“Where’d you learn that?” Bennett asked.
“Your dad taught me.” Garridan said and moved fluidly at his waist.
“I didn’t know my dad knew this stuff.” Bennett came into the yard.
Garridan brought his arm up, as if to block some imaginary enemy. He turned at the waist. “Are you going to stay?”
“Yeah.”
“Then come here,” Garridan said.
Bennett chuckled and walked across the yard.
Garridan stopped and straightened, waiting for Bennett. Bennett stood a few feet away. “Do what I do.”
“Thanks for what you said to Lucas. It really helped him.”
“The truth is easy to say.” Garridan’s back was to Bennett as he began the routine. He moved slower than he had before, making it easier for Bennett to pick up the pattern of his movements.
Garridan felt a sense of peace come over him as he trained with someone else. It was familiar and comfortable. It was like a meditation, a graceful dance he did to clear his head, and it worked the longer he moved.
“Do you train for war?”
“Yeah. Mother Estelle made sure we each knew how to protect ourselves. Ramsey and I train all the time still,” Bennett said.
“Good.” War was imminent. Garridan wasn’t sure how he knew that, but he did. It was an inevitable fact that gave him the overwhelming urge to go get his mate and take him away, but he knew that was abad idea. Bennett and Lucas both needed him. He wouldn’t run away and leave his son to die. His mate didn’t trust him anyway. He still had to earn it. Sage wouldn’t go with him, even if leaving were an option.
Garridan didn’t know how long they had been out there when he smelled his mate. He stopped immediately and looked around, searching. He saw Sage by the back door watching them.
“Tomorrow morning, Bennett,” Garridan said as Bennett started into the house. Garridan never took his eyes off Sage, though.
“Yes, sir,” Bennett said as he walked up the stairs.
Sage had a small wrapped package in his hand. “I…um…didn’t give you your Christmas gift the other day at the family thing.” Sage’s voice was shaky as he said it and it took Garridan a second to realize the reason why. Sage was scared of him.
“I won’t hurt you.”
“No, I know. I know. I’m just really nervous. And scared I’ll see the vampires again, now that I’m out of the house.” Sage took a step closer. “That was really nice to watch. The way you move is beautiful.”
Garridan’s focus was on Sage’s fear. He couldn’t think about anything else. “They won’t hurt you again.”
Sage frowned. “You can’t know that.”
“I do know it. I’ll kill them for touching you.”
“I didn’t come here to talk about that. I don’t want to ruin the moment.”
Garridan waited for a few more seconds, making sure Sage didn’t have anything more to add.
He liked it when Sage talked and didn’t want to interrupt him. They ended up just staring at each other for several seconds, which was fine with Garridan. His mate was nice to look at. Sage was the one who was beautiful, with his dark hair falling on his forehead and hisbig brown eyes. Garridan wanted to scoop him up and never let go. Garridan wouldn’t touch him, though, not until Sage allowed it.
“Are you getting cold?” Garridan asked when he noticed Sage shiver.
Sage nodded. “A little.”
“Do you want to go inside?”
Sage smiled. “Okay.”
