Page 96 of Awry
She nods.“Empty.But recently lived in.”She eyes me for a moment.“You’re still missing someone.”
“Not me.But yes, my aunt’s … combat mage isn’t on site.”
Cayley smirks, not missing my hesitation.I’m still not certain whether there was a third bond in my aunt’s life.Or if there was, whether it was still active.It’s been years since Devlin and I crossed paths … which makes less sense the more I think about it.Because the more I think about my life, the more the summers spent with my aunt come back to me …
There were three half-full teacups in the front sitting room.Two side by side and one across.It could have been Ingrid or Mack sitting there with whoever came to the property, bearing information that drew my aunt away so quickly that no one took the time to put the cake away …
I shake my head, trying to ease my beleaguered brain.I’m getting fixated on the past.And I have no … influence over the past.I deal only in the Now.But … I mean, I know … I knew the transition between me and my aunt, mybecoming, wasn’t going to be peaceful.I didn’t expect it to be any less … abrupt than it has been.The Conduit power isn’t something my aunt could have just given to me …
“Zaya?”Cayley asks gently.Then, inexplicably, she reaches across the counter and lays her hand over mine.
I realize that I’m still holding my phone in that hand.That I’m frozen with my spoon in the other, hovering above the ice cream.My empty spoon.I gently slide my hand away from Cayley, filling my spoon at the same time.
“Thank you for your concern,” I say stiffly.
It’s a weird feeling, having anyone concerned for me.But shifters are territorial, and they take protection duty seriously.
Cayley casts her gaze down, nodding uncomfortably.Or maybe … disappointed?
“There should be other vehicles in the barn, if you don’t want to take the Corvette,” I say.“The keys are in there … somewhere … likely in the cars themselves.I mean, who would try to steal them?”My attempt at humor falls flat.
“There’s just a truck.A pretty F-100 classic that Grinder instantly salivated over.It’s probably worth more than the Corvette …”
I don’t bother adding to my argument.I’ll just let her talk herself into going home in what is pretty clearly her own car, loaned to Harlee.It was the ‘for insurance purposes only’ comment back at the diner that had made that pretty clear.
“I’ll pay you back for it,” she says, quietly insistent.
I shrug.“The club is probably going to make you tail me whenever I leave the property, right?”
She glances away from me, then mumbles, “For a few days.”
“Consider it hazard pay.”
She snorts with half-hearted amusement.“If hazard pay is needed just to track you around town, then the club should pay it.”
“Well, consider it a preemptive apology, then.”
“Because you aren’t going to make guarding you an easy task.”
“Not deliberately.Butlife unspools as it wills.”
She meets my gaze steadily.Then she says, hushed, “I’m pretty certain life does as you will it, Zaya.”
I laugh.It comes out a little bitter, but I can’t seem to soften it.I don’t want to soften it.
Cayley takes another bite of the ice cream.“Sorry, I’ve almost finished this.Harlee has that effect on me.”
“I’ll make more.”
“Yeah?Maybe … you can invite me over then, too?”She takes her phone out of her pocket, unlocks it, and slides it over to me.
I’ve never given my phone number out to so many relative strangers in my life.But my life isn’t my own anymore.And being the Conduit, holding the intersection point is … it means I must be more than just myself now.I understand that.On a rational, logical level at least.
Cayley does a bad attempt at quashing a smirk at whatever she sees written across my face.
I plug my info into the phone.The shifter quickly takes it back from me, as if worried that I might change my mind.
“Drive safely,” I say, again all stiff and dismissive.I need to be alone.Well, I need to sleep, and I’m hoping that being alone on the property helps me sleep.
