Stay calm.“How?”
Jacob studied his nails, dragging this out, clearly enjoyingthe power he wielded.The weasel.
Finally, he folded his arms across his chest, making hisrobes swing around his bare feet.“Every Primori has a file of sorts,” heexplained.“These files are monitored, and if anything goes awry or the Primoridies before his time, we get an alert.”
“What happens after you get an alert?”
Jacob huffed as if irritated with the conversation.“Itvaries.Sometimes we let the situation sort itself out.Sometimes we warn thePrimori’s Memitim guardian that they’d better rectify the situation, andsometimes there’s nothing we can do but try to mitigate the damage byrearranging the lives of others to get the results we need.”He paused, lockinggazes with Hawk.“Is there anything you want to tell me?”
“Not at all.”Hawkyn smiled, hoping Jacobboughthis bullshit.“I’m just hoping to join the Memitim Council one day, so I’mtrying to learn all the behind-the-scenes stuff now.”
Jacob laughed.“You think that’ll give you an edge?Idiot.I’ve been a full angel for decades now, and I’m not even on the waiting list tomerelyapplyto join the Council.”
“Maybe you should have been asking questions before youAscended,” Hawkyn offered.“Like I am.”
Jacob had always been a slacker, doing the bare minimum ofwork needed to get the job done.
“Fuck you.”Baring his teeth, Jacob flared his wings again.“I spoke with your mother the other day.Did you know she’s on the Council?Shejoined recently.Introduced me to her mate and three beautiful children.Mostof our mothers never had families because of the guilt they feel for giving usup.But not yours.She dotes on her children.Loves them like crazy.”His smileturned malevolent.“Have you ever even met her?Where did she leave you as ababy, I wonder...”
Hawkyn decked the asshole.Just slammed his fist intoJacob’s perfect face.The crunch of bone was the most satisfying thing Hawkynhad felt in years.Didn’tmatter that Jacob’s bonesmended in an instant and that the blood vanished without a trace.It felt good.
“You,” Jacob snarled, “are lucky I have someplace to beright now.But watch your back, littlebrother.”
Jacob flashed out of Sheoul-gra before Hawkyn could respond.Lucky for Jacob, since Hawk’s response would have been a lot more painful thana punch in the face.
Chapter Five
Within seconds of Jacob flashing out of Sheoul-gra,Hawkyn did the same.Then he spent nearly every minute of the next thirty-sixhours shadowing Jason Drayger...with nothing to show for it.
Hawkyn had left Drayger alone only twice.The first time wasduring a four-hour period when one of his other five Primori wasin danger—danger that never materialized.But when Hawkreturned to Drayger, the guy had been driving home, blood spattered on hisshirt and pants.
It had been Aurora’s blood, and Hawk knew it.He’d felt sickto his stomach and furious that he’d missed an opportunity to locate her.Guilthad weighed him down like a wet shroud, and out of guilt, he’d left Drayger toshower and go to bed, and Hawk had gone to Aurora’s house to see who she was.
To see who Drayger was hurting.
As Hawkyn wandered through her little one-bedroom house inPortland’s quirky Pearl District, he couldn’t help but smile at her cheery ‘50sretro decor and the delicate spun glass and stained-glass ornaments hanging inher windows.Hedgehog figurines and scented candles lined a couple of smallshelves, and, while she had a few framed family photos on the walls, there werefar more artsy pictures of Portland and the surrounding area.
Her place was cozy and warm, and he got the impression thatthis was more than a home for Aurora; it was a sanctuary.From her overstuffedfurniture to the yoga mat in the corner, the gurgling water fountain in theentryway, and the Japanese rock garden that filled her tiny outdoor space outback, her house was a soothing retreat.
Which made sense when he discovered that she was a masseuseat an exclusive nearby spa.
Every discovery Hawkyn made only strengthened his resolve tohelp her.He just needed to find her first.
Hopefully, that was going to happen now.
Drayger was on the move again.This was it.Hawk knew it.
You can’t interfere.
No, technically he couldn’t.But he had to dosomething.Aurora’s magic had been wasted on Hawk when she could have used it on Drayger.What if she was supposed to have gotten away?What if his interference hadcaused her capture?By saving her he’d be righting a wrong.Setting Drayger’sfuture back on course.Maybe.Hopefully.
Sounded good to him.
Shadow wings out and thekhoteengaged, Hawkyn satin the backseat of Drayger’s unassuming beige Ford Escort and listened to thetoo-loud, incoherent screech of some heavy metal band as they navigated thestreets of one of Portland’s industrial areas.Drayger had picked up some cheapfast-food burgers and had eaten one, but the others sat next to him in a bag,the greasy stench filling the interior.Finally, Drayger pulled into ajunkyard, unlocked the gate, and parked the car near a shipping crate tucked ina rear corner of the lot.
Hawkyn’s pulse quickened with anticipation as Drayger openedthe creaky door and stepped inside.
And there, huddled in a corner on a filthy mattress, wasAurora, her long blond hair tangled and matted.She reminded Hawkyn of achained, neglected animal, and his hands clenched in fists of hot rage.She wasnaked except for panties and a ratty, stained AC/DC T-shirt Drayger must havegiven her, and her exposed skin was bruised and crusted with dried blood.Herbloodshot eyes were bright with fear, but also defiance.Hawk had seen thatlook so many times over the centuries, from soldiers who knew they werecornered by the enemy but were determined to go down fighting, to abused womenwho had had enough.
