“No,” Wrath replied. “You will come to the training center in two hours and view him there. After which, he will be cremated following a formal blessing and consecration.”
As the words left his mouth, he cursed internally. And who the fuck was going to do that ceremony?
There was a long pause, themahmen’shitching breath suggesting that she was doing everything she could to recover her composure. Meanwhile, Wrath made sure to focus on the space where the sire’s voice was coming from. So much of communication was nonverbal, and you just had to trust that the other party would pick up on what you were trying to say without having to speak the words:
Don’t bring your mate in now. You do not want her to see your young in the condition he was found in.
The gentlemale spoke up in his perfectly accented voice. “We are…honored that you will pay our bloodline such respect. We will arrive two hours hence.”
At that point, there was an abrupt, high-pitched squeak and a scramble.
Undoubtedly it was the female of the house going down onto whatever fine flooring they were all standing on. And sure enough, a horrible weeping started, as if her soul was coming out in each and every heaving scream.
All Wrath could do was close his fucking eyes and vow that Lash was going to pay. Not just for what the sonofabitch had done to Beth and L.W., and all of the Brotherhood.
But for what he had done to these fine people right here.
And their dead son.
Chapter Eighteen
The hours passed in a blur, and all along, Beth had a familiar worry settle over her. There was so much that had to happen, and daylight was coming like a freight train for them all. After they left Emile’s parents’, they went to the second family’s equally impressive estate, where they broke the same news, to the same kind of grief.
She remained struck by how honest and real the emotions had been with both families, no social airs or propriety bullshit being bandied around. It was a reminder that labels didn’t tell the whole story of people, and not everybody who was in theglymerawas more concerned with pretention than their own children.
And now, following a meeting with the Brotherhood, she and Wrath were at the training center.
As they walked down the main concrete hallway from the parking area, she glanced into the classrooms. All the tables and chairs were vacant at the moment, but soon enough, another class would come through. The Brotherhood fielded new candidates every three years, with the school curriculum lasting about twelve months, and the physical and weapons training taking twice that long.
The idea that they were sending even more sons and daughters to the slaughter made her want to scream.
“You know,” Wrath said, “you make an excellent guide.”
She pulled herself out of that spiral and gave his arm a squeeze. “Why, thank you. And I have to say that even thoughI don’t want to put George out of a job, I do love being with you. Even as I wish it had been on such different circumstances tonight.”
As for the whole service-shellanbit, it was kind of amazing how easily he followed her lead. Her mate seemed to anticipate where she was going to direct him, her clues so subtle, she couldn’t believe he picked up on them. Sure, he was used to being taken around, but she looked at it as a reminder of exactly how in tune they were with each other—
Down at the clinical section of the facility, Doc Jane stepped out of the doorway of one of the patient rooms. Her expression was what everybody called “Professional Composure Jane.” So yeah, she was having a really long night.
“Hi.” Beth lifted her free hand in greeting as they came up to her. “Do you have…Emile and his friend?”
“Yes, and they were both prepared on the way over here.” Doc Jane nodded over her shoulder. “I’ve set them up in these two rooms.”
On that note, the female reopened the door she’d come out of. Inside, Emile was arranged on the bed, with the covers pulled up to his chin. The transformation was stunning. His face had been cleaned off, his blond hair washed and arranged, and there must have been some makeup applied because the skin tone was healthy, not gray.
It looked like he was just sleeping.
“That’s a miracle,” Beth whispered as she looked down the length of the bed.
“Ehlena does the best job. She brought her kit and her assistant with her to the garage and worked quickly on the way up here.”
For no particular reason, Beth glanced around the patient room even though she’d been in it a million times before. The clinic had expanded over the last couple of decades, more state-of-the-art equipment being moved in, the crematorium and embalming center added, as well. And God, she wished none of it ever had to be used.
Unfortunately, these parts of the facility were in service way too often. Especially lately.
With a murmur, Wrath dropped her arm and walked off by himself. As she pivoted toward him, she didn’t know where he was going, whether he needed some time, or…what was going on. But after a nod of gratitude toward Doc Jane, she jogged after him.
“Hey, are you okay?”
