Page 58 of Touched

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“Thank you for making breakfast, Aeris,” Ma says. Da, who’s been quiet since they returned from being summoned by the Elders, merely glances at me.

It’s as if he knows I want to speak to them and is simply waiting for me to open my mouth. I’ve been stalling, however, unsure how to best explain, much less approach, the multitude of events from the night before.

The bottom line is, I disobeyed a direct order not to leave Laric.

That alone might warrant banishment from the only home I’ve ever known.

Possibly a worse punishment.

Though, what could be worse than being banished and exiled from my family?

“Last night, we had word that a trio of Rougarou were near the port,” Da suddenly says, raising his brow as he stares directly at me, unblinking, “There was a largehumanpolice presence there as well. A man calledCallumwas at the forefront. It seems he couldseethe Rougarou when his peers could not. There was an altercation and he and aFaeaccomplice fled. A Fae with a penchant forair.”

Oh, hells… he knows.

I’m good as long as he doesn’t ask me a direct question. Not being able to lie isn’t a bad thing, except for right this instance. I keep my mouth shut and pray my face doesn’t give me away.

“Really? Is that why the Elders came by? I thought there were Rougarou outside the wards?” Cyrus asks, his voice sounding perfectly calm and curious.

Thank you, Cyrus.

Da answers him, though he never looks away from me. “Yes… there were. But they wereverycurious about what happedbeforethat. It would appear as though there was a massive disturbance at the port last night. Involving Rougarou and a huge portion of New Orleans law enforcement. And somehow, the Rougarou usedGlamorto shield themselves from the officers…allexcept forone.”

Callum…

I desperately try to hide my smile because as serious as this is, and though I know things are likely to get a lot worse before they get better, Callum saw through their tricks.

Hopefully, with the information his grandmother gave him, he’ll fully grasp who and what he is, so, together we can take out the threat.

If he thinks he’s going at it alone, he’s got another thing coming.

For dang sure!

Much like the heroines in the books I love, I plan to be by his side.

“One of them couldseethe Rougarou?” I question as I mock shudder, trying to evade without lying.

Having now seen them up close and personal, I can attest that the drawing I saw on the desk in the Archives didn’t do them justice. They’re vile, horrible creatures and I’m glad I was able to get Callum away from them.

“I would think you’d know that,Aeris. Seeing as the Elder who was there observed aFae,who looked exactly like you, come in with hurricane-force winds and rescue said officer,” Da silkily states, refusing to break eye contact as his jaw clenches tightly and his fingers drum against the tabletop. Wind begins to swirl around the room, growing in intensity, tossing things about.

My breath hitches within my throat and tendrils of hair start to fly around my face as my shift flattens against my body.

Hells.

I’ve been busted.

Until he asks me directly, I can and will skirt around the issue at hand, though.

Even though I know that he knows…

“Da, what happened when you and Ma Zinged?” Cyrus quickly interjects just as Da opens his mouth to ask me the question I cannot deny answering. “I mean, did everything else fade? Was everything around so dim that you only saw her? Did you ever do anything that was out of character once youknewshe was your Kindred?”

Da sighs and I mentally pump my fist, because he’s torn between answering Cyrus’s questions and trying to trap me into admitting what I did last night. Unfortunately, the truth, as always, wins out. “It was early on in our relationship,” Da says, “and what the humans thought was a freak hurricane was in actuality… my fault.”

Ma laughs in remembrance while she nods in agreement. “Your father and I knew each other, of course. Though we were never particularly fond of each other. And then, one day, we locked eyes in the middle of the swamp and… we justZinged. It took both of us by complete surprise. You see, I’d had a few… suitors before that day. I was involved with someone, though it wasn’t the best relationship. We fought and your Da saw him storming away from me. He sensed my tears. He called out my name and we locked eyes. That was it. In that moment, we both knew.

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