Page 127 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“I should have it somewhere in my jewelry box,” I answered, wracking my brain to remember when was the last time I used it.

“If you find it, put it on. Just to be safe.” Uncle Helios didn’t explain why, but it wasn’t hard to figure out his worry.

If someone opened a hole in the plane barriers from this side, what if they were still nearby?

“I’ll look for it.”

“I’ll talk to everyone over here, and see if we can think of any way to help.”

“Thanks, Uncle.”

“Please be careful, Bells.” Uncle Helios didn’t worry over small things, so I was planning on taking it seriously.

“I’ll do my best.”

After I hung up, I went up to the old alpha room to look for the bracelet Uncle Helios had given each of us when Cory and I were thirteen. Cory told me it carried a protection spell after it saved his life the day he was kidnapped. I used to wear it when I was younger, but as I got older, I’d taken it off as I began to worry about things like fashion, whereas my twin loved that thing. It was almost an anxiety soother for him. He played with it anytime he was nervous so he never took it off. Uncle Helios hadn’t told us it was spelled at the time, so none of us knew until it protected Cory.

I walked into the alpha suite and straight into the closet, pulling out a big box of personal stuff I kept there. I left as quickly as possible, doing my best not to look at the bedroom that brought so many bad memories for me. Once back in my room, I opened the box and looked through it.

I sighed, unable to find it. I would hate to have lost it, but maybe I left it in Crescent Moon. There were still a few boxes Cory had stored for me.

I thought back to everything Uncle Helios told me about his theory. It might be time to talk about that night. I needed answers, and holding back information wasn’t going to help anything. But, I wasn’t ready to relive that night with anyone. I wasn’t ready to explain my thoughts and feelings over it. I wasn’t sure I ever would.

I put the box in my closet and went to work. The wine needed to be bottled and readied for transportation. Everyone wasenjoying a few days of rest as Eric and I prepared everything for the process.

To my surprise, Hugh showed up as we went over a list of things that needed to be done, and asked if he could take a few items off our list. I divided the tasks between the three of us, and when Hugh left to get started, Eric started taking his own pulse.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, dread filling me. I couldn’t do this without Eric. He was the only one who knew how everything needed to be done.

“I’m checking to see if I died, and didn’t notice. That’s a goddamn Christmas miracle in October,” he motioned to the door Hugh used to exit. I laughed, relieved and amused by his comment.

As much as it seemed like Hugh was turning a new leaf, I wasn’t all that convinced he was committed to change. The list I gave him were tasks that I could afford to get done a little late in case he went back to his lazy ways.

When lunchtime came, I walked toward the daycare with John, Cade and a bag of food. Cade felt it was only fair to give my sister at least some sort of a break from the kids during lunch, so after eating, we spent time playing with the kids to ensure she got a little break to just breathe.

John only started joining us a few days ago. I wanted to say I felt a little jealous of how fast Violet got comfortable with the man, but I was beginning to understand that it wasn’t about trusting someone faster than she trusted me, but the fact that she was managing her trauma better. It made me proud and happy to see her pushing through so many hurdles. I had a sneaking suspicion that Cade invited John so it wasn’t so obvious that a person was missing at the table, though.

I caught movement as I approached the building and turned my head toward the little grouping of trees a few hundred yards from the daycare. I looked away and sighed internally when Irealized it was Chris, forever guarding the person he pushed away. I was going to end up having to talk to him if he kept it up. It was all well and good while I thought Violet might still forgive him if he got his head out of his ass. If she moved on, though, then I’d consider it stalking, and she didn’t need that shit in her life.

“I see him, too. He’s been there all week.” Cade leaned over and whispered in my ear, making me shiver at his closeness.

“It’s getting a little ridiculous, don’t you think?” I asked.

“I told you, he cares about her.”

“Then, he needs to get his head out of his ass. All he’s doing is giving Elim the time to woo Violet.”

“Would that be so bad?” John asked, giving me a sidelong glance as we walked.

“I don’t care who my sister ends up with as long as they make her happy. But I care about Chris, too, even if I’m mad at him right now. He deserves a good mate, and no one is going to be better for him than Violet. They balance each other. He’s an overprotective bear of a man, and that’s the type of person my sister needs in her life. She makes him smile and laugh. I know you don’t know him very well, but that alone is a fucking miracle. She brings light into his life, and he brings comfort and courage into hers.”

“Can’t one of you guys talk to him about it?”

“Violet put a gag order on us.” Cade pouted.

The very first thing Violet did the morning after Chris broke up with her, was make Cade swear that he wouldn’t say anything about it to Chris.

“Should I?” John asked. “I could have Cade feeding me info through the mind-link.”

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