Hunted

sunk lower in my book. “She’s a medium.”

Nio looked skeptical. “A real medium, not a faker like most human psychics?”

“Or Gypsies,” Onora teased.

I hoped she was teasing because my Gypsy relatives were pretty magical people. Before I could respond, Grampa stood and everyone’s attention shifted to him.

“Today is a special occasion,” he said, glancing around the room before finding me. “My granddaughter turns seventeen and we have a family tradition we’ve honored since she was a child. Because of the crisis with the Tribe, we have decided to do things differently this year. So with great pride, allow me to introduce you to the amazing…Stromboli Circus.”

I covered my mouth and fought tears. He remembered. After all the bitching I’d done, he had not forgotten my birthday.

Lights dimmed. Beams from four clairvoyant crystals converged at the front of the room and an image of a man appeared. He looked splendid in black pants and shiny matching boots, white shirt with a bowtie, a red and gold embroidered jacket and a sequined black cape. He wore white gloves and carried a bowler hat and a sparkling walking stick.

The moustache didn’t fool me. I knew the twinkling eyes, cocky swagger and wiggling fake eyebrows belonged to Anton Kalderash, my cousin three times removed or second cousin twice removed. I could never tell the difference. By the time he started to spark, tears had filled my eyes.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today is a very special day because one of our very own is celebrating her seventeenth birthday. Tonight’s performance is dedicated to my great niece, Lil. Wherever you are, ves ‘tacha, sastims!” he added, using the Roma term for ‘beloved’ and wishing me ‘good health’ the Romany way. “This is your day.”

- 21 - GUARDIANS DON’T RING DOORBELLS

After the acrobats, the trapeze walkers, the clouds and all the wonders that made Stromboli Circus so great, they sang “Happy Birthday” and the Guardians joined in. The applause as the lights turned on was thunderous.

Two Academy cooks wheeled in a tiered birthday cake and brought it to our table.

“Make a wish…make a wish…” the room erupted.

I studied the grinning faces around the hall through teary eyes, made the wish, and blew out the candles. The cooks cut and distributed pieces of cake, but I couldn’t eat. I left our table and walked to Grampa’s.

“Thank you, Grampa,” I said, kissed his cheek and gave him a hug, which brought on another round of applause.

“I didn’t do anything. Junior organized everything,” he said, his voice carrying. A few chuckles followed. He really should stop calling Bran Junior.

Bran sat at the end of their table, grinning. I wanted to run to him and show my appreciation with a kiss, but I couldn’t. Everyone was watching.

Blushing, I started toward him. He got to his feet. Oh, forget the others. I ran straight into his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me up and laughed. We didn’t kiss, not in the traditional way. Our energies caressed and melded, which brought on a whole different kind of sensations. The applause didn’t surprise me, and I was sure my face matched my hair.

He leaned back and chuckled. I give you your birthday wish and you cry?

I hadn’t realized I was crying until he mentioned it. I’m not crying.

He wiped the wetness off my cheeks. Of course not. Let’s get out of here.

We can’t leave while everyone… I turned and realized people were already leaving, most of them carrying their slices of cake.

“How did you do it?” I asked as soon as we left the Academy behind us.

“It was nothing.”

How like him to downplay his role. “It couldn’t have been easy. They move a lot and are suspicious of strangers.”

“A little? Even after I showed them pictures and talked about working with your grandfather, they didn’t believe me. They kept saying you wouldn’t break the family tradition.”

“How did you convince them?”

He pulled me closer and chuckled. “That is my little secret.”

It didn’t matter how he did it. He was the best boyfriend ever. I hugged his arm as we continued toward the tunnels. “Let’s go to my place and shut the world out.”

“Not yet. Your friends have planned something for you.”

“Really? What?”

He laughed, dimples flashing. “Always impatient.”

I loved surprises. “Come on.”

“At least pretend you are surprised when we get there.” He covered my eyes with his hands before we entered the basement. We walked into the room and stopped. “Ready?”

There was no sound, but I felt the others’ presence. Bran’s hands dropped. I looked around and laughed. The room was decorated with birthday balloons and streamers, and everyone wore silly birthday hats. I loved it. Izzy blew a kiddie horn while Remy pressed a drink in my hand.

“Guys, you shouldn’t have.”

“Ahoy, matey,” Sykes called out by the wet bar, where bags sat side by side on the counter. He wore an eye patch and a glove with a large hook. Lifting one of the bags with the hook, he added, “Me found you some booty over here.”

On the coffee table were drinks and one of Remy’s special cakes.

“Where is Kim?” I asked.

“She’ll be here,” Izzy said. “She’s talking to your grandfather about the housing situation.”

Bran picked up one of the hats and placed it on my head. I plopped one on his head too, then picked up a horn and blew so loud he covered his ears. We danced, ate and acted silly, until the sound of the doorbell intruded.

Guardians didn’t ring doorbells. I performed a quick scan and jumped up. “It’s Kylie. She’s here for the party.”

We all teleported upstairs, hurried to the door and opened. “You got here right on…” My voice tailed off when I noticed her expression. She was scared. “What is it?”

“Kim is missing.”

We pulled her inside and closed the door. She kept wringing her hands, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I took her to the cave tonight. She said she’d only be gone for half an hour, so Cade and I waited. Then the two kids appeared. I think one of them is that kid…Angelia.” Her gaze stayed on me. “They want to talk to you, Lil.”

Everyone starting talking at once.

“How did they find us?” I asked.

“How long has she been sneaking out?” Sykes added.

“If the Specials can find us, so can Raphael,” Remy muttered.

“If Kim’s been taken, we need to tell the senior Cardinals,” Bran said.

“No,” Izzy said. “She wouldn’t want them to know she’s been sneaking out to meet Kieran. We have to get her back without them.”

“We need weapons,” Bran said.

“I’ll get them,” Remy offered.

“No.” Bran gripped his arm before he could teleport. “A single person in the hallways will draw attention, and if you get caught, our plans will be blown. We all go. Sykes and Izzy take the west hallway. Be loud and your