Chapter 7
Alex exited the Starbucks in the airport, thinking they were home free, when she felt eyes on her. Collum told her to wait outside the men’s washroom and she hadn't listened. All she'd ingested that morning was herbal tea. After all the crazy revelations and what she suspected awaited her, she wanted a Caramel Corretto from Starbucks. It wasn't that she didn't recognize the danger she was in. She did. Completely. But the caffeine addiction had taken hold. If she were entirely honest with herself, the little voice inside always pushing toward rebellion was screaming at the top of its lungs—They wanted to kill me. Screw them.
Of course, now she regretted her impulsiveness.
Her stalker was impossible to miss, wasn't even trying to hide. He walked toward her with a casual indifference.
Easily six-foot four-inches tall, he sauntered, more than walked. A devastating angel, he looked like he was carved from gold. His hair flowed down his back in a cascade of white silk. His ice—green eyes pierced her from across the room. He was lean, and perfectly, impeccably, dressed. His chiseled jaw (that of an old English aristocrat) and his bearing practically screamed Old World. Maybe he was forty? As he stepped closer, she swore she heard Eminem's Monster blasting from his iPod. Maybe not as old world as she thought then.
He stopped inside the boundary of her personal space and removed his ear buds. “Hey, Alex. Crazy day, right. It's time to go home. Where are your bags?”
The words slid like butter through the chaos in her mind. “Excuse me?”
A single eyebrow raised on his unlined face. “I'm Domhall—your grandfather. I'm sure you've heard all about me by now. Don't worry, I'll fill you in on everything Collum screwed up, once we are on the plane. Now where are your bags? We have to move before the others show up.”
Alex closed her mouth, blinked her eyes, looked him over and promptly turned around to hightail it to wherever the hell Collum might be. Only, he stepped in front of her before she'd barely moved.
He raised his hands in a symbol of surrender. “Come on now, don't be like that. No games okay? I'll pour you a whiskey, top grade. We can catch up on the plane.”
Alex stopped before slamming into him and looked up. It was a long look up. “I don't know who you are, or what game you’re playing, but there’s no way you’re my grandfather and I’m not going anywhere with you. Now, I'd rather not make a scene in the middle of the airport. And if you know Collum's name, I'm sure you know what he’s capable of, so back off.”
The guy laughed. “I knew you had spirit. But c’mon, you’re made of smarter stuff than this. Take a second look at me before running. No matter what that dragon told you, I'm here to help. That overblown jerk tried stealing my wife four-hundred years ago and now he thinks he can take you too? Pompous ass. I'm sure the tales of my insanity have been incredibly detailed, but he can go screw himself. So, how about we get moving?”
“Do you think I'm stupid? Isn't my grandfather one of the oldest Elementals alive? How can you be my grandfather? You were listening to Eminem.”
“What? An old guy can't get into RAP? What can I say—I've aged well, like that fine whiskey I have on the plane.”
Alex burst out laughing. She was standing in the middle of the airport, having an absurd conversation, with a man claiming to be her possibly insane, possibly out to kill her, grandfather, and no one was paying them the least bit of attention. She felt no fear. He was simply . . . weird.
“Still not convinced, hey? Okay, if you want me to fit a mould, try this on for size.” The man adjusted his posture. “I have followed you for your whole life my child, though all fought to keep me from you. I've known, in all ways, where to find you. I grieved the passing of your mother and grandmother with my whole heart. Yet, I knew in order to protect you and your aunt from the wrath of the council, I must keep to the silence. I come to you now because the Guardian Collum, thinks he is strong enough to protect you. He is not. We have but minutes. I beg of you to come with me, now, before we are found.”
Domhall stepped closer and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Is that how you want me to sound, kiddo? Old? Stoic? I've been many things in my life. But however, I sound or look, you can be certain of who I am and that I will never harm you.”
The heat from his palm soothed her. The only thing that made any sense to her anymore was her gut. And her gut said to believe him.
“Well, Grandpa, I might or might not believe you. If you truly want to help you can come with us, but I'm not going without Collum. We aren't leaving him, or my clothes behind.”
“Are you kidding me? I'm not taking that ass anywhere. Who do you think you’re bargaining with?”
“I think I'm bargaining with my grandfather, who told me he loves me beyond all measure and wants to keep me safe. So, let's quit jabbering and go get my guardian.”
She prepared for him to argue with her but instead he took her hand, gifted her with a lazy smile and said, “My fierce blood, I would never dream of telling you no. Let's go find the ass. I can't believe he left you alone this long anyway. Sorry bloody excuse for a guardian if I ever saw one.”