She smirked, eyes drifting up to the tree around us for a moment, smile stretching wider, and giving me a perfect view of her slender, kissable neck. “Yes, Nate?”
“Is this… you know… our moment? Our time?”
She burst out laughing, pinching my chest playfully. “No, Nate. It’s nap time.”
And with that, she rolled over, scooted that delicious body right up to mine, and pulled my arm over her stomach. “Shut up, Kai,” I muttered murderously, ignoring Callie’s laughter.
I couldn’t wait to get to the Land of the Fae to kill some shit.
Chapter 21
We had woken early to the rising sun, surprising the both of us. The cold hadn’t aroused us from slumber. Heh. Callie quickly reminded me of our talk the night before, informing me that I had a full day to basically become a certain purple dinosaur to all my friends. Then she had left, encouraging me to take my new purse with me to Fae. She literally said this the second before her Gateway closed, leaving me to glare at empty space.
You could say that at first, my heart wasn’t into following her advice. For obvious reasons.
But I had managed to make the world’s worst breakfast. Dean had taken offense to this, but had sensed something in my mood, and had simply stared at me after a time. I saw him mouthing the name Callie thoughtfully a few times, but I somehow refrained from tossing a skillet at him.
I did drop an egg on the ground to keep him busy.
Then, remembering Callie’s advice, I had sighed and bent over to clean it up before he could move. Which took some agile maneuvering, let me tell you.
Carl stormed into the kitchen as I was cleaning up, claws clicking on the marble floors. He stopped, stared at me, and hissed in surprise.
“Flesh of the unborn, coming right up!” I called out cheerfully. “I’ve also got pig belly, and compressed bodily fluids from a citrus demon I found lurking around outside,” I said, handing him a plate of bacon and eggs, and a glass of orange juice. I ignored the startled look on his face and turned to Dean. “Get the gift. Make sure no one else sees it. If you run into anyone, just put it back and I’ll give it to Elder Carl later.”
Carl was holding the plate and glass, mouth open as if he’d been struck between the eyes. “You’ve been possessed…” he murmured, flicking his tongue out at me.
I flicked mine right back. “No, I’m just a giant asshole, and I’m realizing that I’ve never thanked you properly. Drink the sacrifice, for god’s sake,” I muttered, motioning my hand towards the glass.
He did so, taking a sip on reflex. He jerked the glass away, reptilian second eyelid flicking up over his eye for a moment as he stared down at the glass. “This is very good. Where did you find this demon?”
“We’ll find you some more. Don’t worry,” I said, guiding him towards the table.
He sat down awkwardly, sipping his drink and eyeing me uncertainly. I sat down next to him as Dean entered the room and handed me a box. I stared down at the package Dean had given me yesterday when I got Callie’s gift, biting back a smile. Then I looked up at Carl, who looked very uncomfortable all of a sudden.
“I want to thank you for being such a loyal friend. You very easily could have turned against me and sided with your brothers and Indie. But you didn’t. I constantly give you shit,” I said holding up a finger in warning. “And that will not change.” I waited for his bewildered nod. “But I do need to do a better job of honest appreciation and thanks.”
“Okay…” he hissed uncertainly.
“I’m going to be blunt with you,” I admitted. “This is about the weirdest thing I’ve ever done, but I guess it’s not all about me, is it?” I said, handing him the package, making sure no one was about to walk in. He stared down at it, then at me. “I kind of got it as a joke, but also knew you’d really like it. I had a whole big reveal planned, but it’s probably better this way,” I sighed regretfully.
He slowly sliced open the package to find a pair of shining red heels inside a shoebox, the biggest pair I had been able to custom order, based on the size of the boots he wore.
He jumped to his feet, hissing. “Mine!” And then he fucking ran from the room as if the devil was after him and his new shoes.
I blinked, slowly turning to face Dean. He shook his head in disbelief. “I… think he liked them,” he finally said.
“Fucking weird, right?” I whispered incredulously.
A thin smile appeared on his face, and then he shrugged wearily. “Do you need any help creating something edible for the others?” he asked me, eyeing the eggs that were now burning on the stove.
“Damn it,” I cursed, jumping to my feet. He kicked my chair just as I moved, sending me crashing to the floor.
“Stay down,” he warned. “You’ve desecrated my kitchen quite enough already.”
“What the hell is that smell?” Gunnar grunted, walking into the room with Tory and the Reds. I stared up at them from my position on the ground and sighed.
“Master Temple is trying to kill you all with his kindness,” Dean muttered, glancing over a shoulder. “Apparently.”
Gunnar frowned at Dean, then at me. He finally helped me to my feet, staring into my eyes like a doctor would. I slapped him away and the Reds burst out laughing.
Tory studied me. “Where’s Callie? I heard she—”
Gunnar coughed pointedly.
“That you had a nice dinner with her last night,” she amended lamely. “And that she helped you kill some shadow monsters.”
I sucked in a breath. “Actually…” This was my chance to do right. “Alucard saved us from the monsters. But not before we lost some wolves. Because of my failure to act,” I admitted, stepping closer to Gunnar. I met his eye, which was suddenly hard at the mention of his fallen packmates. I knew he had already heard, but that didn’t make it any easier. “I’m sorry, Gunnar… I know that doesn’t help anything, but I’m sorry.”
He studied me thoughtfully, and then grunted. “Thank you. But to be honest, those three were looking to die. They were very loyal to…” he trailed off.
“Ashley,” I finished. His shoulders stiffened instinctively, as if preparing to break something, but he finally nodded.
“Yes. Wulfra, to be more precise,” he corrected. “They’ve been nothing but trouble lately.”
I gripped his shoulders, staring into his eye. “I will literally die trying to get her back, Gunnar. I swear it.”
He stared back, muscles bunching under my hands. “Let’s try not to let that happen. I don’t think she’d be pleased with that solution.”
“I want you to know that I will burn Fairy to the ground to get her back,” I pressed.
He stepped back, frowning at me. “Did you find out you have cancer or something?” he asked warily.
I shook my head, sensing everyone watching me. “No. Callie just helped me realize that although I may have been willing to give my life to keep you safe, I haven’t been the greatest at letting you guys know how much I appreciate you,” I admitted.
The room was silent. “So, your solution is to tell Gunnar that you would give your life to show him how much… you appreciate him? Isn’t that the same thing?” Tory asked, trying to hide her amusement.
I scowled at her. “I’m not perfect, Tory,” I muttered.
She folded her arms. “And how are you going to show me how much you appreciate me?” she asked, grinning excitedly.
“Shift just received a large donation. Several years’ worth of donations. And none of the old investors have an interest in your programs any longer. Also, I want to offer my services in teaching your students how to love their beasts, not just control them.”
Tory blinked at me, lifting a hand to her chest. “Oh. I thought… not that money was tight, but that there were issues in the way of you funding the school outright…” she said carefully.
“I re-prioritized,” I replied, smiling softly.
Sonya and Aria stepped up expectantly. “Can you get us
matching corvettes to show us how much you appreciate us?” they asked sweetly.
Tory coughed reproachfully. I spotted a blur near the adjoining living room, but I kept my face blank. “Dean? Can you get the other gifts?” I asked instead of answering them.
“Of course,” he said in a defeated tone, which usually implied that everyone but me was about to experience something entirely unpleasant. Dean came back and handed everyone a wrapped cardboard box. They shared long looks with each other, unsure whether to be excited or nervous.
“Go ahead,” I said, walking past them into the living room as if finished with our conversation. I listened to the sound of tearing paper behind me. Yahn and Alex materialized before me, and handed me two objects.
“What the hell?” Gunnar asked, not angry, but bewildered. Then, “Oh, shit…” His claws were suddenly out and he was tearing into his box much more urgently.
I chuckled darkly and licked the tip of the device in my hand. “It’s time to be kids again, Reds. At least for the morning. Three rounds. General mayhem, then hide and seek, and then capture the flag – outside – on ATV’s.”
I spun and pointed my nerf pistol at Gunnar just as he tore his free. I shot him in the forehead. Since I had licked the dart first, it stuck to his skin. “Eat that, wolfi-corn!” I hooted. Then I dove behind the couch as Yahn and Alex unloaded on their victims.
The Reds shrieked with glee.
Tory and Gunnar chuckled darkly, darting into the adjacent hallway and out of the kill-room.
I saw Talon walking towards the sounds of shouting, tail twitching curiously. “Anyone who tags Talon gets fifty points!” I yelled.
Talon hissed and then fled back the way he came. I chuckled.
“Is this what kids do in this world?” Alex whispered excitedly beside me. I grinned down at him. “It is in my house. Whenever we can afford to,” I said, ruffling his hair, momentarily reminded how close he had come to being abducted. Twice.
Alex beamed with such an innocent smile that I couldn’t help return it as I watched him flee deeper into the house, hunting for the Reds.
I stared down at my gun. “Thanks, Callie,” I said softly.
Then I proceeded to hunt down my family.
Chapter 22
We had played for hours, and I can honestly say it might have been the most relaxing day of my life. Over that space of time, I had completely forgotten about everything deadly, murdery, or scary. But, obviously, at some point those thoughts came back.
Right about the time they did for Gunnar, too.
Because he suddenly realized that Ashley wasn’t here with us right now.
I met his eye, nodding slowly. The sunlight piercing the solarium caught his stone eye-patch, glinting brightly. He hid his thoughts well from everyone else, who were either napping idly on the stones, or sprawled out on the couches, but he couldn’t fool me.
He slowly climbed to his feet and walked over to join me on my couch. Tory was dozing in the loveseat, but her eyes peeled open at Gunnar’s movement. She watched us sadly for a moment before closing her eyes again. Sneaky woman, always trying to prevent bro-outs.
“I’m going to go shower up. I take it we’ll be leaving soon?” he asked me. I nodded.
“I need to speak to Alucard in private, but we should be ready to go in a few hours.” Alucard hadn’t been around all morning, but Dean had told me he was tanning on the roof, a favorite place of his.
Gunnar grunted, speaking softly so the younger ones didn’t overhear. “This was damned good of you, Nate. But unnecessary. You didn’t need to prove yourself to us.”
I grunted. “I kind of did, actually.”
“We know where your heart is,” he argued, but he was smiling, staring off at the Reds. Alex was leaning on Yahn, talking softly to the dragon, no doubt pestering him about his colorful scales. Alex was so unused to trust that it was fun to see him open up. He was the most curious child I had ever seen, as if making up for lost time. “You really care for him, don’t you?” Gunnar asked softly. Tory shifted in her seat, obviously not sleeping.
I nodded, watching the four teenagers. They had seen the worst the world had to offer, but I had managed to give them a half-day of pure, innocent joy. “Yeah.”
Tory made a sobbing sound, but tried to mask it by shifting in her sleep. Gunnar rolled his eye. Right, werewolf senses. He must have known she was awake, too. He winked at me.
Or blinked.
“Hey, Gunnar,” I said. “Can I ask you a serious question?”
He was quiet for a moment, and then sighed. “Sure.”
“Can you come up with a new gesture to signify winking?” I asked him deadpan. “It’s hard to distinguish from your regular blinks.”
He turned to face me. Then his stone eye rippled, and I spilled the drink I had forgotten about in my lap. “Jesus!” I hissed.
He burst out laughing. “How about that, asshole?”
I shivered, staring at his stone eye. “How…”
He shrugged. “I was goofing around earlier. Figured it out.”
Tory snorted indelicately. “He was flexing in front of the mirror, posing. I caught the lying bastard mid-act.”
Gunnar flushed crimson, and I burst out laughing. “Oh, man. That’s going to stick around for a while.”
Gunnar arched an eyebrow at Tory. “Maybe we should talk about you and the Huntress braiding each other’s hai—”
“Truce!” Tory laughed. “She would kill all of us.”
I sighed, leaning back into my chair with a big grin. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” The laughter slowly died down. “This was fun, wasn’t it?” I asked.
They both murmured encouragingly, eyes watching the teenagers. “Just to clarify,” Tory began, “and I think I’m speaking for everyone…”
“I agree,” Gunnar grumbled, somehow knowing what she intended to say ahead of time.
I frowned, not following.
“We like the old Nate. This is fun, but… part of your charm is the wiseass bastard. Don’t lose that. But every now and then… this is nice, too.”
I glanced over at her, making sure they weren’t teasing me. Then, I said, “Thank god.”
She jumped to her feet. “I knew it!”
I held up my hands in a guilty gesture, and Gunnar suddenly roared with laughter. I nodded, grinning. “This was – although fun – kind of… terrible at the same time,” I admitted. “I don’t think I could be like this all the time. It’s just not me.”
Tory and Gunnar both turned to watch me, sensing I had more I wanted to say.
I stared down at my drink, my smile fading. “I think I’m just a dark person. It’s not that I don’t love you, but that I love you enough to do bad things to keep you safe. But…” I trailed off, thinking, analyzing my feelings, and trying to consider Conquest’s advice. And Callie’s words of wisdom, which were kind of the same. “It’s not always about me, though. Everyone processes love in different ways, and maybe the way I sometimes show my love isn’t communicated properly…” I thought about it. “I ask you guys to do some pretty uncomfortable things to show your love for each other. Namely, risking your lives. So… it’s only fair that I meet you in the middle. Like, once in a while. Not a lot. Just—”
“Jesus, Nate. We get it. Don’t ruin it,” Gunnar sighed, shaking his head in amusement.
Tory waited, making sure I didn’t have anything else to add. “You should go talk to Alucard.”
I nodded. “Yeah.” I climbed to my feet. “You all set, Tory?”
She grunted. “We’ll be fine while you’re gone. Just don’t make it two months. Time flies when… well, I was going to say when you’re having fun, but…” she mumbled. “You know what I mean. Carl and I can take care of things while you’re gone, and the Huntress will keep an eye on Alex.”
I nodded. “We’ll be as quick as possible. I know what to expect this time. And we have rides. And Oberon owes me. Talon thinks he can track Pan, and Gunnar knows Wulf
ra’s scent.”
Gunnar growled in both agreement and anticipation. “I’ll be ready whenever you are. Meet me in the Sanctorum. I’ll have the others with me or they’ll be at the tree.”
I nodded. Tory climbed to her feet and gave me a big hug. Then she kissed me on the cheek. “Get our girl back, Nate,” she whispered.
I nodded, feeling my anger flash to life. Not at her, but in anticipation of saving my friend.
She frowned. “And work on that golden eye thing. You look like a demon when it lights up.”
I frowned at her. “What?”
She nodded slowly. “Ever since Athena… when you’re angry, we can all see it.”
Gunnar grunted, but he didn’t sound bothered by it. If anything, he sounded anticipatory. “I don’t care about his laser eyes. Especially not if he uses them to kill everyone who thought about harming Ashley,” he said in a dark tone. “But I’ll keep an eye on him, Tory.”
“Thanks, guys. I love how you include me in these conversations,” I muttered.
“Thanks, Gunnar. You know how he gets,” Tory said, ignoring me.
He laughed. “I’ve known him longer than anyone. Trust me. I know.”
“Hey!” I pressed. “I’m right here!”
“Don’t let him come home all tattooed up again,” she added.
“Well, if it’s going to help, I’ll let him do whatever he wants.”
“Excuse me? Let me?” I seethed. They continued to ignore me, and I sensed the teenagers were all very interested in the adults’ table, now. “Well, I’m going to slap some happy on a grumpy Glampire. If you’ll let me, that is.”
They waved their hands dismissively, so I stormed off. I ignored their amused chuckles as Master Temple stormed through his sentient house. Falco purred soothingly, trying to calm me, but it sounded suspiciously like laughter, too.
“Can it, Falco, or I’ll have Dean spray pledge in your sensitive cracks,” I muttered.
This time she definitely laughed, the walls quivering noticeably.
Chapter 23
War Hammer: A Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Book 8 (The Temple Chronicles) Page 12