My Savior(49)

Oron fell into step beside him. "Doesn't mean I have to like it," he grumbled.

Darian shook his head. "I don't think she cares if you do."

They walked together in silence back to the training grounds. He was glad that he had had the chance to speak with his brother. Knowing Oron would look after Amelia took a great weight off his shoulders.

"All right men, gather 'round!" Aiden yelled. Beside him, Penny looked even smaller as she waved at the warriors circling them.

Aiden was about to speak when a buzzing sound caused them to look toward Keelan. He frowned and pulled a phone out of his pocket. "It's Meryn," he said, unlocking the screen.

Aiden waved at him. "Tell her I'll see her later." He turned back to the men. "We have a special helper today. Penny has agreed to help train you men by playing hide and seek."

Darian turned his attention from his commander back to Keelan. The young witch was blushing furiously and looking up at Aiden with a mixture of nervous fear and panic.

"Sir, maybe you should answer this," Keelan said holding up the phone.

Aiden shook his head. "Later."

Keelan looked down with a painful expression at the phone, which buzzed again. He quickly typed something and then buried the phone at the bottom of Aiden's gym bag.

Sascha groaned and stood from where he had been propped up against the climbing wall.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Aiden called cheerfully. "Perfect timing. We're about to train with Penny, so get your mangy ass up," Aiden ordered.

"Damn, Menace," Sascha grumbled, lurching forward on unsteady feet.

Around him, the men chuckled.

"Okay ladies, here are the rules. Don't hide in the house and no hiding in the armory; it's off limits to our girl here. Other than that, have fun." Aiden blew a whistle, and Sascha cringed. The men scattered while Penny hid her eyes.

Oron bumped fists with him and took off. Darian couldn't muster up the energy to be excited. He strolled toward the trees next to the obstacle course and got comfortable at the base of one of the maples.

It wasn't long before he heard rustling in front of him. He couldn't see Penny, but he could see Felix. In fact, he and Oron were the only two that could. The little minx was using the sprite to scout for her.

Felix was bundled head to toe in clothes and Penny had used a fabric wrapped hair tie to keep a small hand warmer held firmly against the sprite's waist. Felix looked like he was having the time of his life.

"That's cheating," he said quietly.

Seconds later, Penny shimmered into view, a guilty look on her face. He winked at her, and she brightened. "Don't worry about me, I won't tell. I'll wait until the game is almost concluded and head back to the course. I'll tell Aiden you found me. I just want to stay here a bit longer."

Penny grinned and gave him a thumbs up. Darian noticed that though she had started speaking more, she still reverted to hand signals for most interactions.

Penny turned and was about to keep searching when he stopped her. "Penny," he called quietly. She looked back at him. "Yes?" her voice was clear and sweet.

"Oron is like me, he can see sprites. When we were boys, he always used to hide in oak trees. Check for him there. Use Felix as a decoy and you'll catch him."

"Kickass!" Penny quipped throwing her fist in the air, just like her favorite adopted aunt.

Darian chuckled. "Don't let your Mom or Papa hear you say that."

Penny grinned and shimmered out of sight. He watched as Felix waved and trailed behind his friend. Darian had been faced with his imminent death for years now, but seeing Penny, it was truly beginning to sink in, he would never see her grow up. He would never know what kind of woman she would turn out to be.

For the first time he, was afraid. "I don't want to go," he whispered.





*****





As promised, Darian exited the forest when he noticed most of the men had been found. He approached Aiden. "She find everyone?" he asked.

Aiden nodded looking proud. "Of course. The men are flabbergasted." Aiden laughed and turned to him. "Did she find you?"

Darian nodded. "She sure did."

"Last one to be found is Colton." Aiden pointed to where the rest of the men sat joking with one another.

They heard a squeal of laughter to their right, and Penny burst from the trees heading straight for Aiden. She ran up to him arms raised. Aiden swept her up and sat her on his arm. Seconds later, Colton emerged from the trees. He saw who was holding his daughter and scowled.

He walked over to them wagging a finger. "She cheated!" Colton accused.

Aiden raised a brow at Penny who shrugged. Aiden turned back to Colton. "What'd she do?"