Chapter 12

Jackson, Mississippi

Emily was shell shocked as she watched the breaking news story on television. She watched the older blond headed man throw fire over the heads of the crowd gathered. She was amazed that the flames didn't harm the crowd. When the fire circled him, she finally understood what they were trying to do.

The younger blond headed man simply disappeared from view. She found herself sitting on the edge of her chair, wondering where he had gone. As the cameras panned the area, someone started yelling. There was a blur of motion until the camera rested on a tree. The other blond stood by it and waved when the camera centered on him.

She turned to Klark. He was working on his laptop across the room but she knew he was listening. His people had just surfaced and he was working. She knew he was up to something but he wouldn't tell her. He probably wanted to protect her but if he wanted a partnership, he had to let her in to his inner world.

She rubbed her shoulder where the mark was located. Klark had explained this was his way of claiming her. She didn't mind being claimed. Actually she reveled in the fact that he couldn't and didn't want to cheat, but she had to figure out where she belonged. There was no doubt she belonged with and to Klark. It felt right. But he had to include her in everything he did. She needed to know she was safe with him.

"Klark," she said just as her phone rang. Everything around her became silent except for the rock ring tone.

"Answer it," Klark ordered as he came over to her and plopped down on the arm of the chair.

Emily pulled the device from her pocket and looked at it. "It's Clausen. He's the only one that ever calls me from the air."

"Definitely answer it and tell him exactly where you are."

She figured he had a plan and this was the beginning of it. She hoped he'd explain after call.

She glared at him as she pressed the button. He simply raised an amused eyebrow at her. "Hello?"

"Hey, Em," her brother said. His voice was as smooth as she remembered. He could easily talk someone into something. She knew because he had talked her into many things when they were killed.

"Hey, Clausen. What's up?"

"Is everything all right? I haven't heard from you in a month and a half. Usually you get your man within a week then you're home."

Emily glanced at Klark. He was listening intently to the conversation. "I've had a hard time tracking him. He's an elusive bastard." She hoped Klark got her mental message.

There was a stirring in her mind then laughter. 'Yes, I've gotten it. I'm a pain in the ass. Sue me.'

Clause sighed on the other end. "Where are you? I'll help you get him. We have to bring this man to justice for killing three people."

Emily sighed, rubbing her forehead. "What if he didn't kill them, Claus? What if we're wrong?"

"We're not wrong, Em. He killed three people in cold blood. We have to get him."

She looked at Klark for help. As she looked closely at him, she noticed his face had gone blank as he stared at the television. Someone was talking to him. She could sit and watch him all day long but then they'd get nothing done.

Clausen hit something on his seat because it clicked. "Where are you?"

"I'm in Jackson, Mississippi."

"I'll be there in a couple of hours."

She frowned into the phone. "Where are you?"

"I'm crossing the Tennessee/Mississippi border via plane."

"You must have taken a private plane to get here so quickly, Claus."

"You need help."

She shook her head. "I'll meet you at the airport and bring you to where I am."

"All right. I'll call you when I get a little outside of the airport."

Emily cut the connection and looked at the man she was now bonded to. He had the ability to multitask very well it seemed. There was no doubt he had been listening to her conversation and having one of his own.

When he came out of his trance, his eyes were very silver and bright. He looked at her then blinked to focus. He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Clausen's going to be here in a couple of hours," she said as she tried to ignore the sexy grin he was giving her.

He nodded as he stretched. "Austin and Rowan are bringing Aaron here so Clausen can meet Aaliyah's killer."

She stared at him in shock for a few seconds. Closing her eyes she shook her as she tried to make sense of what he just said. "Is that a good idea?"

Klark stood and stretched up on his tiptoes. She heard his back pop nastily. "He needs to figure out we're not all evil. Aaron was a special case and we caught him. He can decide what going to happen to him."

As he walked away from her, she got the feeling there was something more going on. It was something that he had to conceal from her because he knew it would make her upset. The knowledge upset her.

She stood and kicked the table. Klark turned around in shock. When he did he nearly ran into her as she stalked towards him. He had to back up into the island to keep from falling over.

"What the hell is your problem?" she demanded. He could only stare in shock because she had caught him off guard, and for once he had no clue what she was thinking. "You told me we were a team and yet you won't tell me what's going to happen to my brother."

His face shut down instantly as he gently pushed her away. "You know exactly what's going to happen to Clausen."

It was her turn to stare in shock at him. "You're going to kill him."

He made an aggravated noise. "No, I'm not. I couldn't do that to you. In my world when a man or woman harms and/or kills one of our own or a normal human, he or she is subjected to the same punishment. Aaron killed Aaliyah and several others. Clausen has killed several and one of our own. When he decides what happens to Aaron, I'll tell him what happens to him. Whatever punishment he decides for Aaron, it will be bestowed upon him. If he chooses to kill Aaron, he will also be killed. If he chooses to allow him to live, so shall he. It's the way of our world."

As everything he just said sank in, she knew there was a 50-50 chance her brother could die for his actions. Clausen had never been the best at weighing the consequences and he had just run into a brick wall. These people weren't afraid to kill to keep their people safe.

"If he chooses for Aaron to die, promise me you won't be the one to kill him," she said.

Klark dropped his head then pulled her into his arms. Hers went around him and clung to him as if he were the breath she needed to stay alive. He nuzzled her hair before resting his chin on the top of her head.

"I won't be the one to kill him if he chooses for Aaron to die," he promised.

She shuddered out a breath then tried to hold him tighter. "Thank you."

Someone whistled a cat call then made a noise as if he had been hit. How Emily knew it was a man she had no idea. She just knew that it was a masculine sound that had interrupted her very happy moment.

"It seems you were seriously correct when you said Klark had bonded her to him. I can feel it over here," one man said.

Emily turned around and looked at the intruders. The one that had been talking was auburn haired and she could tell from across the room that his eyes were bright blue. He was accompanied by Rowan. Between the two of them was a man with dirty blond hair and dark brown eyes. He was angry and he thrashed to get away but the two held him securely between them.

"Emily, this is Austin Somme. You know Rowan already," Klark said as he shifted her under his shoulder. There was a click as a door opened and another man walked from Klark's office. He didn't seemed too fazed. "That one right there is Austin's twin brother Keldin. Speaking of which, Keldin, why are you here?"

Keldin's smile was strained as he turned it on them. "Aiden thought it was best if I came with Austin so he didn't get too carried away."

His brother seemed appalled. "I don't get carried away." The three free men gave him a droll stare. "What? I don't. Well, there was that one time when Tyler got caught in the swamp by himself but that was the only time! I swear!"

Emily couldn't help herself. She started laughing at the way the men could banter when there was a captive in the room. She turned her face to look up at Klark. He was looking down at her. She could see admiration in his eyes. He was obviously pleased that she found his friends as amusing as he did.

"What do you want us to do with Aaron?" Rowan asked as he basked in the happiness of his friend.

"You know where he goes," Klark answered.

"Are you sure he can't get out?" Keldin asked.

"The room has no metal in it. There's nothing he can do to get out. Plus the windows are reinforced glass."

Austin and Rowan were very forceful as they literally dragged Aaron from the room. Keldin was the only one that remained. He walked into the kitchen and began pulling things out for dinner. Klark let him do as he wished as he allowed Emily to go help the other man. He settled onto his previously abandoned stool and began working again.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked as she leaned against the counter.

"I think I got it. Austin's allergic to fish and Rowan can't handle milk so we have to prepare specific meals for everyone," Keldin replied as he began mixing together something for spaghetti.

Emily nodded and looked him over. He was a very handsome man. He was at least six foot tall, maybe more. He glanced over at her and she realized he had one blue eye and one green eye. He smiled once again and she noticed it was tight. It didn't reach his eyes.

He turned around and she had to stifle a gasp. Scars ran from the silver moon on his neck down into his shirt. She knew Klark had the same moon and she guessed it was a symbol of their people. She had to turn away to keep from crying.

'What happened to him?' she asked Klark as she made her way over to him. She needed the comfort of his solidity.

'Tyler's twin brother killed his lover then burned the back of his neck so severely Austin had to have skin grafts to help him heal. He hasn't been the same since then. Austin keeps an eye on him from time to time when he's in New York. His wife loves Keldin and he loves his nephew. I think it helps him cope,' Klark replied as he finished his work.

'Is there anything we can do to help?'

'Just be his friend, Em. He hates it when people think he's a charity case. We know he's not but he had been bonded to his partner for four years. The breaking nearly killed him. He's doing better now, though. He has a new partner and an even stronger bond.'

'Wait. Keldin's gay?' Klark nodded. 'A gay couple can bond?'

'Any psychic/human couple can bond. The strongest bonds belong to those who are mates, like you and me. Austin has his mate, Aiden has hers, my brothers have theirs. Aiden's bond is the strongest because she is the strongest of the Silver Court. Her husband has to be strong to contend with her power. My brother Mikey's bond is the same way. He's been married/mated since he was eighteen. He's also the King of the Golden Court. He has almost as much power as Aiden.'

'And they're twins?'

'Mhmm.'

'Are their telepathic bonds deep?'

He smiled at her. 'They're very deep. Because Mikey and Aiden both have backlash when they use their powers, they needed strong mates to stand behind them. They got that when they met Katy and Clint.'

Emily was mulling that all over when Austin and Rowan came back. The former made a beeline for his brother and took up helping him cook. Keldin didn't say anything but he exuded annoyance.

Rowan sat on the free stool and leaned against the island. He cast his look at Klark and Emily first. His smile was warm and affectionate as he watched them. He noted Emily leaned against Klark's back as her mate leaned back into her chest. He rested his head on her arm as he typed on his computer.

"It seems you two have settled into blissful mated life so quickly," Austin said as he tossed his dish towel onto the counter.

Klark made a face at his young friend. "Don't you have a wife to annoy?"

That made the other man smile. "Yeah, but it's not as fun now that we have Connor. He keeps her awake at night and she's snippy during the day."

"That's what happens when you have a baby." He closed his laptop. "We need to plan this. Clausen will be here in a couple of hours and we need to be ready for him."

"Does Emily know the laws of our people?" Rowan asked.

Klark leaned back fully into Emily. He brought his hands up to her arms and held them, rubbing his thumbs along her skin. "She does. She's given me permission to do what needs to be done with one exception. I can't kill Clausen. One of you will have to do it if he so chooses."

Austin released his lower lip from his teeth. "I'll do it. I don't want you feeling as if it should be your responsibility because she's your mate."

"It shouldn't be yours either," Rowan stated.

"Well, it can't be you," Keldin said a little harshly. "It's against your code as a Healer to kill someone."

"You can't do it," Klark said quietly to his friend. Keldin looked at him. "We all know you can't do it. You'll lose yourself if you do."

Tears swam in Keldin's eyes. It hurt Emily down to her soul to see him so upset.

"I'll do it," she said quickly. Every eye fell on her. Klark tipped his head back to look up at her. "He's my brother. He's killed at least three people that we know of and he wants to kill Klark. I won't let that happen. Plus I don't want to be angry at any of you if he chooses death for Aaron. So I'll do it."

No one said a word when the phone decided to ring at that moment. She turned and went to the coffee table where she had left it. Clausen's name was emblazoned on the screen. He must have gotten here faster than he planned. Or he planned it to catch her off guard. The latter was the most probable.

"He's here isn't he?" Klark asked. She nodded. "Go get him. We'll plan this while you're away and I'll warn you before you get here. Remember, I'm here." He placed his hand on his temple.

Emily took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to do. She grabbed her bag and the car keys then left the house. Thankfully there was a GPS in the car so she could find her way back.