Chapter Eight

 

Declan paced the dining room, like he had for the last two hours, only briefly looking up when Chris came into the room and grabbed a cup of coffee. He was quickly followed by Dizarion and Asha who sat down at the same table as Chris.

The three watched Declan pace for a few minutes before Chris shook his head in irritation and snorted at the silent warriors beside him.

“So what the fuck is going on? I can sense them here, and Nalini is missing,” Chris asked anyone who would answer him.

“Nalini and her 18-year-old parents are having a reunion. Oh, and her dad is trying to keep his wife from killing me because she thinks her baby is too young for a mate,” Declan snorted in irritation as he spoke.

Chris choked and sputtered on a swallow of coffee and Asha pounded on his back to help him until he glared at her.

“They’re kids? With a daughter, that’s thousands of years old? What the fuck? Is this a joke?” Chris asked the warriors, sure they were messing with him.

Dizarion shrugged his shoulder. “It’s more complicated than that. It appears that Isabel didn’t want to wait for Kar-, Morgan to awaken on his own and helped it along. Otherwise, they would have been older when they found Nalini.”

Asha turned to the Night Walker in open-mouthed shock because that is precisely what he had done to her only months earlier. She looked in sympathy at Declan.

“When you meet them, you will understand why you can’t take their appearance for granted,” Asha promised Chris as Declan broke into laughter at her words.

“Yeah, fucking hide,” Declan said with a snort. “Her mother never even said a word before she threw me into a wall and broke my leg. And he exudes death from every pore in his barely pubescent body. His appearance lulls you into thinking you’re dealing with Traze until you look into his eyes and sense his power.”

Chris’s mouth hung open in shock as Asha visibly winced, and Dizarion looked away.

“You’re serious?” Chris was stunned at the visual in his mind of Nalini’s parents.

“You may want to watch your tongue, I can sense them coming,” Dizarion warned, refusing to look at the two nervous Dranovians.

He and Asha were in a tenuous position. They were ordered to protect both Nalini and Declan which was going to be a hard thing to do if the Guardian of War couldn’t control his mate. It was Tarona who had notified Tristan and Tiernan of the violence committed against her warrior.

They’d already been warned by Tristan and Tiernan that they weren’t to allow Declan to be harmed again. It made the situation much tenser than the light bringer or night walker cared for.

When the door crashed open Asha, and Dizarion stood immediately to defend Declan if necessary. They watched warily as the pint-sized teen girl stormed into the room and faced Declan. Morgan and Nalini ran in behind her and Nalini swiftly moved to Declan’s side. Morgan put an arm around Isabel as if to stop her.

“They expect me to apologize to you,” Isabel spat at Declan, completely unafraid of him. “If you touch my baby, I’ll rip your heart out.”

“Mother!” Nalini shrieked in shock and embarrassment.

“Isabel, that wasn’t what we discussed,” Morgan said with a sigh.

The young girl tried to fight against Morgan to get away from his hold, but his strength easily kept her against his side and far from the Dranovian warrior she was threatening.

Chris burst out laughing, drawing the attention of the crazed teen from his brother.

“What?” Chris asked as Isabel glared at him. “This shit is funny as hell. You’re a child, freaking out about your 3,000-year-old immortal daughter finally finding a mate? That’s fucked up. Imagine how Declan feels knowing you kids are his new in-laws!”

Chris gestured to Declan who ran a hand down his face and shook his head at his brother’s words. Isabel growled in anger and tried to lunge at Chris.

“Enough!” Morgan roared as his power exploded from his body in a wave.

Declan knew the moment the energy hit him that Morgan was trying to calm everyone in the room. It worked. Isabel visibly relaxed and Nalini sighed in relief.

“The more pressing issue that needs to be handled is the protection of Nalini,” Morgan chastised as he looked pointedly at Isabel. She blushed in embarrassment and looked away as Morgan continued. “I must speak with Mastema and need to bring her here.”

Chris and Declan looked at one another in surprise before Chris began shaking his head furiously.

“There’s no way in hell we’re letting the queen of the Daemon Kyn in here! Are you fucking crazy?” Chris erupted in anger.

“It must be done,” Morgan shot back.

“Not here! This is our Talunaha, and you’re lucky you’re even inside it!” Chris snapped back.

Morgan began to push Isabel behind him when Asha and Dizarion stepped between the Dranovians and Morgan. Isabel looked ready to break from the calming energy Morgan had forced on her earlier.

“Kartikeya is right, it should be done here,” Asha interjected.

“The problem will be getting her to come anywhere near a Dranovian place of power,” Dizarion added as he oversaw the tense situation. He and Asha were prepared to whisk the Dranovians and Nalini away if necessary.

“Why should it be done here and not somewhere else? This is our place of power!” Chris snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Because Tarona can blast the bitch and kill her the way she did all the other daemons that came for Nalini earlier. It puts Mastema at a disadvantage, especially since your brother and Tiernan have unofficially declared war on the Daemon Kyn,” Dizarion replied with a growl.

The night walker hated being the voice of reason on a good day. Today wasn’t a good day. Not when he was the idiot standing between the guardian of war and two pissed off Dranovians. It wasn’t that he or Asha was afraid of either side. It was failing their commanders that was unacceptable to them.

“That’s the second time I’ve heard that. What the hell do you mean?” Declan demanded, wondering if Tristan was getting in over his head.

“The Daemon Kyn has become more of a serious problem than expected this early in the conversion. One the Light and Dark Warriors have determined must be handled now. In an unofficial capacity, of course,” Dizarion explained, hoping to diffuse the situation.

“Then why aren’t they bringing Mastema to me now?” Morgan snapped angrily. “Considering what my daughter has been through, why aren’t they here right now?”

Asha and Dizarion both sighed and looked at one another for a moment as if in deep discussion. Even Declan crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the two secretive warriors, waiting for them to answer the teenaged guardian of war.

If Declan hadn’t felt the intensity and strength of the boy’s power, he would have laughed at the angry and combative stance Morgan was taking. It appeared that even the second commanders to the light and dark warrior weren’t immune to the guardian’s power.

“Because of a physical problem associated with his body at conception, Tristan hasn’t been able to adapt to this realm as quickly as he’d like. Although his abilities are more advanced than expected, he’s not at full power and can’t manifest as easily as we can. Tiernan is helping him to progress as quickly as possible,” Asha growled, pissed that anyone would speak about her commander with anything other than profound respect.

Morgan sighed, ran a hand over his face then looked down for a moment deep in thought. When Morgan faced them again, he nodded.

“I’ve only recently been awakened and cannot judge someone else’s awakening or the speed at which they do it. Tarona assures me that she can help protect my daughter here so we will remain until the Warriors can bring Mastema to me.” Morgan spoke as if he had to right to order anything including the Dranovians. It didn’t sit well with Chris or Declan at all.

“Look, kid. I understand you want to protect your ancient daughter, but this is our place. It’d be nice if you consulted us before you moved the fuck in,” Chris snapped in irritation.

He didn’t like feeling like they were being manipulated. Though Chris would do anything for his brother and his mate, Nalini, he wasn’t sure what to think of the guardian of war and his tempestuous mate. Isabel appeared ready to rip his throat out before Morgan grabbed her hand and pulled her back to his chest.

Morgan narrowed his eyes at Chris for a moment before bursting into laughter. Chris arched a brow at the guardian in irritation.

“Tarona? May I remain within your domain to protect my daughter?” Morgan called out with a smug look on his face.

“Guardian, I am required by duty to offer you sanctuary within my domain. All world guardians are allowed access to the Talunaha’s on their planets. Our energy feeds them as does the energy of the dark and light realms,” Tarona replied.

Morgan broke out into a grin as Declan glared at his brother.

“I already invited them to stay,” Declan growled, wishing Chris would think before he spoke sometimes.

Declan was more than a little pissed that Morgan was playing the brothers against one another and wasn’t going to allow it to continue. He glared at the teen and his infuriated mate.

“We’ve been doing everything possible for Nalini, which is more than any of you guardians have done, so how about you back the fuck off a bit? The last two nights she’s been with me are the first she’s stayed alive since all of you abandoned her,” Declan snapped.

He was tired of pretending that her parents weren’t a part of what happened to his mate and thought it was about time someone answered for the oversight.

Morgan and Isabel looked ready to team up and kill the Dranovian brothers when Nalini moved to stand in front of Declan and spread her arms out to encompass Declan and Chris.

“He’s right! The last two nights have been the best I can remember since you left! Don’t take your frustration out on them when they’ve given me a peace I never thought I’d be sane enough to enjoy!” Nalini’s composure suddenly broke, and Declan caught her as she erupted into tears.

“It’s OK, baby” Declan whispered as he glared at Morgan and Isabel over the top of Nalini’s head.

Isabel seemed angrier than ever and looked ready to stomp over and snatch Nalini from his arms before Morgan grabbed her and pulled her back. She looked up at Morgan with fire in her eyes, and he only nodded his head, his face a mask of regret and sorrow.

“He’s right. Don’t put your guilt on them. It’s unfair and undeserved. You can feel Nalini’s pain and have lived with what’s happened to her in your own dreams. That’s not his fault,” Morgan whispered softly.

The kid exuded a calm energy that Declan never expected, and he wondered at the maturity the guardian displayed versus the wild nature of his mate. They were an odd pair that didn’t seem to fit.

Declan wasn’t shocked when Isabel just huffed and turned away from him and Nalini as she began pacing behind Morgan. He hadn’t expected an apology and wasn’t surprised Isabel didn’t offer one. What got him was Nalini’s reaction.

One second she was crying against his chest and the next she seemed to explode away from him. He raised his brows when Nalini stormed over to her mother and spun Isabel around to face her. 

“You saw me in your dreams? And you still didn’t find me? Or communicate with me? Then you dare come here and attack the only person who’s ever tried to help me? What’s wrong with you? Why are you so hateful? What happened to my mother?” Nalini choked out the last as tears streamed down her face.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Isabel whispered as she pulled Nalini to her. “This has all been too much for me. What was happening to you and being unable to speak to you or stop it. This world and what’s become of it. It’s all too much.”

Declan watched the two petite women, who looked almost identical in height and weight for a moment before he turned to Morgan. He was surprised to see the tears misting the kid’s eyes and looked away so the guardian of war wouldn’t be embarrassed.

“What has happened on this world? The decline of civilization has become eerily reminiscent of when the anomalous and beast-less took over the planet,” Morgan growled out and looked at Dizarion. “You said the Daemon Kyn has become such a problem the Warriors declared an unofficial war? Before the conversion? What’s going on?”

Dizarion and Asha shifted uncomfortably for a few seconds before the Night Walker cleared his throat.

“It’s nearly identical with the exception of the Dark Prime, the Relians and the twisted cult the Relian leader formed on the planet. With Ralidina members running rampant doing the work the Daemon Queen loves so well, the anomalous being created by the Dark Prime and the world governments wanting to enslave everyone for a chance at being worshipped, we’re all fucked,” Dizarion explained with a heavy sigh.

“What? I don’t understand half of what you said except the Dark Prime. Satalis is back?” Isabel demanded as her blue eyes flashed the golden color of a Prime.

“He’s been turning every beast he encounters anomalous and disrupting the planet’s energy as much as he can to prevent awakenings.” Asha’s tone of voice made it clear that she felt nothing but disgust for the Dark Prime.

Morgan and Isabel looked at one another in surprise before Morgan looked back at Asha.

“What is this Ralidina and a Relian?” Morgan asked.

Knowing this was going to be a long story, Declan went to the coffee pots and made more coffee. He wasn’t sure what to get the kids since he figured they wouldn’t like it, so he went into the cooler and got a few sodas.

When Declan came out of the freezer area, he was a little surprised to see Morgan pouring coffee for him and Isabel. He set the soda down and listened while Dizarion and Asha explained Relians, their made up religion and how it was ruining the planet.

When silence again reigned in the room, Declan went back into the kitchen and started whipping something up for lunch. He knew Chris couldn’t cook worth a damn and didn’t bother to ask for his help. Some time to clear his head and think about things was more of what Declan was looking for.

“Hamburgers?” Isabel asked as she looked down at the items on the counter.

Declan tried not to roll his eyes or sigh at her presence. He really wasn’t in the mood to deal with the little spitfire at the moment and didn’t like his peace being disrupted.

“Yeah, my brothers and I are mostly bachelors, so our menu is limited.” Declan’s short reply left no doubt he wasn’t in the mood to talk.

It only irritated him more when Isabel didn’t take the hint and began nosing around the cabinets and putting things on a counter. Not caring what she was doing as long as she left him alone, Declan finished pulling out all of the things he needed from the freezer and coolers.

With an armload of food, he went back into the kitchen only to see Isabel had taken all of the ground beef, dumped it in a bowl and was elbows deep in it.

“Hey, can you crack a couple of eggs into this? I’m kind of nasty,” Isabel said with a grin.

She held up her greasy hands for a moment before she plunged them back into the messy looking meat mixture.

“What are you doing?” Declan ground out, hoping she wasn’t trying to poison them all.

“When I was growing up, by the time I came home from school, my mom was already drunk and passed out. The cook felt sorry for me and let me help her in the kitchen so I wouldn’t be alone all the time,” Isabel explained with a shrug.

Declan wasn’t fooled, he could feel the pain in Isabel’s energy as she spoke. He sighed, knowing he couldn’t be mad at her after that admission and moved to the table. He glanced at her warily for a moment and took note of where the knives were before he cracked two eggs into the meat mess in the bowl.

“What are you making?” Declan asked, looking at the ingredients she’d piled on the table.

“Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and green bean casserole,” Isabel said proudly.

Declan’s stomach growled in agreement with the new menu option, and he blushed in embarrassment.

“We need a good meal if we’re going to protect Nalini tonight.” Isabel looked up at Declan through her long lashes to judge his reaction.

“Sounds good to me. What else do you need me to do?” Declan nodded at the plan.

“Can you peel potatoes?” Isabel asked with the first real smile he’d gotten from her.

“Yeah, you should see our place at Thanksgiving. No one likes doing it so if I want them, I peel them,” Declan replied.

He smiled back at the young girl, grabbed the peeler and a potato and expertly began peeling them.

“I’m sorry. For being so . . . hostile. The things I’ve seen of this world so far and the knowledge of what was happening to my baby . . .” Isabel’s voice trailed off.

“It’s OK. I hope one day I love my own children with that much devotion.” Declan wasn’t sure what to say and figured he was better off just walking a fine line.

“If you don’t, I’ll kill you,” Isabel growled.

Declan sighed at the knife the girl was holding to his throat as her golden eyes flashed at him. What bothered him was that he hadn’t even seen her grab it before it was already pressed against him.

“You have anger issues don’t you?” Declan had to ask as he resumed peeling the potatoes.

Isabel sighed and removed the knife from his throat. She placed it slowly on the counter as if she wasn’t sure if she really wanted to let it go yet.

“I never used to. It’s something that has afflicted me since I awakened. Everything is wrong, and nothing is as I remember.” Isabel sighed heavily and shrugged her shoulders.

Declan wanted to be an ass. It was on the tip of his tongue to say something cutting, but his softer side won out.

“I didn’t know the world you remember, I only know this one. I have to admit, it really sucks. Even more so since we’ve learned so much about the governments getting in the middle of it. The people have nowhere to turn and are losing hope. The guardians are their hope. We’re their hope, and we have to stick together if we’re going to save anyone. Even ourselves,” Declan said, hoping Isabel would take the olive branch he was giving her.

He worried for a moment as Isabel bit her bottom lip and mashed the meat mixture as if trying to strangle it. Finally, she nodded and looked up at him.

“I get it. I do. I want my baby happy. So just make sure you do that. Now grab that pan for me.” Isabel gestured to a wide pan on the counter behind him, and Declan moved to get it.

He was surprised she was still in front of the meat mixture when he turned back around and not at his back with a knife in her hand. Even though he was wrong this time and they seemed to form a sort of truce, he wasn’t going to turn his back on the volatile woman any more than he had to.

They worked together for the next hour and chatted companionably while they fixed dinner. Declan had to admit that Isabel’s stories from the past, before the Terran war, were incredibly entertaining and he found himself genuinely laughing with her and enjoying their time together.

“OK, are we ready?” Isabel asked as she nodded at the food that was ready to serve.

“As long as you didn’t poison it,” Declan only half-teased.

“No way, I’m starving.” Isabel stuck a finger in the mashed potatoes, got out a huge bunch and stuffed it into her mouth. “Let’s go.”

Declan chuckled as he followed the crazy girl out of the kitchen carrying the sliced meatloaf in one hand and the green bean casserole in the other.

Everyone in the dining room seemed surprised by the fare and Chris looked at Declan dubiously before he too was enticed by the aroma of something other than burgers and fries.

“Thank you,” Nalini whispered in his ear as she sat beside him.

Declan only nodded at her before he took the bowl of potatoes from Chris and began scooping it onto his plate.