Page 59 of Sigma
“It was you,” I cut Linc off. “Sorry Linc, but it was. It was you and me and our history. And maybe some of what you said on top of it.”
“Triggered him,” Joel offers.
“Yep,” I say. “So, if you could all go before he wakes, that’d be helpful.”
Erica is rubbing my back, trying to be comforting, but the only one who could comfort me right now is my mate. And he’s unconscious, inside the bunker.
“If not for that contraption on his face, imagine what would’ve happened!” Dad shouts. “You’re coming home. If he tries to come at you again, he’ll have to get through me!” Dad pounds his chest.
“Dad, I’m not going anywhere without Jared.”
“Look at you, Cicely. Tears in your eyes.” Dad throws his hand out. “You were bleeding when I got here for fuck’s sake!”
“Can everyone just go?” I ask. “It’s gonna overwhelm him when he wakes up.”
“We’ll just–” Linc tries.
“Just nothing,” I cut him off as I open the tailgate of Jared’s pickup truck. There’s a bunch of his work gear back here. I grab a slightly beat-up brown suede utility belt and use the buckle to cinch it, so it’ll fit my waist. “I’ll wear this. I won’t have the weapons out of reach. He got triggered. He just got some big news and Linc was here and that’s not easy what with our history and the weapons were inside.”
“What news?” Dad demands.
“I’m not doing this right now. You can get filled in somewhere else.”
“Come with me,” Dad says and grabs my hand.
I shake him off. “I’m staying here. With him. Where I belong. My guard was down. Thankfully his wasn’t and before he shifted he got the mask on so he couldn’t use his teeth on me.”
“Could’ve killed you with his claws!” Dad challenges. “You wanna see the footage? Send her the footage, Joel.” Dad points at me. “Show it to him when he wakes up. Let him see how his fuckin’ wolf treated you. Come on, let’s go!”
“We were watching, Lor,” Clinton says. “We were here in under a minute.”
Dad keeps ranting, “Only got here because it happened directly outside the storage building. If they’d been inside that trailer? No cameras in there.”
I speak up, gesturing to the toolbelt. “I won’t get caught unprepared until–”
“What if this isn’t fixable?” Dad demands. “How long you think you can survive like this?” Dad grabs my hand again.
I shake him off. “Stop it, please. I can’t do this. I’m not doing this. I love you, Dad, but back off. Thanks Cade, Clint. I appreciate the back-up. I’ll be more careful.”
Erica hands me another velvet pouch. “Here. These might help, too.”
I open the bag and there’s a silver bracelet inside. It’s full of alternating blue and green dangling crystals.
I look at her quizzically.
“The green ones,” Erica explains, “hold a Starling coven potion that’ll immobilize him briefly. Pluck one off and throw it in his direction and he’ll freeze for a minute. Talking to Bailey this morning gave me the idea. I got the recipe from Aphra Starling. The only place you can’t use it is in a safe magic circle and chances of you being inside one are slim to none, so this’ll help. It's not elastic so careful when you shift you don’t lose it.”
Normally, I’d ask about Bailey. But I’m not in the right headspace.
“Thank you,” I say.
“If you have to throw one at him, you’ll need to be at least three feet away, but no more than twelve feet away. And it’ll only debilitate him briefly. Just a minute or so.”
“Appreciate it,” I say and hug her.
“If it breaks and you’re within three feet it’ll take you out, too. Blue ones are turquoise, for some extra protection. Keep that anklet on, too.”
“Thanks, Erica. Now guys, please go ahead and go. I’ll be careful, Dad.”
