Keeper's Knowledge (Balancer's Soul cycle) (45 page)

“Wait a moment, Connor.”
Xaon’s
red eyes started concentrating
and
Connor
then
realized how old he was. He was at least twelve milli
on years old. Two minutes passed
until
he re-entered everyone else’s minds.
“It is setup. Tomorrow at noon my team Rampage will fight your team Equal.”
He looked at everyone in the stands.
“This will be one of the most unusual
and rarest
games
you’ll ever get to witness
. I want all of you to bring as many as you can
to the fated game
.”
He looked at
Connor
.
“I will see
you
tomorrow.”

He
seemed
able to leave now.
Connor
walked back to everyone and the audience couldn’t keep their eyes off of
him
. At
least they began talking again.

His whole world
jumped up and kissed
him without warning
as he returned
.
He
could feel her pleasure and love
radiating into him blissfully
.
He
didn’t know what
he
did, but
he loved actual
reward.

Sarah
was unable to stop
herself after seeing such a display
.
Her
head, heart and body all agreed that Connor deserved a real reward for what he just pulled off
,
from
gaining respect from
the
seemingly impossible. While their
lips were connected he put his strong hands around
her
waist
,
obviously enjoying it
.
She
struggled
in
knowing that others were watching
this
and
she
couldn’t wrap
her
legs around him.
This early stage of the pregnancy has obviously made it impossible to resist him in that way.
It was like the first time
they
kissed because when
they
pulled away
she
escaped
breathless.
She
looked up into his passionate hazel eyes and looked at his kissable
lips wanting
so much
more, but
she
knew it
had to wait.

He smiled down at her
. His voice
turned
deep and husky. “Wow, Sarah. What did I do to deserve such
a great
treatment? What
ever I did I should do it more often.”

Behind
her she
heard Kara
playfully gag
. She still stayed in her wolf state as she said “Cool it you two or I’ll go get a bucket of ice water.”

“While you’re at it get some for me as well.”
Veronica stated and playfully fanned her
face with her claws and gave Sarah
a wry smile.
“Any more heat around here will burn us all to a crisp.”

Kara playfully smacked Veronica with the back of her hand. “Don’t be giving them any more suggestions, Miss Horn Dog!”

Veronica burst into another fit of roaring laughter. It became contagious as the rest of the group burst into laughter. Unfortunately
Sarah’s
face flamed and everyone knew
immediately
how embarrassed
she
became. With
her
back to Connor
she
felt his
wide
chest press into
her
back and he rested his hands on
her
shoulders
and that
familiar
electric sensation passed even through cloth
.

She
looked up into his handsome
features
as he said
. “You still haven’t answered my question. What did I do to deserve such a kiss, Princess
?”

“Connor you just scored three solid hits on one of the fastest Keepers
ever known
. That has given you a lot of status; even
if it was just a game.” He bega
n to
reveal
a confused expression. “For Xaon to issue a challenge against
our team
is an honor. I have no known knowledge of this ever happening.”

“Really?” Connor looked around the
hundreds of
spectators, most
of which were still watching him. A
nd around the ball field as the next
two
team
s
were
preparing for their
turn. He looked back down at her
. “Is Xaon some kind of big shot around here or something?”

“That he is, Connor.”
Their
attention
turned
upon
Clarein as she slowly stood and brushed her robe straight with her arms. Once her purple eyes looked at
the remarkable Balancer
she elaborated.
“Xaon is next in line to become an
E
lder himself. Once an Elder becomes deceased the next oldest person is selected and tested to become an Elder. If they pass
all requirements
,
they get all rights and privileges of all the other Elders
immediately
. I still cannot understand why he did what he did
though
.”

“It’s not all that hard to figure out.”
Sarah’s
brother-in-law Ben stated
aloud
. “He hasn’t gotten a single worthy challenge until the Kid showed himself.” He sat next to
his
mate
and pointed over
Sarah’s
head to Conno
r
. “I believe Xaon is
itching for a rematch. I would be
looking forward to it
too if some stranger suddenly showed up
out of nowhere
and
revealed how inept I was. He might even possibly believe that other teams have been going easy on him, but I haven’t the faintest idea on how a Keeper thinks.” He turne
d his head to smile at Amber
. “Tomorrow will be something for the record books for sure.”

Connor changed the subject by asking “Has anyone not played Baseball before?”

Veronica was the only one to raise her hand.
“I’m sorry, but I have not
physically played this game before
,
if that is what you are asking
. I have watched this whole time and have
learned
the rules and basics. I am prepared for whatever is to come.”

Sarah
looked up to see Connor sigh and shake his head. “I’m sorry Veronica, but watching and doing are t
w
o completely different things.” Veronicas jaw dropped slightly and snapped shut, but before she could defend herself he went on. “I have a special
plan for you
, my friend
. First though, we need to have a practice session with the whole team… wait here
,
I will be right back.”

Connor
’
s pressure disappear
ed
from
Sarah’s
back.
She
turned around to see him bounding down the bleachers
like a lithe jungle cat descending a large tree
and then
he
stalked
down the fence line. She
lost him
among
the crowd, but used
her
bond with him to know where he was
and it helped keep track of his location
. He stopped moving for a minute and started making his way back.

He made his way up the stairs again
, but this time
carrying a large metal baseball in his left hand and a Keeper
’
s sized bat laying over his right shoulder. He came closer to say “Team Equal, follow me so we can have a practice session.” He looked up. “Veronica, since you have the longest arms
and the most experience
out of all of us, you will be
our designated
pitcher and I will be your catcher. We will
start working together first.”

Veronica gave Sarah
and Connor a questioning look for a minute. She stood up beside Clarein and looked her straight in the eye.
“Follow me and keep my egg safe as you do so. Be sure to not rip the covering either.”
She carefully held her egg out.

Clarein even more carefully received the egg and said
“I will, Honored Mother.”

Connor asked “V
eronica, why does she
always
call you
Honored Mother
?”

“Because I have proven myself to
be
a mother. There are
slightly
more females than males of our species
,
since we can control the sex of the offspring
, but of those females
not all can
breed more young. We are kind of like bees
if it will help you to think of it that way
.
Once mated we remain so even after becoming b
arren, but if a barren female l
oses her male she cannot apply for a new mate
of breedable quality, but she may choose whomever will take her
.
Female Keepers who have laid eggs are given the second highest honor of being called an Honored Mother. The only higher title is being an Elder or next in line.”

“Well
,
I’ll still call you Veronica because saying Honored Mother is a little to
o
honorific for my tastes.” Connor said
while
smiling.

Clarein and another Keeper who was close enough to hear
that statement
,
hissed at him. Veronica let out a small laugh and disarmed the two angry others.
“I’m glad you see it that way, my friend. I don’t like…how do you say it…? Beat
ing
around the bush. I like straightforwardness in a conversation. Sometimes being to
o
courteous can get taxing.
Being politically correct is a pain in the ass. Wouldn’t you agree?”
S
he smiled wickedly at
them
.
Her colloquiums were very good. She must have learned them after reading another’s mind
, or listened to Kara
for
a little
too
long
.

“I c
ouldn’t say it better myself.” Sarah
said
,
smiling back at her and Connor turned around, smiling himself.

He stopped at the bottom and said “Come on guys. I was told where we could
get in some
practice
time
.
”

Sarah
didn’t need to hear
him ask
again.
She
quickly made it to the stone floor and walked beside him
and
turned to see Mark and Kara
following
right behind
them
; both on all fours.
She
caught a glimpse of
her
parents as they followed behind Veronica and Clarein.
Strangely her
sister
didn’t follow
until
Sarah
found her and Ben still sitting where they were.
She
turned to continue walking along with
her
mate, but entered
Amber’s
mind
and made sure no one else was in
either her
mind or her
s
ister’s
.
“Amber, aren’t you coming with us? Did I do something wrong?”

“Not in the least, Sarah. I just want to be surprised during tomorrow
’
s game. I think you know what I mean
.”
She
did.
“By the way, I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“
Just w
here did you find your mate?”