"I haven't done anything wrong." I sucked in a breath and met his glare. "Why are you doing this? I'm the one being forced from my home, from everything I know, into the wilderness."
He only blinked.
Unaffected.
"Please, Lucius," Violet begged. "Elise wouldn't hurt anyone."
****
Protect, Wolf snarled and clawed at my ribcage.
Oddly, as if the pain would still my tongue. Make me grab Elise's humbled form and pet her until she calmed. Like I could concentrate on anything other than Wolf's demands!
The world slipped away while I towered over her cornered and defensive-yet-seductive curves.
And Violet's mind-numbing words echoed in my mind.
Shit. Deep down inside, down in the darkest part of me, something screamed I'd made a fatal mistake. That there's no going back and undoing the damage I'd done. That I had to apologize to Elise for terrifying her.
Hell. How when something is still wrong here? Terribly wrong. And if I betray anyone, my family or my friends, I betray humanity. Because the Gods-damned aliens want us all dead. This is more than aliens wanting Shifter mated pairs. Something is wrong here.
But a little voice whispered somewhere so far back inside my head. Something so brutally true. Something so obvious…She is what they're after.
Protect mine, Wolf roared.
Elise flinched at the sound.
"It's alright, Lucius," Violet called.
What else could the girl say to change things? I slid my gaze to the little one who stood clutching her hands together like pious Christians I'd seen in old artwork from Bibles.
Not a good sign when we were all better off the more distance we kept between ourselves and Prophets or Believers.
She blinked those dark gray eyes at me. "Healers don't hurt people either."
Mouthy Red clasped a palm over her own mouth a step away from Violet's innocent expression.
Staring past me. At Elise. What the fuck's going on? Why can't they tell me? I can't help them if they don't explain. Can't they understand? I turned back to Elise.
Who stared at the ground. Her dark shiny hair now coated in dust from when she'd fallen. Beaten. Whipped by me. Hell. I had to somehow fix things between us. "I'm going to say this once."
Nobody moved.
"It's my responsibility to protect my friends and family."
She wouldn't look up at me.
Is she even listening? "I'm taking you to my home. To your new home. And if there's something you can tell me to help you, I need to know. I can't slay the demons of your past if you don't tell me what they look like."
She nodded but never lifted those haunting gray eyes from the ground.
There's nothing else I can do. I walked back through the angry stares, passing the wide eyes of the little sage, and joined the horses.
We'd send the telegraph, then reach my sire's outpost before sunset. Once home, what Elise hid becomes my sire's problem. And I can find a way to make peace with Wolf.
****
The Guardians hovered, their gazes glancing at me, nervously after Lucius left me standing among everyone. Completely humiliated.
My knees wobbled.
The world started to sway.
I managed to reach the section of log where my food waited and sit before I toppled over. But far worse things than fainting could happen if my secret was revealed. How had Langston lived with this fear the twenty-four years of my life? Oh how I owed him more than the last words he heard me utter. I scrubbed my palms over my face.
Something brushed my side.
"Are you alright?" Sherry whispered.
Consoling. Arms snaked around my shoulders.
She'd make me look like a sobbing woman. I dropped my hands and tried to sit upright, sucking in a deep breath. "Yes."
Sherry squeezed me anyway.
So long I thought I inhaled a few red hairs.
She shoved me at arm's length and assessed me with that brutal gaze of hers. "He's crazy."
No. No he isn't. But I can't say that when it means I'm hiding something. Even concealing a secret that affected my sisters. "When I speak with his sire, everything will make sense." I whispered and patted her shoulder. "Go on. I'm alright. Besides, it takes a lot to kill a healer." I forced a smile, realizing it couldn't hurt joking about healers when Violet kept blurting the point.
She grabbed my cheeks with both palms and stared into my eyes. "Know I see right through you. I can see your sadness. And your pain. I'm sorry, Elise. I know you just want somewhere to live a normal life. And now you can't even do that in this fucked-up god-forsaken wilderness." She grabbed my head, shoving my nose into her t-shirt, and tried to suffocate me with the longest bloody hug before leaving me to my thoughts.
To sit by the big Tacitus and finish eating. Her Shifter. Lucky Sherry. I'm alone. So damned alone, left to fight a battle for my sisters that they know nothing about.
Violet walked over to claim a seat beside me. But she had the sense to just curl her fingers' warm touch around my sleeved arm and lean against me.
Touch, skin-to-skin or not, had amazing curative powers. I'd have to be satisfied with the touch of my little sister though.
****
There was still an hour's worth of daylight left when we reached Augustus's outpost and I climbed off my gelding in front of my sire's familiar two-story log home. All was done except dealing with what Elise refused to confess. But I'd sent the message on west to inform the Elders of the alien attack on warlords and how I stumbled upon the information. I kept my suspicions about Elise to myself though. Augustus would decide whether or not to continue to interrogate her. And if necessary, he'd decide to send her away.
Protect mine, Wolf snarled.
Shut up. You've gotten me into enough trouble since I found her. Especially since I felt like an ass for making her so upset.
Marcus rode past me, glaring.
We should fight. Rip into each other. End the friction eating at both of us. But I needed to deliver Elise into Augustus' hands. Then I could flay Marcus' tail. I dismounted, assisted Violet from the saddle, and turned to reach for Elise.
She stepped down on her own and faced me, gazing off to her right.
Purposefully avoiding meeting my gaze. Or my touch. Well, that doesn't matter. She wouldn't have to see me again for a long time or worry about my touch. "Come on. My sire is waiting."
Red, Elise, and Violet followed me through Augustus' roughly-hewn door and into the cool shady interior of his lodge. Empty except for the wooden table, benches, and chairs Augustus loved to build.
My large sire stepped through his bedroom's doorway in camouflage pants and a golden buckskin vest, grinning. He eyed the three sisters. "Home at last, Lucius? And what did you find on your journey?"
Nobody answered.
Good to see they chose to leave the leading to me. "Augustus, these are sisters. The daughters of New Boston's warlord Langston."
Augustus' graying brown eyebrows arched as he slid his gaze to the trio. "What brings you to my outpost?"
The females cast glances between each other.
Apparently, Elise was no longer speaking for the group. "Their sire asked us to hide them in The Wild. And he wouldn't permit me to tell him where we were heading."
Augustus' brow furrowed. "Why would a man send his daughters away?" He studied all of us.
As if one of us could provide an answer.
He waited while the shadows of ideas fluttered across his curious features.
I'd report the basics until we were alone. "The extraterrestrials exterminated New Boston. I'm still uncertain as to why. But I'll leave that for you to learn."
Augustus' gaze flicked to mine. "We'll discuss that later. As for now, these ladies need lodging for the night. Why not the cabin next to yours?"
Perfect. I'll have to listen to Tacitus scratching at Red's door. I nodded.
"And once you're settled," Augustus smiled at Elise,
"come back and eat. I'd love to hear any news from back east."
"Of course," Elise finally spoke and nodded. "Thank you."
Well, time to take them to their lodge and be done with my duty. "I'll show you to your quarters."
They turned toward the door. Red shot me a half-scowl. Violet gave me a wide-eyed look. And Elise watched the floor.
The perfect new neighbors. Life couldn't become any more complicated. I shoved the door back into sunlight, allowing them to file through one at a time.
Augustus filled the doorway after Red stepped into bright sunlight.
Sunlight that strengthened the contrast between the white and brown streaks in my sire's shoulder-length hair.
"I want to speak with you as soon as you show our new friends their lodge," Augustus called after me.
Of course he would. I'd been in the saddle all day. I needed a bath. But first things come first. A clan leader needed to assert his authority. I nodded and led the way to their door around the back of the main lodge.
To the surficial guest lodgings designed for anyone visiting the outpost. Visitors weren't taken underground until their motives were deemed worthy of joining our community. But the cabin was actually four rooms divided with central walls. Four rooms per structure. Each room had its own entrance and stone fireplace. The sharing of walls actually conserved heat. But these women probably wouldn't think twice about that. Nor would they realize I could monitor their activities by hearing any strange noise or the opening or closing of their door through the wall our cabins shared. I slid my hand across the raw wood of the planks pieced together to create the lodge's door and pushed.
The sisters continued past me, into the room as if suddenly excited about something.
Probably anxious to live in a room instead of in the saddle. Being here should preoccupy them enough to allow me time to debrief my sire. "I'll send one of my brothers with your gear. If you're ready, he'll show you back to Augustus' table."
Red and Violet turned a set of almost-accusing stares my direction.
They'd get over it once they realized this sanctuary was a far better place to live than any Normal warlord's mansion. I shut the door at my heels and headed back to my sire's through the shadow cast by the cabin.
Nobody worked outside with sunset so close. The evening meal would being soon. Underground. Most community members would eat together out of sight below ground. A few of us would put on a show to placate the visitors' curiosity above ground though. I reached for Augustus' door.
The wooden planking opened on its own.
Producing Marcus. A perfect replica of my sire. Although, his normally-happy mask soured with a scowl.
The bastard had gone and ratted on me about Elise. Not his standard act of kindness. Like I would forget this act of idiocy anytime soon.
Marcus bullied past me with a good shove of shoulder.
We'd have a talk later. After I'd see what damage he'd done.
Augustus waited inside.
Knowing how my sire is about absolute secrecy, my step-mother wouldn't be inside the lodge. She most likely helped prepare the evening meal out in the open-air kitchen for those of us above ground.
Augustus locked his legendary killer-blue gaze on me.
Yes, Marcus needed his tail whipped.
"I heard you attacked the woman. So, tell me what happened?"
Would he listen in his mood? "I didn't attack her. I merely confronted her."
"In the dirt? I taught you better than that. I put you in charge because you're better than that."
"Look, I just asked her the same question. Over and over. Repeatedly she refused to answer. I never raised my voice. I never held her against her will. She reacted the way she did, Augustus, because she is hiding something. And I won't be Gods-be-damned part of willingly bringing trouble to this outpost without asking necessary questions. Even if it means losing a few mates for the outpost."
His bitter gaze wandered off while he raked a handful of fingers through his hair. "Marcus is very angry."
"I know. He's after her tail."
Mine, Wolf snarled.
"Check that Wolf." Augustus locked his gaze back on mine. "Or I'll teach him who's in charge."
I nodded.
"Now why is it important Marcus is after Elise's tail when you think she's a spy?" he demanded.
Why does my sire have to play these games? Marcus obviously already spilled his guts. "Didn't he tell you?"
Augustus pursed his lips thoughtfully.
Toying with me. "Fine. Marcus and I argued over the woman. And I had to tell him to stay the fuck away from her."
He just stared.
Waiting. "Because I'd already decided I was interested."
"So, you interrogated your future mate?"
Hell, it's not like I planned Wolf would choose her or that I'd have to fight her tooth and nail. "She just acted so bizarre all of a sudden. Fell. Her heart thrashing. I had to ask one more time. To keep potential trouble away from my family and friends. We hadn't mated yet. Won't now." Why do I feel like such a shit? Because of her. I don't deserve her attention.
Still, he studied me.
Stared like I'm an idiot. "Look. I've screwed myself royally. I know I can't fix things between her and I. Just tell Marcus he can have her. I'm going to go hunting for a few days."
Augustus snorted. "I don't think so. You humiliated a woman." He pointed his tan muscled arm at the door. "You hurt that little female. I'm so disgusted I could send you packing." He swung his arm to where his finger pointed at me. "You're going to apologize until that tiny mite of a wisp can stand to look you in the eye again."
This is why he's the clan head. Alpha. He can make a person feel like hell for sucking in too much air. But he's right. I'd feel better if I at least apologized. Or because my sire would break every bone in my body if I refused to follow orders. I nodded.
He waved at the door. "Go on. I can't stand to look at you tonight."
"Okay, I feel like shit. But what about her secret?"
"That's no longer your problem." He turned his back to me.
Dismissed me.
****
Not long after Lucius left, Marcus knocked at our door with our backpacks and a few saddlebags. Sherry allowed him to enter. He immediately flashed me a smile and nodded.
Trouble. I don't need to give Lucius another reason to focus on me. Maybe I should run? Just disappear in the forest? After Marcus challenged Lucius about harassing me, everything is just too awkward. Would Lucius complain about Marcus's attention toward me too? That's certain to make me seem an even worse problem as the woman creating a rift between the clan head's sons. I managed pretend this brother's friendliness as no more than friendliness.
"My sire told me to bring you all to supper. Are you ready to go?" He looked each of us in the eye.
"I'd like to brush my hair. Maybe change my shirt. I saw someone packed some of our clothes in those packs," Sherry said.
That's not all I saw in those packs Langston sent with us. Violet's journal filled with her crazy codes had been tied tightly shut and stuffed into a saddlebag. Thank goodness Lucius hadn't opened it when he assessed our belongings that night.
"Alright." Marcus stepped toward the door. "I'll wait outside."
Sherry shot me a sly smile as the door clapped shut. "I think you have an admirer."
I'd had all the attention I could stomach for years. I ignored her jab and waited for her to change clothes.
Violet began digging through the bags.
Good. She needed to stay busy. Keep her thoughts to herself. I'd just wait here and think about leaving when the time is right. Escaping into the forest. Maybe finding a mate? I'd have to as a woman traveling alone. Yes. Leave. Find a man to take me in. Normal or Shifter. But how can I forget what I felt for Lucius when I'd never wanted to touch a man before?
Sherry strode toward the door. "Come on Violet. I don't want to miss a hot meal. And chairs. Can you imagine sitting
comfortably with food on a table?"
Marcus waited outside.
Smiling again. Should I feel welcomed? Exceptional? Not after being brushed aside from the man who made me contemplate risking a touch. All of Marcus' smiles on the way to dine with his sire or from where he sat across the table couldn't change what I'd lost. Or thought I could have had.
Loving Lucius (Werescape) Page 7
