by Dannika Dark
He pulled me into his lap, curving his strong arms around my back as I listened to the thrumming sound of a purr deep within his chest.
“We’re going to have to move upstairs,” I said. “They’ll want privacy.”
Logan growled thoughtfully and sighed. “Since there are two hallways upstairs, Finn will take the one near the lift and we’ll take the other. I also want privacy with my female,” he said with mischief in his voice. Not to mention he was squeezing my ass and nipping my ear.
“I’m so glad Nero’s gone,” I whispered.
Logan leaned back and raked his fingers through my hair, studying my eyes. “I’m still looking into securing a building for all of us. Justus may not like the idea, but I suspect Page will prefer living in the city close to her clients. Justus will do what his female wants because that’s what a male does when his heart is claimed.” He kissed my nose and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Have you spoken with your friend, Sunny?”
My heart sank. “Now that Nero’s taken care of, she wants to have a ceremony and release Knox’s remains. I told her I’d be there. The babies are coming soon and she needs this closure.”
“Let me know the day. Leo and Levi will want to go. Lucian didn’t know Knox, but he’ll come if I ask.”
“Don’t go out of your way.”
“Lucian is family and family sticks together. He will go if I have to staple him to the trunk of the car,” Logan said in a deadpan voice.
I laughed softly and stood up, then wound the key on a musical toy. When it began to chime with a familiar nursery song, a smile played on my lips. Excitement swept away all the regret, and I thought about the joy of having a baby in the house.
Logan glanced at the crib as he rose to his feet. “They should put the bed in their room. Chitahs keep our infants with the parents for the first year to bond. Separating the child seems like a human thing to do,” he murmured.
“They’ll figure it all out.”
He clasped my hand as we walked out the door. “Yes, and so will we.”
***
It took three days of sleep for me to recuperate after Nero’s attack. I’d finally begun working out in our training room with pull-ups and weight training. Page prepared shakes filled with all the nutrients my body lacked. I wish I could say they were tasty shakes, but Logan had to pinch my nose while I downed them. Simon and Justus had already weaned me from their light, allowing my body to recover on its own, which is why I’d slept off and on so much.
I slipped into a pair of sweats and a silly black sweater with a pink cat on it. Justus was more forgiving of sloppy attire when I was recovering from something, but I could tell by the slant of his brow that he would have preferred if I’d made an effort to look put together.
“What’s going on up here?” I yawned and strolled into the dining room, which was alight with candles. Page sat to the right of Justus and to his left, Leo stared down at a stack of papers.
Leo cleared his throat and locked his hands behind his head. In the dim light, his hair appeared redder than it did in the sun. “The Mageri has arrested Cedric for his crimes in aiding and abetting an outlaw. Adam provided enough evidence through his contact to arrest Cedric for selling engineered weapons to Nero. His contact is still working on locating the ones who are creating them, but I have a feeling it’s beyond our control.”
“Did they have all the proof they needed? I know they’re sticklers on written evidence,” I said.
Leo placed his hands back on the table. “No. Things are changing, Silver. They have enough evidence to conduct an investigation and they’re holding him while they check their sources. It’s not protocol, but they don’t want to risk him going anywhere. Although at this point, there’s no way of telling how widespread some of the metal is. Adam seems to think the properties will fade over time, but it’s speculative. The insider might be selling to someone else, so the Mageri is handling this arrest very differently.”
“The times, they are a-changin’,” I said, taking a seat at the far end of the table by the hall.
Justus rubbed his eye and glanced at the papers. “The Mageri sent Enforcers to Nero’s compound. We found only four who were alive. All women.”
“Mage?” I asked.
He nodded. “They hired a Sensor and discovered a grave of bodies buried in the back. Seven total—all human. We think it’s possible they were one of us and Nero pulled their core light and infused it to his own. That would have rendered them mortal, and they would have no longer been of any value to him.”
“Oh God,” I breathed.
“They’re not making the same mistake as with Ray and Cheri. The four that were released are under observation. They’re receiving fair treatment, but there’s no way to tell if Nero brainwashed them.”
“Maybe a Vampire could question them,” Leo said, folding the corner of one of the papers in front of him.
Justus made a small grunt as if giving the idea some thought.
“I think they’ve suffered long enough,” Page interrupted. “You can’t hold someone prisoner for what they might do.”
“It’s out of our hands at this point,” Leo said. “We haven’t been able to locate the Infuser who worked for Nero. Some of the people in the compound have given a physical description, so that will help. He visited on several occasions. It shouldn’t be long before he’s caught.” Leo touched the gold HALO ring that all members of the organization wore.
“We made Adam an offer to join us,” Justus added. “Out of respect for Novis, we decided not to approach him in the beginning, but he would be a valuable asset for HALO. I spoke with him this morning. He said he’s done with this life.”
I shook my head. “This was never the life for him, Ghuardian. It was the life he was forced into after his sister was killed. But this… this isn’t Adam.”
Page leaned forward with her chin in her hand, tapping her nose with a growing smile on her face. “No, but he did accept another offer.”
I jerked my neck back in surprise. “What offer?”
“Adam is going to temporarily work as my partner. I need someone to manage my clientele. Some clients only require consultations and I can handle those on Internet conference calls, but I won’t be able to treat the rest of my clients who are in need of medical assistance. I thought Adam would want time to think it over, but he agreed right away.”
“Seriously?”
“I think Adam will be great. He has a good bedside manner; I watched how he was with Sadie. I can be the brains in the show with my innate knowledge, and he can be the brawn and fix people better than I ever could. I wish being a Healer were more prevalent among your kind; there are never enough Relics to handle all the situations that come up where medical attention is needed. Adam has limitations to work out, but I think in time he’ll acquire some of the knowledge that I have. Perhaps he’ll even go to medical school to catch up,” she said, smiling at Justus.
He shook his head as if not believing it would be a long-term situation.
This was exactly the kind of job Adam needed. The gift of being a Healer only allowed him to fix people, but I knew Page would have higher expectations for his contributions.
Adam was going to be a doctor.
“Wow,” I breathed. “Wow.” I laughed and shook my head.
Page smirked and leaned back in her chair, hands resting on her belly. “He’s moving back in with Novis.”
“Where’s Sadie going?”
Leo stretched and folded his arms on the table. “She’s moving in with me, of course. We don’t abandon our family to the streets. You have a houseful right now and we’re going to be looking for something… larger.”
He shared a private look with Page and Justus eyed them suspiciously.
Ah. Leo must have filled her in on their intentions to secure a building, but no one had mentioned it to Justus yet.
“I spoke with Sunny,” I said, changing the subject. Silence blanketed the room and
I twirled the mood ring on my finger, hating the finality of what was to come. This was probably in the back of their minds since Knox and Sunny were only humans to them. “She’s having the ceremony for Knox. I’m going to drive with her to the coast tomorrow since Novis refuses to let her board a plane.”
“Think again, Learner.”
Anger surfaced. “Excuse me? Sunny is like family to me. This isn’t up for debate.”
He rose from the table and pushed in his chair. “You are not going with them alone and that’s final. I’ll have the car ready in the morning and we’ll travel together. Page will stay here while we make the trip; she is too far along to be taking a long journey in the car. The risk of a traffic accident is too high.”
Page didn’t argue the issue. “Tell Sunny I’m thinking of her. I didn’t know Knox like everyone else, but I can tell he was a respected man. Justus is right; I wouldn’t feel safe on a long car ride. It’s raining in some places and the overpasses might be frozen. I want you to both take it easy and call me when you get there so I don’t worry. Justus? Don’t roll your eyes at me,” she said, pushing against the table to rise to her feet.
Leo began to chuckle and stacked his papers together.
“I was merely admiring the ceiling,” Justus retorted, walking out of the room.
“The ceiling, my butt,” she murmured, following close behind him.
When they disappeared around the hall, I heard the sound of reconciliation.
Kissing.
Page had her work cut out for her. Although, something told me she didn’t want to change him. Their strong personalities complemented each other.
I turned my attention back to Leo. “How is Sadie doing after what happened at the court? I can’t imagine she’d want to live in our world after having seen all that go down. That must have been frightening for a mortal.”
“She’s a resilient woman,” he said, lacing his fingers together. “I sense she’s lived a hard life, but she doesn’t speak of it. She keeps a positive attitude. Sadie believes a person should influence the world and not be influenced by it. I will enjoy getting to know this remarkable woman.”
“Your sister.”
Leo lowered his head and pinched a tuft of his reddish-blond hair. “Yes, my sister. Adam’s grown attached to her and I need to sever that,” he said to himself.
“Why? Adam’s a good man and he saved her life.”
“She should be with her family.”
“You mean Chitahs? She was born from your family, but she’s human. You can’t control who she chooses to be friends with.”
“Her life will be difficult enough living in our world under these circumstances. Forming a relationship with a Mage would bring greater danger from those who oppose interbreeding couples.”
“Like me?”
“No, Silver. That’s not what I meant.”
“Someday you’ll figure out that you can’t control other people’s decisions based on your beliefs. I’d say life is too short for that, but for us, it’s too long. It’s way too long to be carrying around those kinds of prejudices. I know you accept me because of Logan, but I hope one day you’ll accept me because you love me and nothing more. I know you’re the eldest and looking out for your family, trying to keep trouble away, but just be careful how much you shelter them. Too much shelter not only protects you from the rain, but also the sun. We all need a little sunshine in our lives,” I sang, rising from the table and giving him a close-lipped smile. “See you at the shore tomorrow, brother.”
Chapter 31
Adam informed the motel he would not be finishing out his stay. Part of him was going to miss that taste of independence.
He took a seat at the small table in his motel room and spun a box of cigarettes in a circle. It was the last pack he had purchased, and he decided it was going in the trash. Smoking wouldn’t kill him, but Sadie had a point. He didn’t want to be a weak man who needed a vice. Unlike Knox, it wasn’t something he liked doing; it just smoked out the demons.
Saving Finn had awakened a sense of purpose in Adam. When Finn had gasped for breath and the color of life flushed in his cheeks, it’d had a profound impact. He’d brought the kid back from near death and now Finn would be part of Silver’s family. If only Adam had been able to save his own sister, but something finally began to settle in him.
Acceptance.
Losing a sibling was difficult, but Annabell had been Adam’s twin. They’d done everything together and he’d looked after his sister. She’d grown up to be a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her—a life senselessly cut short in a dirty alley by who he later found out was a Mage juicing her light. It had taken away every shred of purpose in his life when he’d been left alone. Adam’s entire family was in a cemetery. But had Annabell not died, Adam wouldn’t have joined the Special Forces, met Knox, and eventually left to purchase a small house in Texas. He wouldn’t have seen Silver that fateful night, running down a dark road. He wouldn’t have been given his first spark by Novis, which had made him immortal. Knox wouldn’t have met Sunny and she wouldn’t be pregnant.
He wouldn’t have become a Healer, and he thought about how many he might save during his own immortal life. Sadie was right in that fate only brought you halfway, but it was up to you to do the rest.
Maybe Annabell’s death had a purpose, and that was to give him the ability to help others. The reason he jumped on the opportunity when Page made him the offer was that she hadn’t made it out of pity, but need. She respected him and his abilities. In fact, it wasn’t all about his gift. She expected him to assist with the lab tests and hinted if it worked out between them, she might teach him some of the Breed knowledge she possessed.
The longer he sat at the table of his empty motel room thinking about it, the more enthusiastic he became. Adam touched a scar on his arm and actually wanted this job to be more than temporary. The odds of her finding another partner again weren’t good, and this surpassed the offers he’d previously received. It wasn’t about money; it was about respect.
Adam had accepted her offer without hesitation and made the decision to move back in permanently with Novis. He now understood Silver’s resistance in this world. It was tough to know the freedom of living on his own as a man, only to be thrust into a position where he was treated as a child. Novis gave him more freedom than Justus gave Silver, but there’s a loss of pride when a man is dependent on someone else.
Adam didn’t want to see himself turning rogue and becoming one of the men that HALO hunted down, and he’d come close to making that his chosen path.
He zipped up his leather jacket, stuffed his things into a small duffle bag, and jogged down the steps toward his motorcycle. The trip home was short, but the sun was shining and he could sense spring on his heels.
The cigarettes were left behind at the motel.
***
“Good to have you back.” Novis held open the front door, welcoming him home.
Adam hung his jacket in the coat closet. “How’s Sunny?”
Novis tugged at the long sleeves of his black shirt. “She has requested to go to the coast tomorrow and release the ashes. One of my men suggested a good location to have the ceremony. Have you eaten?”
“Can I speak with you privately?”
A few guards stood nearby and Novis waved them out of the room. “Come. We’ll have drinks in the study.”
They entered a cozy room with a small table by a window. Novis enjoyed his house being open and cheerful and made sure each room carried that vibe.
Novis placed a bottle of brandy and two glasses on the table. They each poured a small amount and took a few sips, looking at the rolling pasture of frozen grass outside before Adam began.
“What if I asked you for a favor?”
“Depends on the favor.”
Adam rubbed the back of his neck and averted his eyes before looking up. “Would you be willing to make another Mage if I asked?”
Novis s
et down his glass and his clear-blue eyes glittered like crystal in the sunlight filtering through the window. He had a way of staring impassively at Adam that made him uncomfortable. It was a trait many of the ancient immortals had.
“And who is the intended?”
Adam gripped his glass and swirled the brandy. “Sadie.”
“Sadie,” he said flatly. “Is she aware of this?”
“No.” Adam coughed and leaned back in the chair. “It seems unfair for her to be reunited with her family and have the life expectancy of a human.”
“Tragic? Yes. Unfair? Such is life.”
“That’s a rosy way to look at things.”
Novis wet his lips and stared out the window. “Is this a test of my patience?”
“Maybe the way the Mageri selects their candidates is screwed up. It’s an arranged marriage based on who they deem worthy. Maybe I was the exception because you’re a Councilman and the circumstances of my creation were… special. But Sadie would be a contribution to our world. She has a way of seeing things I think the Mageri could benefit from. You’ve spent years selecting warriors or intellects; maybe it’s time you start choosing artists, free-thinkers, and people with heart.”
“And what is your personal interest, Learner?” Novis studied him for a moment and tipped his head to the side. “I noticed the way you looked at her. Remember that she lives in the world of Chitahs and may have no desire to become a Mage.”
Adam lifted his eyes. “So you’d consider this?”
“I’ve made no commitment. I’m only pointing out the obvious. How old is this woman?”
Adam thought about it. “I think twenty-four, if my memory isn’t fading.”
“Hmm. Too young. Does she know you’re here?”
“Hell no,” Adam blurted out, sitting back in his chair. “I don’t want her to know.”
After finishing his drink, Novis straightened his posture and put his elbows on the table, watching a redbird outside the window as it hopped on one of the feeders. “I do not wish to make a Mage in haste. This human is young and does not know our world. It would be foolish to offer immortality to a woman who does not have a full comprehension of what she is accepting. She would grow to resent you, and her anger would make her into a bitter Mage. It would lead her down the wrong path, and yes, I’ve seen this happen before in my lifetime. This is why the selection process now goes through the Mageri. The candidates are trusted humans who show great potential. They understand our laws and the politics between the Breeds. They do not come into our world blindly.”
