Becoming a Legend (12 page)

The people inside the tent stared in complete dumb silence at Andrew. Purebred
baku never became a keeper to another. In fact, Andrew was high enough up in the line of power that he should have several keepers of his own by now. No one questioned why he didn’t have a keeper yet as they all feared Lucan, but no one expected that Andrew would want to be a keeper to someone else. Faces all stared at Andrew in shock, but none saw the shock on Arianna’s own face.

‘
So, will you accept me?’
Andrew asked Arianna, who was still staring at him, trying to figure out if she’d heard it all correctly.

‘
Andrew, you can’t do that.’
Being a keeper meant he could never have one of his own. It also meant he would have to leave his family and always be beside her. Andrew actually looked forward to that part.

Whispers began around Arianna
when Andrew didn’t answer her question. Arianna could faintly hear people as they all questioned the same thing. Why would Andrew choose to be a keeper?

‘
Why not? The dog did, and he’s second in line to his father,’
Andrew argued. Everyone continued to stare silently at the two of them as they talked mentally.

‘
Turner doesn’t have a place in Tricity. He has nothing to throw away. You have a place here. If something were to happen to Gabriel and me, you’d have to take care of everyone.’
Arianna looked over to her uncle to gauge his response. Gabriel was still staring at Lucan. There was more than just tonight between the two men.

‘
If something happened to both of you, I’d commit suicide before I’d let my uncle have power over these people. Think about it. This way I can have free access to you—Devin couldn’t say we can’t see each other. And I can be free of my uncle.’
It wasn’t beneath Andrew to beg. He needed to stay be her side.

‘
What do you mean, ‘free?’
’ Arianna looked across Devin to Andrew. Andrew didn’t reply
. ‘Everyone is wondering the same thing as me. Why would you choose to be a keeper?’

Andrew ran his hands back through his hair in frustration
and then looked around the room at the blank faces that were still trying to understand what had just happened. One minute there was a challenge to the power of the Grace family by the Lucan family, and the next, the Lucan family was offering to be the keeper for the Grace family. No one was saying a word. It was completely silent in the tent.

‘
You hear talking?’
Andrew asked, realizing her last statement. Yes, he saw it on their faces too, but no one was actually speaking.

‘
Yes, quietly,’
Arianna was still staring at Andrew, but now looked away. Malachi was still standing next to her. Arianna heard his voice softly though his mouth wasn’t moving.

‘Serves… bastard right… always… down on us… lost his… power… good… finally standing… him.’
Several words were missing, but Arianna heard some of the man’s thoughts. Andrew was right to question her. Arianna heard the thoughts of people who were not talking to her.

Gabriel seemed to be locked in his own conversation
and didn’t notice the conversation between Arianna and Andrew. Devin did notice, and ushered her back to her seat. Devin no longer considered Andrew a threat for some reason.

“
We will discuss this later,” Devin said quietly to them both. “But right now, I think it’s best that we get back to the house before this all explodes. Our team has fortified the east wing of Gabriel’s house.” Devin directed Arianna, Andrew, Thomas, Turner and Molina out of the tent.

“
What do you mean?” Arianna asked as Devin pointed down the way to where she had just been standing. Gabriel was radiating strength. People around him were finally coming to their senses and moving away. Across the table, Lucan was also in full form, flexing his own power.

Devin pushed Arianna to get her walking
, as she was enthralled by the scene at the table. Gabriel was glorious, with his long, white hair flipping behind him, and power oozing out of him. Lucan didn’t stand a chance. Lucan’s display of power was actually less than half of Gabriel’s. Arianna didn’t want to walk away, she wanted to see what would happen next. Devin pushed a bit more forcefully, but Arianna couldn’t take her eyes away from the scene. Andrew helped Devin by grabbing her hand. His baku skin sent tingles down her arm, momentarily distracting her from her uncle. Andrew got her feet moving, and everyone closed in around her so that she couldn’t see the battle of wills taking place. Her guard was all close behind as they walked away from the tent. Devin stopped at the patio doors to Gabriel’s house.

“
You may enter, but they cannot.” Devin pointed to Andrew’s guards behind him. The two guards looked at Andrew and then each other.

‘
Lucan will be pissed if we let him get away,’
the one said to the other. As they talked together, their voices were crystal clear to Arianna. She marveled at this new skill, but didn’t say anything.

‘
He needs Andrew’s blood if he plans to actually beat Gabriel and his brat. We need to get him back there now, before Gabriel strikes.’

‘Lucan
should have just left Andrew chained in the basement. Andrew doesn’t seem to get how to follow orders. You talk our way in. We can’t let them isolate Andrew from us. We won’t be able to take him back otherwise.’

‘
You brought the sedative?’

‘
Yes, so start talking. You’re better at this than I am.’

‘
Andrew, we need to stay with you. How can you trust the Randolph dog with his poisoned swords?’

Andrew shrugged.
“It’s not my decision. Devin said you can’t come in, and I’m not going to leave Arianna alone right now. You can wait out here. It’s not like we’re going anywhere. Right?” Andrew directed his last question to Devin. Devin didn’t reply, but only opened the door for Arianna.

“They are not allowed in,” Devin repeated his earlier statement.

“See you guys in a little bit, when all this energy dies down.” Andrew shrugged as they both moved to protest.

‘
We need to stop him. Do something.’
One voice said to the other. Arianna couldn’t tell them apart, but knew from their proximity that it must be Andrew’s guards talking.

“
We want to be her keepers also,” the shorter one quickly blurted out.

‘
What?’
the other guy asked, while trying to hide the disbelief on his face.

“We, too, want to stay beside our leader and keep her safe.” The one who offered continued with more confidence.

Devin smiled at him and pushed Arianna forward with Andrew right beside her. “We’re not doing any more interviews today beyond Andrew. I advise you to stay outside and not try to get in right now. The house is protected by several anti-baku charms, and along with those, we are each carrying a blade laced with nightshade. Orders are to kill anyone who tries to enter the house. We will return Andrew to you when this all dies down, if he chooses.” Devin ushered Arianna forward, away from the doorway. He saw the desperation in their eyes, so he carefully unsheathed his blade, keeping it away from Andrew. Both boys backed away from the threat that Andrew didn’t even acknowledge.

‘
I hope Lucan fed him enough before we left.’

‘Not our problem if he
goes nuts and kills everyone.’

‘It is
if they kill him.’

Both
looked up at the two dearg-dul guards, Mica and Nelson, who now stood in the doorway. Their swords were gleaming from the torchlight that lit up the backyard.
Neither moved nor even looked down at the two boys. Andrew’s baku guards weren’t even a threat.

‘
Let’s hope they don’t kill him, or we will be dead as well when Lucan finds out.’

ELEVEN

Arianna yawned for a third time as she sat on the couch. Devin
didn’t move from his spot at the window where he could view the tent, but not the occupants inside it. Turner was pacing the room like a trapped animal while Thomas sat in the corner and read a book. Her keepers were all occupied, but there was nothing for her to do. She really wanted to be back outside to watch Gabriel in action, but no one in the room was going to let her out. Arianna yawned again. It was boring to just sit.

“
Go to sleep,” Andrew suggested, his hands were close to her but not touching. She felt the heat pulsate from his hand toward her. There was an undeniable draw to him that she had to keep at bay while others were around. She really just wanted to climb into his lap and take a nap.

“
I can be your pillow if you’d like.” Andrew patted his lap. As Andrew finished his sentence, a sword was drawn and placed at his throat. Arianna looked up and glared at Devin.

“
I wouldn’t suggest her sleeping here right now with you, a baku, around,” Devin replied. “And if you suggest something again that could lead to her getting hurt, I might accidentally slip with this sword.”

Andrew was undeterred and pinched both sides of the blade with his fingers
carefully to avoid the sharp edge as he pushed it away. Devin always got on his nerves, but this was being a bit excessive. Andrew didn’t know how to get Devin to understand that he cared for Arianna as much as Devin did.

“
And is it exactly safe to be holding a baku-poisoning sword so close to a baku you’re trying to protect?” Andrew hinted at Arianna.

“
It won’t hurt her.” Devin smiled wickedly. He truly wouldn’t mind running Andrew through with his sword.

“How do you know that?” Arianna asked, finally realizing that maybe it wasn’t good for her to carry poisoned blades around either. Devin didn’t reply while Arianna huffed her guess. “You tested it, didn’t you? Great. What else have you done with my blood?” Devin was now occupied with the angry Arianna.

Andrew sighed and tussled his long, dark hair as he became a day human again. There was no need to keep his baku form now that they were inside, safely away from the escalating encounter outside. Arianna had released her form before they even entered the house. She didn’t fear anything. Gabriel and Lucan were still outside flexing their muscles, but the fight had yet to actually begin, if it ever would.

“
Can you at least tell me what I ever did to piss you off so much?” Andrew asked Devin. He threw his head back on the couch to get comfortable, knowing that his uncle wouldn’t be backing down any time soon. Devin didn’t reply, but moved back to the window and put his blade away. He was obviously done with the conversation. Turner resumed pacing, and Thomas hadn’t even looked up from his book.

“
Are you serious about being my keeper?” Arianna asked, turning to him and moving slightly so that their hands would barely touch to relieve the urge she had to throw herself at him. “It wasn’t just a ploy to get away from your uncle, was it?” Hurt hid behind her question.

Andre
w sat up and smiled, trying to ease her worry. “Of course I’m serious. I was actually planning to ask you later tonight, but it seemed like a good moment back there. If I wanted to get away from my uncle, I would. This isn’t just an excuse to use you.”

‘
Would you?’
Arianna asked silently to Andrew only.
‘I heard those two guys talking. They wanted in because they have a sedative with them.’

Andrew smiled a strained smile and nodded before lying back again on the couch.
“You never answered my question, Mr. Alexander.” Devin still made no effort to even acknowledge Andrew was talking to him.

“
Your brother killed his family,” Arianna answered quietly. Devin didn’t even turn to look at them as they talked. Devin was in full protection mode again after this new threat had materialized. He was always that way around Arianna. Alone, he was the most caring person she had ever met, but when duty called, he was a soldier and a good one at that. Devin turned from the window and evaluated Andrew.

“
What?” Andrew asked, sitting up and looking at Devin for a reply. “My brother died years before your family was attacked. I read about it. You must be mistaken.”