Shades of Blood(Warriors of Ankh 3)

But there was no ugly knot in her chest anymore.

She had a home to return to, where people loved her. Where Noah loved her. They had a future together. She needed that more than she’d ever need revenge. She just hoped he knew that.

Romany clicked off the phone. “They’re on their way. We should get out of here.”

Eden nodded and made a move towards the door. Romany stopped her, holding out a hand.

She wanted to shake hands?

Eden contemplated it a moment. She’d let her anger go. For everyone’s sake not just her own. But she hadn’t forgotten. And she wouldn’t anytime soon.

Looking up slowly from the hand that hoped to shake hers, Eden’s expressionless gaze met Romany’s hopeful one. The hope dissipated at Eden’s stony look and she lowered her hand.

Smart girl.

Eden grunted and brushed past her. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Twenty Two

Promise

“Noah!” Jack burst into the training room where Noah was pummeling the shit out of a boxing bag, Tobe and Cameron watching worriedly from the sidelines. He stopped at Jack’s uncharacteristically dramatic entrance.

“What?”

Jack smiled. “Eden’s at the gate. And she’s not alone.”

Noah flew past him, boxing bag forgotten.

“They’ll be happy to see you,” Romany assured her. Together they stood at the first gate at Cyrus’s estate, the cab having peeled away from the curb, the driver throwing the security point a dubious look. Probably thought they were mafia or something.

Little monsters were playing kickball in Eden’s stomach and laughing every time they made her feel sick. Cyrus was probably so pissed at her for just disappearing like that. They’d probably assumed the worst. Noah probably hated her.

She took a deep breath. “We’ll see.”

The gate swung open and Eden glanced up at the guard. He nodded them through and together they began striding forward, the gravel driveway kicking up under her combat boots. They had been walking for a few minutes when Romany said, “I really do appreciate what you did for me.”

“I didn’t do it for you.”

“I know. I get it.”

Eden grunted, her chaotic mind kind of preoccupied with other stuff. Like how her Ankh family were going to receive her.

“You don’t forgive me, do you?” Romany asked quietly, guilt threaded through the words.

Before Eden could reply the gates up ahead swung open and through them she saw Darius and Cyrus heading towards her, Val and Alain and Emma at their back. Noah too. His pace quickened as he caught sight of her.

Her heart thumped at the sight of them all. Darius there to make sure she’d passed his test. Cyrus to make sure she was still the adopted daughter he loved. Val to make sure Eden had acted with honor. Noah to make sure she was the girl he’d always known she was. And his parents to make sure he’d been right.

Head still forward facing, Eden slanted her gaze, staring at Romany from out the corner of her eyes. “I won’t ever have to see you again after this… right?”

Realizing that was as close to forgiveness she’d ever get, Romany nodded quickly. “Right. I promise.”

The sound of gravel kicking up under speed drew Eden’s gaze straight ahead and she saw Noah was actually jogging towards her. She took a step forward, relief flooding her at the love in his eyes. Two more steps and they were colliding, breath knocking breath out as they embraced. His familiar scent relaxed her as she pressed her face into his shoulder, relishing the feel of him wrapped around her. She felt his lips in her hair and the ragged rise and fall of his chest.

“I knew it,” he whispered, squeezing her tighter. “I knew it.”

Just as his head lowered, his lips reaching for hers, Darius’ pulsing presence drew them apart. His dark eyes scrutinized Eden and then Romany. “What happened?”

Eden looked past him to Cyrus, her guardian’s face taut and expressionless. She felt her heart suspend in her chest, disconnected, waiting for a sign of affection from him to settle back in place and start beating again.

“Eden helped me kill the soul eater who murdered my mom and sister.”

Everyone eyed each other in surprise, Noah pulling back to look down at Eden, his gaze searching.

“Eden?” Cyrus was standing next to her now, towering over her, his chocolate eyes warm but questioning.

She pulled away from Noah and turned to face him. “I needed closure. It was the best I could do.”

He didn’t say anything. Instead he pulled her into his arms and she felt his shoulders shudder as she hugged him back. Cyrus had been scared. He’d thought Darius was going to have to kill her. Guilt as well as overwhelming love for this Ankh only underlined how right the move to let go of revenge on Romany had been. For the first time in her life she had a home she could always come back to. A home she would always want to come back to.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He pulled back and stroked her cheek. “I should have known there was too much of your mother in you for you to hurt the girl.”

“Well…” Darius was grinning, that off-kilter wicked grin. “All is well that ends well. I’ll be off then, my friend.” He clamped a hand on Cyrus’ shoulder. “Call me if you need me.”

“I will.” Cyrus nodded and as Noah pulled her back into his arms, she felt her own relief that Darius was leaving. Just because she’d escaped his judgment didn’t mean he was any less unnerving. As the ancient warrior strode past Val they shared a longing look and Eden’s chest ached a little for her mentor. To not be with the one who was everything to you… she buried deeper against Noah and his familiar, comforting warmth… she couldn’t imagine.

“I better get back to my Councilman,” Romany said softly, drawing their attention.

Val stepped forward, finally dragging her gaze away from Darius. “I’ll drive you.”

Romany smiled at her and then looked back at Eden. “I promise.”

Eden nodded back at the Neith. After all the pain and turmoil her appearance had caused, her promise to stay away was the best one Eden had received in a long time. She was at least grateful to the girl for that.

Exhaustion gripped Eden as they all turned and headed back for the house. She strode between Cyrus and Noah, her hand in her boyfriend’s, her other resting affectionately on Cyrus’s arm. Alain and Emma fell into step beside them as Romany and Val hurried up ahead.

“Eden, I had the television in our rec room changed to a full HD and the DVD player is now a Blu-Ray player,” Alain suddenly said to her, his voice softer than it had ever been when directed at her. “Noah tells me you like movies and the shop assistant assured me the package I bought was the best in home cinema entertainment.”

Shocked, Eden nearly stumbled. Was Alain holding out an olive branch? She looked up at Noah, eyes questioning. He smirked at her, silently telling her just to go with it. She cleared her throat and looked over at the French warrior. “That sounds awesome, Mr. Valois.”

“Please, call me, Alain.”

She almost passed out.

Chapter Twenty Three

The Only Ones that Matter

At the sound of the soft knock on her bedroom door, Eden sighed. She really didn’t want to leave her bed. She looked down at the heavy arm lying across her stomach and felt a rush of breath-stealing relief. Her eyes slid along the arm to the body that was curled into her side, the face that was pressed against her shoulder. Even in his sleep Noah tried to burrow as close to her as he could. His long lashes rested against his cheeks, his features soft and relaxed in slumber. Eden could have watched him sleep forever.

The knock sounded again. “Eden?”

Val?

With another sigh Eden shed her exhaustion, using her graceful Ankh stealth to slide out from under Noah’s arm. He made a grumbling noise but continued to sleep. She threw him a smile over her shoulder as she pulled on her jeans.

“Val??

? she whispered, opening the door and stepping outside, shutting it silently behind her. It had only been fourteen hours or so since her return to the estate with Romany. Romany was thankfully gone and everyone else was probably still in their beds, sleeping off one of the most grueling weeks ever.

Val arched an eyebrow. Her mentor had gotten a peek of Noah in her bed before she’d closed the door. “We’ll let that one pass as long as Cyrus doesn’t find out. No sleepovers in one another’s room until your eighteen, Eden.”

Grinning at the rule – one that Eden was afraid had come far too late – Eden nodded her head down the hall, quietly suggesting they take this conversation away from her bedroom.

Val shook her head and jerked a thumb in the opposite direction. “Cyrus wants to see you.”

Uh oh. That can’t be good.

Brow furrowed, Eden followed Val down the vast hallway until they reached Cyrus’ suite. His door opened as if he had been waiting for them. The gentle smile he gave her as she stepped inside with her mentor relaxed her somewhat, but Eden was still wary. What was so important they couldn’t give her some time to chill out with Noah?

When she was seated in front of them, Eden felt about five. They stood facing her, side by side, their arms crossed over their chests, like two parents who had caught their kid trying to put the cat in the washer/dryer. “Uhh… what’s up?”

“We thought we better discuss this with you before everyone else awakens,” Cyrus replied.

Eden gulped. God, this didn’t sound good at all. “Discuss what?”

Val narrowed her eyes. “Your use of your gift.”

Oh.