I wasn’t sure what the hell had just happened.
Zephyr laughed. “He healed him.”
I shook my head, not sure if I wanted to laugh or be disappointed in their antics, and then a prickle of awareness trickled down my spine. Zephyr and Aiden felt it a moment after I did, and Zephyr moved in front of me. My affinity didn’t react, so I turned, peeking under my brother’s arm to see the old man, Vince, standing at the tree line watching us.
“Drink your tea,”Zephyr hissed at Wyatt.
“No,” Wyatt replied at full volume.
I cringed. From beside me, Rafe loudly slurped at his tea, then clanked it down onto the saucer, and then again onto the coffee table.
Zephyr and Rafe were the only ones brave enough to drink the tea Vince had offered. Aiden and I hadn’t touched ours. Wyatt hadn’t even been offered any.
Aiden, Rafe, and I were all squished together on an old loveseat couch while Zephyr and Wyatt loomed behind, bickering like an old married couple.
“Well, here we are again.” Rafe said, gesturing toward me. “Here she is. What would you like to say to her?”
Vince wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was over my shoulder, staring hard at Zephyr, like he was trying to work out the pieces to some puzzle.
“This is your brother,” Vince said, looking from Zephyr to Wyatt.
Zephyr made a sound of disgust while Wyatt scoffed, “Wrong.”
Rafe sighed. “You’re not helping your case, old man.”
“He’smybrother,” I corrected, drawing Vince’s attention back to me.
The old man studied me for a moment, then looked back at the other two. A look of understanding passed over his ancient features, and then he nodded.
“You have questions for me?” I prompted. Vince looked back to Zephyr, and I knew my brother well enough to know he was starting to get pissed about it.
“Can you guarantee no one will hurt me?” Vince asked.
I raised my eyebrows. Wyatt let out an almost inaudible groan while Rafe and Zephyr narrowed their eyes at the old man. Aiden, right next to me on the couch, swirled a tiny spoon through his untouched tea.
“Why would anyone hurt you?” I asked.
“You’re not going to like what I have to say,” he answered slowly, looking at Zephyr again.
I glanced at Zephyr, who only shrugged and gave me a look that said he thought this old man was crazy. And maybe he was. Hehadlied for me at the risk of his own life and sanity, after all.
“Fine,” I said, sitting back on the couch to show I wasn’t on edge,even though I very much was. Aiden put his tea down and sat up straighter as he eyed Vince.
The old man looked between us, then looked directly at me before he spoke.
“Do you remember everyone you’ve killed?”
“Dude…” Zephyr groaned, and I could somehow feel the irritation coming off Wyatt.
For my brother. Not the old man.
Rafe sighed, then glared at Vince, who didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.
I breathed out slowly while Aiden studied me. He was the only man who didn’t react negatively. He tilted his head the way he’d been doing, and I opened up our minds.
You don’t have to answer anything, baby. We can just threaten him into signing your ticket and go.
I couldn’t help but grin. It was that easy understanding, the unquestioning loyalty that made me feel comfortable as I turned back to Vince.
