Page 51 of Cruel Revenge (Jacky Leon #12)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

A week later, I hung out in my kitchen, watching Landon and Carey play-shove each other. They bumped into furniture and laughed as Landon finally got to let loose with his teen sister, and she was durable enough to handle being tossed around a bit more.

“They’re going to break everything,” Heath said as he handed me a third coffee. “Just as a warning.”

“Richard and Landon?”

“Yup.”

I chuckled as Heath sounded unamused, but through the mate bond, there was love and humor and indulgence.

It was like, even to him, a piece of the perfect life fell into place.

A touch of heartbreak since Richard wasn’t there to relive these moments with his youngest sibling.

I touched Heath’s arm and laid my head on his shoulder.

“He would have loved this,” Heath whispered before sipping his fourth cup of coffee. We’d been up all night.

We had no one to blame but ourselves. Carey had gone to spend the night hanging out with Landon and Dirk. Heath and I had taken advantage of the privacy.

“When does her lesson for today begin?” Heath asked as we watched Carey’s werecat eyes flash in the morning light.

“After I have a meeting with Hasan,” I answered. “Remember how I asked if I could go into the Tribunal with you today?”

“Ah, that was it, huh?” Heath nodded. “I leave in five. Dirk can keep Carey for the day… or…”

“Or?” I tilted my head to the side.

“Hasan taught you to be a werecat, and he did a fantastic job of it… Why not take Carey and give him a moment to play grandfather and teacher? We both know he’s foaming at the mouth for the chance.”

I laughed, nodding.

“He is,” I agreed. “He and I are having a serious discussion… it might lighten the mood afterward.”

“There you go.” Heath whistled, making both of his children look over, mid-shove.

Then Carey tilted and fell without being pushed.

I cackled, spilling my coffee as I doubled over.

Landon howled with laughter as Heath gave a long, ever-suffering sigh, refusing to laugh at his daughter, even as I felt the humor in the bond.

“Mom!” Carey yelled, indignant. “Landon!”

“It… was funny, Carey,” Heath admitted, and I could hear the smile. He was desperately fighting the laugh.

“What did you need?” Landon managed to ask.

“Carey, do you want to go with your mother today?”

I straightened so I could see her, wondering if that sounded exciting to her.

“To Hasan’s house?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed, and her eyes went wide. I could smell her curiosity in the air.

“Definitely!”

“Fantastic. Go get some clothes. We’re going to do your class there if he’ll let us. Bring a few different changes in case you need them.”

Carey was running, jumping up the front steps and barreling through the door. I heard something crack and winced.

“I’ll ask one of mine to check the door later,” Heath said softly before kissing my temple. Landon kept laughing as he heard that.

“Which one?” I asked softly, knowing he meant one of his werewolves.

“Shamus is still on bereavement leave. Ranger can handle it.”

“Has he made his decision?” I didn’t look at Heath. I hadn’t seen Shamus since before that night. Hadn’t seen Kody since we got back to my territory after the rescue.

“Yes. He just needs time to grieve,” Heath said, running his hand over my hair and kissing my forehead.

“Kody needs time to grieve. They’re both staying here, though.

Shamus said Stacy would never forgive him for leaving their friends and the pack they fought for…

and he didn’t think we wanted a second ghost to deal with. ”

“That’s… dark humor.”

“It is, but it’s also a good sign.” Heath looked away. “Nothing will bring her back, and that’s a fucking shame. All we can do is support Shamus and Kody and do better in her memory. If Shamus wants to use some dark humor… well, I’m not going to tell a father how to deal with his grief.”

“Heath—”

“No, we’re not talking anymore about this. You go get ready to see your father with Carey. Leave the wolves to me, please.” He gently pushed me toward the now-cracked door. I gave in and went to get my things.

Together, Heath, Carey, and I went to the pack house. Carey was vibrating with excitement, but was quiet the entire time, as if she breathed a word, she would be sent home. Heath held the door open for us into the Tribunal, and we said our goodbyes.

“This way, Carey,” I said, reaching for her hand. She held it, smiling.

We saw Corissa in the hall with Callahan and several members of the NAWC. That was Heath’s first meeting of the day.

“Greetings, Jacky, daughter of Subira,” Corissa said with a small inclination of her own head. “And Carey, daughter of Jacky.”

“Good morning, Corissa,” I said, going informal, but still polite. “We’re just passing through today to see Hasan.”

“Have a nice day,” she said. “And congratulations to you, Carey. Welcome to the moon cursed.”

“Thank you, Alpha Corissa of the Tribunal,” Carey said, polite and demure. But I saw her eyes shift as she encountered werewolves her father had mentioned for years.

Corissa only nodded her head, a polite dismissal, then she turned back to the other werewolves. I led Carey with me and found my father’s office.

“I bring a surprise,” I said loud enough for him. As I entered, he was already pushing himself to stand up. I saw the way his eyes lit up as Carey’s scent hit him and she came into view.

“Oh, am I entertaining both of you today?” he said, smiling. “You just decided to bring Carey to the island for her first visit today?”

“It was Heath’s idea,” I explained.

“Well, it’s perfect. Carey will be able to tell me what she would like in her suite in my territory,” Hasan said, already a doting grandfather, ready to spoil the hell out of his only granddaughter.

“My own room?” Carey asked, a small whisper.

“He does it for everyone. I have my own. All my siblings have their own suites. Makalo has one. Amir…”

“Amir doesn’t yet. He’s still young enough that he prefers to be close to his parents.” Hasan loved that baby, and his eyes twinkled. “Recently, when Zuri and Kushim needed the night off, he stayed with Subira and me. He’s still the cuddler he was as a baby.”

“Aw.” I couldn’t help but find that a bit precious.

“Now, let’s go. We don’t need to talk about this here,” Hasan said, looking beyond us. “Don’t need any more being said in these spaces.”

He reached for the door and opened it. I could smell the ocean when a breeze came through the door.

“And I believe my island is much warmer this time of year than your home in Texas.”

“Probably,” I agreed and walked through, bringing Carey with me.

I was able to smell her amazement that we were suddenly on a tropical island, in an opulent home with large, open windows and the ocean air.

She ran around the desk to those windows.

I followed her, knowing Hasan was just behind me.

I took in the scenery with her. It had been some time since I had been in this place, feeling at peace.

The greenery was lush and vibrant outside.

She gasped, seeing the ocean and the wonderful island Hasan called home most of the time.

Though he was staying in Africa with Subira recently, this was still his territory, his space.

“You’ve been keeping up with it,” I said, looking over my shoulder at him.

“It’s still mine. I come back once a week to run my territory and enjoy my own earth. As well as full moons. I won’t spend those in Africa.”

“Why not?” Carey asked.

“Something I’ll tell your mother, not you,” he answered. “Now, your mother and I have an important discussion to have. My staff here will know who you are and tell you everything about the island. There’s a private beach we’re allowed to use. Go explore.”

Carey looked at me, and I nodded. She, with her gym bag of things, ran for a different door. I started to open my mouth, but Hasan beat me to a warning.

“Don’t think you’re going to get away with anything, though. The entire island is my territory. I will know where you are and if you’re not supposed to be there.”

“Yes, sir!” she called back, then she was gone.

“There she goes,” I said wistfully.

“You have a lovely daughter,” he said gently.

“I know,” I said, smiling at him. “She’s so perfect.”

“She is…” He reached out, touching my face. “Like her mother.”

“Don’t.” I tried to bat away his hand. “We argue too much?—”

“We argue because I’m an old, stubborn ass… though you are just stubborn.”

“See!”

But we both laughed. It died after a moment as we looked at each other.

“So, we need to talk. Come with me. We’ll go to my internal study.”

I followed him to it, and he closed us in the windowless room. It had a skylight through the ceiling, but that was it.

“The witch…” I wasn’t sure where to start, but she seemed like a good place.

“Tashmi,” he said softly. “Her name. It’s Babylonian.

The name was derived from a goddess prayed to in the region.

Or perhaps the goddess was named for her.

Which came first… it doesn’t matter. And as with all things, since our mouths can only make so many sounds, it’s in other languages as well, but her name is specifically Babylonian. ”

“Okay…” I went to a couch and sat down, studying him. “When was the last time you said that name?”

“Yesterday, while discussing her with Subira. A lot in the last week. Before that… it had been a very long time. Subira and I try not to talk about her because I don’t like to talk about her.”

“And she’s obsessed with your eyes. A lot of people are, though. I’ve had fae in the wild hunt point them out.”