Page 70 of Father of the Wolf

“Oh. Did you know him?” She must have, but he wanted her to open up. To tell him what was wrong.

She didn’t answer but she must have known the boy to react this strongly. Was that why she had shut him out? Was it her way of dealing with her pain? With loss?

“I’m sorry. Does the sheriff know what happened?”

Several steps later, she said, “Not much. Someone stopped Jimmy’s car and killed him.”

“What else?” Her clipped words told him that the sheriff had said more.

“Nothing.”

“There is more.” Why was she lying? Although she had managed to block most of her emotions, Athair could still sense confusion and sadness. Both emotions were expected. So, what was she hiding from him?

“There is nothing more.”

They reached the house and Hope slammed inside, leaving him standing with the others. He took a moment to explain what little he knew about the incident to Sandulfr, and then he went after Hope to find out what was wrong and why she was lying.

He found her in her bedroom. “Hope, what are you doing?”

She looked up at him, her expression grim. She was loading a pistol.

“Who do you intend to shoot?” Did she know how to use a gun? It looked like she did. She slid the bullets into the gun’s chambers with a sureness that told him she’d had training and at least some experience.

“The one who killed Jimmy.” She looked up for an instant, and then her eyes darted away.

Are you ready to tell me who that is?”

“Oh Athair. I’m so sorry.” She sank down onto the bed. “I...” Her words faded away without him learning anything. He tried to sense her thoughts, but her mind was still closed.

“Please Hope, you must tell me what you are thinking so we can face it together.” He knelt before her and took her hands in his, uncurling her fingers and placing the gun on the night stand. “Tell me who you think killed the boy.”

This time she met his gaze. “Sgrios.”

“What did you say?” He couldn’t have heard her correctly.

“I’m sorry, Athair. It was Sgrios.”

“It couldn’t have been.” Sgrios had no reason to kill Jimmy. Maybe she had forgotten the traitors were camped nearby.

“It was. There was a witness. And I think he was the one who attacked me, too. A girl died that night.”

“It was not my brother.” Where had this come from? Had she been afraid of Sgrios all this time?

“You said yourself he was poisoned by his guilt. Blame the poison if you wish, but you need to see what he’s become. Sgrios has killed before, and he will again. He must be stopped.”

“You can’t mean this. I won’t let you kill him. I doubt you could, anyhow.”

“Oh, I didn’t think about his powers.” She blinked twice. “I’d probably need silver bullets, wouldn’t I?”

“He did not kill that boy.” Athair growled but regretted it when she pulled away.

“Someone saw him stop Jimmy’s car, and they called the police. The sheriff described Sgrios perfectly. Where was he when Jimmy left?”

“He went for a walk, but I don’t know where. I was with Sandulfr, remember?” Someone had seen Sgrios stop the boy’s car? Why would he do that?

“That gives you an alibi, but it doesn’t help him. I don’t suppose you know where he was a month ago, either.” She kept insisting he was a suspect.

But no matter how certain she was, he had to convince her to let it go. He’d start with the earlier incident. He could settle that one quickly enough. “Actually, I do know where he was. He was hunting.”

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