Stone Guardian(69)

He came over and enveloped her in a giant hug, squeezing her so hard she was lifted a few inches off the ground. “Never again. No matter what, you come to us.”

“No.” She pushed away from him. “I still don’t want Dad to know, and I have others to protect me, people more qualified than Dad or the other bros.”

She could see the war behind his eyes at that statement, but after long moments he nodded. “Yeah. I hear you.”

“Thanks.”

He looked around the room, taking in the family photographs that lined her walls. “So what now, Miss Hear-Me-Roar?”

She smacked his arm, a giggle escaping. Gods, it felt good to laugh again, even such a small sound. “I need to see Fallon. It’s time we all laid our cards face up, because cloak-and-dagger is not my thing, and if the Guild can help, I’m want to meet with them.” Jason’s face flashed before her, the weird intense look in his eyes as disturbing in memory as it was in person. “This might be affecting people close to me. It needs to end, no matter how unsure I am about my possible allies.”

“I agree. I’ll talk to my superiors and see if I can bring my people into it.” He took a strand of her hair, curling it around his finger and pulling slightly, like he did when she was little. “We’ll figure this out. I’ll pick you up tonight and we’ll see what this Fallon has to say.”

“You’ll pick up me and Terak.”

“Terak? That’s the guy’s name?” Michael’s mouth thinned and turned down. “You sure you still want him if I’m with you?”

I can’t do this without Terak. The response almost leapt from her throat before she tamped it down. Probably best not to go into that minefield with her brother. It was an area she wasn’t sure how to handle yet, so discussion with siblings – all of whom had less than enthusiastic responses to any male who had ever gotten close to her – was strictly a no-go. “It would feel weird if I didn’t bring him with me, like a betrayal. He’s been through every step with me.”

“When I meet this guy, I’m going to shake his hand and thank him for taking care of you.”

“Aww, Michael, that’s so sweet-”

“And then I’m beating the crap out of him for being naked in your apartment.”

Men were stupid. It was all she could come up with most days. Change of subject. “What time are you going to pick us up?”

“Seven.”

“We’ll be ready.”

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Love you, baby sister. No matter what else, you have to remember that.”

“I always know that.”

When Michael was gone she went to the balcony and did her patented wave and dance, which had always worked in the past to get Terak’s attention.

No Terak. Not then and not for the next several minutes.

The image of that little silver ball popped up. Yes, thank gods Terak had the foresight to get it. Going into the bedroom and opening the top drawer of her nightstand, the silver ball was where she left it, safely stored in a velvet bag in the corner.

Alright, hold it tight and start speaking in your head. Terak. Terak, I need you. Can you hear me? Fallon wants to meet with us tonight, and I need you here.

Thirty minutes later she had a pounding headache and not heard a word from her erstwhile gargoyle.

The next two hours were spent between going to the balcony and trying to use the silver ball, but Terak never arrived at her side.

This couldn’t be about the kiss, could it?

Did he hate himself?

Did he hate her?

Maybe he felt guilt. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t in love with his fiancé. The fact was he was engaged to marry one woman while he kissed another. She wouldn’t like him if he was the type of male who thought so little of his promises and responsibilities.

Whatever the reason, he wasn’t here, and Michael was arriving in five minutes for their meeting with the Guild.

This meeting had to happen. Working with the Guild was her best bet of finding out the information needed. She wasn’t going to let necromancers use her to destroy this world, and she needed to protect her kids and anyone else close to her the necromancers might use to get to her.

Terak would hate that she left without him, but there was no choice.

It was time for her to step up.

Michael arrived at seven sharp. A smile plastered on her face and her hands stuffed into the pockets of her slacks to hide the shaking, she said with all the false confidence she could muster, “Let’s go meet with the Guild.”





Chapter Twenty-Three





Michael drove to the town hall, parking in the back. There were no other cars around, and all the lights had somehow stopped functioning, making the parking lot pitch black. Nice touch.