I’m going to do whatever it takes to find him because I’m not giving him up without a fight.
Twenty-Four
Keir
Bravado’sallwellandgood in the heat of the moment, but once the adrenaline fades, hopeless confusion seeps in. Well, for me anyway. By the time Luke and I approach the bus stop nearest my apartment, I’m so tired and disoriented I can’t even begin to think about what my next step should be.
I know whatneedsto happen—get myself to Julien and stop the challenge—but I have no clue how to go about it. I don’t know enough about shifter politics or government or evengeographyto do what needs to be done on my own. The only idea I can think of is to try to get in touch with the triumvirate and hope that the whole fated mates thing will get them on my side or at least on Julien’s side.
Of course, I have no clue how to do that or if the triumvirate would even help me. For all I know, they’ll just arrest me again.
My gaze slides to Luke as the bus pulls to a stop in front of my building. “The triumvirate released me into ‘my pack’s’ custody. Does that include you, or am I a fugitive now?”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure.”
Great.“Any idea how we might get in touch with them to ask?”
“No clue. My dad and Malachi like to handle matters on their own, so we don’t have many dealings with the triumvirate back at home.”
I blow out a breath. “Well, I think contacting the triumvirate might be my only option right now. I couldn’t fit it in my backpack, so my laptop’s probably still upstairs. Maybe the all-knowing Google will be able to dig up a phone number or something.”
Luke chuckles.
I exit the bus, then head up the stairs in my building with my cousin trailing behind me. As soon as we get to my floor, the sound of music reaches my ears and there’s no doubt in my mind it’s coming from my apartment.
Kevin is throwing a party.
Not surprising since it’s Saturday night and I’m technically supposed to be at work. The whole thing is almost funny. After the day I’ve had coming “home” to thumping music and a bunch of people sitting around drinking and smoking just seems so ridiculouslynormal. At least I don’t have to worry about not having my keys. Kevin always leaves the door unlocked when he has people over.
“Dude!” Kevin jumps to his feet as I enter with Luke following behind me. “Where have you been?” He claps me on the back and leads me over to the sagging couch. “Sit down. Take a load off. Have a drink or something. You look like you need it.”
It’s easier not to argue with him. My experience is that he’ll just get more and more pushy about it if I contradict him. So, I just shake my head and sit. He’ll forget all about me in a couple of minutes. Luke glances around, his nose twitching from all the smoke hanging in the air.
Tatiana, Kevin’s girlfriend, is leaning against the arm of the couch, her lips pursed around some kind of vape. She smiles at me, offering a small wave, then releases a cloud of white vapor. “How’s it going, Keir?”
I have to laugh at that, otherwise I might just cry. “Things definitely could be better.”
“Kev’s been worried,” she says. “Some guys came by looking for you earlier. You in trouble?”
“Something like that,” I reply.
“He even went over to your work to find you, but you weren’t there.”
“Kevinwent to H&H? I bet that was an eye-opening experience for him.” I snort, picturing my super straight roommate walking into a gay club, and Tatiana grins at me.
“This your new boyfriend?” asks Tatiana, jerking her chin toward Luke. “He’s cute.”
I huff out a laugh. “No. He’s my cousin. Luke, this is Tatiana,” I say, gesturing to the blonde woman beside me. “And my roommate, Kevin.”
Tatiana gives Luke a mock salute, and Kevin reaches up to shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you, dude,” says Kevin. He eyeballs me. “I didn’t know Keir had family in the area.”
“I don’t live around here,” says Luke.
My roommate nods slowly like Luke just gave him some sage advice, then out of nowhere, says “Those cop guys were kind of rude.”
I perk up. I’m pretty sure the actual police aren’t looking for me, so maybe… “Cop guys?”
