Crossroads

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  “Will do.” Chad pulled out his phone and headed for the door. “I’ll let the guys know to meet you in the mess hall.”

  “Mess hall?” Allie’s face scrunched up.

  “At the pack compound.” Lucian explained while stowing the map in a leather cylinder. “A dining hall.”

  “What should we do?” Zander stood, stretching.

  “Finish all your schoolwork.” Uncle Kalen made eye contact with each of us as a collective groan sounded. “We don’t know how much time we’ll have before another battle.” He followed Lucian, Lilly, and Elder Dylan out the door.

  “Let’s get to it.” Caden sighed and rubbed his temples. When everyone moved to get their things I stayed in my seat.

  “Booty up, girlie.” Allie nudged my shoulder as everyone filed out. “Our homework won’t finish itself.”

  “Good thing I finished it this morning.” I huffed on my nails and polished them on my shirt, stealing her move.

  “Nerd.” She giggled and darted from the room.

  The wheels in my head spun at the implications our new findings gave us. Someone else was like me. I wasn’t alone anymore and I didn’t feel as much like a freak. Someone knew what it was like to be extremely different from others and I was already sensing a kinship to this unknown person. I hoped the pack found the hybrid before Aelfric used them for his purposes. My heart ached at the prospect of losing a kindred spirit before I was even able to meet them. If we found this hybrid, I vowed to do everything possible to keep him or her safe.

  Chapter 20

  E ACH OF US grew antsier the longer the search for the other hybrid continued. We didn’t know how much of a head start Aelfric had on us and feared we were too late. Lucian’s Wardens combed every supernatural community, but any clue they had lost its steam and fizzled out. The adults stayed up all hours of the night, bouncing ideas off of one another and as a result, their appearances became more haggard when more days passed. Our hope was almost non-existent.

  This morning’s breakfast was a quiet affair and I pushed my scrambled eggs around on my plate. Without more information, we were running around in circles. Maybe we were going about this all wrong. Lucian and Chad trudged through the patio doors, allowing the whipping cold wind to enter the room and I pulled my sweater tighter around me. I wished Hollywood’s theories that shifters didn’t get cold were right. It was only true when we were in our wolf forms, otherwise we reacted to temperature changes like everyone else.

  “Sorry.” Chad quickly pushed the door shut. “Winter’s coming early this year.”

  “Any news?” Uncle Kalen raised his coffee mug to his lips, meeting Lucian’s eyes over the rim.

  “No.” Lucian blew warm air into his cupped hands. “Nothing.”

  “What type of search have your guys mounted for the other hybrid?” I couldn’t help but question him. Hopefully, we could come up with a solution. Lucian pursed his lips, but didn’t appear upset by my question.

  “So far, we’ve reexamined each area where Aelfric left tokens for additional clues and have questioned some of the townspeople about whether they knew of another hybrid. No one has told us anything.” Lucian glanced to Chad. “I know you’ve been keeping a close watch on the Manor’s perimeter. Have you noticed anything?”

  Chad shook his head and pulled off his toboggan. “We haven’t had any attempts made on the estate.”

  “Ciro was a member of the Council and a respected member of the Supernatural community right?” Uncle Kalen and Lucian nodded at my question. “Has anyone asked about his past relationships? Friendly or romantic?”

  “The affair wouldn’t have been made public because of the Order.” Lucian canvassed the room’s budding romances and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Breaking the Order is dangerous. Your parents knew it and so did Ciro. He wouldn’t have flaunted it.” His warning didn’t go unnoticed, but my friends behaved appropriately in public. Their relationships were kept secret.

  “But he was friends with other Supernaturals.” I pushed my full plate away. “I believe he’d have kept her close, but no one would think anything of a friendship.” My heart skipped a beat. I knew I was right.

  “It’s a possibility.” Lucian dialed a number on his cell phone. “Question everyone about Ciro’s friendships with women. See if he suddenly stopped being friends with someone.” Lucian poured himself a cup of coffee once he hung up. “That was some quick thinking, Kitra.”

  “Thanks.” I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear and Caden winked in my direction, causing butterflies to take flight in my stomach. Ryn scrutinized our interaction and his jaw clenched before he strode out of the room. Since my conversation with Ryn in the dining room, he’d attempted to get me alone but I’d refused his advances.

  “Kalen, I need you to go with me to speak with Julia Hughes.” Uncle Kalen mumbled about the “crazy cat lady” under his breath. “We should probably bring Kitra.”

  “No.” Uncle Kalen’s head shook rapidly. “Not happening.”

  “Kalen, you know as well as I do that Julia can’t stand either one of us and she refuses to speak to any of our pack members, but she had a soft spot for Meghan.” My ears perked up at my mother’s name. “She’ll want to meet Meghan’s daughter.”

  “I’m not comfortable with this idea.” Uncle Kalen gripped the edge of the countertop. “I’m not putting Kitra in danger.”

  “The boys can go and we’ll set up a protected perimeter.” Lucian clapped my uncle on the back. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  “Who’s Julia Hughes?” The others traded knowing glances.

  “She was the Human Ambassador to the Council for decades and quit after your parents were killed.” Lucian was still giving Uncle Kalen an inquiring stare. “She said she didn’t want to be involved with anyone who blamed the problems in our world on your parents instead of Aelfric. If anyone has a lead, it’d be her.” I decided then I was going to meet with Julia. If she had answers, I was going to get them.

  “Uncle Kalen?” I glimpsed water collecting on his lashes. “If she’ll talk to me, let me help. Please? I want to be useful.”

  Uncle Kalen’s expression was resigned. “Only if I’m in the room with you.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I rose and walked to my uncle, squeezing him tightly and he kissed the top of my head.

  Thirty minutes later, we were piled into our Range Rover while the others followed in their vehicles. It was the first time we’d been allowed to leave since the girls and I slipped out to the party. It felt like it was over a hundred years ago. The air was crisp with an extra bite on our cheeks and I was glad the cars were already warmed up when we got in. I sat up front with Uncle Kalen, while Lucian and Chad crammed into the back. Our car was quiet as we wove down the driveway and turned right onto Main Street.

  The shops and houses faded as the Range Rover climbed the twisting road to the top of a majestic mountain. The trees were vibrant in fall colors. The falling leaves swirled in the air and swept across the road in the breeze, hinting at the upcoming season change. Once we crested the top, Uncle Kalen turned left at the first paved road. We dodged numerous potholes and I was beginning to wonder if he even knew where he was going, but then a ranch style house which was covered in peeling yellow siding popped up out of nowhere.

  A waist high wooden fence with a lopsided gate hanging from its hinges stood as sentry. It surrounded the front yard and connected to the corners of the house. Our vehicle pulled to a stop and Uncle Kalen and I waited for the others to exit their cars and give an all clear sign before we got out. A hiss ending in a feline shriek made me understand why my uncle had called Julia a crazy cat lady. I hadn’t noticed it before, but multiple cats of all different colors roamed the front yard. When we stepped towards the gate, the glass storm door was thrown open and I froze with a gasp trapped in my throat as we stared down the barrel of a 12-gauge shotgun.

  The gnarled, frail sun-marked hand holding the gun nev
er wavered as the owner ambled out. Silver hair wrapped around pink foam curlers adorned the top of a weathered, high cheek boned, tan face. The elderly woman wore a blue housecoat covered in white flowers and had compression socks on her feet. Uncle Kalen and everyone else raised their hands in the air.

  “Hello, Julia.” Lucian called loudly as he moved to open the gate.

  “Well, I’ll be.” She lowered the gun slightly and I realized the older woman was wearing blue eyeshadow and bright pink lipstick. I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. According to some TV talk shows, you should not smile at crazy people holding guns in your face. She reminded me of an older version of a TV show character who was known for her bright eyeshadow. “What has brought the local alpha up to my humble abode?” Her grating voice scratched like nails against a chalkboard, but I heard the underlying sneer.

  “I brought someone to meet you.” Lucian motioned for me to stand next to him.

  “I don’t want to meet any more of your kind.” Her hands tightened on her gun and trained on our alpha. “Get off my property.”

  “What about Meghan’s daughter?” Lucian put his arm around me and pushed me slightly in front of him. Really? Use me as a shield against the cat lady?

  She squinted and shaded her eyes against the sun with her palm. “Come closer girl.”

  Lucian nodded to me and I stepped past the gate. Uncle Kalen moved to join me, but Julia raised her gun. “Not you. Just the girl.”

  “You’re going to have to shoot me, Julia.” Uncle Kalen kept walking. “I’m not leaving my niece.” Julia squinted and a small smile lit her face.

  “Alright, just the two of you then.” She turned not waiting for us to follow. Uncle Kalen put his arm around me and led me to the door. My Guardians and Ryn spread out, watching the forest for any disturbances.

  We’ll be right here if you need us. I didn’t bother to respond to Austin since Julia had turned and pointed to a sagging couch for us to sit on.

  The wallpaper in her tiny living room was ancient and dull. The cushions on the couch were lumpy and springs dug into my backside no matter how much I changed positions. Framed pictures of cats hung all over the room and feline figurines dotted every available surface. Julia sat in an aging recliner and settled a throw over her legs.

  “What do you want, Kalen?” Her milky gray eyes zeroed in on him. “I know you didn’t bring Meghan’s pretty daughter up here to meet me for no reason.”

  “We need your help.”

  “Yes, I heard about your little problem.” She waved for one of us to continue.

  “It’s more than a problem.” Uncle Kalen’s tone pitched in anger. “If the prison gate opens, you and the rest of the humans will go extinct within weeks.”

  “Julia.” Those milky eyes faced me. “I’m Kitra.” Her lips lifted. “What my uncle means is that we hope you can answer a question for us so we can stop Aelfric.”

  She leaned forward in her recliner. “What question?”

  “Do you know Ciro Weathers?” She scoffed at me.

  “Do I know the most powerful vampire of my lifetime?” She shook her head. “I haven’t been living under a rock if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  Uncle Kalen cleared his throat and I moved on. “Did Ciro have any female friends he suddenly stopped hanging around?”

  “He went through many girlfriends.” She scratched her head under a roller.

  “Not a romance. More of an actual friend. Someone he was really close to and suddenly may have vanished from his life.” My foot started to tap against her green carpet. Would she know of anyone?

  “There was Chelsea Lewis. After he joined the Council, Ciro took her with him everywhere he went. She was his personal assistant.” Bingo. “I haven’t seen that girl in years. One day she stopped showing up with the Coven leader.”

  “Was she the only one you can think of?” Uncle Kalen and I shared a hopeful glance.

  “Yes.” Julia’s eyes narrowed. “He never allowed anyone close to him after she left.”

  “Thank you, Julia.” Uncle Kalen stood. “You’ve been most helpful. We’ll see our way out.”

  “Wait.” Uncle Kalen’s jaw clenched when I didn’t stand up. “You liked my mother?” Julia’s eyes twinkled and she leaned forward.

  “You’re mother defended me when no one else would.”

  “She doesn’t need to hear your stories, Julia.” Uncle Kalen pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “And you see why I don’t want you lying wolves near me.” Julia didn’t cringe or startle when Uncle Kalen roared.

  “Meghan was the only decent one from your pack and she wasn’t even one of you.” Julia rocked slightly. “She believed me when over seventeen years ago I told her Aelfric planned to open the gate. She didn’t mock me.”

  “She didn’t believe you when you said all the magic in the Supernatural world would cease to exist.” Uncle Kalen marched to the door and pulled it open. Was she really crazy? She may have heard rumblings dealing with Aelfric, but the other things she said were nonsensical. How would magic fade? It’d be our extinction.

  “That’s what you think.” Julia continued to rock in her chair. “Kitra? Don’t be a stranger dear. I liked your mother and I see a lot of her in you.” I didn’t see how anyone was able to believe her fanatical statements. She may have left me an open invitation, but I didn’t plan to accept it any time soon.

  “Thank you for your time, Julia.” I hurried after my uncle and met the others outside.

  “Chelsea Lewis.” Uncle Kalen held the gate open for me. “She was his personal assistant.”

  “A perfect cover.” Lucian pulled out his phone and hit one button. “Find everything you can on Chelsea Lewis.”

  The drive back to Frost Manor felt shorter than the drive to Julia’s house. My body was lighter than it had been in days and I knew we were on the right track. Hope was in the air and each of us were more energized as we pulled up and walked inside. Everyone was making plans to just hang out tonight and binge watch seasons of a TV show about a young Merlin and his time in Camelot while the adults were going to catch up on some much needed sleep.

  “Kitra?” Ryn pulled me aside and Uncle Kalen stared a hole in the back of Ryn’s head. “Can we talk in private?”

  “Um.” I tried to get a read on my uncle, but he took a deep breath and left with Lucian and Lilly. I guessed he was giving me space to handle Ryn on my own. “Sure.”

  Ryn grabbed my hand and led me through the kitchen and out the patio doors. He held my chair out for me and we sat at one of the small glass tables. His thumbs traced small circles against my skin, making my magic call out to him.

  “Kitra.” His touch was feather light. “I know I’m not what you expected, but what we’re feeling. What I’m feeling. Well it’s once in a lifetime. Fate paired us together and fate never messes up.”

  “Ryn.” I pulled my hand from his. “Please don’t push me on this. I know you’ve waited a long time for this moment.”

  “What’s the problem?” He interrupted leaning away from me. “Is it me? Is it because I’m a fae and not a wolf?” The word wolf was more mocked than said. “You know you’re part my species right? You can’t help that your blood is tainted by shifter blood.”

  “What did you just say?” Steam was ready to come out of my ears.

  “That you’re part of a superior race.” He stared at me as if I was a space alien.

  “Stop right there.” I placed my palms on the table and stood. “You’re going to have to get over yourself before you’ll ever have a chance with me. Right now, your prejudice against my shifter heritage makes me want to claw your eyes out. I’ve been a wolf for much longer than I’ve been fae and I’m honored to be a shifter.”

  “Kitra.” He talked down to me as if I were a small child.

  “No.” I pushed my chair in. “Don’t try to sell me the whole we’re soulmates, I’m yours and you’re mine thing. I don’t care about what a stupid ma
rk means if you can’t accept all of me.” I started to walk away and rounded on him. “Don’t approach me about this again until we’re on the same page.” I marched inside and let the door slam.

  You good? I’d let my fury leak through my connection to Austin.

  Peachy. I sent him a mental eye roll. I need some time to think.

  I stomped to my bedroom and sat on the window seat facing the forest. Ryn was walking along the path leading to the cottage. What was he thinking? It seemed neither he nor Caden could handle my dual nature. At least Caden said he’d try. I kicked off my shoes and curled up on the soft, fluffy cushions and pillows. Deep down, I knew Ryn’s true feelings about shifters. He called us dogs for crying out loud. How could fate send me someone who was not able to see me for me?

  One tear led to two and then I was full on snot crying. I fought to keep my sobs under control and not alert the others to my despair. I sat up quickly getting rid of the evidence of my cryfest when a knock sounded on the door. I opened it to see Caden braced against the doorway.

  “Oh, Kitten.” He came in and wrapped me in his arms. “What happened?” I didn’t want to talk about it, but my frustrations came pouring out.

  “Am I unlovable?” His eyebrows furrowed into a deep “v.” “Is my hybrid heritage keeping people from loving me for who I am instead of what I am?”

  “No, Kitten.” His embrace grew tighter. “A man would be an idiot not to love you. You’re perfect the way you are.” More water rimmed my eyes. “I was an idiot to even question what you are and I hope you’ll forgive me.”

  “I have forgiven you.” I snuggled into his hard chest and he kissed the top of my head. How could I go from being infuriated to turning to mush around my black wolf?