Page 83 of Enchanted Hero
She nodded and didn’t say anything as he walked away, as he entered the car and drove from her home. Yet his thoughts did not stray from the woman who forged his destiny. What was she thinking? What did she know? Amidst a thousand questions, one mattered above all:
What would she do when she discovered the truth?
“Let me sum it up. We’re screwed.”
“Alana,” Alexander chided his youngest sister, just out of her teens. Pessimistic but not wholly unrealistic, she was standing with a group of several dozen Incantare leaders, including their sister Brynnlee and security expert Carter. Apprehension thickened the air, warmed by the crackling fire in the massive marble fireplace. With plush damask sofas, rich oriental rugs and mahogany furnishings, the auburn and gold room was the antithesis of the life-threatening situation. “We are not, as you say, screwed. Somehow we’ll make them believe it was a hoax.”
“How?” His sister commanded incredulity like only a strong young woman could. “You’ve gotten us out of a lot of situations, but this time is different. They’ve seen your powers.”
“For once, I agree with Alana.” Carter stepped forward. “You conquered a tornado, vanished multiple times andflew. Thousands – millions – saw the videos. How can we convince them it’s a hoax?”
“You can’t promise it won’t happen again.” Alana fisted her hands. “I know you. If someone needs help, you’ll save them no matter the risk.”
He didn’t deny it. Yet despite her words, no doubt his sister, and any of his people, would do the same. They truly were a good people. “I’ll do everything in my power to safeguard our lives. You know what would happen if the world found out about us.”
They shuddered as one.
Kyla moved forward. “If the government discovers our existence, there will be no escape, despite our powers. We’d be like animals in a zoo for the rest of our lives, poked, prodded, experimented on.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Alexander growled. Everyone looked at him, their leader. The weight of thousands of lives bore on him. “Yet with video evidence, it’s unlikely we can convince the world it’s just pretend. We need to focus on concealing our identities.”
“But you’re already a person of interest.” Fear darkened Alana’s expression. “The agent and scientist suspect you.”
Yes, they did, and they were delving closer to the truth by the minute. “If turning myself in would protect you, I would do it.”
“No!” Alana gasped. “I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.” His kid sister moved forward, all five foot two inches of her, standing up to protect her big brother. “I can help.”
Before Alexander could respond, Carter growled, “You’re not risking yourself. You’ll stay here.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.” Alana pointed a finger at the huge man. “I’m not a kid anymore.”
“I noticed.” Carter’s voice was deep, dark. “But if you don’t have enough sense to stay away from danger, I’ll do it for you.”
Before his sister could sputter a response, Alexander broke in, “If it was as simple as turning myself in to save our people, I would. But the first thing they’ll do is investigate everyone around me. Once they find one of us, everyone becomes suspect.”
Carter gave one last dark look at Alana, then turned back to Alexander. “So we have to make them believe it isn’t you.”
Alexander exhaled. “Too bad shapeshifting is one of the few powers we don’t have. We can’t make Andrews and Garrison see me as the hero and the businessman at the same time.”
“Andrews and Garrison aren’t your only threats.” Carter gestured to a photograph on the wall, depicting Alexander on a magazine cover. “You’re a public figure. Others may realize you were at all the events and make the connection. Once word gets out, so will the truth. What about the owner of that company you took over… Everleigh Lacey? Does she suspect anything?”
Alexander regarded the group, the dozens of people who represented thousands more, the loyal and good men and women he’d sworn to protect. They deserved to know the truth. “Although she lacks proof, she suspects my involvement. At least I solved the mystery of the enchanted books, the original reason I purchased New Age Treasures. Several teenagers accidentally left them at the library. The person who found them sold them to an antique shop, which is how Everleigh attained them. I have both books back in my possession.”
“So you no longer have a reason to stay close to Miss Lacey.” Despite the situation, Alana smiled.
So did everyone else.
Yeah, they all knew.
“Actually, I have a plan for her.”
His sister’s smile widened. “A plan?”
Alexander rolled up his sleeves. “She knows too much. I must ensure she doesn’t reveal anything.” He took a deep breath, then shared what he’d always known deep down. “She is my destiny.”
Delighted murmurs rang through the audience, despite the tumultuous situation. Of course, claiming her had nothing to do with what she suspected, and everything to do with the tremendous emotions she inspired. He held up his hand. “First we must address our crisis, then I’ll tell you more.”
The mood sobered. “Even if she shows discretion, others won’t.” Carter pointed to the wall, and suddenly it shimmered into a screen playing a dozen news channels at once, every one showing coverage of the mysterious man. “The hero is mentioned thousands of times a day. This one in particular concerns us.” He waved his hand, and an image of the leading news channel overtook the others.
