Eternal (17 page)

“They're in the bosque,” Len said. “Caeran's going to gather the others.”

“Is Savhoran with them?” I asked.

“He didn't say.”

We finished our tea, then Madóran led us around the house, locking all the doors and windows. We went around the
plazeula
, too, closing the doors in the glass wall. I hadn't noticed, but they all had bolt latches. Not that that would do a lot; anyone determined to get in could simply break the glass.

Madóran held his hand on each doorknob and murmured something. I thought I saw a glow of light under his hand, and I definitely felt the back of my neck prickling.

When everything was as secure as it would get,
Mad
ó
ran
made me pack up my stuff and he and Len helped me move it to her room. I'd probably get moved again when Caeran and the others got here, but for now I was glad not to be alone.

Len's room was in the middle of the hacienda's west side, and the curtains and all the bedding were deep blue, while the lamps had mica shades that glowed orange-gold. There was a dresser that looked at least a hundred years old. On top of it was a wooden tray carved with mermaids. Too gorgeous for its current contents, which had last resided in Len's pockets. Handful of change, keychain, lip gloss.

Besides the bedroom furniture, every inch of available wall space was filled with bookcases. There was only one bed but it was huge, so Len and I wouldn't be getting in each other's way. Over the headboard hung a Georgia O'Keeffe painting; an original, I suspected. There was another over the dresser.

Mad
ó
ran
went to a door in the room's south wall and undid the latch hook. “This leads to my sitting room. The opposite door leads to Nathrin and Mirali's room. We must leave them all unlatched, so that we can move among these rooms without going onto the
portal
if need be.”

Len nodded. “What about meals?”

“
I will prepare a store of food that we can keep here, enough for a few days. I hope we shall not have to use it. Meanwhile, we should all move to and from the public rooms together.”

Mad
ó
ran
went to the east door, the one that opened on the
plazuela
. “I will tell Nathrin and Mirali this plan. Please do not go out.”

He left, closing the door gently behind him. Len and I looked at each other.

“
Let me clear a couple of drawers for you,” she said, heading for the dresser.

“
Don't bother. Caeran will be here soon. I'll just live out of my bag.”

She sat on the bed, sighing. “I'm sorry about all this.”

“
It's not your fault.”

“
I feel like it is.”

“
Don't.” I sat next to her. “Listen, the minute Savhoran came into the picture, I stayed because I wanted to. You're not responsible.”

Len smiled sadly. “I'm glad you like him. He was so crushed when Tiruli left.”

“
Tiruli? Was that…?”

“
His partner.
Ex
-partner. She just couldn't handle it. I guess I understand why, but she really let him down right when he needed support.”

“
D
id they do that—that thing you and Caeran did at Midsummer?”

“Cup-bond. Yeah, they were supposed to renew it at Evennight, but Tiruli left before then.”

“Evennight?”

“The equinox. Spring, in this case. Savhoran didn't celebrate it with the others, just stayed holed up in his room. I was afraid he'd—well, give up.”

“Suicide.”

She nodded.

“He still might.” I swallowed; I hadn't voiced that fear before. “He's having a hard time with this disease.”

“He's doing a lot better since he met you.”

“Thanks.”

That gave me a little warm glow in my belly. Len hugged me, then we got ready for bed.
Mad
ó
ran
came back through the door to Nathrin and Mirali's room, told us to come use his bathroom if we needed to, then said good night.

Maybe from stress, or from being in a new room, I had trouble getting to sleep. When I finally did drop off, I dreamed about the alben guy. Just like the reality had been, the dream was exciting and horrifying at the same time, only this time there was no
Mad
ó
ran
to intervene, so the alben got to me and, well, let's just say it would probably be a hit at the movies. But I didn't like it. Enjoyed; didn't like.

I figured out that it was a dream and struggled to wake up. Finally succeeded and opened my eyes. The room was very still and dark. I looked around, then froze.

I could just see the silhouette of a man standing at the foot of the bed.

I sat up, fixing to scream.

Don't be afraid. It's me.

Relief washed through me, along with a breathtaking awareness of Caeran. He'd never talked to me like that before. It reassured me that all my ideas about him were correct.

Did you just get here?

Yes. I didn't know you were sharing Len's room.

Mad
ó
ran
wanted us all together.
I moved to get out of the bed.

No, stay there. Don't wake her.

Caeran went and sat in the armchair across the room. I couldn't see his face.

How did you get in? We locked everything up—

Mad
ó
ran
gave me a key last winter.

Oh.
I hesitated, then figured what the hell. He could probably tell what I was thinking anyway.
Where's Savhoran?

I sensed a flicker of frustration, then Caeran tightened his shielding. Duh—I'd forgotten. I hastily put some white light around myself.

He wouldn't come. He didn't want to make the others uncomfortable.

Five was a tight fit in Len's car, but I suspected that wasn't the reason. Savhoran was sensitive; he knew the rest of the clan didn't like being physically close to him.

So he's alone?

I offered to go back for him, but he didn't want me to take the risk.

I was not happy about this. I concentrated on the white light for a minute, not wanting my feelings to annoy Caeran.

I called his cell, but he didn't answer.

He may have left it at home.

Yeah, probably. Crap.

In a day or two, if things are quiet here, I will go back for him.

Thanks.

Rest, now. I must talk to
Mad
ó
ran
.

OK. I'm glad you're here.

His answer was wordless and warm. He went to the door into
Mad
ó
ran
‘s room, and by the time he closed it, he'd slipped out of contact.

I sighed. I was glad Caeran and the others had come, but I was worried about Savhoran. It was hard to keep from grabbing my phone and calling again right then, but there was no point in doing that before morning. I lay down and kept my thoughts firmly on Savhoran until I fell asleep.

Len tickled me awake. I sat up gasping and thrashing.

She laughed. Daylight was streaming in behind her through a window to the
portal
.

“
Dammit!” I aimed a pillow at her. She dodged so it just hit a glancing blow.

She grinned. “Get up, lazy. Breakfast is ready.”

I slithered to my feet and pulled my t-shirt down. “You just want me out of your bed now that Caeran's back.”

“
How did you know he was back?”

“
Um. He stopped by. You were asleep.”

“
Oh.” She looked momentarily unhappy, then dismissed it. “Come on, before they eat all the waffles.”

I pulled on my jeans and combed my hair with my fingers as we went out to the
portal
. Apparently it was OK to walk around out there during daylight, but the glass doors were all still latched. Out in the
plazuela
a breeze stirred the roses and bees hummed around the pansies.

The kitchen was full of
ælven and smelled like maple syrup and sausage. My stomach informed me the menu was acceptable. Len went to sit by Caeran, so I went over to the counter and put some sausage and sliced melon on a plate.

Mad
ó
ran
was pouring batter into an old-fashioned cast iron waffler on the stove. He closed it, then smiled at me. “Good morning.”

I swallowed a bite of melon. “Morning. Smells fantastic.”

“This one will be yours. The others have all had at least one.”

I poured myself some tea and stood leaning against the counter, since the chairs were all taken. Nathrin and Mirali were over on the banco by the fireplace with plates in their laps. Caeran, Len, and the other three were at the table. There would have been room for everyone at the big table in the great room, but it was cozier in the kitchen, and the closeness felt safer.

The whole clan—at least the New Mexico branch, there might be others—was assembled. Savhoran should have been there, too.

I pushed that thought away and munched on a sausage until my waffle was ready. I slathered it with butter and drenched it with maple syrup—the real stuff—and stood at the counter eating while I watched
Mad
ó
ran
make the next one.

“
Would you like another?”

“
In a bit. I want to call Savhoran.”

“
I tried,” Caeran said from the table. “He's still not answering.”

“
Well, then I'll leave him a message.”

I was in a stubborn mood. I started for the door to the
portal
, and Lomen got up and followed me. I was about to tell him to mind his own business, but
Mad
ó
ran
caught my eye.

“
Do not go outside alone, even in daylight.”

I swallowed my cranky response and looked at Lomen. “Thanks.”

He smiled and walked with me to Len's room. I got out my phone and noticed it was nearly dead. Called Savhoran's number and listened to it ring, then fought back tears as the voicemail kicked in.

“
Hi, Savhoran, it's Manda. Give me a call please.”

That's all I said, because my voice was pretty shaky. I hung up, dug out my charger, plugged it in, and stuck the phone in it.

“
Do not worry,” Lomen said as we walked back to the kitchen. “Savhoran may have forgotten to charge his phone. He has done so before. Your technology is difficult for us.”

“
You guys have been here for like six months, right?”

“
Yes, but we have not been using phones that long. Caeran got his at Evennight—it was a gift from Len—and Savhoran only got his a few weeks ago.”

I stopped, trying to get the better of my dread. “Where is he if he isn't at home?”

Lomen met my gaze and I felt his sympathy. “I do not know, but he is alive. We would know if he had crossed.”

I blinked. “You're all that connected?”

He nodded. “So be at ease. He is well.”

As well as he could be.

Mad
ó
ran
was still making waffles. I'd lost my appetite, so I got a mug of tea and sat on the banco nursing it. Nathrin and Mirali were talking in
ælven
on the other side of the fireplace.

I felt like an outsider, honorary clan membership notwithstanding. My heart was back in Albuquerque with Savhoran. He was an outcast too, sort of. They could say all they wanted that he was still family, but he knew the difference, and so did I.

I thought about taking Len's car to go find him, but I knew what wouldn't go over well.
Mad
ó
ran
wanted me to stay at the hacienda, and he was probably right that I was safer there than anywhere else.

So. Wait it out. Not fun.

At the table they were talking strategy now, so I drifted over to listen. Bironan wanted to go pro-active and hunt the alben down, but Faranin was arguing for caution.

“
There are two of them now.”

“
And six of us,” said Bironan, glancing over his shoulder at Nathrin. “We should be able to overcome them, even if they band together.”

“
But Mirali—and the mortals—must be protected.”

“
So the most effective use of our strength is to let them come to us,” said Lomen.

“Yes,” said Faranin.

“If we hunt them separately, three of us should be enough to take them,” Bironan argued. “Let Nathrin,
Mad
ó
ran
, and Caeran stay here.”

“Pirian did us no harm,” said
Mad
ó
ran
, his face troubled. “I asked him to leave and he did.”

“Then we hunt the other, the female.”