“Hello, Rance.” Xavier nodded to the teen.
“Decided to take me to my mother?” He glared.
“I could, but then you would probably be put in a cell with her.”
“Why?” Rance tilted his head and tried to stare Xavier down.
It was adorable.
“Come sit down. Do you want some coffee?” Kat asked.
“I’ll take the seat, but no on the coffee.” He sat on the other side of Kat. “I just came from talking to the Chimera.”
“The mob boss?” Even Kat had heard of him, and he barely listened to news and gossip.
Xavier gave a crooked smile. “Turns out he’s my older brother. Some of the rumors are true. He did kill a bunch of people, but they were experimenting on him. That’s why he’s a chimera.”
Kat winced. “Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” Xavier shrugged. “We lost touch years ago. For all I know, he really is a cold-hearted mob boss. I’m holding back my opinion for now.”
“Fair enough.” A silence fell over the table.
“Is that what you wanted to tell us?” Rance broke in. “That your brother is a mob boss?”
“Not exactly. He wants me to make sure that Rance stays with the Moon Pack for safety. He thinks, and I agree, that Octavia might try something.”
“Even if she knows Rance is a Green Man?”
“Maybe.” Xavier turned to Rance. “Do you think she would still want you gone if she knew you were needed?”
Rance took a few minutes before answering. “Truly? I don’t think it will matter to her. Octavia has always hated me. She would convince herself and others that they could do it without me rather than let me near the new Grove. Mother Nature blessed or not.”
Xavier nodded. “That’s what I took from my discussion with Melcori.”
“What should I do?” Rance got up to pace.
“Right now, she can’t do much while in Melcori’s custody. I’m worried about who she might have contacted before Melcori put her in a cell.” Any number of people could be hunting Rance right now, and they wouldn’t have a clue until it was too late.
Kat didn’t know what to say. This poor kid had it tough. Not only did the people who raised him want him kicked out, but at least one of them wanted him dead and was willing to kill everyone else to achieve that. ”The best thing to do is have you stay here. We’ll tell Silver the situation. You should be safe enough on pack lands for the next few days until we figure out who might be hunting you and how to keep you safe.”
Xavier nodded along to Kat’s words. “Kat’s right. We don’t know all the players right now. We can only protect you where you are and make sure you don’t go anywhere alone.”
“We still need to find a site for the Grove,” Rance interrupted Kat’s spiraling thoughts. “I need to be the one to pick it out.”
“Why?” Xavier asked. “Melcori was going to let Octavia pick so she would be happy with the location.”
“It must resonate with my magic. I doubt it will do that with any site Octavia picks.”
“I can’t argue against that.” Xavier stood and pressed his hands on Rance’s shoulders. “Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t owe them anything. Melcori and Jared might want the gems, but this will affect your people, you most of all.”
“Xavier’s right.” Kat flexed his claws. They would shred a few trees quite nicely. “Don’t rush into making a decision.”
“I’m not.” Rance tilted his chin up and pinned them with a serious expression. “Like I said before, I can’t leave Mom homeless, and she won’t leave the others without a Grove.” His face had a complicated expression as if he were doing this against his will but set on doing it anyway.
It would’ve bothered Kat, too, if he knew his parent wanted the safety of others before him. For a teen, Rance had a mature outlook. “I don’t want to fight with everyone forever. Once they are settled, I’ll permanently move in.”
Kat nodded. With Rance here, he could continue to help the boy with his burns. They were healing faster than a human but slower than a shifter, and they still needed treatment. He sighed and retracted his claws. “I always thought dryads were a peaceful race.”
