by Belle Kayce
Zeke brushes it off. “Of course. And you’re correct. I ran away from Reggie again, but I couldn’t help it when I noticed you nearby. There were rogues after Ava, so I had to swoop in. I was trying not to but it’s hard.”
There’s a tense silence for a second between me and Lance. He never told me about his vampire brother. Zeke, on the other hand, looks oblivious as he continues to grin at Lance.
“How’s Dad doing?”
"He said, and I quote, 'I want to see my favorite son'. Can you believe it?"
"Yes, I can," Lance says. There's a hint of a smirk on his face.
Seeing this side of Lance is new, this side he has when he is with his family. He knows about my family situation.
"Pssh, I know I'm just a handful. His favorite son has responsibilities, whereas I just chill. You should try it sometimes."
I second that one.
“Ava, are you hungry? I saw this restaurant that is still open on late hours. How about you and I go there to eat? My treat! Lance, the big meanie, can just hang out alone.”
“Sounds like a great idea.” I nod.
Lance looks like he’s going to argue, but Zeke shoots him a contagious smile. Lance only shakes his head, agreeing reluctantly.
***
“Lance can never say no to me,” Zeke tells me after we settle in the diner and order our food.
Both Zeke and I were craving for some breakfast food, so I get a plate of pancakes.
On the other hand, Zeke orders strawberry waffles and douses it with strawberry syrup. He also has a bowl of strawberries on the side. He even asks me if I want to order a strawberry milkshake.
“They always make me feel better,” Zeke tells me.
“Sure, why not,” I relent. Honestly, this whole eating-your-feelings-thing works, if only temporarily. After a while, you feel like crap.
It’s the now that matters though.
"It's just . . . there's so much I don't know about Lance," I tell him after we finish ordering. "There’s just so much and it's overwhelming."
Zeke smiles. "Don't let the small stuff get to you. He's not much of a talker, if you didn't already notice. He's always been shy. My dad raised him, and he grew up with me. We're complete opposites."
I stifle a laugh. It's funny thinking of Lance as shy.
"It's not that he's not good with people, just more of an observer. But if you know him, he'll talk to you. With you, it's hard, I can imagine. He wants to impress you and look cool, but it's probably making him look like a jerk."
"He hasn't been." I sigh. Well, except for not telling me that huge piece of information about having a vampire for a brother. You know, it’s sort of a big deal.
"Good. He better not be a jerk to my sister." Zeke grins.
I roll my eyes.
"Hey, I have an idea. How about you come to our home? Dad will be thrilled to meet Lance's mate too. You can convince Lance to take one day off."
"I'll try to," I say. The idea of meeting vampires is making me nervous. “By the way, I never met a vampire before, so this is a first.”
"Disappointed?" He pouts a little. "Sorry, I don't sparkle."
I burst out laughing then. "If you sparkled, I don't think I would ever take you seriously in my life."
Zeke grins. "I think it might be physically impossible for the sun to make us sparkle. We’ll itch probably."
"So, you don't burn in the sun?"
Zeke shakes his head. "We get extremely sleepy and tired. We do thrive at night though."
"What are your weaknesses then?" I ask him. I always thought daylight is a vampire’s weakness.
Zeke lifts an eyebrow. "If I didn't know any better, I think you were planning on killing me," he says lightly, his lips twitching upward.
"No, I mean . . ." I can't believe I'm saying this. "Does garlic work on you? This is in case you ever annoy me." Or if a vampire ever wants to kill me.
Zeke laughs. It's one of those hilarious laughs that is contagious and makes you want to laugh too.
"Actually, it does," Zeke tells me seriously.
Oh wow! So, that story is true.
“Kidding.”
"Were you seriously going to make me believe garlic was your kryptonite, so I'd use it on you someday?" Bruh, I like him already.
"Holy water works too."
***
Being fed makes me feel a lot happier, and Zeke is actually such a sweetheart.
Zeke drops me off at the hotel, where Lance is anxiously waiting for us.
“Well, I have to go now.” Zeke is checking his phone with a frown. “Seems like Reggie is close to finding me.”
“You need to stop doing that,” Lance reprimands his brother, and I already can tell Lance is the older one.
“Dad’s expecting me to come home soon, but I really was trying to get out of meeting anyone.” Zeke turns to me. "It was nice meeting you, lil sis. We'll see each other soon. Oh, before I forget." He takes out an iPhone and asks me for my number. "There. We can FaceTime every day. And if you ever get bored, call me and I'm here."
“Come to Noctis Luna when we’re done,” Lance tells Zeke, the two brothers embracing again. Lance does not seem like a hugger at all, but with Zeke, it’s different.
“See you guys later.” Zeke waves. One second, Zeke is waving at us; the next, it looks like he just vanished. Vampire speed is legit. I stare after him, thinking about my first experience with a vampire. I'm sure not all vampires are as cool as him, so I have to be careful.
I turn to Lance. He's looking at the ground, seemingly wanting to say something. I don't know what I want to say to him.
“So . . . you have a brother,” is all I can say.
“Sorry, I just . . . it’s been . . . busy.”
Dealing with me?
“I know.” I’m less upset now. “You were so busy, you got sick. It’s not your fault.”
"Will you come with me to see my father?" Lance asks suddenly. He looks at me, meeting my eyes but giving me a slight pout. I'm one hundred percent sure he doesn't even know he's doing it. It's like he thinks I'm going to reject him.
“I’d love to,” I tell him honestly. I hope, bit by bit, we can become closer. It seems as though I’m just learning more about him.
“There’s just one more thing. Did Zeke tell you?” Lance asks.
I think about it. “Tell me what?”
“Zeke’s the vampire prince, and my dad is the king.”
“Zeke—he’s a prince?!” I exclaim. Zeke’s cool points just rose up by a lot. “And your dad is . . . a whole king?”
“Correct.” Lance nods.
I stare at him for a moment, thinking about just how complicated Lance’s family is and how much his connections run deep. Wow. I’m impressed actually.
“We’re going to Paxon’s pack in the morning,” Lance says as he stops in front of my hotel room.
“Everything good with Heidi? Where is she?”
“Even better than we hoped,” Lance answers. “She had to go back to her pack immediately with Alpha Kent. He does seem keen on helping her now.”
“That’s great for her,” I say honestly, happy for Heidi. “Everything should work out then, right?”
“It should,” Lance nods.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Since Paxon’s pack is only three hours away from Heidi’s, we all decide that we will head there after breakfast. I have messages from Meg and Bo, telling me that Bo is heading to my pack for the recon.
Today is going to be the moment of truth where we see Paxon. May Vanessa rest in peace.
I get a text from Zeke.
What are you up to, sis?
I sneakily take a picture of the back of Lance’s head and send it to Zeke.
Road trip
Zeke sends a picture of himself at a desk with his hand on his cheek.
Bored at a meeting. Wish I could be there :’(
Wow, so vampires CAN take pictures. Who would have thought.
Technology these days. P.S. I dare you to send me a selfie with you and Lance.
I position myself to take a selfie, aiming the camera at Lance. “Hey, Lance?” I call. As expected, he turns around and I tap the button to take a candid picture of him. I quickly send it to Zeke.
“Never mind,” I say, trying to not laugh.
“If you wanted a picture, you could have asked,” Lance says. “I would have posed better.”
I stare at the picture I just took. Lance looks too good. “It doesn’t matter because you’re so flippin’ photogenic.”
Zeke sends me a picture of a close up.
Look at you two, cuties ;) Tell him I said hi.
Ew. Do not send me the winky emoji, you creep.
“Zeke says hi by the way,” I tell Lance.
“Probably not paying attention to the meeting.” Lance sighs a little.
Zeke sends me a picture of him winking.
Better?
Not at all.
After a while, I get drowsy. I tell Zeke to pay attention to his meeting, and I fall asleep.
When I wake up because I have to go the bathroom, I notice Lance and Cole are having a conversation.
“The packs near Paxon’s in the north are headed by Kade and Grayson,” Lance says.
“Isn’t Grayson the one trying to get as much land as he can? And Kade is also trying to wipe some smaller packs out,” Cole comments. “Heard those two northern alphas are the worst.”
“You think they need to be monitored?” Lance asks.
I would like to have listened more into this conversation because I need to know important information like this, but my bladder is about to burst.
I’m going to have to be that annoying person on the road trip who asks everyone to stop at a gas station to pee.
“Can we stop because I need a bathroom break,” I interrupt them.
“Sure, we needed gas anyways,” Cole says. Thankfully, the next exit is close by.
I hop out of the car and enter the smelly gas station store. I look for the restrooms.
After I finish, I realize I’m pretty hungry. I grab two bars of Twix, three bags of chips in different flavors in case Lance or Cole likes it, a glass bottle of Sprite, and two water bottles for the guys. They haven’t eaten since four hours ago, and I’m seriously thinking that they’re not going to unless I force them.
The cashier looks at all my items and says, “That’ll be $15.65.”
Talk about overpriced gas station snacks.
I dig in my pocket and wince when I see that I only have thirteen dollars. Shoot. Which snack do I sacrifice?
Definitely not my chocolate. Never the chocolate.
“Er.” I look up at the cashier.
“Here.” Lance is suddenly next to me. He hands the cashier a crisp twenty-dollar bill.
I mean, he did tell me my smile is great, and I am beautiful, and I smell really nice.
The cashier hands Lance the change and gives me my bag of junk. “Have a good day,” the cashier says gruffly.
“You too!” I exclaim. I turn to Lance as we exit the store. “Thanks for paying.”
“You shouldn’t have to pay,” Lance says easily, opening the car door for me.
It’s such a kind gesture. I look at him for a moment. Chickening out at the last second to say or do anything, I seated myself at the back of the car.
Cole starts the engine, and we’re off into the highway again.
I open my can and drink the Sprite in one big gulp.
“Okay, you guys pick which flavor you want. There’s some water for you too.” I take out the three bags and put it over the cupholder. There’s barbeque, salt and vinegar, and cheddar. The last one is lowkey my favorite.
Cole takes the one in barbeque flavor, along with the water bottle. He murmurs, “Thanks”.
Lance takes the salt-and-vinegar one and then I try to tease him. “Obviously, you’d like that one.” Lance looks up at me as he opens the bag. “Because it’s the worst flavor.”
Cole hides his laugh by coughing.
“This is the best actually,” Lance says. “It’s sour.”
“Like your soul,” I joke. This time, Cole chokes on his water. “At least you like chips.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Lance asks with a raised eyebrow, humor clear in his voice.
“I don’t even know what’s your favorite food or color,” I tell him. “Kind of hard to choose chip flavors for the two most difficult people in the world.”
“Difficult?” Cole asks.
“I feel like you guys don’t like anything,” I explain, “especially anything food-related.”
“I like some good paella,” Cole says. “Mom made the best.”
“Anything Italian and cheesy,” Lance says.
“Gosh, tell me you like some good breadsticks.” I sigh, my mouth watering.
“Same here,” Cole adds.
I smile at this. I thought it was going to be so awkward in the car but it’s not. This is easy conversation. Food brings people together.
“Lance, here, can cook.”
I gape at him. “Seriously?!” I’m so going to make him cook for me. “You’re cooking for me some good Italian food when we get back home. I don’t care.”
Suddenly, I freeze.
Home.
I just called Lance’s pack home. It came out so naturally, and I didn’t even think too much about it.
The real question is what am I doing still not getting initiated into his pack like a good luna would have done a long time ago? What am I scared of? The commitment? Going into this new life without my parents, Lisa, or Julia?
“Ava?” Lance’s gentle voice takes me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah?” I say dumbly.
“I will . . . when we go back home together.” Lance holds my gaze, and I think about how blue is my favorite color and his eyes are to die for.
“We’re here,” Cole breaks us out of our trance.
I look outside through the windshield. In front of us is a huge black gate that stands at over ten feet. There’s also a microphone for people to announce themselves.
Cole rolls his window down.
Screech.
“This is Dan. Who am I speaking to?”
“This is Cole West, with Lance Stryder, from Noctis Luna,” Cole answers.
A pause.
Then the huge gates open up slowly and then we’re in.
***
Paxon’s office is a mess. Right in front of the door is a bunch of books that look burnt. The telephone is broken. Papers are scattered everywhere. The walls look scratched. It seems to have been the work of claw marks. The Persian carpet is also torn. Funny enough, it doesn’t smell bad. It just produces the fresh scent of pine.
I have a feeling that the state of Paxon’s office is a metaphor for his own personal state right now.
At the far end of the room is Paxon’s desk that has a broken computer screen on it.
Everything here is broken.
“I would normally greet you with formalities, but I must apologize to you guys.”
Paxon’s voice is raspy. It is so easy to see the darkened circles under his eyes. His eyes are just full of sadness, and his dark hair is spiking everywhere. “My beta, Sargon, isn’t here. He is also mourning his twin sister’s death in his own way. Nowadays, I don’t like much company.”
We can tell.
“We apologize to have intruded so suddenly,” Lance says in manner full of politeness. “There is a very important matter that we need to discuss with you.”
“You can wait for Sargon. He’ll be the one to do it,” Paxon dismisses us easily. He turns his chair and stare at a paper. It looks like a map.
“It’s about Vanessa,” I say.
Paxon’s entire body stiffens considerably, and he finally takes a look at me. His eyes narrow a fraction, his jaw ticking. It’s like a flicker of recognition crosses his face, but I’ve never met Paxon in my life.
/> “What do you know about my dead mate, Luna?” Paxon’s voice comes out harsh, and I feel Cole tense next to me at the tone.
“We need you to promise you won’t do anything rash,” Cole speaks up.
“Rash?” Paxon looks at all of us, perplexed and irritated. “What is this about?”
“Promise,” Cole says tightly.
“Okay, I promise not to do anything ’rash’,” Paxon says this a little sarcastically. He gives me a humorless look, his eyes shooting daggers at me.
“I know who killed Vanessa,” I say a little hesitantly.
Paxon stands up lightning-quick, and Lance takes an imperceptible step in front of me.
“You what?” Paxon’s voice booms across the room. “Say that very carefully again.”
“Ava knows who killed Vanessa,” Lance repeats for me because I’m momentarily frozen.
Lance, however, doesn’t seem in the least bit fazed.
Paxon swears under his breath multiple times and runs a hand through his spiky hair.
He then lets out another set of expletive words.
“For months, I’ve been searching for who did it. I thought I had a lead after one alpha told me something, but it was a dead end. How would you know?” He sounds calm, very much different than how he looks. Right now, he looks like a caged animal.
“I overheard them,” I say.
“And I believe her, as does Cole,” Lance adds.
“Who is ‘them’?” Paxon’s voice comes a little sharper.
“We need you to think logica—”
“Who is ‘them’?” Paxon demands, sounding really vexed.
I see him clench both his fists. His knuckles are already turning white.
“Alpha Stevens and Alpha Trent,” I answer, taking a shaky breath.
Paxon growls so loudly, I almost shudder in fear. It looks like he wants to do something crazy from the look in his eyes.
“I’m going to kill them all.”
