Raintree Read online

  “Perhaps it is.” Mercy’s lips mimicked his, a smile without warmth or sincerity. “But if you come to my bed, you’ll have to sleep with one eye open to prevent me from murdering you in your sleep.”

  “As tempting as the offer is…”

  “There’s a guest room at the end of the hall. You can stay there tonight.”

  “And tomorrow night?”

  “You’ll be gone,” Mercy told him. “You and I will settle this matter tomorrow, and then you’ll leave the sanctuary and never return.”

  As Judah studied her, she felt him probing her thoughts.

  Don’t even try, she warned him.

  If I show you a little bit of mine, will you show me a little bit of yours?

  No!

  Aren’t you the least bit curious? he asked.

  No!

  Liar.

  “Come upstairs with me. I’ll take you to your room,” Mercy said aloud. “And when you wake later this morning, be sure to stay close to the house. If you venture too far away during the day, someone might see you and question who you are.”

  “Don’t you think I could pass myself off as a Raintree?”

  “Not with those ice-cold gray eyes of yours.”

  “Point well made,” Judah said.

  Mercy led him up the stairs to the second floor. He paused as they passed Eve’s room, pushed open the door halfway and looked inside at his sleeping daughter.

  “Why do you suppose her eyes are Raintree green?”

  “Because she is Raintree,” Mercy replied.

  When Judah entered Eve’s bedroom, Mercy followed but didn’t try to stop him.

  He halted beside the mattress, where Eve rested on her tummy, her arms thrown out on her pillow on either side of her head. He reached down and touched her long, pale hair.

  Mercy held her breath. He lifted Eve’s hair, then parted it with his fingers to reveal the distinct blue crescent moon birthmark that proclaimed her heritage. The brand of the Ansara.

  Judah allowed Eve’s hair to fall back into place. He caressed her little head, then turned, looked at Mercy and smiled. And for that one moment Mercy saw love in Judah’s eyes. Love for his daughter.

  Wednesday Morning, 8:45 a.m.

  Judah’s cell phone woke him from a sound sleep.

  Damn! Whoever was calling had better have a good reason.

  He grabbed the ringing phone from the nightstand, checked the caller I.D. and answered. “Claude?”

  “Cael left Terrebonne this morning.”

  Judah sat straight up. “When?”

  “An hour ago.”

  “Was he alone?”

  “No.”

  “How many?”

  “We’re not sure, but Sidra says only three went with him.”

  “Who?” Judah asked.

  “We believe he took Risa, Aron and Travis.”

  “They could be here in North Carolina by this afternoon.”

  “They can’t enter the sanctuary, can they?” Claude asked.

  “No, I don’t think so. Not unless…”

  “Unless what?”

  “Unless they can somehow use Eve.”

  “Is that possible?”

  “I have no way of knowing for sure. It’s possible that her presence here has somehow compromised the shield that protects the sanctuary from the outside world.”

  “As you well know, that shield also protects the sanctuary from those of us who do not possess power equal to Mercy Raintree,” Claude said. “If that shield has been weakened, then think how much easier it would be for us to take control of the sanctuary. With access to the Raintree home place, we could—”

  “No.” Judah lowered his voice. “Even with that advantage, we’re still not ready to battle the Raintree.”

  “Not yet, but surely sooner than we had thought.”

  “Before we alter our plans for the timing of the next great battle, I have to make sure Eve is safe.”

  “That will mean killing Cael before he can harm her or find a way to use her against you.”

  “Yes, I know. But it’s either face a possible civil war when his followers rebel or go to war with the Raintree before we’re ready. Moving against Cael now is the lesser of two evils.”

  “Do you want me to send someone after Cael and the others?” Claude asked. “Or I can—”

  “No, stay there. I need you in Terrebonne. I don’t think Cael will show up here himself. He’ll send Aron and Travis. When they arrive, I’ll be waiting for them, and if they try to enter the sanctuary, I’ll send what’s left of them back to Cael in a gift box.”

  “Perhaps you should have waited before revoking the ancient decree,” Claude said. “Once Cael heard what you’d done, he must have known there was no doubt that there was a mixed-blood child out there. A child of yours.”

  “I had no choice. If I hadn’t revoked the ancient decree, countless Ansara would have demanded my daughter’s death.”

  “I’m sorry I questioned your decision. If Sidra says the child must be protected, then we must protect her.”

  “Use whatever means necessary to keep Cael under surveillance. And it doesn’t matter if he knows he’s being watched. In fact, all the better if he does.”

  The door to Judah’s bedroom swung open, and Eve sailed in, like a little morning sunbeam, bright and cheerful.

  “Good morning, Daddy.”

  Crap! Judah slept in the nude; so here he was sitting on the side of the bed stark naked. Holding the cell phone to his ear with one hand, he grabbed the top sheet with his other and yanked it up and over, covering himself properly from waist to knees.

  “Who are you talking to on the phone?” Eve bounced up on the bed and smiled at him.

  He clutched the top sheet, holding it in place as she scooted closer. “Let me call you back,” he told Claude.

  “Don’t hang up,” Eve said. “I want to say hello to your friend.”

  Judah shook his head, then asked, “Where’s your mother?”

  Ignoring his question, Eve pulled herself up on her knees and reached for the cell phone. Judah gave her a stern look. She hesitated, then called loudly, “Hello, Claude. I’m Eve.”

  Claude chuckled. “Having a discipline problem?

  “She’s quite the little psychic, isn’t she, to have intuitively known my name,” Claude said.

  “I want to talk to Claude.” Eve reached for the phone.

  “My daughter’s talents are quite impressive,” Judah admitted. “Look, just say hello to her, will you?” He handed the phone to Eve.

  She smiled. “Thank you, Daddy.” She put the phone to her ear and said, “Hi there. You’re calling from far away, aren’t you?”

  Judah telepathically tuned in to the conversation.

  “Yes, I am,” Claude replied “How did you know?”

  “I know things. I have lots of powers, but my mother won’t let me use most of them ’cause I can’t always make them mind me.” Eve lowered her voice to a whisper. “Just like I don’t always mind her.”

  She giggled. Claude chuckled.

  “I once knew a little boy like you. He possessed great power, but when he was your age, he couldn’t control his powers any more than his father could control him.”

  Eve giggled again. “That was my daddy, wasn’t it?” She looked at Judah with pure adoration in her eyes.

  Damn those green Raintree eyes!

  So like Mercy’s.

  “Say goodbye to Cousin Claude,” Judah said.

  “Goodbye, Cousin Claude. I’ll see you very soon.”

  She handed Judah the phone, then snuggled up against him as he held the sheet in place over his lower body and put in a telepathic SOS to Mercy.

  “Your little Eve is quite a charmer,” Claude said to Judah. “Like father, like daughter, huh?”

  “Could be.”

  “Why does she think she’ll see me very soon?” Claude asked. “Have you told her that you’re bringing her to Terrebonne?”