Page 53 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

“I wish you’d come home, but I understand. I guess I’ll just have to visit from time to time then.”

I grin. “Guess so.”

With a nod, he steps forward and claps me on the shoulder before pulling me into a brotherly hug. You wouldn’t know it by the way he talks to me, or by the way he holds himself, but Lucien is part Storm Court royalty. He may not be a direct heir to the throne, but he’s royal through and through.

“Do you remember when we went to the floating poppy fields?”

Barking out a laugh, I nod. “It’s one of my favorite memories.” When we were kids, he and I scared the living daylights out of everyone within the unseelie court. Lucien had a bad habit of wandering off and slumming with low fae, his mother’s words, not mine, and I was one of his best friends. Being banished at such a young age never changed that, and he still slums it up with me on occasion.

He watches me as I smile, and he nods like he finally understands why I want to stay. Or maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part.

“She must be something else.” Envy flashes in his eyes, and I hope Mother Faerie is kind enough to grant him the gift of true love someday.

“She’s everything,” I say with a shrug. “Nothing in Faerie can compare to the way she makes me feel, not even my best friend, and for that, I’m sorry.”

He waves his hand around as if to dispel the words. “Nonsense. I’m only glad you’re happy.” Lifting his hand, he flicks his wrist and a portal to Faerie appears behind him in a swirl of colors. “If you ever want to come home, you know how to call for me.”

As a low fae, or non-royal fae of the Storm Court I can reach into the depths of the thunderous chaos of storms, but I can’t create them. Calling Lucien only requires me to reach within the power and send his name into the void. Since he’s one of the most powerful storm commanders, he can hear messages carried on the brutal winds.

I doubt any other royal from Storm Court listens to the gales like Lucien does, and even if they did, they wouldn’t remember me or know how to find me.

Flying around for a bit before heading back, I think about what it means to reject his offer to return home. I doubt he’ll make the same offer again, but I don’t really care. Faerie rejected me a long time ago. I hardly think the Great Mother gives a damn if I stay in this realm.

Lou is sitting on the porch, next to my pile of clothes. Awkward as it may be, I have no choice but to shift in front of her. Immediately averting her eyes at my sudden naked appearance, she makes a surprised noise.

“Give a woman some warning, would you?”

I laugh and get dressed as quick as I can, saving us both an enormous amount of discomfort. As soon as I pull my shirt all the way down, she looks at me again.

“Thank you for taking care of her.”

Lou’s words hit me in the chest. “I tried, but Raven took care of me more than I did her if you want the truth.”

“Maybe,” she muses, messing with the edge of her long fluffy robe. Lou’s all about comfort over fashion, but nothing can hide her beauty. The woman is tough as nails, but her soul is pure. “But you were there for her when I couldn’t be, and that means the world to me.”

Stopping in front of the stairs, I cross my arms over my chest. “You mean the world to her.”

Lou’s eyes fill with tears, and she sniffs. “If you make me cry, I’ll kick your ass.”

My bark of laughter is loud enough to wake people up, but it’s impossible not to laugh at how serious she is. “What are you doing awake?”

“I haven’t been able to sleep good since Mirabelle died.”

Ah. Her younger sister meant a lot to her. They were best friends too. I think Lou feels somewhat responsible for what Mirabelle did, like maybe she wasn’t enough to help her come out of her depression. No one could have changed what happened except Mirabelle. I kind of hate how much she’s managed to tear these women apart. Raven and Lou deserve so much more than the guilt they carry, but Mirabelle had lost hope. It’s hard to be too mad at her when I know how much being empty sucks the life out of you.

“How’s the bar?” I ask, switching gears. I’m not the person she should talk to about her sister. I don’t do good with overwhelming emotions.

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Running just fine, no thanks to you.”

“Here I thought I was a star employee.” I grin at her, and her eyes soften.

“The kitchen is good, but I’ve had shit luck finding a bartender as good as you.”

“What about Kenzie?”

Lou’s answering glare draws another laugh from me. “Don’t get me started on that girl, she’s hopeless.”

“But reliable.” I look at the sky, counting a few of the stars.

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