Page 81 of Luna Rising

“I’m here. Tell me what happened,” I said, speaking slowly to help her focus.

Tears filled her green eyes and poured down her stained cheeks. “Lena. S-s-she was my best friend before I went to college. Mat turned her because we took Cassius. She’s the vampire in the video.”

And now I want to cry, I thought, refusing to give into the urge. Winter was on the verge of hysteria, and I didn’t want to make it worse.

“We need to do something, Zara.” Her water eyes pleaded with me, and I had a bad feeling I knew what she really meant by “something”. The cure. Winter wanted to give our one dose of the cure to Lena.

I wasn’t so much against the idea as not totally for it. Yes, I deserved some of the blame that Winter shouldered for her friend’s undead status. But, well, we only had enough to cure one vampire, and I wanted to save it for the right person.

“We could send trackers after her, have them bring her here,” Winter continued. “We can help her.”

“Oh, I don’t know. It might be too dangerous. If Mat sired her, she’s loyal to him. She was human first, right? She might not be strong enough to fight his influence.” I was making up shit and rambling because I couldn’t bring myself to just say no.

“She’s in that video. Everyone is looking for her. They’ll kill her if they find her. Please? Let me at least try to talk to her, and she’s been with Mat for months. Maybe she knows something we don’t.” Winter turned her pleading eyes on Ewan.

“Have you talked to Walter and your mother about this?” he asked her. “I can send a few of our trackers after her if you want, but that video was shot in an alleyway in New York City. That’s your father’s territory. He’s better equipped to find her.”

“Walter and my mother are at your mom’s house. I think Rosalind is there, too.” She sniffed and wiped her nose.

“What are they doing?” I didn’t like all of them spending time talking without us. Maybe I was paranoid, or maybe I just hated being left out. Whatever. It felt like they were up to something.

“Having breakfast.” She shrugged as if unconcerned.

“Did they invite you?” I pressed.

“No. I guess not. They told me they were leaving and then did. Why are you so interested?” Winter wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her sweater.

“I don’t know. It feels like they know each other, you know, from before. When they were younger.” Saying it aloud, I felt ridiculous.

Winter sat back on haunches. “They do. Sort of. My mom and Mrs. Wynn went to Arcane U together, and Rosalind worked in Arcane Landing. Archer overhead them talking.”

“My mom had a job?” Of all the things I’d learned about my mother recently, this was definitely the most shocking.

“Yeah. I think it was a potions and cosmetics store or something. I don’t know that they were friends, but they knew of each other.” Winter narrowed her red-rimmed gaze. “It’s not that weird. We all met in Arcane Landing.”

“Right. And we’re all eternal,” I said, ridiculous theories running through my mind. “How did your mother meet Walter?”

“Um, he was passing through town, I think. They had a short but intense fling, which produced me. I never got the impression they had a relationship or anything.”

I wasn’t as certain. Winter’s parents were too comfortable around each other, too aware of one another. Whatever the situation between Walter and Colleen, it was more than a passing fling.

If we weren’t planning to bury my father later that evening, I would’ve marched my suspicious ass down to Mrs. Wynn’s house and demand answers. But I wouldn’t start a fight with my mother on such a sad occasion and tarnish her last memories of her true mate. Tomorrow, all bets were off, though.

“Why are you so interested in the past today?” Winter cocked her head to the side and screwed her mouth to one side.

“I’m always interested in the past. That’s where all the answers are,” I said, only realizing once the words left my mouth that they were true.

I stood and helped Winter to her feet. “Come on. Let’s get you some tea or whatever.”

She laughed. “You sound like Nana.”

“Where is Essie?” Ewan asked as if just appreciating her absence.

“With Frann and that dead bat thing. She’s performing tests on it still.”

I looped my arm through Winter’s and led her from the bedroom as Ewan’s phone buzzed. “It’s Zach. I need to help him with something for tonight. Stay here, hang out, Zara. And Winter, I’ll talk to Walter. We’ll see what we can do for your friend.”

Ewan left Birch with Winter and me, and he fixed tea for all three of us. Without a blood additive, I had no interest but felt rude declining. We were all tense, waiting for the next disaster to strike. It was Birch who remembered to ask if either Missy or Archer had seen Reggie. Neither had, which I found concerning.

---