Page 42 of Redeemed
Accalia interrupts us with a well-timed throat clear. “I heard your name, you know.”
She’s looking at me but I glance at Lydia, who’s busy staring at Accalia’s profile.
“I hope it was a good thing.” I try to laugh it off, but she pierces me with a blue-eyed stare.
“Maybe.” Her smile is dry, cool. “I told Lyd I’d heard some cocky motherfucker had formed an unauthorized pack, and she said she knew who it had to be.”
Connor’s relaxed, beer in one hand, my knee in the other. I figure I don’t know Lydia’s sweetie well enough to make any grand proclamations, but a little fishing couldn’t hurt.
“Unauthorized pack? Never knew there was such a thing.”
Accalia’s smile widens, showing too many teeth. “Huh. You look like you’ve lived in a city before, and places have rules, you know? Can’t have just any group of dirtbags calling themselves a pack.”
Lydia’s gaze hasn’t left her girlfriend’s face, but right about the time I’m ready to start a smack-down becausehell yes I’m from a city, she speaks up. “Yeah, so Cally, I told you David was likely the guy, but not so you could piss him off.” She looks at me with an apologetic shrug. Between that and how bright pink Accalia’s cheeks turn, I manage to deescalate.
“And this information is from a trustworthy source?” I mean, I know it’s true, because I’ve got the summons from the LA Were Authority to prove it, but I’m curious about who she heard it from.
“I work for Tim Huggins,” she says, all prim like I should be impressed by the name.
Lydia cuffs her shoulder, the alpha putting a lesser wolf in place. “He’s the head of the LA Were Authority.”
“So you know about the unauthorized pack because you saw the summons.”
“I wrote it.”
Connor chokes behind his hand, which makes it harder for me to stifle a laugh.
“Congratulations then,” I say. “You spelled my name correctly.”
She sits so straight I wonder who’s shoved a ruler up her butt. Also, why the hell is Lydia involved with this nonsense? I mean, Accalia’s pretty and all, but that doesn’t make up for being nasty.
She’s still aiming her next shot when I’m distracted by a trio of men, or more accurately, elves. They’re headed in our direction, and I know that by the way Connor’s hand freezes with his beer to his lips. His burst of tension has my wolf on alert.
“I’m looking forward to your testimony.”
Or at least I think that’s what Accalia says. My attention is locked on the lanky redhead with his left hand on his hip, casually holding his jacket open to show off the gun.
Chapter Sixteen
Trajan
SPENDING ONE DAY in a cave had been necessary. Spending a second would be unnecessarily uncomfortable. Fortunately, Cliffe produces the correct permit so I have a room on the second floor of the High Desert Motel.
It isn’t fancy, but it beats sleeping on the ground.
Still, I literally have nothing to do but sit in the room’s only chair and wonder if I’ll be up to the task of turning a human. It’s easier than wondering if I’ll truly be able to break from Jacques.
The television is playing whatever station the last guest watched. I’d left my laptop and my overnight bag with Connor and David. On my way out of town, I’d drawn as much cash as I could from a bank machine, and after Cliffe went to work, I’d done some shopping. Now I can keep myself clean and dressed, if not entertained.
Any vampire soon learns how to wait out the night. After all, when you know you’ll never run out of time, there’s less incentive to cram every waking moment with activity.
But tonight I can’t find my equilibrium. Too many stressors compete for my attention. I finally give in and turn on my phone, which immediately erupts in a slew of voicemails, text messages, and emails.
I only listen to one voicemail. From Sheena.
“Trajan Gall, whatever is going on, you’d be better off with your friends around you. Even that asshole Connor has your back.”
I debate returning her call. I debate sending a text. I do neither.
