Page 33 of Sins of the Fathers
“It’s almost been a year since the hunt when Dad died,” Grady spoke so quietly that Dawson turned down the radio to hear him. “And I knew the anniversary was going to be tough, but I didn’t realizehowrough.” He reached out to take Dawson’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Knox getting attacked brought up a whole lot of old hurts and disappointments that I didn’t realize were still a thing,” he went on. “And now, hearing Gibson and Tucker’s theory about a powerful witch being involved—maybe with my grandfather and my dad, and your dad and mom—it just brought a lot of feelings to the surface.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been paying more attention.”
Grady shook his head. “You’re not a mind reader, even if you get visions now and then. I need to use my words—only sometimes, I’m not sure how. I guess I just didn’t know how to say what I was feeling. Reading Dad’s journal brought back a lot of emotions. I didn’t know he’d been keeping some hunts secret, and I had no idea he was looking into your parents’ deaths.”
“Yeah, I can see that. And tonight, we’re going to have that talk with Denny whether it’s a good time for it or not.” Dawson sped down the straightaway, opening up the Mustang and letting her demonstrate the power of her engine.
“There’s part of me that wants to know—and part that doesn’t,” Grady confessed. “On one hand, closure would be nice. I’d like to know for sure whether anyone was behind what happened to Dad or whether we just ran out of luck that day.”
“So back to luring the fae—how is this safe if your head isn’t in the right space?” Curiosity and worry twisted in Dawson’s thoughts.
“I’m functioning just fine, Daw,” Grady protested. “This is a way to make something good out of those feelings. One of those hikers died because the wisps led him over a cliff. The other three might have died from exposure if they hadn’t been found. The kind of fae that do that choose people who feel upset and feed on the feelings.”
“So you’re just going to open an emotional vein in the forest and bleed until they try to lure you to your death? Because I’m really not liking this plan now that I know the details.” Dawson tried to keep his voice level, but protective anger flashed through him.
“Not exactly,” Grady said with a wan chuckle. “I just need to let my emotions show and stop putting up a front. They can sense pain, fear, sadness, regret—those feelings attract them. They’re juicy to feed on. Once they find me, you toss the shiny stones and do the other stuff. I’m fine, the fae go home, and no more hikers get lost or killed.”
Dawson wanted to argue that there had to be a different way, but he trusted Grady’s research.If Gray says this is how it works, then that’s what he knows. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Okay—but if I think you’re in danger, I’m coming after you, and mushroom circle be damned.”
“And I love you for it,” Grady replied with a fond roll of his eyes. He was silent for a few minutes, and Dawson sensed that his partner was trying to think of how to phrase the next comment.
“Do you think Denny’s hiding something?” Grady finally asked.
“Like what?”
“Stuff about our dads. Theories about how theyreallydied. Probably to protect us—something he thinks is a good reason. But the idea that it’s all linked is driving me nuts.”
“Yeah, I don’t think he’s told us everything. And that might have kept us safe for a while—but something’s changed. Now we need to lay all the cards on the table,” Dawson replied. “I’m not angry with Denny. But the sheriff—that’s different. Why hasn’t he done more to find out who else was involved in drugging Knox? You’d think being a shifter, he’d be glad to get rid of the HDF.”
“He isn’t doing much to crack down on the SPS either,” Grady pointed out.
Dawson shrugged. “Maybe he’s doing what he can. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I get that folks with paranormal abilities don’t want to be hunted by people like the HDF scum. And humans are afraid that they’re at a disadvantage against creatures with magic. But both groups are going about it all wrong.”
“And as usual, the Kings are in the middle,” Grady commiserated. “We don’t automatically hunt everything that’s supernatural or side with humans against the paranormal. So both sides think we’re ‘traitors.’”
“We never went into monster hunting to win popularity contests.”
“True. But we also never volunteered to be targets.”
“Goes with the job,” Dawson said and nudged the Mustang to go a little faster until the landscape around them blurred.
The stretch of woods where the disappearances were reported lay a few miles outside the town of Cherokee. While the quaint town catered to tourists and golfers, the vast Great Smokies National Park stretched across the mountains not far beyond the city limits. Hiking trails gave visitors a taste of the forest, but large swaths of the interior were rarely visited and were home to creatures that weren’t exactly human.
Dawson parked the Mustang at a trailhead and shouldered his duffel full of everything the lore said they’d need, including food, water, weapons, flares, survival gear, and a first aid kit.
“You still want to do this?” he asked Grady.
“Somebody’s got to if we want to stop people from dying. Might as well be me. At least I know what I’m up against.” Grady took off the amulet and removed the hex bag. “I’ll take them back when we’re done, but kinda defeats the purpose if the moonies can’t get me, doesn’t it?”
Dawson didn’t like it, but he knew when Grady had made up his mind. “I’ve got the coordinates of where they found the ‘lost’ hikers and the overlook where the body was recovered. The report said the hikers started on this trail and left to follow the ‘floating lights’ or the ‘little people.’ Odds are good that the faerie ring is near there.”
“It’s as good a theory as any,” Grady agreed. “Let’s get this done.”
Bright sun and a pleasant temperature for walking made Dawson wish they could just enjoy the day. Neither of them said much, although Dawson kept sneaking worried glances, and Grady was either lost in thought or pretending he didn’t notice.
