Page 12 of The Hunger
“Do we have new leads?” Mr. Quill asked.
We reached the door before Adira could answer.
“Nicolette,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“You should have after summoning my daughter like she’s some errant child. Or, have you forgotten that she’s my daughter?” As Mom spoke, she strolled farther into the room.
I could feel the extra lure she was using and saw how it affected everyone even though they tried their best to hide it.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Adira said. Her gaze shifted to me. “I only wanted to ask what you thought of your mother’s club.”
“I highly doubt that. But since it’s a question you’ve asked me repeatedly, why don’t you just tell me what answer you’re looking for so I can tell you the opposite and leave?” I asked, my annoyance getting the better of me.
Mom laughed, not even remotely upset about my disrespect, which only fueled my words.
“Don’t insult Megan’s intelligence by trying to use the banshee’s song to send her from Uttira. Not only will she see through that excuse, but she’s already been researching leads for the last several days. It would be smarter to meet with her about what she’s discovered.”
Mr. and Mrs. Quill shared a look, but Adira kept her scrutinizing gaze locked on me.
“Do you understand what will happen if Megan stays in Uttira? This place may not be as old as the furies, but it is still old enough to have history, Eliana. Furies have raised their young here for centuries. We know what happens when a fury stays too long.”
“Death,” Raiden said. “More than you can imagine.”
“Possibly more than our kind can recover from,” Mr. Quill added.
I shook my head slowly, looking at all the adults who were supposed to be our leaders. People who were supposed to have the experience and knowledge to guide us.
“Age doesn’t give wisdom. Experience does. But only if we learn from it. Megan might be young, but she’s taken the time to question things. To learn from her mistakes and the mistakes of the people around her.
“She’s too smart to ever be your puppet. The fact that her Great Grandma is still alive proves that.”
Adira smiled, stunning me.
“Who said we wanted puppets?”
Raiden shifted restlessly. “I believe Eliana’s correct, and there’s little we can do about Megan’s presence. Now, unless there’s anything more to discuss tonight, I’d like to go look for my son.”
Mr. Quill shook his head. “I think we’ve covered everything.”
“Eliana, would you mind walking Raiden to the door?” Mrs. Quill asked.
I nodded reluctantly and, without looking at Fenris’s father, started for the door.
With each step, guilt grew heavier in my middle. I’d been so hurt by Raiden’s request to leave Fenris alone. It still hurt a little, but I saw his request with more clarity now, after my talk with Mom. Every decision she’d made when it came to me was made out of love. Granted, not every decision had turned out as she’d hoped, but each one had been made with my best interest in mind. How many times had she stood up to Adira to protect me? Just as I couldn’t fault my mom for her love, I couldn’t fault Raiden’s for Fenris.
I swallowed hard when we reached the bottom of the steps.
“You should invite Jenna to stay the night again,” I said.
“Not sure that would do any good. Fenris hasn’t been coming home lately. He’s taken to the woods.”
I stopped walking and looked at Raiden.
“He was there tonight. At the club. He isn’t spending his free time in the woods. He’s been hanging around here. Outside. If you can’t find him here, he’s probably at the cabin.” I clasped my hands, fighting the pain eating me alive from the inside. “He needs help, Raiden.”
Soft brown eyes, so similar to Fenris’s, held mine for a moment before he surprised me with a lung-crushing hug.
“Thank you for doing the right thing, Eliana.” He released me. “For the record, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. I only want what’s best for Fenris and think that being mateless for so long is confusing him.”
