Rising Sun (Fate's Intent Book 9) (18 page)

“We took it a step further. The control is all about her source of anger, what it takes to get her there. Usually, someone would always make fun of her in some way to set her off but we’ve been using something a little more real that you’ve actually just witnessed; someone threatening her family. Dirk mostly but Darius is in there a little too.”

“Of course.” Darius said. “That makes complete sense. She’s been defensive from the beginning.”

“It’s just what she needed to concentrate and progress just seemed simple. She’s quite proud.”

“She should be. I haven’t even thought to try.”

“I’m unsure when it would ever be necessary.” Ryon said. “Aren’t you strong enough now?”

“You were once stronger than me or so you said. That means Zayden and Seth could be too.”

“Not so much as you would think because of their other gifts.”

“But you were strong.” I said.

“Yes but I could only really use one gift at a time. If I was looking into the past, I wouldn’t be strong and if I wanted to be strong, I wouldn’t be able to look into the past. It’d be more difficult for you since you have more gifts. If you’re going to do anything from the wolf you can’t use your other gifts.”

“But you were still stronger when you wanted to be.” Darius argued. “Or was that just talk? We’ve never tested it.”

Ryon smiled a little over confidently. “I was stronger and still am. I can sense that about people when I am a wolf and I did the day on the beach.”

“Can you help us master our gifts as you have with Ruby?”

“Are you asking for help?”

“Whatever you did, it didn’t take years so yes, at least I am.”

“I could help, sure but for you, we’d have to go away for a while. It’d be too dangerous to be around people.”

“Okay. When?”

“Hang on.” I said. “You can’t just up and leave for who knows how long.”

“I didn’t mean when as in now. I’d wait until the girls got back at least.”

“And it doesn’t have to be all at once.” Ryon added as if he felt he needed to ease my mood. “A day at a time, maybe less. I can get us anywhere in the world in seconds. Probably some remote island would be best.”

“Fine as long as you wait. Ruby will probably want some time with you before you decide to disappear.”

Darius laughed but I didn’t think anything was funny until he spoke about why he laughed. “Don’t worry. I’d also like to spend the same time with her that she’s going to want from me.”

I tried not to show amusement for it. I knew the conversation would continue and not that I don’t love Ruby, I just love her in a sisterly sort of way and wouldn’t feel right talking about what she does with my brother behind closed doors. Instead, I got up, ready to put this exhausting night of waiting to rest.

“Okay. I think we’re done here. They’ll be back in a few days and you can discuss your intentions with her.”

“More like her demanding them from me but I know what you mean.”

“Thanks again for that.”

There were laughs rumbling behind me but I didn’t stop nor look back. I let my feet carry me carefully all the way to my floor. I stopped outside of Seth’s room and gently pushed on the already slightly open door.

Rift was on the floor by his crib and Seth was deeply asleep on his side, facing me. I’d almost believe he didn’t miss his mother at all but I knew that couldn’t be so. He was very attached to her. My hardest times are in the mornings when he asks for her or at night when he wants her warming hug and soft singing voice to drift him to sleep.

I’ve tried the singing thing a few times but he seems to think it’s more play time when he hears it from me rather than rest time and we never get any closer to having him fall asleep. We still made it fun.

I’ve enjoyed this alone time we’ve had together. I felt I knew him better and more importantly, he knew me. It was good for now. The moment Adele returned I knew he was going to be latched tight to her and I may not get any of his attention until he gets used to having her around again. I would be satisfied with being ignored because he needed his mother; I need her and I couldn’t wait until she returned to tell us all about everything we’ve already seen.

Chapter 34

Zayden

The days finally drifted by and I finally watched my wife walk through the door that I’ve imagined her doing many times before.

She hadn’t looked angry or happy. She wasn’t expressing anything at all except maybe a lingering sight of fatigue.

“Welcome back.” I said.

She seemed surprised at first that I didn’t rush over and plead on my knees about how grateful I really was to have her back, that I somehow couldn’t live without her guidance that much. I did miss her but I got over her not being around within just a few days of her absence. She forgets that we’ve had separation like this before, the only difference is this time was that I had Seth.

I looked around when I thought of him and remembered Darius had taken the boys in the kitchen for a morning snack before it would have been time for lunch because they were complaining so. Dirk mostly.

Adele finally smile a bit and hugged me. “Good to be back. I missed you.”

“Any complications along the way?”

“None. You?”

I laughed as we parted. “Of course not.”

I kissed her and her eyes traced the room. “Where’s Seth?”

“Getting a snack or maybe even done by now. Seth!” I called to him and he was at my side in an instant with a cooked carrot in his fist, sucking on it. “Look who’s home.”

I indicated with my eyes who I spoke of and his eyes followed.

“Hey, baby. I’ve missed you so much.”

Adele knelt down to take him in her arms but Seth responded differently than what I’ve envisioned. He didn’t leap at her with joy, not even a smile showed a place of existence on his still face. He seemed more scared and shy and hid himself behind me.

Adele frowned and reached a gentle hand to him. “Seth? What’s wrong? It’s me.”

He tried to hide himself even more and I nudged him out the other side. Even Rift was there to help with the process so he couldn’t hide again. “Come out of there and greet your mother.” My words were a bit agitated at first due to his behavior but I calmed to a more comforting voice as I crouched. “I know she’s been gone for a little while but she missed you very much. Don’t hurt her feelings.”

Seth’s eyes moved from mine to hers. “Mama.”

“That’s right.” Adele smiled, her hands open, still waiting for him. “Mama’s home now.”

This is what I pictured. After the brief moment of getting reacquainted, Seth finally showed emotions of his normal self and lunged into Adele’s arms.

She held him close to her as we stood up and I could see her relief even through her closed eyes. He hadn’t forgotten about her and everything seemed it would be fine. We were back together as a family and spent it for the first time over the lunch Darius had been preparing since the boys wanted a snack.

“I hope you don’t mind.” He said to Adele.

“Why would I mind? You couldn’t have known we’d be back this very hour but I’ll gladly take over dinner if you don’t mind.”

He laughed. “No. We’ll all appreciate it actually.”

“I’m surprised.” She looked around the table at the three of us.

“What?” I asked.

“None of you have asked us how it went.”

“We already know.” Troy said, being the first to confess. “Ryon showed us.”

“He’s been here?” Jaylyn asked.

“A few times. You were pretty amazing.”

Jaylyn grumbled. “You mean Ruby was amazing.”

We looked at her with smiles.

“Yeah.” Darius admitted. “She was amazing. Ryon told us he was working with you on your gift.”

“He did?” She asked, sounding completely surprised.

“After we heard you telling them, of course. I’ve asked him to help me next.”

“And he agreed?” Adele asked.

“Why do you sound surprised? He can do anything we can already. He could probably even help you unless you’re too proud to ask for it.”

“I wouldn’t know but if he’s going to, he should only focus on one of us at a time. That just means I’m next.”

She said it rather anxiously and we laughed. She always like to better herself and now a real chance has arose so of course she was going to take it.

We sat around the table and talked after putting the boys down for a nap and it was mostly us that was doing all of the talking and it was mostly about the boys. They didn’t have much to say that we didn’t already know or nothing really worth hearing about.

Chapter 35

Jaylyn

It was great to be back and see my little Bryce again. We were gathered downstairs when someone came to our door with a rather large package.

“Ooh! I love presents!” I said with joy. “What is it?”

Adele was reading a card and quickly held it against herself.

“What?” Zayden asked.

“Nothing. It’s just mine.”

“Yours? Like a sexy portrait of you?”

It was a good guess he had to what it could be. It was big but only on the tall and wide sides. Its depth was only a few inches and it would probably be a good reason for Adele to hide it.

“You might think so then again, you might not like it.”

“What is it?” Troy asked.

“It’s a charity painting Trever did for a fantasy gallery. You know, paintings of mythical creatures and stuff like that.”

“Ours probably could have gone in that if it was soon enough.” I said, thinking to the one Trever did of Troy and I in the underwater scene.

Adele began to act unusually nervous. “It was actually long before that but it won first place and was auctioned off.”

“Then why do you have it?” Zayden asked. “Did you buy it?”

“No. The buyer gave it back to Trever once he heard about Kole’s death and said we should have it.”

I became more alert in the conversation to hearing the name for the first time in a while. “Kole is in it?”

“It’s of both of us. He has his wings out and I’m kind of dressed in some of them to match.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?”

“Like I said, it was a long time ago. We only posed for it for about an hour every few days for well, almost a year, I guess.”

“Can we see it?”

Adele was hesitant and Troy took my hand. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“I’m fine. I do still miss him but I want to see it.”

“Okay.” Adele took a breath and pulled the covered painting into view. “Nobody judge, okay?”

“We won’t.” Zayden smiled. “Just show us.”

She unwrapped the painting and revealed its image. Kole was there like she said. He was standing sideways, facing the left so his wings could be seen out his back and his eyes down in front of him. Adele was standing facing him with a hand up to his bare chest and she wore a black leather outfit with black feathers covering her left breast and a beautiful full thick black feather tail on the back of her skirt. It flowed down her legs to the floor and beyond.

I was quiet in my chair, staring up at Kole’s image. It was almost like I didn’t see Adele with him after my first glance. My eyes were only on him now and I started to rise. “It’s beautiful.”

“Jaylyn?” Troy rose to his feet after me.

“I’m okay. It’s just—sad to see.”

“You can stop looking at it any time.” Adele said.

I cracked a smile and turned to her. “So, what’d he do?”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s giving you the ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me’ face. I’ve seen it a few times.”

Adele laughed. “Nothing. It was just a pose. Trever wanted the focus to be on me. That’s why I’m looking and Kole has his eyes on me.”

“Well, considering that it makes you look like a couple, I like it.” Zayden said. “You’re very pretty.”

“And it really was a while ago.” I added, examining the painting some more to see the whole picture. “You don’t have your marks.”

“Actually, I did have them. We just agreed to not add them. We didn’t want people looking at the portrait and seeing an Assassin. There’s nothing fantasy about that. We’re real.”

“So were Kole’s wings.” Darius joked.

“Well, yeah but no one would have guessed that. It’s what made the choice so easy about what Trever would paint. Then Kole suggested it should be a pair thing and chose me because—”

“You look better with dark hair.” I said. “I see it.”

“You were actually the first choice but Trever is the one that said no because he didn’t want to change your hair or your eyes. You know how he is about your family image.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“So, I was easier to change. My hair was just darkened to go with all of the black but my eyes stayed the same.”

“Well, it’s easy to see why it won first place.”

“It was the only one in the gallery that featured people. The others were all animals.”

“What’d it go for, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I think the winning bid was around fifty thousand gold.”

“Fifty thousand?” Troy wondered. “And he just gave it back?”

“Kole’s death was sad for more people than you think. Just because he was feared a lot doesn’t mean he wasn’t loved.”

He didn’t respond, especially when he looked at me like he didn’t know how I would react.

I was fine and getting tired of repeating myself. Of course I missed Kole but things happen and he’s needed somewhere else now. I could understand that.

The more I did, the more I thought who he was really with.

“I’ll take it upstairs.” Zayden said, getting a different conversation going but I didn’t stop thinking about it.

“I’m going to go up too. I think I’ve waited long enough. I’d like to read my father’s journal now.”

“Of course.” Adele said. “Take all the time you need.”

“I’m glad you say that. Trever said, once I start, I won’t want to stop and it’s pretty heavy so there’s a lot in it.”

“You can now if you want.” Troy said. “We can handle teaming up to watch Bryce.”

“I know. You’ve proven that but are you sure you don’t mind?

“Of course not. If you want to do this now then you can and if you need someone to talk to or just merely vent then we’re here for that too.”

I smiled and kissed him. “Okay. I’ll try to take breaks and not make you feel like you’re being ignored.”

“I don’t care. You’ve been wanting to see it for a long time. Take your time like he said.”

“I will but I’d still like my meals if that’s not too much trouble.”

Adele laughed. “We’re not going to have you starve until you’re finished. You know I don’t usually like to but we’ll bring them up to you just so you don’t forget to eat.”

“Thank you.”

“And the boys will be fine.” Zayden said. “They don’t even notice us right now. They’re too busy playing.”

“I’ll be in the study just so you know where I am. I want to be at a desk so I don’t ruin it or anything.”

Troy smiled and kissed my forehead. “Go ahead.”

I nodded one last time and gave them one last smile before turning towards the stairs. I found the journal in the hiding place I put it in and I was ready for this or I thought I was. Knowing I was going to finally get to read it made me a little nervous and I was hesitant to even reach for the key around my neck.

The journal had finally sat in front of me with its leather strap removed, ready to be opened. The cover lifted slowly and I was instantly submerged in its text, seeing the words through the coded inscription.