Warrior (19 page)

“You have a closet full in Davio’s room. I should know. I bought them.” She perched against the countertop and eyed me.

“Sorry, your room was closer.”

“For a teleporter?” She flicked her hand out. “Yeah, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like we haven’t shared clothes a million times.”

“We have?” How would that have happened? Silas had said Silvie and Faith were close, but they can’t have known each other that long, certainly not to share clothes like a million times. She must have misspoken.

I fired up my link with Silas. “
How long have my sister and yours known each other?
”

“
All their lives.
”

“
Are you keeping a secret?
” He better not be.

“
No, but obviously I’ve omitted to tell you. Carlisio Loveria had forewarning after Faith’s birth and sent my mother to Earth. He saw enough to interpret the child would have a soul-bound connection with someone close to him.
”

“
So he presumed Davio?
”

“
He wasn’t one-hundred percent certain, but yes. With Faith’s father keeping his distance, Carlisio couldn’t accurately identify if the man was of Dralion or Peacio. Since he didn’t wish to risk Davio losing his future mate if she disappeared as her father had, he set precautions in place.
”

“
What kind of precautions?
”

“
Along with my mother, he sent Silvie. Silvie was a baby at the time, but he thought two new mothers would bond better than any other he could send. That’s how I came to be raised alongside Davio.
”

His explanation flowed swiftly and with unerring accuracy along our link. Every word he spoke was the truth
.
“
That’s the first I’ve heard of this. Carlisio Loveria’s forewarning must have been grave for him to take such firm action.
”

“
It was, but the task set to my mother was never a hardship for her, or for my sister. They spent half their time on Earth and the other half here. Silvie loves Faith, like a sister. Why did you ask about this? It’s come out of the blue.
”

“
Silvie’s here. She thinks I’m Faith. And that’s the way it needs to stay.
”

“
My sister’s with you? Hell. I’m on my way.
”

Footfalls sounded in the next room and Silas stormed around the corner. “Hey, Silvie. Ho– Faith needed some of your clothes. I hope you don’t mind that I raided your drawers?”

“No problem.”

“Great.” He shoved the clothing into my hands. “You okay?”

“Couldn’t be better.” Silvie was cool, and I liked the idea of getting to know her better. She was Silas’s sister after all. “Turn around, would you? Face the door.”

“Why am I turning around?” he muttered as he did.

“I need to change.”

“Shoot, you could have just told me to leave the room.”

“It’ll only take a second.” I flapped the big-pocketed, beige cargo pants out and pulled them on. Next I slipped the black and white striped t-shirt over my head. Dark leather flats, and I was done. “Silvie, do you want to come shopping with us?”

“What kind of clothes are you after?” She straightened the bottom of my t-shirt.

“A couple of everything. I’m done, Silas.”

With a slight turn of his head, he checked. “You’ll know the best shops, Silvie. Come if you want.”

I grabbed them both by the arm. “She’s coming. Blinky-thing please, Mr. Convenient.”

Taking hold of us too, he ’ported.

Through the darkness we traveled then arrived with the sun high above and pavement under our feet. At my back was a concrete block wall, three-stories high and painted sky blue. In front, a bright orange rubbish bin hid us completely from view.

Overhead a seagull screeched, and I opened my link with Silas. “
I haven’t been here before.
”

“
This is the rear parking lot of the girls’ favorite shopping mall. I bring Silvie here all the time. She and Faith will attend the same campus next year.
”

I played with the white rose pendant he’d given me. “
Oh, I see.
”

“Hey, guys. Let’s not stand around.” Silvie side-shuffled out past the end of the bin.

I followed her movements to stand beside her. “What course is it you’re doing next year?”

She arched a brow. “Ah, the same one we’ve always spoken about it, silly.”

“
Food technology.
” Silas edged in behind me. “
Te Puke is twenty minutes from here. That’s where they both go to high school.
”

“
Sorry. I don’t mean to be a dill. I’m just trying to get to know her, while remembering I already do. Not easy, you know.
” I leaned against him, merging my mind with his and sinking into my special place. Oh, I so needed that.

Whoops.

I jerked upright.

A strange look crossed Silvie’s face. “You two are never this chummy, and as nice as it is to see you both getting along, it’s making my stomach churn.”

“Right.” I darted a glance at Silas. “
Churn?
”

“
Yeah, Faith and I don’t see eye to eye. She argues with me too much.
”

“
Don’t you mean you argue with her too much?
”

“
Probably.
” He chuckled.

We continued to the entrance, and the glass doors opened automatically with a light swish.

“Oooh.” Silvie lifted her nose and sniffed. “Who smells that?”

The scent of sugary bakery items from a nearby coffee stand and a hint of floor wax from the gleaming pale-speckled floors hit me. “Do you mean the donuts?”

“Of course I mean the donuts.” Silvie shoved an elbow into my side. “What is with you today, girl?”

“Ah, I’m not feeling myself.”

“Obviously.” She strode off.

Silas tugged my hair. “It’ll be okay. Come on.”

He followed his sister as two little girls whizzed past me, one slightly older than the other. They wore matching pink silk ribbons in their brown hair. The eldest led the way, bounding onto an escalator. A woman called out as she gave chase and I jumped out of her way, the two white shopping bags in her arms almost clobbering me. Others on the escalator moved aside as she ran to catch them up.

Shopping malls. They were a minefield.

Not to mention busy. Families everywhere, and couples strolled hand-in-hand.

“Where would you like to go first?” Silvie asked as I came in beside her.

“I thought you said donuts?” The display of pink, yellow and blue-iced round donuts from behind the glass counter’s front cabinet had my mouth watering. “I missed breakfast, and is that hot chocolate?” I licked my lips.

“It is. Do you want extra marshmallows?”

“Double. Or triple. I don’t mind just a lit-tle hot chocolate with my marshmallows.”

“Gotcha.” Her curls bounced as she leaned over the counter to place the order.

Silas eased in closer to me, his fingers warm against my elbow as he cupped it. He bent his head, his lips almost on mine, when he stopped with a growl. “Damn, that’s frustrating.”

Was it ever.

“Here we go.”

I snapped to attention as Silvie turned and passed me a donut and a cup of hot chocolate in a foam cup. “Thanks. Love it.”

She passed Silas a donut and drink, and then grabbed her own.

We walked. Gee, would it really hurt if Silvie knew exactly who I was? Would she keep my secret? Surely Dad would speak to Faith and Kate soon.

“Hey, look at these.” At the front window of a jewelry shop, Silas paused. “These earrings have a tiny glass pyramid with orange sand inside. You know what I’m thinking, H– I mean, Faith?”

“Oh yeah, they’d be perfect for Elizara, as a thank you.”

“Exactly.” Patting his pocket, Silas headed inside.

“Who’s Elizara?”

“Um... I met her a couple of days ago. She’s been extremely helpful.”

“You mean in Dralion? You met her there?”

Shoving the donut into my mouth, I mumbled a no.

“Where and how was she helpful then?”

“Ah–” I jammed the rest of the donut into my mouth.

“Something is up with you today.” Silvie crossed her arms and tapped her fingers along them.

“Uh-huh, I need clothes.” I linked my arm through hers and whisked her to the next shop, leaving Silas to buy the earrings.

Keeping her busy without time to question me was a mission. I buzzed around several stores, trying on jeans, shirts and blouses of every style and color. We bought shoes, jackets, sweatshirts and summer dresses for the warm nights to come.

Silas’s arms overflowed with packages. “I’ll zap these bags home and we’ll stop for lunch across the way. You two good with that?”

“Yes.” I rubbed my belly. “Shopping’s exhausting. I definitely need food.”

“We’ll see you there.” Silvie nodded to him. “Come on, you.” She led me toward the cafe.

We sat opposite each over at a corner table in the rear. I moved the center posy of flowers to one side. As her brother’s mate, surely she’d keep my secret because he did. It still niggled at me she didn’t know.

“There’s something I want to tell you, but you have to keep it to yourself.” I spread a napkin over my lap, crinkling the edges.

“Hello, eighteen years and I didn’t whisper a word of Peacio to you. I think I’ve proven my worth.” She angled her head. “I can’t believe you even asked that. Spill.”

“Okay, but I can’t tell you until Silas gets here. He’s part of the secret.”

“What?”

“May I take your order?”

A waitress with a pen and pad in hand smiled at us, and Silvie grumbled a loud, “No.”

“Sure you can. Is there a chicken salad?” I smiled at the waitress, glad for the intervention.

“Yes, there is.” She jotted the order down and glanced at Silvie. “And you, miss?”

“The same.” Silvie thumped her feet under the table.

“Ladies.” Silas swept in and pulled out a chair. “
My sister looks frustrated. What have you done to her?
”

“
I’m going to tell her about us.
”

“Sir, what would you like?”

“A steak and egg burger, thanks. Iced water.” He snatched my hand under the table. “
Heck. I can’t stand not touching you. Make it quick.
”

Silvie’s gaze narrowed to tiny slits as the waitress left. “If I’m correct, I believe you two are holding hands...under the table. Don’t get me wrong, Silas, but Davio will kill you. After eighteen years of learning all your pranks, I’m used to you and I’d quite like to keep you around.”

I took the deepest breath, ready to tell all. “Silvie, Davio won’t kill him because I’m not Faith. My name is Hope Wincrest. Faith’s my sister and we share the same mother, well, the same father too, but I lived with him, not her.”

Shoving her cutlery to the side, she stared. “A-are you serious?”

“Very. I wasn’t raised with Faith, although obviously she’s my twin. Instead I was taken by my father to Dralion, right after my birth.”

“Twin? My best friend has a twin?” Her breathing became loud as she fought to drag in air. “Please tell me this is a joke.”

“It’s not. I live half my life in Dralion, and the other half on Wincrest Station in the outback.”

“Australia and Dralion?” Scratching her head, she turned her gaze on Silas. “Is this for real?”

From underneath the table, Silas lifted my hand clear. “Hope is my soul-bound mate. She can’t approach Faith until Kate’s become more settled. Alexo Wincrest’s asked it of her.”

“Oh hell.” Silvie’s eyes went saucer wide as she gripped the table’s edge. “This is mad. You two are soul-bound? We’ll have another Wincrest on Peacian soil?”

“Yes.” I merged my mind with Silas’s, needing the comforting space. “We have issues since I’m not one of your people, but we’re dealing with it.”