Page 36 of Lost and Bound
The commotion had stopped.
I managed to look up.
All five of them were staring at me with varying degrees of disgust (Arik), concern (Nate, bizarrely), and shock and horror (Ian and Matt). And total impassivity, of course (Calder).
But when black spots swam in my vision and I started to topple over, it was Calder who darted forward and caught me before I could fall, his strong arms the only things anchoring me to the world. I let my face lean against his bare chest while I tried to keep from passing out.
The dizziness cleared a little after a minute, and Calder pulled me to my feet. I felt it rumble in his chest as he said, “I’m taking him inside. You can come in if you want. Don’t touch him.”
He didn’t need to spell out consequences for ignoring that command. His tone said it all.
Of course, he was dealing with Ian. “The fuck are you to tell me not to—”
“Shut up, Ian!” The one voice I didn’t know. Arik. “Don’t start your usual—”
Calder started maneuvering me through the door, bearing most of my weight. I kept my eyes closed. I was pretty sure if I opened them I’d throw up again.
“That’s not my—Jared, it’s not him,” Ian snarled, “but that doesn’t mean whatever he is, isn’t our problem to deal with—”
“He’s my mate,” Calder said, low and deep and with quelling finality. “He’s mine to deal with. Arik, come help me. The rest of you, mind your fucking manners.”
Calder’s arms tightened, and I clung to him. His mate. Whatever I was, some revenant or magical construct or thing Jonathan Hawthorne had created, a copy or a clone, Calder had claimed me.Thisbody, withmyconsciousness—mine no matter if it was the real Jared’s or not—inside it.
I might not have a family anymore. At least for now, though, I had a mate who was willing to speak up for me, to half-carry me into the house and lay me out on the couch, like he was currently doing.
Even though whoever Arik was, he was clearly important to Calder—almost certainly more important than I was. But Calder had some attention to spare for me.
I’d take it. Any crumbs anyone was willing to give, at this point, because the thought that I might not even beme…
Calder let go of me after easing me down onto the cushions, and the nausea returned. I squeezed my eyes shut and held perfectly still, willing my stomach to stop turning itself inside out. It still churned, but nothing more came up. Sick dizziness made everything spin, though.
A chorus of clumping booted footsteps told me the whole parade had followed us into the living room.
Oh joy. They could watch me try not to vomit all over the floor again, and maybe discuss all the ways they weren’t happy to see me. That conversation could take a while, from how they’d reacted so far.
“I want an explanation.” Matt, sounding like he’d gotten his shit together, with a pack leader’s authority ringing in his voice. “From the beginning. Is he—Jared—up to it yet?”
“That’s not Jared,” Ian muttered. “It’s not fucking Jared.” His voice broke a little on my name.
Okay, maybe that made me feel a little better. Not much, but a little. At least Ian had mourned me, even after all the things I’d done, even though Iwasme, wasn’t I? …Okay, okay, not going down that road again. My esophagus convulsed, and I swallowed hard. My throat stung and burned.
“Whoever he is, he needs to talk,” Matt said.
More footsteps, these a little lighter. “Um, I got him some water.” Nate. “You, uh, want to give it to him? Or I can—”
“I didn’t see you pour it,” Calder said. “Arik, will you get him another?” His voice changed when he said Arik’s name, when he spoke to him, a yearning, incredulous softness that made my chest clench up.
“What, you trust him but not me?” Nate sputtered, his voice going high and annoyed. “He’smyex, not Arik’s, and even if he is supposedly your brother, which sounds like bullshit, Arik’s a freaking necromancer—”
Arik cut him off with, “Fuck you, Nate!” But I almost didn’t hear it under two deep, menacing growls. Calder’s. And Ian’s. I’d have known those growls anywhere. Nate let out an “Eeep!”
I cracked my eyelids enough to see Ian shoving Nate behind him, the glass of water spilling everywhere, Ian’s face nearly as red as his hair. Arik had squared off with his arms crossed over his chest, and Calder was standing over me with his claws out.
Matt stepped between Ian and Calder, his eyes glowing and his lips pressed in a thin line. “Everyone sit down,” he said, his voice snapping like the crack of a whip. “Ian, in the corner with Nate. You—” He looked at Calder.
“Calder,” Arik said, in a tone of annoyed reminder.
“Calder,” Matt almost-growled. He moved a step closer to Arik. “Next to him,” he gestured at me, “if you insist.” Matt took Arik by the arm, and I thought for a second he’d pull away. He glared at Matt, but he didn’t move. “Arik, please stand over here with me,” Matt gritted out, tugging Arik over to the entertainment center, where he propped himself on the edge and pulled Arik down beside him, setting the example of de-escalation for everyone, like the competent pack leader he’d obviously become in my absence and without my interference. “And we’re going to figure out what the ever-loving fuck is going on here. Without any claws involved.”
