Back at the cars, I found Dad leaning against the front of Gearden’s jeep, deep in thought. At the sound of us arriving, his head snapped up and he smiled proudly at me. It was darker now but there was enough light from the moon for me to see his hands. “Congratulations, kiddo!” he signed.
I hadn’t messaged him on purpose, but I’m sure he had other ways on knowing about something as big as a fight for position of alpha. “Thanks,” I signed.
It was awkward for a moment, then he told me, “I have to go out of town for a few days.”
I frowned. I didn’t need to ask if it was for work, I already knew it wasn’t. “Oh? do I get to know where?” I signed.
He just looked at me. I wondered why all the secrecy. What could possibly be calling him away right now? My mind just kept coming back to that one thing and it made a big pit in my stomach. Secrets.
“Do you know when you’ll be back?” I signed.
He shrugged and signed, “Not positive. No more than a couple days, though.”
I nodded and allowed him to press a kiss on my forehead as I tried to ignore feeling like I was being kept in the dark about something relating to me and my future. He climbed into his own car and drove away. I didn’t waste my time watching the taillights disappear but I turned back to Gearden who was the only one left around, the others having climbed into Danny’s car, leaving us alone.
“He’s going out of town,” I told him. Not saying anything, he pressed a gentle kiss to my lips and rubbed my back as he led me to the passenger side, helping me up into my seat.
Chapter Eight
Ro
From across the street I watched as an older fae descended the front steps of the queen’s house at a smart pace. He had looked scared going in and his demeanor didn’t change when he walked down the street, looking over his shoulder as if he expected to be jumped by the next shadow to cross his path. Fae weren’t used to being topside, even those who’d been out of the mound illegally all this time and didn’t trust that their neighbors wouldn’t sell them out to the nearest hunter. I couldn’t blame them. Of all the other-worlders, the fae were the most persecuted. Probably because they were able to blend with the humans and control their thoughts, which made them even more dangerous, really.
My back pocket vibrated. Pulling out my phone, I saw a message from Gearden.
SHE WON!
Well, I’ll be damned. I couldn’t help the proud smile that made my lips spread across my face. I typed out a reply.
SHE GET HURT ANY?
The reply was instant. NOPE.
I nodded to myself. GOOD. I’M ABOUT TO ENTER THE LION’S DEN.
GOOD LUCK, BRO.
YEAH, HAVE MAES TEXT ME LATER.
It wasn’t awkward, telling my brother to have his mate message me. Maybe if we were human, it would look weird, but I knew he understood. As her protector, I, too, worried for her safety. More so than a brother would, but definitely not as a possible mate. I had an obligation to her; she was my destined responsibility that neither one of us could fight or deny.
I tucked the phone away and jogged across the road. A quick check up and down the sidewalk showed me it was empty for the moment, so I rapped my knuckles on the door. It was only a couple seconds before Dom opened it. He wore his usual irritated frown that I was sure he had a hell of a time brushing his teeth around, and his uniform black shirt and pants. The scowl that pinched the dude’s eyebrows had me holding back an eye roll but I managed to dredge up a somewhat neutral tone of voice when I asked, “Queen around?”
Instead of answering, he made an irritated sound at the back of his throat – probably the closest he’d ever gotten to growling – and stepped aside for me to enter. I wondered if he held his breath around himself now and then, considered how pungent the guy’s cologne was. Why he even bothered with the stuff was beyond me, seeing as how they came with glamour like batteries in a toy, included. There wasn’t a need to use artificial enticements with the opposite sex.
After stepping in, I headed for the sitting room, only to stop short when he grumbled, “Wait here.”
Coming back the half a step I’d taken, I rubbed my brow with my middle finger as he walked away, climbing the staircase to inform her majesty. Too dirty for the formal furniture, am I?
It didn’t bother me any. He probably wasn’t allowed on the couch either; not with that stench on him. When I heard his muffled footsteps overhead, I moseyed to the fireplace. The fire wasn’t lit despite the chill in the room. Winter was coming soon, making me thankful for the patchwork that Jolleen had done on my jacket. The single item on the mantlepiece was a silver plate. It looked big enough to be some sort of platter, actually, and it shone like someone polished it every day. As I reached up to touch it and check the back to see what it was actually made of, a razor-sharp voice behind me caused me to jump.
“Don’t touch!”
I jerked my hand away. I swung around to see the queen standing at the doorway. Rather than the anger and contempt on her face I was expecting to see, I was surprised to find worry instead. I honestly wasn’t sure if that worry was for the plate or me. Carefully, I stepped away from it and approached her. She waited, of course. The queen didn’t come to anyone. They flocked to her.
“What can I help you with, Robin?” she asked, her brow lifting to touch her wispy hair that fell over her brow perfectly.
With a mental shake, I put on my best business face and told her, “Maeleigh told me to ask if I could observe you. Learn from you a bit. She isn’t able to be here herself, so she’s asked me to come and see how things work on your end.”
She didn’t answer right away but was obviously scrutinizing me. Hell, I knew that she was aware I’d been stalking her the last week, but she didn’t have to still play along. Jeez, did she have to stare at me like that? It felt like she was tearing away the layers of my soul as she dug for information. Her quietness didn’t sit well with me and nearly had me squirming before she finally spoke up.
“Very well,” she said, and then gracefully turned on her heel to walk down the hallway rather than back up the stairs from where she’d just come.
Left to stand there awkwardly, I leaned forward to peer around the jamb to see her gliding gracefully down the hall, as poised as always.
“Well, are you coming or are you going to stand there ogling?”
Caught, I jumped to it and jogged embarrassingly fast down the hall to catch up with her, as she’d already started walking again. I followed her into what looked like a full-sized chef’s kitchen, complete with a metal counter in the center for meal prep with a rack with dishes piled on top. All sorts of pots, pans, and utensils were on display for easy selection by a very animated chef who was standing inside a walk-in fridge, talking to himself.
“This is the kitchen and my chef, Marick” said the queen, announcing her presence to the poor old dude. He almost jumped out of his pale skin and seemed to turn even paler as he turned to look at us. He wasn’t like the usual faeries I’d seen in my time around them. He had brown eyes, dark hair with a splash of gray at the temples and kind of reminded me of someone of Italian descent. The fae were known to have been mostly fair in appearance before being trapped underground.
He bowed his head to her, keeping his gaze low. “My queen. Good day to you.”
“Good day, Marick,” she said, with a genuine smile. “I’d like for you to meet a new friend from the McIntire pack. Robin.”
At the mention of a pack, his demeanor went from idolizing her to discontent aimed directly at me. “I see. Welcome,” he managed, but I gathered he really didn’t mean it.
Nodding to him, I didn’t offer my hand as I was sure he would likely sneer at it before shaking it.
“Marick, Robin will be helping you tonight in the kitchen,” the queen informed him. And, if I hadn’t scoffed at the idea myself, I would have laughed at the look of horror on the old dude’s mug.
She didn’t wait for a response. Why would she need to
? She just turned and walked out, leaving me with the grouchy chef. He picked his chin up from the floor and glared at me. “Alright, then, Robin …”
“Ro,” I informed him, my tone allowing no room for argument.
His lip twitched in irritation. “Right. Let’s get started.” He took the pad of paper he’d been scribbling on and slapped it on my chest, along with the pen, and stepped back into the fridge, peering at the shelves.
“Onions” he called out.
When I didn’t move, he poked his head out, gazed pointedly at the pad and repeated, “Onions.”
“Look, if you want to talk about your layers, you’re talking to the wrong wolf,” I said.
He stared at me for a second, not blinking. Then, taking the paper from me, he flipped it right-side up and jabbed my chest with it. “Onions” he repeated a third time.
I glanced down and saw the words “Grocery List” printed in bold letters at the top of the page. Lifting my eyes, I gave him a droll stare as I scrawled “onions”, not caring how legible it was. As the old man continued to call out various items to be added, I cursed my charge. Maeleigh had better know what she was doing by sending me in here to be some damned errand boy. Son of a bitch. He had better not send me out for all of this.
“Hey!” he called, jolting me from my damning thoughts. Before I could blink, he tossed something at me, which I caught before it smacked me in the face. Keys. The death glare I gave them, continued up to him when I looked up, waiting.
“Well? Go fetch!” The old man may have put on an obedient mouse façade in front of her majesty, but he wore a malicious grin when he watched me grind my molars. Ripping the list from the pad, I shoved it in my back pocket and made my way to the back door that I assumed would lead me to a vehicle. No way was I asking the sick bastard which car. I'd find it and I’d run every red light with a camera.
Chapter Nine
Maeleigh
It was late when we made it home and even later when we finally made it to bed. Jolleen was waiting up for us, anxious to hear the news. Of course, Liam had called her on our way back, but moms were all the same – she had to hug me the second I stepped through the door.
She demanded I give her a play by play, which I did, even though I wasn’t able to look her in the eye for some parts. I still felt uneasy about my berserker form. God, just saying it made me feel like I had a reserved seat at the Mad Hatter’s table waiting for my new cup of tea.
There was too much going on in my head and gut for me to tell her how I felt about it all, so when I told her I’d won and that I was the new Westboro alpha, I politely excused myself and headed up to my bed. Gearden didn’t come in until a bit later, after I was already drifting off to sleep. He climbed in behind me and cuddled me close to his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around my middle. I sighed at the warmth and security his presence gave me. It amazed me how much he showed me love with his body without involving sex. Intimacy is so much more than that and I was thankful he was so good at it. Because, right then, I needed to be held by him more than I needed a kiss. Wiping away a solitary tear as it rolled down my nose, I wondered why I was crying at all. Thank goodness I didn’t break down into a full-on sob fest. It was just the one tear, but it reminded me of how much all of this was new to me. It wasn’t long before I found myself drifting off to sleep.
I knew I’d find myself back at the stream too. Which made me wonder – had I brought myself there or had she? Looking around, I didn’t see any sign of her, which was fine, because I could use some time to think. Sitting on the edge of a rock overhanging the steady current, I swung my feet, barely skimming the water’s surface. Above me, a group of finches fluttered and chirped, bickering over something or other. I don’t believe it will ever get boring, coming here and hearing nature around me. I know it isn’t real; at least not the real I’m accustomed to, but I didn’t let that take away the beauty of it.
“I may have to start charging you rent.” Danu’s words were tinged with amusement, so I didn’t turn to look at her, my gaze steady on the birds. A moment or two passed before she came over to perch beside me, studying me with a sad smile.
“What’s wrong, princess?” she asked cautiously.
“I’m an alpha now,” I told her, my voice flat, still not looking at her.
She put a little more excitement in her voice with her next words. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations!”
I waited a heartbeat before I turned to look at her, and then said accusingly, “But you already knew that.” Her smile dropped. “Didn’t you?”
Tilting her head, she looked me over, as if to check me for injuries. Lifting her hand, she tucked my hair behind my ear. “I did. Yes.”
“Did you know it was going to happen? All of it? The kidnapping? Vic? AJ? Peter?” I couldn’t help my voice rising. But then, if I was going to fall apart, I’d rather it be here.
Danu tried to take my hand, crossing the invisible line again. She’d never touched me before – why now? I pulled away, not completely sure what was going on. “Are you ever going to just tell me what’s going on? Without the secrecy attached?”
Looking sad, she dropped one hand into her lap and folded the other over it, back to her graceful self. I hoped that didn’t mean she was going to clam up, too.
“I can’t.”
I stood up from the rock and walked away, too upset to sit anymore, least of all beside her.
“I can’t!” she repeated, and I heard the plea in her words. “If I do, it could change your decisions and, in turn, may change the outcome of things.”
“Outcome of things?’” I spat out, turning around to glare at her.
Slowly, she stood up, but I didn’t see any of the anger I’d anticipated would be there after me talking back to a goddess. “You have a destiny, Maeleigh. You already know that. I can’t interfere with that. If I do…” Her voice drifted off, leaving me hanging.
“What? What will happen in your grand plan for me?”
She smiled gracefully, the creases that had shown themselves during our confrontation softening. “I do not control your destiny, Maeleigh. Only you can do that. I just see your potential in whatever you decide.”
I looked away, seeing that the birds had flown off, probably scared away by our raised voices. My breath shuddered in my chest as it sawed in and out, panic taking over. “What if I choose wrong?” I looked back at her, holding back the tears that threatened to flood my vision.
Danu took a tentative step towards me, raising her arms, silently asking for permission. When I didn’t put up a fight, she stepped forward again and gathered me to her, letting me sob into her chest. “Shhh” she crooned, gently rocking me back and forth. I let it go then, the tears that I knew needed a release back with Gearden but I didn’t understand. The stress and confusion of it all coming forth and finding relief with each tear that gathered in the silky material of her blouse.
“Shhh, now. You remember that you are so strong. Not just by yourself. You will always have your packs. Your family and the Tuatha de. You are neither one, because you are the first of all.”
I huffed out a last sob before lifting my head to gaze at her, this time with less vehemence. “Again, with the riddles!”
As per usual, she smiled and saying nothing, tucked my hair back behind both my ears, using her hand to smooth my hair down from my crown right to the ends. “Have you found Zerena?”
Surprised at the change in subject, I frowned, recalling her cryptic instruction to find this person before the drama with Jerry and his family happened. Opening my mouth to ask her more about this Zerena person, she disappeared right in front of me – her body there, close to mine one moment and gone a split second later.
I woke up beside Gearden in my bed. The world was silent again, devoid of the chirping birds and swirling current of the water. I faced Gearden, his arm still gripping my hip in his sleep, his leg pressed against mine, warming my body. Gingerly, I turned over to find my phone on the bed
side table. Thirty minutes until the alarm would go off and we’d start our day, going back to school, taking tests and listening to lectures, like a normal teenager would. Rolling my eyes in the low light of the morning, I thought how hypocritical it was. We were far from normal. I eased out of the bed, picked out some clothes as quietly as I could and made my way to the bathroom.
When I carefully padded down the stairs, I wasn’t surprised to see Liam sitting alone at the kitchen table. His hands were wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee as he gazed outside. Being the alpha, I was sure he’d heard me come in, so I didn’t announce myself by saying anything, thinking he wanted the quiet for just a little longer. Leaving him to his thoughts, I poured myself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter, also looking out the window, wondering what he saw there. I’m sure it wasn’t the playset and colorful playhouse that held his attention.
After a moment of companionable quiet, he turned and looking at the chair across from him, gave me an inviting smile. “Sit.”
When I was settled in the chair, one leg drawn up, my heel resting on the seat, he smiled at me again. “Sleep good?” he signed, surprising me.
A chuckle escaped me before I signed back, “Yes, thank you.”
He nodded, pleased. I think that was probably the extent of his signing knowledge just then, but he’d still earned points. I looked back out of the window, seeing the sunlight creep up the horizon and spread to the cluster of clouds overhead. I could feel his eyes on me still. When I turned to look at him, with a raised brow, I froze. The look of worry seemed to age him more than the forty-something I assumed he was and he looked like an older man. It wasn’t just concern that had that effect on people, I had noticed. It was also fear. With a tilt of my head, I asked, “What is it?”
The Kill: Book 3 in The Hunt Series Page 8
