Blood Debt (Touched Series Book 1) Read online

  I wasn’t used to being addressed with this last name, but the voice was familiar. I turned around and saw the guy who had helped tie off the yacht yesterday. “Hi Josh, good to see you, and it’s Cami.”

  He smirked, “Cami, right. I was expecting to see you and your brothers at the club today. Change of plans?”

  “That’s the biggest understatement I’ve ever heard.”

  Josh gave me a questioning look, but thankfully didn’t ask me to explain what I’d said. “So should we expect you tomorrow?”

  “I’m not sure. I actually spent most of today with Gretchen.”

  “Gretchen? Mrs. Strayer?”

  I could tell I probably just unleashed a scandal. I had been introduced as their little sister, but I didn’t call Gretchen, “Mom.” I wasn’t sure what to say to keep the rumors from flying rampant. “Right . . . Mrs. Strayer and I spent the day together. The only brother I saw all day was Brent. In fact, he’s waiting for me out in the car. I’d better go.” I reached into the cabinet, pulled out two sodas, and paid for them.

  “All right, well, maybe I’ll see ya tomorrow.” His voice sounded hopeful - he seemed sweet. When I’d seen him yesterday, I thought he looked a little geeky; today I saw him out of his yacht club uniform, and I was convinced. He stood in front of me with his I-phone in his hand, a blue tooth device on his ear, ear buds in his ears and a stylus pointed at the screen. I’d always kind of gone for the nerdy guys, but I wasn’t interested. Too many other things were going on in my previously simple life to get wrapped up with a guy right now.

  I hurried out to the car. When I flung open the door to escape the heat, I heard Brent, “Okay, we’ll be back in a few minutes. Yeah, right home.” He hung up the phone. “Geeze, I thought I was going to have to go in after you. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I ran into Josh inside. I might have let it slip that we don’t share the same mother. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Well, we don’t share the same mother. Why would that be a problem?”

  “I just thought . . . I mean, everyone seems to know your family. How are you going to explain me?”

  “We don’t have to explain anything. It is what it is. We’re just glad you’re here.”

  I shook my head. I kept expecting someone to act normal, and at every turn, each member of my family seemed to be more kind and understanding than the one I had talked to before them. Growing up in California, perception and impressions of others were seriously important. It seemed like everyone I knew cared what others would think. None of my friends in Cali were even close in terms of wealth and clout to the Strayers, yet they didn’t seem to care one little bit that others knew that I was an illegitimate half-sister. So far no one had made that distinction except me. Gretchen had spent the entire day trying to develop psychic skills that I wasn’t even sure I possessed, all the while carrying on strange conversations with my invisible mom. It was a little surreal.

  I looked over and Brent seemed to be waiting for me to say something, so I asked, “So, what’s the plan for tonight?”

  “Dinner, dancing, maybe some star-gazing.”

  “Really? That sounds like a date.”

  “Date? No, just family. But I already told you, I’ve never even been on a date, so I hope it doesn’t feel like one of those.”

  “’One of those?’ You’re too young to be a confirmed bachelor. I never got a legit answer. Why no ex-girlfriends?”

  “It’s my understanding you have to have a girlfriend for there to be an ex-girlfriend.”

  “Well, yeah. So why no girls?”

  Brent looked at me as if I were the densest person he’d ever talked to, “Easy. It’s forbidden.”

  “By whom? Gretchen and Will?”

  “It’s the way of our people, Camille. By the time I’m thirty, I will be either married, or betrothed, or I will have to marry a human. If I were willing to settle, I could date. But Centaur women get to choose, and none will choose a man who has shared a bond with another.”

  “Centaur women choose? Like going shopping? I’d like a six foot-tall, wealthy, smart, funny, garbage-taking-out, chick-flick-watching, football-hating man. Something like that?”

  “If that’s your list, it’ll be pretty easy to find one – well, maybe not the football-hating, but everything else on your list is pretty easy to come by. You could have a husband by this weekend.”

  I laughed, “So how does she pick you? Do you send in a resume or something?”

  “Eligible bachelors are obvious. It’s common for courtship to begin at another’s wedding. In fact, this Saturday will be your first opportunity to choose.”

  “This Saturday?”

  “Mom didn’t tell you? Bruce is marrying Hannah from the Hinman herd.”

  “Uh, no, she didn’t mention it. So Bruce is pretty excited?”

  “Excited is an understatement. Hannah’s perfect. He was in the running with about fifty others.” We pulled into the driveway to see that all the cars were lined up in a row. Brent pulled his white sedan in line with the others; everyone was home. I did a quick count and realized there were six white sedans instead of the normal five – Gretchen must normally keep hers in the garage, because I hadn’t noticed it when we left for the store.

  As we stepped out of Brent’s car, Will came up with a key in his hand. “It’s about time!”

  I was confused since we’d been gone less than twenty minutes. Brent answered, “Geeze Dad, it’s not like we caught a movie; we just went to get a soda.”

  Will ignored Brent’s defense and said, “Never let it be said that I treat any of my children differently. The dealership just delivered it.” Will handed me the key to a brand new, Snowy White BMW sedan, identical to the other five parked right beside it.

  I was embarrassed to hear myself squeal like a little girl. This couldn’t be happening. I had a father and a stepmother who were two of the most amazing people I’d ever met, five brothers who were about as cool as Batman, and a brand new car. I wasn’t sure about the whole Centaur thing, but this was better than winning the lottery.

  I believed Gretchen, that she really was talking to my mother. I had been on the fence about whether I whole-heartedly believed until Gretchen told me about my second grade play. I had completely dismantled the stage props while I was dancing around like a butterfly. The only way she could have known about it was to hear about it from either my mother or me. In that moment, I knew she was on the level, at least about being able to communicate with my mom. I hadn’t thought about that play since I was seven. The only logical explanation was that my mother’s spirit had shared the event with her.

  Just two days ago I had felt consumed by my grief for my mother. That grief was replaced with a new hopefulness that I’d soon be able to talk to her again, and I had a brand new car. I hoped that I wasn’t somehow caught in a dream world, or if I were, I wished never to wake up.

  I stammered, “Will, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you’ll stay here. Say that you want to be a part of our family.”

  I noticed it wasn’t just Will standing in front of me with anticipation. Beau, Bruce, Bart, Ben, Brent and Gretchen were all waiting for me to answer. The joy that I felt in that moment rivaled other momentous occasions in my life, like hitting my first homerun when I played softball in high school, seeing a dolphin for the first time in the ocean, and one of my most cherished memories – tasting my very first mint chocolate chip ice cream shake. True, none of these memories could top being accepted into such a tight-knit family, but each memory was one that I loved. Without any apprehension, I answered, “I’m in.”

  Will scooped me up in a tight hug, “Camille, you’ve just made me the happiest father in the world.” While in his embrace, he whispered in my ear, “I’ll take care of everything. Don’t worry about your grandmother.”

  I could feel my
muscles stiffen. Gretchen must have told him about our conversation about the blood debt. Even though he told me not to worry, the fact that he was whispering to me, out of earshot of everyone else – definitely made me worry. Could someone really want to kill me because my mom had broken off an engagement? I had no reason to doubt Gretchen, but it was all a little hard to swallow.

  Things began moving even faster once I had committed to stay. Gretchen took me shopping. In her words, “Your closet is lonely; let’s get it some friends.”

  I noticed that Will and Gretchen were the only people in the house who went anywhere alone. It wasn’t anything overt, but it seemed odd that of the eight adults in the house, six of us always went on errands in pairs or better. Having been an only child until this week, by Saturday I was actually craving some alone time. Conversation revolved around Bruce’s wedding, although I hadn’t seen Hannah, nor had she called. It seemed a little strange. The few friends of mine who had gotten married were all over each other in the days before the wedding, working out seating details, vows, synchronizing last minute schedules. Saturday morning had come and gone and still no sign of the bride.

  By mid-afternoon Saturday, Bruce was in exceptionally high spirits. I didn’t detect even a hint of nervousness. The backyard had been transformed into a beautiful outdoor cathedral with seating for easily two hundred people.

  The brother who I had spent the least amount of time with was the eldest, Beau. I caught Beau straightening seating and smoothing ribbons that had been rearranged by the breeze. Outdoor misting fans were going full throttle, so the grove where the ceremony was to take place was at least ten degrees cooler than the regular air temperature. “Hi, Beau, do you need any help?”

  Beau flinched, “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were out here, Camille. No, just doing a last minute check before the guests start to arrive. Shouldn’t you be inside getting ready?”

  “Naw, it’s a couple hours before the big event. I just need to get dressed and I’m ready.”

  “I’m surprised Mom hasn’t had you primping and polishing since your eyes opened this morning.”

  “Why would she? It’s not like I’m getting married. I’m not in the ceremony. Nobody knows who I am, and you guys know what I look like.”

  “But there’ll be fifty eligible bachelors here today, maybe more. I’ve heard news spread pretty fast that you were here. It’ll be your first chance to . . . you know . . . find someone.”

  “Oh c’mon Beau. Who would care that I’m here?”

  “Uh, let’s see, the Hinmans, the Dixons, the Newtons, the Carltons, the Ivys, just to name a few. Each of those families has an older son who is nearing the end of betrothal age. No one expected for us to have a ready-made sister of age. You’ll be pretty popular this evening.”

  “You’re not serious.”

  “I’m completely serious. I’m in the same boat. Betrothal age for Centaurs is 18-30, so if I’m not picked in the next two years, I’ll end up settling for a human.”

  “Beau, you’re great. There are lots of women who would be happy to have you.”

  “Thanks, Camille. Don’t get me wrong. At this point I’m thinking the settling factor could be an improvement over perpetually waiting. It just sucks that I won’t be able to carry on our blood line. At least Bruce will be able to.”

  “Maybe because I didn’t grow up knowing any of this, it’s a little hard to take it seriously. I think you love who you love; race shouldn’t be a factor.”

  “That’s very ‘human’ of you, but this is more than just about race. There is magic in our blood, Camille. To let it dilute unnecessarily is akin to wasting the magic. Dad would never let you consider a non-Centaur as a suitor.”

  “Will doesn’t have a say in my decision. When I find the right guy, it won’t matter who or what he is. I’m not racing a clock either. It’ll happen when it happens.”

  Beau laughed out loud, a loud throaty snicker, “Camille, you have a lot to learn.” Beau shook his head and went back to straightening the wedding decorations.

  Brent came up behind me, “What’s so funny?”

  Beau looked at his younger brother, “Oh nothing. Camille just tells good jokes.”

  A little miffed that Beau would so easily dismiss my feelings, “Beau seems to think that Will can select a husband for me. I told him that wasn’t going to happen, and who I fell in love with and married had nothing to do with Centaur roots or anything else.”

  Brent took my forearm, squeezing it a little harder than necessary but enough that he had my attention, “Don’t say that, Camille.”

  “Say what? That I don’t agree with the courtship ritual that Bruce is going through? Have you noticed Hannah hasn’t even talked to him the last couple of days? How can he be marrying a woman he hardly knows?”

  Brent looked at me skeptically, “What? That’s what’s bothering you?”

  “Well, a little, yeah. How does he know he’ll even like her?”

  “It is a great honor to be selected by a Centaur woman. Of course, he’ll like her. He’ll love her, honor her and cherish her.”

  “What if they aren’t compatible?”

  Brent narrowed his eyes, “What have you seen, Camille? Did you receive a vision about them?”

  “Whoa, no! No visions. I just think it’s odd that they would decide to marry without knowing each other.”

  “No more odd than dating and unions out of wedlock. Why do people give themselves to others when they know that person isn’t going to be with them for the rest of their lives?”

  “That’s part of finding out who the right person is.”

  “Then our way should be much preferred. Everyone knows the woman makes her choice. If she can’t decide, her family will select the most appropriate match. And who knows her better than her family?”

  “You’re saying that if I don’t pick a husband in the next eight years, Will’s going to choose for me?”

  “Eight years? Ha! I’ve never known a woman Centaur to wait until she’s thirty to choose. Most choose when they’re late teens or early twenties. If you haven’t selected someone in the next year or two, yes, Dad will definitely choose for you.”

  I felt anger welling up within me, not because Brent had made me angry with his words, but because this whole idea was acceptable to them. I could feel my face flush bright red as I readied to set Brent straight when a kind voice came from behind me.

  Chapter 9

  “Miss Strayer, I came early hoping I’d be able to introduce myself.” I was getting used to being called “Miss Strayer” and wasn’t surprised with myself for turning in the direction of the voice. Before me stood an athletic man. He had light blonde hair, grey eyes, and he stood eye-to-eye with Brent, so he had to be at least 6’ 3.” It looked like he was wearing a nervous smile. “I’m Chris Carlton. It’s an honor to meet you.”

  I stood dumfounded at this Adonis of a man. I held out my hand in an effort to shake his. He took my palm in his hand, then bowed down to kiss my hand. It was a gesture I’d only seen done in old time movies. Every time I’d seen someone do that, I wanted to gag, so I was beyond surprised when the gesture created instant butterflies in my stomach. Chris held my hand in both of his as he straightened up, “Are you enjoying South Carolina?”

  His eyes were mesmerizing, absolutely stunning. I stammered a little, “I’m . . . I like it here, but I’m still not used to the heat.”

  “Would you like me to walk you to the house so you can cool off a bit before the ceremony?” He spoke with absolutely perfect English, no accent of any kind. This was odd because everyone other than the Centaurs I had met seemed to speak with the southern drawl I’d expected in this area of the country.

  I caught Brent out of the corner of my eye, grinning from one ear to the other, and I couldn’t help but shoot him a glare. I turned my attention to Chris, “Uh, sure.”<
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  We were out of ear-shot from Brent when Chris said, “So, am I the first?”

  “The first what?”

  “The first to make your acquaintance?”

  “Yes, up until now I’ve just been getting to know my family. I haven’t met anyone since I’ve been here.”

  We approached the front door, and he nearly shouted, “Excellent! I live on Daniel Island, and I’m finishing up my residency as a family practitioner.”

  He couldn’t possibly be giving me his “husband” resume, could he? Was Chris for real? “That’s thoughtful of you to tell me about yourself, but I’m still a little new to the . . . you know.” I didn’t know how to say I wasn’t interested without coming right out and saying it. “Never mind, would you like to come in and cool off, too?” Chris stepped in front of me and reached for the door knob so he could open the door for me. Two points for the tall sexy gentleman with great manners.

  As the door opened, Gretchen was in the hallway with a huge smirk that matched the one Brent was wearing in the back yard. Dammit! I needed to keep my thoughts to myself. Gretchen didn’t miss a beat. She held out her hand and said, “Hello, Chris, we’re so happy you could come today. I spoke with your mother earlier. Glad to hear things are going so well with your practice.” Gretchen directed her attention to me, “Camille, did Chris tell you he was a doctor?”

  Flushed with embarrassment still, “Yes, he mentioned it.”

  Chris was gushing with pride when he said, “I’ll be joining my family’s practice in town very soon.”

  The embarrassment should have been overwhelming. The idea that a woman could simply pick a suitor and good-looking, educated men would be thrilled to be chosen seemed bizarre. But as I looked at Gretchen and Chris, sure enough - this was exactly what was going on.

  Tradition or not, Chris was attractive, had a good job, and seemed to be giving me vibes that he was interested. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know him – though I wasn’t at all interested in trading in my single status. I motioned for him to step into the family room where the couches were plush, and it seemed a nice place to chat, hopefully away from prying ears. “So, what do you like to do when you aren’t working?”