Scrunching my eyes, I asked, “Did she send a spirit in to look or?—”
“Alethia found her.”
I felt like Keir had struck me in the chest. “A-Alethia, she’s…”
“She’s one of the missing. One of the deceased.”
My chest didn’t just ache, it felt caved in—hollowed out as if someone had punched a hole in me. “Alethia.” Her name slipped from my lips like a whispered prayer. If Huxley had been both mother and father to me, then Alethia was akin to a doting aunt. She was the first elemental I’d met. Alethia was the wind. She could have roared through the halls of the compound, but she’d had no reason to push herself on others. Alethia was the cool, comforting breeze, not the raging hurricane. That didn’t meanshe wasn’t capable of becoming the storm, she simply chose not to.
In many ways, learning Huxley had killed Alethia hurt worse than his attempt to do the same to me.
I wanted to scream, to beg the heavens for some type of explanation. Had I been a younger kitsune, I most likely would have given into the overwhelming urge. But that young, naïve version of me disappeared long ago. Any remnants that remained had been obliterated with Huxley’s betrayal.
Shoulders slumped, my tails stilled as they dragged along the ground. “Alethia found Tabitha.”
“She did.” Keir shifted, his own pain reflected in his beautiful eyes. “We’d hoped…looking back, it was foolish to do so.”
“Foolish but understandable.” Keir and I didn’t always get along, not that there was any deep seeded animosity between us. We were simply two very different personalities attempting to cohabitate. Any previous disagreements were set aside. Grief was a powerful emotion, washing all others aside as it claimed its rightful place.
“Martin said something similar.”
A sad grin twisted my lips. “That might be the first time Martin and I have ever agreed.”
Keir’s soft smile was answer enough. “Martin has been very distraught. I apologize if he was anything less than courteous when I asked him to contact you.”
I waved off Keir’s concern. “Martin was fine.” I wasn’t even trying to placate Keir. My earlier comment about Martin’s obvious desire for Keir seemed out of place and I grimaced with unusual remorse.
“I believe Martin enjoys sparing with you.” At my raised eyebrows, Keir chuckled. “Oh, he’d never admit it, but it’s true all the same. That’s one of the reasons I asked him to reach outfirst instead of doing so myself. I thought Martin could use the distraction.”
“Glad I could be of service,” I huffed, crossing my arms as if put out, even though I wasn’t. In some ways, Keir’s words comforted me.
“As am I,” Keir sassily replied before sobering. “Alethia came to Tabitha two days ago. I’m no medium, but what I understand from Tabitha, it took Alethia that long to build up the energy to seek Tabitha out. Her message was brief.”
I rubbed the aching hole in my chest, knowing the effort was futile. “She’s gone again?”
“She is. Tabitha hasn’t been able to reach her again, but Alethia was able to convey enough information that we believe we know where her remains can be found.” Keir grimaced. “Tabitha doesn’t believe Alethia will be alone.”
I sucked in a painful breath. “You think the rest of them are…”
“I’m uncertain. Maybe not all, but…enough.” Keir’s attention settled on the fireplace. “I won’t rest until all are found or accounted for. I can promise you that.” Gryphons did not make promises lightly and the weight of Keir’s was akin to a magical contract. “I do not ask this of you lightly, Hikaru. I know it will not be easy. I would ask a brownie, but?—”
“But Huxley’s actions have made that impossible.”
“Indeed. I think it will be many centuries before the Magical Usage Council is forgiven.”
“I think that’s a generous calculation.”
“I will not argue that point. If you say no, I will understand.” Keir inhaled deeply. “I can go to Fairy, but?—”
“No.” I stood, shoving my clawed fingers deep into my jacket pockets. “I’ll do it. They were my friends…my family. They should be found and cared for by family.” Huxley had found me as little more than a toddler. Abandoned by the goddess who’dcreated me, Tenzen Huxley took me in. Even I could admit I’d been a menace. Curious, wild, and with absolutely no sense of right and wrong, I’d wreaked havoc on the occupants living within the compound. I’d been scolded, chased out of rooms, and chastised. None of those encounters had ever turned violent and with enough time, forgiveness was always found.
I might have annoyed my found family, but they’d never attempted to change who or what I was. They’d made allowances and guided me to less destructive paths, but they’d never once accused me of being anythingbad. I’d been nurtured and cared for when I was at my most vulnerable. Now it was my turn to care for them, even if the only way that caring could be expressed was by bringing their bodies home and giving their souls a chance to rest.
Turning from the fireplace, I squared my shoulders and asked, “Where do I find them?”
Keir stood and closed the distance. His arm reached for me, his large hand settling on my bicep and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll take you to Tabitha. She’ll give you the details.”
We left the comfort of Keir’s quarters, heading through a maze of halls I knew better than the back of my hand. Neither of us said a word, both of us stuck in our heads. We’d meet up with Tabitha soon enough and then I’d be off, passing through solid rock as if it were little more than air. I’d find our missing family and one by one, I would bring them through that solid stone and to the family that loved and missed them. It was no less than they deserved. It was the last kindness I could bestow upon them.
