Santa's Daughter (1st bk of Santa Series) (Completed)

Chapter 30 (Edited)

"She needs to know, Marie," a male, from the kitchen, said. Urgency filled his voice, and I didn't know why he was so urgent about whomever needed to know something. "She is almost of age."

There was a slamming of a cabinet door, causing me to look down at Mika and frown. "Mary does not need to know about this, Cale," Mom said. "She is still-" She stopped when I came into the kitchen. Her eyes were wide, and I could see a bit of fear in them.

"What do I not need to know?" I asked, cocking my head. I was confused. I knew that there was something because this was the second time that my mother was talking to Cale alone. It was as if... she didn't want me to know something that both of them knew.

Mom huffed and shook her head. "It's nothing," she said, moving to the fridge and pulled out a gallon of milk. "Not right now, at least." She slammed the fridge door shut, and I could tell that she would be pissed if I did ask her.

I frowned, not liking that she was hiding something from me. I knew that my mother wouldn't tell me, even if I begged her. I had to get my stubbornness from someone. "What happened with Jankin?" I asked, changing the subject. I leaned against the doorway, blatantly ignoring Cale.

"He is in the kennel," Mom replied, cooking food. "He almost attacked Lanshin, but this time it was out of fear."

I straightened, frowning. That didn't sound like one of the dogs I trained, because we made sure that they didn't attack others out of fear. "Do you know why?" I asked, furrowing my brows together.

Mom looked at me with a sarcastic expression. She didn't say a word, giving Cale a glance. Her meaning was clear, she didn't want him to know that I could talk to animals.

I shook my head at my mother, a smile flickering on my face. "Where is everyone?" I asked, noticing the lack of noise in the house.

"John and Tyan are check out the new horses. They are giving them a bath and shaving some. Mr. Flanskey is making a phone call. He looked pretty conflicted about something. And, lastly, Madison is in her room doing Gods know what."

I nodded. "Mika and I are gonna head to the basement to check on Jankin. Had Lanshin been placed in a kennel or is he around?"

"He's around," Mom replied. "Go check on Jankin and see what triggered him." Worry flickered through her eyes while she looked up at me.

I clicked my heels together and saluted her, grinning. "Yes Ma'am," I said before making my way to the basement.

"Hut two, three, four," Mom called out to me when I made it out of the kitchen. "Hut two, three, four."

***

"I do not like her hiding stuff from me, Mika," I said, hopping down the last step and into the basement.

"I know, Mary," she replied, rubbing against me in comfort. "She'll tell you when she is ready."

I bit back a scoff and rolled my eyes. I knew that she would tell me when she was ready, but when would that be?

I shook my head and moved to the left door, which separated the hallway from the kennel. I understood that my mother was trying to "protect" me, but I was turning sixteen years old and had faced stuff that others hadn't in my younger years.

Mika nuzzled my clenched fist. "Don't get angry with her," she consoled. "She loves you, and I know that you know that."

I sighed and nodded my head. I didn't say a word while I reached for the kennel door.

Something shocked me the first time, causing me to yelp and pull my hand back. "What the fudge was that about?" I asked, staring at my hand and then at the door. "What happened?" I asked, no one in particular.

"I don't know," Mika replied, causing me to glare playfully at her. She gave me a doggish grin, causing me to scowl at her. "I know that it was a rhetorical question, Mary," she teased. "I just wanted to answer."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes before reaching for the door again. This time when I grabbed it, searing pain went through my whole entire body, and I couldn't let go of the painful doorknob. A silent scream escaped my lips while my body started to convulse helplessly on the floor.

I felt Mika try to pull me off of the door, but she couldn't. Muffled barks filled my ears until I couldn't hear anything anymore. At that moment, the world around me turned black, and I couldn't help but wonder what the fuck was going on.

***

The first thing I noticed when I started to gain consciousness was the fact that my face was planted on something that felt like grass. A soft breeze blew across my body, and I could feel warmth caressing against my skin.

The second thing I noticed was the fact that my hand was still in pain. A gruntled scream escaped my lips while I moved onto my stomach and clutched my hand. My eyes were squeezed shut, and I hated how much pain I was in.

A wet nose nudged me, causing me to groan out in annoyance. "Mary!" I heard the frantic voice of my companion say. "Wake up. Open your eyes."

"I'm up," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Why are you so frantic?"

"There are people staring at you," Mika replied, nudging me again. "I don't know them."

I opened my eyes and sat up quickly. I kept my injured hand close to my body while I took in the scene of a rolling landscape with very green grass and a clear, blue sky.

Someone cleared their throat, causing me to turn my gaze to them. Sure enough, two people, a male and a female, were standing in front of me. Both bowed in respect, causing me to frown.

What they said most, confused the hell out of me. What they said was: "Welcome home, Princess."