Free Son of Ra by Cyndi Goodgame Page B

that someone actually could command me and I obeyed.  Mostly.  I never asked my father, therefore I was never denied.  Forbidden, yes.
    He grabbed my hand and squeezed whether to remind me of his humor or for comfort, or both.
    I’ll take my turn later.
    We silently walked to our own rooms and changed.  I put on my jeans at his request and left my room just as he was too.  He felt compelled to skill me in combat on impulse because he presumed that most battles happen in the unexpected .
    “That’s because they do.  I’ve trained since I was five.”
    “And I,” I announced to the wall eagerly walking ahead.
    “Yes, but I’ve guarded and shielded you since you were eight.”
    “Eight?” I blurted out.
    “Eight.  For which you were eight also.  I told you this.”   He held his hand for me to lead the way into the door.
    “Yes, but were you Valkyrie or Vampire?” I was pulling my hair in a ponytail while we walked to the arena room.
    “Later on that, and you were irreplaceable and fragile then.  It was a difficult job.”  He added in that last part just to see my rage.  Ruthless cutthroat!
    “Fragile.  I’ll show you fragile,” I smiled wickedly.
    “Looking forward to it,” he said releasing another rare smile of his.
    I armed and attacked.  I had the best time of my life not holding back an inch.  I did however lose the ring for the fight time.  It was exhilarating.  I could tell h e didn’t hold back.  To see his face the way an opponent should when they are giving their all.  Wow!
    “Can I ask you something?” I asked while cleaning up the last of my things.  We were heading up the stairs now.
    “Anything?” he bent his head sideways.
    “Why do you not bite people?”
    “I don’t want to hurt people.  I can’t help what I am.”
    “How did you get that way?”  I tried again wanting to know more about him specifically.  He looked down arranging his belt or something.   
    I’ve never told anyone.
    “You don’t have to tell me.”
    I will.  I was a baby.  When my mother died, I was carried away from her.  I was assigned to the kitchen at the Val court. At a young age, your father approached me about my marks, and I overheard him telling Szar something about you.  I'd always been intrigued by you and I think he knew.  I knew you had the mark too, but not what it was.  After two years and saving you at the first mission, I vowed to find out the truth.  I searched everywhere.  I found the letters one day in your father’s study.  I knew who I was and what I would become.  I’d already met the Vampire lord once and sought him out.   My new father found me late one night and the deed was already done before I could ask.  Like destiny.  He protected me and hid me from anyone who hurt me or let me hurt them.  I grew up with a huge supply since he took work at the morgue. 
    “Why are you afraid to tell this?”  We were in the Sun room now.
    “Because my real father must have known something.  My mother was chosen and having me was her only goal in the plan.  She was unneeded.  As was…”
    He didn’t finish.  What was he going to say?
    I was made a Vampire to go through a change of form.
    A sighed escaped me.    My mind was replaying the prophecy.  Nothing.  His letter.  Do not let her go alone.  As the son of Ra, you are bound by all orders of our kind and hers.  When choosing another form, take care that you are taught properly.  The ring will return to you for the both of you. 
    “To protect you.”
    Me?
    He nodded barely.
    “Who are you?”  I want to know .  I could see it in his face. 
    “Valkyrie.”
    I know that .  If ever been asked if all this would come to pass, I’d call them fools.  And to think, he’d lived with this knowledge for so long.  Keeping it to himself and not being able to tell me or anyone who was somehow part of this whacked out equation of doom.
    “And who was your father?”
    I searched my memory to