Beauty's Beast - By Jenna Kernan Page 0,63
side lamp. Alon took the chair opposite Samantha, beyond the coffee table, flanking his sister. His aura was slightly visible, a gray haze hanging about his head. Blake sat on the couch under the matching lamp, one seat cushion away from Aldara.
The silence grew uncomfortable as each sat stiffly, leaning slightly forward as if anxious to be somewhere else.
Blake spoke first, his voice seeming to boom into the void. “I want to thank you for protecting my sister, Alon, and for bringing her safely to her people.”
Her people? They never had people except each other. Was he talking about the Niyanoka? Those whom she had never met or even seen during her entire childhood?
Alon nodded his acknowledgment to this and glanced to Samantha, deferring to her. It was her brother after all.
She cleared her throat and her first word still came out as a squeak. “Blake, the Thunderbirds brought me to Alon.”
Her brother’s eyes narrowed and flicked to Alon.
Sensing a fight brewing, she hurried on. “He brought me to his family. All of his siblings have been raised to respect the Balance and human life. After meeting them it is my opinion that we need them. And you know yourself that they can defend against ghosts.”
“I don’t approve of killing souls. Even evil ones deserve judgment and to serve their time in the Circle,” said Blake. “Some might one day be forgiven and reach the Spirit World.”
“They’ve avoided the call of the Ghost Road. Refused the natural order. They deserve no mercy,” countered Alon.
“They can also force them to the Ghost Road,” said Samantha. Blake made no reply to this so she drew another breath and dived back in. “They are smart, protective, dedicated to preserving the Balance, and they are excellent fighters.”
Blake cast her an incredulous look. “Yes,” he hissed. “I remember. I learned this on the day they nearly killed us all.”
That made her squirm. Of course he remembered the attack by Nagi’s Ghost Children as well as she did.
“Yet you allow Aldara to protect you.”
“I wouldn’t call it that. She did not seek my permission, nor will she follow my direction. She is ever under her own authority.”
“I follow my brother’s command. Not yours,” said Aldara.
When it suited her, thought Samantha, recalling Alon complaining that Aldara tended to do as she pleased. Samantha considered his sister. Why did it please her to stay with Blake?
Blake did not notice Samantha’s distraction as he continued. “She gave me no say. She wouldn’t leave when I ordered her to. She might be the first person I’ve ever met who is more stubborn than you.”
Samantha met the challenge in his gaze. “Alon sent her to protect you.”
“It was a dangerous thing to do. If she had been seen...” His words fell off and he laced his fingers together as he rested both elbows on his thighs. He worried one thumb with the other for a moment and then glanced back at his sister. “She’s got to go.”
Aldara glared at Blake, her eyes now shining a brilliant mint-green. Samantha became more suspicious of just what was between them.
Blake would not look at her. “It took some doing, but I’ve succeeded with the Southeastern Council, Samantha. Mom is waiting for us in New York.” He glared at Aldara. “Just us.”
She felt a squeezing of dread in her gut. “Us?”
His dark eyes flicked back to his sister. “Yes. The Southeastern Council wanted reassurances that all the Seers will join their forces. They are afraid of the Skinwalkers having you or worse.” He glanced at Alon. “It makes no sense to exile you among...” His eyes shifted between Alon and Aldara. It took a moment for him to reformulate his thoughts. “I spoke with both Mom and Dad and convinced them to let you join the Niyanoka.”
“Let me?” Samantha snorted. “Well, thanks very much. And we will just deny that we are also Skinwalkers?”
“Samantha, you said you wanted to make a difference. You said you wanted to use your gifts. I’m offering you a chance to do both.”
That had been what she had wanted. But not anymore.
Blake sensed her hesitance and continued on. “There are plenty of Grizzly Skinwalkers, but only three Seers.”
She shook her head. This was going all wrong. She needed to steer the conversation back on course. She glanced at Alon, who kept his eyes on hers but lifted his chin toward Blake. The message was clear. Tell him.
She faced her brother. “But we fight better as Skinwalkers.”
Blake pushed off his thighs,