The blood Wolves climbed into the truck and moved past them. Evan waited for the roar to disappear so he could ask Kira about Kelan quietly. Before he could, she slipped away from him and behind the wheel. “Don’t ask about Kelan, Evan. It is complicated and not mine to tell. Let us simply say some things just are as they are and there is nothing that can be done. Some things do not change.”
* * * * *
The next three days passed in a haze that was so delightful that Evan barely registered the passing of time. He and Kira found more and more time to be together. No agenda, no discussion of his mission. Just simply time to be together.
Evan stretched under the light sheet. The bed was amazingly comfortable. He could get used to this leisure, quickly. He felt wonderfully lazy and even more than a bit happy. No missions, no emergencies. No dark creatures or infighting to worry about. He could almost forget why he was here.
Kira still hadn’t shown him the library but he had gotten through the past few days without screwing up again. Even better, he seemed to be making all the right moves with her. He wished his friend Marcus, the legendary lady-killer himself, could see him now.
At random the words she’d spoken about the boy Demetri floated to his awareness. He reminded her of someone who was no longer with them. Had she lost a younger sibling? Perhaps something worse? Was she mourning the loss of a child of her own? Someone had been lost to her and it explained the sadness in her face as she watched the boy. They’d returned to the school twice now and without fail the young boy gravitated to her as if she was his mother.
He climbed out of the bed regretfully and moved into the adjoining bathroom. As the hot water flowed over his skin, he remembered the evenings before. Alexi had joined them twice, Nico once. The dinners had gone well. Nico had glared at him but had been civil. He had been surprised when both Alexi and Nico rose with him to clear and exchange the courses. Kira had sat in her place, not seeming to notice. It had struck him as odd. Both had deferred to her before in his presence, that first day when she sat hidden in shadows and he had assumed it was age-related. Now that he had seen her clearly, he knew she was younger than Alexi, if older than Nico. Her smiled thank-you as Alexi set the tray before her was one of absolute right, as if it were her right to be served by this older brother.
He pushed the thought aside until several minutes later when he was dressing. Perhaps it’s a male, female thing? Evan wondered. Were the males supposed to take a submissive role? That didn’t fit with anything he had ever read about wolves or werewolves. Of course what he read had been written by mages for the most part, so perhaps it was less than accurate. This still made no sense, however. It was their father, not their mother, who ruled the family and the Family.
He was cataloging this away as one of the many questions he was promised answers to when the door burst open. Alexi. His familiarity grew with each passing day. Now he was no longer even giving a cursory knock.
“Good morning, my little friend.” Alexi dropped into the chair. “Not up and ready for the day?”
Evan held off answering until he had finished buttoning his pants and pulling on his shirt. “Not everyone rises at the crack of dawn, Alexi.” He sat down on the bed to pull on socks and his sneakers. He’d need to break down and replace them soon.
“Hardly the crack of dawn, Evan. It’s past nine. Surely you’re not still adjusting to the time differences.” Alexi’s grin lit his face.
“Perhaps I am.” Past nine? Damn, he had been lazy. Evan moved over to the bureau where he had laid his bag and reached for the black shaving kit. His hand stopped.
He turned to look at Alexi, startled. His mind counted back the hours. No, it was well out of his system by now. How the hell…
“You’re speaking English?” Evan stared at Alexi in astonishment.
The low throaty laugh rang from the big man. “Gracious Mother, Evan, you are a bit slow. I’ve been speaking to you in English since the first morning. We all speak it here. It’s the language of commerce and if there’s one thing the Gregoravitch family understands, it’s commerce. Let me guess, you thought only my lovely sister was fluent in your language?” The eyes took on a knowing glint.
“Kira’s been speaking English too?”
Alexi laughed again. Hard. “You haven’t noticed?”
A small growl of frustration came from Evan and it surprised both of them.
Alexi grew slightly serious. “Evan, did you just growl?”
“Obviously.” Evan watched him warily. Did he think he had challenged him?
The brown eyes danced with delight. “There may be hope for you yet. We may make a proper wolf out of you before you leave us.”
Evan’s reply was coarse and rude and simply resulted in Alexi’s laughing again. “If you could only see yourself when you curse, Evan. I swear your body practically apologizes before the words are out of your mouth.”
Evan turned away from him to hide the smile that flickered over his lips. Since he could count the number of people he had actually cursed at on one hand—his father once, Seth and Marcus and Julien Amiens—it was no wonder he was such a novice. He looked back at Alexi, dissecting what the man had said. “What do you mean my body apologizes?”
“Your stance, your posture. You didn’t even look me in the eye while you told me to, ah—how to say it without offending those delicate ears of yours, pup—go pleasure myself.” Alexi was pulling himself to his feet. “Never fear, little friend. A few weeks with me and I’ll have you cursing like a real man.”
“Great. A skill I’ve always admired.” His eyes rolled heavenward.
Alexi stood before him, still smiling. “Now for the favor.”
“Favor?” Evan asked carefully, “What favor, Alexi?”
“Happy news, Evan. My younger daughter is to have her first hunt on the full moon.” The large hand slapped his back almost painfully. “Lousy timing but we don’t get to pick these things. We have only a couple days to prepare and I’ve come to ask your help.”
So many things were wrong with this statement that he wasn’t sure where to begin. Alexi had a daughter? She was to hunt soon? He wanted Evan to help? He backed further into the room, away from the door.
“I didn’t know you had a daughter.”
“Of course you didn’t, I didn’t tell you.” The affable man was distracted by the entry of a young girl carrying what was obviously intended to be Evan’s breakfast. “My dear, tell the kitchen to send up more, I rushed out this morning without eating. Otherwise my friend here may starve from my eating his breakfast.”
The girl, whose wide dark eyes had not left Evan since opening the door, finally looked at her master’s son. “Yes, Master Alexi.” Her voice faltered and Evan knew she was afraid. She was terribly afraid. After placing the tray on the table she scuttled out the door as fast as she could.
Alexi sat at the table and pulled the covers off the food and began to help himself. “I actually have a wife, two daughters and two sons I did not tell you about. I didn’t think it important and I assumed Kira would have told you if it had come up.”
“Then why is it important now?” Evan kept his place and did not cross to join the other man.
Alexi looked up surprised. “Why?”
“Yes, why?”
Disappointment flickered on the broad face, “Because we are friends now, Evan. Because I am fond of you. My sister is fond of you. In time, my entire family will come to like you.”
“We are friends, you and I?” Evan was aware that he was taking a risk, that he was somehow challenging the man and didn’t fully understand why. He’d felt that repressed piece of himself growing stronger the last few days, more assertive. More aggressive. “Why are you suddenly friends with a pup-eater like me?”
Alexi’s face darkened. “Do you not wish to be my friend, Evan? Do you not consider me your friend?”
“I simply find it a bit quick. You were calling me a pup-eater and calling me out for speaking your siste
r’s name only a handful of days ago, now we are friends?” Evan watched the man rise from his seat.
Alexi watched the tall thin man closely. He wasn’t sure exactly what was happening here. He had accepted this curse wolf into his father’s home. Had befriended him and now he was challenging him? Questioning him? He felt his anger begin and he took several steps toward the younger man but Evan held his ground. His eyes didn’t waver.
The anger melted and hope crept in. This was a good sign. The little mage was challenging him. The little mage was questioning him and his motives. The little mage had a bit of pride, a drive for dominance, after all. Alexi took a step back and smiled at him. “I am a quick man, Evan. I make my decisions quickly. I decided fast that first night I wouldn’t kill you. I decided just as quickly I would bring you to my father. I decided almost immediately that we should help you.”
The younger man lowered his chin but not his eyes. “I am not a quick man, Alexi. I make my decisions slowly.”
“Because you make them the human way,” Alexi shot back at him, mildly irritated. That was Evan’s problem in his eyes. True, mixing the two natures must be difficult but Evan erred too far on the side of the human world. He smothered too much of what was the wolf in him.
“I know no other way to make them.” Evan wondered what Alexi meant. How did one make decisions the human way as opposed to Alexi’s way? No, Alexi hadn’t meant his way, he had meant the way of his kind.
“But you do, my little friend. You understand. You just don’t know that you do.” The two men stared at each other in silence, neither sure what should be said next. Alexi had promised not to interfere but Kira was moving too slowly. Six days. Almost a week and she still hadn’t told him anything. A chime sounded in the room announcing the arrival of the dumbwaiter. Alexi went back toward the table. “Come and sit. I’ll try to explain.”
Evan sat as Alexi pulled the food from the compartment. He spread it before them. As usual, the kitchen seemed to assume Alexi ate enough for three people. Two people yes but there always seemed more than necessary.
Alexi studied the food for a moment and then looked up at his companion. “Evan, what do you remember about the girl who brought the tray?”
His brows knitted together in confusion. The girl? What had this to do with anything? Evan answered slowly, “She was afraid. Afraid of me.”
“How do you know that?” Alexi pressed.
“What do you mean how do I know? She was obviously terrified. Her eyes were huge and she stared at me the entire time.” This was stupid. “Anyone could have seen her fear.”
“So her body told you she was afraid. Her eyes, her posture, these things told you she was afraid?” Evan nodded at him so he pushed on. “When did you realize she was afraid?”
“It was obvious, Alexi. I knew immediately.” Hadn’t he already answered this question?
“Before or after she opened the door?” The brown eyes spoke volumes more than the full-lipped mouth.
Realization swept over Evan but he didn’t understand what it meant. He had known before the door opened. Before he actually saw the girl. “Before.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Yes you are. It simply seems too ridiculous for your ordered mage’s mind, Evan. How did you know?”
“I smelled it.” The words did seem ridiculous. Horses could smell fear. Dogs could smell fear. People did not smell fear. His heartbeat faltered as it finally understood. Wolves did.
“Yes, Evan. You smelled the fear on the girl before she entered the room. You even reacted to it before she entered.”
“That’s impossible.” Evan knew however it was possible. He had backed away from the door before the girl had knocked.
“It’s not and you know it, my friend.” Alexi broke his gaze to shovel food onto both plates. He handed one to Evan and settled into his own.
“Pheromones, Evan. Even humans give them off, all animals do. Fear, anxiety, anger… These are the easy ones. Even humans pick up on them but don’t understand that they do. Other emotions like love and desire, even happiness and joy, release scents. Can you tell me that nose of yours isn’t more sensitive than those of your friends?”
A memory, a painful memory came. His sense of smell had actually made him hesitate from attack while in his wolf state. He’d transformed in the safe room he and his friends had created for him. Early in the evening he’d found an opening in a window Marcus had forgotten to lock tight. Free to run as a wolf for the first time in his life he’d suddenly found himself face to face with a young girl, his dearest friend Cassie. She had grown from a child to the one woman he thought he could ever love. The one person he had believed could ever love him despite his condition. Somehow her scent had become mixed up with his own over the years and even his wolf-ravaged mind had recognized her as his. Recognized her long enough to make him hesitate, long enough for help to arrive. Seth, then young and whole and vibrant, had grabbed the girl and pulled her to safety as Marcus had created a fire wall between them—a wall that had encircled the young werewolf and contained him until the setting of the moon.
Alexi watched Evan lost in thought. Good, he thought. He’s accepting this far more readily than I had hoped for. He let the young man ruminate for a moment longer then spoke. “I’m right aren’t I, Evan?”
Blue-gray eyes sought his and he saw resignation there. “All right, Alexi. So my sense of smell could serve me better if I paid attention, you’re right.”
“It’s more than that,” Alexi paused to slide a forkful of food in his mouth and chew. “Tell me, in the past few days as you’ve grown used to us, have you found you seem to know the exact right thing to do or say? Perhaps in settings where you would not have felt so certain before?”
Evan looked up at him a bit shaken by this question. How the hell did Alexi know this? Yes, he had noticed it. Noticed it most particularly with Kira. Noticed that before where he would stumble with words, shy away, it was different with her. His mind seemed to understand exactly what she expected, what she was anticipating. The day walking to the school he had known it was right to touch her hand, had known that she would not object. Later in the hall he had known it was right to kiss her. He knew on a level he couldn’t explain that Kira was attracted to him, that he was attracted to her and yet no tension, no nervousness claimed him. And there was more. Something else his mind and body were trying to tell him about Kira that he didn’t quite understand, or more accurately, couldn’t quite accept. What he did understand and accept was that the very nervousness and hesitancy he had felt his entire life was lifting away around these people. He didn’t have to be cautious or careful. “Yes, Alexi. I have noticed it.”
“So have I, my little friend. You hesitate far less in your dealings with me. You even show the ba—the nerve—to stare me down. I’ve also seen you with Kira. For someone who professes to be a bit shy and uncertain with the ladies…” He left the thought unfinished.
Evan continued it, “I seem to be making the right choices where she is concerned.” He smiled ruefully. “Or at least I am now that I’ve refrained from using magic.”
Alexi smiled at him. “Body language and pheromones, Evan. Add experience and familiarity and you have an incredibly powerful force. You have the roadmap to amazing insight into those around you. The more you come to understand the way of your own people, the way of the wolf, you will find you can make decisions very quickly indeed.”
Evan watched him carefully for a moment, the realization forming in his mind. “For someone who threatened me over speaking his sister’s name, why is it you seem to be more than a little okay about this. About my being at ease with Kira?”
The response was a sad smile. “Evan, I haven’t seen my sister truly smile in a very long time. I saw that the other night. You amuse her, my friend. She is fond of you and you amuse her.”
“What? No big brotherly warnings? No threats to the pup-eater?”
“Kira doesn
’t need me to interfere. She makes her own choices and I respect that. You knew this. You knew I didn’t mind. But Evan, do tread lightly. Be sure of what you want. Be sure you are willing to fill your part of the bargain.”
Before Evan could question him further, Alexi rose from his seat. “So, you pain in the ass, are you going to help me with the preparations for my daughter’s first hunt or not?” The grin pulled all the affront from the words.
“What exactly would I have to do, Alexi? Won’t your family object to my being involved?” Evan frowned. He had never hunted and the idea repulsed him. That a young girl would hunt, that Alexi would celebrate this act, that he was being asked to help, none of this sat well with him.
“It’s not so hard, Evan. Only time-consuming. Nico cannot help because he… Well he just can’t. So I turn to you, my new little friend. Will you help me?” The brown eyes held a slight pleading quality. Had he no one else to help?
“I’ll help where I can, Alexi but is there no one else? Your friends?” Evan remembered the men who had flanked Alexi in the inn the evening they met. “Ivan and…what was the other one’s name?”
“Stephan. No they can’t help. They are…” Alexi stumbled over the words, “unavailable.”
This was a lie. Even as he said it, Alexi knew Evan knew. He sighed. “Perhaps your learning to think like a wolf isn’t such a good idea. Allow me to simply say that they are unable to assist me, Evan and leave it at that.”
“And your family? Will I have to be present for the hunt? It is not exactly a good time for me, Alexi.” The encroaching full moon had filled his thoughts lately. He had intended to ask about precautions, a place he could be confined.
Circle of Wolves Page 10