Page 81 of Deadly Avarice
Momma’s eyes shimmered with tears and a single drop fell, landing on our clutched hands. Guilt tore at my chest. “I’m sorry, Momma.”
Stubbornly rubbing the tears from her cheeks, Momma said, “Nonsense. You’ve nothing to apologize for.”
I begged to differ but didn’t think now was the time. Instead, I asked, “Franklin? Where—”
“He’ll be back soon. Nikodemus arrived and Franklin went to the reception area to fetch him and lead him to your room.”
I barely held in a fresh groan. “Pops is here?”
“Of course he is.” Momma’s fingers continued fussing with my blanket. “You know better than to assume he’d stay in California when you’re lying in a hospital bed.”
If Pops was here, that had to mean I’d been out of it for at least a few hours. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Six hours and some change. At least since you’ve been in the hospital. No one’s certain how long…how long you were lying in that cemetery.” Momma’s gaze wouldn’t meet mine.
A fresh apology was on the tip of my lips but died when I heard Pops’s heavy footsteps in the hall. His body took up nearly the entire frame of the doorway. All warlocks went prematurely white and Pops was no different. The stark white was a harsh contrast against the unforgiving blackness of the rest of his hair.
“I was told you weren’t awake yet,” Pops said as he walked into the room. I caught snatches of Franklin’s body behind him, but Pops generally overshadowed everyone else in the room, including the man I loved.
“He just woke up,” Momma answered.
“Then I’m just in time.” Pops grinned and leaned over the bed, blocking out the annoying fluorescent lighting. His large, black-tipped fingers framed my cheeks as he kissed my forehead. Inhaling deeply, Pops pulled away but didn’t release my face. His eyes darkened as he scanned my body, taking in the bruise on my face and the damage done to my neck. Without a word, Pops shoved a pain charm into my hand and activated it. The relief was immediate.
“Thanks, Pops,” I said after a relieved sigh.
“Anytime.” Jaw locked down tight, Pops finally released me and took another step back. His smile appeared forced but with a hint of relief also. “Franklin filled me in on what he knows. However, I believe there are still several gaps in our understanding. Are you up to that or do you need more time?”
Franklin finally found a way around Pops and came to my side. My man appeared tired, but in good spirits. “Hey, love. How are you feeling?” Franklin asked, ignoring Pops’s request for information.
“Like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me.” My attempt at levity fell flat. “Hey, I’m okay. How about you?” I didn’t knowwhich arm Franklin had been shot in and looked at both, but his long sleeves covered any damage.
“You can stop looking. I’m all healed, thanks to Captain Cicely.”
I eased into my pillows, sighing with relief. “I’m glad.”
“Me too. Now, since I’m all sorted out, let’s concentrate on you.” Franklin’s fingers carded through my hair, his fingertips gently skirting across my tender skin. If I were a cat, I would have purred. “What about it? Do you feel like telling us what happened?”
My eyes pinched closed as memories assaulted my mind. “I’d rather not, but I think I need to. I…I’m not really sure I understand myself.” Momma offered me another drink of water, and after thanking her, I started in. I told them everything I could remember, starting with the fact that the woman who’d been contacting me wasn’t, in fact, the real Janet Meeker and ending with the horridly odd way she and her husband, Titus McMahon, died.
“I don’t understand,” I said. “Maybe I was delirious. I mean, my oxygen was low so maybe I was seeing things. I’ve never heard of anyone who can control shadows. Maybe a fairy?” We all knew that fairies had different affinities. Hellfire Rayburn’s was fire and Hamish McIntosh was more plant based, at least from what I’d heard. And then there was Wendall. He was only part fairy but had inherited his fairy ancestor’s propensity for water. From what I understood, Wendall was still attempting to get a handle on those abilities. Maybe there was a fairy that could control and manipulate shadows. But even if so, why were they there? How could they have known I was in trouble, and why would they have stepped in to help? Besides, fairies weren’t really known for being shy little wallflowers. They were a proud lot, and I couldn’t imagine one of them not taking credit for something so obviously powerfully deadly.
Pops’s skin was waxen and pale. His fingers were tightened into fists and his dark eyes seemingly stared at nothing at all.
Unease crept beneath my skin like little ants. “Pops?” He knew. Pops knew something and he was afraid to say it. “What’s going on?”
Pops’s jaw worked from side to side and his lips were pressed so tightly they blanched. Gaze focusing, Pops didn’t look at me, but Franklin. “This fits with the call you received from Huxley.”
I sat up a little straighter, grateful for the pain charm Pops gave me. “Tenzen Huxley? What does he have to do with this?” I stared, wide-eyed as Franklin recounted the phone call he’d gotten. Until that moment, I hadn’t really considered how Franklin found me. I think I’d just assumed it had something to do with Captain Cicely.
“Shadow borne,” Pops whispered in what sounded like hushed awe. “It’s just been a rumor, but…perhaps this bit of gossip has teeth.”
“What on earth are all of you talking about? Who’s this Tenzen Huxley fellow?” Color flushed Momma’s cheeks and she crossed her arms, lifting her chin. “What have you been keeping from me?” The question was directed at Pops, but Momma’s eyes strayed to mine and Franklin’s long enough for her to silently relate her displeasure.
Pops swallowed and if anything, his skin paled further. Facing Momma’s ire was never fun. “We didn’t want to upset you, Lydia.”
Momma’s eyebrows shot to the top of her head. “Well, fat lot of good that did you considering I am, in fact, very upset.”
Pops cleared his throat. “Yes, well…” Clearly there was nothing more to say. Pops knew Momma well and had performed this dance before. When Momma was angry, it was often best to shut your mouth and wait to see how best to placate her wrath.
