unwary

            Adrian helped her down from the stage as Brady took over for her.

            "Have you seen Frey and Pensley?"

            "They left a couple of songs ago."

            "Oh." Jess looked around the thinning crowd. "Have you seen Julian?"

            "He left around song two."

            Jess stopped to look at him. Her face wearing a confused frown. "He did?"

            "He did. You have a remarkable talent, my dear."

            "So remarkable, I cleared out the place."

            "That wasn't your voice, that was your gift."

            Her frown grew. "What are you talking about?"

            Since they were having to raise their voices to be heard, Adrian motioned her to the back of the room. Once there, he took her into his arms and started dancing. His head close to hers so they could talk.

            "I should have realized it before now, it was confusing because we are connected. My feelings for you are strong, but you amplify them. Tonight, you're making everyone in this room want someone. Need someone."

            It wasn't so farfetched. Frey always felt something when she sang, and tonight, she'd been specially trying to wake the dead. Aka, Pensley.  "Once the advisors ordered me to stop singing because their people got over heated during one of my songs. What about how I'm able to move around? I thought that was my gift."

            "I'm not sure, but I am sure that we will have the answers when we need them."

            Grinning, Jess patted him on the shoulder. "I guess my gift is better than yours."

            He chuckled. "Thank you, but I disagree. We aren't meant to be superheroes. We're meant to govern the world."

            "Rule the world. You ever freak out about that?"

            "No. I guess I've always felt... different. What about you?"

            "Yeah, I guess I have too, but that doesn't mean I'm not still having trouble wrapping my head around all of this."

            "If it makes you feel better, I think you're doing an amazing job. Before you were even Queen, you were saving your people by sacrificing your own happiness."

            She ducked her head at his compliment. Julian always said things like that, but it was nice to hear it from someone else. "That's my voodoo talking."

            "I don't think so. I think you can only enhance the feelings already there." Using his knuckles, he tipped her chin up. "I'm proud of you. You're born to be Queen."

            "And Kellum? Is he meant to be King? He's been having a lot of doubts here lately. I feel it."

            "I can imagine so with everything he's been through. Deception coming from men he trusts and counted on to guide him. He also has a lot of responsibilities for one so young, but like you, he was meant to be King. He'll find his way."

            "I wish he had someone to talk to like I do. He has a whole set of New Rulers to lean on and I know he isn't close to any of you yet. Hayden is his guide, like you're mine, but because of those damn advisors he doesn't even feel like he can talk to her."

            Adrian smiled softly and tilted his head in a knowing way.

            He didn't have to say it. She was entirely too worried about someone she didn't care about anymore.

            Jess hit him in the arm just for thinking it.

            Wincing, he laughed. Then he was wincing for real and grabbing the back of his neck.

            Before she could ask him what was wrong, she was hurting, too. A hot branding iron on the back of her neck.

            "Something is wrong." Adrian stammered, as he tried to guide her towards the door.

            "My Queen, My King is calling in all The New Rulers."

            "No, duh. We are on the___." They appeared so close to Kellum that he reached out to keep from knocking her over. "You too?" She asked Kell, already knowing the back of his neck was on fire. She could feel it as clearly as she could feel her own but having his hands on her was scrambling her brain.

            "Yes. Jetidi thinks someone is in need. One of us."

            Adrian nodded, worry etched on his face. "He's right. She's still too far away but I feel her fear."

            Jess moved away from Kellum, but it wasn't an easy thing to do. Seeing everyone was taking their seats, she took hers. "Adrian, can you find her?"

            "I don't think so."

            "You can if you have help." Jetidi swept his arm over the room as he looked at Adrian. "You should be able to sense which of us will be able to assist you."

            "You. Ritz, and..." His eyes stopped on the biggest guy in the room. "You. Are you up to it?"

            Pensley inclined his head. "My body is weak, not my mind."

            "Do you stand in a circle and hold hands?" Everyone looked at her, then at Jetidi.

            "We are stronger in our correct order. Let your minds touch onto each other then search for her as a group. Her fear calls to us. Use it."

            Not even a minute later, Adrian reached for Jess. "I see her. Take us."

            She didn't even question it. The next minute they were standing knee deep in snow. "Freak!"

            It was so cold she was shaking instantly. It was dark and she could just make out the trees in front of them.

            The pack of starving wolves were easier to make out because of their growling. First at the object in a tree just out of their sight, then at her and Adrian as the huge beasts caught their smell.

            "Oh, crap."

            She didn't even have time to build up a good panic before she felt Kell at her back. Knowing he would handle the wolves and take care of Adrian, she found herself high in a tree.

            The child had to be thirteen to fifteen. Dark skin and the darkest eyes she'd ever seen.

            "Kust sa tuled? Ma ei usu ima silmi!"

            "Back at you. I'm going to get you out of here." Her teeth chattered so badly that even if the girl knew her language, she wouldn't have understood.

            She returned to the safety and warmth of the ship only moments before Kell and Adrian.

            "Mis see maagia on."

            The girl had on so many clothes all you could see were her eyes and some wisp of black hair sticking out.

            "Dez, can you help me here?"

            "The language is unknown to me, my Queen. Let me pinpoint her location and search for the correct dialog."

            "Well, hurry up. The child must be freaking out."

            "Not needed. I have already learned your language. Where am I?"

            "You're safe here." Adrian slowly touched the back of his neck.

            She did the same as she looked around the room. When she looked upon Kellum, she bowed her head.

            "We will get you warmed and a hot meal. Do you have family we need to go back for?"

            "No, my King. It is just me."

            The girl looked back at Jess. "How do I know he's a King?"

            "Beats me. How did you learn our language so fast?"

            "Language is my thing. Within a few sentences I can learn it."

            "What's your name?"

            "Aadelheide."

            "Right. I'm Jess."

            "My Queen?"

            "I guess so. For now. You'll be safe here."

            "Safe is good."

            "Hayden, can you accompany her to medical? Have her looked over then get her settled in."

            "Yes, my King."

            She really didn't like how he was shooting daggers her way, but only because, when he turned to Hayden, his eyes softened. His voice turned gentle. "Can you stay with her until she's feeling safe? I'll meet with her in the morning after she's had some rest."

            "Yes, my King."

            "Everyone may adjourn." With one last heated look at her, Kell disappeared.

            Adrian looked at Jess sadly. "He's right. I shouldn't have put you in danger."

            Her frown darkened. "Is that what he told you?"

            "No, but I can feel his unhappiness."

            "Horse bologna. I could have handled the situation. If you start babying me, then you're going to piss me off. I'll handle him."

            Right now.

            Jess popped into his room. Maybe he was waiting on her because his eyes were still shooting daggers and his stance was hard.

            "I don't know why a bee's up your bonnet, but you better leave Adrian out of it."

            "You do not think. Ever. You jump right in. Headfirst. No thought to anyone including yourself."

            "I had the situation under control."

            "You had nothing under control. You will never learn."

            "I'm learning plenty, you bull headed donkey's ass. If you'd open your eyes for five seconds, you'd see that. She needed to be found, and I found her. Leave it to me, and you stick with your meetings."

            They stared at each other. Breathing hard.

            "You are so frustrating."

            "Good. You're welcome. You need to come alive."

            Tears pricked the back of her eyes. Not because he was angry with her but because for just a moment, she thought she saw her Kellum in his eyes.

            The heat died away, leaving nothing but bored calmness. God, she missed the real him.