Changing Fates: A Sons of Satrina Novel (The Sons of Satrina Book 3) (13 page)

“Why can’t she be more like her sister?” Ash said to Dylan while she glared in Rhian’s direction.

“What do you mean?”

“Cala’s nice. She’s nothing like that little witch.”

Dylan snorted. “Don’t be such a bitch.”

“I’m not. I’m just stating a fact.”

As much as she had tried to get to know the girl and get on with her, Rhian looked down her nose at everyone at the academy. Ash had given up on her a long time ago. It just wasn’t worth the hassle. As a rule, she got on with almost anyone, but Rhian? It was never going to happen. Cala was a whole different matter. She knew that they could be friends if they were given the chance, but with Rhian constantly making demands on her twins’ time, it wasn’t easy.

Rhian refused to take part in the training schedule. From everything that Ash had heard, her sister was trying her best to fit in with her class and she had to agree that Kelton made the right decision to split them up. Cala seemed not too bad and actually quite sweet when she was away from her sister. It was a shame that they didn’t switch them around and then she wouldn’t have to look at Rhian’s sullen face for so many hours each day.

Aisline had tried to spend more time with Cala, knowing that the girl needed a friend, but it was difficult when Rhian constantly got in the way. It seemed like she managed to materialise out of thin air just when Ash thought she was getting somewhere. Poor Cala always looked so torn, wanting to make friends but not wanting to anger her sister. Ash wasn’t sure what to do for the best, so she waited for Cala to make the first move. It seemed like the fair thing to do.

Even though she tried her best to ignore Rhian’s presence, Ash couldn’t help turning and shaking her head at Trey when he glanced over at where the little witch was sitting. None of them could understand why Kelton was making her attend the daily training sessions, day in day out, if the girl wasn’t going to get off her back-side and give it a go. All Rhian did was hang around like a bad smell.

And, quite how the girl was managing to fight the call of the warrior mark, Ash didn’t know. She knew from personal experience that it was virtually impossible to resist the lure that called you to fight and protect. Luckily for her, she had a hunger for adventure, which helped her greatly to embrace this calling. But, Cala found it difficult to keep up with the physical aspects and Rhian downright refused to participate. There was no urge evident in Rhian. Ash couldn’t understand it at all.

Back when Aisline had first received the mark of the warrior, she had been undecided for a moment as to what she wanted to do with her life. Kelton and Kayleigh would have stood by her decision not to train if that had been her choice, but luckily, she had wanted this life. There was no telling how hard it would be for her to resist the lure of the mark. Even now, she could feel that tingling in the back of her mind, urging her on.

“If only we all could sit around and do nothing like Lady Muck over there.” Caleb commented as he reached into his bag for his water bottle. Taking a long swig, Caleb gagged and spat a mouthful of water onto the floor, retching.

“Caleb! What the hell are you doing?” Trey shouted as he jumped out of the way of the spray.

“Caleb? What’s wrong?” Ash asked as she jumped back. At least her reflexes were quick.

Bending over with his hands on his knees, Caleb couldn’t reply straight away. He was too busy on concentrating on not throwing up. Bile rose in his throat and he retched, the burn in his throat making his eyes water.

Kelton came storming over, steam coming out of his ears. “What the hell is going on over here?” There was no way he was going to let any of the trainees stand around doing nothing when he had a gruelling schedule set out for them. There would be no slacking in his class. He saw the puddle of water at his feet and glared at Caleb. “What’s this all about? You’d better get this mess cleaned up before someone has an accident. I don’t know what you’re playing at, Caleb, but you can pack it in and get back to some serious training.”

“But, sir…” Caleb started to speak but gagged once again.

“What the hell’s going on with you?”

In all fairness, Ash didn’t think that tone of voice was called for. It was obviously an accident and there wasn’t really much of a mess for Caleb to clean up. She was more concerned as to why he was gagging and retching. He seemed to be calming down, but was still a very dodgy shade of green.

“Well, I’m waiting. What happened?” Kelton demanded.

Caleb gulped convulsively and took in a deep breath. “Salt water.” He croaked.

“What do you mean, salt water?” Kelton barked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“Salt water. In my water bottle.” Caleb closed his eyes, trying not to puke. He’d gone a very strange shade of green and Ash took another step back to make sure she was out of the line of fire, just in case.

“Well, why the hell did you put salt water in your water bottle?”

Caleb opened his eyes and gritted his teeth. “I didn’t. Obviously.”

“Well, if you didn’t, who did then?”

“How the hell should I know? No one’s been near my stuff as far as I know.” Caleb snapped, still feeling sick to his stomach. His mother had tried giving him salt water as a child to soothe a sore throat and it had made him violently sick. Ever since then, he couldn’t stomach the stuff and had an instant reaction to it.

Ash slowly turned her head. Rhian still sat in the same position, but Aisline could have sworn that there was a twinkle of smug satisfaction on her face.

“Who the hell would do something like that?” Kelton turned to glare at the rest of the trainees who had all fallen silent, watching the exchange. “This isn’t the time or the place for childish pranks. I would have thought that you all would have grown out of these kind of petty antics by now.”

Ash didn’t know what to do about it. The smirk that was growing on Rhian’s face told her everything she needed to know, but Kelton would have wanted more proof than that. There was nothing she could do to prove that it was Rhian who was behind it, so she had to stay quiet. That didn’t mean she had to like it, though. Rhian was the one who had done this, Ash knew that for sure.

Rhian had done several similar things like that over the last couple of months. Salt water in the water bottles, simple switch and mix tricks. There was nothing supernatural about it as far as Ash could tell, but she knew that Rhian was behind them. It seemed just like the sort of things she’d do and there was always that tell-tale smirk on her face when the trick came to light.  Boredom must have been really kicking in and she had obviously been finding ways to beat it.

Ash had never been able to convince anyone that it was Rhian doing all those things, but she knew. Even Jackson wouldn’t listen to her, which was annoying. Caleb and Trey wanted to stay out of it, probably thinking that it was some girly rift between them. But Rhian thrived off making fools out of the others, and not using her magical abilities, so nothing could be traced back to her. It was infuriating and really getting on Aisline’s nerves. It was just one more reason not to like the girl.

So far, Rhian hadn’t done anything life threatening. They were simply harmless pranks that made the trainees look stupid. It was the malice behind the actions that Aisline didn’t like. The guys were always playing jokes on one another, but they did what they did in a friendly manner, joking around and having a laugh. Rhian wasn’t like that at all. She was doing things like this to make people look stupid. Like the time she had chosen to mess with Trey, making the water fountain spray up in his face every single time he went to use it. It was harmless but annoying for Trey and he was made to look like a fool, walking around with dripping wet hair and clothes. Rhian did everything she could to make their lives a misery, laughing at their misfortune was her way to pass the time.

There was never any point in saying anything to Kelton. He wouldn’t listen. He hadn’t listened when she’d tried. Not only was he constantly in a bad mood since Kayleigh had done her disappearing act, he also wouldn’t have a bad word said against either of the twins. He didn’t ride their backs like he did the rest of the trainees and if anyone happened to mention how differently he treated them, Kelton jumped down their necks. There was no way he would ever let any of the other trainees sit out like he did Rhian. Double standards.

“Go and get some fresh water and stop messing about.” Kelton snapped at Caleb, who skulked off still looking decidedly green.

When Aisline turned back to Trey and saw Rhian laughing out of the corner of her eye, she had to hold her hands at her side, fisting tightly to restrain herself from going over there and smacking her in her smug face. All she wanted to do was wipe that smirk right off her face. It was bad enough that they were working to the bone to get through these tough training sessions that would lead to a life of fighting and struggle, they didn’t need some spoilt little rich girl making their lives hell as well.

“Pack it in.” Ash hissed as her as she drew level to Rhian.

“I really don’t know what you mean.” Rhian replied, looking all wide eyed and innocent.

“You know exactly what I mean.” Ash could feel her hands shaking with anger. She knew that this was what Rhian wanted, that she shouldn’t let her rile her up, but this girl really grated on her. She was like a niggling toothache that wouldn’t go away.

“What’s going on over here now? Why aren’t you with your training team, Aisline?” Kelton shouted over, glaring at the girls.

“Nothing.” Ash replied through gritted teeth as she turned to walk back over to Trey.

“Well, leave Rhian alone and concentrate on your own work. You need to work on your speed today. You’re falling behind the others.”

Ash stared at him open mouthed. She wasn’t falling behind the others and she was working her ass off. Kelton was being unnecessarily harsh on them all. Shaking her head slightly, Ash moved back to her group, the colour flushing on her cheeks. It was the first time Kelton had said a bad word about her training and it didn’t sit well with her. She was all for someone directing her when she was doing something wrong, and a bit of constructive criticism, but this? Kelton was out of line with the way he was talking to all of them. Had he never heard of positive reinforcement?

Rhian smiled over at Kelton smugly, making Ash’s blood build further. Why couldn’t he see her for what she really was?

Chapter Nine

Marion knocked on the door and waited.

“Come in.” Kelton’s voice boomed out low and loud.

She didn’t want to. The last thing she wanted to do was to go in there and have this conversation, but she had to. There was no choice. She couldn’t put it off until a better time, for there wouldn’t be a better time for this.  Taking in a deep breath of courage and wishing she’d had a slug of whiskey for Dutch courage, she opened the door to the office.

“Marion? What can I do for you?”

“I need to speak to you, Kelton.” She closed the door behind her slowly and walked carefully to the chair opposite him, sitting down. Her face was serious and Kelton narrowed his eyes immediately.

“What is it?” Even though the words came out of his mouth, he knew. He knew why she was there and looking so serious. Nothing else would have caused that look on her face. His heart clenched in his chest, hoping for the answer he wanted, but knowing the truth he saw in her face.

“My friend has just been in contact. He has the results of the paternity test.”

Silence swallowed the room. This was the moment he was dreading. Deep down in his heart, he knew what the results were, even without having to go through the official channels. He knew. Kelton wanted to close off from the world so he didn’t have to hear the words that would make his misery real.

When the silence had gone on for too long, Kelton knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. Sighing resignedly, he said. “Tell me.”

“They’re yours. I’m sorry.” Marion said sadly, knowing that was not what he wanted to hear. As she saw his shoulders sag in defeat of the situation, she rounded the desk and put a comforting arm around his shoulder. He needed a friend on his side right now, especially in Kayleigh’s absence. “I’m so sorry, Kelton. I know that this wasn’t what you were hoping for.”

Rubbing a hand over his face, Kelton tried to shake off the thoughts of Kayleigh so he could focus on the situation at hand. “It’s not that I was hoping it would come back negative, because the damage has already been done. I just don’t know how to be father.”

“You can cross that bridge when you come to it.”

“It’s not that. Do they even want a father in their lives now? It’s been so long.”

“That’s something you need to speak to them about.”

“But, do I even want to? I hate to be so honest, but I can’t stand Rhian. How bad is that? She’s my daughter and I can’t bare the sight of her.” It was true and it cut him to the quick to say it, but she was a spoilt little bitch like her mother.

Marion smiled sadly. “She’s not the most likeable girl, I have to say. But, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to forge some kind of bond with her over time. Maybe she needs your kind of influence in her life.”

Running a hand over his head, Kelton looked worn out. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

“Talk to the girls. That’s what I’d suggest. I really think that this could be a good thing for Cala. She’s not like Rhian, or Cassandra.”

“But, should I talk to Cassandra first? As much as I hate the woman and never want to set eyes on her again, I don’t want to go behind her back. She might be a bitch, but I can’t play those games. I don’t want those kids to be used as weapons.”

Marion nodded. “That would probably be wise. At least if you keep her in the loop, she can’t go nuts later.”

“I just wish this hadn’t ever happened.”

“But, it has Kelton. I know this sounds harsh, but you have to deal with it.”

He grinned at her ruefully. “So, you’re saying I can’t bury my head in the sand?”

“I’m afraid not.” Marion chuckled, pleased to see that Kelton’s humour was still pushing through despite all the stress of the situation.

Kelton shook his head, not wanting to think about the cluster-fuck that his life was. What the hell had he done wrong for this shit to rain down around him? All he’d ever wanted was to be the best warrior he could be and have Kayleigh at his side. Now, he had the twins to think about, Kayleigh was nowhere in sight and his warrior-ship was suffering under the strain. It was ridiculous.

“Do you want me to stay?” Marion offered. She was aware that there was no way Kelton would ask her to stay because he was a big, bad warrior who didn’t need to rely on anyone, but she knew that he needed the support right now. With Kayleigh gone, she was the only one that was fully aware of the entire situation and she would be there for him as much as it would take.

Kelton nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Too much was going on in his head. The last thing he wanted to do was speak to Cassandra, the woman that had destroyed his life, but he knew he had to do this in the right way. He couldn’t go straight to the twins with the results. He had to do this right. And that meant speaking to Cassandra.

Taking the phone off the desk, he vaguely registered Marion sitting back down in the chair and waiting patiently. She was a godsend. Who knows how he would have got through all this without her. No one else knew the problems he was going through or why and she had been his rock. In all fairness, he didn’t think she knew just how much support she had given him. There had to be some way for him to thank her for everything she’d done, but he’d have to think about that another time. For now, he had to concentrate on the situation of the paternity test.

Clicking away on the computer, Kelton quickly pulled up Cassandra’s contact information and dialled the number without hesitation. Now he was going ahead with this, he wanted it over and done with as quickly as possible. The phone rang in his ear and he rapped his knuckles on the desk impatiently.

“Feelan residence.” A rumbling tone answered the phone. Kelton guessed that she had a butler or something. She seemed the type that would have a lot of help, not wanting to break a nail to do things for herself. He’d met many people like her in his time.

“Cassandra Feelan.” Kelton barked, not giving a damn about civility.

“One moment, please.”

Kelton waited while he was put on hold. He was tempted more than once in the minutes that passed to hang up the phone and forget he even knew about the test results, but each time he looked at Marion, he knew it was better to get this over and done with as soon as possible.

“Yes?” her sharp tone came over the line.

“Ms Feelan?” Kelton wasn’t sure quite how to address her. “It’s Master Warrior Kelton.” He still thought it was a good idea to use his full title, to remind her just who she was dealing with.

“Kelton? How wonderful to hear from you! How have you been?” Her voice turned syrupy sweet the moment she knew who it was, talking to him like he was a long lost love. Kelton wanted to gag.

Well, he wasn’t having any of that. Getting right down to business, he said, “I thought it would be prudent to speak to you before the twins. I’ve received the results of the paternity test.”

“Oh?”

“It was positive.”

Her laughter tinkled in his ear. “You didn’t expect anything different, did you? Kelton, there was never any doubt in my mind. One look at them and it is clear who their father is.”

“I needed proof.”

“The proof is in front of you. You needed it in black and white.” She replied mockingly.

“Yes. I did. And now I’ve got it.”

“So, what happens now? Would you like me to come and discuss it with you?” She asked eagerly, wanting to see him again.

Kelton sat bolt upright. “No. There’s no need for that. I’m sure I can manage to speak to the girls myself.”

Cassandra laughed. “If I didn’t know you were a big, bad warrior, I would say that you sound scared of seeing me, Kelton.”

“Not at all. Just pointless.” He insisted. There was no way he wanted any personal interaction with the woman. It was going to be hard enough as the head of this academy to speak to her, let alone as joint parents to children he didn’t even know.

Silence met him as she tried to regain her poise. Cassandra wasn’t used to rejection and thought that with the introduction of his daughters, Kelton would be more inclined to spend time with her. A relationship was her end goal, especially now that the other woman was out of his life. “So, do I understand that you are planning on talking to the twins about this situation? That you wish to have some kind of relationship with them?” That would have been the best course of action in her mind. The more contact her girls had with their father, the more she would and that could only be a good thing.

“I will tell them the results of the test and we’ll take it from there. I have no plans for the future. What will be, will be.”

“How very decent of you Kelton. I hope you will show some more enthusiasm than that when you speak with our daughters.”

Kelton glared at the wall. “I called to tell you I had the results, and now that I have, I’ll let you go. I’m sure you’re busy.”

“Don’t be like that, Kelton.” She purred.

“Like what?” His carefully held temper snapped. “I thought telling you was the right thing to do. I don’t want to talk to you, see you or interact in any way with you. Unfortunately, we now share children, and even if we didn’t, they are in my care. When I have to speak to you, there are no personal reasons that you can twist.”

“What do you mean, twist?” A little ice crept into her tone.

“Don’t act dumb, Cassandra. I’m putting it out there right now that I am not interested in you. And that I don’t willingly want anything to do with you.” He heard an intake of breath on the line, but felt no guilt. It had to be said. The woman was flirting with him every chance she got and he’d had enough of it. That wasn’t ever going to happen between them. If she hadn’t worked her magic on him, it wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

Kayleigh was the one female that he had ever loved with every passionate part of his soul. That woman that tried to ruin his life didn’t hold a candle to Kayleigh. She was just the type of woman that he would never look twice at. Money grabbing, caring about social status and standing. Self-absorbed and selfish. That wasn’t what he was looking for a in a woman. Even if he had never had Kayleigh in his life, Cassandra still wouldn’t be the kind of woman he wanted. She had to get that through her thick skull.

“How can you say that?”

Kelton knew that she honestly believed that they had some kind of future together. How deranged was this woman? They had one night nearly two decades ago, a night that only happened because she bewitched him with her powers. What kind of basis was that? It would never happen. He hated that woman with every fibre of her being. She had ruined everything good in his life.

“Easily. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.” His voice caught on the words as he thought about Kayleigh.

“Oh, but she isn’t there, is she?” Cassandra’s tone turned catty and Kelton was pleased that she wasn’t in front of him. He may not have been able to control himself.

That was it. He’d done what was needed and that was that. He slammed the phone down, cursing loudly and making Marion jump. That woman made his blood boil.

“It went that well?” Marion shook her head. “I obviously heard your end of the conversation and it wasn’t hard to guess hers.”

“Well, it’s done now.” Kelton fumed, determined not to interact with that woman again. Anything that was in relation to the academy could be dealt with by one of the other warriors.

“When are you telling the girls?” Marion asked, thinking that he may as well get the hard stuff over and done with in one foul swoop.

Kelton growled and hung his head in his hands. Of all the things he’s had to do in his years as a warrior, the fighting and the killing. None of it was as hard as this moment. How on earth was facing two young girls harder than a group of Mortuorum? It was ridiculous.

“Can you find them now?” He wanted to do it before he lost the nerve again.

“I don’t want to do this.” Cala said, keeping her eyes on the ground to avoid her sister’s evil glare.

“I don’t care what you want. I’m bored.”

“Why do you have to mess with them? Why can’t you find something else to do?” Cala had enough of this. Rhian was spending all her time messing with the other trainees. She was keeping it to low key pranks so no one would be able to point the finger at the witch in their midst, but Cala didn’t want any part of it.

“I need to think of something else.” Rhian paced around their small room. She hated everything about this place. It wasn’t up to the standards of how she’d been living and she couldn’t believe her mother was putting her through this hell

It was fun. Making the other boys in the academy look stupid was amusing for her. It was just simple things, like the salt water trick. She’d played that on many of the guys so far, but Caleb’s reaction had been the funniest by far.

But, that was getting old now. She had to think of something new.

“Don’t be such a baby.”

Cala didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t think she was the one being childish here. The stupid pranks were going to escalate until Rhian did something truly dangerous. It had happened before, but Cala couldn’t stop it then. If she could stop it now, she would.

“Hmmm. What to do?” Rhian mused.

A knock at the door had them both looking up.