“I’ll come over there and punch your teeth out if you don’t shut up,” Jackson snarled.
“I don’t want any fights over this,” I shouted, quietening the room. “You want to be angry? To fight? Take it on the search for demons. Take it out when the fights come to us. Theo, you’ve tried to get me to believe that demons are behind the attacks, and now we have actual proof—”
“Whatproof does she have, though?” Theo countered. “Her own conceptions? Sorry if I don’t believe her.”
“Grow up,” Nate muttered. “I’m willing to take on any information we get. Anything’s worth looking into.”
I glared at Theo. He always had to oppose me, and I hadn’t forgotten that he’d been the loudest voice to give an opinion on Bryce years ago.
“Theo, you’re on duty at the library tomorrow,” I muttered. I was too tired to deal with his bullshit. I pinched my brow as he began to protest, but was quickly shut down by Jackson moving over to him.
In a low voice, I heard Jackson threaten him. “If I ever hear one more derogatory word come out of your mouth about my sister again, then I’ll pitch you as bait for the demons myself, and hope all those muscles you have instead of a brain are enough to satisfy whatever hunger they have. Got it?”
“Fuck off, Jackson,” Theo muttered. “I was poking fun, but fine. Whatever. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Good,” I growled. “I don’t want to hear it again.”
He looked like he was ready to say more, but he only stared at me coolly.
I had gone along with them years ago, stupid and immature, but I refused. Bullying Bryce was a mistake I would never make again. Not shutting my pack down with their cruelty was a mistake I would never make again.
“Now that we know the specifics,” I continued, “we can anticipate them better. Jackson’s
going to confer with Bryce regarding more information on djinn and how to look out for their signs. But for now, look out for the usual things. Heat waves, scorch marks, the supernatural fire, and an absence of cause for those fires.Honeycreek can’t continue to be at risk. I can’t continue havingyouall at risk.”
“And Bryce Calloway?” Theo asked. “Where does she fit into this?”
“Nowhere,” I said. “She’s just here to be closer to Jackson.”
“Not you?”
I took a step towards him, tired of him. I let out a low growl and watched
as he squirmed. He had no choice but to concede.
“Now,” I continued, “are you going to pull your weight here, or are you going to continue trying to be a smart ass?”
Theo just shrank further into his seat, glaring back at me, under my orders, but his own
will banked in his scowl. Eventually, he nodded.
“Not one more word from anyone about Bryce Calloway,” I announced to the room, ready to wrap up the meeting. “We have bigger problems to deal with.”
Chapter 7 - Bryce
I’d only spent just over a day in Honeycreek, and I was already finding it suffocating. Being so close to the wolf pack was unnerving, but I was relieved to find that they often dispersed during the day.
Jackson told me most of them were on the town’s fire brigade, while others who had been sworn into the pack had other jobs around town. It was good because it meant that I felt less watched throughout the day, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I went out, I would run into one of them.
“Mommy, look!” Cassie bounded over to me, lifting a packet of colored pens. “Uncle Jackson got me these at the store. I told him I liked drawing, and he said I could have them as a birthday gift.”
“Yeah?” I smiled at her, petting her hair. “I bet he’s happy you like them, then.”
“Me too! Can I draw next to you?”
“Always, sweetheart.”
I pulled the coffee table over to me, happy that Cassie was already trying to find some normalcy here. I didn’t want her to get too comfortable, but the last thing I wanted was for her to be distressed by our brief change in home.
