Return to Kadenburg (13 page)

“Get dressed,” He murmured, tugging at a curl and
watching it bounce back into place. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

She sighed, watching as he tugged up his jeans and
buttoned them before exiting the room. She fell back against the mattress and
gazed at the ceiling, feeling her stomach twist into nervous flutters as she
rested a palm just beneath her belly button. “Yes, we do.”

Fifteen

A
rnold Goult tapped his fingertips against the
tabletop anxiously as his eyes stared a hole through the bowl of gravy before
him. His niece was back, safe and sound, yet his nerves were on edge. He
needed a cigarette. He needed a drink. He needed to smack Lorcan Bamey a few
times just because it would make him feel better.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Mr. Bamey stated
matter-of-factly. “She’s a grown woman, Arnie.”

“I’m aware of that,” Arnold muttered as he scowled.
“That doesn’t mean I need to be aware of what they’re up to at all hours of the
night.”

“Oh, Arnold,” Mrs. Bamey scolded gently, frowning as
she placed a clean plate in front of him. “Don’t say such things when she gets
in here. You’ll only embarrass the poor girl.”

“I ain’t gonna embarrass her,” Arnold frowned, lifting
his eyes to stare at the perkier-than-usual female. “I just ain’t gonna give
her a pat on the back for it. I didn’t get any dang sleep.”

“That’s why you invest in ear plugs,” Davey Berdine
cackled, easing down into the chair next to Arnold. “You know how it works for
us bear folk, Goult. Once we find the one we’ve been looking for our whole
life, we tend to get a bit rowdy. Ear plugs are the secret to keeping your
sanity.”

Arnold made a small face, shaking his head as he picked
up the steaming cup of coffee he’d been neglecting for two solid minutes. “It
still doesn’t mean I like it,” He mumbled, taking a large drink.

“Morning,” Lorcan chimed as he entered the kitchen.
Arnold
loathed
the way he was strutting about like the cock of the
roost, acting like he was victorious. He wanted to smack him-just one good
smack and he’d feel better. That’s all he needed.

“Morning,” Davey nodded, a knowing grin on his face as
he stared up at the younger ursithrope. “Sleep well, Lorcan?”

“Uh, yeah,” Lorcan nodded, hopping up onto the counter
near the coffee pot as he glanced at the few ursithropes seated at the table.
“I’m pretty rested today, thanks.”

Davey Berdine, wrinkles and all, laughed like a small
school boy as he covered his face with his hands. Arnold stared at him in a
mixture of disgust and disbelief before rolling his eyes.

“I’m glad somebody got some sleep,” Arnold voiced as he
lifted his cup for another sip. His eyes finally met Lorcan’s and he was
surprised when the younger male didn’t look away. In fact, Lorcan didn’t seem
to be intimidated by him at all.
Huh
.

“Good morning,” His niece stated softly as she entered
the kitchen. She was dressed in pajama bottoms that were far too big for her,
and she was wearing a t-shirt that swallowed the top part of her body.
Good
.
He didn’t want to witness Lorcan ogling at her all day.

I’m going to smack him hard,
Arnold affirmed as
he nodded to her. “Morning, Pretzel. How did you sleep?”

He noted the color rushing into her cheeks as Presley
dropped her gaze to the floor. She ran her fingers through her hair, a small
smile playing at her lips.

“Very well, thank you,” She nodded. “I’m happy to be
home.”

As much as Arnold wanted to point out to her that the
Bamey house was not ‘home’, he didn’t want to spoil whatever happiness she was
currently experiencing. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like
being held captive by those mutts, and the only reason he wouldn’t actually
smack Lorcan Bamey was because the boy had brought her back safe and sound.
Damn it. Sometimes he hated it when his mind used logic against him.

“I’m happy you’re back,” Arnold said as he pushed
himself up from the table and approached her. “I’m glad you’re safe,” He
wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her against his chest as he kissed
the top of her hair. She smelled like Lorcan, but he could ignore it. “I’m
really glad,” He whispered.

“Me, too,” Presley mumbled against his chest as she
embraced him. “I’m sorry if I worried you, Uncle Arnold.”

“Oh, don’t fret about that now, dear,” Mrs. Bamey
interrupted with a smile. “We’re all very relieved that you’re back and we can
focus on how to take care of the problem,” She looked around. “Now where did
Dimitri go?”

–––––––

The weather was abnormally warm for a winter month.
Not a flake of snow had been seen yet, and Dimitri found that to be quite
peculiar, though he was hardly familiar with how the weather worked in
Kadenburg in the first place. It was very different from Massachusetts. Hell,
in Mass he would’ve already seen four blizzards by now.

He missed the snow sometimes. He almost missed it as
much as he missed Liam.

Crouching down beside the fresh grave, Dimitri placed a
bouquet of soft blue carnations at the base of the headstone before lifting his
eyes to read the words chiseled into the concrete.

Loved by all who knew him, an unforgettable son and
brother.

Wasn’t that the truth? Liam
was definitely unforgettable. Pursing his lips together, Dimitri lifted his
eyes higher to read over the date of birth and death.

I died on that day, too,
he thought as he
reached his hand out to trace his fingertips over Liam’s name.
I am a
walking corpse. There is no life left in me without you.

He closed his eyes, feeling the
sting of tears as they collected beneath his closed lids. This was what he
needed, desperately, and Mr. Bamey had been kind enough to tell him where
Liam’s grave was located. He had to have this closure and there was no better
time to do it.

“I love you so much,” He whispered as a large lump
swelled in his throat. He didn’t even bother to swallow it down. Instead, he
allowed it to bubble and fester into the emotional breakdown he’d been pushing
off for weeks. The tears escaped through his lashes, streaming down his hot
cheeks as he pressed his forehead against the cold stone. “I wish you were
still here.”

“I wish he was, too.”

The wolf turned his head to see none other than Rutley
standing there. The male had his hands shoved into his coat pockets, staring
at him solemnly. Dimitri made no effort to wipe at his eyes. He was tired of
hiding this. He was tired of keeping it bottled up inside. So what if the
wolf hunter saw the wolf cry? He, better than anyone else, would understand
the pain he felt because he felt it, too, didn’t he?

“I figured I’d find you here,” Rutley continued as he
stepped closer. He stopped at the foot of Liam’s grave, staring down at the
headstone as he sighed. “It wasn’t hard to guess, actually. This is the only
cemetery we’ve got.”

Dimitri was silent as his eyes moved back to gaze at
Liam’s name on the headstone. He traced his fingertips over the side of it
mindlessly, shrugging his shoulders.

“Nice flowers,” Rutley commented. “Liam liked blue.”

“I know,” Dimitri replied as his voice cracked. “I
thought he would like them.”

“I’m sure he does.”

A gentle breeze swept through the air, caressing
Dimitri’s cheek as he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to relax. He had
too many thoughts; too many memories. Worries plagued him and stole away any
chances of sleep he’d had. He was exhausted, truth be told, and all he wanted
to do was curl up next to Liam’s grave and fade into nothing.

A hand landed against his shoulder and he slowly opened
his eyes. Why did the wolf hunter insist on showing him kindness when they
were both well aware of what their relationship should be? They should hate
each other.

I was supposed to hate Liam,
he noted as he
pushed himself up from the ground and turned to stare at Rutley.
I don’t
hate this kid at all.

Rutley stared at him with understanding and compassion
in his eyes. They were so different from one another, yet they both had a
common anchor; Liam Bamey. It was incredible how small the world truly was.

Dimitri shifted his weight from one foot to the other,
towering over his beloved’s best friend as they averted their gazes elsewhere.
In spite of the awkward atmosphere, they did have a mutual interest and similar
feelings over this particular situation.

“I’m sorry I was a dick to you last night,” Dimitri
finally said. “I never should’ve assumed that you were being untrue with your
claims of knowing Liam.”

Rutley gave a small roll of his shoulders before
shaking his head. “Don’t even worry about that. Last night was pretty damn
eventful, wouldn’t you say? It was tense, and things were bound to be said
that we would later regret. I’m sorry I tried to drug your coffee.”

A small smile made itself known on Dimitri’s lips as he
recalled the incident. “Well, as I recall it, I got the last laugh. Karma’s a
real bitch.”

“That she is,” Rutley agreed. “She’s always had it out
for me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Dimitri offered, feeling a
little more relaxed now, though he was still incredibly sad. He couldn’t shake
the gloomy feeling, and it probably wouldn’t go away until they were out of the
cemetery. “So are they wondering about me yet?” He asked. “Mrs. Bamey seems to
be pretty hardcore about people being in attendance for breakfast.”

“Oh, she definitely is,” Rutley laughed. His breath
escaped into the air as a puff of white smoke as he glanced towards the morning
sky. “She’ll have our hides if we’re not there in time for the blessing.”

Dimitri’s smile grew bigger. Mrs. Bamey definitely
seemed like the kind of mother he would’ve wanted to have growing up. She was
kind to him and she gave some great hugs. He totally understood why Liam
always spoke so fondly of her. She was perfect.

“I don’t think I’d want anyone to have my hide,” He
joked, glancing back towards Liam’s headstone. He would come back later, after
all of this had blown over. Once the Breslin problem was taken care of, he
would visit often.
I will make him pay, Baby. I promise.

Finally tearing his gaze away
from the headstone, Dimitri readied himself to leave the graveyard alongside of
Rutley. That was, until, his ears picked up on the sound of a twig snapping
and something came soaring through the air. He growled, his hand instinctively
reaching out to shove Rutley backwards before he felt a sharp pain in his right
shoulder.

“What the-” Rutley fell back against the cold ground and
stared up at him with wide eyes.

Dimitri released a pained groan as he gripped the arrow
that was now deeply embedded through the flesh and muscle. He clenched his
teeth, slouching as his eyes darted back and forth through the trees.

“Is that a freaking arrow?!” Rutley asked, scrambling
to his feet. “Did someone just shoot you?!”

“Gee, I don’t know. What do you think?” Dimitri asked
angrily as his eyes began to glow. His inner wolf roared in dismay,
desperately clawing its way to the surface as another arrow came zooming right
towards him. He narrowly stepped aside, trying to keep his mind off the sharp
throb in his torso as searched for the shooter.

“Stay down,” He instructed, baring his fangs. “I don’t
know what the hell we’re up against.”

“Dude, that’s not norm-” Rutley’s Captain-Obvious
statement would have to wait. A figure emerged from the tree line and
Dimitri’s claws broke through the tender flesh of his fingertips. There was no
way he could control his wolf when it was this pissed off.

The coward couldn’t even show his face as he
strategically pulled his bow back a third time, ready to strike as Dimitri
charged towards him. The lycanthrope hadn’t necessarily been planning to
battle in the middle of a cemetery, but what choice did he have when this moron
struck him first? His nostrils flared, releasing a deafening howl as he pushed
off from the ground, going air-borne before he collided with his attacker. The
Susan Pevensie wannabe slammed into the ground with a raging Dimitri on top of
him.

His opponent was damn fast, and just by catching a
small whiff of his scent, Dimitri realized he was up against an ursithrope-but
why was he attacking him? He growled again, cocking his fist back to strike.

“Get off of me, you mutt!” The ursithrope hissed,
bringing his knee up to make direct contact with Dimitri’s groin.

Dimitri fell backwards, conflicted on what was hurting
worst at the moment when the ursithrope’s knee slammed into his face. “You
have no right to be here!” He cried. “I will take great pleasure in killing
y-”

He was cut off by Rutley, who tackled him to the ground
next. Rutley’s fists were flying before the ursithrope turned him over and
head-butted him. The hunter let out a startled yelp and Dimitri quickly pushed
himself up from the ground. He would not let this crazed bear shifter hurt
Liam’s best friend like that.

“Get off of him!” Dimitri reached out, grabbing the
ursithrope by the fabric of his coat. He gave a firm yank with his hand and
was surprised when the male whirled around to punch him in the face. He was
getting damn tired of this.

“Stop!”

Even the birds scattered from the tree tops as the
female’s voice echoed through the air. Dimitri turned his head to see the
young woman standing there, gripping a hatchet in her hand as her wide eyes
stared back and forth between Dimitri and the other male.