“Well, if you’re sure, I’ll get going.”
“I’m sure. Thanks, Cade. Here, take a drink out for Liam. It’s getting hotter by the minute.” Simon pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and passed it over.
“Thanks, Simon. He’ll appreciate it.”
“See you later.” Simon closed the door and leaned back against it. He would find the answers he needed. He just knew it.
BOOK after book was a bust. Nothing about demons, weres, or Others seemed to exist in his grandfather’s collection. Simon had been through most of the shelves by the time the sun started to set. He flipped on another lamp and scanned through the books again.
He started to reach for a history book when he paused, remembering that his grandfather didn’t keepallhis books here in the library. His journals were out in the workroom, where he could easily take notes on his herbs and other projects.
Simon hurried to the room, enjoying the clean smell of drying plants in the air. It comforted him, made him remember all those days at his grandfather’s side preparing the plants for drying, crushing them into usable bits, and storing them for later use. This felt right. If Grandfather didn’t have an actual book on the topic, he’d surely taken notes over the years of his experiences and observations.
His notebooks were in an antique cabinet that had once served as an armoire. A faded mirror, speckled with age, still lined one of the doors. Simon jumped when he saw his reflection, a moment of panic overtaking him. He laughed when he realized he was staring at himself and not some stranger who’d come to steal him away.
Simon had kept his grandfather’s habit of keeping the cabinet locked up, even though the key was hanging just inside the door of theroom on a hook. He carefully got the doors opened, wiggling the key just so to convince the worn lock to release its hold, and stared at the pile of leather-bound books inside.
The gardening notes were separated from his general notes according to shelves. The topmost row held all his gardening secrets. But it was the next batch of books Simon was more interested in. He had never read his grandfather’s personal journals, even years after his death. They were his grandfather’s private thoughts, and he’d never felt right about reading through them.
Now, though, a shiver of excitement poured through him. The answer was here. He could feel it. His grandfather had left him these books for a reason, had insisted on leaving this cabin and its contents for Simon’s use, and for the thousandth time, Simon was so grateful for his planning. He grabbed the first few journals and sat down on the floor. He flipped through the first one quickly, scanning the pages for any key words. Demon, werewolf, Other, dark magic. He looked for anything that could help. The stack of journals grew by his side as he flipped through year after year of notes.
Finally, Simon found what he was searching for. His mouth fell open in shock as he read, and his eyes filled with tears that rolled down his cheeks unnoticed. Simon couldn’t believe he’d been so wrong for so long.
12
Monday morning was always busy for Gray, but this morning was unusually so. Rocky arrived with a mountain of security equipment and two of his team members to install the new system. Gray concentrated on the details and forced his mind to remain focused on the new safety measures.
He tried not to count down the minutes until they finished and he could call Simon. Gray had missed him over the weekend, more than he wanted to admit. He didn’t know what it was about Simon that drew him in so completely. The connection between them excited Gray, made him think of possibilities and long-term plans.
The pack run rejuvenated him, and the rest of them as well. They’d all needed the time together as wolves and a pack to reconnect. Gray wished Simon had been with them, though. He thought Simon would have enjoyed seeing them in their wolf forms. The adult wolves could be a bit intimidating, but there wasn’t much cuter than a group of wolf cubs.
Gray could imagine Simon sitting on the ground with a group of them frolicking around him and jumping up to lick his face. He figured Garon would lead them in pouncing on Simon’s back and nipping playfully at his fingers. Lost in his daydream, Gray warmed tothe idea of Simon being there with them and experiencing the best they had to offer.
Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time for him to get lost in that fantasy. Rocky laid out a technical map on Gray’s desk, and Gray returned his attention to the task at hand.
Rocky wasn’t what Gray had expected when he’d pictured a security specialist. Tall and thin, with pale white skin and shaggy dark red hair, Rocky didn’t look like he would stand a chance against the larger wolves in their pack. Alex assured him appearances were deceiving, especially in Rocky’s case.
He certainly knew his business, however, and Gray set aside his first impressions and listened as Rocky expertly explained the new security system. Wires would be buried at the gates and along the property lines. False wires provided an extra level of protection. If they were tampered with, alarms would sound. New cameras were set up, and both gates were monitored. It all ran together after a while, but Rocky was nothing if not thorough.
Liam had been there for most of the explanation. His responsibilities included the security of the pack, and he’d left only when it was his turn to watch over Simon. He’d nodded at Gray before he went, and Gray had accepted the gesture of reassurance that Simon would be looked after.
A little while later, Cade stormed into the office.
Gray didn’t know what was up, but not much rattled his best friend. “What’s wrong?”
“Those mages are pieces of shit, that’s what’s wrong. Do you want to know what that supposed master said to Simon? He washed his hands of him. Told Simon he was tainted and was scared he would be too. What a dick! He didn’t even offer to help, just hightailed it out of there like Simon had the plague or something.”
Gray couldn’t believe it. That wasn’t how things were supposed to be. A pack member would never be shunned like that. “What do you mean, Simon is tainted?”
“I don’t know. Simon said something about an energy drain, andthat asshole just jumped back and said the demon had tainted him. Do you think whatever he did to help Garon was what did it?”
“That must be it,” Gray said. “I thought the cubs had healed him.”
Rocky looked back and forth between them, his eyes widening. “Something else has happened, I take it?”
Cade sank down in a chair and clenched the arms with his hands. “You could say that.”
“Anyone care to expand on that?”
