by L. C. Davis
The sound of footsteps filled the lobby and a moment later all three wolves emerged from the hall. “Are you okay?” were the first words out of Sebastian's mouth as he came to me. “Val said you're sick.”
“It's just a migraine,” I insisted, standing to meet him before he got it into his head that I needed to be carried again.
“Hell, I'd get a headache if I had to listen to Alex for more than five minutes,” Billy scoffed.
“It's not that, really,” I said. “He was very kind, it's just been a long day and I think it's finally taking its toll.” I hated to be the one who separated Sebastian and his mentor when they had just reunited, but I could live with the guilt if it meant getting to Victor. It was a struggle to hide my sense of urgency. Sebastian might not be psychic, but he had always been able to read me like a book. If I tipped him off even slightly, there was no way I was leaving the Lodge alone.
“Well, I hate to see you go, Fido, but you'd better get your mate home,” Val said, holding out her arms. Sebastian had to bend down just to hug her.
“He's not my mate yet, Val,” he said in a mortified tone as he returned her embrace.
She giggled mischievously and pulled me into a hug. I returned it, surprised that she was even willing to hug a half vampire. “I know I'm biased, but if you ask me, strong and dependable is the obvious choice,” she whispered in my ear before pulling away. It wasn't hard to guess that she meant Sebastian. She held me at arms length and gave my shoulders a squeeze. “It was nice to finally meet you, darlin'. No need to be a stranger, you and Sebastian come and see us anytime. It's not too often I get to meet another Texan.”
“We will,” Sebastian promised. “I owe your husband an ass kicking since our match got cut short.
Billy snorted. “In your dreams, boy.” He pulled Sebastian into a tight hug and struck him on the back. Like his wife, he whispered something to Sebastian that I couldn't hear. “You both have a good trip and be careful with those damn spices Alex gave you.”
“I will,” I promised. At least, I intended to make sure that Hunter was. Sebastian took the bag from my hands and Billy followed us out to the lot while Val stood at the door, waving.
I waved back, interrupted when Sebastian lifted me into the pickup truck. I shot him a look, but he ignored me.
“Get used to it,” Val called. “Billy's the one who drilled all that chivalry into his head and it ain't coming out anytime soon.”
I looked at Billy. “Thanks, I guess?”
He grinned, backing up towards the house. “You bet. Oh and tell the little weirdo we miss him.”
“Who?”
“Foster,” Sebastian said, chuckling. “I will.”
After another round of goodbyes, Sebastian got into the truck and we pulled away. The pack was silent as we left, but my mind was full of noise.
“They really love you,” I murmured.
“It's mutual. Val and Billy are good people through and through,” he said, turning down the remote dirt road that had led us in. “Alex, too, all weirdness aside. Comes with the territory of being a priest of the moon.”
“Seems to,” I agreed.
“What did Val say to you?” he asked curiously.
“Just that I should pick you,” I admitted.
He blew a puff of air through his nose. “That's just Val being Val. They've both always treated me like I'm their kid.”
“But they don't get along with Victor.”
He gave me a sideways glance. “You're a perceptive little thing, aren't you? It's not really that they don't get along. There was a time when Vic and I lived with them at the temple, when Ulric still wasn't sure the Lodge was the best place for two whelps with our, uh, unique problems.”
“You mean being berserkers?”
“Yeah, that,” he muttered unhappily. “They offered to let me stay since my issues weren't as severe as his.”
“Why didn't you?” I asked, frowning. The idea of Sebastian being less of a threat than Victor would have once shocked me, but after everything Clara had told me about their childhood and the dark side of Victor's personality that had surfaced lately, it didn't come as any real surprise.
He shrugged. “I didn't wanna leave him, I guess. He took our parents' deaths a lot harder than I did.”
I swallowed hard, recalling Clara's theory that Victor had absorbed the trauma of their bloody past to protect Sebastian. I knew I would be breaking multiple confidences if I told him. Even so, after his argument with Ulric the other night the idea that he still didn't know what his brother had done for him—or to him, depending on how he saw it—after all these years didn't sit well with me. “That and it would have taken me longer to find you.”
I couldn't help but smile. “That's a good way of looking at it, I guess.” Maybe it was one I should adopt when it came to my own regrets. I had lost track of how many times I wished that I had never met Jeff, or even Arthur. I had never even considered that if it weren't for the both of them, I likely never would have met Sebastian and Victor or been reunited with Ulric.
Sarah probably would have found a way to weasel herself back into my life, but even that wasn't turning out to be as bad as I'd feared.
We drove in silence for a while before he asked, “How's your head feeling?”
“Still hurts,” I said, rubbing my temple. At least it wasn't a lie. As I hoped, he started driving faster. “I think I'm just gonna fall into bed when we get back.”
“Probably a good idea,” he said. “Oh, I almost forgot. What did Alex say when I left the room?”
“Just a bunch of nonsense about me being royalty chosen by the moon,” I said. “It was more of the same stuff Sarah talks about. They both think I'm some prince. He says the moon wants to talk to me and he offered to let me phone home with some scrying room.”
“Well, did you?”
I stared at him. “What do you think?”
His silence concerned me. “Sebastian? Don't tell me you think he's right.”
“Well, you're definitely a hybrid,” he said defensively. “We haven't had another one in recorded history. That's kind of a big deal.”
“Oh, geez.”
“Hear me out,” he said. “You believe in at least some of it, I know you do.”
“Just because I've had two spiritual experiences—both times when I was dying and possibly hallucinating, mind you—doesn't mean I believe everything in the legend is true,” I said. “I still go back and forth on whether She even exists or if She's just some mass delusion created from centuries of fervent belief.”
“She's real,” he said matter-of-factly. “Maybe the legends are embellished, but She's real. You know She is.”
“And how is that?” I asked, curious.
“Because if you didn't, you would have humored Alex and gone into the scrying room to get him off your back. You wouldn't be afraid to dial an unknown phone number unless you thought there was a chance someone might pick up on the other end.”
I pursed my lips and sought in vain for an argument that would satisfy him. Telling myself it just wasn't worth the time, I huffed and leaned against the window. “I'm taking a nap.”
“Suit yourself,” he said with a triumphant little smirk I pretended not to see. Before long, the steady roar of the road and the light rocking of the truck turned my farce into an actual nap.
28
I woke to the sound of the truck door slamming shut. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to keep my eyes shut when he opened my door. Falling asleep had been foolish considering that I could have kept sleeping through the night, but maybe I could make it work to my advantage.
I stayed limp as Sebastian lifted me into his strong arms and carried me inside. Footsteps hastened down the hall the moment we arrived. “What's wrong with him?” Ulric's voice rang with concern.
“Nothing, he's just out like a light. Said something about a migraine.” I couldn't miss the accusatory inflection in his voice.
“It's been a l
ong day, I'm sure he'll be fine,” said Ulric. “Where is Victor?”
“Not at the temple, that's for sure,” he muttered. “Alex swears he hasn't seen him since he went on that bender the night Remus got here.”
Oh, the things you learned while unconscious. I knew what I was doing wasn't ethical, but it was the only way I was going to get an inkling of the truth out of Ulric.
“And you believed him?” Ulric asked doubtfully. For a priest, neither of them seemed to have much faith in Alex.
“No,” he snorted. “But Val and Billy vouched for him, so that's good enough for me.”
“If he's not there, were do you think he is?” he asked in a hushed tone.
“I don't know, maybe the temple in Vancouver?” He shifted me in his arms. “With your permission, I'd like to keep searching.”
“Tonight?” Ulric asked, surprised.
“Wherever he's at, the sooner I find him the better. You know how he is.”
“Can't argue there,” he muttered. “I'm sorry you're having to go through this again, but I won't keep you from going after your brother. Just stay in touch, for Remus' sake.”
“I will,” Sebastian said, taking a step forward. It was a struggle to keep up my farce once he transferred me into Ulric's arms. “Take care of him for me.”
Ulric scoffed. “You don't need to tell me that. Although I can appreciate the fact that you do anyway. What do you want me to tell him when he wakes up?”
“The truth,” he said. “Tell I love him and I'll be back soon with Victor in one state or another.”
“Very well, then. Be careful.”
“Always am,” said Sebastian. The front door closed and Ulric carried me up the stairs.
“So, how long have you been pretending to be asleep, little one?”
I flinched but stayed silent, hoping that he was just trying to call my bluff. I ventured a peek through one eye only to find him watching me in amusement.
“How did you know?”
“I'm your father,” he said matter-of-factly. “I may not have raised you, but I can still read you.”
Hopefully not as well as he thought, if tonight was going to be a success. “Only since we got home,” I admitted.
Home. It was strange how easily the word fell from my lips now.
“Was the experience as illuminating as you'd hoped?”
“Hardly. You really haven't heard anything from Victor?”
“Afraid not. I genuinely thought he would be at the temple.”
“Have you seen Clarence?” I asked warily, terrified that he was in the Lodge and the caller really was an imposter. An imposter who may or may not have Victor.
“Clarence?” he frowned. “No, he's been gone all day as far as I know. Why?”
“No reason,” I said, my heart skipping a beat as another idea occurred to me. “What about Sarah?”
“We were having tea together not an hour ago,” he said. “Why, did she do something?”
“No, just wondering,” I murmured. “I can walk, you know.”
“I know,” he said, opening the door to my room. He placed me on the bed before turning on the light and taking a seat on the edge of my mattress. “Look, I think I know what this is about.”
“You do?” My heart skipped again.
“You've finally settled into the family and you're worried that your mother is going to unsettle everything by, well, being herself,” he said knowingly. His analysis wasn't entirely wrong, but it was off the mark for the night. Not that he needed to know.
I forced a smile. “Yep. You got me, that's it.”
“It's understandable considering the lack of stability in your life, but you need to know that isn't going to happen,” he said, patting my hand. “My relationship with Sarah is purely one that revolves around you and perhaps a bit of nostalgia. Her love life is of no concern to me, but in any case I highly doubt that you have to worry about anything happening between her and Clarence.”
It was a struggle not to cringe as he spoke. Such terrible images had been introduced to my mind that when I did find Victor, I might just have to beg him to erase them. “Thanks, dad,” I said through lightly gritted teeth. “I feel much better now.”
“Good,” he said, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “You're my top priority now, pup. Nothing is going to interfere with that.”
He watched me warily as I blanched at his use of the term. “I thought it was better than kiddo. Don't tell me...?”
“Yeah, that's what Victor calls me.” I could almost hear his voice purring the pet name, but the memory the verbal recollection was attached to was nowhere to be found.
Now it was his turn to cringe. “Oh, well,” he said with a massive sigh as he stood. “Third time is the charm. You should get some rest. It's late and I'm about to turn in myself.”
“One more thing,” I said, driven by curiosity.
He turned around in the door. “Hm?”
“I met Val today and she said she's almost old enough to be Sebastian's mom,” I said pointedly. “Since the twins are almost thirty, that would put her in her mid-forties at least. No offense, but she looks at least ten years younger than you. The way I figure it, if she's in her forties and looks like she's in her mid-twenties and you're supposedly the same age but you look like you're in your mid-thirties, the math doesn't add up.”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose like he always did when he was calling upon unseen powers for patience. “I've perhaps undershot my chronological age by a few years.”
“How many is a few?” I asked slowly.
“North of sixty, south of seventy.”
My eyes widened. “Holy cow, you are an old man in there.”
“Touching,” he said dryly. “I'd appreciate if we could keep this little secret in the family.”
“Sure,” I said with a mischievous grin. “I'll keep it tucked away in my memory box for future use.”
When he didn't laugh, I felt the need to add, “I'm kidding. Your secret is safe with me, granddad.”
He finally gave a dry chuckle. “Goodnight, Remus. Sleep well.”
“You too,” I said, waiting until he shut my door and his footsteps disappeared down the hall to get out of bed. I plugged my phone in to charge and sent a new message to Hunter.
“You awake?”
A moment later, he replied, “Yep. You back?”
“Yeah, I have your things. Can you come to my room?”
He didn't reply, but a moment later there was a soft knock at the door. I opened it to find Hunter on the other side and pulled him in, closing the door once I made sure there was no one in the hall. “Did anyone see you?”
“No, but what's with the clandestine act?” he laughed, eying the bag beside my bed. “Oh, sweet, is that it?”
“Yes,” I said in a hushed tone. “Try to keep it down, Ulric thinks I'm asleep.”
“What, you've got a bedtime now, too?”
“Apparently,” I said, smiling. I felt bad for lying to him again, but there was no way I could get him involved in another one of my schemes. Especially not knowing what the consequences there would be if something went wrong this time. “All of the ingredients should be there, and here's your cash,” I said, handing it to him.
“He didn't take it?” he asked in disbelief.
“No, he said he couldn't charge a fellow priest.”
Hunter flopped on my bed and looked a bit queasy as he rifled through the bag. “Yeah, it's all here. What'd he say about the sigil?”
“It's not a sigil,” I said. “It's a symbol for an ingredient. Hunter's blood, specifically. That's why it looks so familiar.”
“Hunter's blood?” He frowned. “He's gotta be wrong, there's no way I can get my hands on that. Hell, hunters don't even have blood once they're actually hunters.”
I shrugged. “He said he'd explain it to you when you came to see him for your initiation, and Hunter, after some of the things he told me I think that needs to be sooner
rather than later. I know I don't have room to talk, but you're playing with fire here.”
“Don't you start on me with this moonlight mumbo jumbo now, too,” he muttered. “I can barely handle Foster as it is.”
“Well, maybe Foster and Alex are right,” I said, unable to believe I was playing devil's advocate mere hours after I had been the one in his position. “Look, I know I'm a total hypocrite, but I really think you need to at least talk to this guy. He's not even psychic and he knew we were coming, so he must have a connection to something out there. At least hear him out before you attempt another ritual that could hurt you even more than last time.”
“Ugh, fine. But it's only because I owe you one for picking up my stuff,” he said.
“Thank you,” I breathed. “I'm about to need a more immediate favor, though.”
“Sure,” he said.
“Wait until you know what it is first.”
He grinned. “With you it's always mischief and you know I'm always down for mischief.”
“Minor mischief this time,” I promised. At least for him. “Do you still have a key to Ulric's study?”
“Right here,” he said, slipping a keychain out of his pocket. He was already slipping a key off the ring when he asked, “What do you need in there?”
“Nothing important, but the priest mentioned a book Ulric owns that might help me figure out which of the twins is my soulmate,” I lied, startled by the ease with which the explanation came. My vampire side was alive and well after all, it seemed. It just had to be summoned. “I'd ask him for a key myself but it's embarrassing, and I'd rather not let anyone else know in case it doesn't work.”
“Your secret's safe with me,” he said, placing the key in my palm. “Just return it whenever.”
“Thanks,” I said gratefully. “If anyone asks --”
“I haven't seen you since this afternoon,” he said without missing a beat. “Speaking of which, have you seen Clarence? He never came back from town and he was being super cryptic in text about when he'd be back.”
