Page 9 of Cursed Gift

“Kai left earlier,” I said. When Alexei’s hand tightened, I pushed forward, realizing how that sounded. As if Kai would just run off at the first mention of problems. “He wanted to make sure his mother made it home safe and then do what he could to make sure everyone in his clan was secure. But he’ll be back. If anyone else wants to leave now, they can. This isn’t just random tracks on the perimeter anymore, this is a direct threat.”

“My parents can handle it back home,” Rafe said. “Like Calen, we’re better used here to figure out what this is, so we can bring the information back and help keep everyone safe.”

Theo shifted his weight from foot to foot as he thought. Finally, his voice rang out sure and authoritative. “I wish to go to Clan Chang as well. My parents are deciding what’s best to be done for our clan back home.”

All eyes turned to Felix. He just stared back at me until the heat of everyone’s gazes became too much for him and he looked around. “Seriously?” he asked, as if he couldn’t believe he had to say the words out loud. “I’m going to China, too. My clan’s probably the closest in distance. I’ve already arranged for tighter security and to wait for my next update.”

Well, now that was settled. We were all going. Except for Kai. He could meet us there or meet us back here when he was done ensuring the safety of his clan.

The door reared open behind them and Papa Nicolai stood in the frame. His face riddled in shadows, a few of the guys shrunk in his presence. He had that kind of effect on others.

“Izzy,” he said, peering at me over Rafe’s shoulder. “We need you all back. Everyone else has left and we need to discuss how to move forward with this…” he said, motioning toward my possible mates.

At that, he spun and left us there to follow. He knew we would. Theo grabbed the door, and we rushed through, only not as fast to keep up with Papa Nic. In times like this, he didn’t like to stray too far away from my mom. Neither did any one of them. With a whisper, I heard Rafe say to no one in particular, “Is it just me, or is he one of the scariest vampires alive?”

Alexei answered with a dark chuckle.

When we moved back into the room, it was eerily silent. They all just stood there looking at one another without saying anything.

Papa Christian jumped to his feet first and had us all sit in the first row of chairs. Tension thick like suffocating smoke, they looked down at us from the raised dais until it was Christian again who spoke. “I know we talked about this already, but if any of you would like to return—”

“We all just talked about this,” I said, cutting his thought off. “We’re all staying.”

“Besides Kai,” Felix said quickly.

I turned and locked gazes with the curly-haired vampire. “They know Kai left to make sure his mother got home safe.”

He merely shrugged and turned his attention back to the front of the room. Some of them shifted in their seats, but I was used to being stared down by the four Ravana kings and the most prestigious queen we’d ever had. They didn’t intimidate me half as much as they seemed to be intimidating the rest of the guys. Save Alexei. Alexei was nearly a second child to them as well. Nearly. Maybe before the stunt he pulled in telling everyone he was in love with me.

When we’d moved into this room, my hand had fallen away from Alexei’s. It was just in my lap now, empty. Alone.

King Christian’s voice rose up again calling for my attention. “Okay. The next step to figure out is whether we should continue with the mate choosing.”

“We’re continuing,” I said. “We can do both. Try to find out who murdered the Chang’s and continue with the mate choosing.”

“Told you,” my mother said, quickly and under her breath. The rest of us could hear it if we were paying attention and by the small smiles forming on my possible mates’ faces, they had all heard it.

“That was my next question,” Papa Christian said, his jaw ticking and ignoring my mother’s comment. “We need to know how many of you want to accompany the team going to China.”

Everyone spoke up at once, saying either, “I” or “Yes”, and even Felix’s, “I’m in.”.

Papa Christian nodded. “We leave tonight. Get your things ready if you wish to come. Izzy, stay behind.”

He caught me in mid-motion following the rest of them as they jumped to their feet, eager to get started in this.

Instead of joining them, I walked forward as they filed out, hushed conversations reaching my ears until the big door slammed behind them sending a reverberation through the room.

“I suggest you find a way to tell them about your visions before we land in Clan Chang territory. Maybe seeing what you saw will trigger another one and we don’t have to worry about explaining things after the fact.”

I nodded slowly, my gut wrenching. Though I knew it was the right thing to do, I wondered what they would think of me. Alexei knew and had known for a long time, but I still couldn’t get the thought out of my head that maybe the rest of them would think I was some sort of freak. People with powers like my grandma were revered, but I’d done nothing but screw this ‘gift’ up. I couldn’t help save anyone. What would they think of me?

I turned to leave, but Papa Christian called me back. His voice rang out strong. “You were right, Izzy. With this new development, I’d be calling for the clans to cooperate in information and in security. Because of you, we’ve already made the steps toward that. Li Chang came here first. Through us, the rest of your possible mates have already reached out to their clans.” A smile peeled his lips apart and a sparkle of pride twinkled in his eye. “I’m immensely proud of you.”

My heart soared, and I couldn’t help but smile in return. I hadn’t thought of it like that. I’d only thought about what I hadn’t been able to do, which was save the Chang’s, but maybe by what I’d already put in place, we could save the rest of the clans. “Thank you, Papa.”

“Now go get ready,” Papa Nic said. “You’ve got to show these boys who the boss is.”

I liked the sound of that.

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