"Why is Grace here?" I probe, hesitant to push this kid much further. But he knows more, and I need to know everything if I want to keep them all safe.
His response drops between us like a heavy stone. His words are so simple, and his facial expression shifts. Like he thinks it's a silly question.
"Because she's like us."
The certainty in his voice collides with everything I know as truth.
"She's not an aberrant. She's human." My voice comes out hard, a little too sharp. But he doesn't flinch.
He raises an eyebrow instead. "Aberrants can be human, too."
Before I can question him further, Jack-Eye's voice drops into my mind, the pack link opening without warning. It's intrusive enough to wake Fenris, who's sleeping deep inside.
You need to hear this.
The intensity behind his words brings a frown to my face, and the kid watches intently. I force my expression into impassivity; an adult should never scare children.
Well… sometimes.
But this is not one of those times.
They're all dead. Every single one of them. Someone came around and killed them all in some sick magic ritual. Fiddleback is fucked, Caine. Rotten from the ground up. This is way beyond anything we've ever seen before.
It only takes a thought to force the link wider, bringing in sight. Scent.
There's a rotten, putrid smell so vivid my tongue shrivels in my mouth, despite being a mental echo.
Who did it?I demand, even as hazy images filter through the link. Slow to manifest, but the impression is… devastating.
So many bodies. So much blood.
Lyre's burning it now. She seems angry. I don't think she's in her right mind. The woman's got power, Caine. More than even you. Better to keep her on our side—ah, shit, the wizard's puking again. I'll keep you updated.
The connection cuts as abruptly as it opened, leaving me disoriented, the cave spinning around me for a heartbeat.
"You okay?" the kid asks, reaching out with a hesitant hand.
"Caine? Are you all right?"
Footsteps shuffle against the stone floor, and Grace finally emerges from her hiding place, her blueberry scent hitting me hard. Breathing it in helps still the slight dizziness, smooths the ripples the kid stirred up in my chest. Her grass-green eyes are dark with worry, her fists clenched at her sides.
Ah. She probably wants to reach out. The visions must have affected me more than I thought, if these two can see how disoriented I am. If even Grace wants to try and stabilize me.
Thankfully, her hands remain at her sides. If I can't even control my expression right now, I'm sure I won't be able to control whatever transference bullshit happens when she touches me.
No touching,Fenris murmurs.
"I'm fine," I tell them both roughly, rolling my shoulders back until I'm straight again.
The kid doesn't seem to care anymore, looking at Grace instead as he asks, "Is she asleep?"
"More importantly," I cut in, "Who are these people after you?"
Chapter forty-one
Grace: Too Young For This
"The Great One. Isabeau. She's who's after us."
