"I remember," I tell him, unwilling to be the one to break eye contact, and he laughs before walking away.
"The only female in all of history who refused to look away." He shakes his head but smiles. "Why are you out here?"
"I was meant to patrol, two towns over. Your arrival, and the surge of Dracul has the Hunters on edge."
"I had a feeling Kain would be here too." He frowns. "You met with him?"
I keep quiet, not yet trusting him with that information. I may be his mate, but the wolf inside of him is a tricky beast. It would do anything to protect me, even from myself.
"Of course, you have. Your bleeding is slowing." I roll my eyes at his ease of conversation switch.
"Why was there a rogue cluster so big?" I ask him, pinning him with my gaze.
"The same reason there are issues in your own house.
War is coming," he tells me, his face unreadable. "And where do you fall in this war?"
"Wherever you stand," he says, and the wolves beside me howl their agreement, loud enough to make my ears ring.
“Did you get my flowers?” he asks, and I look back at him, puzzled.
“For your birthday,” he sighs, exasperated. “Purple peonies.”
Oh, holy crap. “That was you?”
“It was me, they used to be your favorite.” “They still are.” I smile at him. “Thank you.”
“Are you ready to head back?” he asks, and I nod as I reach out to him, to help me stand. He moves towards me and rather than helping me stand, he scoops me into his arms.
"I can walk," I tell him with a huff.
"I know you can but let me do this. For me, not you. The wolf will not settle until the bleeding stops. Keeping you close makes him happy." I sigh at his words but do not argue as he begins the walk back towards my city.
I limp across my apartment to let Fallon in. I texted her once we were close to the city limits, despite my protests that I was fine, Roman wouldn't put me down until we reached the apartment building. Growling and grumping about his stupid breakable mate.
Fucking Lycans.
"Girl, I do not know what it is you have landed yourself in, but you and I... we need to talk." Her voice is shrill as she storms into the room. "I swear I only hear from you when you're broken."
"I'm sorry, and yes, we'll talk, but I'm still kinda bleeding. Can you help? I mean, it’s probably basically healed by now." She waves me onto the sofa, so I close the door and limp back to where she's perched.
"Pants down," she insists, I roll my eyes, but do as I'm told. Then lay down so she can get access to the wound on my thigh.
"It's nothing major, you're lucky. A few inches different and this could have been dangerous. What happened, and why did you call me for something that would have healed in a few hours?" she quirks a brow at me and I roll my eyes.
"I was ambushed, by a cluster of rogue Lycans. Twelve of them. They wrote off my god damn mustang. I want to kill them all over again just for that." I grit my teeth as her hands press against my skin and the heat increases.
"Holy mother of fates Twelve, that's not a cluster, it’s a god damn rogue pack!" She sucks her teeth and makes a disapproving noise. "How the hell did you get out of that with only this and a few other cuts and bruises?"
"Are you sure you want to know? Because it’s a whole thing, and well, it could get me killed," I tell her honestly. Fate knows she deserves the truth, and I already know she's more liberal than the Hunters. The Witches just are.
"How much trouble are you in?" she whispers.
"At the moment, not too much, but if people find out the truth, then a whole fucking shit pile." I sigh and she removes her hands from my thigh.
"You can put your pants back on, you're all fixed. I have a feeling we're going to need pants and tequila for this conversation." She shakes her head, looking a little wide eyed. She grabs two glasses and the bottle while I put my pants back on, before we settle back on to the sofa.
Fallon pours us out a decent drink and throws hers back, before giving me a tight smile and pouring herself another. "Okay, let’s go."
"Honestly, I'm not sure where to begin, and I still don't know everything," I say quietly, but she gives me a look that tells me she's not leaving without the truth.
"So... I told you about the whole thing with Creek already, though that escalated this week, but there is more. Past Remy screwed me, Fallon. And yet, I get it." I take a deep breath and look her dead in the eye. "So, it turns out past me was as open and loving as I am now... and as open minded as the Witches. I know that the Hunters’ stories, their ways, don't make total sense, and I know that because Kain Michaels was my lover, no, he was my love, in my first life and many since then. I've always known the rocky truth, just not the why's or the whole story of why things are the way they are."
"Holy shit! Kain Michaels... Damn girl, that Vampire is one fine piece of man meat," she exclaims her eyes wide and I can't help but laugh at her. "Keep going!"
"Well, it turns out, that Kain wasn't my only dalliance into other factions. I'm not sure which life it was, but in one of them, Roman Knight recognized me as his mate. I don't know how or why, or even much more than that yet, but that is how I got out alive tonight. He found me and tore the Lycans to pieces with two of his pack. That’s why I called you. The overbearing asshole made me call you on the way back. He literally wouldn’t put me down until he heard you agree to come over and patch me up." She lets out a whistle and fans her face, looking more excited than disgusted, which is honestly what I half expected, because what even is this life that I've led.
"I don't know how it all fits together, but I know that Creek knew, in whichever life it was that I was Roman's mate, because he killed me."
"He did fucking what!!" she screeches, and I shake my head.
"He didn't intend to; he was fighting Roman."
"And you barged in there like a woman possessed. Holy mother, Remy."
"I know, I know, but then there's Creek. And now they're all here. Together. In my god damn city, in this one life. Each of them wanting a piece of me." I shrug and tip the tequila she poured down my throat. "That’s essentially it in a nutshell."
She sits there, blinking at me looking kind of shell shocked. I give her a minute and pour us both another drink.
"What are you going to do?" she asks me, sipping her drink.
"I have absolutely no idea. I mean, what can I do? I can't ask my family for help, they'd probably kill me, literally. I can't be with all three of them, but I have no idea how I'd choose, because my stupid heart belongs to each of them. But also, I have no idea what it is that is still missing from my stupid memories. I'm hoping that past me had a god damn plan, some way of working out where the hell she was going, because the path she's leading me down is murky at best, at worst, the true death." I gulp, before swallowing the contents of my glass, finally feeling a light buzz but it does nothing to help the impending dread that fills every inch of my body.
"Girl, I say have some fun. Have a little harem, why the fuck not. The boys can learn to play nice, maybe even nicer than nice." She winks at me and I burst out laughing.
"Could you imagine the looks on their faces?" I giggle and she laughs with me.
"I would pay to see it sugar. Pay to see it!" She claps her hands in time with her words making me laugh harder. "Erm, excuse me, what is that on your finger?"
She eyes my ring and waves her hands, grabbing for mine. "It was a gift."
She eyes the ring on my index finger, I'm just glad the other men in my life haven't paid any attention to it. "Is that obsidian? Oh my freaking fates, is this from Kain?"
She gasps as her gaze whips up to meet mine and I nod. "Girl, I need me a Dracul King, this is beautiful." She fans her face making me laugh more.
"I mean, you can't have him, he's mine." I stick my tongue out at her and she laughs right back at me.
"Territorial already, I see," she says and I sigh.
"Honestly, I
don't know. When I'm here, like this, no not really. But when I'm with him, with any of them, I don't even really want to test the theory."
"I can imagine. But getting real, if Creek knew once, maybe he'd be more open to helping you than you think? And Colt is more openminded than people realize too," she says and her dark skin almost glows at his name.
"What on earth does that mean?" I ask. "I'm not the only one who has been keeping secrets."
"It doesn't mean much," she sighs. "Honestly, I don't know what any of it is, but when things make more sense, I swear I'll explain."
"Just not in too much detail." I laugh and she rolls her eyes.
"With the amount of dick in your future, I can keep that to myself. Where are all of your many men anyway?"
"No idea. Roman left begrudgingly after he carried me here."
"He carried you here? Oh damn," she practically swoons but I continue.
"Kain is holed up somewhere, said he'd come for me when it was safe, and Creek. Well he's probably off with my brothers somewhere up to god only know what."
"Honestly, I don't know whether to be jealous of you, or feel sorry for you." She smiles sadly. "Whatever you choose, someone is likely to get hurt, and I know that's the last thing you want. Just follow your heart, Remy. It's never steered you wrong yet. Jack being the exception of course."
"Jack was..." I take a breath. "Jack would have been good for me if I was human. If I was human, my family probably wouldn't have disliked him as much either. Things would have been easier, that's for sure. And yet, as much as I want to throttle past Remy, I can't find it in myself to regret my actions in my previous lives. My heart is so full, I just wish Mom were here. She'd know what to do, what to say."
Fallon nods at my words.
"Yeah, your mom would have been on board, and on your side to the end." She smiles sadly at me. "You could speak to my mom? She's always felt the same as you, that love is love regardless of your faction. She hates the racism and bigoted nature of our kinds, I'm pretty sure she plays with the other factions as a big fuck you to those who look down their nose sometimes. It’s just the way she is. Its why I was always surprised her and your dad worked together so well, but I guess because she was so close to your mom, it makes sense." she shrugs and I shake my head.
"Thanks, but I don't think even Marie would be able to help me out of the mess I seem to have created for myself. One advantage to the swell of Lycans and Dracul, plus everything with my dad, is that people seem to have forgotten about my Leviathan mark." I shrug, trying to see the silver linings where I can.
"Small wins." She smiles.
"I've just tried to keep it covered as much as I can. I think it’s stopped growing now, but I don't understand the symbols intertwined with it."
"Maybe ask one of your lovers. Creek obviously doesn't know much, otherwise he would have said, but one of the others might." She shrugs and my eyes widen. I hadn't thought of that.
"Fallon, you're a genius."
"Oh, girl I know, people just underestimate me at every turn." she winks at me and finishes her glass. "Right, I better head back, Mom will be waiting up for me. You'd think I was twelve, not twenty." She rolls her eyes and stands. "If you need me, I'm here. For anything. Even facing off against your family.”
"Thank you, Fal." I hug her tight. "You're the best." "Don't you forget it," she says with a wink before releasing me. "You lock this door behind me, you might have a harem of protectors out there, but there's also way too many beasties out there that you seem to be able to piss off or attract without even trying."
"I will. You going to be okay getting home?" "Yeah, I ordered an uber. It'll be here any minute." "Okay, stay safe, Fallon. Call me if you need me." "Ditto, girl. Ditto."
I close the door behind her and lean against it. That went better than I thought it would.
Twenty-Two
Patrols and training. That is what my life consists of at the minute. Creek is out with Colt and the Bello’s, hunting, and I try not to hope that they aren’t successful, for fear of the knowledge I now carry. The guilt they will carry when the truth becomes known.
Because it will.
It’s the one thing I am focused on. I can control it, I can research, make the world the way it once was. So many other things are outside of my control, but this. This I can try to make happen. I try not to think of the fallout that may come with it, but surely it can’t be worse than the chaos we face currently.
My dad and Nate have been working round the clock with Maddie to discover what the weapons that were used against my dad are. Roman has fallen off the face of the earth, no one has seen or heard anything of the Lycan alpha, and Kain… He says he is staying away for my own good for now, though not for long.
I shake my head as I throw another fist at the punch bag in front of me. The boxing gym is old, and smells like men and sweat, but no-one pays attention to the girl beating the crap out of a bag in the corner, and this has been the best outlet of all my new rage that I’ve found yet. I stumbled across it this morning, and decided to take a peek, but this place is a hidden gem that I will keep in my ever growing vault of secrets.
Sweat runs down my back as I take my frustration at the whole world out on the bag in front of me, until my arms are so heavy I can barely move them. I grab my water bottle and gulp it down, groaning as my phone pings inside my bag.
I ignore it, trying not to focus on the new Hunter killing weapons, the rumors that made Kain stiff with fear, and the war that is on the brink, on top of my own disastrous love life, or what little of it exists right now.
My phone continues to ping in my bag, only adding the rage I can't seem to let go of. I rip off the gloves that I borrowed from the reception and root through my bag for my stupid phone. Four missed calls from my dad, another two from Maddie and a handful of messages.
Remy. Call me when you get this. Colt
You need to come to your dads. I hope you're okay. Sorry I haven't been around much. Creek
Something is happening. Whispers grow louder, and I worry for your safety. Please let me know you are okay. K
And then an unknown number.
Meet me. Tonight. R
Roman.
I respond to the first two, telling them I'm on my way, and let Kain know that I'm perfectly fine, and not a china freaking doll.
I go to respond to Roman last, unsure what to say, so I say nothing and tuck my phone back in my bag. I wipe my face with a towel, and head out of the gym, returning the gloves as I leave. I try not to stomp my feet, or act like a brat as I make the walk out and call for an uber to my dad’s. Roman had my car towed, but no-one else knows that it’s a write off yet. I try not to think of it, just another thing on my ever-expanding list.
How it has only been just over two months since my awakening is beyond me. It feels like a lifetime already, though that could be because of the memories.
I clear my mind on the ride over, letting go of some of the worry, trying to breathe deeply to settle the turmoil inside of me. I pull out my phone again as we head down my dad’s driveway and bring up Romans text.
I can't tonight. Something is happening. Are you back?
It doesn't take long for his response to come through.
I never left. Just sorting business. If not tonight, when?
Saturday?
I mull it over in my mind. It's Tuesday according to my phone, though with no job, it’s been hard to keep up with the days. Thank god for Hunter savings, I won't have to work for this lifetime, or many others.
Saturday works. Where?
I will pick you up. Be safe, you never know what lurks in the dark.
His response sends a chill up my spine, not only has he been here this entire time when everyone thought he'd vanished, but now he gives me some cryptic warning. Awesome. I try not to think about the fact that one of the world’s deadliest predators can disappear from the face of the earth and move around in the shadows without anyone realizing.
Great.
I thank the driver and climb out, watching as he leaves, just for another moment of peace before I face whatever waits for me inside the house. The voices reach me before I even get to the door, and I realize they're in the back yard.
I walk on the wraparound porch to the back of the house, the laughter of children, with squeals, the smells hit me before I get back there.
A cookout.
They harassed me for a cookout.
I roll my eyes, but wave as people spot me, and head into the kitchen.
"Oh Remy, sweetheart, you made it!" Maddie exclaims with a big grin. "We thought we should celebrate your dad's recovery, plus, with Colt’s birthday next week, it seemed like something fun to do since we had everyone here."
"You realize they made it out like someone was dying to get me here?" I tell her.
"Of course, they did, they didn't think you'd come. You've been distant lately."
"What..." I interrupt but she waves me off.
"You've been present in body, Remy. But your mind... like I say. Distant. We understand, we've all been there, but we didn't know if you'd come for this. Just know that you can talk to us. We've all been through the awakening. I don't even want to think how many times. Your struggle isn't new to any of us, even you, but you won't understand that until it is complete. I know it is obscure, but I am always here for you. No matter what." She squeezes my shoulder before turning back to the chopping board in front of her. Salad bowls galore scattered across the kitchen. I shrug off my jacket and hang it over the back of a chair.
"Can I help?" I ask, guilt coloring my words, because she's right. I might have been here, but I haven't been, not really. Other than my stolen moments with Creek, my mind has been whirring, trying to make sense of everything, of the mess I've landed myself in.
A Crown of Blood and Bone: Paranormal Romance (The Shadow Walkers Saga Book 1) Page 21
