Storm and Fury(42)

“I don’t care,” I said. “I could’ve stopped that demon. I should’ve used my grace to do so, but I didn’t. I can control it. You know that. I cannot sit around and do nothing, Thierry. I’m sorry. And if you forbid it or forbid them helping me, I swear to God, I will leave on my own. You will not be able to stop me. You know that.”

Thierry did know that.

Sitting back, he ran his palm over his face as he slowly shook his head.

“This was coming,” Matthew said to him. “We knew this deep down. She’s right. We can’t stop her. Only her father can.”

“Who is her father?” Zayne asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Thierry muttered under his breath, and I snorted at that. They really didn’t. He lifted his head as he dropped his hand. “Trinity is a weapon, and whatever problem you’re having in DC, she will be able to help you. That is true. But are you willing to help her?”

My breath caught as understanding roared through me. Thierry was relenting. Holy crap, he was.

“Yes.” It was Zayne who answered, surprising me. “Yes, we will help her. You’re right,” he then said to me. “I couldn’t walk away from this, either, if this was someone I knew and cared about. So, I understand that. I do.”

Feeling a little bad for being suspicious of him, I ducked my chin. “Thank you.”

Nicolai’s gaze shifted from me to Zayne and then to Thierry. “Yes, we will help her.”

I almost fainted, right then and there. Part of me couldn’t believe this was happening. They would help me find Misha and I...I was leaving the community, really leaving it, for the first time since I was a small child. We’d be leaving in the morning and I would need to pack.

I was still stunned when Peanut spoke. “I’m going with you.”

Surprised by Peanut’s statement, I forgot that I was around other people when I turned to him. “What?”

Peanut was fully corporal, his eyes wide. “I’m going with you. To DC.”

“But you haven’t left the community since you came here with me.”

“Who...who is she talking to?” asked Dez.

“Probably Peanut.” Thierry sighed. “He’s a ghost.”

“You have a ghost here?” Nicolai’s voice was strangely pitched.

“Yes,” answered Matthew. “Apparently he followed her here about ten years ago...”

As Matthew explained who and what Peanut was, I focused on my ghostie roommate. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I’m positive. If you’re leaving, I’m going.”

“But I’ll be coming back,” I told him.

A look of doubt crossed his pale face. “If you’re leaving, I’m going with you. Don’t even try to argue with me. You know it’s pointless. I’ll just follow you, anyway, and haunt you. You know I will.”

I did. He would totally do that.

“Okay.” I turned back to everyone. “Well, apparently you’re getting a two-for-one special. Peanut’s coming with.”



 



Saying goodbye to Jada and Ty the following morning was harder than I ever could have imagined, even if it was temporary.

“I wish we were going with you,” Jada said, her beautiful vivid blue eyes glimmering. “I’m going to be so stressed out with you being out there and me stuck here.”

“Don’t,” I told her, squeezing her hands. “You know I can take care of myself and I’m not going to be alone.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to worry any less.” Ty reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder. “You promise to call us every day.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

“FaceTime,” Jada said. “You have to FaceTime us even though I know you hate it.”

“I will even though I completely hate it,” I said, laughing. “I won’t be gone that long, and I’ll be back before you know it, with Misha.”

“Yes.” Jada squeezed my hands. “With Misha.”

Jada and Ty hung out while I finished packing, which consisted of me throwing all the leggings and tops, along with a few lightweight sweaters, I could pack in an oversize luggage. It was just the start of summer, so I figured there could still be some cool nights. Upon Jada’s suggestion, I added a few pairs of jeans. After they left, I shoved all the undies and bras I owned into a small suitcase, because I really didn’t know how long I was going to be. I was trying to be optimistic, but even with the DC clan’s help, it wasn’t like I was going to show up and find Misha immediately, and that was if—

“Stop,” I whispered, closing my eyes. Misha was still alive, and he would stay that way. I refused to believe anything else.

Opening my eyes, I zipped up the bag and then grabbed my laptop, shoving that into a tote along with my glasses and the satchel with my blades in them. Then I went to my nightstand and picked up the photograph of my mom and her paperback. Carefully I tucked them away in a tote bag, placing them in between the sweaters that didn’t fit in the suitcase so they’d be safe. I was scanning my room for anything else I might need when there was a knock on my open door. I turned, finding Zayne.

A mixed bag of emotions roared through me upon seeing him. Suspicion lingered, but it was overshadowed by anticipation and something sharper, heavier.

“May I come in?”

I nodded. “I’m almost done. Just making sure I’m not forgetting anything.”

“It’s okay. We have time.” Zayne sat on the edge of my bed, his pale blue gaze fixed on me. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sure you didn’t, either.”

“I slept maybe an hour.” My fingers lingered on the strap of my tote.

He did look tired. Faint shadows had blossomed under his eyes. “Nicolai, Dez and I were up, discussing how we were going to do this without letting the rest of the clan know.”

I sat beside him and placed the tote on the floor. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Keeping what you are a secret is going to be too hard at the compound,” he said, scratching one hand through his loose hair. “It’s going to be hard enough to explain your presence in the city, but since I...I haven’t been living at the compound for several months now, we figured it would be best if you stayed with me.”

“What?” I gasped, not at the fact that I’d be staying with him alone—and that was a whoa, big deal—but more for the fact he was living by himself. “You’re not living at the compound?”

“No.”

“Why? That’s so dangerous, being by yourself. Demons can sense what you are,” I said, donning my Captain Obvious hat.

“The place I have is in a good neighborhood and so far has been relatively demon free.” He smiled. “It’ll be easier and will hopefully delay explaining your presence.”

“But how are we going to delay it? If we’re looking for Misha and this thing you guys are worried about, the whole clan will be involved, yes?”

He angled his body toward me. “The whole clan can’t be involved in looking for Misha. Not if we need to hide what you are. Dez is going to help, but it’s going to be mostly you and me. That’s the best option.”

I mulled that over. I really didn’t have a choice, and it made sense. “Okay. That will work.” When Zayne didn’t respond, I looked at him. He was staring at me. “What?”

“Now I know why you smelled like ice cream to me.”

I flushed. “That was random.”

A quick smile appeared and then vanished. “You have to know that Heaven has a smell, right? That for everyone it’s different, but it’s always something that they enjoy or makes them feel good. My favorite food is ice cream.”

“It is?”

“You sound so surprised.”

“I guess I am. I don’t know. I picture your favorite food being steak and potatoes.”

“That would be my second favorite food,” he replied. “But now I understand why I smelled that on you when you were hurt.”

“It was my blood,” I finished for him. “I didn’t know that. I mean, I knew demons could smell it.”

“But you didn’t know that the light has a scent?”

I shook my head, thinking I’d never smelled anything all the times I’d seen the light. “And you know this how?”

“Whenever the Alphas come to see us, there’s always this thick, golden light that comes first. I’m not even sure it is light, because it reminds me of liquid. Whenever I’ve been around them, I’ve smelled it.” He shook his head. “So much makes sense now, and I almost can’t believe I didn’t figure it out.”

“How could you, though? Trueborns are thought to be things of the past.” I rested my hands on my thighs. “I don’t want you to treat me differently now that you know what I am.”

Zayne laughed softly under his breath. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

“Why?”

“Because I know what you are, Trinity.”

“So?”

“So?” He laughed again. “Were you taking it easy on me the day in the training room?”