“I can’t believe Vash’s parents are ... dead,” I whispered, looking at Kieran and Sidelle. “Did you hear what Vash’s mom said as she died?”
They both nodded.
“That was beautiful.” Then I thought of something. “How did you hear? Can you hear the wolves?”
“When they allow me to,” Sidelle said.
“And I hear Sidelle, so she translated for me,” Kieran said.
We left the wolves to their grieving, and as we passed their bodies, I paid my respects to the fallen. Silently returning to the house, I wanted to talk about all that happened, but some images were too fresh and painful in my mind. I went back to our bedroom and flopped onto the bed, burying my head in the pillow. How would the wolves move on? Some of them would be old enough to remember a time when Keegan hadn’t been their leader but the young pups? The change would be hard on them. I had no doubt that Vash would be a great leader, and with Cali by his side ...
Oh, Cali. Would she continue with high school? She has to. She only has one more year. Would she move here to the mansion? What would she tell her parents?
“Hey, Zoe.” Sidelle leaned against the doorframe. “Wanna talk about tonight?”
“Yes,” I mumbled into the pillow. “No. Maybe.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand how the demons got here. Keegan said we’d be ... safe here.” Just saying Keegan’s name made my nostrils flare, and I fought back tears. My fist hit the bed. “He said they’d never been here. I don’t understand. This is all my fault.” The first traitor streaked down my cheek. I couldn’t stop them as the floodgate opened.
“None of this is your fault, Zoe,” Kieran said softly as he walked into the room. “You didn’t make the demons come here, and you didn’t kill anyone.” He moved to sit next to me on the bed, and rubbed small circles on my back. “Well, except for the Marqs at the end, but this isn’t your fault.”
“That was really badass, Z,” Sidelle said, grinning. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. Those purple streamer thingies were super cool. How did you do that?” She settled in on my other side.
“Jackson said, ... he said that no human had gone against a Marq and lived. Is that true?” I asked in between sobs.
“Yes, as far as I know,” Kieran said.
“So how’s that possible?” My eyes burned; my cheeks felt flushed.
“Another angel perk?” Sidelle suggested. “But first we need to figure out how the demons invaded the wolves’ sacred land. That should be our priority.”
“Agreed.” Vash stood in the hallway, holding Cali’s human hand. They walked into the room, but Jackson and Era lingered at the threshold. “The demons forced our hands,” he said, looking directly at me. “Zoe, my pack has agreed to help you. We will join this fight. Tomorrow’s Sunday—” He checked his watch, realizing the time. “Rather, today is. I’ve decided Jackson and I will attend your high school for the rest of the year, so Cali can complete her junior year, and I’ll come home on weekends to make sure everything is taken care of here. Jackson will stay at Kieran’s house.” He turned to his brother. “Start packing. Whatever you can’t bring, Kieran can get.”
His eyes went to his sister, who still waited in the doorway. “Era, I need you to stay here and make sure everything runs smoothly while I’m gone. You’ll be the lady of the house while Cali is away. She’ll need you to step up and—”
“Yes, sir,” Era shouted. “I’ll do everything, and I’ll make sure it happens. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll make you proud. And mom and dad.”
He held in a smile. “If you need assistance, call Timber. She’ll be here to guide you. Or call me if you have any questions. I’m only twenty minutes away.”
“Okay.” Era stalked out of the room. “All right, you guys, listen up!” she shouted. “Vash said I’m in charge, and we’re going to ...” Her voice faded as she bounded down the stairs, headed for another room.
“I can’t believe you left her in charge,” Sidelle said, frowning at Vash. “Isn’t she kinda young to run a house this size as well as all the other houses on the property?”
He shrugged. “I just told her that so she has something to do. Keep her mind focused on a task. Timber will be the one who’ll actually run the household stuff. She’s my mom’s right-hand wolf and her best friend.” He clenched his fists. “Was. Anyway, she already knows how everything is done around here.” He frowned at us. “Now, any ideas on how the demons got onto pack land—”
“Vash,” I asked. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.”
“You can’t be. Your parents died in front of you.”
“Yes, but I have to be the strong one now. If I’m weak in front of the pack—”
“It’s not being weak to show emotion. It means you care. I didn’t know them long, but look at me. I’m a hot mess.” Tears streamed down my face. “They were your parents. And now they’re ...”
“I know, Zoe. But seeing death is part of life. At least it is for the pack. Our existence is much easier and less complex than an Ordinary human’s.”
“Well, if you want to talk about it or anything, just know I’m here when you’re ready.” I shook my head. “I didn’t think demons could come here.”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out,” Kieran replied. “You should have some members scout out along the shoreline and see if they find anything strange. In the meantime, I’ll search the lake.” He disappeared from the room.
Vash went to start the pack’s search, while I felt helpless ... again. The energy to do anything had been sapped from my limbs, and my body wouldn’t move from the bed. I turned my head toward Sidelle.
“Did you find out anything about Shay? Please tell me something good, because right now I don’t know if I can handle any more waiting.”
“Sorry, babe. Nothing.”
“Kieran didn’t tell you anything?” My voice came out harsher than I meant. “Sorry.”
“No. I understand you’re on edge. We all are. Especially now.”
I let out a long breath. ‘“On edge doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel.”
Chapter Thirteen
Zoe
Late Sunday morning Cali rode back with Vash and Jackson, and Sidelle dropped me off in my driveway. I lugged my clothes up to the front door, my mind and heart as heavy as the bag. The pack’s search of the grounds had produced nothing. Kieran’s look in the lake hadn’t answered any questions either. And I still hadn’t heard from Shay, which really bothered me. If we were true soul mates, shouldn’t I feel him somehow?
I trudged through the empty house, dragging my stuff behind me, relieved my family wasn’t there to pepper me with questions, though I wasn’t sure where they were. I had a lot to reflect on. For starters, Keegan was dead because of me. The demons were after me and if I wasn’t there ... But no one blamed me for the Alpha’s death. He hadn’t denied me as the Redeemer, but now the pack was preparing for battle, with Vash as the leader.
I dumped my luggage into my closet and walked over to my window, remembering at the last moment that I should close my curtains. Before I did, I peered outside. I wasn’t completely surprised to see Aiden sitting on his sill, jamming to music. He motioned for me to open the window.
“Where have you been, Zoe?”
“Who are you, my dad?” I snapped.
He looked taken aback by my outburst. “Nope. I’m definitely not your dad.” He smiled. “You did something different with your hair? It looks nice.”
I looked down, ashamed of my outburst. He hadn’t deserved that. He had no idea what was going on in my head or my heart. “Sorry I snapped at you,” I muttered. Then I touched my hair. I couldn’t believe he’d noticed that I’d styled it in an up-do today. “And thanks.”
“I’ve missed this.” He waved his hand back and forth. “You know, us, sitting out here, talking.”
At first I didn’t know how to respond, so I started to shift back inside, feeling a bit creeped
out. “I have a ton of homework—”
“How was your weekend?”
“Good. We went and hung out with some of Kieran’s friends.”
“Oh? I thought it was just going to be you girls and Kieran.”
Had I told him that? “It was, but then he got a phone call from one of his buddies, and we decided to hang.” I shrugged. “What did you do?”
“Were you there all weekend?” He completely ignored my question.
I decided I didn’t like his tone or this line of questioning.
“At his friends’ house?” he pressed.
“Yeah.” I crossed my arms. “What did you do?” I asked again.
“Oh, this and that. Unpacked the rest of my stuff. I helped my sister around the house most of Saturday, did yard work, that sort of thing. Today was pretty laid back. Kinda boring, actually—until now.”
“So, you didn’t go out with anyone? Find a party?”
He thought about that. “I took a stroll to that coffee place you told me about, Coffee Grind? Anyway, I met some people there. One said her name was Rena, and later I met ... what’s her name? Oh, yeah, Morgan. Did I get those names right? They both said they knew you.”
Ugh. Morgan, the Captain of the Bitch Squad. “What’d you guys do?”
He shrugged.
“I see,” I said shortly. “You can hang out with my friend Rena, but I can’t be with my other friends for a weekend without getting the third degree?” Why am I getting to mad?
“I didn’t say that.”
“That’s what it sounded like to me.”
I rose, slammed my window shut, and closed the curtains. I couldn’t believe he was quizzing me about my weekend, but he wouldn’t tell me any details about his own. At first I’d thought he was flirting with me—and maybe he had been—but he’d moved right on to something that seemed very close to an accusation. I wasn’t under any obligation to clear things with him.
After digging around for my backpack and pulling out some school books, I decided to tackle my homework in math, English, and chemistry. I hated math. It was my absolute worst subject. I wasn’t going to grow up to be a mad scientist or a mathematician, but I still tried to do well, though all I really cared about was passing the class. Plus, if I didn’t understand it, Kieran would help me. He was great at everything. In fact if he kept on his present path, he would graduate valedictorian. I was determined to graduate with honors.
With twenty formulas to do, I was pleased I was able to do most of them, though I left three because the questions didn’t make any sense. I’d have to call Kieran later about those. Grabbing the chem book next, I read the assigned chapters, but my eyelids grew heavy. Maybe it was because of the boring assignment, or maybe it was the exhausting weekend, but I soon fell asleep on the book, leaving a crease on the page. Eventually, I peeled my face from the pages, hoping it hadn’t left an imprint on my cheek, and listened for movements in the house. I hadn’t heard my family come home, but the clock told me it was dinner time. Pots and pans clanged in the kitchen, and my parents voices floated up the staircase. Someone had checked on me because my bedside light was turned off. Any minute I expected my door to fling open with my little sister chattering on about her weekend at the cabin. But thankfully she never showed.
I had English homework left to do, so I flipped through the pages of the novel we were supposed to read. I could pound out a two-page summary easily on the five chapters. I just needed to focus and get it done.
You’d think that would be easy, right? Wrong. As soon as I looked at the blinking cursor on my laptop screen, my mind wandered back to the Enlightens. How was I going to get the leaders of the Orders to follow me into battle? I imagined when I told them the world would end if they didn’t join me, they would get on board real fast. To convince them, I would need Keegan—No, Vash—and his pack, they’d vowed to be with me. If Sammael started sending more Marqs after me before I had my special Seraphs’ Sword.
I couldn’t control my powers, didn’t really understand them, and would have to practice to be any sort of help. What if I couldn’t fulfill my task? What would happen to the world and everyone?
No. I’d cross that bridge if we ever found a sword.
Tink. Tink. Tink. The sound pulled me out of my endless line of questions, and I whipped my head around my room, looking for its source.
Tink. There it was again. With my heart full of hope, I got off the bed and walked over to the blinds; Shay had done this exact same thing to my window last week. Shay?
But it was Aiden. He sat on his sill, throwing something at me, motioning to open the window. I hesitated, still feeling a creeper vibe from him. But that’s not the Minnesota way. I should give him a chance and be nice. After I unlocked the latch and struggled to crank it open enough to hear him, he lobbed something and yelled, “Quick. Catch!”
I dodged, and the missile sailed right past where my head had just been. Grinning, he threw another.
“What the heck?” I ducked again. “Stop that. You could poke my eye out with whatever you’re throwing.”
“I highly doubt that.” He laughed. “They’re M&Ms. I’d be surprised if you actually sustained an injury from one of these.”
I glanced at a red M&M on my floor. Then I picked it up and launched it back at him. Gross. The five-second rule did not apply. I was not about to eat that. The candy hit him squarely between the eyes, and he was a little taken back by my direct aim. I was, too, but I flashed him a huge, smug smile as if I’d totally planned that.
“What’re you doing?” I demanded. “Besides throwing candy at me like I’m a zoo animal, I mean. You know, they don’t like it when you taunt the animals.”
“Ha! That’s funny, Zoe. Nice aim, by the way. You play softball or something?”
“No. I’m on the track team.”
“You are? Cool, we should go running sometime. I usually go every morning before school, but I’m not sure if I’ll be going tomorrow being my first day.”
I ignored his invitation to go running. I probably shouldn’t go with him, even though I needed the exercise. Kieran told me I needed to be with him when I went running since Shay wasn’t here. Plus, tomorrow would be a long day if I got up earlier to run, go to school, and then attend a meeting with everyone at Kieran’s house.
“Do you want something? I’m busy,” I said.
He shook his head. “I just noticed your light was still on.”
That seemed harmless enough. I settled onto the sill. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?” I asked, assuming he must be. “Don’t worry. Most everyone is super nice. A few aren’t, but that happens everywhere, right? I’m not going to tell you who they are. You’ve already met one,” I mumbled the last sentence.
He shrugged. “People are people wherever you go. Some are nice and some aren’t. They’ll either like me or they won’t. I bet you have a bunch of friends.”
“I guess so. I hang out mostly with Kieran.” I pointed toward the white house. “He lives in that house, near the entrance of the cul-de-sac. When I’m not with him, I’m hanging out with my girls.”
He looked at Kieran’s house for a long time. “Is he your boyfriend?”
“Who, Kieran? No. He’s my best friend. I’ve known him since kindergarten. He’s like a cool older brother, ... even though, um, we’re the same age,” I blurted, trying to cover my error. “He always acts way older than me. He’s way more responsible.” I drew in a breath. “Do you have a girlfriend back in California?”
“Had one, but she was taken ...” His eyes pulled from mine for a split second. “Nope.” He popped the “P,” looked directly at me, and smiled. “I am free and available. Why? You askin’ to be mine, Angel?”
“Ah, no. I ... I was just wondering.” I looked away. Something must have happened to his girlfriend. “What happened to her? She was taken, like as in kidnapped?”
Had he just called me “Angel.” Probably just a term of endearment. Yeah, that’s what I deci
ded to go with. Neither of us spoke for a long time after that awkward moment. When I finally glanced at my bedroom clock on the nightstand, it was close to ten-thirty. Wow, time had passed quickly. It didn’t feel like ninety minutes had gone by. Shay would’ve stopped by if he ... I held in tears and faked a yawn. I hope you’re safe, Shay, wherever you are.
“She went missing for a while. I couldn’t handle it. I ditched out on school, flunked out of my junior and senior years, got into drugs and alcohol. That’s more than you probably wanted to hear.”
Missing? Like Shay.
“Anyway, cops thought I had something to do with it, but I didn’t. She had some mental health issues. Met her through some other people I hung with, who weren’t good for me.”
“Were you together long?”
“Couple years. She turned up eventually, but it wasn’t the same. She was different. Anyway, time for bed. It’s a big day for me tomorrow.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Yep. You could meet the girl of your dreams,” I teased, wanting to see him really smile. “You’ll want to look your best. The key is getting enough beauty rest. Oh, um, not that you’re not beautif—” Too late. My face was burning. I needed to crawl into something and shut my mouth. “Whatever. You know what I mean.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” He smirked. “I prefer to be called handsome.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like you don’t know what you look like. Have you seen yourself?”
He cackled. “I know what I look like. We do have things called mirrors in California. In fact I bet we have more of them there, and we use them more frequently than they do here.”
“Gah! You are so frustrating.” I threw my arms into the air.
“So, going back to the fact that you think I’m beautiful—”
“I did not say you were beautiful. You said I said you were beautiful. Totally different.”
“Well, whoever said it.” He smiled. “Let’s go back to that.”
I shook my head, but I had to give in. “All I’m saying is that you’ll be the talk of the school tomorrow. You know, being from California and all.”
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