Valle : Book 2 of the Heku Series (23 page)

“No”

“You know what… fine… get yourself killed breaking in some stupid horse,” he growled, and then headed for the door.

She hated when he left mad, “I met Elder Larsen today,” she said to him.

Chevalier spun, shocked, “Who?”

“Elder Larsen? Said he used to be one of the Elders for the Equites.” She noticed her plan worked. The worry and anger left his face and now he was shocked.

“You met him… where?” he asked, taking a step toward her.

“Out by the pasture in the trees. He spooked the cows and I went to see what was up,” she hurried and said, trying to keep his attention.

Chevalier’s eyes seemed far away, “I need to call the Council,” he told her, and left quickly.

Emily hurried out after him and stepped into his office just as he was making the call.

“Emily, this is private,” he said, impatiently tapping his pen against this desk.

Emily sat down and smiled. Chevalier just shook his head.

“Elder Larsen has…” he paused looking up at Emily, “Resurfaced.”

“Here on the island.”

“Emily found him.” He looked up at her and chuckled, “Yes she does, doesn’t she?”

“Yes, right away,” he said before setting the phone down.

“Yes she does what?” Emily asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Find trouble easily,” he chuckled. “Come show me where he is.”

Emily ran up to the room and got dressed, then went back down to the barn. Chevalier was already seated on his moody Arabian, and Sam had Patra ready for her. She mounted the Painted mare and headed her across the pasture at a slow walk.

“You never go riding anymore,” she said, watching the trees grow closer.

“Seemed to me that was kind of your thing with Kyle,” he told her quietly. He’d never felt comfortable with how close Emily and Kyle were, but the fighting wasn’t worth it so now he just tolerated it and tried to look the other way.

“Hm, no law says you can’t come out once in a while. Allen loves to ride,” she said as she stopped the mare and slid out of the saddle.

Chevalier jumped off of his stallion and put his hand on Emily’s shoulder, “Stay out here.”

She rolled her eyes, “I’ve already met him alone, and if he was going to hurt me, he would have already.” She walked into the trees a bit.

“Larsen?” she called out to the trees.

Chevalier waited a moment, “I demand you come here this instant,” he growled.

Emily slapped him on the chest, “Be nice.”

“What?”

“Larsen? Can I talk to you?” Emily asked, louder. They waited for a few minutes in silence as Chevalier scanned the dark woods.

“Coward,” Chevalier grumbled.

Emily grinned, “Oh I can get him to come out.”

Chevalier eyed her suspiciously, “How’s that?”

She turned to Chevalier and pressed her body up close to his. He reached down and kissed her softly, “What are you up to?”

She smiled sweetly and slipped her hands into both of his front pockets. She felt the sharp blade of the ceremonial dagger he kept on him at all times and ran the blade along the palm of her hand, wincing slightly.

“Emily, what in God’s name…” he said, pulling away from her when he smelled blood.

She pulled her hands out of his pockets and let a few drops of blood fall to the mossy floor of the small woods. She used the edge of her shirt to stop the blood as she heard a commotion ahead of them in the trees.

“Mmmm… smell it, smell it,” the words were hissed from behind a tree.

The gaunt heku slowly began to move toward her, his eyes fixed on her hand. Chevalier stepped in front of her and blocked his path.

“No, no, not him… not him, I smell it,” Larsen said, stopping a few feet from Chevalier.

“You no longer belong here,” Chevalier said to him, and Larsen recoiled with the command in his voice.

“I do, I am an Elder.” He took a step to the side to get a better look at Emily.

“You were an Elder. Now you are a haggard old heku, and it’s time you left.” Chevalier watched him carefully. He could still smell the blood on Emily.

“I belong on the Council, back on the Council, not in the ground,” Larsen chanted, and locked his eyes on Emily’s. He growled, frustrated, when she broke the gaze and glared.

“There’s a reason you were in the ground for 600 years, after that time, it was well stated you were to be out of the Equites. Go join the Valle or the Encala if you wish, but the Equites won’t have you.” Chevalier’s words were sharp and harsh.

“Please, I belong with the Equites. Just one drink and I will be strong again.” He took a step toward Emily.

Chevalier blocked him again, “I’m going to have you escorted out, and if I catch you anywhere near an Equites, you will have to deal with me.”

“Chief Enforcer is right, but please, Sir, just one taste of the blood.” Larsen lunged at Emily, but found himself tightly gripped by Chevalier.

“I better not catch you feeding without consent, either.”

Emily wasn’t sure from where, but seven of the Island’s guards appeared beside her and Chevalier threw Larsen hard at them. They restrained him and hauled him toward the pier as he kicked and screamed for Emily.

“What did he do that was so bad?” Emily asked, watching the haggard heku hauled away.

“What was that?” Chevalier growled at her.

She turned to face him, her eyes wide, “What?”

Emily took a step back when she saw the look in his eyes. She’d seen that look, the feral eyes of a predator, “Chevalier, no.”

She didn’t have time to react before he picked her up by her shoulders, and sunk his sharp teeth into her neck. Emily tried to push him away, but his grip on her shoulders was too tight and she couldn’t move her arms. She felt the warm numbing sensation in her neck as he finished and gently kissed her, then sat her back down, grinning.

“I’ve told you, never tease a heku. We don’t have the restraint,” he chuckled.

Emily swung as hard as she could and felt her fist connect with his jaw as the crack of bones echoed off of the trees. Her eyes were fierce as she watched him feel his jaw and look over at her.

“You’re lucky I don’t ash you where you stand,” she screamed at him.

“You needed a good bite, now let me see your hand.” He reached his hand out to her.

Emily turned on her heels and walked back to Patra angrily. She mounted the mare and kicked her hard into a gallop. She was acutely aware that Chevalier was right behind her. As she got closer to the barn, her adrenaline wore off and she felt the harsh pounding pain in her hand. She pulled it up to her chest and rode into the barn one-handed, then glared when she saw both Kyle and Sam waiting for her.

“What?!?” she yelled at them as she slid off her horse. Sam took the reins quickly, not meeting her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Kyle asked curiously, noting she was only using one hand.

“You thirsty too, Kyle? You want some of this?” She pulled her collar away from her neck as he stepped away from her with wide eyes.

“Erm… no,” he said, watching the vein throb in her neck. He could smell fresh blood on her, and had to use full control to keep from taking her up on her offer.

“Oh, but why not? It’s open buffet night, didn’t you hear?” She took another step toward him.

Kyle felt thousands of years of instincts rise to the surface, and he couldn’t help but inhale deeply. The burn in the back of his throat was painful. Regaining some control, he turned his face to the side, away from her scent, “Stop it.”

Emily stormed past him into the castle. Kyle bent over and put his hands on his knees and breathed slowly to clear his head.

“I hear you,” Chevalier said, slapped him on the back, and then following Emily into the castle.

He caught up easily to Emily on the stairs and took her good hand, then chuckled when she ripped her hand out of his.

“Come on,” he said, walking behind her.

Emily didn’t answer him as she stepped into her ante-chamber, took Allen from Anna, and walked into her room before slamming the door shut.

“Damnit,” Allen said when the door shut, and Chevalier grinned.

Anna looked at Chevalier and shook her head.

“What?” he asked.

She held her tongue, he was still her superior. Deciding against yelling at the Chief Enforcer, she walked out of the ante-chamber.

Chevalier knocked on the door, “Emily?”

She didn’t answer, but he could hear Allen laughing inside.

“Emily, I really want to look at your hand,” he said, trying the door handle, it was locked.

“I’m sorry, ok? I won’t do it again… can I come in now?” he called through the door. When she didn’t answer, he put just enough pressure on the door to tear it from its hinges.

Emily was sitting on the floor playing with Allen and she didn’t look up when he entered. He saw her swollen and bruised hand sitting in her lap as she tickled Allen with the other.

“Em…” he started, but she cut him off.

“You know what, Chev? I can’t even deal with you right now,” she told him, still playing with Allen.

“You know as well as I do that I’m going to see your hand, whether you like it or not,” he said, trying to sound angry, but she picked up the hint of amusement.

“Anna,” Emily said. Within a few seconds, Anna appeared with a cookie and took Allen away.

“Is that what you’re thinking?” she asked, standing up. He saw the mistake in what he just said. He made this into a challenge for her.

“That’s not what I meant, Emily.” He took a step back, his grin fading.

“Then get out,” she snapped at him.

“No, I want to see your hand.” He watched her carefully.

“How old am I?” she asked, her green eyes glared at him.

“Are we comparing age?” he asked. He fought to control the look on his face. He still found it amusing when she stood up to him.

“Do I need to remind you that I can take care of myself?” She took another step toward him, and her words made Chevalier take a step back.

“No, I’m perfectly aware that you can take care of yourself.” He braced himself, waiting for the burning pain to start.

“Then get out,” she said through gritted teeth.

Chevalier sighed, “Let’s just calm down, ok? I’m sorry I bit you. I’m sorry I treated you like a child… again.”

She watched him suspiciously.

“Now, I’m not treating you like a child, I just want to see your hand, to see if it’s broken.” He took a step toward her.

“It is,” she said icily.

“Then let’s go get it taken care of.” He held his hand out for her.

She set her jaw and her eyes narrowed, “No.”

“Now you’re just being difficult, we have to have it looked at.” He wondered how such a tiny thing could put out so much rage.

“Get out.” She pointed to the door.

“You want to be stubborn? Then fine,” he said, and appeared behind her. He put one restraining arm around her waist and one around her chest.

Emily screamed, frustrated. She reached down and sunk her teeth deep into the flesh on his arm. He pulled his arm away quickly when she pulled off a chunk and spit it onto the ground.

“Damnit, Em, that hurts,” he growled before pushing her onto the bed and out of his way for her own safety.

He watched as his arm healed, and then went toward the bed, “This isn’t a game. This isn’t some ruse to get your Irish blood boiling.”

When he got close enough to her, she kicked out at him, and he dodged easily and landed on top of her, pinning her to the bed, “Stop it.”

Emily leaned up and kissed him, crushing her lips to his and wrapping her arms around him. Chevalier tried to pull away, but she grabbed a handful of his hair with her good hand and the argument ended.

***

Chevalier brushed the hair off of her face and smiled as they curled up in next to each other.

“No fair, you distracted me,” he said, and then grinned.

“You want to talk about fair? You bit me,” she reminded him.

He laughed, “Oh yeah… well… you bit me back.”

“That’s not the same, and you know it.” She rolled over to look at him.

“I’m sorry, really, Em,” he said, and then kissed her softly.

“Next time you try that… I will fight back.” Her eyes were serious.

“Fair enough.” He ran his hand gently from her neck down to her shoulder.

“What did Larsen do?” She propped herself up on one elbow.

Chevalier watched her for a moment, “It was a long time ago, don’t worry about it, ok?”

“Tell me.”

He sighed, “Larsen became weak and was released from the Council.”

Emily frowned, “That’s it?”

“That’s enough. We can’t have weakness on the Council. The second you show a sign of losing your edge, your position will be taken over by someone else, and then you are banished.” He bent over and kissed her shoulder.

“Wait… so if you show the slightest sign of weakness, you are buried for 600 years? Then you turn into this old haggard thing and are kicked out of the faction?”

“Not always 600 years, but yes, that’s the general idea.” He looked into her eyes, wondering what was going through her mind.

Emily sat up, holding the covers over her, “They were going to do that to you, weren’t they? That day after the Valle attack, when Selest said they were going to replace you.”

He nodded and sat up.

“They were going to bury you and let you starve?” she asked, frowning.

“Emily it didn’t happen.” He touched her arm softly.

“When were you going to tell me that? Were you just going to go into the ground and avoid having to tell me?”

“No, I would have had time to tell you.” He wrapped a hand around her neck and pulled her to him.

“I’m so not ok with that!” she said, pulling away from him. “Is that what’s going to happen someday? Someday someone will think you’re showing a weakness, and then the next day you’ll just be gone?”

“It’s not going to happen. I’m good at my job, and I don’t have a weakness.” He grinned slightly, but stopped when he saw the look of terror in her eyes.

“Quit”

“I can’t quit.”

“Why not?”

“Same thing would happen. It’s for the good of the faction. They can’t have ex-council members running around trying to cause problems.” This was all common and well known. He couldn’t figure out why she was making such a big deal out of it.