I give a single nod, the only acknowledgment I’m capable of giving.
When I first met James, I needed his help so I could get close to my father—or, rather, to get close to the usurper I thought had killed my father. While working toward that goal, I’d helped get James’s son, Elijah, away from my father.
Elijah had been my father’s leverage over James.
By helping his son, I gave James his freedom.
Since then, I found out that James was the reason my father came into possession of the book. And now, it seems the context of that choice is far more complicated than I first believed.
“Where is James now?” I ask the very question that Halle envisaged I might ask.
Without hesitation, Jonah replies, “He’s with Elijah’s mother.”
His reply doesn’t tell me anything since I don’t know who Elijah’s mother is or where she could be.
My forehead creases as I consider my next question. “And is Elijah’s mother with Elijah?”
I have an idea where Elijah might be, so the answer could give me a clue.
Jonah shakes his head. “To keep their son safe, they’ve given him over to the care of a group of extremely powerful supernaturals.” Jonah grimaces. “The kind of supernaturals who have no hesitation tearing dark creatures like your father apart. Elijah is safe with them.”
It isn’t lost on me that if those supernaturals would tear my father apart, then they may not feel very kind toward me, either.
I didn’t see what happened to Elijah after the fight on the train. I manipulated events so that the keeper would take him to safety while I continued on to finally meet my father.
But I do remember one thing.
“St. Michael Cemetery,” I murmur, recalling the place where Jonah told the keeper to take Elijah to safety.
Jonah gives me a grim smile. “No dark creature will set foot near there.”
I file this information away in case I need it.
Focusing on Elijah for a few moments has helped to pull me out of the dark pit I was descending into.
Freeing that boy from my father’s clutches has been one of my few successes since I escaped my cage.
I don’t push Jonah for more information about James’s whereabouts, instead asking him the more pressing question. “What about you, Jonah? It looks like you’re stuck here with me, at least in the short term, so I need to know: where do you stand?”
Assuming he will tell me the truth.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The fire jotunn meets my eyes. “I trusted Galeia,” he says. “In fact, I trusted her as fully as I trusted the Valkyrie queen who raised me. Galeia wanted you to live. Therefore, I will do everything in my power to keep you alive.”
My eyes widen at the intensity of the resolve in his voice.
How did my mother engender such trust?
“That is where I stand,” he says.
Rising to his feet, he takes a careful step back, no doubt in case I don’t believe him.
He’s not standing right at the edge of the fire, but if anything, he seems happier near the flames.
He turns to acknowledge my pack. “Thank you for the meal,” he says to them. Then to me, he adds, “I would like to venture into this forest now and find a quiet place to meditate. It’s how I conserve my energy. I don’t want you to think I’m slinking off into the shadows. You’re welcome to come and find me at any time.”
“Okay,” I say.
