Centaur Redemption (Touched Series Book 4)

By Nancy Straight

Cami and Drake’s honeymoon is cut short as they escape attacks by the Council Enforcers and head to South Africa for the meeting of the Centaur Council, which has ordered a death sentence on Cami and all members of the Lost Herd. The Council Chairman is her grandmother, her most dangerous foe. Surrounded by family and friends, Drake and Cami face the Council, Cami’s power-hungry uncles, an ambitious twin, taking the battle all the way to Zeus to attempt to win the freedom of the Tak herd.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Straight
• Release date: Jan 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311345035

Nancy Straight

Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in Moncks Corner, SC with her husband and two children.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Camille Nash – Cancún, Mexico

The fine white sand was hot between my toes. Waves crashed on the shore as the seagulls shouted warnings from the sky. Had they seen what had just happened? The sun blared down as I looked at the bodies lying unconscious on the ground. I had told Drake to spare a single enforcer who had tried to escape.

My feet walked confidently toward the enforcer, Take a good look at these Centaurs. Commit the image of their beaten and bloodied bodies to memory, and then share that image with every Centauride you meet. Let them know this is the fate that awaits their husbands, nephews, uncles, sons and grandsons if they choose to hunt the Lost Herd.

The color in the enforcer’s face drained. He was excellent at hiding his thoughts, but I felt his fear.

Drake stood closest to the enforcer, standing ready to knock him unconscious with the others. I looked at Drake, a tower of strength prepared to do whatever I asked of him. I smiled, Let him go free. He has a message to deliver. My words hung heavy in the air as everyone stood on the beach looking confused.

Drake took a step away from the enforcer doubled-up on the sand. All of my family members backed away from him, giving the enforcer room. Although I could feel their stares, none of my brothers made any effort to argue with me. My eyes remained fixed on his.

The enforcer’s confusion was clear, and I was sure he must have thought my words were some sort of a trick. I made my intentions more obvious for him. No more harm will come to you. I gestured to the bodies of the unconscious enforcers who had escaped from the basement with him and attacked us. We will leave soon, but will leave word with the humans to free your friends after we’ve departed. More forcefully, I reiterated, Go. Deliver my message to the others.

The enforcer staggered backwards a couple steps. My father’s eyes locked on mine; I could see Will’s disapproval as he asked, You’re sure?

I nodded. Let him go. Motioning to the bodies of the Centaur Enforcers who lay unconscious on the beach, I told my family, Get them back into the house. Give them whatever first aid they need. They should heal fine on their own, but set any broken bones before they start to mend.

The enforcer paused; something had changed in his demeanor. The cut above his eyebrow had stopped bleeding, and the blood was no longer running down his cheek. My name’s Quinton. I believe you that no harm will come to my men, and they will see their families again. If I didn’t believe you, I wouldn’t leave them behind.

I nodded my assurance to him one more time. He cocked his head to the side the way Daniel did, as if he were studying me. After an uncomfortable pause, I expected him to turn and to run down the beach. He didn’t. Instead he pointed directly at me and warned, If you really are who I believe you to be, daughter to Chiron and Tak, you won’t leave Centurion alive.

Lots of responses rushed through my mind. Pointing out that we had just gotten the better of him and his men, not once, but twice, wouldn’t have accomplished anything. Instead I smiled at him. Since when can Centaurs see the future?

Drake was at my side before I realized he had even moved. He didn’t let Quinton answer, She may have spared you and given you your freedom, but give me a reason to end you and I will.

Quinton’s mouth gaped ever-so-slightly as he looked confidently at Drake. If I am to return to Centurion in shame, I can hold my head high that I did battle with a Centaur Warrior and survived. You are one our ancestors would be proud of. He tore his gaze away from Drake as his eyes rested on me again, "I will deliver your message, but you are the last Chiron Centauride. I beg you – do not go. We cannot allow you to perish. Stay away from Centurion."

A ray of hope warmed my soul. Quinton was my sworn enemy. Zandra had made sure of it, yet he didn’t want me dead. If his mind could be changed, maybe we really did have a chance? I heard the waves pounding the beach, but all other sounds had silenced themselves. Maybe the birds and monkeys were waiting for my answer, too.

"My family will take its rightful place among the herds. I am able to see the future, and I promise you, I will not perish."

Quinton bowed his head deeply, took two steps backwards, turned away from us, and blurred out of sight without another word. As I looked around at the faces of Bruce, Beau, and Brent standing closest to me, each of their heads seemed to sit a little higher. It was true I couldn’t see my own future, but hearing my words to the enforcer gave my family a little more hope than they had had a few minutes before.

Internally I still struggled with the what ifs. What if our plane crashed and we never made it? What if we were ambushed along the way? What if the Centaur Council refused reason? What if we were outnumbered so badly that none of us survived? What if my father were killed before I got a chance to really know him?

I could have gone on for hours, but Drake’s hand slowly wrapped itself around mine. He was tuned in, and rather than giving me any assurance or trying to convince me my worries were unfounded, he merely whispered, It’s time, Cami.

A boisterous voice brought a smile to my face, Slow down, Speed Racer. Daniel stood in the clearing near the main house. His feet were still bandaged from his trek in the jungle yesterday. Daniel was using Jessica for balance. As I closed the distance between us, he said, I feel like I’m always telling you 'Sayonara, Señorita'. He looked at all the enforcers lying on the beach and then back to me with a confused look. Did I miss something?

I shook my head, Naw, nothing much. We’re headed to the airport.

Daniel hobbled a couple steps in my direction, but it was obvious he was still in a lot of pain as he winced when his feet carried his own weight. I turned to Drake and silently asked, "Can you give us a minute?"

Sure. Drake, still in his warrior form, turned to my brothers, and asked, Can you get these enforcers back in the basement? I need to change into something that can board an airplane. He disappeared down the path toward the little beach bungalow we’d been staying in.

Everyone pitched in moving the unconscious enforcers to the house, even Jessica. Just Daniel and I were left alone on the beach. Daniel wore a white t-shirt with the neck and arms cut out: the scrap of fabric barely passed for a t-shirt. His khaki shorts hung low on his waist and both his feet were bandaged. He took a seat on the ground, stretching his feet out in front of himself, and I sat down beside him. His arm went around my shoulder just as it had thousands of times before. I couldn’t even guess the number of times we’d watched the sunset together on the beach in Carlsbad.

He cleared his throat and confessed, I’m going to miss you.

Yeah, me too.

You sure you have to do this?

I nodded. There was no question that we had to see the Centaur Council. I hated leaving Daniel behind, but this wasn’t his fight. This wasn’t even a society that pretended he was a part of it. There was something more than human about Daniel – I’d known it my whole life. Well, I didn’t know the part about him being a three-quarters Centaur, but he had always been larger than life and the one person, other than Mom, who had loved me no matter what stupid choices I made.

He pursed his lips together. Are you really going to take over the Centaur Council?

I shrugged my shoulders. That was the million dollar question. I don’t know. Zandra’s been the Chairman for a long time. Will thinks it’s a real possibility.

He looked off into the ocean. The way he watched the water, I wondered if maybe he saw something I couldn’t see. I was about to ask him what was on his mind when his words caught me off guard. You could make a real difference if you were the Chairman. Not just for your family, but for Centaurs everywhere.

I was surprised by his statement. Usually Daniel seemed to have a real chip on his shoulder against Centaurs. How do you mean?

Daniel looked embarrassed. He couldn’t get the words out, but his thought was clear in his mind. "So people like me aren’t shunned. So Pops and others like him don’t think of their human children as unworthy of knowing their Centaur families. He took a deep breath, and his words were a watered down version of his thoughts, I just know you’re the right person for the job."

I didn’t let on that I had read his thoughts. Thanks. You gonna be all right with Jessica?

He grinned. The real question: is she gonna be all right with me?

Be careful, I cautioned, a Centauride like her isn’t going to fall at your feet like all the other girls you’ve hooked up with.

Confidently he answered, She’ll come around. If I keep limping around, she’ll stay. If I’ve learned anything the last week, it’s that every one of you has this crazy maternal instinct. You all want to take care of someone who’s hurt.

I laughed, Daniel Gaskins, are you faking?

Naw, not much. My feet are still pretty torn up, but I might be laying the pain on a little thicker than it is. They really only hurt when I walk.

I shook my head. Was he clueless? Jessica could see through any lie he tried. I considered warning him but decided against it. Like I said, she’s not a pushover. Don’t fake the pain. If you want her to stay, just tell her the truth.

I got this, Cami. I know women.

It was hard, but I bit my tongue. Daniel’s feet were healing quickly after his jungle tour, but not quickly enough for him to accompany us. My whole family had grown to tolerate him a little better, and I dare say, a few may have even welcomed him along, even though he wasn’t a full-blooded Centaur.

We stood up as the others filed out of the house while we waited on the grass in front of it. Everyone looked ready. He stood in flip flops trying to pretend the pain was bearable, but I saw how he winced with every step he took. I couldn’t help but notice how Jessica refused to take her eyes off of him as he made his way back to the others.

My family gathered around, backpacks slung over their shoulders, freshly tanned skin peeking out from under their clothes. Daniel turned me toward him, put a hand on each of my shoulders and said, You don’t have to do this, Cami. Despite his statement, Daniel knew I did. His thoughts just a few minutes before told me he wanted me to do this for him, too.

"We do have to do this. Not just for us, but for all of the Lost Herd who has lived with the fear of discovery. It’s time we all got our lives back."

Daniel offered sheepishly, I could go with you.

Forcing the smile off my lips, Take care of your feet and stay out of the jungle. We’ll be back in a few days. I turned my attention to Jessica, who was leaning against a tree a few feet away, purposely avoiding eye contact with me. Take care of him, okay?

Jessica’s eyes opened wide. Maybe she thought she had blended in with the scenery? I expected her to say she’d take care of him. The two had been inseparable since South Dakota. Since his jungle stunt yesterday when we found him bleeding, she’d been by his side, not letting anyone else take care of him, so her words nearly knocked my legs out from under me. I’m catching a flight home today.

My eyes darted between Daniel and Jessica. Daniel’s expression was just as surprised as mine. Not giving him a chance to say anything stupid, I asked, What?! Why would you go back to South Dakota?

Jessica’s voice was unsteady, Mom’s going to find me. When she does, it’ll just be worse. If I go home now, she’ll be furious, but my punishment won’t be as bad if I go back on my own.

Jessica, just give us a couple days to deal with the Centaur Council. When it’s over, we’ll come back and we’ll all help you plan your next move. I looked around at my family circled around us and saw nothing but agreement for my offer.

Tears formed at the corners of her eyes as she shook her head, No. The longer I wait, the worse it’ll be. Besides, she’s vindictive. If she finds me here with Daniel,. . . her voice trailed off.

Daniel took a step in Jessica’s direction; the pain in his feet registered the fire he was still feeling as he took in a quick rush of air and held it. Jessica held up her hand, motioning for him to stay where he was. No. This has been fun. Jessica looked to each of my family members encircling her, I’m grateful to each and every one of you. I’ll never forget your kindness or your acceptance. Jessica’s eyes settled on Daniel, But I’ve got too much to lose if I stay here. Jessica attempted to dart into the house, but Gretchen, my stepmom, of all people, held out her hand and stopped her.

Gretchen’s voice was kind, genuine, everything a matriarch was supposed to be. Child, she cannot find you here. Even if she traced you to Las Vegas, the plane you four brought to Cancun is untraceable. The flight records have been erased; I saw to that myself. You are too far away for her to find you with her clairvoyant powers. No Centauride, not even the Chairman herself, could find you at this distance. You’re safe here; you have my word.

Jessica’s voice shook. If she finds me, you know what she’ll do to me. You know what she’ll do to Daniel. The tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes released. Jessica’s words were barely more than a whisper, I have to go back.

Gretchen dropped Jessica’s gaze, turned away from her, and looked out into the surf. Following her focus, I looked out into the water, too. What did she see? Maybe a boat? Maybe a hundred boats? I had set the enforcer free, and he could have mounted a whole landing party by now. My eyes were no help. If stealth attackers were positioning a raid, they had to have been behind an enormous wave forming just off the coast. I couldn’t be sure of the height, but it looked as tall as a two story building coming straight at the beach.

I glanced at the others: everyone’s eyes were fixed toward the ocean. We all must have been looking at the same wave, transfixed by the approach of the strange wall of water. When the wave’s crest hit its apex, it didn’t roll down and crash into the surf like it was supposed to. The sand didn’t swallow it. Where it should have folded over on itself – it didn’t. The wave looked almost like it was on wheels and was driving itself off the ocean and directly at us.

Drake's arms grabbed me. We turned to run as my brothers tried shoving us toward the house, but Gretchen held up a hand with one word of warning, Stay.

Mouths hung open and eyes widened as the wall of water crossed the hard-packed sand, rolled over the soft sand to where we stood and encircled us in a fortress of water. It looked like we were inside a giant cylinder. I eased closer to Drake, who had been only inches away, unsure what to make of this water prison suddenly surrounding us.

Gretchen’s voice changed from before, no longer kind or sweet, but powerful and unyielding, Do you doubt that I am a powerful Centauride and the Matriarch of this family?

Gretchen was doing this? What sort of demonstration was this? I pressed my hand onto the watery wall. It had the wetness of water, but it was as much of a wall as if it had been built with a layer of bricks.

Jessica shook her head. I looked around, and although Gretchen was addressing Jessica, all eyes were agreeing that she was indeed the Matriarch of the Strayer herd. I can command objects to do my bidding, and when one of my family is in danger, I am able to do impossible things – but know that with all the strength I possess, I cannot offer my family protection halfway around the world. If I as matriarch cannot protect my family, I can assure you, your mother’s powers of locating you will also not work on the other side of the earth. Stay hidden here until we return for you.

The wall of water fell into the ground around us, absorbing instantly into the lush grass.

Jessica didn’t argue. She didn’t utter a sound. Gretchen’s demonstration had made it very clear that she and Daniel would be able to stay safely tucked away while we left for South Africa. The way Daniel looked at Jessica, I could tell he was all for a little one-on-one time with her. Having grown up with him and seen him smitten with women many times before, I had to admit that the way he looked at Jessica was different. But Jessica was in a whole different league from every other woman he’d been interested in.

Every now and again he’d run across a lady who would catch his attention, but none ever seemed to hold his interest for very long. After his stunt yesterday, I’d purposely looked at his future. It was a skill I still needed to practice, but I saw two clear futures for him. I wondered what would happen with either scenario between him and Jessica.

One future showed him tiring of her like he did every other woman he’d ever met. If he moved on, I was sure Jessica would take it badly – every Centauride I’d met had almost no experience dating. All the Centaurides seemed to go right from meeting a Centaur straight to betrothal. Badly meant her return to South Dakota and a miserable life, more miserable than she could have imagined.

The second future I could see was even worse. If Daniel continued following Jessica around like a love-struck puppy and she rejected him for a pureblooded Centaur – he’d be crushed. If his actions yesterday in the jungle were any indication, her rejection would cut him deeper than mine ever had. I prayed that this future didn’t come to fruition, because, as far as I could see, he’d never recover from her rejection.

I desperately hoped a third future for Daniel would present itself, but sadly, no matter how hard I tried, I didn’t see a happily-ever-after for Jessica and Daniel.

Jessica gave Gretchen a hug. I was sure the two were exchanging thoughts because when Jessica let go of Gretchen, her eyes went instantly to Daniel. She nodded to Gretchen and smiled brightly.

I didn’t want to intrude into what Jessica and Gretchen had discussed, but I very much wanted to know what Gretchen had said to change Jessica’s mind about staying. Before I could wonder aloud or ask the question telepathically, Drake placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed, giving me a final reminder, It’s time to go.

Chapter 2

Camille Nash – Cancún, Mexico

I smiled at Drake. He was right – it was time to go. The last week had been beyond words. Drake and I were married and had honeymooned in the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Both our families surprised us with the help of Bianca. It was the first time since I’d first met them in Charleston that I was able to spend any quality time with them. When we had first met, I was thrilled to have so many brothers who openly welcomed me as a long-lost sister. Now, having spent the last week with them, playing beach volleyball, body surfing, eating every meal together, all I could think was how full my life had become in a short period of time.

Mom had sheltered me from my Centaur family since birth. She did the best that she could with what she knew. Growing up as Zandra’s daughter had instilled in her nothing but fear and a healthy desire to escape Centaur society. If I had lived her life, I probably would have made the same choices.

I wish she could have known Gretchen and Will while she was alive – well, maybe not, given that Will had seduced Mom. But if she could have met a normal Centaur couple, and had a chance to feel the love they freely shared with their children, they may have been able to restore her belief that our race was good. Mom might have wanted to rejoin the Centaur society rather than staying hidden in the seclusion she created for herself and me.

I had learned so much about our kind. I liked the idea that when this life is over, we all meet again in the pasture. There are so many things I want Mom to know. More than anything I want her to know I found happiness right here on earth – true happiness.

I had stumbled into love with a man who would sacrifice anything for me, who would risk everything he held dear for true love, and who believed the sun really did rise and set on my shoulders. Beyond the joy of Drake in my life, other loves presented themselves that I had never anticipated, either: the love of a stepmother who had more than enough room in her heart to make space for me without conditions, the endless hours of laughter my brothers inserted into my life, and the knowledge that I had a father who had never abandoned me.

If all these blessings I had been given were suddenly taken away, I could go to the pasture knowing without a doubt that my life had been full. I would know that I would be missed, that my Centaur family truly loved me. In return, I was prepared to go to the end of the earth to save each one of them.

Drake had been listening to my thoughts when he answered, "South Africa isn’t the end of the earth, but you can see it from there. Don’t get any crazy ideas; you’re not going to the pasture any time soon. We have far too much living still to do." Drake’s hand gently rested on the small of my back. I loved that feeling, the gentle reminder that he was at my side.

The large iron gates at the front of the property opened wide to allow four black SUVs entry. They drove up the driveway and pulled to a stop in front of the house. Not one of the drivers so much as flinched. Each driver remained in his vehicle and kept his eyes trained on the windshield in front of him. The SUVs looked like Will had borrowed them from the US Embassy or some foreign dignitary. The windows were tinted dark, and I was sure that the shiny black paint was covering armored doors.

Jessica sauntered up to Daniel, grasped his hand and pulled his arm over her shoulder. Loud enough so that we could all hear her, she said, C’mon. Let’s get you inside and off your feet.

Daniel shuffled along beside her as they slowly walked back toward the house. He had eyes only for her, but in typical Daniel-fashion, he wagged his eyebrows like a comic strip character at me. In an innocent schoolboy voice he asked Jessica, What could we possibly do to pass the time on this big empty estate? Kudos to Jessica for continuing to help him into the house and not shoving him face-first into the dirt for the innuendo.

Just as they passed me on their trek to the house, I said, Hey, Daniel? He turned his head back towards me when I reminded him, You’d better be a boy scout while we’re gone. He held up two fingers, gave me his sly smile, and leaned his head on Jessica’s shoulder.

I didn’t wait for Drake or Will to prod me; I climbed into the first SUV, taking a seat in the third row. Despite Drake’s height, he found a way to wedge himself in beside me. Gage, Bianca and Katherine sat in the second row while Brent took the passenger seat up front, next to the driver.

Katherine reached out to close the door and announced, This door weighs a ton!

In the blink of an eye, Brent opened his door, was out of his seat, and standing outside Katherine’s door. I would have had to been deaf to miss the sweetness in his voice, Sit back, I’ll get it. Brent closed her door with a solid thud. Confirmed, we were definitely in an armored SUV.

My nervousness began to return as the SUV inched away from the house. Bianca must have sensed it because she turned around in her seat so she was facing Drake and me. There’s a huge advantage to taking a family plane.

That was another perk of being a Centaur: it seemed like every family had access to private jets, but rather than calling them that, everyone just referred to them as family planes. Let’s see, no security like commercial airports, seating to watch movies in fat recliners, and a full-blown kitchen instead of pretzels. Any of these was an obvious advantage over commercial air travel, but I decided to see what she had up her sleeve now. Oh yeah, what’s that?

The fact that we’re on our own schedule. We’ve been cooped up on the estate for over a week. I never got to take you to my favorite place here. She looked at her watch, Let’s make a pit stop for lunch.

I don’t know. Will was pretty adamant that we go straight to the airport.

Pshaw, we’re in the lead SUV. The others will follow us wherever we go. The next thing I knew, Bianca was giving directions to the driver. We were off the main highway, down an alley that looked barely big enough for a donkey and cart, around a corner too tight for a Lotus, and on a dirt road with ruts large enough to hide small sports cars.

Drake's cell phone rang, then Gage's, then Brent's. Gretchen's voice echoed in my head, "What's going on? This isn't the way