Kristie Cook - Devotion

"I guess my mind's finally in a place where I can pay attention."

"I wanted Owen to be your protector because he's a powerful warlock, possibly the most powerful we have after Martin. I saw that truth the day he was born."

I stopped short for a second with surprise, then blasted forward to catch up with Mom. I had no idea how fast we ran, but I was pretty sure Olympians would hate us. "You've known him that long?"

"Since his birth. He's always shown impressive potential. I wouldn't be surprised if he out-powered even Martin one of these days."

"So that's why you and the council thought he'd still be a good mate. Not quite the same as Tristan–"

"But one of our best, yes."

"And you agree with them? You're on their side? I thought you didn't like them."

"I'm not on anyone's side but our own, Alexis." She ran a few paces before continuing. "I don't like the council. Not in general. I don't appreciate how they try to control our lives. Sometimes they forget they're advisors, not the decision makers."

We ducked under a branch and burst through the edge of the trees onto a meadow about a half-mile long and at least half as wide. The other end sloped upwards into a hill. Mom ran for it and I stayed by her side.

"The ones I truly didn't like," she continued, "when you were an infant and they were planning your life–your mate–for you, are mostly the same ones who now think you should be with Owen. They're temperamental and impulsive, either following everyone else's lead or doing whatever suits their best interests at the moment. I don't trust them because I can't feel the truth in their beliefs."

"So they're like all other politicians."

"Basically, yes. But not all of them. And they don't have any final say. That's left to the matriarch. She can't be vetoed or overruled."

"And if they try?"

"No one ever has. As Amadis, they serve–and trust–the matriarch. Their devotion and service to her represents their devotion and service to God. She's ordained to be their leader, and they understand that."

We came to the end of the meadow just before it sloped more sharply upwards and stopped for a break. We'd probably run at least eight miles, by my guess. A white stone building stood at the top of the hill, and I realized it was the Council Hall, which meant the village was right on the other side. A figure–Julia, upon closer inspection–rounded the corner of the building and ducked inside a low doorway in the back.

"They don't seem to be so devoted to her now," I said, starting a jog up the hill to see where Julia had gone. If there was someone on the council I specifically didn't trust, it was her. Mom's hand gripped my shoulder and spun me around.

"I admit something's going on," she said, "but we're not going up there."

I opened my mouth to protest.

"No, Alexis. You can't keep running off on your personal whims, as you did when you went to Key West."

"I didn't do that for me. I did it to keep Dorian and everyone else safe."

"Honey … remember you're not in this by yourself." She glanced again at the Council Hall. "Besides, you're not ready. Not yet."

She turned and took off down the hill, back toward the woods, expecting me to follow. I examined the Council Hall again, curiosity about Julia so strong, I almost couldn't control my feet from heading up there. But Mom was right–I would need my telepathy, and I wasn't nearly ready to try to use it again. I raced across the meadow to catch up with her, and we ran in silence for a while.

"You said something's going on, so do you believe me now?" I finally asked.

She slowed down, and I slowed with her. "I believe in you, honey. I know you will eventually be able to use your gift to find out the whole truth."

My jog diminished into a walk. Mom stopped and waited for me to catch up to her. She still didn't completely believe me, but at least she didn't outright deny anything as Rina had.

"And do you still believe in Tristan?" I asked because I really needed her on my side when it came to being with him. Surely Rina would fight for us, but I needed Mom, too.

She swung her arm over my shoulders. "Of course I do, honey. I've always felt the truth about you two, even when I didn't want to admit it. Besides, I can't deny my own gift … or the Angels … or the Book of Prophecies & Curses."

"The book of what?" Did she really say what I thought she said?

"Prophecies and curses." Yes, she did. "It holds all the prophecies received by the Amadis and all the curses the Daemoni have made. There's a prophecy about you and Tristan in it."

"Really? Where is it? I want to see it."

"In the Sacred Archives, but–"

"And where is that?"

"In the mansion."

"And the message Rina received about Tristan and me is written in there? How does she get their messages, anyway?"

"They're written in a form only the matriarch can translate. So the message about you and Tristan is between Rina and the Angels. It's not in the Book of Prophecies & Curses."

I furrowed my brow, confused. "So the Angels' messages aren't the same as prophecies?"

"Prophecies are messages the Angels might have given to others besides the matriarch, usually in a dream or trance. There's no way to verify if they're real or imagined, though, so we consider them … strong suggestions or useful information." She pushed a low branch out of her way and held it back for me. "The Angels' messages, however, are much more direct. They're only delivered when they need us to do something or behave or respond in some way we otherwise would not have. The Angels don't interfere unless they feel they must and then it is only with the matriarch."

"So there was a prophecy and a message about Tristan and me?"

She cleared her throat and looked away. "Apparently, some didn't take the prophecy seriously enough, so the Angels made sure we understood."

I suppressed a smile. She'd been among the "some" who didn't take it seriously, all the way up until Tristan and I were practically engaged. We walked past the gym and soon were on the arched path leading to the front of the mansion, but Mom stopped and took my hands into hers, stopping me, too.

"Alexis, you know you can trust Rina and me, even if you feel like you can't trust anyone else?"

I could probably trust her. Rina … I still wasn't sure. I nodded anyway.

"Rina will do what's best for the Amadis, but, unless it's absolutely necessary, she won't sacrifice us, her own flesh and blood. It's sometimes hard to believe or accept, but she does act in our best interests, okay?"

I nodded again.

"We each have our place and purpose. I'm learning mine as a support to Rina. You need to learn yours. Remember–this isn't only about you, Tristan and Dorian. You need to keep the big picture in mind."

I nodded a third time.

"So let her handle things the way she needs to. Forget about books and needing to know every little thing. Mind your own business and stay out of trouble. The best thing you can do for you and Tristan and Dorian–for all of us–is to concentrate on yourself and your powers so we can get to the bottom of this."

I understood her point, but I didn't nod this time. I wouldn't make a promise I didn't intend to keep. I would find out everything I could, even if it meant finding and reading this Book of Prophecies & Curses.

When she concluded that I wouldn't reply to this last order, she sighed and turned back for the mansion. Just as we separated ways in the foyer, Tristan's voice thundered in my head, the loveliness distorted with anxiety. "Alexis!"

I froze in place, focused on Tristan's signature and followed it to his thoughts. Through his mind, I saw Dorian crumpled on the ground, his leg twisted at a sickening angle.