Page 132 of Shrouded in the Dark
Cody didn’t voice any objections. The feeling coming from our marks was calm. I knew he said he’d be alright when we went to Texas, I just wanted to make sure. His mouth was full of pizza but he grinned at me, showing a mouthful of chewed up food.
“Ew.” I threw a pillow at him as we laughed.
After eating, I helped Gary take the trash out of the room so it wouldn’t make the room stink too horribly.
“Hey, kid,” Gary paused at the trash can after we threw it away, he looked at a generic art print that the hotel had hung. “Are you really alright? I’m sorry that all of this happened. I never meant…” His voice trailed off as I watched tears start to fall down his cheeks. “When I thought you died.” He took his glasses off. “Let’s just say that a parent should never have to hear that their child has gone before they have. I know we talked about this briefly before, but I need you to know that you’re loved and I take full responsibility for everything. I’m so sorry.”
A soft smile formed on my lips and I hugged the man who I called Father now. “I don’t want or need any apologies, Gary. Thanks to what happened, I found the guys. I found new strength. I may have died, and don’t get me wrong, that was scary, but with your help, the guys brought me back.” I squeezed him tightly as he hugged me back. “We’re going to help get rid of the bad guys and live a happy life.”
“Your mom even mentioned grandkids last night,” Gary snickered softly as I stepped away from him in horror.
“Kids? No way! It is way too early for that!” I held my arms up in an X formation. “No way. You can tell Mom that is a negative.”
We started back to the room, mock arguing.
Chapter 31
Wyn
We took shifts driving, which cut down the twelve hour drive to get to Texas. Plus, Axel drove like a mad man. The compound, ironically called Sanctum, was located just outside of Weatherford on a several hundred acre plot of land. My home away from home.
Right.
The SUV swerved, jolting me out of my thoughts. “Geez. Are you driving as if you were playing a video game?” I flipped Axel off from the backseat even as I grinned in amusement. “Unless you’re just being an ass.”
“I’m being an ass.” The bear didn’t even look in the rearview mirror at me as he changed lanes again. “You started mumbling to yourself. It was creepy.”
Seth laughed into his hand even as he tried to cover it up. “Okay, you two. We’re almost to the hotel.” He looked out the window. “Wyn, you’re going into the compound alone. You’ve done it a thousand times, but I want you to be cautious. Get in and get out. Save your cousin. We’ll deal with getting more information later. Got it?” He used his alpha magic, making it an order.
I wanted to argue, but the power he held when he used it, made it so I couldn’t. Plus, after the information we learned from Becca, it made sense. I had wanted to speak with my aunt and uncle to find out what had made them make such a rash attack, except Felicity came first. I’d get my cousin out and to safety.
“You know, we could leave with Felicity and let the Fae and resistance handle the rest. We don’t have to get involved further.” Shifting, I sighed as the seat belt tightened. These damn things did not like big people, period.
“I would agree to do that if our mate would.” Seth rested his elbow on the window, putting his chin in his palm. “We all know she won’t. She wants to help shifters. Taking out the Venandi will do that. She’s not going to back down.”
“No kidding.” Axel snorted. “We just need to focus. We’ll get this over and done with.”
I eyed the bear. “Are you really alright coming with us?” Felicity had used him after all. Becca hadn’t forgiven her yet, either.
“You’ve asked that a few times already, Wyn. I’m starting to think you care.” The cocky bastard finally looked at me in the rearview with a smirk. “I’m fine. I won’t want to talk to her, but if it wasn’t for her, we might never have met Becca.”
“Of course I care.” I turned to watch out the window, now refusing to meet his eyes. I wasn’t used to the whole expressing feelings thing with others. It came easily with Becca, but with these guys it would take a little bit.
“I think he likes us.” Axel laughed as I kicked at the back of his seat.
“Don’t tease him too much.” Seth didn’t move, it looked like he’d closed his eyes. “Everything will work itself out.” The GPS on his phone beeped. “Looks like the house we rented for the next few days is close. We’ll get food later.”
It didn’t take long after that we pulled into a small neighborhood. The houses were all the same cookie cutter facades. This would be much easier to deal with the aftermath with Felicity than if we were at a hotel. The house looked small on the outside but I was surprised with the way it was laid out inside. There was plenty of space, especially the amount of rooms would be handy. I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcome, or if I wanted to be, in Seth and Axel’s bed without Becca. We weren’t quite there yet.
“Alright, I’m going to call Jasper. We made good time.” Seth rubbed the back of his neck while looking down at his phone. I don’t know how he put up with having long hair and it was even curly on top of that.
“I’ll call Felicity and set up a time to meet with her later tonight.” I walked through the open floor plan to the backyard, if you could call it that, and shut the sliding glass door behind me.
Felicity answered on the first ring.
“Wyn?” She kept her voice low but thanks to my advanced hearing, I didn’t have any issues understanding what she said. “Are you almost here?” She sounded terrified.
My animal raged. Felicity was never meant to be a hunter. She was too nice, too kind hearted for this line of work. She just had the misfortune to be born into our family.
