The Locket

“Me? I can’t stop him, I can’t even protect myself,” I interrupted him again. Then I remembered what transpired at the house and how I willed the protective glass shelter around me. That raised another question. “What were those things at the house?”

“Those were Courier’s, also sent by Kace. They carry messages back to him. They came to do a life review. Kace wanted to see exactly what you knew or if you were planning anything,” he explained.

Recalling the film strip of memories that ran through my mind while the strings encircled me, I trembled. The thought of this person who wanted to harm me, knowing every intricate detail of my life, made me uneasy.

Brent continued as though he read my thoughts again.

How does he do that?

“I also have the ability to absorb things that are spiritual, but not inherently human, the Couriers being one of them. Once absorbed, they were no longer able to return to Kace with the information they gathered.”

“How did you know, I mean, that I was in danger?” I asked, remembering that he barged through the door at Maggie’s aware that something was wrong.

“I could feel you. I knew you were deathly afraid. I felt your pain the same as you,” he revealed and my cheeks burned at his words.

“So, you can feel my emotions?”

The very thought made my cheeks blush. If he had that connection to me, then he knew how I felt about him and how often I felt it. Was it even possible to be anymore self-conscious?

He continued, and again, I thought he must have known what I was thinking. Feeling my emotions gave him an insight into my thoughts.

“I only feel them when you are threatened in some way, Claire. It’s a tool that serves to protect you, not invade your privacy,” he reassured me.

Brent explained things to me carefully. I tried to listen but my eyelids were heavy and I had so much to absorb. I was afraid I wouldn’t remember any of our discussion if I didn’t get some rest soon.

“I think I need to sleep,” I said groggily.

“Yes, I think you do, Claire,” he agreed, tucking a loose tuft of hair behind my ear. I liked how he was looking at me. The glint in his eye suggested he knew how much I liked it.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I don’t require as much sleep as you do. As your Aegis, I need to be alert,” he informed me, standing and pulling me up with him.

“Do you ever sleep?” I asked.

“Yes, but I don’t need it the same way you do. The more danger you’re in, the longer I can stay awake. I can go a good week if I have to, and then sleep just a few hours, and completely recover.”

“Oh.” I pondered that for a minute. “Are you going to sleep tonight?”

Brent shook his head. “Probably not.”

“Would you come up and lay with me?” I proposed, wanting to be near him. “I don’t think I’ll ever fall asleep in that giant room alone.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Claire,” he replied, taking a step away from me, making me feel as though I was some predator ready to pounce at any moment.

“I promise I won’t attack you. Jeez,” I teased. “You can leave once I’m asleep. I’ll feel much safer if you’re with me,” I said, pleading with his designed protectiveness, manipulating him in a way I knew would work.

“Okay, but only until you fall asleep,” Brent said with resignation.

I wasn’t known to be capricious so I must have been punch drunk when I ran from the doorway, launching myself into the air, belly flopping right in the middle of the gigantic bed – landing so hard air whooshed from the down comforter. I saw a few feathers float in the air around me. I laughed until I had tears. I laughed until my belly hurt. I laughed until I heard Brent laughing.

Hearing him brought me down from the cloud I was on. I was embarrassed beyond words until I saw his face. He was enjoying the moment as much as I was.

“You are crazy, Claire Blake,” he teased.

“Oh, come on. You wanted to try it too. Admit it,” I teased back.

“Maybe a little,” he admitted, smiling.