Des'Tai: Book Two

145: Tyron

The whole next morning I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was missing something. After Faye had told me about how she'd both seen and heard a young boy, in nearly the same circumstances as I had, it made me wonder if perhaps there was something more to this. Last night I'd shrugged it off to her, putting it down to coincidence – after all, all children, be them elf or human, had an imagination.

I'd never, no matter how many times I'd seen her, heard my ghostly girl speak. I'd only ever caught glimpses of her, sometimes from the back or the side, only once from the front, and each time was as fleeting as the last. It was almost like a flicker of light on a mirror, there and gone in a few seconds, leaving me to wonder if I'd ever actually seen her at all.

And let's be real here; there was no possible way that Faye and I had been seeing visions of one another, worlds apart, even if my Iasa's stories about the veil were true.

I watched her now from across the kitchen island, as she bit into her toasted slice of sour loaf bread. She caught me and paused mid-bite, her brow rising toward her hairline.

"Tasty?" I asked her.

Faye watched me closely, dropping her toast down to the plate. She chewed and swallowed quickly before she answered. "Yes..?"

"Tastier than me?"

Senna was the only other person in the room, her back to us as she worked at a lump of dough. She'd heard me; I could tell by how her shoulders were shaking. Faye glanced over her shoulder at her friend, before shooting me a chastising glare. "Ty...Goddess above."

'Nothing on either planet is tastier than you are.'

I smirked when her voice filtered into my head.

"You two are like no Mated couple I've ever met before," Senna spoke up, her back still to us. "You talk to each other like you've always known one another. It's so familiar and comfortable, so natural. I know Lifemates that have gone fifty years and still not reached that level of intimacy."

"Probably the human element is unbalancing the normal order of things," I said, scooping up a fork full of warm pancake.

Faye rested her elbow against the counter top and dropped her head into her open hand, staring at me wistfully. "He's so romantic, isn't he?"

Chewing my mouth full of delicious breakfast, I offered my Mate a wink.

Senna shook her head and turned, hands in her apron. "Are you both at the trails today? Luna asked me to make something extra lavish for tonight, for our possible extra company."

I swallowed. "Knox wants us all there, so that's another day of baking in the sun for me."

"I'm designated note taker," Faye lifted her notepad from the counter beside her. "I can think of worse ways to spend a day than watching a bunch of burly men fighting."

I caught the slightest flicker of eye movement in my direction and I instantly knew what she was doing – my lady was goading me. I reached across the table and snatched a piece of her toast.

"Don't make me spank you again, Katinar." I took a bite and dropped it back down onto her plate.

Colour flushed to her cheeks as Senna burst out laughing, then walked to Faye's side and nudged at her playfully. "Behave yourself, Faye Abernacky."

She cleared her throat and returned her attention to her breakfast. "Well, make sure to keep your eyes to yourself when Sybil is around. I'm sick of hearing how she's 'totally your type'."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head when Senna looked at me. "So, I get in trouble for what someone else says now? I haven't even mentioned Sybil!" And honestly, I wasn't the least bit attracted to her. Sure, Sybil was beautiful and her abilities were impressive, but I found my interest in other women was waning these days.

A factor that was most definitely down to my gorgeous human.

"My type has changed." I told her.

"Hmm..." Senna mused, her flour coated finger tapping at her chin. "Let me guess. Blonde, curly hair, blue eyes, full lips and a cute button nose, boobs to die for and curvaceous hips that know exactly how to 'shake it off'. Am I close?"

A lopsided grin curled at my lips. "Got it in one."

Faye hadn't stopped watching me, her eyes shimmering at me impishly. I could sense her delight at Senna's words through our link.

Suddenly, Knox appeared through the kitchen archway, dressed in his grey and black t-shirt and shorts, his go-to outfit for training. "Good morning, folks." He smiled, then helped himself to a stack of pancakes and took the stool beside me.

I was surprised he'd chosen to sit by me, of all people. And though I hated to admit it, I'd noticed a clear change in him since Mali had moved in; he seemed less gruff and curt, leaning more towards a relaxed nature.

"Morning, Knox," Faye smiled, pushing the syrup towards him. "How are you feeling about today? I'm getting good vibes!"

"Me too," He nodded his head in agreement. "Hopefully by days end we'll have two new Watchers on duty."

"It's exciting!" Senna beamed, placing a fresh glass of juice in front of Knox. "Our family is growing. This place is so big that it feels empty sometimes. Fourteen people living in a palace is nothing!"

"I think it's great. I wouldn't give up the privacy and quiet for anything." I said. "There are three of you sharing one entire wing. Don't tell me you'd want that to change?"

"Well, no...but I'm not talking about a hundred extra people, Ty. I mean two! Two extra bodies around would make a world of difference."

"Ugggghhhh!" Rune barged through the side door. "That means more living on our floor! How did I not think about this soon?!"

"The third floor has the main gym on it – it's the biggest wing in the entire palace!" Faye told him, slapping at his hand as he reached for her glass of juice. "You have like eight empty rooms that no one even uses."

"I like them empty." He quipped back at her. "You're a fine one to talk, Shorty. You and lover boy over there have a whole wing to yourself."

"And it's staying like that." I pointed my fork at him.

Senna chirped up. "Nero and I will be sharing soon, anyway. So someone could always take his room."

"Oh!" Faye exclaimed. "Of course! How could I forget that? Have you thought about where you might be going?"

"Luna said she was planning a reorganising of the rooms soon, since a lot has changed recently -" I opened my mouth to protest when Senna turned to me and winked. "And before you say anything it won't be you, just the rest of us. Luna made it very clear that she intends to let you stay where you are. Personally, I'm hoping for a third floor room – one of the bigger ones with a separate sitting room and a bathtub!"

"Third floor is Watchers only!" Rune grumbled. "No women...apart from the ones in my bed."

"Goddess, you are such a pig sometimes." Faye sneered. "You're only pissy because YOU have one of the bigger rooms, don't you? Time to share, bucko!"

He turned narrowed eyes onto me. "Did you keep the receipt? I don't like this one. Take her back and get a different one."

Knox looked at his watch and jolted to his feet. "Candidates will be showing up any minute now. Everyone, get your butts outside."

I spun on my stool and dropped my head back in a tired groan. Another day of babysitting a bunch of wannabes. I think I'd sooner watch Willa fold laundry.

Faye pushed to her feet and stopped in front of me, her hands bracing against my shoulders as she leant in. "C'mon, solider. On your feet!"

Instinctively my hands moved to rest on her hips. "Can't. Too lazy."

She smirked and dropped her face nearer my ear, where only I could hear her breathless whisper. "Watching you move, the way you fight and stroll around those training grounds...does things to me. Delicious things ."

My grip on her hips tightened. "Well then, I wouldn't want to disappoint you, love."