Scorched Fury: A SkinWalker Novel #5 (DarkWorld: SkinWalker) (33 page)

She'd shifted up, and was now resting against the pillow behind her. "I understand; I grew up without a mother too." She frowned, her brow creasing as she looked off into the distance. "Sometimes I dream of her, and then sometimes I wonder whether my dreams were of a mother, or of a figment of my imagination."

"Did anyone ever explain to you where you're from?"

"No. They always seemed ignorant of my past. All they said was that I was brought to the Dracyr as a child, sold to General Vyrian by a human mage who wanted to pay off a gambling debt. No one ever told me who this man was, or how he had come by me. For all I knew he could have been my real father."

"So. General Vyrian is a father figure?"
 

Sienna nodded, and I got the sense that she didn't want to discuss it further. I'd have to continue the conversation at a more appropriate time. But right now we had to get moving.

"Right, if you're feeling better, I think we'd better get back. I sent a message to my dad, just to let him know that we're okay. If we don't get back soon, they'll probably send a search party."

She smiled, "Must be nice to be so loved by someone that they'd boss you around."

Funny thing was, I'd never thought of it that way. I waited in my room while she finished dressing, and we left moments after.

Horner provided us with the vehicle, stretch limo of all things. The driver drove us all the way to my father's house up in the mountains. Both Sienna and I fell asleep for most of the ride.

When we arrived home, Dad and Baz helped us inside. The twins were asleep, and though I'd wanted to see them, especially sweet little Alina, I resisted the urge to ask Baz to fetch her.

Sienna paused inside the doorway, hesitating on the threshold only a second before Dad put his arm around her shoulders and drew her into the living room.

Darcy was setting down a tray of hot chocolate and the fire was roaring and crackling. It felt like a homecoming, but one without Logan.

Sienna smiled shyly as she entered the room and sank onto the sofa beside me. She gave Darcy an inquisitive glance and I introduced them. At the mention of Darcy's name, Sienna flinched.

"You don't have to be worried about Darcy. She's a friend."

Darcy laughed and leaned forward. "Despite what I've done in the past, I'm only here to help."

Sienna nodded, then glanced at me before returning her attention to Darcy. The one look said that she'd trust Darcy only because I trusted her.

Relieved, I got to my feet and went to Dad at the fire.

"You seem to spend a lot of time here," I said warming my hands over the heat.

He sighed. "Not nearly enough." He sounded tired.

"How did it go?" I asked. "How's she reacting?"

Dad looked away from the fire. His eyes were dark as he said, "Let's take every day one at a time, okay. Right now, I haven't seen much progress and my disappointment is making me want to throw in the towel."

"It's all or nothing Dad. That's what Lily would want." I spoke softly, listening to the murmur of conversation behind me.

Darcy probably taking both emotional and mental stock of her.
 

"Is she conscious?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. It's been painful. I have her sedated right now."

I nodded, sadness tugging at me. I'd harboured a silly hope that she'd be all healed and perfect by the time I got back home. "Let me know when she wakes up."

Dad rubbed my back. "I will. You just concentrate on the drama at hand." He gave my uninjured shoulder a squeeze. "I'm going to check on her." In his absence I drank hot chocolate and texted Tara, letting her know I'm home and that we needed to talk in private. Then I watched Sienna's face as she responded to Darcy's subtle probing.
 

Although it could be considered an invasion of her privacy, we only wanted to ascertain her mental health. Not make any changes.

And yet I still felt guilty. But I'd have to deal with Sienna when we told her.

Which wouldn't be today.

A few times the mindmelder glanced in my direction giving me an encouraging nod. From that, I understood that Logan's sister was healthy. Though her mind had been wiped, her brain was still in good condition. I'd been terrified that whatever they'd done to her mind, would not be able to be undone. Thankfully from Darcy's expression she seemed confident that there was hope.

The moment I entered the house all I want to do was to run upstairs and check on Logan. But if he wasn't okay, my father would have told me. I knew he'd be asleep, resting. Yet, that kind of assurance never did work for me but I didn't want to cause a scene and go running upstairs like some hysterical lover.

I'd given Sienna enough time to settle down, and now I glanced at her. "You ready?"

She nodded and got to her feet, dusting down the front of her pants. She gave Darcy a grateful smile and joined me as I walked to the door. We left the warmth of the living room and hurried up the stairs.
 

I headed to my room and stood on the threshold waiting for Sienna to catch up with me. At the doorway, I watched her as she caught sight of Logan for the first time. Tears filled her eyes and then ran unchecked down her cheeks.

She looked at me. "Is it okay if I . . .?"

I nodded vigorously. Hoping the tears that burned behind my lids would not fall. "Of course. You go right ahead. I'll give you some privacy."

She reached out to me. "You sure it's okay?"

"Absolutely." I patted her hand, feeling an overwhelming sense of affection for her. "I'll come back in a little bit. You two get acquainted."

She gave me a wry smile and went into the room and I left the two of them alone.

Brother and sister, reunited at last

CHAPTER 47

I
LEFT
S
IENNA
AND
L
OGAN
TO
get acquainted, although I wasn't sure exactly how they would manage it. Even watching his unmoving form from the doorway, it was obvious to me he'd grown weaker, paler. He didn't look any better.

Was that why Dad had failed to mention his condition when we spoke?

I shook the thoughts from my head, preferring not to think about it. Right now, there were other issues that required my concentration. Funny how the two main things in my life, the two things that hurt me the deepest, were the dead and the dying.
 

I headed downstairs to the living room, welcoming the warmth of the fire against my skin. For the first time in my life I felt ice right to the bone. I was grateful that the room was empty, and I sat beside the fireplace and leaned my head against the warmed stone.

Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I rang Nerina and asked her to come. When I had something to ask her, I never told her over the phone. Probably my distrust of her high priestess making me paranoid.

Nerina materialized beside me not long after, in a swirling blizzard of grey. She looked so serene, standing there all gray eyes, gray hair and gray cloak, and yet I knew more about her than I'd ever known about the deathtalkers. They used to be creatures of the OtherWorld to me. Now that I'd made friends with one of them, I knew the truth. Deep down we were the same.

And our fates were intertwined, whether by prophecy or mutual need.

"How'd it go?" she asked, taking a step towards me.

She knelt beside the fire and touched my arm, her fingers cool against my warm skin. The fabric of the clothing beneath her cloak peeked through and I was surprised to recognize a pair of jeans and a cable-knit sweater. Weather appropriate for sure, but death talker appropriate?

The longer Nerina spent with me the more she broke free from the chains that bound her to her Order. Lady Kira would never forgive me if she discovered her daughter's transgressions.

Hopefully she never found out.

I nodded and marshaled a smile, one that was much weaker than Nerina deserved. I lifted my brows to the ceiling. "She's here. I brought her back with me. But we left a whole lot of problems behind."

Nerina nodded. "Nothing more than what we'd expected." She looked serious, but unconcerned.

I sighed, the air coming out of my lungs in a tired gust. "The Prince of the Winter Fae wants to take over Dracys. Someone is killing emissaries of the Elders. Someone, either the same or an entirely different someone, is actively poisoning the Black Lilies of the Blood River and harvesting them for some nefarious reason. Someone else, or maybe even the same someone, is using the very same poison to kill the Ash Trees of the EarthWorld . . ."

I looked away, reluctant to continue because if I did I'd end up mentioning Logan's condition and then I may or may not release the floodgates of tears that had been taking all of my strength to hold fast.

From Nerina's silence I knew she was shocked. When at last she took a breath, she said, "Ok. That's certainly
more
than we expected."

She shifted and soon she was sitting on the floor, her legs crossed yoga style. "Now, tell me what you need from me."

I tilted my head and looked at her. "You think that our friendship is based solely on my needs for your services?"

She smiled at me, her expression serene. "I think perhaps that is the way our relationship began. Which was a long time ago. A lot has happened between us. And I have the utmost trust in you." She reached out and squeezed my fingers. "There is nothing to be ashamed of because you need my help. We are all here to help each other. Perhaps someday I will be in need of yours." She gave a cheeky smile.

I laughed. "Not exactly sure what I can bring to the table in terms of talent. I don't speak to the dead, I don't jump through the veil, I don't read minds."

Nerina laughed. "Ah well. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

I snorted, trying to school my features. "Right, so I need your help to get in touch with Anjelo."

"Huh?" She raised eyebrows. "What is it with you and Graylands?" She didn't sound happy.

I shrugged. "Everyone keeps ending up there and then they need my help."

She pursed her lips. "How do you know Anjelo needs you?"

"It's not Anjelo who needs me. It's Lily that needs me to fix what's going on with Anjelo."

Nerina's frown deepened. She did not understand the intricacies. Nor did she know the depth of Lily's problem, her insecurities and her inability to shift. Only I knew the burden she carried now, the burden that was Anjelo.

But she seemed to understand that this was a personal thing. Getting to her feet, she waved me towards the sofa. I rose in one smooth move, reluctant to leave the warmth of the fire. Nerina sat down on the sofa, plumped up the cushions behind her, leaned back and got comfortable.

I sat on the carpet beside her. She looked tired, smudges of shadow gouging the hollows beneath her eyes. "You know the drill," she said.

And I did.

Before too long, her lashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, now gray and pale and looking like death.

I leaned forward, watching Nerina's face closely. "Anjelo?" I asked softly.

Nerina tilted her head, her eyes still and unseeing, although her expression was confused and curious, and her lip curled in a familiar way.

"Kai?" came Nerina's voice, although now it contained a roughness that reminded me of Anjelo as much as that smartass smirk of his.

"Is that you?" he asked, his voice edged heavily with disbelief.

"Yes, it's me," I said gently. "I'd ask you how you are but . . ." I stopped talking, wondering if I was just going to upset him with my wisecracks.

But he just laughed. "Yeah. I'm not exactly in good
physical
condition." He fell silent after a while, then lifted his chin. "How are
you
?" he insisted.

"I'm fine. Just a lot going on right now." I didn't want to go into it all.

"I can understand that."

"Lily told you?" I wasn't surprised.

"A little."

I sighed. "Lily
is
the reason for this . . . meeting."

He laughed. "I knew you had to have a good reason."

"Of course, I did."

Now his laughter was a little bitter. "And of course Kailin Odel's feelings would be the last thing
you'd
consider."