Kristie Cook - Promise

We stood there, three generations arm-in-arm, until someone else knocked on the door.

"We still have a lot to discuss," Stefan said from the other side.

We all sighed, our moment over. Mom and Rina stepped out while I quickly rinsed my mouth with water and gargled with mouthwash. When I caught my reflection in the mirror again, I saw a new strength in my eyes. The same strength as in the eyes of my kin—Mom and Rina. Amadis power.

Tristan caught me in the hallway when I came out of the bathroom. He took my face in his hands and searched my eyes. I smiled.

"You're okay." It wasn't a question.

"I'm perfect. You?"

"Perfect." He brushed his lips against mine. I hoped the mouthwash did its job. "I told you. I love you no matter what."

"I know. I love you, too."

Solomon studied my face and Stefan briefly looked at me as I sat down again. I smiled at them both and their expressions relaxed. Solomon, especially, intimidated me, but I knew he was good. And Stefan emanated power, a good power, nearly as appealing as Rina's. It still bugged me, though, how he felt familiar. And, even more, how he had a hard time bringing his eyes to mine.

He picked up where we left off…before I got punched in the stomach.

"As I was saying, the Daemoni believe it would be useful to have both Alexis and Tristan under their power. With Lucas's blood and Amadis royalty, Alexis will be nearly—if not equally—as powerful as Tristan. They believe there is a chance Alexis could come to their side and Tristan would follow her."

"Which I would do," Tristan muttered.

"No, we will not let that happen," Rina said. "Tristan, what do you see as the best solution?"

He stiffened and his jaw clamped audibly. Repeating what he'd told me earlier, he said through gritted teeth, "It is not an option."

"If it is the best, then we must know it so we can all consider it," Solomon said.

Tristan glared at him. His voice held that steely undertone as he spoke. "The best solution for Alexis's safety and long-time survival of the Amadis is for me to go back to the Daemoni. They'll leave you all alone for a long time. Alexis will have to find another mate."

" NO! " I cried.

"Absolutely not!" Rina said.

"Not an option," Solomon agreed. "What is the next one?"

Tristan chuckled grimly. "Definitely not an option. Alexis and I both go to them. They leave the Amadis alone. There's a chance we can still be together, have a child and possibly escape."

Mom and Rina gasped.

"Not an option," Solomon repeated harshly. "Give us something we can actually do ."

"You wanted to know." Tristan took a deep breath. "Besides those two, I really can't come up with anything except protect Alexis and fight if and when necessary. If they go with any of their options, I believe it'll be the last one. That one serves their purpose the most."

"I agree," Stefan said. "We need to ensure they cannot even get close to Alexis. It will be much easier to abduct her than to kill her."

"Then that is what we will do," Rina said decisively. "We have Tristan, Sophia and Owen here. Solomon, make arrangements for at least one more protector at all times. Stefan, continue your recognizance and stay on top of their plans. And keep watch on everything here."

"I do not think they will act immediately," Stefan said. "It will be a difficult maneuver, very risky for them. They may never follow through on it."

"There are always rogues," Tristan said.

"And Vanessa," Mom added. The name ringed in my head as if I should know it, but I couldn't place it.

"Vanessa could become a problem," Tristan said, "but the rogues are a bigger threat. It's their nature to disobey and do their own thing. And they may take one of the other options."

"You need more protection, too, Tristan, in case they do take another path," Rina responded. "You are planning on marrying Alexis, no?"

"Yes," Tristan answered.

"You should do it soon," Solomon said. "Marrying royalty will bind you closer to the Amadis. You will become a member of the royal family and they cannot attack royalty."

"That will be done on our terms," Tristan said firmly, squeezing my hand.

Solomon narrowed his eyes at Tristan. "The sooner the better."

"It just needs to be done under Amadis power," Rina said. "You can delay your legal wedding if you need time to prepare, but marriage vows should be exchanged before the Amadis sooner rather than later to strengthen that bond."

"Let's do it now. I'm ready," I said.

"Alexis!" Mom gasped.

Tristan glared at me. "We'll discuss this later."

"Yes, we'll discuss it first," Mom said.

"If it helps you…," I said to Tristan.

"That is not the reason we'll be getting married," he growled. I knew that tone and decided we wouldn't argue this in front of everyone.

"We will discuss this," I promised and added, "sooner, not later."

"Alexis, you need to thoroughly understand this," Rina said, changing the subject. She didn't have to hear Tristan's thoughts to know he wouldn't budge at the moment—his body language made it clear. "I know it will not be easy, but you must not ever be alone. You are their primary target and you are also our most vulnerable. Until the Ang'dora , you will not be able to defend yourself. Do not worry about Sophia or Tristan or any of the others. We can all protect ourselves and you. You focus on keeping yourself safe, which means staying with one of us at all times."

"I understand." I swallowed hard when I thought about the only activity I did alone—write. I mumbled it under my breath…I thought. "I guess my book is out of the question now."

"That's absurd!" Mom said. "You will finish that book and we will get it published."

"Yes, you need to move forward with that," Rina agreed. I stared at her in disbelief. "Your writing and story-telling ability is one of your special gifts, Alexis, and we would never ask you not to use a gift. We know it will be used for good."

"She should use a nom-de-plume," Tristan said. "It probably wouldn't do any good, but it could divert attention from her."

"No, we want the Daemoni to know," Solomon said. "They will feel threatened by the boldness."

I felt uncomfortable with the way they spoke. I felt a layer of meaning that I wasn't grasping hovering under the surface. Tristan didn't help.

"I don't like it," he said. "It's too risky."

"It is necessary," Rina said with finality. She spoke in my head, " Your purpose, for now, is to write your stories. They will help us. That is all you need to know right now. "

I nodded. Although completely confused, I could easily accept that writing was my purpose. In fact, I'd always felt it in my heart. And I was glad I had a way to serve them, even if I didn't understand how—that I could do something besides sit around with a babysitter.

"She will continue with school, too," Mom said firmly.

"Whatever is a part of her normal life, yes," Rina agreed. "We cannot show any fear."

"So we can stay here?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes, you are safe here, at least for now," Stefan answered. "Tristan, keep your house. It is built for protection from the elements and it will be a safe place should we need it. We would prefer you kept Alexis there with you."

"We'll work that out," Tristan said. "We shouldn't push anything too soon. She'll be safe here with Sophia and protectors keeping watch."

"Nonetheless…the sooner, the better," Solomon said pointedly.

"If we act too quickly, they'll only assume we're pushing forward with the plan and they'll feel threatened by that," Tristan said. "The more natural we are about it, the more time we take, the more time they think they have."

"You should proceed in secrecy," Solomon said. "The sooner there is a child…"