Page 71 of Father of the Wolf

“I guess you could say that. He was hunting humans. He was hunting me.”

“You’ve forgotten that our home is halfway across the state. It took us three weeks to get here.”

“And you’re forgetting that Sgrios steals cars but prefers motorcycles. He would have had plenty of time to kill that girl and get home to your family.”

“You really think he did it.” He knew it wasn’t possible, but she did have a valid argument. One he needed to counter quickly, if there was any chance to save the situation.

“Yes, I do.”

“It doesn’t feel right. Tell me again what happened the night you were attacked.” There had to be some way he could convince Hope of his brother’s innocence.

“I followed a black animal into an alley, where I saw the girl who was killed. There were four men. One of them chased me down, beat me, but ran when Steve came looking for me.”

“And you could identify the attacker? If it was Sgrios, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

She shook her head slightly. “I remembered details about the girl, but little about the men. All I saw was the black wolf-like animal and his green eyes shining back at me after the attack. As close as we were, I couldn’t make out my attacker’s face.”

“He used an empathic blur. Some of us can manipulate emotions to interfere with perception.” So Sgrios was innocent. How could he have doubted his brother even for a moment?

“That’s a useful skill for a predator.” Her voice was condemning.

“Yes. But not for Sgrios.” Somehow, he had to make her understand and believe. Their relationship was at stake. She could never trust him if he defended her attacker.

“I know you don’t want to believe it but—” She sounded resigned.

“Listen to me. A couple of things you just told me clear Sgrios of at least one of these crimes. He did not attack you.” Athair knelt before her and met her gaze. “Will you listen to why I say that without a doubt?”

“I’ll listen.”

“You said there were four men, right?” Athair clasped her hands in his to reassure himself that she wasn’t afraid of him. Her suspicions showed him that their relationship still needed work. They had to have trust between them, but trust could be built brick by brick.

“Four.”

“Sgrios hunts alone. This trip with Reultan and Díon is the first he’s ever taken with others. He goes to escape our presence, to be alone or with wild wolves, but not to actually hunt. And certainly not to hunt humans.”

“I see what you’re saying, but I don’t know what it proves.”

“Then what about the empathic blur? Sgrios is incapable of using that skill. He can no longer use his empathy that way.”

“Why not?”

He felt her curiosity and was encouraged. “That is a precision skill of empathy and requires a delicate touch.”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

“Think of the skill required to blur perceptions as being like that needed to sew fine silk. Instead of a needle, Sgrios holds an axe.”

“So, he’s an axe murderer. That doesn’t make him innocent.”

“Hope, if he had tried to blur your perception, you’d be dead. There’s nothing delicate or subtle about my brother’s emotions. Can you understand that? You. Would. Be. Dead. His empathy is too potent to be used casually. All these centuries, he has locked his emotions behind that hard shell, to keep from accidentally hurting anyone. You aren’t dead, so it wasn’t Sgrios. As for Jimmy, I don’t believe my brother killed the boy. But I intend to find out who did.”

“Fine. I need to call Steve. I want to be sure he’s all right.”

“You do that while I see what I can learn about the boy’s death.” Athair said nothing more and left her sitting alone on her bed.

Hope reached for the bedside phone and dialed Steve’s number. After only one ring, he answered. “Hello?”

“Steve, this is Hope.” And I just did something really stupid.

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