Just the idea of it made his day.
“His wife? Balthazar didn't get married, as far as I know. I heard that he was promised to a woman, but she ended up taking off and dumping him. I heard about it all the way in Australia. I'm surprised you didn't.”
Vincent didn't know what to say for a minute. His mind was moving a mile a minute. Here he was thinking that Balthazar had gotten the woman of his dreams, but he hadn't.
“So, what happened to the woman?”
“What?” Stephen didn't understand that he was still asking about Balthazar's wife.
“You know, his wife. What happened to her?”
Stephen looked at him a little strange. “Why do you care?”
He didn't want to say one way or another why that was. Whatever he was thinking, it was just going to have to wait for another time. He just got his brother back. The last thing he needed to do was get involved in some murky crap.
“Let's just say that I know his promised. We got along really well, and then she just disappeared. I’d like to get ahold of her.”
“Sounds like you have a bit of a crush.” Stephen was ribbing him, just like he had so many times before. How strange it all was, to be experiencing it again.
“I guess you could say something like that, but I haven't seen her in years. I thought that she was going to marry Balthazar.”
“Well, something made her say no. It must not have been easy, either. Her family disowned her, and you know how the community is. They shunned her.”
As his brother said more, Vincent was feeling even worse. He kept feeling like it was all his fault. If he would have only known sooner. He was unsure of what he would have done, but it would have been something.
It only took a few drinks and a few questions, for him to start spilling it all to his brother Stephen. To say it out loud made it sound even worse. He still had no clue why she had taken off the way she had. He wanted to know, though. Knowing that he had never felt that way with another woman since her or before her, pushed him along. There was something special about her, and the sooner he figured out what, the sooner he would be able to carry on his normal life.
***
That was where the search was going to start, because Vincent was hoping that someone at the Academy would know something. There had to be an address, something that was left behind. He’d looked before, but he knew that he hadn'treallylooked. Now that he knew that Mallory could possibly be his, he was motivated and in a race to find her. He had his brother by his side, now all he needed was the woman that he had fallen for. Then, he would be unstoppable.
***
The two brothers settled in at a hotel, and Vincent planned to make his way back to London.
Chapter 11
Before Vincent could go back to London, he knew that he had to go see his uncle, George and his cousin, Alistair. They had become his family once he had lost all of his own. Now that he got his brother back, though, nothing changed. They were still closer than blood.
And he was excited to see his uncle, George again. George had always been their favorite. It wasn't that hard, considering that their other uncle tried to kill them all. Dale really didn't make the bar all that high for George.
George was not at all like his brother James had been. George had been the quiet one in the family. He had also been the quiet one that had watched everything. It was probably those observations that had led to him being able to see what his older brother was planning. It had broken his heart, but instead of picking his brother, Vincent would always appreciate that he had chosen to help him, instead. Vincent would always keep George in his life. There was no other way to look at him but as his savior.
When they got to his uncle’s house, George was thrilled to see them and was talking about how good it was to see the two brothers back together.
“It is good to see you again, too, uncle. You have done well with my brother. I don't think that dad could have done a better job.”
It was said to make him feel better, but instead, it got him all misty-eyed and he looked like he was about to break down right then and there. Vincent was surprised that George had gotten so soft, so quickly. He was usually the one that would try to hold out and act like he was tough, even though it was killing him inside. Seemed like one of those moments where he was bothered, and Vincent had no idea what to say to stop it.
“It's true, George. You have been the best uncle.”
He smiled but didn’t say anything. Shifter men, very much like human men, were not supposed to show their emotions, so, someone quickly suggested that they have a drink to celebrate. Inebriation apparently made the emotions go down a little smoother.
Before it could get too intense, Sarai came out with drinks and interrupted the men’s silent brooding bond.
“You are right on time, dear wife.”
“Is that so?”
