Prologue 9 страница

“Good. I have got to get back to work. See you in a few hours. ”

We made our way down the hall and into another wing, past a huge white foyer.

“The wing with my dad’s office is for business. This wing is where the bedrooms are, ” he advised and we turned a corner, then he stopped at a wide door, “My room. ”

He opened the dark oak door and I was bombarded with his scent. The scent I smell when I inhale the skin at his neck, my favorite smell. I took a deep breath and walked in after him, he closed the door as I looked around.

It was a strange room for a college boy I thought. It was clean and his bed made. He had sheet music and guitars everywhere with a baby piano in the corner and a trumpet on the wall stand. There were no posters above his bed. Just a plain room with lots of shelves, filled with books and cd’s.

“I like your room, ” I said truthfully.

“Yeah? I like it too. Mom tried to guy it all up when I left for school but... ”

“Guy it all up? ” I asked cocking a questioning brow at him.

“Yeah. When I came back my first break from college, she had decorated everything in swimming. Water waves bedspread, Michael Phelps posters, my old trophies and metals on my shelf. She even had a poster over my bed that said ‘Swimmers Do It Right’. ” I laughed and then covered it with my hand. “Yeah, so I fixed it. I like things plain, not loud. ”

“Me too. ”

He kicked his shoes off and walked to the piano. I took my flops off and sat on his bed while he played something I’d never heard before. It was sweet and slow.

“Did your uncle-the one who can learn and teach anything, whatever he’s called-did he teach you to play all these instruments? ”

“Nope. And he’s called a Novice. ”

“A Novice? But doesn’t that mean beginner? ”

“Yes, smarty. Technically, he’s a beginner until he learns it. ”

He looked back at me and smiled. I smiled back and then laid back on the bed and listened to him while I thought about what to do about my dad and everything that was going on.

I hadn’t gotten very much sleep the night before. Went to bed after midnight and got up before seven. I hadn’t realized how tired I was. I felt so at ease in his room, so comfortable in his bed, peaceful and safe with him there. And I fell right to sleep.

I felt cold. I was shivering and my teeth chattered. I found myself in Caleb’s bed still but Caleb wasn’t here with me. I felt that ping of anxiety rise up at that thought. I heard the door creak behind me. I rolled over slowly to see a silhouette of someone in the doorway. I squinted to see who it was.

“Caleb? ”

“You wish, ” a deep voice answered me and I froze.

“Marcus, ” I whispered. “How did you-”

“Poor little Maggie. You’re exhausted aren’t you? Caleb keeping you up too late? ”

“How? ”

“How am I here? Well, you went to sleep. And your knight in shining armor is banging away at his piano, oblivious. ”

“What do you want? ”

“I want you. ”

“Caleb. Caleb! ” I shouted. “Caleb! ”
“He can’t hear you, ” he sang.

“Oh, yes he can. ”

I concentrated like I did before, so he could read my thoughts. I got it together and pushed it toward Caleb.

Caleb!

Marcus looked instantly peeved.

“I don’t know how you can do that but, fine. He won’t be right next to you all the time, little human. ”

I felt warm hands on my cheeks and woke with a gasp to see a concerned face over mine. I panted as my heart calmed at his touch.

“Maggie. Are you ok? ”

“It was him. ”

“I know. You sent me your thoughts. I saw him. Are you sure you’re ok? ”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I fell asleep. You were playing and I was so tried and... ”

“It’s ok. He didn’t hurt you, did he? ” he said and caressed his thumbs over my cheekbones.

“No, not yet. ” I was calm for the most part except Caleb was still over top me. His legs straddled me and he rested on his elbows as his hands warmed my cheeks. Now I was getting breathless for another reason. “I’m fine, ” I breathed.

He frowned and sighed.

“I can’t protect you, even when I’m in the same room with you, ” he sighed again harshly and tried to get up but I grabbed his shirt to stop him.

“Don’t. It was my fault. I fell asleep. ”

“No, it wasn’t. ” He let him nose touch mine and I breathed deep. “You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry. I’m just not gonna leave you again until we figure this out. ”

I nodded which made our noses bump. His eyes closed and I closed mine too. I thought, this is it. He’s finally going to kiss me... but he just stayed close, then his bedroom door opened.

“Caleb, your father said-Ah! Oh! ” Rachel said startled and started to shut the door.

“Mom, wait, ” Caleb said scrambling off the bed to help me sit up. “It’s not that. She had an echo attack. ”

“An echoling? ” She pushed the door open all the way and it banged against the wall. “Oh, no, ” she breathed and covered her mouth with her hands.

“Dad’s working on it. ”

“Well, he said you were here and you’d be here for dinner but you didn’t say anything about an echoling. ” She shook her head and grimaced. “Are you alright, Maggie? ”

“Yeah. I’m fine, ” I insisted but was no longer sure.

“Ok. I’m gonna go start some supper. ”

“I can help-”

“No, honey. Thank you, I appreciate it, but you need to just stay with Caleb, ok. Just stay together as long as you can. ”

She went out and shut the door behind her again. I flopped back on the bed again and closed my eyes at the throbbing behind them. It was exhausting to worry so much. Caleb lay down beside me and I instinctively moved to my side to lay against him. At first I was a little shocked at myself but his arm came around to hold me to him just as instinctively.

It felt perfect, like it was right where I was meant to be.

“You’re always so warm, ” I muttered sleepily and put one of my legs under his.

I heard him chuckle as he pulled a blanket over us from the end of his bed. Then he turned on his side facing me and wrapped his other arm around me.

“Just rest for a few, sleepy girl. I’m here this time. Nothing’s gonna happen to you. ”

“Thanks. ” I moved my hand to rest on his neck and felt my headache ease away. “Maybe just for a minute. ”

“Yeah. ”

He kissed my forehead and I felt his smile against my skin. I smiled too as I drifted off for a completely restful sleep.

I woke later, who knows how much later, to voices in the room. They were hushed but concerned and I peeked to see that Caleb was still asleep against me. Our arms were around each other and his face was right next to mine.

“I know all that, Peter, I’m just worried is all, ” I heard Rachel say. “She’s so young, but it’s not like we can stop them. They need each other. I just don’t know how to control it. ”

“You know Caleb has a good head on his shoulders. He’s responsible, he’s reliable, and he’s more careful, considerate and attentive of this girl that I’ve ever seen him with anyone. ”

“Well, of course he is. But he never cared about that dating rule anyway-”

“He’s a nineteen year old college boy, Rachel. I guarantee you, he cared, ” he said dryly. “He just understood. He saw the merit in it. If anyone in our clan deserved to be the one to receive this gift, it’s him. And I’m not just being biased because he’s our son. ”

“I know. I know. I just remember being brand new with you. ” She laughed softly and it startled me how girly and young she sounded. “You couldn’t keep your hands off me. ”

“Yes, I remember, ” Peter said and I could hear the smile in his voice. “But they’re different. They didn’t know each other at all beforehand like we did. I’ve watched them together. Even though they feel the pull, they aren’t giving into it. They both have incredible restraint. Don’t worry about them. ”

“But when I came in earlier... and now. ”

“Sweetheart, ” I heard shuffling. I assumed he was embracing her. “He needs to comfort her. They have to touch, they have to be together and after this echoling dream situation, he’ll have to sleep with her and be with her even more. I still haven’t figured out a solution without her angering her father, we’ll think of something. But, honey, they are soul mates. They are eventually going to be consumed with each other and there’s nothing we can do. ”

“I don’t want to stop it, I know how it is and how it needs to be. I just wish I could convince them not to go too far, too soon. They are so young. ”

“He loves her already, ” he said and I fought not to gasp. “I can see it. That’s why he uses his restraint, Rachel. If he didn’t, he would give in to his urges because they are uncomfortable for him and it wouldn’t take much persuasion for Maggie to give in, you know that. We didn’t have to use restraint. We were older and ready for it. They are doing remarkably well for being so young and unprepared for the over load of emotions. ”

“You’re right. You are. He’s a good kid. And so is she. I don’t think I could’ve picked a better person for him. She’s adorable and sweet. She’s gonna be so good for this clan. Just what the clan needs to perk up a bit. ”

“I can’t wait to see what their abilities will be, ” Peter mused. “I have a feeling they’ll be spectacular. ”

I felt the bed depress behind me and a hand on my leg.

“Sweetie. ” She shook my arm a little. “Maggie, if you don’t get up and eat you’ll be late getting home. ”

I roused slowly as she shook Caleb’s leg as well. He pulled me closer and nuzzled my head when she tried to wake him. I heard them both chuckle. She shook him harder.

“Caleb. You have to take Maggie home. ”

His eyes instantly opened and he saw me, our faces almost touching. He smiled.

“Hey. Did you sleep? ” he asked.

“Yeah. Thanks. ”

“Come on you two, ” Rachel beckoned. “Supper’s been ready. ”

Her and Peter left and I slowly sat up and stretched. I felt so much better it was like night and day. He sat up beside me and ran a hand through his hair so I did the same.

“No dreams? ” he asked as he stood.

“Nope. None. ”

“Well, I didn’t want to take all your dreams, just the bad ones, ” he said softly and he lifted me by my hands to stand in front of him.

“I usually don’t remember them anyway. ”

I couldn’t believe how refreshed I felt. How my body seemed to sing with contentment. I came to see it was Caleb. We’d have physical contact for who knows how long now while we slept. Both of us calming and soothing the other. It was actually good for me to sleep with him.

Peter was right. It was pretty ironic that the thing I needed most was going to be the biggest fight with my dad. I had no idea how to make it work, but I hoped we’d figure it out.

“I’m starving, ” I mused and smiled at him. “Come on. ” I grabbed his hand. “Point me towards the kitchen. ”

He laughed.

“The dining room actually. Follow me. ”

I held his arm as we walked. I even put my head on his shoulder and could feel Caleb’s happiness about it beaming through to me. He didn’t want to push me but wanted us to move forward in our relationship. He wanted us to be happy and at ease with each other but he wanted things to go on my pace. He was happy that I was getting more comfortable with him.

I felt so strange yet utterly put together at the same time. It was the sleep, I knew but I felt more bold and confident and comfortable with Caleb than I ever had.

Twelve

“This is so good, Rachel. Thank you, ” I said and then took another big bite of mashed potatoes.

The dining room was grand. The walls were a soft yellow with green floor tiles and a big oak table that could have easily sat ten. We all sat at one end together.

“Good, I’m glad you like it. It’s one of Caleb’s favorites. ”

“I can’t believe how hungry I am, ” I mused.

“It’s the echoling, ” Peter advised as he wiped his mouth with the white linen napkin and leaned back in his chair. “It drains you like I told you, but not only are you tired but you’re hungry. It also wouldn’t hurt to drink some orange juice or take a vitamin when you get home. ”

“All that because a guy invaded my dream? ”

“I’m afraid so. I’m sorry, Maggie, but unfortunately sometimes, we have to deal with these un-pleasantries with our kind. ”

I nodded and sat back, stuffed. All I wanted to do right now was crawl back into bed with Caleb but, it was getting later and would be dark soon. I needed to get home if we were going to appease me father.

I looked at him and saw him watching me. When he saw he was caught, that dimple of his became more defined as his smile spread. He chuckled silently and I cracked a smile. But I didn’t blush. Progress!

He leaned his elbows on the table.

“Ready to go? ”

“Yeah. ”

I thanked his parents again for dinner and everything else. Peter said he’d still be thinking about how to deal with the echoling and for me not to worry. He hugged me tight and then handed me off to Rachel who did the same.

“Be safe, dear. ”

I nodded and we walked to the bike slowly. As I was about to put my helmet on Caleb stopped me.

“We can take my truck if you’d rather this time. ”

“Um... if you want to. ”

“You want to take the bike don’t you? ” he said smiling.

“Yeah, ” I admitted.

He laughed and helped me with my helmet.

“You just keep getting better and better. ”

I shook my head at him as I slipped on his jacket and then climbed on behind him.

“You want to drive? ” he asked suddenly.

“Uh... maybe but, not tonight. I don’t want to add a time line of pressure to my nerves if I’m gonna be driving. ”

“Ok, ” he said amused. “Next time. ”

We pulled out the garage, then the gate and headed down the driveway to my house.

“So, if your uncle didn’t teach you, how did you learn to play all those instruments? ”

“Well, he wanted to teach me but I wanted to learn by myself. So I took piano lessons first, when I was six. Then my grandpa taught me to play guitar and the rest I just figured out on my own. ”

“Your grandpa. The one who looks so much like you? ”

“Yeah. Grandpa Ray. He died four years ago. ”

“How? ”

“Well... we aren’t sure, old age. Significants heal each other so we usually live a really long time. We never have to go to doctors or anything like that, except for babies. We just heal whatever’s wrong without knowing it. But Grandpa Ray didn’t wake up one morning. I mean, he was eighty five years old, but we usually live longer than that. We can see it coming, but him... it was just out of nowhere. ”

“I’m sorry, ” I said and saw in his mind that significants usually die together or nearly. For Gran to live this many years after him was unprecedented. I could feel his anguish, remembering Gran crying and inconsolable for months. I would have put my hand on his to draw those feelings away from him but couldn’t reach it on the handlebars so I improvised, needing to do something. I lifted the hem of his shirt and splayed my hand on his side. “I’m sorry, ” I repeated.

“Thanks. ” He pulled my hand in front of him, laced our fingers, his palm on the top of my hand. “It’s ok. We still don’t know what happened, but we just accepted it was his time. But now, with this echoling thing... I’m starting to wonder if maybe that had something to do with it. He was our Champion before my dad. ”

“Wouldn’t Gran have been sleeping with him though? ”

“Well, Gran said she’d been working on his birthday present. She was making him a jacket and had worked on it a couple nights in a row, waiting for him to fall asleep first, so she wasn’t with him. That’s why she was so upset. She thought he had a heart attack or something and she wasn’t there to heal him. She blamed herself. ”

“Caleb. That’s terrible. ”

“But she got better. And if dad hasn’t thought of the echoling thing as a reason, maybe it’s not possible. Maybe I’m just trying to make something out of nothing. ”

He didn’t believe that. But he wasn’t sure if he wanted to open Gran’s wounds or not.

“You’ll do what’s right. You guys are lucky to be so close to each other, your family. ”

“Yeah, we are. Most clans are this way. ”

“So, you said your mom was part of another clan until she met your dad. So, how do you meet other clans? Do you have an Ace’s convention or something? ”

He laughed and I was happy that the sadness of his grandparents was forgotten for now.

“No-well... yeah, actually. Every year we get together in London. That’s the central base for our kind. It’s called reunification. Aces came over to America on the Mayflower, you know. ”

“Really? ” I said intrigued.

“Nah. ” I bumped his back as he laughed. “But we did migrate here and all over the world over the years. We all make a trip for one week, every year, to London and get together to keep in touch and see the new couples, new babies. All the clans go, or use to, even rival ones. ”

“I bet you have a lot of imprints that week, ” I mused.

“Kinda. Imprints are a private thing and mostly, you won’t imprint in front of anyone else, or at least not in front of someone you don’t know well. Most of the imprints happen when they are saying goodbye, or when they meet up later for a visit or something. We’ve all known each other since birth so, it’s not usually like it was with you and me, where we’ve never met before. ”

“I bet there’s a line a mile long of Ace girls who hate me now, ” I joked.

“I doubt that. ” He laughed. “Kyle is the ladies man. Not me. ”

“I don’t believe that. I think you just don’t know the effect you have on people. ”

He sighed in embarrassment. I saw glimpses in his mind of a big golden room and him being followed by girls of all ages throughout the days when he was in London. Then he pushed it away.

“Well, anyway. That’s where my parents met, even though they both were from Tennessee. They got together after the reunification for a bi-family lunch and that’s when it happened. Some of the clans that are close in geography will get together sometimes. ”

“So are there like... rituals they’re going to try to perform on us at this thing? ”

He laughed.

“We’re clans, Maggie, not covens. ”

“Ok, ” I conceded. “So is there like a million people there? ”
“Nope. There’s really not that many of us, only about three hundred around the world. There are three families here in Tennessee. They’re two more families in the United States, in Chicago, and then two in London, one in Sydney, Australia, two in Paris, and one in Prague. ”

“Wow. ”

“Yeah. Some of the other families are a little eccentric but, for the most part, they’re all pretty normal and want to seem as human as possible and with loads of cash of course. ” I laughed and he did too. “The next reunification is in six weeks, right before school starts back. ”

“Will I go to this with you? ” I asked and felt timid about it, like I didn’t belong or something.

“Of course you will, you’re family. We’ll work something out with your dad by then. From what I hear through my gossiping aunts, everyone in London is pretty anxious to meet you. ”

“Why? Because no one has imprinted in a long time? ”

“Yes, that but also because you’re human. There are only three humans imprinted out of three hundred people. You, Gran and a man named Philippe. He’s a genius. He can name any capitol of any city in the world. ”

“What’s his ability? ”

“That is his ability. He can remember anything. He brings new meaning to the phrase photographic memory. Anything you say to him, he’ll remember after only hearing it once. He’s a walking dictionary. ”

“Hmm. That’d be useful. ”

“Yeah. I’d kill for that one for mid-terms. ”

“Ditto. So, I’m gonna be a freak show on display at this reunion thing, right? ”

“Reunification. And no, you won’t be a freak, ” he soothed and swirled his thumb over my knuckles. “They’re just happy for us and hoping that the imprints are coming back. They’re a lot of single people out there but the other clans don’t have the no-dating rule like us. A bunch of them have married since this whole thing started, without imprints. Now, I think they’re afraid the imprints are coming back and they’ll imprint on someone else. A lot of these people have kids and stuff. ”

“Hmmm, wow. ” I didn’t know what else to say.

“Yeah. But don’t worry about the reunification. Everybody’s great. You’ll see for yourself and I can’t wait to go. I hope this is the start of something for our kind. They’ve been worried for too long. ”

The rest of the ride was cold but I could feel his warmth through his shirt. I laid my cheek on his back and held on as I tried to relax and not get worked up again about everything. It didn’t work a few times. Thoughts would creep in about how impossible it all seemed. I mean, I can’t go to sleep. What am I supposed to do? And what about this reunification thing. I didn’t like crowds and he was talking about a crowd of three hundred all staring at me like I am somehow the answer to all their problems.

But he would touch my hand, rubbing my knuckles with his, when these thoughts took over and I’d be instantly brought back down. Once he even brought his hand over his shoulder to caress my neck. I didn’t remember Chad ever being like this.

Chad kissed me, yeah, but not hungry kisses. We never used tongues, they were more like pecks. He touched me but it was just hand holding. He never caressed my face, never tried to go up my shirt or under my skirt, never tried to have sex with me. He never even kissed my neck; ever. And I realized I should be grateful for those things, for him not pushing me too far but he should have wanted to do those things, right? I mean he didn’t even try, he never talked about it, and I never saw passion in his eyes when he looked at me.

I hadn’t realized what it was I was missing until Caleb.

So when we pulled up in front of my house to see Chad sitting on my front steps, I was more than a little blown away.

Caleb tensed when he saw him, then he pushed down the kick stand. I climbed off and let him help me take off my helmet but I kept the jacket.

“I have no idea what he’s doing here, ” I whispered.

“I’m sure I have a pretty good idea, ” he muttered as he took his helmet off. “You want me to go? ”

“No, ” I said quickly and then smiled at his smug smile.

“Well, at least there’s that. ”

We walked up to the walkway. I grabbed Caleb’s hand as he was giving me space. He didn’t want to seem like he was claiming me or grandstanding that we were together now, though, in his thoughts, that’s exactly what he wanted to do.

“Chad. ”

“Mags, ” he said and glared at Caleb.

I was shocked. Chad was never aggressive. He was nice to everyone and he never thought twice when someone else looked at me before. Why now?

“What’s up? ” I asked and he looked at me, his expression softening a little. “What are you doing here? ” I asked, not unkindly.

“I wanted to come see you before I left to set up my apartment in Gainesville, ” he stated and glanced at Caleb nervously. Then he sighed. “I was hoping we could talk. ”

“Well, ” I said and didn’t know what else to say.

“My dad is letting me go alone for two weeks to get settled in and then I’ll come back to pack. I leave in a few days. ” He clucked his tongue. “Maybe we can go get something to eat? ”

“I already ate at Caleb’s house. ”

He scoffed.

“So, first Kyle, now this guy? What are doing, Maggie? ” he asked sweetly, like it was an intervention or something.

“Chad, this is Caleb. Caleb, Chad. ”

“Hey, ” Caleb said smoothly but Chad ignored him.

“Caleb is Kyle’s cousin. I wasn’t on a date with Kyle that night. ”

“It sure looked like one to me. ”

“Well, it wasn’t. It’s always been Caleb. ”

“Can we talk, ” he said exasperated and glanced at Caleb again. “Alone. ”

“I’d rather not. ”

“Maggie, ” Caleb said and pulled me a little bit away. “Maybe you should talk to him. ”

“What? ” I scoffed. “Why? ”

“Because you need to fix whatever it is that’s wrong with you guys and this way, he’ll go to school and not feel like he needs to apologize anymore. He feels guilty. ”

“He should, ” I insisted and felt my heart spike.

“I know, ” he crooned and framed my face with his hands. I sighed. “I’m not saying you should forgive him and run away into the sunset. ” He chuckled. “I’m saying it would be better for both of you if you have some - at the risk of sounding cheesy-closure. ”

“I guess, ” I conceded. “But I don’t want you to go. ”

“I’ll just go wait at Kyle’s. Let you guys talk for a while. Then I’ll come back as soon as he leaves. Give me your cell. ”

I handed it over and he pulled his out too. After a few seconds of pressing buttons he gave it back.

“There, now I’m in yours and you’re in mine. I can’t believe I didn’t have my soul mates phone number, ” he said jokingly.

“Yeah, pretty crazy, ” I said and wanted to feel happy and secure like he did but I just couldn’t.

“Maggie, ” he said softly and I looked up his face. “Are you scared to be with him? ”

“No. He wouldn’t hurt me. ”

“Then you’re scared of Marcus? I’ll be right back. You won’t have to worry about falling asleep without me-”

“No, it’s not that. I just don’t want to do this with him right now. He’s leaving and he doesn’t want to leave with me mad at him but, if not for that, he wouldn’t be apologizing to me right now. ”

“Hmm. I’m sure it’s more than that, ” he insisted. “I’ll be three minutes away. If it gets too bad just call for me and I’ll come running. ”

I cocked a brow at him.

“Why do you think he’s here? ”

He looked at me closely.

“I think he saw you with Kyle and freaked. He’s never seen you with anyone else and it made him jealous. I think he’s coming to ask you to work it out with him, to give the long distance thing a shot or come to Florida with him for school. ”

“Nuhuh. He wouldn’t ask that. ”

“We’ll see, ” he mused.

“You’re not worried? ”

He shook his head.

“Nah, ” he said but looked at me crookedly. “Should I be? ”

I smiled and shook my head.

“Nuhuh. No way. ”

He smiled and pressed his face to mine. Once again, noses, foreheads and cheeks touching, lips so close, not even an inch between them. His hand came up to my cheek.

I breathed him in and nuzzled his nose with mine.

“I want to. So bad, ” he whispered.

“Then why don’t you? ” I whispered back.

I knew we were talking about kissing.

“I told you I’d let you set the pace. ”

“You’ve been waiting on me? ”

I realized that was exactly what he’d been doing. He never did anything I didn’t want to. He never pushed me to do more. He was waiting on me. Every time he’d pressed his face to mine, he had been waiting on me to close the distance.

“I never wanted it to be said that I pushed you into anything, ” he said and leaned back a little to look at me.

“I wouldn’t think that, ” I insisted.

“I know but, you already gave up so many choices. I wanted you to have the choice as to when and if we kissed or not. ”

“If? ”