The MORE Trilogy (28 page)

Caleb shook his head. “You’re not a prisoner.” At Ava’s disbelieving look, he added, “Well, not technically speaking, at least. The Council looks on you as a guest until the testing is complete. No one would dare bother you.” They came to a crossroads and turned to the right along a curving road lined with smaller buildings Ava assumed were residences.

“So, what now?” she asked nervously.

“Now, we have something to eat,” Caleb said, turning into a walkway leading up to a two-story stone house with a front wall of windows.

“Whose house is this?” she asked.

“Mine. When I’m in New Elysia, at least. I’m not home much lately.” He reached for a glass panel next to the front door and placed his palm flat against it. A light flashed behind his hand, and she heard a low click. “There’s an extra bedroom,” he told her. “While we eat, I’ll help prepare you for tomorrow, and then we both need to get some sleep.”

She laughed humorlessly. “Like I could sleep.”

“I could help you out with that,” he joked as he pushed the door open, fluttering his fingers at her forehead.

Ava snorted, batting his hand away. “No, thanks.”

“You sure?” he asked with a grin. “It wouldn’t be any trouble.”

He reached for her, but she ducked, darting under his arm into the house and laughing. She came to a stop in the foyer, not halted by the vision of gleaming hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, or the plush leather sofa against the far wall, but by the woman sitting there, arms and legs crossed as she observed them with an arched brow.

The leader of the Council—Madeleine, as Rafe called her.

In Caleb’s living room. And evidently not too happy to find her there, as well.

Ava cleared her throat, flushing hotly and searching for words.

Madeleine turned her gaze to Caleb. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” she said. “You always did bring your work home.”

“Very funny,” Caleb muttered, but he crossed the living room and—to Ava’s surprise—leaned over and kissed Madeleine on the cheek.

She patted his face, a fond smile softening her features before she turned to Ava. Madeleine stood up and stepped around a low coffee table before coming to a stop before her. “We didn’t really get a chance to properly introduce ourselves,” she said, holding out a hand. “Welcome to New Elysia, Ava. I’m Madeleine Foster.”

Ava took her hand, shaking it tentatively, the skin warm and smooth against Ava’s cool, clammy palm. “Nice to meet you. I’m Ava . . . obviously . . .” she said, reddening even further, if that were possible. “Ava Michaels.”

“I’m sure you’re both hungry,” she said, gesturing toward a dining table set with several covered dishes.

Ava finally noticed the scent of something delicious in the air and her stomach rumbled.

“I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty,” she said with a nod at Caleb as she moved to the table.

“Of course not,” he replied, a little snidely. “I’d ask how you got in, but I’m sure it’s not a problem for the head of the Council.”

Madeleine smirked. “I’m sure,” she echoed.

Something the woman said niggled at Ava’s brain. “Wait a second. Madeleine
Foster
, you said?” She glanced at Caleb. “Are you two related?”

Madeleine burst into laughter and turned to Caleb with merriment alive in her eyes. “You didn’t tell her?”

“It didn’t come up,” he muttered.

“What didn’t?” Ava asked, confused and hungry and tired and more than a little annoyed at all of the secrets. “What’s going on?”

Madeleine just looked at Caleb expectantly, so he took a deep, irritated breath. “Ava, say hello to my mother,” he said, not meeting her eyes.

Ava gaped at him, then Madeleine—who looked like she was going to start laughing again—then back at Caleb.

“Perfect,” she muttered. “Absolutely perfect.”

Chapter 14

To say dinner was uncomfortable would have been a bit of an understatement. Caleb’s mother, as usual, pretended nothing was out of the ordinary and chatted about old neighbors and friends, filling Caleb in on all the gossip and not once mentioning what had happened in the Council chamber just a few hours earlier.

Ava smiled and also feigned normalcy, but he felt her irritation every time they locked eyes. She was annoyed Caleb had kept something from her—again—but the fact was, there was just so
much
to tell her. He could hardly be held responsible if a few things fell through the cracks here and there. Like the fact that his mother was the head of the Council.

Okay, in hindsight, that might have been an important fact to share.

Caleb’s relationship with his mother was a complicated one. She was, for all intents and purposes, his boss, after all. But she was also the person who raised him, read to him at night, and consoled him when he had nightmares. She knew him better than anyone, but she also tried not to let that affect her duties on the Council. Madeleine Foster was, first and foremost, a leader among their people, and now that he was an adult, her primary duty was to them. She loved him, though, so he knew that his recent actions had put her in a difficult situation.

He toyed with his food, torn between guilt and determination.

He knew in his heart he had done the right thing in helping Ava—that he would continue to defend her if he needed to. He also knew that could put him at odds with the one person who loved him more than anyone else in the world.

“So you’re a student,” she asked Ava, taking a sip of her wine. “What are you studying?”

Caleb snorted. That information was in Ava’s file, and he knew his mother had read it thoroughly.

“Basic requirements right now,” Ava replied, setting down her fork. “But I hope English Literature, or maybe Journalism. I’d like to be a writer.” She flushed, realizing that such plans were very up in the air at that moment, and looked down at her plate.

“It’s a noble aspiration,” Madeleine replied with a noncommittal smile. “And your family? Are you close to them?”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, interrupting before Ava could reply. “Her parents are Joe and Sarah Michaels,” he snapped. “They live outside of Eugene, Oregon. He works in construction. She runs a day care center. You know all of this.”

Madeleine frowned at him. “I’m just trying to be polite, Caleb,” she said. “Something you might try once in a while.”

Ava coughed slightly, taking a sip of water to cool her cheeks, hot with embarrassment. “I know you’ve been keeping tabs on me,” she said quietly.

“I’m sure you do, dear,” Madeline replied. “But I thought it might be nice to have at least one evening of semi-normalcy in the midst of all this craziness.”

Ava swallowed and looked Caleb’s mother in the eye. “I appreciate the gesture,” she said. “But I’d prefer to face all this craziness head-on, rather than try to pretend it’s not happening.”

Madeleine studied her carefully for a moment. “Fair enough,” she said finally, lifting her napkin to wipe her lips. “Are you nervous about tomorrow? Is there anything you’d like to ask me?”

“Can I do that?” She glanced at Caleb, who said nothing.

“I’m not the enemy, Ava,” she replied. “My first duty is to my people, but I don’t wish you any harm.”

“But you won’t hesitate to kill me if you think I’m a threat.”

Madeleine met her eyes. “I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

Ava snorted. “Well, at least we have one thing in common.”

Caleb watched the conversation with a kind of sick fascination, feeling as if he should intervene, but unsure of what exactly to say.

“You know,” Ava said, leaning back in her chair. “I would never expose the Race. And I would never do anything to hurt anyone.”

“Maybe not on purpose.” Caleb’s mother leaned forward slightly, her eyes soft and a little sad. “But we’ve seen too many cases where Half-Breeds have harmed others without meaning to—simply because they don’t have the ability to control their power.”

“Well, why not teach them, then?”

“You don’t understand,” she replied. “It’s difficult enough for Full-Bloods who have been trained since birth to deal with their abilities. Half-Breeds don’t have the capability or control necessary, especially once they’ve reached your age. It’s just too late.”

“How do you know if you don’t try?” Ava snapped in irritation. “It sounds a little bigoted, if you ask me.”

Madeleine’s eyes flashed as she stood abruptly. “You should tread carefully, girl,” she warned. “You’re speaking of matters you know nothing about.”

“Maybe so.” Ava jumped to her feet. “But it’s my life at stake, so forgive me if I don’t concern myself with protocol.”

Caleb cleared his throat, eyeing the two women carefully. “Maybe we should all take a breath.” They turned on him with piercing glares, and he held up his hands defensively. “Just a suggestion,” he said, wondering how in the world he ended up in this situation.

His job was supposed to be easy—recon, interception, delivery, and on to the next assignment. Maybe he was getting soft—or old—or old
and
soft. He rubbed his stomach idly. If not for the fact that members of the Race never got sick, he’d wonder if he was developing an ulcer. His mother seemed to notice his discomfort, because after a moment she took a deep breath and sat down again, picking up her wine glass.

“Caleb is right,” she said, draining the glass. “I think it’s time for me to go, and I’ll leave him to fill you in on any details you may need.” She rose regally, walking toward the front door before turning back abruptly. “You should know, Ava, that none of this is personal.”

Ava stiffened, fingers gripping the edge of the table. “Well, you’ll forgive me if I can’t help but take it personally.”

Madeleine grimaced, then nodded slightly before heading out the front door. Ava inhaled deeply before sinking back to her seat, hands trembling.

“Well, that went well,” she muttered, gulping down her wine. “I think your mother really likes me.”

Caleb blinked for a moment before he burst out laughing. He had to admit to a rush of relief when Ava joined right in.

Despite the stress of dinner, and her understandable apprehension over what the next few days would hold, Ava slept surprisingly well. In fact, she was rather proud of the fact that she spent the entire night down the hall from Caleb and managed not to lie awake the whole time wondering what he was doing . . . or wearing . . . or thinking.

After about fifteen minutes of wondering, she’d fallen right to sleep. Maybe she was more tired than she realized. Or maybe when Caleb had brushed her forehead on the way to his room he’d done a little something to help her sleep. She couldn’t even bring herself to be mad about it, though. She knew she needed every advantage she could get to make it through the testing and all it would entail.

She’d managed to choke down a few bites of toast and a little coffee before the two of them headed back toward the medical facility near the center of New Elysia. Ava was surprised that Caleb had stayed with her during the blood draw and most of the physical exam, only leaving the room when the doctor asked her to change into a hospital gown for a more thorough examination. Afterward, though, she’d dressed and walked out into the hall to find him waiting for her.

“You don’t have to stay with me,” she said, although she actually wanted him to.

“I don’t mind,” he replied, knowing she did.

He’d sat across the room while she answered questions posed by what Ava assumed was a psychologist—or at least the Race equivalent. She talked about her family, her past—growing up, her earliest memories—and tried to be as open and honest as possible. She grew irritated when he asked if and when she’d lost her virginity.

“What does that have to do with anything?” she asked, fighting the urge to glance at Caleb as she flushed hotly.

“Are you refusing to answer?” the doctor asked, pen poised threateningly over paper.

Ava clenched her teeth, wanting to fight, but not wanting to hurt her case, either. She sighed. “I’m still a virgin,” she mumbled.

Thankfully, the topic changed to favorite school subjects, hobbies, and things much less embarrassing.

They broke for lunch and Caleb escorted her to a small café a few blocks away where they munched on sandwiches and iced tea next to a window overlooking the street.