The Chronicles of Kerrigan Prequel Series Books #1-3: Paranormal Fantasy Romance Read online

  Simon’s hand itched to come out of his pocket and touch Beth’s cheek. He held back. “Goodnight, Beth.”

  “Goodnight, Simon. You, too, Argyle.”

  “See you at the house.”

  Argyle and Simon made their way back to the house, and up the stairs to Argyle’s room before either parent could corner them and ask any questions that might not mesh between the two of them. As Argyle started some music in his room, he turned excitedly to Simon. “I met a girl.”

  “Really? At the party?” So much for video games.

  “Yes. She’s a mate of the girl putting the party on. Pretty and very funny. I really like her.”

  “Are you going to see her again?”

  “I hope so. She has to go with her parents to visit family for a few days, but will be back before we leave to head back to school. Doesn’t give me a lot of time to spend with her and get to know her, so not sure how it’ll go.”

  “You never know.”

  “True. Speaking of not knowing, what’s up with you and my sister?”

  “She’s quite an interesting girl.”

  “If you say so. Thinks too much, that one. Dad’s gonna skin her hide if she doesn’t stop asking questions about Guilder.” He made a face and chuckled. “Course, he’s gonna skin both yer hides if he finds out you been flirting around.”

  “Nothing going on between us.” Yet. “We’re just talking.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Dad doesn’t want her anywhere near a boy who will be getting a tatù. It doesn’t make sense that he has me all lined up for someone, but doesn’t want her with our sort.”

  “I don’t get it. Aren’t we the safest to be around, in the end?”

  Argyle shrugged. “All I can figure is he knows something from being in the war. He doesn’t talk about those sorts of things with us. I got a feeling his tatù skills might have him doing something with the Privy Council or put him in precarious positions while at war. He’s high up in the military. Navy Seals have nothing on him.”

  That only made Simon more nervous. “Why’s Beth so interested in Guilder?” Guilder appeared to the public as a completely normal top-notch school. People tried incredibly hard to get in and no one could figure out the selection process… unless, of course, you understood the real reason behind the school.

  “Just not knowing. Beth’s the curious sort. Always has been. If she doesn’t know something, then she makes it her business to find out. Not really nosy so much as just likes to be informed. She’s a very smart girl. I’m not surprised she likes you. Your combined IQs are probably off the charts. Me? I got all the charm instead of the brains.” He sighed. “I sometimes wonder if it would be better if she gets the tatù instead of me. She’s a lot like our dad.”

  “So she’s already sixteen?”

  He shook his head. “Nearly.”

  Good. They weren’t that far apart in age. “Nothing wrong with your brains, mate. Your IQ is incredible. Not so sure you got all the charm, though.”

  “Don’t be burstin’ my bubble, mate.”

  Simon stretched and yawned. “I’m going to take a shower and head to bed. Your mum’ll have me up early to eat another table full of food.”

  “Aye. She does like to cook a bunch, that woman. I love me mum.”

  Shame Simon’s mom didn’t have an ounce of domestic duty inside of her. Simon couldn’t remember the last time she had made him a meal. “See you in the morning, then.”

  Simon left and slowly made his way to room, hoping to see Beth. In his room, he grabbed his toiletries and headed down the hallway to the bathroom for a shower.

  Beth stood leaning against the wall beside the bathroom. She smiled confidently when she saw him. “Will you knock and let me know when you’re out? I’d like to shower as well before bedtime.”

  Simon swallowed hard. She was waiting for him? Shower? Images and thoughts raced through his head. He could feel himself blush. “Why don’t you go first, and then just knock on my door when you’re done?” That seemed the gentlemanly thing to do.

  “Sure.” She turned and slipped into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her.

  Simon stood a moment, staring at the dark-stained oak door before finally heading back to his room. He was panting like he’d just run a race. He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Really? He was way cooler than this.

  True to her word, Beth knocked on his door twenty minutes later and let him know she was out. Simon stuck his head out and thanked her, taking in the way her wet hair framed her face and made her incredible blue eyes stand out all the more. Already, he knew he had it bad for her. He could only hope that, if things went well between them, her father could see it wasn’t so bad to let her be with the likes of him.

  “Thanks, Beth. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Simon.”

  Stepping into the bathroom, he wasn’t surprised to see that the shower was still full of steam from her bath. What he was surprised to see was a giant heart drawn into the steam. In the center, it read, “Beth + Simon.”

  He smiled to himself. It felt like everything in the entire world suddenly had new meaning, and he couldn’t wait until morning when he could see her again.

  Chapter 7

  “You’ve barely touched your food, Simon.”

  “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not terribly hungry this morning. It’s delicious, though.” He smiled brightly at Argyle’s mother. He couldn’t admit that he was hungry for something else: Time with her daughter.

  “You aren’t getting sick on us, are you? All this running around in the cold isn’t for everyone, and you’ve been out in it quite a bit since you’ve been here.”

  “No. I’m not sick. I’m just not used to eating like this. My mom isn’t exactly the best cook, and Guilder has food, but it’s serve yourself. I tend to have cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and whatever for dinner most days. This is more food than all day at school.”

  “Oh, my goodness! You poor boy!” She clapped her hands. “I’ll make sure to have quite a bit of food for you and Argyle to take back to school when the time comes.” She tilted her head and her eyes turned sympathetic. “Your folks don’t mind you coming up to spend the holidays with us?”

  “They’re gone on a wee holiday themselves right now. They both work, so a break somewhere warm seemed up their alley this holiday.” He didn’t bother to mention that every Christmas for the past five years had been the same holiday. Well, different location, but same time.

  “I suppose not everyone has been as fortunate to have a stay-at-home mother. See that, Argyle and Beth? You should be grateful for your old mum.” She gracefully avoided confronting Simon on the fact they left him on his own this Christmas. He smiled, grateful for the side-step.

  “Oh, Mum. You know we think yer da best.”

  Argyle nodded in agreement, his mouth full of food, as usual. “I wuf you, Mum”

  “Thank you.” She made a face but you could tell his words pleased her. “Please wait till your mouth is empty before you open it. I don’t need to see the food goin’ down your gob.” She was still smiling as she stood up to take some empty dishes to the kitchen.

  Beth winked at Simon and he darted a glance toward her father, in panic. He found that the man was looking down at a folded newspaper. Beth laughed out loud, and he blushed. Her father looked up and glanced at the two of them.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Just Argyle’s usual antics.”

  Beth smiled at her father as Argyle looked at her with a scowl for dragging him into it. He said nothing, though, taking the blame for the outburst rather than letting on that it had nothing to do with him. Once again, Simon realized that their bickering was secondary to their affection for one another. He took a few more bites of his food to avoid looking toward her father or her.

  After breakfast, the three teens piled in front of the television in the den. With their father off to work and their mum doing household chores, they had it to themse
lves for a while. Argyle put on a movie while they all chatted about the tree-lighting ceremony later.

  Simon tried to focus on the television, but his eyes kept drifting over to the beautiful girl beside him. “It’s going to be cold walking into town and back at that hour.”

  Beth glanced out the window. “True, but you have got to see the tree they put up. It is sooo beautiful. You’re going to love it.”

  Argyle scoffed. “Tah! Simon doesn’t care about the tree. He’ll just be googly-eyeing you.”

  “Shut up, Argyle. Who asked ya?” Beth threw a pillow at him as she made the comment and laughed, but didn’t deny that what he had said was true.

  Simon smiled to himself and looked at her. There was no doubt that he was completely vexed by her. After a while, Argyle wandered off to his room to play video games and left the pair alone in the den. They sat on separate ends of the sofa, talking, careful not to get too close to one another in case someone might walk in.

  “What do you do when you’re at home?” Beth asked.

  Simon stared down at his hands. He hated the word ‘home.’ It didn’t seem like he actually understood the meaning of the word after spending the weekend here with Argyle’s family. “Mostly hike and read.” He swallowed, feeling silly that he was actually telling her the truth. He did like to read, but most of his time was spent with books he’d stolen out of Guilder’s library or Lanford’s office when he wasn’t paying attention. “I like to read outside, too.” Away from prying eyes.

  Beth grinned and moved a little closer to him. “We’re so much alike! I do the same thing. Of course, as you know, in the winter I’ve to settle for the barn. Far too cold outside, especially in the evenings.”

  “Why’s the barn your chosen place? Your house is big enough to disappear in wherever you want to go. Warmer, too.”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged and kept her gaze steady on his. “I’ve always liked it there. The smell of the hay. The peace and quiet.”

  “Your house isn’t terribly noisy.” He wasn’t sure why he was pushing the subject. She liked to read outside on her own. Big deal. Except, he wanted her to be a big deal to him. He found himself wanting to know anything and everything he could about her. Nothing seemed like it would be uninteresting or tedious.

  “I don’t know.” She smiled at him, confident in a way he really admired. “I feel like the walls are closing in on me in the house. I need space and freedom. I’ve so much going on in my head, all the time. Being outside lets me feel free, less confined. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it does to me.”

  “I totally get it. When you’re limited within walls, it makes you feel controlled. Like every moment and thought you have is regulated. I can’t stand it! School’s like that. I can’t wait till I’m finished and I have my—” He almost said tatù, just catching himself in time.

  “Till you have your freedom?” She nodded vigorously. “I know exactly what you mean. Stuck in school, stuck indoors, everything. Winter is the worst, because I can’t get out as much. By next month, it’ll be too cold to even go out to the barn, and I’ll be stuck in here until the spring thaw.”

  “What about school?”

  “I start back in early January.”

  “Is it boarding school? Like Argyle?”

  She laughed. “No. Me da thinks Argyle is worth the investment. I’m just a girl.”

  “You are not just a girl.” He loved the color of her eyes. He knew he’d never forget them. “Do you like school?”

  “It’s okay.” She grinned, one side of her mouth rising slightly. “Pretty boring, actually. There’s no challenge with classes. And then there are always those students who ask the dumbest questions.”

  He grinned back at her. “I hear you. Spot on there.”

  She nodded in agreement. “And then you have to sit there while the instructor explains the silliest concepts to them.”

  “Idiots.”

  “You have them at your school, too? Isn’t Guilder full of boys more knowledgeable than a library?”

  “There’re idiots there, too. And teachers not far behind.”

  “Really? It’s so hard to get in.” She waved her hand. “Parents and teachers always think they know so much more than us because they’re older, and they have more life experience. It’s poppycock! You challenge them because they only know one way. They refuse to see outside the box. That their ideal are not the only way.”

  Simon stared at Beth, his heart racing. He was going to marry this girl one day. The realization hit him, not like a punch in the gut, but like knowledge you always thought was true that had just been proven.

  “I bet you’re popular at school.”

  “Pardon?” Simon realized he hadn’t been listening to what Beth was saying.

  “Guilder’s all boys. You’re athletic-looking, friendly, and confident.” She reached out and touched his knee. “I bet you’re, like, the most popular kid at school.”

  He was popular, but for totally opposite reasons. He didn’t even have his tatù yet. Next month, things would change. He couldn’t wait. “I’m nobody. I’m kinda different than the other kids. I bet you’ve the same problem with girls. You’re smarter and prettier. I bet they find that threatening.”

  Beth’s face lit up. He could tell he had hit the nail on the head. He wasn’t the only one who didn’t make a lot of friends. Beth also had to endure the unfortunate ramifications of being the smartest person in the room. “Yes! I thought only I felt that way, and it isn’t something you can really say to people. They already see you as being uppity because you read too much, want to know too much, your grades are too good. They’re all about parties and dresses while you’re all about the bookstore and sitting in the barn on cold nights.”

  “Precisely. Plus, the new school bumped me ahead of some of the people there. It’s hard being the youngest kid in your class, especially when some of the people there take such great pleasure in giving you a hard time.”

  “See? I knew there was a reason I liked you so much.”

  “What reason would that be?”

  “You’re a social misfit, just like me. And Argyle, too.”

  He realized he’d been grinning like a fool when she admitted she liked him. “I like you, too, by the way. A lot.”

  Beth blushed and looked down for a moment then smiled up at him happily. She glanced at her watch and looked back at him again. The moment was disrupted when her mother popped her head into the room and announced that lunch was ready. Argyle joined them for sandwiches and homemade crisps as they all talked about going into town.

  “Mum, why don’t you skip making dinner for everyone and just relax? We’ll grab a bite in town and bring something back for you and Dad.” Beth sat across from Simon, her foot accidently touching his leg again and again.

  “Oh, Beth, you know your father doesn’t like take-out. I’ll make him dinner.”

  Argyle grunted and Simon realized he sounded like his father. “Mum, why don’t you come with us? Dad can fend for himself for one evening.”

  “Thanks, but the cold is too much. I’ll leave hiking around in the snow to you children.” She smiled, content to be in the kitchen.

  “You sure?” When Argyle knew she wasn’t going to change her mind, he nodded. “I just thought you might like to see it, too. It’s the holidays.”

  “I appreciate the offer. I really do. I just don’t like the cold as much as I used to. I’m turning into an old woman, you know.”

  “Old woman! Hardly. You’re still as young and beautiful as the picture of you and Dad on the mantle. Old woman?!” Beth shook her head in disbelief.

  “I’m glad I’ve raised such kind children to be so nice to their old mum.” A laugh followed the statement as she turned to make her way back into the kitchen to clear away some dishes from her lunch preparation.

  They finished their lunch, and the three of them adjourned upstairs to get ready for the trip to town. There was to be a parade and then t
he tree lighting just as dusk fell. It got dark early this time of year so early afternoon would see everything kicking off, and they’d be done in time to have dinner and still get home at a decent hour.

  It seemed even colder as they made their way to town and gathered along the parade route to wait. Simon didn’t seem to notice. All his senses where focused on the beautiful girl beside him.

  Chapter 8

  “Argyle!”

  They all turned to watch a pretty blonde girl approach the three of them.

  Argyle shifted his weight and smiled suddenly, from one ear to the next. “Hannah! I thought you were going on a family trip today!”

  “We were, but the station’s snowed in. We had to postpone. Mum and Dad decided to come up to the parade and ceremony instead.”

  “I’m glad you did. Hannah, you know my sister, Beth, and this is my mate, Simon. He goes to school with me.”

  “Hi,” she said quickly to Beth and Simon before turning her attention back to Argyle. “Are you staying for the ceremony, or just going to watch the parade?”

  “Both. After that, we’re going to eat dinner over at Oval Tree.” He cleared his throat. “Want to come with us?”

  “I’d like that. Let me go tell my parents before I lose track of them, okay?”

  “Okay. We’ll be right here.” Argyle watched as she walked away. When she was finally out of sight, he turned back to Simon. “See? What did I tell you? Isn’t she divine?”

  “Quite. Except I can’t imagine why she’s interested in you.”

  “Probably just as misguided as my poor sister is; considering the likes of you as any sort of proper suitor.” Argyle kept a straight face, but the glint in his eyes gave his teasing away.

  “Hey! I can hear you!” Beth punched him in the arm to punctuate the words.

  Argyle quickly caught Beth up on how he had met Hannah, before she returned a few minutes later and joined them. The four of them stood huddled closely together for warmth as the parade made its way down the main street in town.