Page 103 of Those That Are Lost
I catch Antares eye and he gives me a look telling me he believes him. However, if these two have anything like a mate bond between them then it’ll colour Antares judgement.
“Here.” Atlas reaches into his pocket and I tense. He pulls something out enclosed in his fist before stretching out to hand it to me. “I took this when Adicious ordered me to dump everything you turned up in when we captured you. I hope it might tell you I’m on your side.”
I cautiously reach out and open my palm. A metal chain drops into my waiting hand, warmed from being in Atlas’s pocket. On the gold chain sits a plain metal band.
My dad’s wedding ring. The one I’d worn since he died. The wedding ring he never took off after losing my mom.
Tears prick my eyes as I pick the chain up and let the ring spin, glinting in the soft light of the room. I thought I’d neversee this again. I clasp it again in my right palm. Taking a fortifying breath, I look at Atlas, who’s eyeing my wearily.
“I hope you know what I’m risking here,” I tell him as I hold my left wrist out and reveal the tattoo. I don’t let the rest of my glamour drop, not wanting any of my scent to permeate the room, but this I can give as evidence. “I’m not going to tell you much because I know how Adicious’s lie detection works and we’ve got to stay under the radar long enough to know how to stage the next part of our plan, but I hope you recognise this.”
Atlas does indeed. His nostril flare and his shoulders sag in relief. “He found you.”
“He did.”
“And you’re here to take back the lands.”
I nod.
Atlas looks to the ceiling as he rubs his jaw. I feel the tension leaving him like a palpable force as he locks onto my gaze once more. “Tell me how I can help.”
CHAPTER 40
TY
To stop the madness truly setting in, I’ve thrown myself into more of the work I started in the Northern Isles. Searching through Red’s things that Claire had saved, I dug out her laptop and have been using it to hunt down the final few bank accounts my parents had set up for me.
The pack here wasn’t poor before the war and my parents had been clever. They’d started storing money in hidden accounts with false aliases. Since the war, I’ve been living on my military salary, my injured knee had gotten a sizeable sum of compensation and seeing how I was high up in the double agent service, I had been on a very high salary. Taking into consideration I had lived like a nomad, then under Adicious’s rule, and had a researcher's stipend I had drained my accounts for sure but they weren’t depleted.
To restart the pack, however, we were going to need significant investment. The rebuild works we’d need on the ranch alone would be more than I currently had. Well, until Theodora showed me the accounts from my parents and I realised they had hidden the packs profits. It seems all ofthem had pooled their resources and we’d have enough to last us for a couple of years.
Red and I had discussed incomes for after we took control. We’d need to bring in decent money to sustain the pack and provide them with a good standard of living, but we planned to run it how my parents had. Each member would have to contribute a percentage of their salaries to the main household. Providing the majority wished to live with us they’d have to help with the work and the finances.
If we invested in the land as well, hopefully several of the pack could work on getting it producing some crop or livestock that would bring us income. The land surrounding the ranch was certainly vast enough.
Opening my email, I find a response from the leaders of a pack which resides in a smaller city south of the capital. Malantra had been one of the Fae strongholds but in the last couple of decades had seen a significant shift in attitude. Calliope and her mate Sephan were two who’d survived the war, although their pack had been hugely diminished. I’d reached out to them several times during my research, having found the final resting places of those that they’d lost.
Ty,
We are glad to hear you are still well. After our interactions, then your quietness we feared something may have happened to you in your endeavours to find those still missing.
Your news is an exciting development. One that, I’m sure you know, would’ve made your parents very proud. Whilst we weren’t close we kept in touch often enough to know you were their absolute pride and joy. They were always the most selfless and caring of leaders who did not take theirresponsibilities lightly. We’re sure you will take on the role with the same attitude and thrive.
We are also intrigued to hear of your recent mating. Once things have settled down, we wish to invite you both for a meeting. I’m afraid we cannot risk sending you any aid right now but if you would like to learn how we have secured a constant food source for ourselves, then we would be happy to accommodate you.
We truly wish for a positive outcome and to hear from you soon.
Kind regards.
The email doesn’t go as far as I'd wished, which is disappointing, but I know these two have influence over the packs that are left. To have them on our side, and acknowledging Red, will go a long way in legitimising our pack once we get it back.
I’m about to shut the laptop and go find Henry when the mobile sitting on the desk begins to ring. Looking at the ID, I answer it, putting the device to my ear.
“Tell me something about me,” the voice at the end of the line asks.
“Ash is your favourite child,” I tell her.
“Incorrect but fine, you’ve proven it’s you. Now, what the hell were you thinking?” I’m not used to being on the receiving end of Theodora’s anger but if she could see me right now I’m pretty sure I’d be dead from the dagger’s she’d be shooting.
