Page 2 of Killian
“I don’t know,” said Alex. “And that’s why if we don’t hear back from Hudson in the next twenty-four hours, you’re going to go.”
“I’m not a library guy,” said Killian. “And Hudson must be dying to go. I couldn’t go without him.”
“Hudson isn’t the only one dying,” said Alex.
“What do you mean?” Killian was frowning.
“As I said, Hudson and I believe that the Fae put wolf records into the library. Records that might include how to create werewolves.”
“Pellos…” said Killian, the name coming out in an urgent whisper.
“Pellos deserves to have what we all have. But he’s nearly forty. This has to happen for him now,” said Alex. “We can’t afford to wait another twenty-one years. The timing could not be worse, but if there is even half a chance that I can gift him with the ability to shift, then we have to try.”
“Sebastian,” began Killian.
“Sebastian is a certified diver and boat captain,” said Alex, and Killian’s shoulders dropped.
“You need him here. Luca is in Syria, even if we trusted him to go. And obviously, Pellos can’t go.” Killian’s words tumbled out as if he were processing.
“I haven’t mentioned this to Pellos, and I don’t want to until it’s a reality,” said Alex, noting that Killian didn’t fully trust Luca.
Killian nodded. “But with Hudson in Germany, that just leaves me.” Killian looked up at Alex, his expression woeful. “I’m sorry I’m not more useful.”
Alex sighed. All of his pack had a nagging edge of trauma—a belief that they had to be worthy of being in a pack. They were worthy merely by the fact of existing, but he couldn’t convince them of that.
“Killian, you are useful. The pack needs you. You are the practical one that keeps Hudson from deciding to build full suits of armor at three in the morning. Or Sebastian from shooting everything, including Hudson, at three in the morning.”
Killian chuckled. “Shooting everything is not the solution.”
“Sebastian frequently disagrees,” said Alex shaking his head with a smile.
If Alex were honest, Killian was the one who had alpha potential. He was an easy-going jack-of-all-trades with the kind of personality that kept a pack balanced. Killian could be supportive but firm and had a knack for bringing out the best in his packmates. He was young, but Alex expected great things from him.
“My point is that we need you. I understand that libraries aren’t your thing, but from our research, it seems likely that there are librarians. So, you just… go, find a librarian, and ask.”
Killian looked like that was actually a persuasive argument.
“I got out of South Africa because of librarians. They always have a book for whatever your problem is. I can talk to librarians.”
Alex took a deep breath as the tension in his chest eased.
“Librarians help people, and you are good at solving problems,” said Alex.
“Then I will try to solve this one for you,” said Killian.
“Just do your best,” said Alex. “That’s all I expect.”
Episode 1
The Mountains of Tibet
Killian
Killian Adeche inhaled and felt a bizarre fizz as his Shifter healing power fixed his lungs for the altitude with each breath. He checked the GPS coordinates on his phone one more time. If he had done the calculations correctly, the doorway to the long-lost Library of Alexandria was about half a kilometer ahead. Unfortunately, it was also about two hundred meters straight up.
He shivered as the creeping Tibetan wind, which was never entirely still among these craggy gray boulders, crept under the edge of his jacket. He wished that one of his packmates were with him. He had never had a pack growing up, and he’d only been part of the Rejects Pack for fifteen years, and yet, how quickly he’d become used to having someone watch his back. He shook his head. The person he really wanted with him was Pellos. Quick with a pistol, level-headed, and reliable as the sunrise, if Killian had dreamed up a best friend in his youth, it would have been Pellos. But Pellos was why he was doing this, and Killian knew that for this mission, Pelloscouldn’tbe with him. Killian just hoped this wouldn’t turn out to be a wild goose chase.
Before him, the mist parted slightly, and he froze mid-breath. A train of six black-clad men in full face masks and oxygen tanks with guns slung on their backs were hiking along the ridge, clearly making for the same point as Killian. The one in front walked with a tall black staff. It was no hiking stick.
