Claimed

Chapter 31

Sound asleep, cuddled in her bed in the underground Colorado headquarters, Janie sighed. She wondered if Zane remembered her birthday.

He jogged out from behind a wall of rock, a bunch of pink balloons in his hand. She took them with a happy squeal. “You remembered.”

“Of course.” He rolled his pretty green eyes. “You reminded me every time I saw you last month.”

Well. Boys sometimes forgot important stuff. “I’ve missed you.” She released the balloons to float into the sky.

He watched the balloons rise with a grin and nodded, yanking a small black box out of his jeans. “I’ve missed you too. Happy birthday.”

Janie took the smooth velvet box and slowly opened the lid. A fragile silver chain held a sparkling horseshoe at the end. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

Zane smiled. “I know you like horses, and we need good luck, so ...” He took the box from her and unclasped the necklace, motioning for her to turn around.

She reached for the horseshoe when he placed the chain around her neck and secured the fastening. “Thank you, Zane.”

He maneuvered her around to face him. “The necklace looks pretty on you. You’re welcome.” A frown settled between his eyes. “I wish you could take your present with you, but this is just a dream.”

She smiled up the several inches to his strong face. “I’ll keep the sparkles in my memory.”

“Good idea.” He brushed his thick hair back from his forehead. “I’d send your present to you, but I don’t know where you are.”

Janie shrugged. “We’re moving tomorrow to somewhere new, and they won’t tell me where.” Not that she didn’t have a good idea, but she wasn’t completely sure.

Zane frowned. “Why are you moving?”

Janie cocked her head to the side. “No one will tell me.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sure the king is doing his best to keep you safe.” Zane glanced toward the rocks and back again. “I must go, Janie Belle. I’ll leave you for the king to protect for now.”

Janie grinned. “He thinks that’s his job.”

Zane’s dimples flashed at her. “Your safety is the king’s duty right now. Someday it’ll be mine.”

Janie nodded, watching Zane walk away until he faded into the mist. Boys. She wasn’t sure how or why, but the safety of them all would end on her shoulders.

She awoke from the dream with a start, her gaze wandering around her pretty room inside the earth, softly lit by a night-light in the corner. Her clothes lay packed in boxes near the door. Mr. Mullet had fallen to the floor, and she reached down to grab him by the hair.

A sparkle caught her eye.

Sitting up in bed, she perched Mr. Mullet on her lap and clasped the horseshoe necklace around her neck. She smiled.

Zane.