Guardians (Seers Trilogy) (23 page)

He gave me a quick nod, his fingers tightening around the tall glass of apple cider he’d poured for himself. “I’m glad to hear it.”

I reached out to touch his arm, continuing in a softer voice. “Thank you, Mr. Keegan. For looking out for Jenna and Josie. You saved them and me the other day. I owe you.”

His cheeks flushed dimly. “Well, I . . . it was the least I could do.”

I let my hand drop back to my side. “I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate what you did. You didn’t have to stick up for them.”

His eyes flickered away from mine, falling to look at his drink. He swirled the cider gently in the glass with one rotating hand, his words quiet and smooth. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Kate. And I certainly don’t mean any harm to come to the twins. It’s just that . . .” He glanced up through narrowed eyes. “Selena’s hold is powerful. Even if I didn’t have Jeanette and Lee, I have my other friends to consider. She’ll kill them if I ruin her plans.”

“Has she contacted you recently?”

He pressed his lips tightly together, his eyes darting briefly around us to be sure no one else was listening. “Not for nearly three weeks. In truth, I’m getting anxious. I suppose it’s too much to hope that some Guardian blade did her in at last.”

I agreed with a sigh. “According to my latest sources, she’s still out wreaking havoc.”

His mouth twitched. “I’d love to kill her myself. I hate living like this.”

“Mr. Keegan . . . can I ask what your last orders were?”

He didn’t hesitate this time. “Nothing too diabolical. I’m just to keep tabs on you and your family, so I can alert her if you try to run.”

I nodded to myself, unsurprised. “I guess it could be worse.”

“Most definitely.” His head tilted to the side. “May I ask a question of my own?”

I shrugged. “It only seems fair.”

“I assure you, it’s nothing terrible. I just . . . I was wondering if . . . that is to say . . .” He released his breath sharply, before beginning again. “One of my friends—one that Selena nearly killed, along with me—his phone was recently disconnected. He’s just dropped off the face of the earth. But before that, we were exchanging letters. It was the safest way for us to communicate with any semblance of honesty. I’m sure the Demons listened to our phone calls.”

I made a
hmm
sound, but I didn’t know what else to add.

He continued quickly. “His name was Ken. Ken Bridges. I got his last letter two weeks ago, and I’ve been trying to contact him ever since. I think he found out something the Demons didn’t want him to share.”

“What do you mean?”

He shifted his weight, leaning closer to me as he did so. “In his last letter, Ken told me that he’d found out that he was different. That he didn’t see things the same way other Seers did.”

My eyebrows rose. “He was a Special Seer?”

Peter’s eyes grew excited. “You know, then! You know what he was talking about?”

“Yeah. It’s rare, but some Seers are able to see multiple emotions at once—a bunch of colors, instead of a single shade.”

He blinked slowly. “It’s rare?”

“Apparently. Demons and Guardians alike are always looking for those with Special abilities.”

“Abilities?”

“Yes. There’s more to them than increased Sight.” I hesitated. “Peter, are you different too?”

He was staring past me. For a moment I didn’t think he was going to answer. Then his mouth parted. “If I answer yes . . . if Selena finds out, will I disappear too?”

I reached for his hand instinctively, feeling a deep empathy for a fellow Seer. “You need to keep this a secret. If she finds out, you’ll be sent to work for the Demon Lord. Like I was.”

His eyes widened. “You’re Special? That’s why all this security—the Demon Lord himself wants you because you’re different.”

“Yes. And if they had any idea how many of us were here, in the city . . . I don’t think he’d be so standoffish with me.”

“So all of these Seers here today . . . are like us?”

“Most are,” I admitted.

His mouth opened and then closed just as quickly. His eyes became intense. “I probably know enough. More than enough.” He pulled his fingers away, straightening in the same motion. “I should go see if they need help in the kitchen. I’m glad you’re feeling better, Kate.” He turned on his heel, nearly sweeping into Patrick, who’d come up silently beside us.

“Mr. Keegan,” my Guardian said, his tone moderate.

Peter swallowed hard, face defensive. “Yes?”

Patrick’s eyes ran over the guarded expression, the mildly flushed face. I thought he was going to start interrogating the Demon Seer, but in the end he just stuck out his hand. “I didn’t get the opportunity to thank you for your help. Your actions saved Kate’s life. I’m in your debt.”

Peter just stared at the extended hand for a breathless second. Then he lifted his own hand, their fingers flexed around each other. “I was happy for the chance to help,” he managed to say, not quite sure how to take Patrick’s firm gaze.

Their hands fell away mutually and Peter once again excused himself. I watched him walk past Patrick, Jack, and Claire, sliding easily out of the room.

I didn’t realize I was watching his retreat with a frown until Patrick’s finger traced my lips lightly. “Are you all right?” he asked.

I met his questioning look with only the slightest hesitation. “I just feel so bad for him. I can’t imagine what I would do if I were in his position. He’s never had a Guardian to help him with all of this crazy stuff.”

The back of Patrick’s finger moved across my cheek. “I don’t know about that. You seem to be keeping an eye out for him.” He tucked some strands of hair gently behind my ear.

I gave him a wry look, accompanied by a reluctant smile. “Patrick O’Donnell, are you mocking me?”

“Of course not.” His eyes sparkled. “No Demon would ever dare cross a fierce Guardian like you.”

I rolled my eyes. “If only. Then our problems might be solved.”

He shook his head. “Problems don’t exist today. At least, that’s what Jack’s been telling me.”

“Really? I’m excited for the day off.”

“I wish we’d had more time to anticipate the break,” he agreed, leaning in to kiss me. When he pulled back his expression was incredibly soft. “Have I told you that you look absolutely beautiful today?”

I smiled despite myself. “All this flattery. It makes me wonder what you want.”

His hands rubbed my shoulders, his ducked head emphasizing his serious words. “What I want is you, Kate Bennett.”

My palms moved to rest on his chest. “Then I guess you have what you want, huh?”

He gave me a half grin. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

He seemed to think about his question, and something in his face made me wonder if he’d changed his mind at the last second. “What is it you’re most grateful for? Right now, in this minute.”

“This very minute? That would have to be you.”

“Really?” He seemed extremely pleased.

“Hands down.”

Before he could reply Grandma’s voice boomed from the kitchen. “Everyone to the family room, before the turkey gets cold!”

Jack cheered. “Hah! Ham can be reheated
easily!
Just plop her in the micro, and kazooie!”

“So can turkey,” Claire argued, her French accent clear and superior. “You just have to cut it up first. And there’s no
kah-zoo-ee
necessary.”

The long table looked a little haphazard, mostly because it was three different tables, all different sizes. Only the tablecloths held the makeshift banquet table together. There was the long outdoor picnic table, the regular table, and a card table tacked on at the far end. Food was laid out everywhere, and mine wasn’t the only stomach to growl as we all filed into the room—no Guardian stomachs, though; they were exempt from that because they never got hungry. They also never got full, so I was adamant when I told Toni I wouldn’t compete against him in a pie-eating contest.

Grandma sat at the head of the table, with the twins on her right side and me and Patrick on the left. Everyone else scrambled to find chairs, and once everyone was seated and Lee had slapped Toni’s groping hand away from the potatoes, Grandma led us in a prayer.

While she thanked God for all our blessings, I let my eyes crack open to steal a glance at Patrick. My whole body warmed when I saw he was peeking at me. He gave me a smile. He reached under the table for my hand. Our fingers intertwined, and at his silent prompting I closed my eyes again. But I swear I could feel his gaze still running over my face. It was wonderful and maddening at the same time.

After a chorus of amens and a yell from Jack to “Bog in!” we started filling our plates. Conversations were plentiful, despite the huge feast. Most comments were about the food, of course, and Grandma looked pleased with the praise. I was glad—I knew not just from her aura that she’d been expecting today to be unbearably hard without Grandpa. I knew partly what she was going through. It was the first Thanksgiving I’d ever eaten in my house, without my parents, without Grandpa’s easy laugh . . . Patrick’s arm brushed against mine often while we ate, and I tried to focus on him—reality.

Soon enough we were eating pie, the twins offering to dish up some ice cream for anyone who wanted it on the side. I kept an eye on the new Seers, curious to see if they were overwhelmed by my family, but they were surprisingly at ease. Alex was answering some of Maddy’s questions about his hometown in North Carolina, and Claire was deep in a discussion with Ashley. Dr. Radcliffe and Peter were debating about world politics, and Toni was talking to Lee’s mom about the fake trials he was undergoing at the college he didn’t attend.

A perfectly normal Thanksgiving.

We ran out of pumpkin pie and Grandma asked me to run to the kitchen to get the second one. I pushed my chair back, only half surprised when Lee followed my lead. After all, we hadn’t had a chance to talk in private ever since our group date at Aaron’s. Since she was sitting further down the table I reached the kitchen several seconds before her. I was able to locate the pie on the cluttered counter before I heard her step up behind me. “Kate, I need to ask you something,” she fairly whispered.

The laughter and rumble of voices from the next room almost drowned her out. I felt my brow furrow at her seriousness. “Sure. What is it?”

Her clear fingernails were tapping almost nervously against her legs. “Do you think I’m completely odd?” she blurted out.

I decided to be honest. “You’re wearing a fifties outfit, Lee.”

She waved that aside. “Kate, please—be serious. Is there something wrong with me?”

“No, Lee. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. You’re not odd.”

“Then why did Rodney break up with me last night?”

“What? Why?”

“Shh! I don’t want anyone else to know yet.” She drew in a deep breath. “I made it sound more dramatic than it is. I mean, I sort of went to his house to break up with him. He just got the words out first.”

“Lee, I . . . I’m confused.”

She let a shaky laugh escape. “Join the club—we should get T-shirts! I feel like I’ve been living in the
Twilight Zone
or something, only it’s not scary beyond all reason.”

“Why did you want to break up with him? I thought things were going great between you two.”

“They were. Sort of. Until . . .” Her whisper dropped further. “You know I had a crush on Toni from the beginning. We went on some dates, he kissed me, and it was the closest I’d ever felt to having a semi-serious relationship. But it was kind of weird. And then I learned the truth about you, about him . . . he stopped treating me the same way. So I stopped too. And things were going okay. Rodney was great. And then Toni asked me out again . . .”

“And?”

She sighed. “And I think I’m falling for him. Fallen, actually. As in, already happened. And you can’t change something after it’s already happened, no matter how much you want to.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, and in my short silence she groaned and grabbed my wrists. “Say something, please. I’m insane, right? Completely insane. I’m in love with an immortal who’s probably crushed on a thousand other girls!”

“Lee, I don’t think you’re insane. I’m just not sure I understand. You and Rodney . . . He’s liked you forever. Why did he want to break up with you?”

She shrugged. “Same reason I wanted to break up with him, I guess. We’re still friends and all, but we didn’t like each other in that way. You know? There’s this flutist in band, and I think he’s wanted to ask her out for a couple weeks now.” She shook her head. “I know I’m a weird person. So I thought it was great that I could be myself around Rodney. But when I’m with Toni . . . It’s more than just being myself. It’s, like, completely natural. I don’t have to
pretend
to be myself. Even with you and my mom, I wonder sometimes about what outrageous thing I should do next. With Toni, I don’t, and . . .”

My lips formed a slow smile. “Then I guess I should just be happy for you. I’m not one to judge on insane relationships.”

“
Happy
for me?” Her cheeks were pink with emotion. “I’m freaking out!”

“Just calm down. Take some deep breaths.”

She didn’t seem to hear the last part. “Kate, what on earth am I supposed to do? My mom doesn’t know any of this immortal stuff—heck, Toni doesn’t even know that I
like
him!”

“For what it’s worth, I think Toni feels the same way.”

She hesitated. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. Why else would he have asked you out? So are you going to talk to him about this?”

“Heck no! I’m not going to make a fool out of myself.”

I stared at her. “Lee, you wore neon green for a week. Not to mention the eight-month hippie stunt, the yellow jumpsuit in fifth grade, the cardboard box hat in second grade, the twenties dresses, the week you were a tree, the plastic bubble in seventh grade—”

“Sheesh! Shut up already, will ya? And it wasn’t a
plastic bubble
. It was a cocoon made with bendy straws and plastic wrap, and it was awesome.”

“You wore it for a month.”

“Best month of my life. Steven Coombs couldn’t shoot spit-wads in my face for four whole weeks.”