Page 64 of Forgotten Arcane

“That will definitely give us an advantage,” River agrees.

“You know that we’re going to have to fill Ty in if we do decide to go, otherwise that could cause all kinds of issues,” Van points out.

I nod, “Well, we can iron out all the details if we decide that it’s necessary to go.”

“Good point,” Van agrees. “Let’s finish lunch and get to the Compound before we’re late and we get into even more trouble.”

∞∞∞

Doc transports the van to just up the road from the gates that lead into the compound, so that we can drive up normally. We can’t get any closer because we would risk being caught on the cameras at the gate, or having to explain how we got into the compound without driving through the gates if we were to get Doc to transport us to Van’s parents' place.

The compound is located in the middle of nowhere, and includes one of the biggest lakes in the country. It has a river going from it to the sea, and the land between the sea and the lake is all owned by the compound and Van’s parents. It’s an insane amount of land, but completely private and very secure. There’s a monitored fence that runs around the perimeter to keep out wandering humans and unwanted supernaturals.

The area is so big that a large portion of residents live in the town. It is fully equipped with everything that you could expect from a town, including a cinema, grocery store, several restaurants, a school, and a doctor's surgery among other things. There is also a lot of water on this property beside the big lake. There are lots of smaller ones, rivers, waterfalls, pretty much everything that you can think of that naturally relates to water.

We head through the gates, Evander keying in the code so that we can gain access. It takes us an extra thirty minutes of driving before we get to the town, and then a further twenty before we finally pull up to the central part of the compound where Evander’s parent’s house is, along with a few cabins, that people live in, the meeting building, gym, and all of that sort of thing.

It's kind of run like a pack now that I think about it. A difference being that only a few people live near the main house, whereas in a pack everyone lives spread out around the packhouse.

Chapter Eighteen

Neith

We take the circular driveway around to the back of the house so that we don’t disturb the big table being set up outside the front.

I have to admit that it feels good to be back here.

One of my favorite things about growing up was the banquets. They were always amazing and always filled with laughter and dancing. It was like we were all one huge family. Everyone was, or rather is, an uncle and aunty, and I know for a fact that the majority of them aren’t related to Van at all, and yet they wouldn’t have either of us call them anything different.

It was awesome, and I have really fucking missed it.

Nerves start to stir in my belly.

I’ve been so focused on Calia and Eamon’s reaction to me coming back after the way that I left, that I completely forgot about the aunts and uncles. They’re going to be pissed.

I wince.

Van chuckles as he somehow catches my expression in the mirror.

“Let me guess, you just remembered the aunts and uncles?” he asks.

My eyebrows hit my hairline. “How the hell did you guess that?”

Van grins and then winces slightly, “Because I may have forgotten about the aunts and uncles too, and I haven’t been to visit for a while.”

“Oooo,” River exclaims, looking extremely amused. “You’re both in trouble!”

The whole car starts laughing, and Van and I share a sympathetic look with one another.

This is either going to go really well, or we’re about to get our asses chewed out. Is it bad that I’m grateful that it won’t just be me?

As soon as the car stops, the back door of the house burst open, and Calia and Eamon come rushing out. We all quickly get out of the car before we get pulled out of it.

Calia pulls me into her arms, as Eamon wraps his around Van, and then continues to greet the other guys.

“I am so fucking glad that you’re back, and you’re with SID,” Calia says quietly, still hugging me, her voice thick with emotion.

I swallow. There is nothing quite like getting a hug from the only mother figure that you have ever really known.

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