Page 39 of Call of the Ride
This visit may require another dip into Veles’ wine cellar.
Soon after, we found ourselves back in the V-man’s medieval lair, which was as creepy and poorly decorated as ever. Jarilo settled himself inmyspot on the couch near the fireplace while the rest of us headed for the large sphere of lapis lazuli used for scrying.
“So who is the mystery seer assisting us, Vel?” Marena asked, and I grimaced in anticipation of the big reveal.
Before Veles could reply, Vasi, Ace, and Nox huddled closer to me, and I felt myself instantly calm with their proximity. All at once, I realized this bond we shared—that connected all of us—wasn’t only meant for Vasi’s benefit. We shared a collective instinct to protect each other, but that went beyond the physical. At this moment, the others knew I emotionally needed them, without me having to say a word.
While I was certain my human father knew nothing of mum’s affair, I wondered if her sight was a secret as well. That she’d possibly kept her abilities hidden from most everyone, including her own husband, deeply saddened me. Not that I wanted to give Cass any credit, but until they’d met, mum may have had no one in her life who could understand her experiences.
Not for the first time, I realized how incredibly lucky I was to have found Nox, then Ace, and finally Vasi. Although I was still processing this entire crazy situation, I knew without a doubt these three were meant to be by my side, as my soulmates.
My destiny.
Bolstered by their presence, I answered the goddess. “He’s talking about me, Rena. My mum was gifted with the sight and…apparently,Velesis my father.”
“What the fuck?!” Jarilo barked from the couch, sitting up abruptly before clutching his chest and wincing in pain. “Youcheatedon mother, Vel?”
Veles rolled his eyes as Marena threw her head back and laughed. “That’s quite a harsh accusation, Jar, especially coming from a wannabe Lothario like you! Tell me again—exactly how many lesser goddesses and supernatural creatures have supposedly fallen prey to your charms? Regardless of whether they were already anyone’s consort, I might add.”
Jarilo haughtily sniffed before crossing his arms and slumping back against the cushions. “That’s besides the point.I’mnot the one with a consort. At least, not yet…” He drifted off, most likely thinking of the blatantly uninterested shifter we’d left behind at the hotel.
I wouldn’t recommend sticking your dick in that hornet’s…swan’s nest!
Marena caught my eye and smirked mischievously, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. I winked in return, suddenly understanding why I’d felt an immediate kinship with the goddess from the moment we met.
“You know, Rena, I always wanted a sister,” I laughed, pulling her into a brotherly hug topped off with a harsh noogie, to make up for lost time. “Even ifthatparticular parentage has yet to be confirmed for you.” I shot Veles a meaningful look, hoping he’d pick up what I was putting down.
The old sourpuss proved he was indeed committed to turning over a new leaf, as he sighed and nodded before turning to Marena. “Yes, on that note, Rena, I want you to know that I have decided to grant you the honor of being my daughter, even though it isn’t officially recognized in the high court of the Prav.”
Eh, not quite what I had in mind…but it’s a start.
My internal cringing was relieved by the look of pure joy on Marena’s face as she tackled Veles in what was probably their second hug ever. “Thank you, Vel! I will gladly accept this highest of honors from you. Perhaps I’ll even have a plaque made to hang on my wall!” Jarilo snorted from the couch, but didn’t comment.
“Enough, enough!” Veles detached himself from Rena’s vice-like grip, clearly having reached his emotional quota for the day. “We have more important business to attend to, and I strongly believeTaneeris the best person to help us track down Matthew.”
While the note of pride buried in Veles’ tone made me stand a little straighter, I still hesitated. Yes, I’d worked for Matthew at the Facility for the better part of a decade, but I couldn’t say I’d suffered through too many direct interactions with the man. To that wankstain, I was probably nothing more than a faceless body to send into the field. Just howIcould zero in on him through the witchy crystal ball was a mystery.
However, I never backed down from a dare, so I approached the lapis as if I owned a set of balls as big as the sphere before me. I lightly tapped a fingertip on the surface, unable to hide my surprise as the murky blue immediately cleared to show a bird’s-eye view of London. Turning to the others, I found everyone watching me expectantly.
Well, what the fuck do I do now?
Before I could start sweating, Nox moved to my side, throwing his tree trunk of an arm over my shoulders. “Maybe we can combine our powers,lan?Since I’m related to that fucker by blood and you have the witchy woo we need…”
I grinned at my closest friend before snuggling closer in that very loving, completely platonic, yet slightly creepy way I always behaved around him. And because he was the bestest grumpiest bear there was, he allowed it.
I need to buy this man a friendship bracelet.
Taking a deep breath, I felt for the tether that specifically connected me to Nox. I’d never focused just on him before, and it was startling at first to feel nothing but…darkness.It wasn’t threatening, or empty, but peaceful and solid—very much like the man himself.
“See if you can access my memories, Tan. I’ll let you in,” Nox murmured, and I immediately felt a door opening between us, allowing me into his mind.
So, I suppose I am a witchy fortuneteller now.
A flash of images from Nox’s point of view sped through my mind, starting when he was a young boy, still living with his grandmother in northern Russia. My heart broke as I felt the innocence and joy of that childhood, knowing how it would be ripped away from him so painfully. As if I were watching a video, the view suddenly skipped forward to when he was much older, already at the Facility. I glimpsed a grief-stricken Ace in passing, so I roughly knew the time frame as Nox then followed his father into his private office.
“I would like to give you the opportunity to prove yourself worthy of your place here,” Matthew bluntly said the moment the doors closed behind them.
A glimmer of annoyance flared up in Nox, before being buried beneath a deep need to please his father. Again, my heart ached for my friend. By now, Nox knew he never would’ve earned his place, but at the time of this vision, he was still desperately hoping to impress the man he believed was his last remaining family member.
