Changes

Carrie led the way outside toward the southern gate.

“Does it seem like more are breaking through the barrier lately, or is that just me?” Michael grumbled. He had not finished reading his paper yet.

“You will get to finish your paper after,” Carrie chided him as she drew her bow.

“There are only two of them,” Eric called as they began to split from Carrie and Michael.

“If it is too much for you, we will handle it from here, Grandpa.”

“Grandpa? Watch it. Just because I read the newspaper…” The four pulled up short as the creatures came into view.

“Well now.” Lily was the first to speak. “I do not think we have ever had Level IIIs here.”

“Dinner will be late.” Carrie drew her bow and aimed for the right eye of one of the Beings.

“It will keep,” Michael informed her, and they moved in.

The Beings were doing the same.

“I do hope we get back before Wren and Talon come down,” Lily murmured.

Wren was not ready to fight, and Talon would not be stopped.

If he started fighting, she would most likely want to fight, and then there really would be a mess to clean up.

***

Talon knocked on Wren’s door three hours after he had dropped her off. He turned to head toward his room.

It was none of his business if she did not answer.

Only… He found himself once again opening her door and looking in.

Her stuff had not arrived yet, so nothing had changed, but he stepped inside anyway and stood there, unsure of what to do next.

“Hey! Are you in here?” he called. He waited, listening, hearing faint breathing coming from the bedroom.

He crossed the room and carefully opened the door, peering into the darkened room.

He let out a sigh and let himself in all the way.

~What is up with her? All she seems capable of doing well is sleeping.~ He had figured she would be up by now.

The woman needed to figure out her priorities.

He came to the bed and looked down at her.

She was quite pretty when she let her hair down and removed her glasses.

An image of her holding her blade against Shorty’s throat came to mind, and he wondered if Carrie had been right.

~What if that is her true personality? She was strong and sure, and her eyes… They seemed to come alive at that moment.~

~What if the timid and quiet mouse is the facade, and the strong and decisive woman is the person?~

Talon ran a hand over his face, feeling his five-o’clock shadow as he rubbed his jaw before slowly edging to the side of the bed and sitting down next to her.

His gaze fell on the steady rise and fall of her chest.

A bit of her hair had fallen across her face, and he reached out with his hand to remove it, only to stop and snatch it back against his chest.

~What am I doing?~ He had no business and certainly no right to touch her.

~Why did I?~

Talon felt his face grow hot at the realization that not once, but twice, he had touched her today without her consent.

Something he never thought he would do with another person.

Yet he could clearly recall dragging her up against him.

Twice.

Her body was warm and soft next to him, and he had to look away from the sleeping figure.

These moments, along with the moment she, herself, had turned to him for comfort, crowded around his head, threatening to overpower all other emotions he felt toward her.

“Wren.” He tentatively touched her shoulder and gently shook her when she did not respond to his voice or touch.

“Wren, you need to get up.”

***

Wren let out a soft groan. She was having a pleasant dream where she was wrapped up in a safe embrace.

The feeling of safety and warmth had replaced that of fear and pain.

It was a dream she rarely had, but it gave her hope that things would someday change.

“Wren?” That was new.

She had never heard a voice in this dream.

“Wren. Wake up.”

That was not a dream.

Wren pried open her eyes to see Talon leaning over her.

The safety and warmth she had just been experiencing disappeared as his large frame loomed over her.

She quickly sat up and moved away.

Talon put his hands up in a mock surrender at her movement.

“I was sent to tell you that supper is ready,” he said as he stood up to leave.

“I am not hungry, but thank you anyway.” She watched as he walked over to the nightstand and picked up the sandwich that was lying there.

“Do not thank me. I am just passing on the message. If you do not want to eat, it is no concern of mine.” He continued on his way as Wren watched him leave.

“Why do you hate me?” she suddenly blurted out, immediately regretting it, but unable to take it back.

Talon stopped.

He did not turn around. He just let out a sigh.

“I do not hate you. I just do not know how to interact with people, and that makes others uncomfortable in my presence.”

He made a slight turn at this point and gave her a lopsided grin and shrug.

“It is better this way.”

“For whom?” Wren asked the empty room.

Wren got up and went to her sitting room. She was intent on following him, but collapsed on her couch in thought instead.

~Will we ever find a way to get along?~ She believed him when he said he did not hate her, but they could not even interact as friends.

~Do I want to be friends with him, though? I thought I was not allowing someone to have the opportunity to hurt me again.~ What was wrong with her? Had the events of the day caused a screw to become loose in her head?

Why did she even care if the man noticed her existence? She did not notice his…much.

With a shake of her head, the decision was made.

She would not think about him or worry about what he thought of her again.

He could go straight to hell for all she cared.

He and those gorgeous eyes…and broad chest…and radiating heat…

She picked up her laptop, determined not to dwell on certain “aspects” of that man, and was soon immersed in various projects that she had wanted to get done for ages.

She felt the need to do something normal, or she would probably go crazy.

***

The next morning, Wren woke early and headed to the kitchen.

She was glad to see that no one was around yet.

~I really have to stop skipping dinner.~

After rummaging through the fridge, she settled on eggs and bacon.

Before she knew it, the others had gathered around, chatting away like she belonged there.

“Good morning! My name is Emerald, and this is my partner Evan.” Wren stared at the round, chubby face surrounded by red curls.

Emerald was an adorable teenage girl, and her partner was a tall, lanky, dark-haired boy with freckles that ran across the bridge of his nose and tattoos up the length of his arms.

“I was so worried when you did not show for dinner last night, but Lily said…”

“Um, how old are you?” Wren asked, interrupting her, afraid she would never get a word in if she waited for an opening.

Emerald giggled. “I am fifteen and Evan is sixteen. I know that we are young.” She insisted, seeing a shocked look cross Wren’s face at their age.

“Do not hold it against us. We are quite good at what we do. At least we would be if they would let us fight.” She sent Michael a look.

Once again, he sat at the end of the table with his newspaper, happily ignoring Emerald’s prattle.

“Not until you finish high school,” Michael commented from behind his newspaper.

Emerald stuck her tongue out at him. Not that he could see it.

“Hello,” Evan spoke softly, not looking Wren in the eyes. He quickly crossed over to the table and sat down, his eyes on his food as he started to eat.

“Hurry up, Emerald, we have school and cannot be late again,” Evan said, without looking up from his plate.

Emerald’s smile disappeared for a moment. “I know that. I am goin’. Geez.” She turned and gave Wren a grin and continued, “You have to understand. Evan and I can’t stand each other, and since we are still in school, we are not allowed to join in any battles unless there is no other choice. So off to school, we go.”

Emerald sent a sideways glance toward the counter where Talon had appeared.

“Talon is so lucky. He gets to skip until you are ready to be left alone.”

“Talon is still in school?” Wren stared at the man who was quietly preparing his breakfast at the counter.

He did not even look young enough to be in college anymore. He was much too old to be a high school student.

Did he drop out and decide he needed to go back and finish?

“Good lord, no,” Emerald explained. “He’s a science teacher there but is taking a break to help you get ‘situated.’”

Lily turned to Wren. “I am sure you have already guessed their personalities. Emerald is a sweet girl but has not yet learned tact. You will have to forgive her.”

She continued, “Evan is a shy boy, but he will open up once he gets to know you, and trust me, he can talk your head off, as well.”

“That is all right. I enjoyed our conversation.”

More names, more people, more personalities. Would she ever get comfortable here?