Hidden Heart, Book 2 of the Hidden Trilogy (Fantasy) Page 8

  I caught up to him. “Tell me about your parents. Can you remember them well?”

  He glanced over at me warily, almost as if trying to determine whether I was sincere. Or whether I was worthy of the precious nuggets of memory I’d asked him to share. Looking back at the dusty path ahead of us, he said, “I do. I remember so much—I try to hold on to it—the past with them, being someone’s son—their real son.”

  Lad had once told me his adoptive brother had always wanted what he had—that they were competitive in every arena. I had looked down on Nox when hearing those stories, but now I saw them in a different light. Nox had been just a child—he’d wanted to be loved—like any of us do.

  “I’ll bet your mom was pretty,” I prompted. It was a safe guess—she was Elven—she had to have been pretty.

  He smiled, a distant memory filling his beautiful hazel eyes. “She was. She had this long, black hair. And she had the sweetest voice. She was… Sylvie Jerrik.” He glanced at me, checking to see if I recognized the name.

  “Your mom was the Sylvie Jerrik?”

  He nodded, a look of unmistakable pride on his face.

  “Wow. So then your dad was…”

  “Gavin Jerrik. Yeah. I told you they were musicians.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t realize…”

  Pretty much everyone knew of the Jerriks. Gavin was one of the most prolific songwriters of the modern generation, having penned tunes for countless famous artists over the past few decades and worked as a producer with a long list of top performers. He was also known for playing several instruments in different bands through the years. And for his powerful sex appeal.

  His wife was famous for her gorgeous alto voice—Mom used to say Sylvie Jerrik could sing a page out of the phone book and sell a million copies on iTunes. And that Gavin Jerrik had probably made a million conquests.

  “So your last name…”

  He nodded, biting his lip. “Yeah. I made up Knight.”

  “Stage name?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Your dad died in a plane crash, right?”

  He shrugged. “Private Lear jet. He and several other musician friends—they were on their way to perform at a festival.”

  “And your mom?”

  “She supposedly died in the crash as well.”

  “But it’s not true?”

  He shook his head. “No, the media said so, but she and I weren’t with my father on the plane. After his death, we traveled immediately to Mississippi. We left everything, in the middle of the night, the two of us. Mom took me to Altum and left me there with her sister, my aunt Mya, and then she took off again.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize your mom was a Light Elf.”

  He nodded. “Her marriage to my father was a political one—like the one planned for Lad and Vancia—to broker a peace deal. But she and my father fell in love. They were happy together, and she adapted well to life among humans.”

  “Where is she now?”

  His shoulders lifted and fell, his gaze trained on the trail ahead. “She… never came back. Which means she has to be dead, too.”

  “Oh my God, Nox. That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.” I reached out and placed a comforting hand on his arm.

  He stopped walking and turned to face me. “Yeah. I guess that’s the other reason I wanted to come back to California—to get some answers, try to find out what really happened.”

  “Have you?”

  “Not yet. I haven’t told anyone who my parents were—there’s another reason for the fake name.” He paused, a frown working its way across his forehead as if he was trying to decide how much more to say.

  “What?”

  “Ivar always told me I shouldn’t reveal my family name. He said it might be dangerous. I chose Knight for myself when I started mixing with humans.”

  “I see.”

  “My agent Alfred asked me about my family. I almost told him, but then—I don’t know—I got a strange feeling about it. I gave him a couple of made-up names. I think I have to… tread carefully or something until I know who I can trust. Like I said before—it’s kind of a downer. We don’t have to talk about this.”

  “We can if you want to,” I assured him. “It’s good for you to talk about them. As you said, you want to keep their memories alive. I just… I want to say you can talk to me about them anytime… if you want to.”

  Nox’s body and expression froze, his eyes misting as they stared into mine. “Okay,” he said, his voice sounding choked.

  “We’re here,” I realized, tilting my head back to see the Hollywood sign looming above.

  He looked up at the giant letters as well. They weren’t quite as fancy as I’d imagined them to be—basically sheets of steel supported by steel rods sunk into concrete. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting. Still, the idea of it was fun. No doubt Shay and my other friends back home would think it was cool I’d seen the sign up close.

  When we’d hiked back to the car, Nox opened my door for me partway but stopped mid-motion.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “For keeping the truth from you. I did feel bad about it, but… well, I’m really glad you know now. I mean, I guess I am a Dark Elf by birth, but I don’t really feel like these are my people. Not yet anyway. And like I told you, I’ve never felt truly a part of the Light Elves either. I’ve been kind of a loner. It’s nice to have a friend.”

  Swallowing back a lump in my throat, I said, “I understand. Thanks for apologizing.” I broke eye contact and looked at the ground until the car door was completely open, then got in and let out the breath I’d been holding.

  So there it was. We were friends now. In spite of what he’d done in the past, he was helping me. I understood him a little better. And all we had out here was each other.

  When Nox was behind the wheel, I turned to him. “You realize we’re going to have to keep our friendship under wraps while we’re here. We can’t keep running off together. You’re going to have to spread your attention around.”

  He nodded and started the engine with a smirk and a lifted brow. “How do you know I haven’t been?” Then the smug look dissolved into a true smile. “Just kidding. I guess you’re right, though.”

  I laughed. “Most guys would be more excited. You’ve got a houseful of adoring women at your beck and call. They’re all really cute.”

  “And they’re all really squealy. I didn’t even know voices could go that high.” He laughed, but his expression turned serious as he drove the car down the winding road toward the valley. “It’s weird to be worshipped. It makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Yeah—I guess you’re not quite a Dark Elf yet, then. You’d better get used to it. It’s only going to get worse because it doesn’t look like you’re going to get less famous.”

  * * *

  Nox joined the pod in the enormous dining room for dinner that night, sitting at a table at the front of the room with Amalia. I tried not to glance in their direction too often, but most of the girls around me stared throughout pretty much the entire meal.

  “Do you think they’re a thing?” Kim asked in a low voice, studying Nox and Amalia speaking together.

  “Celeb Tonight said he’s single,” Bonnie argued. “Besides, if they were a thing, she’d probably be pissed he went hiking with Ryann today.”

  “Well, Amalia wasn’t exactly happy when she saw them leave together,” Gigi said.

  I whipped my glance to her. “Really? Did she say something?” I knew Amalia wasn’t jealous, but I was worried about her watching anything I did too closely.

  “She didn’t say anything—she just shot you the death glare as you two drove off. I’d watch my back around her.”

  Bonnie nodded. “Yeah, she is pretty scary. She told us to think of her like a big sister, but she seems more like a warden or something.”

  “Are you thinking about going home?” I asked.

  Bonnie looked at me like I’d suggested she try to suck her grille
d chicken entrée through a straw. “God no. I’m living in Nox Knight’s house. This is my chance to get to know him and go to amazing parties and have the life I’ve always wanted. Nothing and no one could make me leave.”

  “Me too,” Gigi agreed.

  “Me three,” Kim added.

  I was about to say something to inject some doubt, but at that moment, Nox stood and lifted his hands. “Ladies. Ladies, if I could get your attention for a minute.”

  A hush fell over the dining room.

  “I want to thank you all for being here and for your support this morning at the show. You made it really fun for me and the band. And even though we’re only getting started, I have to say… I think I have the best fan pod out there.”

  The room erupted in applause and screams of delight. Nox smiled and left his table, crossing the room to a table of six girls toward the front. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but it looked like he asked their names because each one of them spoke in turn, red-faced and beaming. After about a minute, he lifted a hand to a pretty blonde in an apparent invitation.

  Her spread palm went to her chest. It wasn’t hard to read her shocked expression or her lips. “Me?” she gasped.

  He smiled and waited until she rose from her seat and made her way around the table to take his hand. An odd hot sensation twisted through my belly when his fingers wrapped around hers. I averted my gaze from the two of them as they left the dining room together.

  Where were they going? What would they talk about? What would they do together and for how long? And why in the world did I care?

  I finally lifted my eyes from my untouched plate. My tablemates were staring at me.

  “Are you okay?” Gigi asked in a hushed tone.

  What should I say? Glancing around at their expectant expressions, I considered it. How would a real fan podette, under the influence of powerful Elven glamour, react? Should I be blasé… or pretend to be jealous?

  Maybe I didn’t have to pretend. The strange sensation had spread from my belly to my chest where it burned hotly, serving as rocket fuel for my accelerated heartbeat.

  I lifted my shoulders and let them fall, keeping my eyes trained on the plate of unfinished food in front of me. “Whatever,” I bit out, allowing the venom I tasted to leak into the word. “It’s not like we’re together or anything.”

  Gigi reached over and patted my back. “At least you’ll get to see him at the Hidden’s show tomorrow night.”

  I shrugged away from her consoling touch. “I’m not going.”

  “What?” Bonnie said. “But… you have to. We all have to. That’s what we’re here for.” The look in her round blue eyes reminded me of the dazed, vacant expression on the face of Emmy’s mother on the day she disappeared. Glamoured. Right. I’d have to watch myself or my new friends would start wondering why I was so different. Worse, I’d draw the attention of those who weren’t my friends.

  I glanced toward the head table where Amalia now sat alone. She scanned the room, and to my relief, her eyes passed right over me. I was invisible on her radar. For my own good, and for Emmy’s, I needed to keep it that way.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sway

  Amalia sent us out to the beach the next morning. I guessed it was good for Nox’s image to have a bevvy of bathing beauties decorating the shoreline outside his home. If they sported freshly sun-kissed skin—even better.

  Like the other girls, I wore a bikini, though mine was comprised of considerably more fabric than most. Fortunately, I’d packed a good supply of sunblock. While the air felt cooler, the California sun seemed stronger than Mississippi’s summer rays. Maybe because here the UVA and UVB weren’t fighting through so many layers of humidity to get to my skin.

  The day was bright and crisp. I’d never seen a sky so blue and cloudless. Settling onto a beach towel, I attempted to read a paperback but couldn’t keep my focus on the story. A nearby conversation kept hijacking my attention. The curvy blonde who’d been chosen by Nox last night was recounting her evening to her suitemates.

  “He was so sweet. And his room is amazing. Oh my God, you should see the size of his bed.”

  Suddenly sweltering under the midday rays, I leapt to my feet. No doubt spraying sand from my digging strides, I went to the water’s edge and charged into the surf, diving under the sparkling blue surface. Oh dang this is cold.

  I’d never swum in the Pacific before, having grown up much closer to the sugar sand and turquoise waters of Florida beaches. While the Gulf of Mexico was like a warm bath, this was more like a cold shower. Which was perfect. I needed a good shock to the system to clear out all the crazy images going through my head.

  After a few minutes of wading deeper and deeper, my body acclimated to the bracing water temperature. I began swimming laps perpendicular to the shoreline, glancing back every once in a while at the huge beach home to get my bearings. The blonde’s story seemed to have drawn a crowd. A group of girls sat in the sand around her, no doubt fascinated by the details of her night with the Rock God.

  I plunged my face back into the water for one, two strokes, determined not to let myself speculate on those details, on what might have occurred in Nox’s room, in his reportedly enormous bed.

  What is the matter with me? I could care less what Nox did with the other girls, beyond concern for their well-being as brainwashed glamour victims, of course.

  “Having a nice swim?”

  I stopped mid-stroke and choked on a mouthful of salt water I’d suddenly inhaled at the sound of the silky male voice beside me.

  Nox laughed and pounded my back with a warm fist as he treaded water and supported me with his other hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Guess you were pretty focused on your laps there.”

  I coughed again, finally expelling enough seawater to respond. My voice was scratchy and annoyed-sounding. “Where did you come from?”

  “I got in down the beach there.” Pointing toward a rocky outcropping in the distance, he smiled and rolled his eyes toward the horde on the beach in front of his house. “Wanted to get in a swim before facing the feeding frenzy.”

  I nodded. “Probably wise you didn’t walk out your back door in a Speedo. You might never have made it to the water.”

  He laughed out loud. “If you ever catch me in a Speedo, you have my permission to feed me to the sharks. So, how are you this morning? Sleep well last night?”

  “Fine,” I lied, unwilling to admit to the dreams that had plagued me throughout the night. Dreams where Nox’s dark head bent over a small platinum one and the scene progressed from there.

  “Well, that’s good, because the show’s gonna go pretty late tonight. It’s at the Viper Room, and things don’t even get started there until around ten.”

  I treaded water in front of him, both of us bobbing with the swell and ebb of the ocean. When the current pushed me toward Nox, I fanned the water with my arms to force my body back and prevent our limbs from tangling. “I told you already—I’m not going to any more of your shows.”

  “Ryann.” He sighed in exasperation. “What if I promise not to use my glamour?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t think so. You’ve already admitted you’re not in control of it. You said it happens naturally.”

  “Well… I might have some control…” he said with a sheepish grin. “You know what I mean. You must feel yourself exerting your Sway. Can’t you dial it up or down when you want to?”

  “My sway? What are you talking about?”

  “Well… you’re part Elven. You must have some glamour. And I’ve seen how the other girls in the house react when you make a suggestion. I think your glamour must be persuasion—we call it the Sway. All of us have it to some degree, but certain Elves have a special gift for using it.”

  I shook my head, squinting against the glare of the sun’s reflection off the water around us. “No. I don’t feel anything. And if I did have any glamour, wouldn’t it be the same as my grandma’s?
Lad said it comes through family lines. If I had to guess, I’d say Grandma Neena’s glamour is empathy. Mom seems to have it, too, although she doesn’t even know she’s half Elven.”

  “Are you especially aware of others’ emotions then?” Nox asked.

  “I never thought so—not any more than most people are. But then I guess we don’t really know how other people experience things. Maybe they’re not sensing as much as I am about people’s feelings. I don’t know.”

  “Well, you should try to figure it out—ask your grandmother—being in touch with your glamour abilities might come in handy out here.” He gave me a wicked smile. “Want to try out your empathy on me? What am I feeling right now?”

  His expression told me whatever he was feeling—I was better off not knowing. I splashed water at his face, making him blink in surprise and then laugh out loud. “So you can read my feelings, huh?”

  “We’ll both be feeling hypothermia if we don’t get out of this icy water soon,” I growled.

  “This is nice. You should feel it at night—I wouldn’t swim out here after dark if you paid me.”

  “Well, I’m freezing. See you back on shore.” I knifed one hand then another through the ocean, aiming for the beach and away from Nox and his too-loud feelings.

  A swirl of water rushed over my legs as his powerful kick propelled him past me. “How about a race to warm your blood?” He called back over his shoulder.

  Kicking harder, I gained on him but there was no out-swimming him. Nox emerged from the ocean a few yards ahead of me and right onto the most populated part of the beach. He was not wearing a Speedo, but a pair of orange board shorts, slung low on his hips and revealing an expanse of tanned skin across his wide shoulders and well-formed back.

  Damn these Elven guys. Did they really have to have glamour and be gorgeous? The human race didn’t stand a chance.