“You’re welcome. We definitely need to work on smiling, but one thing at a time. Let’s get you in the shower and into some different clothes so you can be my hero and save me from when Moni comes flying in to tell us all about herdate.”He growls out the last word, and it makes me giggle.
He really doesn’t like his little sister dating. I can’t wait to poke that sore spot later, but first, my shower.
ChapterThirteen
RUB A DUB DUB, NO COMING IN THE TUB
JP
Iwas really hoping to be able to get some more snuggle time with Rez tonight. But, as predicted, as soon as Rez finishes her shower and I help her get dressed, Moni returns and one of my worst nightmares begins to play out. I never thought I was one to run away from things—well, until this moment. Apparently I have a limit. There’s no way in hell I’m going to stick around and hear about my baby sister’s first date. Especially when she’s glowing neon green. I honestly could use her as a damn flashlight. So of course, I make my escape and say I’m going to head over and check on the guys.
Moni shoos me away while Rez gives me a small smile and shoots me a mental message saying she’s okay with it. Honestly, I think it’s her way of saving me from either ruining Moni’s moment or having her kill me before I channeled Knox and started growling at her.
As I ride the elevator down, I let my mind wander back to what ma chérie told me. I still can’t believe that her Familiar is the man I saw in her memories. I would have never made that connection, even with those piercing turquoise eyes. Even though I saw and felt what she did, I’m holding out faith that he’s still alive and the Rebels took him. All we can do is continue to look for him and support her any way we can. Which means I also need to update the guys on what’s going on.
I quickly make my way to the guys' dorm—in the other roundabout—and knock on Timber. ‘Ah, the delicious one. I heard you are one of the people I should thank for returning Knots from the abyss. What brings you here?’
‘Hey, Timber. I think that was actually Rez’s doing, but you’re welcome. I’m hiding. Moni had her first date and she’s debriefing Rez.’
‘Ha ha. I bet it went over well. They are a sour bunch in there, you might have better luck dealing with the little mistress.’She laughs but lets me in anyway.
Walking into the dorm, I immediately understand what she means. The TV isn’t on, there’s no music playing in the background, and everyone is sitting around the living room sulking. The thoughts that are randomly popping up for me are all circled around Rez. Something about ‘essence’ filters in, but that only lasts a moment and returns back to Rez again. They are so wrapped up in their own thoughts, they don’t even register that I’m in the room until I clear my throat.
“Ahem…who died?”
“Not in the mood, JP,” Ryker says, looking up from his book.
I reach over and pluck it from his fingers, turning it so it’s not upside down. “Yeah, I’m not convinced, and you might get somewhere if this wasn’t upside down,” I deadpan, placing the book back into his hands.
“Whatever,” Ryker slams the book shut. “What do you want? To gloat?”
I give him a smile and look over to see Knox and Levi giving me considering looks. I plop my ass down on the carpet facing them before I do my own debriefing. “Where’s Zeke?” I ask, looking around and not seeing him anywhere.
“He needed to cool off after socking Levi,” Knox answers, and I swing my gaze over to take my first real look at him. He’s sporting a nice bruise on his jaw along with a bump.Oh, shit!
“What happened?” I ask no one in particular as I glance around the room, but it’s Levi that I bring my gaze back to. He clenches his jaw and then grimaces when the pain hits him as he forgets how deeply that new decoration hurts.
“Zeke expressed his feelings about my fuck up,” Levi says simply, and I pick up on his turbulent mood, so I accept that as fact.
Okay, sore subject. Moving on.
“First of all, I don’t go around gloating, especially if it hurts my loved ones. You know that,” I give Ryker a pointed look. “But, with that being said, I thought you would want an update on what’s going on.”
I get bored looks from them until I mention Matthew talking about the Rebels' numbers increasing, and how Moni had her first date with someone I don’t know. Concern flashes on their faces for those subjects. It’s not until I mention Rez that they come to life and sit up in their seats.
“Is she okay?” Knox asks, jumping to his feet.
“Chill, Wolfie.” I give him a wink and settle in to share the need-to-know stuff. “There’s some heavy shit I need to drop on you. The night you came over, that was a night from Hell for Rez.”
“We know and we’re sor—”
“No, that’s not what I’m talking about, Ryker.” I give him a frosty look, and he mimes zipping his mouth closed, locking, and throwing away the key. “When Rez got back to our dorm, she found a letter on the floor that she received at the beginning of the week that warned her that if she didn’t leave Purgatory that her Familiar’s life was forfeit. When she ran to her room, she walked in to find a Rebel slicing her Familiar’s neck. Her Familiar, Lynx, that doesn’t just shapeshift into other animals—he can also change into a tall, blond with striking turquoise eyes.”
“What!?” The room explodes in unison as I stand up to follow the guys jumping out of their seats.
“So, her Familiar is dead?” Levi’s voice comes out unsteady as he understands just how serious this is.
“She’s in mourning, but I would like to think the Rebels didn’t kill him since they didn’t leave his body. But to play it safe, your father gave her two weeks off, and she’ll be under the care of the medical staff to watch her vitals.”
