Chapter Twenty-two

 

 

“Are you guys ready?” Saffron walked into the living room with a smile on her face.

“It’s just furniture shopping,” Sage told her with a huge grin.

“I know, but we’re doing it together for our home. Just the thought makes me want to smile.”

“I get it. It's like telling the enemy to kiss our asses because we’re not going anywhere.”

“And that’s why we’re twins.” Saffron linked arms with Sage, and they head for the door. They walked out to see Tristan standing in the middle of the street. Cait was close to him. Declyn and Fire were approaching from one direction with Enzo and Deja coming from the opposite direction. Ven was coming up behind Cait.

Saffron turned to look at Xander, who shook his head, he took her hand and moved them closer to what was happening.

“Tristan, were you coming to see me?”

“Yes, Alpha.” He drew in a big breath. “I need to leave the compound. It’s that or go to ground. If I do the second, I have no plans of ever resurfacing.”

“That sounds like a deliberate attempt to end your life.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Declyn took a step towards him, but Fire stopped him by sliding her hand into his.

“Why Tristan?” Safire was Alpha, but she didn’t know all the rules so her innocent question would give her mate a minute to think and not proclaim judgment immediately.

“I’m older than anyone in this compound, including you Alpha. The batch I was created with died before any of you were created. I was the only one left alive. No one could answer how I escaped. I was moved from one battalion to another. Each time I continued to live and practice my skills until I was placed with your battalion. When one so old is placed with one so young, they anticipate the death of all of them.

“That’s not what happened. I found a home here and a fair Alpha. I have lived longer than any Kur’ik should live I feel the pull on me. Either I leave, or I die. I await your ruling.”

Saffron looked up, there were hundreds of Kur’iks surrounding her. They had all come out to find out what Declyn’s verdict would be.

“You would have left without me knowing.”

“To spare you.”

“And why would I need to be spared?”

“I trust you Alpha and would never do anything to hurt you. Killing me will hurt you.”

“It would, but I’m not going to kill you because you’re not going to go rogue. You will continue to maintain contact mentally with me. I will continue to monitor you. Do we understand each other? Ven, why are you standing next to Tristan with a duffle bag over your shoulder?”

“I’m going with him.”

“No, you’re not.” Tristan protested.

Deja gasped. Enzo wrapped his arms around her pulling her close.

“Alpha, I need to be with Tristan. If he walks out of here alone, we will lose him. None of us can afford that.”

“There is no way in—.” Fire’s hand caressing his cheek made him bite his words back.

“Eventually, our people will need to leave the confinement of the compound. We should do it in little groups to see how feasible it is for them to blend.” She moved closer to him and lowered her voice. “This is Ven if he says he needs to go; I trust him.”

“We’re doing this on a trial basis. Three months and then we reconvene.”

Ven nodded and then turned around to face his mother. Her brown eyes were watery, but not one tear had fallen.

“Mom, I love you.”

“I love you too son, but I’m not ready to lose you.”

“You won’t lose me. You will always know where I am. I must go. I can’t be here for the big fight, and you and dad are going to need some time.”

“No, we’re a family. Your dad will be happy, and I thought you would be too.”

“I’m ecstatic mom.” He walked over to her and took her in his arms.

“I’ll be back; I promise.”

“Ven you’re mine don’t ever forget it. I’ll act like you are going to college, but I expect phone calls.”

“I’ll call to hear your voice and ask for money.”

“That’s my son.” She held him tight knowing her tears were making his T-shirt wet, but she didn’t care. She took a step back, go to your dad.

He moved away going to his dad. Enzo hugged him holding him close.

“How did the time pass so quickly?”

“I think it’s all the killing and protecting you did for me.”

“There is no excuse for not telling you I was your dad sooner.”

“I always knew. You ran down a street when my life was in danger and placed your body in front of mine. Who else does that besides a father?”

“Ven, I love you never doubt it.”

“I don’t. I will be in touch, and you will see me again. Take care of mom, I’m going to miss both of you.” He pulled back trying to hide his eyes. The blue was shining with tears that were slowly seeping down his cheeks. He turned around and walked to Tristan.

“Are you ready?” Tristan asked him.

“I am.”

At that moment, a brand-new life journey started.

 

Saffron wiped at a tear flowing down her cheek. How had she come to love the people around her so fast? Xander leaned down and kissed her before they turned around and walked to the garage.

She climbed into the front seat of the jeep while Caden and Sage got in the back.

“Do you think they will be okay?”

“They’re not alone.”

She nodded her head, they had each other. Why wouldn’t they be fine?

“We should make a day of it,” Sage told them infusing her voice with joy. “After we look for furniture, we can get lunch and then shop for clothes. That sounds like a great day to me.”

“Me too sister.” They laughed lightning the mood in the Jeep.

Xander pulled up to a store that Safire and Declyn had recommended. “We can also look for bedroom furniture if you’re interested.”

“I’m interested.”

“Me too,” Sage echoed.

They walked into the store a grin on their faces.

“Should we break up and come back together later?” Sage asked Saffron.

“I think that’s a good idea.” They both turned to look at the guys who nodded.

“Let’s start over here.” Saffron walked towards the bedroom furniture. She stopped and sat on a chair that had a small matching table.

“What’s on your mind?” She asked Xander after he sat.

“Cait said there were eight groups that believed in right but there are just four here. There were four groups that were evil, but we're only seeing one. Why? If we are the catalyst why now?”

“Is that it?”

“I don’t like the thought of Tristan and Ven being away from the compound it makes it harder to protect them.”

“How old do you think Tristan is?”

“Ten times my age.”

“What?”

He held up his hand. “See this patch of skin over what would be a pulse point on your hand?”

She nodded.

“The darker it gets, the older we are. It is the only sign of aging we have. Tristan always kept his covered, but I saw it the day I came to sit with you. His is ten times darker than mine. He’s ancient.”

“That bothers me, but I don’t know why.”

He nodded. “Do you like anything around here?”

“Yeah.” She stood and took him over to a frame for a bed. “What do you think?”

“I like it, but what about that one?”

That one was made of all wood. It was probably more sturdy than the metal frames.

“I see you’ve found the best bed frame we carry.” A sales woman came up them. “The only real way to know if you like it is to lay on it. Go ahead give it a try.”

Saffron looked over at Xander and took her shoes off. She climbed on the bed and started jumping up and down. She was sure that wasn’t what the sales woman meant.

He joined her on the bed jumping with her. He did a somersault in the air with perfect execution. She wasn’t even trying that. She dropped to the bed giggling like a child as Xander dropped next to her.

“We’ll take it.” He told the sales lady who was looking at them in shock. “We also want the two matching dressers.”

That got her in gear. That was the kind of sale you didn’t turn your nose up at.

“Can I help you with anything else?”

“We need a love seat or a table and chairs to go in the room. In case we want to sit and read or watch television.”

“I have the perfect set to go with this.” She smiled happily at Saffron.

Why am I not surprised? She smiled back not really caring the look of simple joy on Xander’s face was all she was about. They got up and followed the saleswoman.

“Do you know much that set cost?” She whispered to him.

“Doesn’t matter, I enjoyed it.” He said it like someone would come for him for expressing enjoyment of life.

When they came to the set, they were promised she loved it. It was a love seat with end tables on each side that matched the other furniture. She sat on it. It was thick and plush. More importantly, Xander liked it. He closed his eyes for a minute, and that was rare for him because he was always on alert.

“We’ll take it.”

His eyes flew open. Standing across the room was a small female who was calling to him.

“When we’re ready to leave we will find you,” Saffron told the saleswoman. She was watching the same woman.

“I need to see a few lamps later.” She called over her shoulder as they walked away.

“Hi.” The woman turned and walked away ignoring Saffron’s greeting. They followed her until she took a seat around a dining room table.

“Hello, twins.” She smiled at them. “You are the last pieces of the puzzle.”

“Who are you?”

“It doesn’t matter. Look at your warrior. He’s more curious about what I’m about to say than who I am. You are fighting the Jeren. They are one of the four evil races that helped to populate a lot of the galaxy. They were not granted permission to touch this planet, which is why they have taken a special interest in you.”

“How do we defeat them?”

“You have to figure that out on your own After all it is your planet.”

She stood up and melted away.

“Is she gone?”

“She is.”

“What are we supposed to do if no one is willing to help us?”

“We help ourselves.”

Right, she stood and noticed a highly polished half dollar on the floor. When she bent to pick it up, it disappeared into her hand.

The day kept getting stranger.