“...you’re here.” He finished, squeezing my fingers back before releasing my hand.
I wanted to cry, or cheer. The awareness of three spectators crawled along my shoulders, and I pushed back the urge. I settled for sighing in relief. Not everything would turn out badly. Not while I had him.
“Let me show you around, Gemma. Andrew, come.” Septimus brought the attention back to himself, and gestured to me.
I hung back, but my newlyfound brother immediately stepped after him to the doors. I sought out the reactions of Marius and Tiberius again, but both were facing their Doyen.
I didn’t want a house tour, I wanted to bask in the wonder of rediscovering my brother. Never had I been so certain about a person with such abandon. It was almost frightening.
I decided to take what I could get at the moment and hurried to step beside Andrew.
“Can I call you Andy?” I whispered.
“No.” He raised an eyebrow at me.
I reached for his hand again, and this time he let me hold it as we made our way further into the house.
Chapter 10
We walked together back to the foyer with its one wide, inlaid marble staircase, then to the right down another hallway leading to a sitting room.
I barely heard about the history of the house and how old the furniture was, I was too busy trying to tempt Andrew into conversation. It wasn’t easy.
“Did you go to school?”
“No. Did you?”
“No, but I wanted to.” I smiled widely at the return question, only remembering to shake my head after he quirked an eyebrow at me.
Septimus moved on to talking about his grandfather moving all the furnishings from his ancestral home to this residence, I bumped Andrew’s shoulder.
He tilted his chin up slightly, as if too dignified to respond in kind.
So I bumped his shoulder again, watching his shoulder far too keenly to notice when he stuck his foot in front of mine. I went down like I went over a tripwire.
“Gemma, are you alright?” Septimus stopped, I could see his feet turning back from the ground.
“I’m fine. I was so busy looking around, I lost my footing.” I pushed myself up and climbed to my feet, eyeing my brother.
Andrew was still looking ahead, straight faced as he waited with hands in his pockets.
“Be careful, I don’t want you to get hurt.” Septimus looked between us closely, then resumed the tour.
I stuck my tongue out at Andrew as we resumed following, the most childish response I could think of. Other than tripping someone.
He didn’t look at me, but there was a hint of that smile again.
It made listening to the history of the architecture of the house less boring, and it was interesting to survey the paintings and fabrics hung up aesthetically.
“Is there any way out of this?” I murmured.
“Don’t complain. I could recite the whole speech by heart.”
“I’ll copy off your paper later.”
He snorted.
Septimus turned his head quickly, frowning. “Are you two paying attention?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, sir.” My, wasn’t he the dutiful son.
“Then what was I saying?”
I always failed those kinds of questions, no matter how hard I tried. It must be an adult ability to zone in on exact moment that attention wandered.
“You were saying that the oak paneling featured here is a classical italian element, but the symmetry has Dutch overtones. Sir.” Andrew recited.
Impressive. I nudged him with my shoulder again, and this time bumped back with that barely hidden quirk to his mouth.
I couldn’t say that I was inclined to swallow that my parents, who raised me with love as well as smothering worry, had willingly stolen a child from their rightful home. On the other hand, if I was to consider the opposite to be true, then I was strolling around the house of a very dangerous person.
It certainly put a damper on fleeing as soon as I could. I wanted to talk to Andrew alone, to see if he knew anything.
“Oh, Andrew.” A new female voice cut lightly across Septimus’ overview of the time period of ‘Lost Houses’ and which portraits were rescued.
We all turned to see Rose, adorned in a layered eggshell pink dress and a cool smile. She waltzed past Septimus, sparing him a cool look, to stand by Andrew. She laid her flat palm on his upper arm. “Hello, love.”
He didn’t look at her or speak to her. She might as well have not been there.
There was no end to the surprises in this house. I could remember what Ry said. Was Andrew the powerful person she shouldn’t have allied herself with? Then I saw the strange smile Septimus was giving them.
Oh.
“Gemma, have you met Rose?”
Before I could formulate whether or not I should say yes, Rose beat me to it.
“Oh, we’re chums.”
I just nodded. More like I was the chum. In the water.
“Sister-in-laws should be friendly.” Septimus said, with a definite warning in his voice.
I couldn’t tell who the tone was for, but to be on the safe side I nodded again.
“Why don’t I show Gemma the gardens?” Andrew turned around and walked away without waiting for an answer.
I wavered in my unease about leaving without the permission of the man who raised my brother, but nobody spoke or called Andrew back, so I hurried to catch up with him. To cover my nerves, I tried to shove my hands in my pockets. However, jeans for women just didn’t work that way, so I settled for jamming them in my jacket.
I also made an attempt to copy his long-legged stride, but gave up the moment we walked through looming double doors. “You didn’t seem very happy.”
“I’m never happy.” He shrugged.
I hadn’t much experience with my peers, but that didn’t sound good. “Oh?”
He looked over his shoulder at me, left eye flitting between normal and silver. “Happy is an emotion. It is short-lived and fickle. I find it more prudent to be content, or productive.”
I was mostly sure I managed to hide my dismay, another fickle and short-lived emotion. The path we were heading toward did not have any roses, unlike the one we could have turned down.
The hedges weren’t so high that the area could have doubled as a maze, as all the decorative trees and white fountains inside could easily be seen and admired.
”I was happy when I found you,” I said, watching the mortared brick path underfoot.
He stopped so suddenly I nearly was half a dozen steps away before noticing. He stared at me, cautiously. “You’re friends with Rose, are you?”
“I wouldn’t say friends.” I really didn’t want to give him that impression. “She met me at my...at my cousin’s three days ago. Then she came to my school.” I had finally figured out how she knew, she must have returned to the flat and searched through my room. I didn’t think to grab any official forms or old research essays.
“I thought you didn’t attend school.”
“I’m eighteen now, I applied for Uni.”
He blinked. “What are you studying?”
This is the first time he was asking me questions on his own volition, and I glowed. “Writing and Teaching. I’m looking to get my Masters at the end of the year.”
We stopped in front of an picturesque stone footbridge that curved over a small dry stream. He pointed to the horizon.
“Just over that hill is a small lodge. Only I go there.” With that he kept walking over the bridge, and onto another path that led to a huge man-made pond and two statues spraying water from their upturned hands.
A man and a woman, respectively, reminding me of angels in a cemetery, but without the wings. They simply had this peace etched on their face as their sightless eyes rose to the sky.
I bit my lip. “My parents really aren’t the type to steal children.”
Andrew slowed his pace, pushing back his curly hair with one han
d. “Do you suppose my father is?” he asked, with a curious lack of emotion.
“I’ve just met him,” I said cautiously.
“He would.” He spoke just as flatly as before.
Honestly, I couldn’t think of a response to that. I settled for throwing small glances his way, careful to not stumble over the small steps leading to the pond.
“When did he tell you what you could do? With your words?”
“I’ve always known. He must have told me before I can remember.”
“I just found out, about everything. I didn’t even know there were shifters.” How different we were, and yet I never felt closer to anyone.”Does it bother you that you can’t Change?”
Andrew paused in front of a bench, then took a seat while looking up at me. “He Turned me when I was fourteen.”
My eyes widened. The words messy, bloody, and dangerous for children ran through my head.
He gave a funny half-smile at my reaction. “Someone’s told you about it?”
“Only a little.” I took a seat next to him, immediately chilled by the cement seat.
He noticed, and wrapped an arm around me. ‘
I sighed and leaned my head against his shoulder.
“The touching reunion.” A snide remark came from behind. Did nobody here announced their presence without sneaking up on a person?
I moved and turned to see Tiberius. He was not wearing a pleasant expression, but I’d never seen him with one, so.
“What do you want?” Andrew’s arm tensed, and he slid it off my shoulders.
“Your father is requesting your presence now.” He indicated me with a wave of long fingers. “Alone. I can walk her back.”
“I’ll see you soon.” I touched Andrew’s arm, not wanting to see another argument spring up. I didn’t think any real harm would come to me right outside Septimus’ house. Not while I pretended to consider his story as truth.
“If he gets out of hand, the command ‘Heel’ works like a charm.” He and Tiberius walked around each other like two cats preparing for a fight.
I watched him go, worrying at my bottom lip.
“Rest easy, pet, he’ll be dandy.”
“Don’t call me that,” I said sharply.
“Oh, my apologies, your ladyship. You know, you forgot to only use one word for immediate obedience.”
I deeply regretted not just following Andrew to the house. I started the way he went, wrapping my arms around me.
His footsteps were light but steady on the brick path as he followed. “I suppose this is a real step up from a dinky hutch.”
“Oh yes, this is all a dream come true.” I threw over my shoulder.
“He’s not the man you think he is.”
“I have eyes.” Perhaps I was hasty in judging Septimus based on the people he had around him, but clearly they jumped for him. And they did not seem the type of people to jump without a good reason.
“He only gave Rose the Change she wanted so desperately if she agreed to a union. She doesn’t like any of your family,” Tiberius burst out with before we reached the house.
Septimus forced her hand into romancing my brother? That was creepy and archaic, like an arranged marriage. “I hope Andrew knows.”
I was whirled around by a sudden strong grip on my shoulder, and I caught myself on his forearm as we stared at each other.
Tiberius’ dark eyes narrowed at me. “I was talking about Andrew.”
I froze, before wrenching out of his grip with a push and walking much faster toward the house. I needn’t have worried, when I looked over my shoulder he was already gone.
Entering through side doors I didn’t recognize, I wandered down the dark plain hallways. It took a few minutes to realize I was in the old servant’s area. I figured it would eventually lead to a common area. I didn’t open any of the closed doors, but I looked around the disused kitchen with its positively ancient stoves and contraptions.
I finally reached a staircase leading up, the walls widened the further I walked up until I reaching the dining hall. It was easily five times the size of the one I grew up in, and the dining table was large enough to seat twelve.
I could almost a little wild-haired boy with his father sitting across from each other. Maybe Septimus let little Andy sit right by his side. What kind of monster steals a...
Ring ring!
It took me at least several rings before realizing that was my phone. I sighed in disappointment at the name. “Hi Kurt.”
There was a definite pause before he answered. “Hi. How are you?”
I appreciated the effort he made to not sound impatient. “Now, don’t get your knickers in a knot, but I’m at their Doyen’s house. Septimus.”
I immediately held the phone away from my ear to avoid the string of curse words growled so deep I only understood half at best. So much for my warning. “I’m safe, honest!” I tried to make myself heard over his expletives.
At least he calmed down enough to form proper words. “Right into the lion’s den.”
“That’s why I said. Did you know they call themselves the Pride?”
“Gemma. It’s not safe there, no matter what they told you. You’re the daughter of werewolves and Heath’s cousin, you are not safe.”
A wave of guilt washed over me, and I clenched my eyes shut. “I didn’t forget. I can find out about Heath while I’m here.”
“That is a bad idea. This whole thing is a bad idea.”
“I promise, I’ll focus on getting information.”
He grumbled something about poor decisions.
I tried to put myself in his shoes, undoubtedly beside himself with worry about his partner. I put on my best soothing voice. “I will not put myself in any compromising position. I care about Heath too, but I can’t imagine how this is for you. He’ll come back safe and sound, I promise.”
He sounded rather perplexed. “I...what? That’s swell, but what do you…?”
I jerked the phone away from my ear, heart pounding.
I just saw a shadow around the curve of the tall doorway. Everybody here was a sneak, weren’t they? I hung up without lifting the phone again, cautiously stepping toward the shadow.
I wasn’t as quiet as I thought, I saw a shadow hand raise and wave at me. Fearing the worst, I leaned my head around the corner and jumped, despite knowing someone was there. It wasn’t just anyone, it was Andrew.
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me against him brutally.
I shrieked.
Chapter 11
“Who are you?” He snarled, cheek against the side of my head.
“Gemma!” Pain radiated up my arm, but I was completely off-balance with where he was holding me.
“What information are you trying to get? Tell me!”
“My cousin, please, he’s missing.” I was close to tears, partially from the way his fingers dug in, but also just because it was him hurting me.
“Cousin?” His grip loosened slightly.
“He went missing a few days ago. With Pandorea.”
Realization spread across his features, and he let go entirely. “Oh, right. You’re not,” he twirled a finger, “lying to spy on us?”
“No.” I rubbed my wrist, the ache already radiating up to my elbow. “I’m who I said, I’m just also worried about him. So is the person I was on the phone with.”
“Oh.” He reached out to take my forearm, looking over the angry red marks on my skin. “If you could Change, this would heal. I am sorry for hurting you.” His tone was conciliatory, for him. “I thought perhaps you tricked me.”
“I’m really your sister.” I winced as his thumb lightly traveled the tender skin.
I couldn’t read his face well yet, but I would swear sadness crossed his features as he put my arm back at my side carefully.
He looked into my eyes, the silver of his left eye unwavering. “They’re hunting for her now.”
The wording left a little to be desired, I’ll admit. “Kurt thinks
my cousin wanted to protect her. Is it true she’s treated badly for being a, um, regular person?”
Andrew shrugged one shoulder. “I can’t say how everyone else treats her, but she’s far beneath our notice here. They fell out of favor for having two mongrels, the burden passing onto another shifter to Turn them.”
“Why can’t their parents Turn them?”
“It’s heavily frowned on.”
“Err, didn’t your...father…?”
Andrew paused, his mismatched eyes flickering toward me. “It’s different for a Doyen to Turn his heir. That is a desirable happenstance for a leader. It ensures loyalty.”
I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment, trying to process this new information. I didn’t know enough about the culture to really grasp the importance. “If Pandorea is so unimportant, why is anyone hunting her?”
“Rose is very popular.” A hint of curled lip at the name, but it faded quickly. “Anyone is free to do her a favor if they choose. Tiberius is very loyal, and Marius enjoy a bit of sport. Besides, there’s always a chance Pandorea went unwillingly.”
“Heath isn’t like that.” I frowned. “He’s a nice guy, and wouldn’t hurt anyone for fun or any other reason.”
“Maybe he wouldn’t hurt you, but the feud between us and them has been going on for centuries,” Andrew patiently explained. “Either way, if it turns out they find her and she’s gone willingly, then I’m sure they wouldn’t hurt the wolf.”
At the derision in his voice at the word wolf, I bit my lip. “But would they make her go back home?”
“Of course they would. It’s her home.” He spoke as if there was no other option in the world. “I’ll take you up to my quarters. Dinner will be quite the affair tonight.”
I was about to try and explain why that was wrong when I noticed he was holding out his hand to me. I swallowed the urge and told myself later, later I would try and talk him about free will and choices.
We walked out of the dining hall and down another hallway before reaching stairs. Two stories up and he took me to the end of the hallway and opened the door for me.
Not that I should have been surprised, but his bedroom was the size of our whole house. Tiberius hadn’t been wrong about my childhood home being tiny.. I frowned a bit.
Chosen: Shifters of London Page 7