Glancing at Rheyas, I add, “And we have the noise machine cranked up over there to drown out the kids so everybody can sleep, don’t worry.”
Ian gives me a curious look. “Just how long have you been here?”
Biting my tongue, I quickly squash down the stab of grief so I don’t upset Rel. Releasing a deep breath, I shove those memories down until they don’t feel like mine, distancing myself from them until it feels like nothing more than summing up a movie plot to a friend.
“Since I was five. When my dad was at work, humans killed my mom and torched the house, me still in it. A neighbor managed to pull me out, but she was dead before they ever struck the match. We found this place a few months later and it… saved him. Clinging to this project gives him purpose.
“When you lose your fated mate, many people end up killing themselves sooner or later, not able to cope with the grief, their soul shredded beyond repair. But he held on for me, even though every day was killing him. This place-“ I scrub a hand down my face, shaking myself out of it and forcing a smile to my face “- he believes in it harder than anyone, because he never wants anyone to feel like he does ever again.”
Ian’s voice is a rough whisper when he asks, “Is it going to hurt him, do you think? When he finds out about her?”
Glancing at the bathroom door, the faint sounds of Esmerelda singing in the shower tugging at my heartstrings, I sigh. “Probably.”
Twenty-Six
Hawk
Tipping my head towards my father and the four others that walk in with him, I remain seated around the table with my little pack. Things have never been formal between the two of us, and while I may respect every man and woman in this place, that’s just not how we function.
“Guys, this is my father, Ethan, and his team.” Gesturing to each person in turn, I rattle off, “Noah, Ben, and the twins; Charlotte and Ava. They’re the heads of the operation.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Rel greets, if not a bit awkwardly. I can’t really blame her; this whole setup feels like we’re waiting to be interrogated about a crime we didn’t commit.
“Miss Barlowe ,” Noah greets.
Esmerelda squirms uncomfortably and I feel her annoyance as if it’s my own. She knew we were looking into her and what the mages could want with her, but having anyone digging into your past, unearthing any secrets, is never a pleasant feeling.
Still, she tips her head in greeting, playing it off. “Esmerelda’s fine, or Rel. If we’re going to be here for the foreseeable future, may as well be on a first name basis.”
Charlotte leans forward, tucking a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. “And who else do we have with us?”
“Her mates; Ian and Rheyas.”
The others stay relatively quiet, letting me take point until they get a sense of the room and what formalities are expected. When in doubt, silence is a natural default in uncomfortable situations. Eyes flit to the mark on her neck, still a fresh bruise, and the way she’s sitting between Ian and me instead of the two of them.
It clicks for Ava first, her emerald eyes lighting up in surprise. “You chose to take a mate during all of this, before we even had the full picture of what we were dealing with? Hawk, I’m sure she’s lovely, but that’s reckless even for you-“
“I didn’t choose to, I was chosen for that honor.” The silence that falls in wake of my announcement is so heavy that it threatens to make my eardrums burst. “And I wasn’t about to be so stupid as to spurn that gift because it might not be convenient.”
I’m pretty sure my dad isn’t even breathing. He looks like I just punched him in the gut, but as the shock starts to wear off, a sad, half smile twists the corner of his lips. “Fates be blessed for putting you in her path before anything happened.”
Roughly swallowing, I nod quickly, not trusting myself to speak for a minute.
Noah pulls a pen from his jacket pocket, flipping to a fresh page on his notepad. His suit is only a few shades darker than his skin, always insisting even down here to keep himself put together, like otherwise the chaos of our lives will consume him. Amethyst eyes swirled with silver in a hypnotic way, he focuses on Esmerelda, taking point as usual on getting information over gossip.
“Why is there a bounty on your head?” he demands, voice level.
Rheyas bristles, but Ian puts a hand on his shoulder to try and keep him in check. Rel sighs before launching into the story, filling the five of them in on everything between her friend being killed, to the people in cages. Noah’s hand flies across the page as he doubles back, probing for more information where he can, what hallways she remembers to get a rough layout of where they’re being held. Anything that she might have thought was inconsequential could change everything, and Noah is an expert in bringing those minor details to light from a person’s subconscious.
“So what are you going to do?” Ian asks, and I sit up straighter when I see the five of them exchange glances that I know far too well.
“What’s wrong?”Rel breathes nervously in my mind.
You three are new, and they don’t want to reveal their plans. If I had to guess, they’re going to try and exclude me as well because my ‘loyalties may be compromised’.
Ben finally speaks, though he has the decency to look repentant. “Hawk, you’re too close to this matter now. It’d be best if y-“
“Don’t.” Standing up, my chair scrapes against the floor as I brace my palms on the table. “Not only are these mages trying to kill my mate, but they’re doing unspeakable things to the people they’re holding captive. They're a threat to everything we stand for. Everything thatIstand for. I’ve devoted my entire life to this. You think that having a mate is a distraction?” I glare straight at my father. “I think it’s the best motivator a person could have.”
