Chapter 38
Savon stood in the open sun room, painting the view in vivid colors he only vaguely saw. Nate only had a taste of how she saw the world.
In her element, Savon was breathtaking. She swayed to music only she heard, painting things few ever saw with their own eyes.
Ceridwen was on the way with Mircea and Nadya. Part of him wished they could have dealt with it sooner, but he knew the moment he took the pack, he would be challenged by someone. Question was who.
He stole a day now, because it could take months for things to settle down. If she had said no, they would have moved anywhere she wanted. Though whoever these Dark Templar were would still come for him and this pendant he only heard mentioned a few times through the years.
The bell rang, and he walked to the door.
Nadya looked up at him with a blush. “Is Savon ready?”
“This way, though give her a moment. She was painting.”
Nadya nodded. “I think most of us find an outlet. Some don’t find it until much later in life.”
“She’s always been an artist.” He led them to the sun room.
Savon looked up from cleaning her brushes. “Morning. I’ll be ready in a minute.”
Nadya walked into the room, past Savon, to look at the painting. “This is beautiful.”
Savon smiled. “Thank you. Take it with you.”
“Really?”
Lifting her head, she nodded out the window. “I can paint it again. Nate made sure of that.”
He couldn’t help the smile that spread on his face.
“Let’s step outside,” Mircea whispered.
Nate took one last look at Savon and led them out front. Ceridwen followed.
“Nadya will need time alone with her to decide the best route to train Savon.”
“Will it take long?”
“Not for the basics. But I believe Nadya likes Silvertail Ridge. Which means I’m more than happy to stay until Savon has a firm grasp on her abilities.”
“Unfortunately, I think we’re running out of time to act. I don’t know how much time you’ve spent in Silvertail Ridge, but there are definitely factions, and with Jay losing interest in leading, or maybe that was never his interest, everything is shifting, for the worse. Something needs to happen concerning my father.”
“Agreed. Which is why Nadya will focus on the biggest concerns first, then she can take her time as things settle down.”
Nate leaned against the rail of the porch. “Sorry about my reaction when I first saw you.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that. I know what my brother was capable of. It’s part of the reason we move campsites often, and always where he’s unlikely to find us. There are women there he’s hurt in the past.”
“Did he start off an asshole?”
“No. He could be quite charming when he wanted something, or someone. Sooner or later, his personality always shines through the façade. He could go a decade before that happened, unless something made him slip. Like this pendant. And no, I don’t want it, but I do know what would happen if he had given it to his superiors.”
“Would it be the end of the world?” Nate asked.
“Our way of life would end. The environment wouldn’t be livable to most of us.”
“We need to stop my father. And Canagan. Shit, I don’t know what she wants with it, but I don’t believe it’s the same thing Nikolai wanted it for.”
“Don’t worry about the pendant for now,” Ceridwen said. “After you take control of the pack, there will be plenty to discuss.”
Nate turned toward her. “Why not now?”
“One thing at a time,” she suggested.
* * * *
Nadya walked to the glass door and stepped outside. Savon followed, wondering if the girl would actually talk, teach her anything, or if she’d wind up like the others.
“The spirits flock to you. Even more than they ever have to me.” Nadya walked to the water’s edge. “It’s nice. They aren’t pelting me with requests and questions.”
Savon froze, her head cocked. “Questions? Requests? Sure, they occasionally want something, a few insist, and I send them away. But most don’t pester.”
“They’re afraid of you. That’s why. Most of us can’t send them away for good. I take it you can?”
Savon shrugged. “I guess. I mean, I honestly don’t know for sure.”
Nadya turned to her, her dark eyes penetrating. “What happens when you get tired of hearing them?”
“Used to tuning them out. But the ones who insist go away when I blow up at them. I tell them to go and they’re gone.”
“How?” she asked.
Savon ducked her head. “Yell at them, ‘Never come to me again.’ That’s all it ever takes.”
“Ever asked any of them to come back?”
“No. Not sure where they go. My dad always warned me that they could come back stronger if they did manage to find their way back.”
“How many have you sent away?”
“Three or four. Most I ignore, and they go away on their own.”
“As they should. Come.” She walked toward the fallen log where Nate had taken Savon again.
Blushing, Savon nodded her head down the beach. “Let’s walk.”
Nadya gave her a strange look but followed Savon’s lead. “It’s peaceful out here.”
“It is. I missed this while I was in the city.”
“I want to visit a city.”
“Never been?”
She shook her head. “Spent all my life traveling hard to reach places in Eastern Europe. I’ve always wanted to see the city lights and walk down a busy street. The closest I’ve come is Silvertail Ridge.”
“Which isn’t a real city. A town, but not a big city. Maybe your father will let me take you down to San Francisco for a day trip.”
“I’d love that.”
Savon smiled. “So, I don’t have a clue what to ask in regards to our abilities. I’ve never tried to direct the spirits. They usually respond to any strong emotion from me and act accordingly. Which is why I try to have an outlet that doesn’t involve every spirit in the vicinity.”
“That’s farther than some ever get. But you can direct them without offering anything. You can control them, but that takes sacrifice from you and can open the door to possession. That’s why so many of us go mad. They let the wrong entity in.”
Nadya stopped and dropped her eyes to the sand. She waved her hand in a circle.
Savon watched as wind circled around them, drawing the moisture from the sand. Once the patch was dry, a smile lit her face. “Thank you.” She motioned to the ground and took a seat, so Savon joined her.
“With a little prompting, those that favor you will do small tasks like drying a place to sit, blowing away debris, helping fruit fall, and more. When you’re angry, they want to make you happy, which is why they target the one who hurt you, unless you share a special bond with them, and then they seem to understand the difference.”
“Why Nate was never harmed.” She glanced out over the water. “That’s a relief.”
“It should be. Though there are entities that would target him, if you gave them the go ahead. Watch for those.”
“How?”
“Easy. That’s why I’m here.”
* * * *
Nate prepared lunch while attempting to avoid the worry creeping in. Savon and Nadya hadn’t come back. Mircea stood at the window, staring down the shore. Mircea’s unease made him nervous.
Ceridwen leaned against the counter beside Nate. “Stop worrying. Both of you. No harm will reach them. Right now, Canagan is attempting to find her next move.”
Biting his tongue, Nate nodded. Savon said Ceridwen knew most things ahead of time. A vague memory floated through his head. He knew the name Ceridwen.
“How well did you know Killian?” he asked.
“Not well enough. Fawn wanted to bring Killian into our small circle. I declined, knowing he already worked for HARP as one of their hunters. Your father wanted the Wolfssengen Pendant, and he was a horrible man. I didn’t know much else.”
“Got that right. But if you know so much, why did you let Savon date Nikolai? Why didn’t you stop the bastard?” Nate shot a glance to Mircea. “No offense.”
He lifted a shoulder. “None taken. Trust me, he was the evil twin.”
“I warned her to be careful, but she didn’t listen.” Ceridwen shook her head, glancing outside. “And I didn’t know how deep he was involved with HARP or the Dark Templar in the beginning. He was a mercenary, worked for the highest bidder. He’s worked for many organizations over the years.”
Nate scrubbed a hand over his face. “Think his people know where he was when he died? Or that he’s dead?”
Mircea shook his head. “Not sure. The Dark Templar all but disappeared recently. There are rumors that their leader is in hiding, or dead. And they were a fringe group of the Silver Council that was never sanctioned.”
“So they are real?” Nate asked, scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “And they are somehow part of the Council?”
“Yes,” Ceridwen answered. “Though not known to most. They’re the dark secret that too many people fear. It was born out of mages’ need to be the best. That’s not how the world works. No world.”
Shaking his head, he went back to the sandwiches. “I hope everyone likes ham. I wasn’t thinking about anyone but Savon when I stocked the fridge. Hell, I hope she still likes all the same stuff.”
“She has you, the only thing she’s ever truly wanted, but was too afraid to admit when you disappeared. And don’t worry. I understand the sway your father held over you. As long as you don’t let him have that power now, we won’t have a problem.”
“Never again,” Nate promised. “I want to find him, kill him, and finally take life by the reins.”
Nadya and Savon stepped through the door, both wearing bright smiles.
“Learn a ton?” Nate asked.
Savon nodded, light dancing through her head. “Oh yeah. Not as hard as I thought, either.”
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Famished,” Nadya answered.
“Me too,” Savon said.
Ceridwen announced, “I suggest we go back to Silvertail Ridge after we eat.”
Nodding, Savon agreed, “For the best.”