Page 25 of The Blairville Legacies

Nash came back to me and stood in front of me. There was despair in his eyes...worry. And I wondered if this was all about me.

“He’s already made up his mind, Emely.”

No, that wasn’t true. I couldn’t give up on Julian. Not only would he need us sooner or later...he would come to us.

I shook my head slowly.

Nash was still looking deep into my eyes.

“That’s not true. All you care about is that...”

I broke off because I didn’t want to blame Nash now. He was my brother, and he cared about me.

His arms wrapped around my body, and I wrapped mine around his back in friendship.

Inside, I was grateful to him for this hug because I was close to tears.

But I had to pull myself together.

There were still a few songbirds chirping, and the fresh forest air invaded my nose, while a roll of thunder sounded in the distance.

I loved it here. And Julian had loved it, too, back then…

What had happened? What had it all made of us?

The wind brushed my hair, and I heard Nash whispering at my back.

“He’s decided against you, Emy.”

Mayor’s Office

The mayor tried to ignore the thunder in the distance. Like every year, the sound sent goosebumps down her arms. Yet the annual autumn storms weren’t half as bad as the fact that she had to keep this town from collapsing.

She turned in her desk chair, away from the oak table, and looked out the window across to the lawyer’s office when the door burst open.

She flinched, turned quickly, and spotted the man in his fifties who was known as the head doctor at Blairville Hospital.

“Dr. Copeland,” she began, putting on her well-practiced smile. “I’m glad it’s you.”

The doctor looked anything but thrilled. His expression was tense, his beard, a boatman’s ruff, and dark blond hair were neat, as always, and his doctor’s coat, along with suit pants, dark brown vest, and white shirt, fit neatly, but the mayor knew this man was a loose cannon.

“I don’t have much time!” the doctor pressed out, taking a deep breath.

“Then I’ll be brief,” the mayor continued, lowering her eyes to the documents on the table in front of her – quite a few cover letters from concerned citizens. “You can’t have your pack approaching people. You know the rules.” She looked up and caught his tense gaze. “People’s safety comes first,” she said.

“I always follow the rules,” the doctor snorted. “And so does my family.” His hands balled into fists, veins popping out on his arms, turning dark. “No one in the pack would harm a soul.”

The mayor tried not to stare at his arms, looking back into his eyes.

“I understand...”

“You do not!” the doctor snapped at her angrily. “All you Quatura care about is keeping your own head above water! We’re a thorn in your side!”

She pressed her lips together.

“As mayor, I’m all about making sure the treaties are followed.”

His irises flashed yellowish. “Then you should start restricting the DeLoughreys!”

---