Chapter 27

It was almost too dark to see the targets, even with the torch I’d borrowed from the courtyard set beside them.

I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t sit still. I needed to get a new dictionary to read. I released the arrow and gave myself a nod of congratulations when it hit where I’d aimed. I nocked the next one, then paused when I heard someone walking through the grass.

“I kept thinking I was lucky you’d missed and hit me where you did.” Rafael’s voice got louder as he moved closer.

I drew back on the string and aimed.

“But you didn’t miss where you were aiming, did you?”

I released it and watched it hit the bullseye. “I don’t miss my targets.” I turned and looked at him, “not in a long time.”

He just stood there and watched me.

“Although I kept doubting myself thinking I’d missed because you were walking around so soon after.” I frowned. “How were you walking that soon?”

He tucked his hands into the pocket of his jeans. “You definitely did not miss. It was bleeding all over the place.” He shook his head, “the pain when they pulled it out, I can’t even describe it.”

I stood there for a second, then decided he’d brought it up. “How?”

Rafael grinned. “Our blood. We heal quickly.”

I nodded slowly. “Right.”

Crossing his arms over his large chest, he gave me a serious look. “The worst part,” he paused for a second, “the worst part was getting one of my brothers to replenish the blood I’d lost.” My thoughts must have reflected on my face. “Only royal blood can replenish royal blood.”

I nodded slowly, thinking there was a story there, how did his ancestors figure out royal blood was needed to replenish royal blood? I waited for him to continue.

“My brothers were too busy laughing to assist me.” He frowned. “Chase was the only one not crying from laughing too hard—Chase doesn’t normally donate blood to us fangers, so that was almost as big a shock as being hit by an arrow.

“Chase is,” I tried to find the right word, “unique.”

Rafael chuckled. “That’s one way to describe him.” He shook his head and motioned to the targets. “Why are you out here in the middle of the night?”

I took a deep breath, then went to get my arrows back. “I couldn’t sleep.” I pulled them out and turned to find him standing right next to me. I gave him an exasperated look, that he smirked at. “I’m scared and nervous about tomorrow.”

He held out his hand for my bow as we walked back. “If you’re uncomfortable in the tunnels, use your porter and get out.”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

He stopped and turned back to the targets. “Now show me how to do this.” Serious blue eyes connected with mine. “As Captain of the guard, I like to know every weapon my guards use.”

I motioned to my bow. “My bow isn’t the right size for you.”

He shrugged. “Not that I’ll know the difference.”

I handed him an arrow. “Why are you wandering around in the middle of the night?” I pointed to where he should nock the arrow. “You should have a finger guard on.”

“One won’t hurt.” He said as he raised the bow.

“Line it up there, then adjust your aim down for closer, or moving targets and up for distance.”

He nodded. “I looked out my window and saw a torch down here.”

I turned and looked up at the palace, where only one window was lit. I heard him release the arrow and checked the target. He’d hit it. “Is that where you were aiming?”

Rafael held the bow out to me. “Not even the same target.”

I took the bow and tried not to smile. “Oh.”

“I think I’ll need a few daylight practice sessions before we start training the guards for archery.” He looked at the target and shook his head.

We both started walking toward it.

“Are many being trained?”

“That’s up to you.” He pulled the arrow out and looked at it. “If they have no skill for it after the first few lessons, don’t waste more time on them.”

I disassembled my bow as we walked. “Okay.”

“We have twenty that we’ve selected to start, I’m hoping there will be at least ten that become proficient.” He motioned to the palace. “We’ll place the trained guards here on watch and at a few of the towers by the chambers. At least until we’ve caught all of Hubert’s associates.”

I knelt and put my bow back into the bag. “It’s worse than I’ve been told, isn’t it?” When I put everything in it and zipped it up, he bent down and picked up the bag. He made it look lighter than it was.

“It is. Hubert’s plan had been in place for decades before we knew anything. Could have been active longer, we have no way to know for sure.”

We started walking. I stopped and looked back at the targets. “What about the torch?”

“Leave it.” Rafael looked around, “the area should have more lighting.” He motioned to walk. “It’s supposed to be warded, but after the last disaster, we should tighten security measures as well.”

For a few minutes we didn’t speak, just walked toward the gate.

“How are you doing,” He looked down at me. “With all of this? You were dropped into it out of nowhere…”

I shook my head. “I think I was in it a long time ago.” I looked up at the palace. “From birth, if the theory that one of my parents were from here is true. Then hearing the thoughts of those trapped in the same place I was.”

“That’s our failing, my family. How so many were born to the other side, or never returned, is a huge oversight on our part.” We entered the courtyard. Rafael set my bag down and motioned to one of the stone benches. “After we realized how bad this situation is, Leone, Michael and I personally reviewed all the port records.” He sat down and leaned over to rub his hands over his face in frustration. “There are hundreds of discrepancies.” He shook his head, “from late returns, illegal crossings, missing people,” he blew out a breath, “it’s a colossal disaster.”

I could see self-doubt and guilt in his eyes. “I’m sure when the guidelines, or whatever it’s called, were established you weren’t up against so many technological cheats.”

He frowned at me.

I held up my wrist with the port device on it. “Obviously you are centuries ahead of my side in the technology field, but I’m sure it was easier to keep track of those,” I wasn’t sure of the word, “who went over to my side, it must have been much easier before everything became instant with gadgets and devices.”

Rafael studied me for a moment. “I’ve never thought of it that way.” He looked visibly more relieved.

“You can’t regret it.” I said quickly, “what’s happening.”

He raised an eyebrow at me.

I nodded. “If it hadn’t, Daxx wouldn’t be here, or Alona and the others.”

Rafael smiled. “They have made our lives much more interesting, that’s for sure.” He looked at me for a long moment, making it feel awkward. “I wasn’t very happy when I realized a woman had shot me.”

I grinned. “Yes, your expression shouted that quite clearly.”

He grinned. “I’m sure it was screaming when I figured out you were the one in my prophecy.”

I played with the glove on my hand. “Crissy told me what it said.”

“Having an arcus mate was so much cooler before her arrow was sticking out of me.”

I couldn’t help grin at his tone. “I’m sure it was.”

Rafael’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Fifty years of fantasies gone, just like that.”

I laughed quietly. “I’m sorry I ruined your fantasies.”

He still had a smile on his face. “I wish—” the jovial expression left his eyes, “I wish it could be different between us, Kara, but right now,” he shook his head, “it can’t.”

Why did it bother me when he said it that way? I didn’t want any sort of relationship either. “Well,” I was hoping to make him feel better, “after the thoughts I’ve overheard from a few women in your kingdom, they will be very pleased to know that.”

Rafael scowled, then rubbed his hand over his hair in an agitated way. “I can’t,” he looked at his large hand, “I’m almost two hundred,” he shook his head, “I…”

I grinned. “I was afraid for a second you were going to claim to be a virgin. I didn’t hear details about that.”

His gaze searched my face for a moment. “Yeah. Okay,” he nodded, “It’s not for the reason you think.” He sighed, then shook his head, “okay, it was, but,” he motioned to his head, “I need times of—distraction.” He shook his head, the expression on his face said he didn’t like his own explanation. “It was easier for me if my brothers thought I was sleeping with half of the female population.”

We both turned when Autumn came walking through the gate mumbling as she looked at her phone.

“Out for a midnight stroll?” Rafael asked.

“Hey.” She glanced up, a preoccupied look on her face. “Michael is busy with last minute stuff, so I thought I’d check the palace,” she frowned, “grounds for security flaws.”

“More lighting in the lower courtyard.” He told her.

She nodded. “Got that one.” Moving slowly, still looking at her phone she came toward us. “Michael told me to make a list for you and him. Paisley downloaded some note app on my phone.” Her shoulders dropped, she held out the phone. “How do I save this? Because the last time I closed it, it was gone.”

Rafael took the phone and looked at it. He stood up and held it where she could see the screen. “Right here.” He pointed to it.

She looked relieved and took the phone. “I don’t know why I couldn’t just tell someone.” She didn’t look pleased. “My sensei used to say if you don’t use it you lose it.” She nodded, “that works for brains too I think.” With an abrupt nod, she turned. “Don’t stay up too late. Need you at the top of you game tomorrow.”

Rafael sat down. “Hey, don’t forget to fill out the appropriate forms and leave them on my desk for your security requests.”

Autumn stopped and turned around. “Don’t make me take you down in front of your mate, big guy.”

He laughed.

Shaking her head, she turned and went into the solarium.

“I like her.” I told him. “She says what she’s thinking, or the little I’ve heard she does.”

Rafael nodded. “Yeah, her integrity is rock solid.” He glanced at my wrist.

I gave him a quick shake of my head. “It’s off. It’s just nice to know that there are some people that don’t have ulterior motives, phony thoughts and are honest.”

His expression softened. “I guess having an ability like yours only shows you the sides of human nature that need to stay hidden.”

There was nothing I could say to that, so I nodded briefly. He’d summed up my life in one sentence.

“That makes my heart ache.” He confessed. “To know that you’ve missed out on all the good things life has to offer.”

“I have chocolate milk.” I told him with a smirk, to try to lighten his mood.

Rafael smiled one of his charming smiles. “Yeah, that’s right up there with chocolate ice cream.”

I nodded, even though I’d never had chocolate ice cream.

His eyes studied my face. “You’ve never had chocolate ice cream? Wow, we’ll have to fix that.”

I laughed. “I hate to break it to you, but my life has been filled with a lot of tripe and there’s too many things I’ve never had.”

Nodding slowly, his look changed to contemplation. “We’ll have to work on fixing that.” He glanced at my wrist. “Turn off your blocker.” He said softly.

I looked at it, then back to him, the expression in his eyes had changed again. He had that look he’d gotten when he’d kissed me before. “W-why?”

“Because,” he said in a gentle tone as he picked up my arm. “I want to show you what it’s like for someone to think,” he pushed the button on my bracelet, “of you, just you. No ulterior motives or thoughts that don’t match the actions.” Lifting my hand, he placed a kiss in the palm of it.

I was afraid to breathe, to move for fear that this was only happening in my head.

He touched my chin and tilted my head up, then he moved much closer to me. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, his gaze moving over my face. His breath brushed over my mouth.

…eyes as dangerous as a siren’s song…

His mouth brushed over mine. Moving slowly, he cupped the side of my face and kissed me again, lingering longer.

…a hundred times a day I want to kiss this mouth…

His mouth covered mine with small coaxing kisses, encouraging me to open my mouth.

…let me in. Let me taste you…

Between his thoughts and actions, my head felt light, in a good way that I’d never felt before. I opened my mouth and he deepened the kiss. His tongue dipped in to touch against mine. The kiss was slow and gentle. I stopped caring if I needed to breathe.

…so fucking sweet…

His thoughts made me dizzy. I wrapped my arms around his neck, not wanting him to stop. Putting his arm under my knees, he lifted me into his lap, without breaking the kiss.

…never felt like this before…

His hand grasped the back of my hair lightly and he held my head, his mouth was rougher.

…I want to taste every inch of her…

His thoughts had changed from thinking of me, to thinking about me. His actions, the tone of his thought echo, I felt like I was drowning. And I didn’t care.

…her essence probably tastes like honey… smells too good…

Rafael growled in the back of this throat, then tore his mouth from mine. Holding my head, he cradled it gently in his large hand and rested his forehead against mine. Both of us were panting for air.

“So much,” he kissed my forehead, “for an innocent kiss,” he gasped out a breath.

I smiled, even though he couldn’t see my face, “I don’t feel innocent right now.”

He snorted softly and hugged me closer.

I could count on one hand the amount of times in my life that I’d been held. It was a weakness I’d regret later, but now I leaned into his arms, my head against his shoulder. “What is my essence?” I asked quietly. “I know it has something to do with the need for fangs, but,” I lifted my head and looked up to see his eyes were red. I glanced to his mouth, knowing there were fangs in there.

“Essence is what keeps me alive.” He answered honestly.

…I feel like a teenager unable to control his own body’s reactions…

“You can think it if you don’t know how to explain it. Often thoughts are easier then speaking.”

His gaze flicked to my mouth, then his lips quirked. “I forgot you were listening.” He grinned.

Before I knew I’d done it, my hand touched his bottom lip so I could look at his fangs. “Does it hurt? When you take someone’s essence?”

…no, we can control how much they feel…

“I know you wouldn’t hurt me.” I moved my hand. “What happens if you bite someone and you don’t like the taste…”

Rafael smiled wide. “We can smell it.”

The shock had to be clear on my face because he gave me a cautious look.

Gently, he brushed the hair back from my neck and leaned down slowly. He kissed the side of my neck, near my shoulder. “right here.” He whispered against my skin.

“And-and,” I couldn’t believe I was going to say it, “how do I smell?”

He kissed the same spot. “Like heaven.”

“Did you already eat?” My brain immediately red flagged my mouth for saying that.

“Yeah, but I crave yours even when I’m nowhere near you.”

“Oh?” I didn’t know what to add to that.

“Mate perk,” He whispered and lifted his head to look down at me. His eyes were blue again. “Fate’s way of making sure we’re compatible for a long life.”

“Has fate ever been wrong? What if someone doesn’t like how their intended mate,” I frowned at my own thoughts, “tastes?”

He laughed quietly. “I don’t know if that’s ever happened.”

“What if I don’t taste like honey?” I shrugged, “what if I take like your least favorite food.”

Rafael smirked, his eyes sparkling with amusement, “I’m sure you don’t taste like liver.”

With my eyes wide, I looked at him. “I could.” Wait. What? Did I want him to bite me and taste my essence, whatever that was? This was definitely one of those things my mind could not have fabricated. Seriously, fangs. Essence. Liver-flavored essence.

Rafael looked at me, then to my neck briefly. “Even if you did, I guess I’d learn to like liver.”

I knew he was joking, but he didn’t smile. Neither of us did. Our eyes were locked together, breath shallow. “You-you should find out.” I nodded hesitantly, “because now it will drive us both crazy, the wondering.”

He nodded. “Yeah it could.” His eyes started to change. “Right now?”

I nodded even thought my brain was saying, wait, think this through. I leaned my head to the side to rest in his hand. “Just-just go heavy on the no pain part.”

He didn’t reply as he leaned down to my neck again. His breath was hot, his lips soft as he kissed my skin again in that same spot.

I felt his fangs bite into me, but there was no pain at all. A shiver of awareness went through me and it wasn’t what the logical part of my brain should have realized that I was letting a man bite me with fangs. I enjoyed it. I held his head not wanting him to move away.

…like no other…

I only caught part of what he was thinking.

Pulling his mouth away, he licked over his bite, then grasped the back of my head and crushed my mouth beneath his. I felt a pinch of pain as his fang nicked my lip, but didn’t care. Not knowing if I’d ever kiss another mouth with fangs again, I ran my tongue over the sharp teeth.

Rafael growled against my mouth and assaulted my lips again.

I was dizzy, never having felt this way in my life.

…fuck not now…

He tore his mouth from mine and pulled me against his chest.

…grey hair is almost blue…

…how is that possible…

Pieces all fell into place suddenly. I leaned back and looked at him. “You have visions.”

He looked down at me and hissed out a breath. “You’re bleeding.”

I licked over my lip and tasted blood.

“I’m like a gangly teenager around you. I can’t even kiss you right.” He leaned down and licked over my mouth. When he straightened up again, his eyes were red.

I touched my lip with my tongue, there was no more blood. “I think you kissed me right.”

Rafael made a strange sound that I wasn’t sure what it meant, then pulled me against him again. “Yes. I have visions.” He said quietly. “Not like Crissy does, thank the gods for that.” Kissing the top of my head, he shifted so I was sitting on the bench again. “So much for thinking of only you.” In a sudden move, he stood up. “This one won’t quit. I keep seeing this woman with dark eyes and grey hair,” he spun to look at me, “but not old grey hair, it’s bluer,” he rubbed his hands over his face, “but it’s not grey all the time, it’s like the color fades into this blue-grey…” He stopped and looked at me. “It’s driving me mad.”

“Have you talked to Crissy? She’s been having something similar, maybe the two of you could fit the pieces together—together.” That had sounded better in my head.

“No.” He blew out a breath. “I haven’t.”

“Well, have you talked it over with one of your brothers?”

He shook his head, looking annoyed and distracted.

I tilted my head and studied him for a moment. “Do your brothers know you have visions?”

“Yes,” he rolled his eyes, “well, not to the extent that I do.” He clasped his hands behind his neck and looked up at the dark sky. “If I tell them, they’ll think I’m a liability.”

I stood up. “I don’t think they would.”

“I can’t take that chance.” He went over and picked up my bag, “we should get some rest.”

I didn’t move to follow him. “Is that why you go to the temple? Are they helping you control them?”

He turned around and looked at me. “They’re trying,” he sounded so annoyed. “I can’t have visions popping into my head in the middle of a battle. Lives depend on me. I have to stay focused.”

I nodded. “I understand having things in your head you don’t want. You should talk to your brothers.” I suggested softly, not wanting to agitate him further. It bothered me to see him like this. “Has it ever happened when you’re fighting?”

“No.” He shrugged, “maybe during a practice skirmish.” He gave his head a shake. “I can’t take the chance.” Rafael started walking toward the solarium.

I moved quickly to keep up with him. “Maybe it won’t.”

He glanced down at me but kept walking.

I continued. “Maybe your body knows when you need to focus and that overrides everything else.”

We reached the stairs and started climbing to the second floor.

“There has to be something they can do.” I held out my wrist with the blocker on it. “Like this. If they can make one for me, then surely…”

He shook his head. “It’s not the same for visions. They can’t supress them.” Briefly he looked at me, “believe me, we’ve tried.”

We were at my door already. I was a bit winded from trying to keep up with the speed he could move. “You should talk to your family, or the elders.” I touched his arm, “they’d want to know and help you. That’s a big burden to carry, Rafael.” I smirked, “especially with how long you live. You shouldn’t have to keep it hidden and all to yourself. You need to share it with someone.”

Reaching past me, he opened my door and set my bag inside it. Straightening he touched the side of my face and gave me a look full of emotion. “I just did.” Kissing my mouth softly, he stepped back into the hall. “Get some rest, Kara.”

I stood there and watched until he went in his room and closed the door. Closing mine, I leaned back against it. I was going to have to rethink, well everything. Starting with this mate stuff. Being near him was like a drug, or, or something wonderful but possibly really bad for you. I frowned at the floor, that made no sense.

Puling my phone out of my pocket, I looked at it. Then my eyes went wide when I saw the time. Sleep. Definitely needed sleep. I’d been awake for almost an entire day, yet I’d never felt more energized.

Leaving a trail of clothes, I climbed under the covers. I was going to fight with a royal family in a few hours. Could life get any stranger?

I really hoped not.