Guardian Page 5

  It wasn’t completely a lie. She really did love Raven, but it was different. At the time, she believed Raven was safe. He’d spent plenty of time helping earth girls fall for him, and he knew how to walk away unscathed. She wouldn’t be the cause of his destruction. She’d just be another girl to add to his list. And yet.

  He’d held her gently, comforting her after she killed the hell hound. He’d stroked her hair and her back while she cried. His voice had closed out all the pain, and she remembered the sensation as his soft words feathered against her cheek and ear.

  And she remembered the realization he was praying. For her.

  That revelation had rocked her. Had he prayed like that before? Did he do it often?

  The sails grabbed the wind, and the rustle knocked her back into the present. She straightened her spine and faced Raven. “I need time. I’m still trying to deal with what happened to my parents. Please don’t ask me to sort out my feelings for you and Mace on top of that.”

  The long strands of his dark blond hair flew around his forehead and slammed against his cheeks. A hint of a smile appeared, but only for a second. His eyes trailed her face, moving methodically over her features. “I can give you time.” An entire conversation silently passed between them.

  “Will you?” she said, finally.

  “As much as you want. No matter how long you take, the outcome will be the same. You and I were destined to be together, Nikki. Eventually, you’ll realize that like I have and stop running.”

  Running. She’d like to run. But girls on boats had little room to run, and humans who fell in love with Halflings had few choices. None of which led to a happy ending.

  Time, she could use. And maybe a solution would present itself before she destroyed her guardian angel.

  Both of them.

  Will worked with Nikki on her martial arts skills for the remainder of the morning. She was getting her sea legs, and Ocean had instructed her to watch the horizon whenever possible to lessen the queasiness. It seemed to be working, but the coastal sun was warmer than she was used to, and by noon she’d worked up a sweat. General sailing labor was going on around her. They worked the boat in shifts: girls in the galley, boys on the deck, and vice versa. Nikki’d slid out of her sandals when Will called her over. Good thing; the movement of the boat coupled with her sweat and the heel of her shoes could have been a deadly combination.

  “Are you ready to begin?” Will asked. He didn’t seem to be sweating at all. An angel thing, she guessed.

  “Begin what? You’ve been working with me for the last two hours.” He’d asked to see some of her blocks and strikes, and had recognized the style immediately, even tweaking her form. Sensei Coble would be proud.

  “It’s time to begin the most important lesson you will ever learn.”

  “Ever, huh?” She brushed her arm across a slick forehead. “That’s a pretty long time.”

  “I walked the earth when only wood and mud-fashioned houses existed. I’ve seen her lands crumble into the sea while others emerged from the depths. I’ve witnessed every war and every victory there has been, and I can tell you, without a doubt, this is the most important lesson you will have the privilege to learn. Ever.”

  Wow. What was it about angels and the monologues? It was staggering, though. To think Will, a heavenly angel and guardian to the male Halflings, had roamed the earth for all of recorded time. And to do that without ever dropping a bit of sweat—go figure. The Halflings were capable of sweating, at least. Nikki had to corral her concentration to keep from glancing behind her, where Mace and Raven worked with their shirts off. Really nice view out here on the ocean.

  “Are you ready?” Will said.

  It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. “May I ask a question first?”

  “Certainly.” He gestured with the palm of his massive hand.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Remember, a heavenly angel can’t lie.”

  His eyes narrowed in response to hers, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s hardly necessary to remind me. Lying isn’t a part of my makeup. Go ahead.”

  “Why are we on this boat? Besides the heavenly angels showing up and telling you we needed to come.”

  “You mean the conversation you were listening to?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “You need—”

  “And don’t say I need training. I know that’s part of it, but there’s more.”

  “Your perception is growing. Good.” His intake of air seemed to suck the oxygen from everywhere around her—quite a feat when you’re continually slammed by fresh gusts of wind. Will’s gaze traveled across the deck, and Nikki was sure he was going to refuse to answer. But then he began to smile, and she glanced behind her to see what he was smiling at.

  Mace and Raven were at the far end of the boat, one on one side of a horizontal post, one on the other. They moved in tandem over some giant lever, while their muscles flexed and released. A sheen of sweat covered their skin.

  “My Lost Boys needed to learn how to work as a team again.”

  His Lost Boys. His … sons. So that was it. The confines of a ship would bridge the gulf between Mace and Raven. It made perfect sense, really. And Will’s plan seemed to be working. “Pretty smart, aren’t you?” Nikki said, her attention divvied between the boys and Will’s pride as he watched them.

  “I’m experienced, but that should never be confused with natural intelligence.”

  “Whatever. Sounds like splitting hairs to me.” Nikki rocked back on her heels. “You’re without a doubt one of the best fathers I’ve ever known.”

  Will’s eyes darted to hers, his face falling into concern.

  “What?” She wanted to step back, but with the railing so close there was nowhere to go.

  “I’m not their father,” Will said, and it seemed as though speaking the words was almost … painful.

  She gestured with an upturned palm. “I know you’re not their real father, but as you know from all your time on earth, an adoptive dad can be much more of a father than a biological one.”

  Wide fingers fidgeting, shoulders jerking slightly, a tiny head shake. It was weird to see a heavenly angel so … out of sorts. But really, if Will didn’t think of himself as the Halflings’ father, well … That was it. He did. She knew he did. “Look, you don’t have to admit anything to me.”

  He scratched his head, nervous tension flying off his body like showering sparks ready to combust. “There’s nothing to admit. I’m a caregiver. The boys are in my charge. I am commissioned to do my best by them.”

  Nikki laughed right out loud. She hadn’t meant to, but all that energy seemed to gather around her, and when she breathed it in, it took over. “I’m sorry, Will,” she said, swiping a tear. “I know they aren’t your sons. They aren’t even brothers.” Neither were Sky, Ocean, and Dash, she’d discovered. Though that’s what the three called each other. In fact, they called Raven, Mace, and Vine brother as well. No one was safe from the title. On occasion even she’d been referred to as brother by Dash. Nikki had given him a playful-but-dirty look the second time. He’d mumbled that she’d been the one to say she wasn’t a female.

  “Humor is a great tension reliever, so I’m told. But make no mistake, Nikki. The boys and their ability to work together is only one small part of this journey. Much of what will happen in the next several days holds you as the central piece. This is no game.”

  And just like that, all the joy dissolved.

  Will moved away from her, maybe to give her time to absorb. Instead, she shook it off and followed him to the front of the boat, where he wrapped his hands tightly around the railing.

  “Where are we headed?” she asked. The blue expanse of ocean stretched beyond forever. “Where is this voyage taking us?” There was a new gravity to her tone, but she didn’t care. Life was nothing if not volatile.

  Her question pulled Will’s attention from the water. “France. We’ll pull into port there then make our way
to Viennesse.”

  “But you don’t think this voyage across the sea will be without struggle, do you? Will, what do you think is going to happen?”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “It was important to the Throne that we be on the boat. Now that we are, I only sense that we should be … ready. You, especially.”

  He really didn’t need to drive that point home any more. Maybe a change of subject would be best. “You said Viennesse. That’s your ancestral home, right?”

  “Not mine. The Halflings’.”

  Ah, yes—as a full angel, Will’s true home was heaven. Except not anymore. He’d been demoted. One day, she’d need to ask him about that. “Do Halflings split their time between an earthly ancestral home and the midplane, except when they’re on a journey?”

  He nodded.

  “Are there houses in the midplane?”

  “Not as you know them. It’s similar to earth, but being there … well, a human would liken it to camping.”

  “Only without the bugs?”

  He faced her. “Shall we get back to your lesson, or are you going to badger me with inquiries all day?”

  “No, you’re off the hook. Let’s get to this ever-so-important lesson. What is it, exactly?”

  Will cupped his hands as if cradling a beach ball. His brow tilted into a frown, creasing his smooth forehead, and his eyes closed tightly. Pure energy seemed to cluster about him like metal shavings to a magnet, and Nikki stepped back until she bumped against a pole. Will’s hands tightened slowly until a silvery ball took shape between his cupped fingers. It became more concentrated as he tightened his grip. When he stopped, a round, silvery globe with tiny blue lights trailing inside it rested on his upturned hand.

  Her mouth hung open and was quickly dried by the sea air. “What is that?” Intrigue forced her closer. A ball. A silvery ball appeared out of absolutely nothing.

  “It’s faith.”

  As soon as he said it, Nikki knew she was in trouble. She had faith in what was tangible. And this was not only intangible, it was untouchable. When she reached for it, her hand passed right through.

  If this was the great lesson she needed to learn, she was certainly going to be a huge disappointment. Again.

  “Nikki, come on over,” Winter hollered across the deck. “Sky is briefing us on what they know about Omega Corporation.” Thank you, Winter! Raven wanted to say. He’d wanted to call Nikki over to the group for the last several minutes, but knew she’d reject the offer if it came from him.

  She’d avoided the pack of Halflings sitting in a circle near the center of the boat, choosing instead to scrub a clean railing and oil a glistening teakwood deck. Will’s lesson had left her intrigued, amazed, and determined—and all of those things left Raven unable to concentrate on the conversation. It didn’t help that sweat clung to the edges of Nikki’s hairline, making his fingers itch to touch the moist strands and brush them from her face.

  Every now and then those light brown eyes of hers would meander to the small globe of faith Will had left floating above the railing at the front of the ship. Her eyes would narrow and that methodical mind of hers he loved would go to work.

  She crossed the deck at Winter’s words, and Raven caught a blast of Nikki’s scent—life and promise. He breathed her essence, filling his lungs again and again. Man, she looked good with her long hair loose and scattered by the breeze, skin glowing in response to the sun, and her face alive. Really alive. Like the day she took him to Arkansas on the back of her motorcycle. Nikki was freedom. Freedom needed to be protected. Nurtured, even. And he was up to the task. One thing he wouldn’t do was let Mace put her in a cage. Because Nikki—brave as she was, the girl who watched as four hell hounds attacked her—was also scared to death when it came to heart stuff. He’d be careful, something that didn’t come to him naturally. But he would win—something that did come to him naturally.

  “Have a seat, Freedom,” he said, sliding a couple inches toward Glimmer. The circle of Halflings looked over at him, but several bodies scooted to make room for Nikki.

  “Freedom?” Nikki echoed, wrinkling her nose. “Yeah. New nickname for you.”

  She shot him a biting look and sat on the other side of Glimmer, forcing the whole group to shift again.

  But just before she blinked away her frustration, Raven saw a moment of approval splash across her face.

  Unintended, no doubt. But still. Her scent shifted his direction when the wind changed. He tried not to look obvious as he took it in. Like life, like everything he should be entitled to.

  Like everything he would one day have. He’d give her time.

  But it wouldn’t hurt to hurry things along every now and then. “Ocean and the crew sunk two boats loaded with titanium.

  What we didn’t know is Ocean thinks they are connected to Omega Corporation,” Mace said. He’d acted nonchalant during the exchange between Raven and Nikki, but a note of irritation threaded his words. Good.

  Nikki’s brow furrowed. “So, Omega is studying electromagnetic pulses, they are possibly doing genetic testing, and now this? Oh yeah, and my name was on one of their computers.” Vegan crossed her legs and stretched back until her weight rested on her palms. “Not possibly doing genetic testing, Nikki. They’re bringing a whole new batch of genetic scientists. And don’t forget, we’ve seen the horses at the laboratory in Arkansas. No normal horses look like that. So, we have proof of what they’ve done. Just no information on what they plan. Or how, and if, you’re involved.”

  “Dr. Richmond might know,” Nikki said.

  Raven tried to drag his attention from Nikki to the task at hand. Difficult, but not impossible. “I don’t know if he can give us answers on the computer records, but when I went to Richmond’s house, he was working on a DNA splicing project.” Vegan nodded. “And we know he worked with the horses when he was a scientist for Omega, but that was years ago.”

  “And he still visits them.” Several eyes cut a trail to Raven.

  “He didn’t admit that, I figured it out.”

  Winter’s gaze remained on him, as did most of the others’ sitting in the circle. He felt the sear of their stares, all the questions, and only he had the answers. Was it cruel to make them wait? Probably, but who cared?

  Finally, he shrugged. “His shoes, the manure … Trust me, you don’t want any more of an explanation.”

  “What else did you learn at Richmond’s house?” Winter asked.

  “His daughter is hot.”

  The girls rolled their eyes.

  Oh yeah, girls were always jealous. “Seriously, I mean, this girl is amazing. He’s got a picture of her on a beach somewhere, and you know, I could almost smell her coconut suntan lotion.” Vine dropped his voice and leaned in. “Has anyone else noticed the smell of coconut lotion when Will comes around, or is it just me?”

  Glimmer tilted her head to the side. “I thought maybe Will had some new beachy cologne or something.”

  Raven scoffed. “Beaches smell like dead fish. I don’t think they make cologne in that scent.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and split him in two with her dagger eyes. “And I thought your favorite scent was manure.”

  “This isn’t helping,” Vegan said.

  Vine nodded in agreement and took a bite of red licorice. Raven continued. “The horses could be just the beginning. Omega could be gene splicing any number of creatures. Humans, Halflings.”

  “That would account for the wingcuffs. There was enough titanium to make thousands.” Sky leaned his weight against a post and locked his hand around his bent knee.

  “So, should we assume Omega is trying to splice human and Halfling DNA? And if so, for what purpose?”

  “An army,” Zero said as he approached the group. He stood there, hovering above them, silver-white hair quivering in the wind. Raven liked Zero; he was one smart-mouthed guy. But honestly, the dude freaked him out a little with those milkywhite eyes and corpse-pale skin. Too many Po
pTarts, too many juice boxes, and not enough sunlight did not do a body good. Winter motioned with an upturned hand for him to continue.

  Vegan donned a huge smile and scooted over, crowding Mace and making a place for Zero to sit.

  Zero sneered down at the spot and remained standing. “I found some formulas in one of the Omega files. There weren’t any specific explanations, but I think they had to do with Halfling-human splicing.”

  “No.” Now Will approached the group. He did indeed smell of coconuts.

  Zero gave him a dirty look.

  Will also stood at the edge of the circle, feet shoulder width apart, arms akimbo. “Halflings are Halflings and humans are humans. I don’t believe the two could be combined by gene splicing. It simply isn’t possible. The best that could be expected would be to mask the angelic qualities, and that would only work for a short time. The angelic strength would eclipse the human and ultimately destroy it.”

  Vine shook his head. “But the original Halflings came from an angel-human union. So you must be wrong, Will.” Will stared at him. “A union. Breeding, not splicing.”

  “Okay, so we can rule out human-Halfling DNA splicing. I guess we don’t have to worry about an army from that source,” Vine muttered.

  “Then no army at all, because, as we all know, Halflings are capable of having only a single offspring,” Winter interjected. Will raised a finger. “Not all Halflings. There have been anomalies in the past. Very few, but some.”

  Zero inched a little closer. “Will, what if a specimen were mostly Halfling, but the human DNA just filled in a few missing pieces?”

  Will shook his head, a frown almost wrinkling his forehead.

  “I just don’t see how human anything could be introduced and not be eclipsed.”

  “Would it matter if the DNA was eclipsed?” Mace asked.

  “Angels have the ability to recuperate rapidly.”

  “Cell recovery?” Will said.

  “Why not?” Mace said. “It would work with the horses too.” Several gasps created their own little vacuum. Winter leaned forward. “Mace, you aren’t suggesting the horses could have spirit horse DNA.”