by Kimbra Swain
He grinned, “You are so severe, Mom.”
“Aydan, you knew that he was after Callum?” I asked.
“Yes, Callum told me last night after he learned that I was the Thunderbird. It is my duty to make sure that problems are resolved. That our people handle things properly. Fortunately for Atohi, his line will continue. Callum is the last of his family,” Aydan said. “I promised to protect Callum by the laws of our people.”
Callum peeked around the corner of the hallway. “Come out here, Callum,” I said.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“You aren’t a normal shifter like the other wolves?” I asked.
“No, I’m more like Aydan and Atohi,” he said looking down at the body. He closed his eyes and turned his head. Death meant something to him. It didn’t seem to faze Aydan which was concerning.
“I’ve been trying to call you,” Dominick interrupted.
“Yeah, thanks,” I said dismissing him.
“Grace, we tried to warn you,” Troy said arriving at my door. “Damn you are fast.” He said to Dominick with a grin, and he responded with an arrogant smile.
“There is a dead man in my house,” I said flatly.
“Aydan, you and Callum keep Winnie upstairs. Play unicorns or something. Keep her busy while we get this cleaned up,” Levi ordered.
“Sure. Come on, Cal,” Aydan said.
“We will take care of it, Grace,” Troy said. “You surprised us last night at the fights. I’ve not been trying to keep it from you. I thought the fights were well known and you just chose to stay away. I would never do anything behind your back.”
“No, but I didn’t give you those guns so I could stare down the barrel of one,” I said. Levi grunted in agreement.
“It was the heat of the moment. I would have never shot you. If anything, I wanted to be able to make a move on Callum if he didn’t obey my command for your protection,” he said.
“It seems to me that even though he’s not your kind, that he has submitted to your authority,” I replied.
“He is a good boy. I should have seen what was going on with him and Atohi,” he said.
“Do you think the elders will be upset?” I asked.
“I better call Remy and tell him what happened,” Levi said.
“Amanda is on her way with one of the squad cars so we can move the body. Let us know if the elders want it,” Troy said as the rumble of an engine approached outside. He turned to go out and meet Amanda.
Dominick walked over to be sure that Atohi was no longer breathing. He looked up at me with concern in his eyes. “I tried to get here as fast as I could,” he said. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop him before he came in your home.”
“We handled it,” I said.
“I’m still sorry,” he said.
“I forgive you, Nick.”
He grinned, “I didn’t say you could call me Nick.”
“Please,” I scoffed. “Get this body out of my house.”
I’d seen enough of the body myself. My stomach lurched with nausea, and I left Dominick in the living room with Levi. In the kitchen, I grabbed a glass filling it with water from the faucet. I took a couple of sips when I felt Levi walk up behind me.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah,” I said, taking another sip of water.
“I think our security could use some work,” he said.
“I agree. Perhaps we need some live guards outside of the magical wards,” I said, turning to face him. I hadn’t realized how close he was, but it was clear when his hand found my cheek.
“I will never let anything get to you or the children,” he said. “Ever.”
“I believe you, but just remember that sometimes we can’t prepare for everything. I’m not the most powerful thing out there,” I said. “Neither are you.”
“Thank you for this morning,” he said. “I had resolved to sit back and wait on you. It was getting harder and harder for me. I’ve not been in control the last few days, and I’m sorry. I’m still waiting. I’ll wait forever.”
I turned my mouth to his palm and kissed it gently. “It won’t be long,” I said. He exhaled the tension that had built up with Atohi and with me.
“Hey, Levi, give us a hand,” Dominick called from the other room.
“That damn wolf needs to back off. He knows I’m in here with you,” Levi said.
“You are cute when you are jealous,” I said.
“So, I need to be more jealous?” he asked.
“No,” I replied firmly. “Go help them.” He was attractive enough without adding to it.
Word spread quickly about Atohi. It wasn’t long before my home was filled with concerned knights and friends. I sat back in my recliner as Levi perched himself on the arm of the chair.
“I spoke to the elders. They would like his body. They would like to speak to Aydan about his decision to break the blood feud between the families. The thunderbirds used to police these types of things to prevent the mass murders of families. This one has been going on for quite a while. With Dylan here, I’m not sure he had any way of knowing about it. Aydan did the right thing,” Remy said, as he sat on the couch with Tabitha.
Aydan and Callum leaned on the wall between the dining room and living room. I saw the pride in Aydan’s eyes when Remy said he’d done the right thing. Looking at the boys, I realized that my son had found a friend. Probably one that would last a lifetime. A common bond between two beings was something that surpassed even death.
“Do you want us to suspend the fights?” Troy asked.
“I hope not. There is little to no entertainment in this town,” Tennyson said.
“As long as you keep it under control, I don’t see why you have to stop. I understand the need and how you are using it to build the pack,” I said.
“It is a great tool for the future when we need to make a move on Brockton. I know exactly who my best fighters are. I know who to send out if we get attacked, and who to leave behind for the protection of the rest. Each one has special skills,” he said.
“What about Callum?” I asked. “Is he part of the pack?”
Troy hung his head.
“I’d rather stay here,” Callum spoke up.
“He cannot come back, Grace. No matter what Atohi did to him, he broke the rules. I can’t make an exception,” Troy said.
He could make an exception if he really wanted. If he was truly in control, his word should be the end of anything, but perhaps I didn’t understand the full workings of the pack. Perhaps I didn’t know what damage going against his word would do to his authority.
“He is welcome to stay here with us. Levi and I discussed more security. The living, breathing kind,” I said.
“I think that is an excellent idea,” Astor spoke up.
“I agree,” Finley said.
“One of us should be here at all times,” Tennyson added.
“I want to go outside. This is boring,” Winnie said from her spot on the floor. I supposed it was a tad boring for a seven-year-old. Mark who had come with Amanda sat on the floor next to her even though she wasn’t paying him any attention.
“I’ve got her,” Aydan said, crossing the room to his sister. “Come on, Wildfire. Let’s go outside.”
Bramble and Briar buzzed behind as Aydan, Callum, Mark, and Winnie headed for the back door. Rufus remained at my feet. I was sure he didn’t like the other dogs in the house, but he wasn’t going outside with Aydan either.
“Your son is impressive,” Remy said. “He will be a formidable leader for our people. We have sorely missed having one. It wasn’t Dylan’s fault. He was saddled with two responsibilities with no one to guide him.”
“His parents didn’t teach him?” I asked, showing how little I knew about Dylan’s birth and parents.
“No, they died shortly after his birth,” Remy said. “Our people shunned them for their union, then shunned him for the dual roles. Dylan found his own way. It took him a w
hile, but once he arrived here, it seemed like he’d finally found his purpose in life.”
A tear rolled down my cheek, and Levi reached down to wipe it away for me.
“Any word from Winter?” Levi asked.
“No. But Summer will make a move soon. I suggest we send Astor into Summer to the hacienda near the tree. Perhaps he can get more info than I can at the moment. My contact is heavily involved with Rhiannon’s preparations, and I haven’t been able to contact him,” Tennyson said.
“What if we jump into Winter, and Rhiannon changes her course to here?” I asked.
“Then I will be here to defend the Vale,” Tennyson said.
“As will I,” Jenny added. “There are those who will remain that can fight.”
“The pack will be here under Dominick’s control,” Troy said.
“About that,” Dominick interjected.
“What?” Troy asked.
“Perhaps I should go with Grace and Levi, and you stay here,” Dominick suggested.
“No,” Troy said with no further discussion.
But I wondered why. “Why?” I asked. Dominick looked to Troy for permission to speak, but Troy shook his head.
“It’s a pack matter,” Troy said.
“You know there was a time when you didn’t care about a pack,” I said reminding Troy of his lone wolf status.
“Things have changed. You helped me see that. Don’t make me regret it, Grace,” he said with the slightest tease in his voice.
“You don’t regret the pack. You just regret dealing with me,” I teased back.
“We all do,” Levi said, causing the room to erupt in laughter. I pushed him hard trying to topple him off the arm of the chair, but the muscles in his legs strained to keep his balance on the arm. I gave up after a moment.
“Alright. All of you get out of my house,” I said. “I’ve seen enough of your ugly mugs for today.”
“Be ready for the call, Grace. It won’t be long,” Tennyson warned.
“We will be ready,” Levi answered.
We spoke to everyone as they left. Luther and Betty had called to check on us, but decided to stay in town since they were working the diner. Nestor had waited patiently outside while we had our meeting. I told him to come in, but he refused.
After everyone left, I found him standing outside watching Winnie and Mark play with the brownies. Amanda called for Mark to leave. He tried to speak to Winnie, but she crossed her arms and looked away from him.
“Bye, Miss Grace,” he said running past me.
“Bye, Mark,” I said.
“She’s becoming more like you every day,” Nestor said.
“Most mothers would be proud, but I suppose I’m getting what I’m due for all the rebellious years. For going against my father’s instructions and desires,” I said.
“He was happy you were here and not there,” Nestor said.
“Later on, yes he was. But I’ll never forget the disappointment on his face the day he caught me coming back to the Otherworld after a trip into the human realm,” I said.
“It wasn’t that you were gone. It was who you were with,” he said.
I paused for a moment wondering what Nestor knew about my banishment. Did he know the truth or the story I had always told everyone?
“It was because I disobeyed him. He felt betrayed,” I said.
“Because you were teasing human men?” Nestor asked.
Nestor only knew the story I’d always told. It was a relief to me. I had almost told Levi about it. If anyone deserved to know the truth, it was Levi. Nestor and the rest could come later. Watching Levi across the yard speaking to Dominick, I wondered if I could ever tell him the truth. He was right. The pain of it was equal to the loss of Dylan. If I were to ever give my heart to Levi, he needed to know the true state of it. He needed to know the scars and bruises.
I decided to dismiss those dark thoughts, and have a word with my daughter about her attitude. I joined her on the swings.
“Swing high, Momma,” she said.
“I will in a minute, but we need to talk,” I said.
“What about?” she asked.
“I know you are upset with Mark. I know you are trying to learn what it’s like to be a Phoenix. I’m going to help you as much as I can, but you have to remember that you are a princess. You are my daughter, and we need to learn to treat everyone with respect. If you are mad at Mark, then fine, but don’t be hateful,” I said.
“He keeps apologizing about the thing at the wedding,” she said.
“And you should forgive him,” I said. “Do you think he means it?”
“He does, but I don’t want to forgive him,” she said.
“You realize that burning Corbin would have been a bad thing to do, right?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then he did the right thing,” I offered.
“And?”
“You were wrong, Winnie. You need to learn to admit when you are wrong,” I said. “It took your momma a long time to learn that. I spent a very, very long time being lonely because I couldn’t admit when I was wrong. I couldn’t forgive those who stood against me. I don’t want you to grow up like that.”
She swayed back and forth on the swing. Perhaps I’d gotten too deep for her.
“You were lonely?” she asked.
“Yes, very lonely until I met your daddy,” I said. “He made me remember what it was like to love and forgive. We all make mistakes, but we only become better when we are willing to admit it.”
She stopped swinging. Her eyes tracked Levi as he walked toward us.
“Do you love Uncle Levi? Like you loved Daddy?” she asked.
Lord have mercy. This wasn’t the conversation I wanted to have with her.
“I love your Uncle Levi, but it’s very different from the way I loved Dylan,” I said.
“So, you aren’t going to marry him?” she asked.
“Stay over there with Nestor please,” I warned Levi. He stopped right next to Nestor. “It’s okay. Just a Mom and daughter talk.”
“Okay,” he nodded with understanding.
“Winnie, I don’t know what the future will be for us. I just know that Levi and Dylan are two very different men. You cannot love someone the same way you loved someone else. Let me ask you this. Did you love your mother, Bethany?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said quietly. She reached up to grab the keys hanging around her neck.
“Do you love me the same way you loved her?” I asked.
“Yes. I mean, I dunno,” she said as she looked down at the keys in her hand. “You are different than she was. You care about if I’m being bad.”
“Levi and your Daddy are different like that. I love them differently,” I said.
“You care if Levi is being bad?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” I laughed.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I giggled.
“I suppose you could marry Uncle Levi and it would be okay with me,” she said.
“Oh, really?” I said.
“Yeah, because he cares if you are being bad, too,” she said.
I died laughing because, bless her little pea pickin’ heart, she had no idea how much truth she had just spoken. Dylan kept me reeled in, but Levi tried to keep me from getting out of hand way before I tossed more line out there.
“Now can we swing high?” she asked.
“Yes!” I replied.
“Come push me, Uncle Levi,” she shouted.
Levi ran over and pushed us both. I watched Callum and Aydan sitting on the back-porch drinking sodas. They laughed and joked like boys do. Nestor joined us at the swings chatting about the weather and the little things. It was nice to talk about nothing, instead of planning for war or marriages. It wouldn’t be long before that call would come, and we would step into the Otherworld. Some of us might not come back.
When I stepped into the diner with Aydan and Callum, there was only one
other customer. Dominick smiled as the boys took seats down from him. I sat down right next to him.
“Hi,” I said.
“Um, hello, Grace,” he said. I’d already made him uncomfortable.
“You warned me multiple times about Atohi,” I said.
“Yes.” He slumped his shoulders and looked down at his coffee cup.
“Then why is it, that it got as far as it did? You knew he was bad,” I said.
“It was an instinct, and I had no proof,” he said. “The fight was the first time he slipped.”
“Did you share this instinct with Troy?” I asked.
“I did,” he said.
“And?”
“And I’d prefer not to discuss it with you,” he said boldly. I knew he didn’t want to cross his alpha which was honorable, but if there were problems in the ranks, I wanted to know.
“Okay. Let’s just say if you get that instinct again, you come to me. You tell me if no one else will listen. I trust your instincts just as much as I trust his. I won’t cross either of you. I won’t pit you against him, but if there is something that you think I should know, I will pay more attention next time,” I said.
He didn’t speak as he twirled the half cup of coffee around in his hands.
“You want more, honey?” Betty asked holding a fresh pot.
“No, thank you, Betty,” he said.
“Grace, you ordering?” she asked.
“No, just feed those boys,” I said.
“Gotcha,” she said leaving us alone.
“You okay?” I asked.
He looked at me eye to eye finally. “Why do you trust me now?”
“You’ve proven yourself,” I said.
“I’m still proving myself,” he said.
“Not to me.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you. And I’ll try to answer my phone next time,” I grinned.
“Next time it might be a social call,” he said.
“That answer is still no,” I teased.
“Can’t blame me for trying,” he said.
“No, I can’t. Just stay off Levi’s radar,” I warned.
“We’ve talked.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, we reached an agreement,” he said.