Page 119 of Shrouded in the Dark
Becca
Getting snacks took longer than I thought it would. Mom went a little overboard with the food while Gary brought out water bottles and soda. The guys helped move everything into the family room and onto the coffee table. The twins were sent upstairs.
I settled on a large bean bag chair near the TV. Seth sat behind me, pulling me against his chest as the rest of the guys arranged themselves around us. Mom eyed us but she didn’t say anything, only gestured to the food.
“Eat something.” She picked up a bag of chips and tossed them to me. “I won’t have anyone in my house hungry.”
A rumble of amusement came from Seth’s chest as he opened the bag of chips before handing them back to me. He took one and bit into it as Mom nodded satisfied.
“So.” Jasper draped his right hand on his knee that he had bent, looking relaxed. “What happened that made you call us away from Tabernash?” His fingers tapped, betraying his nerves.
Gary had brought his laptop from his office. He turned the computer around to show an image of a burning building.
“This is Fair Rock. A local favorite. It also belongs to the Fae. The Venandi, in an unprecedented attack, attempted to destroy it. The building hides a doorway to Fairyland.” He set the computer in front of him, pushing some of the snacks together for room. “Before we continue, boys, why don’t you tell me what you know of the Fae?”
Wait. My mouth dropped open for a few seconds. Fae? Fairies?
The guys, except Wyn, looked at Seth. Wyn had a fierce glare on his face since he’d come back inside after a phone call he’d thought I hadn’t noticed he’d gone outside for. I nudged his thigh with my foot. When he looked at me, his glare disappeared.
“You okay?” I mouthed the words to him. He nodded and squeezed my foot.
“The Fae are our brethren, of sorts.” Seth tightened his arms around my waist. “When humans became aware of the Fae, they did what they always have. They tried to extinguish what they saw as different. Since it was different, it didn’t deserve to live.” He sighed. “The Fae have always had low numbers because half of them can’t survive on this plane of existence because of the lack of magic in the air. Only the strong could handle it. For the most part, they tried to stay out of human and other supernaturals business. The Venandi made that impossible after a while.”
I looked up at him. He’d looked off into the distance as he continued his story.
“Shifters are actually distant relatives of Fae. Our maker came from Fairyland thousands of years ago. When the Venandi began hunting, and winning, against the Fae, a dark prince gave them something that made hunting shifters much easier. What they gave them, we don’t know, but they focused their attention on us, making an uneasy truce with the fairies. That was a few hundred years ago.” Hate filed his voice. “Fae are no friends to shifters.”
Cody shifted from where he was and leaned against my side. I could feel a little tremor move over him. I wrapped my arm around his middle, squeezing him.
“The Venandi have always kept tabs on the Fae. They want to destroy them just as much as the others. The reasoning that they haven’t has been the truce our two species have had, but it was also because of what that dark prince did to ensure the peace. He sacrificed his power into a curse. If the truce was ever broken, the magic would ensure the destruction of the hunters. The details on how that would be done are unknown, but it seems like the higher ups just don’t care or found a way around the curse.” Gary leaned forward on the couch, his hands resting between his legs. “We need to find out what those details are.”
“That’s where I come in.”
I looked over at Wyn, dreading what he was going to say next. He offered an apologetic smile.
“I’ve got to go back to headquarters and get the information. I also need to save Felicity. She’s been put on the first defense team, she’ll die in the first wave of attack.” His look of unease made my stomach flip.
Felicity. He had to get Felicity. Did I want her to be saved after knowing that she had planned to kill Axel? That she’d lied to me?
Of course I wanted to save her. I just didn’t know if I wanted to be friends, but I couldn’t stop Wyn from saving his family. He obviously cared for her.
“You’re not going alone.” Cody glared at Wyn. “That’s asking for trouble.”
Wyn looked at Cody with a curious expression. “I can’t bring another shifter with me. They’ll kill any of you on sight. I’m the only one who can get in and out without suspicion.”
“Your mate is right, Wyn.” Gary brought everyone’s attention back to him. “You can’t go alone. It’s just too dangerous. There are too many unknowns. I’ll be going with you.”
That set my mom off. She jerked out of her seat and turned to look at Gary. “Oh, no, you won’t! Didn’t you just tell me last night that you’re not welcome there?!” Fire flared in her eyes and I settled against Seth. This was going to take a while.
Gary and Mom continued to argue for the next several minutes as the rest of us took bites of food and sips of water or soda. Wyn kept looking down at his phone. I pushed his thigh again with my foot.
“What about me?”
Silence greeted my question as Mom whipped her head to look over at me in growing horror. Gary’s brows furrowed but his thinking face popped on.
“No.” Wyn didn’t even hesitate. “No way.”
“Who else can come with you? Do they know instantly if you’re a shifter?” I ignored Seth’s warning squeeze. “I don’t have to go inside, but I can be close, in case you need help.”
