru,” she gasped and backed away.

He held her tightly. “I need to know, Ana. It’s driving me crazy.”

“And what if you’re the papa?”

“Then I’m the papa.”

“And what about Gilroy?”

“You are his claim. That won’t change.”

“Andru, just leave it alone. It won’t help you if I take that test.”

“It will if I know the child is Gilroy’s.” His hands ran up her arms to her shoulder

and then he buried his hands in her hair. “Ana, Crator plays some cruel jokes on us. If

you weren’t my sister…there is no other woman like you.”

“I know, Andru. We are part of a whole and will always be perfect for each other.”

She choked on her words and he pulled her to him.

Neither one of them was sure how long they held each other silently. A loving hug

between brother and sister, nothing more, although so much more had been shared.

Finally, he pulled her away, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Tomorrow you will go see the doctor.” It was a direct order.

“What about Gilroy?”

“You won’t tell him about this conversation,” he said simply, but she knew his tone

was serious. Then, clearing his throat, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “This

is a written description of what Lara looks like. I want you to send out a transmission to

all Runner clans announcing that she is wanted by the Blood Circle Clan.”

“Does Mama know about this?”

“She will when you’ve told her you’ve done it.”

* * * * *

Ana didn’t go to the doctor the next day. Gilroy caught up with her when Andru

took her to see the Gothman armies so she could see how the two armies varied. His

face lit up when he saw the twins and Ana squeezed Andru’s arm before walking over

to greet her claim.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, as he wrapped his arms around her

possessively.

“I’ve spent the day watching the Runner armies do their exercises and Andru

thought it would be a good idea to see the Gothman armies as well.”

“You look tired.”

“I am.” She smiled at him and he pulled her in closer and kissed her cold lips. “I

want you at home, warm and rested,” he whispered to her. “But you have to learn these

things, my lady. Tomorrow, though, you will take a break from all this. I’m taking you