Rain (Stranger in the Woods Book 1) Read online

  Ryder’s posture changes. “Someone’s coming.”

  All postures readjust. They go quiet. I can’t hear a damn thing.

  Hunter asks Ryder, “Do you want us to go?”

  “Who is it?” I grab Ryder’s arm.

  Ryder kisses my forehead then calmly speaks to Gunner. “Focus on outside sounds. What do you hear?”

  Gunner observes everyone watching him and seems a little overwhelmed.

  Blaze nods. “Just try it.”

  Gunner’s eyes close. He grins. “I hear a truck. Hey! It’s my dad. How cool!” His smile fades. “Oh, shit. It’s my dad!”

  Ryder looks at Mama. “I say you make the call. You seem to know him best.”

  “He has to find out, sooner or later.”

  Ryder looks to Parker for advice.

  Hunter shrugs. “He has a right to know. She is his grandchild.”

  Headlights in the driveway cause my heart to skip beats. We all wait quietly. My stomach turns. This man has been through so much, and here is another blow. A knock echoes.

  “Come in,” Mama hollers as if there aren’t Guardian Warriors waiting to greet him.

  “I brought fruit. Grapes for Lulu—” Mr. Hayes stops when he sees us all staring at him. I hold my breath. He looks around with an unreadable expression until he says to his son, “You finally know.”

  Huh?

  “Y-You know what Mom was?”

  Taking a deep breath, Mr. Hayes puts down the fruit bags on the kitchen table. Sage pulls out a chair. Mr. Hayes thanks him then sits in front of his son. “Of course I knew. You can’t love a woman so deeply without learning who she is.”

  Gunner just stares at him in what appears to be disbelief.

  I glance at Mama. She glances at the floor. She’s known all along.

  Hunter asks, “Sir, would you like some privacy with your son?”

  Mr. Hayes observes his dark skin. “Hunter or Parker?”

  Hunter bows his head. “Hunter, sir.” He points to his brother. “This is Parker.”

  Parker bows his head. “Eve was—” His hand rests on his heart. “I grieve your loss.”

  Mr. Hayes shows a side I’ve never seen before. “I know she was a loss for you too. She spoke of you with the highest regard. It’s an honor to finally meet you. That goes for all of you. I’ve been told of Sage?” Sage bows his head. Mr. Hayes acknowledges him. “And Fire?”

  Hunter bows his head again. “Fire has passed on.”

  “Hazardous job?” Nods confirm his statement.

  Parker points. “Mr. Hayes, these are our younger recruits. Ryder, Blaze, and Chase.”

  Mr. Hayes squints. “Ryder… That name sounds familiar.”

  Hunter nods. “Eve was very close to his mother and my mate, Nora. They came to you.”

  Gunner’s head drops, seeing a full-circle moment. Eve cared for Ryder, too.

  Mr. Hayes is remembering. “Nora and… Halo?” He stares at Ryder in amazement. “You were so young and the most mature little guy I’d ever met. How is your mother?”

  Ryder struggles to swallow and shakes his head no. Mr. Hayes covers his mouth. “Oh.” He inhales. “She was as beautiful as an angel with her white hair.” He points. “I see she is with you every day.”

  I look at Ryder’s braids, understanding it was his mother’s hair color. Ryder told me about Sage and Morning Star—the purebred brother and sister. His mother, Halo, must have been one too. That is why Ryder’s blood is so strong.

  Ryder swallows as he looks at Mr. Hayes as if wonderful words were just spoken. “Yes, I wish to believe she is with me every day.”

  Hunter smiles. “She is an angel in our hearts.”

  Mr. Hayes’s eyes find his son. “Like the women I met, your mother was a magical woman—elf.”

  I’m surprised to hear Hunter, Sage, and Parker slam their fists to their chest as if to agree. Isolde is not alone in the opinion Eve shouldn’t have been sent away. Mr. Hayes observes their action. “She loved me.” He almost chokes in sudden tears. “She gave me crazy love, Gunner.” Gunner was only one when his mother passed.

  Mama walks up behind Mr. Hayes, resting her hands on his shoulders. When she rests her face next to his, I finally understand the depth to their friendship. His hand reaches up, touching her for comfort while he says to Gunner, “Eve… she… thought it best to let you believe you belonged in the human world since the others had not accepted our love. She never held a grudge, son, so I ask you not to. Your mama said there was a purpose of our love. She said, someday, it would be clear to all.”

  Gunner can barely talk but says, “Dad, that time has come.”

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Ryder

  The past two weeks have been quiet. Too quiet. All Warriors are on edge and preparing for battle. I squint in the bright light, proud of Gunner’s tactics. “That’s it. Now you’re thinking one step ahead.”

  Gunner and I train in Rose’s backyard with wooden knives. Gunner gestures to the sky. “The sun, I used it to my advantage. It’s going down, so I put my back to it.”

  I bow my head. “And it blinded me. It worked. Well done.” He’s learning fast—

  “You’re going to move her soon, aren’t you?”

  —with everything. “Yes. I don’t have a choice.”

  After a moment Gunner asks, “Does she know?”

  Another position I must force on Rose. “No. That’s where you come in.”

  He does not appear shocked. He knows what he is to Rose. “Can I come?”

  I look him in the eyes so he knows my reply is sincere. “Yes. I think it will help her transition, but with elves is where you truly belong, Gunner. Your mother was aware of what that meant.”

  “Uh, what does it mean?”

  “You are to be a protector of the human race.”

  “Holy shit. That’s deep, Glow Worm.”

  “What exactly is this glowing worm?”

  “I’ll get you one for Christmas.”

  “We do not celebrate Christmas.”

  Gunner shrugs. “That will help my bank account.” He hesitates. “I’ve been laid off from the mill.” My head tilts. “Fired. They claim cutbacks, but I know it’s because they think Rose is sick.”

  “And you’re always with her.”

  “Bingo.”

  “Bingo?”

  “Dear lord, Ryder.” Gunner gets quiet in thought. “My dad?”

  I solemnly shake my head. “He must stay behind. He is human.”

  “So is Rose, though. After the baby is born, no one is going to make her leave the village or anything, right? ’Cause I go where she goes, and so does our baby.”

  I think I love my new brother. “Rose will stay with us, as will you. Gunner, our way of life—of living—is a whole different lifestyle.”

  “No kidding, Tarzan.”

  “Tarzan?”

  Gunner laughs. “Never mind.” He gestures for me to continue.

  “I suspect you will adapt much easier. She will need you as her only anchor to her old life.”

  “Fuck.” He pauses. “I’ll help you convince her. Won’t be easy though, to get Rose to leave Mama.”

  My ears perk, causing Gunner to focus. We both hear Rose in the bathroom.

  Running up the stairs, slamming our shoulders into each other, trying to get through the bathroom doorway at the same time, we find Rose on her knees. Her stomach violently purges her lunch. I grab her auburn hair to help her while Gunner dampens a washcloth.

  “Sorry.” Rose weakly leans against me.

  Gunner kneels in front of her and wipes her face. “Don’t be stupid.” He chuckles when Rose’s middle finger expresses her opinion of his comment. I want to chuc
kle too, but I know what she needs and how much she doesn’t want to. I stare at him over her shoulder. He knows too. “You’re weak, baby.”

  The darkness under her eyes is a sign of her depleted condition. I feel her tense in my arms. She hasn’t needed my blood in two weeks. She tries to smile. “Are you asking me to let Ryder go all vampire for your kid?”

  “Just think, you’ll get some great rest.” He seems to always know what to say to her.

  “I could use a nap.” She strives to get up but flounders, failing. Gunner picks her up and carries her to her bedroom, kissing her head over and over. Maybe he’s silently begging for forgiveness too. I trudge behind them, ashamed of what I have to force her to endure.

  Gunner sets Rose on her bed. “This is where I bow out, Rosie.”

  “Don’t want to watch?”

  “Not so much.” Gunner walks out the door, his feet dragging.

  She gestures to me. “Will you shut the door in case the kids come home?”

  I go to close the door and sense Gunner standing quietly in the hall. I can hear his labored breathing, but he’s not leaving. As the door shuts, Rose asks, “Lock it?” The lock makes a click sound.

  The Guardians would not be complacent with only Gunner and I on duty. Gunner watches me pace Rose’s room while she still sleeps. “They should be here by now?”

  I grab the window frame in frustration. “Yes. Something is wrong.”

  “Should you leave? Check on your home?”

  My insides scream. “No. It is what the Blood Clones would want.” I start pacing again. “Listen carefully, Gunner. We’re in trouble. I need you to call your father. Tell him to keep Miss Beverly and her young while I round up more weapons.” I pat the bed. Sam follows my command. As his furry head pillows on her belly again, it dawns on me. “He knows.”

  Gunner, heading for the phone downstairs, stops at the door. “What?”

  I point. “Sam. Look. He knows she’s pregnant.”

  With my ears on high alert, I easily hear Gunner on the phone, gathering knives from the kitchen. “No, Dad, don’t come with your gun. Yeah, keep the fam with you until we know more… Thanks… Love you, too… Promise to be safe.”

  As he rushes back up the stairs, I give out instructions. “Here, tuck these knives in your belt. I think we should stand outside each window of her room. As a rule, the Demons don’t use the front door but…” Back in Rose’s room, I put a chair under her doorknob. “Just in case.”

  Gunner puts extra blankets over Rose’s blue blanket as I open the windows. “Gunner, it’s not even cold out.”

  “Not to the likes of you, but she likes heat, Elf Boy.”

  “Hey, you’re an elf too, in case you forgot.”

  “I didn’t forget. Done being butt hurt?”

  “Butt—what?”

  “Nothing.” He heads out her side window. “I hope you’re a good trainer.”

  I step out her other window. “Me too. Her life depends on it.”

  Hours. We wait for hours. Nothing but Rose’s heavy breathing under a pile of blankets can be heard. “This is really bad, right?” Gunner asks, as if the loss of any of my own are now a loss to him.

  “Yes. Very bad.”

  Son.

  I stand up. So does Gunner. “What is it?”

  “Hold on.” Parker?

  Hunter skfens, You under attack?

  No.

  Parker reflects, We are almost to you.

  “Guardians are coming.”

  Gunner exhales heavily. “Damn. They scared the hell out of me.”

  “They are not done doing so.”

  Soon, Blaze breaks the barrier, followed by Chase, Sage, Parker, and Hunter. I jump off the roof then look back to see Gunner eyeing the ground. I shrug. “Only one way to find out.” Gunner jumps. His landing is a little rocky, but his smile tells me he loves the fact that he’s truly this strong.

  I meet the Warriors halfway across the yard. Their expressions are grave. “Anyone die?”

  Parker puts away his knives. “Only injuries.”

  “They attacked your village?” Gunner appears shocked. I’m surprised it took the Demons this long to force our next move.

  “Caught us with our pants down, but we re-zipped in a hurry.” Blaze wipes Demon blood off his blade.

  Hunter readjusts his stance. “They’re trying to spread out our focus.”

  “Now they’re focusing on their asses—all the way home—I assure you.” Blaze is desperately trying to lighten the mood, but I feel his raw anger. His leftover green illumination tells me about his state of mind.

  Hunter glances at the ground. “Ryder, she needs to come to us.”

  I do not want to push Rose, but the Demons are becoming more aggressive. Gunner rests a hand on my shoulder. “Ryder recruited me today for that miserable task. I’ll convince her. How long do I have?”

  Parker replies, “We leave with her tomorrow.”

  “Oh, shit.”

  Sage speaks with sorrow. “More illnesses are popping up with us spread so thin.”

  I inhale, trying to handle such tragic news. Every human deserves equal protection. It’s not fair that Rose is monopolizing all our efforts. “We’ll talk to her in the morning. I had—I had to—she’s sleeping. Are we relocating the village?”

  “No point.” Sage ties his hair back. “They will find us wherever we go. They want Rose—” He pauses. We all know what he’s thinking.

  Chase’s silver eyes glow in the night. “A message is already on the way to the Vikes.”

  “Vikes?” Gunner’s brows pinch.

  I sheathe my knives. “The Vikes are another elven breed.”

  “Warriors?”

  Parker observes our surroundings. “Yes, but not Guardians. Their females blooded with Vikings instead of Glycon. They’re an old line, not as old as ours, but a strong, dependable one. They will help with Rose and our home. Sage, Hunter, you’re with me. Let’s go back. Chase, Blaze, Gunner, you stay with Rose. I think the Clones are done for the night. They won’t attack when the sun will rise soon.”

  “Gotcha, brother.” Blaze pats his worried shoulder.

  Gunner takes orders from Parker as if it is second nature to him. I guess it is.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Rose

  It sounds like a log factory has taken up residence in my bedroom. In my bed, to the right of me, Gunner snores. To my left, Ryder does the same. Sam sleeps on my feet. I sit up to pet him and see Blaze sprawled out over my chair, snoring along with Chase in my other chair. What did I miss?

  If it wasn’t daytime, witnessing my door quietly open would concern me, but the little fingers are a dead giveaway. The culprits see me and choke down giggles, motioning for me to not give away their scheme. The right thing to do is to rat them out, but that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.

  Whip cream is delicately placed in sleeping hands, and these two criminals are no dummies. They brought a cup of it, so no loud spraying can be heard. After more tiptoeing, they make their way back to my door. Giggles are hushed. Then they both scream, “Boo!” They slam the door as loud as they can.

  These males may be called Guardian Warriors, but a good prank is a good prank. Ryder and Gunner jerk at the loud bang, and both roll out of bed onto the floor with a loud, thump! Chase and Blaze freeze in shock at the whip cream all over them. My laughter lets them know that there’s no danger and they have, indeed, been had.

  A grumble comes from my right as Gunner gets off the floor. “Wade Junior!” I laugh even harder, seeing whip cream all over his face.

  Ryder is in no better shape, just a little more confused. “Was this what one would call a practical joke?” Whip cream clumps in his hair. Sam licks his hands.

 
Little giggles hiding on the other side of my door quickly turn into shrieks when they’re chased down the stairs by four big males with happily barking Sam trailing behind.

  Mama yells from the kitchen, “I told you to let those males sleep.” The back door slams.

  I run to my window to see kids running for their lives as smiling males make the prank worthwhile by chasing them. What a great way to start the day.

  Brunch, as my mom calls my new breakfast time, is way too quiet for this rowdy bunch.

  “Okay, what is it?” I demand.

  No one says a thing until Gunner yelps and reaches for his shin under the table. He growls to Ryder, “That hurt.” Ryder mumbles something my human ears can’t gather. Gunner speaks through gritted teeth. “I know. I’m trying.” His nervous eyes meet mine. “Umm, Rose, umm, we need to talk—Umm—”

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” Mama throws her hands in the air. “Baby, I’m kicking you out.”

  “You’re w-what?”

  Gunner shrugs. “Orrrr, just blurt that out.”

  Blaze grins at Mama with flirty eyes. “I like how you operate, Miss Beverly.”

  She thumbs Ryder and Gunner. “Well, these pansies were getting nowhere.”

  My focus is immediately redirected. Ryder and Gunner both cower in their chairs. Gunner points at Ryder. “His fault.”

  “What! Me? You, you—you’re the one who knocked her up!”

  My jaw hits the table.

  Gunner high fives Blaze. “Did you hear that slang? We’re getting somewhere!”

  Ryder sounds proud of himself. “Well, I have been paying attention…”

  Chase nonchalantly nods. “He’s been trying.”

  “Would you people focus?” They all jump and stare at me.

  Timidly, Blaze corrects me. “Elves, not people.”

  Mama drops her face into her palms. “I’m gonna kill every elf, man, and male at this table in two seconds.”

  “Thank you, Mama.”