“I don’t understand how,” I grit out. “There’s no way—unless my aunt had a child she forgot to mention.” I know I’m being sarcastic, but I’m so fucking irritated.
“I know, baby.” Calix grips my hand in both of his, and I revel in the pain until I feel my bones begin to ache.
I forget how strong he is.
“Can you let go of my hand?” I force a laugh, and he lets go, muttering an apology. “Look, shall we just focus on findingLeon? Then we can talk to Luna Marie when we’re back about…. this.”
I haven’t known Luna Marie that long, but she’s already like a best friend. She is the only person who knows what it’s like to get visions, to be blinded by them and to be left like a deflated puppet at the end. She will know what to do. And if she doesn’t? Well, then, at least she’ll be by my side.
Our side.
I smile when Calix’s voice vibrates through my mind, soothing the frayed edges.
“Our side.” I lean over, and he captures my lips with his, his tongue playing with mine as I try to push my fears aside. “I wish we could run away.”
“I would, sweet mate, but I won’t leave everyone to fight this evil alone,” Calix states, gazing at me. “And I don’t want you to live in fear of him or whatever they are.”
I nod and regret my selfishness. But I’m scared, and no one has the answers.
“So, shall we drive to my aunt’s house?” I suggest, glancing at the road. “Maybe Leon sent the text and then passed out drunk.” For once, I’m hoping that’s the case. That my brother is annihilated on a sofa somewhere, sleeping off his heavy hangover.
Calix hums his agreement, and we drive on, both silent as we mull over the conversation still staining the air between us. It lingers like a bad smell, and I force myself to consider how I felt when I saw the burned man, but all I feel is disgust and anger. He is stealing women and killing men for the fun of it. He’s getting women pregnant against their will—the question is, why? Why would he try to kill off the other wolves only to create more?
My men are going to impregnate the Seer.
The memory of that vile vision hits me so strongly I gasp, and Calix stares at me.
“What’s wrong?” he barks, keeping the truck steady with one hand while reaching for me with the other.
“The burned man said his men were going to impregnate me, not him.” I can barely talk. “But heisimpregnating the others. Why not me?”
Calix looks bewildered but keeps his eyes on the road as he responds, “Why the fuck does that matter?”
“I don’t know, I just feel like it does,” I snap back.
Calix says nothing, but I can feel his rage radiating from him until we reach my aunt’s house. The front of the house is lit up, and my aunt rises to see us, waving from the window.
A lump fills my throat as I wave back, hurriedly unbuckling my seatbelt as Calix follows me to the house.
The door swings open, and I fall into my aunt’s arms, inhaling her familiar scent.
“Blair!” My aunt almost weeps as she hugs me tight, and I feel awful for leaving her with just a note. “You’re back!”
“I am,” I whisper into her woollen cardigan. “Where’s Leon?”
I lift my head to look into her eyes, and she shakes her head helplessly.
“I don’t know—I’ve not seen him since you left. He said he had to work, and well…” She sounds so guilty, but what for? She can’t control Leon any better than I can—he’s an adult, after all.
“It’s okay,” I remark, reaching for Calix’s hand. “Let’s go inside, and we can have a chat.”
My aunt’s eyes fall to our clasped hands, and a smile plays on her lips. “You tamed a mountain man, hmm?”
I flush and grin. “I guess I did.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
BLAIR