Page 51 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

I always knew that everything I tried to conceal over the years would resurface once Luca would eventually get caught or be turned in. I suppose I expected it all to fast forward to whatever resolution would await us. But the reality was quite different—I was stuck in limbo.

After the initial questioning at my apartment, I agreed to stay with Silas and his brother until more news would become available around Luca’s case.

There was no knowing whether this would be something that would be resolved in a matter of days, weeks, or even years.

Given Luca’s history and how long he was on the run, I hoped for a swift end to this madness.

Whether the end would be favorable or not—I did my best not to drown in the anxiety that lurked each time I dared look at my phone.

The keyword notifications I had setup years ago no longer brought me peace.

Instead, I spent most of my days trying to distract myself.

Whether it was watching the next ridiculous vampire reality show with Mateo, or enjoying the sunsets from the balcony in Silas’s room, I tried to find my peace and anchor myself to it.

Despite my protests, taking some time off from work ended up being a wise decision.

Yes—I was more confident in the decision I made to turn my brother in, but it didn’t mean that I stopped wondering about what it would mean for me.

There was no stopping it now—I set this all in motion and I would see it through to the end.

Watching the last of the sun’s rays retreat beyond the horizon, I couldn’t help but smirk from the comfort of the wicker cocoon chair on the balcony.

Beyond the glass door, I breathed in the scent of leather and pine—Silas was back early from Little Wing.

I couldn’t ignore how comforted I felt just by knowing he was near, which continued to startle me, seeing as we met only a few short months ago.

Perhaps it was the pure chaos of everything happening that made it feel like we had known each other much longer.

With how quickly time passed, I embraced the departing winter and braced for the imminent spring, and the welcome bloom of the cherry blossoms.

The glass door slid open and Silas inhaled deeply, likely taking in the sights and smells of the moment I worked to cement into memory. He stepped beside me and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “Hey, you.”

“Hey,” I smiled, turning my head to press my lips to his hand before looking up at him to find the expression that no longer puzzled me.

I could now tell when he wanted to ask if there was anything new to report about Luca’s case.

Rather than waiting for him to ask, I shook my head, bringing my attention back to the sunset.

“Did you have anything to drink today? Mateo just got back from the shop and I wanted to check on you.”

“I haven’t, actually.”

“Alright then, come with me, Everett. We’ll get that taken care of.

” Offering me a warm smile, Silas helped me out of the chair and led me back inside where I could already hear the TV blaring.

When we made it down the hall to the living room, I spotted Mateo sitting on the couch with his hands behind his head.

“Next time on Love After Sunset,” the host announced before it cut to a screen with a dark-haired vampire woman sitting on a large Gothic throne.

“That bitch, Noomi, is going around telling Chad that she can’t see her reflection?

Like, what the fuck? You stood in front of the mirror with him.

You could see yourself. He watched you re-apply your lipstick! ”

“There’s a new episode?” I asked.

“Lo!” Mateo smiled brightly and turned to hold his hand out for me to high-five.

Since I temporarily moved in and joined in on the reality TV show marathons, we seemed to build on a routine.

We’d catch up on anything new that was happening at Little Wing, with Quinn, and of course my brother’s case.

Then, we’d high-five and settle in for some mindless television.

Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for better support.

“Any news?” Mateo asked.

Responding with a high-five, I shrugged and shifted my weight as Silas’s hand found its way to the small of my back. After a few reassuring circles over my clothes, he moved to the kitchen.

“Nothing yet, but I assume they may be trying to work things out with the family of the women who—”

Mateo nodded. “Yeah, I get that. But I’m sure it won’t be long before you hear something. At least to give you some closure, right?” His smile tightened and dimmed, because what else could anyone say?

Right… closure that would either grant me freedom or pluck me from existence .

Before the silence between us could become even remotely awkward, Mateo quickly turned his attention to the show on the screen.

He caught me up on any of the drama I might have missed from the preview before the next episode began.

While he went on, Silas returned with a full glass of deep red liquid that immediately made me salivate.

With my mind bogged down with anxious scenarios, I found I was forgetting to feed.

Another reason I was grateful for Silas.

I could only tell I was skipping meals as my normally trimmed nails were growing alarmingly fast, a triggering sign of the starving creature that threatened to take control should we fail to take care of ourselves.

Self-preservation, no matter the consequence, a fact I knew all too well.

With each savored sip, I felt my mind settling enough to focus on what I had contemplated earlier that evening. Though I enjoyed my time with Mateo and even the beautiful sunsets, I was beginning to miss my routine.

“I’d like to go to work tonight,” I said as I finished the last gulp of blood. While waiting for Silas to respond, I carried on like normal, bringing my glass to the sink to wash up.

“Are you sure?” Silas rubbed the back of his head and glanced at Mateo who threw his hands up, signaling that he was not getting in the middle of this.

With Luca off the streets, Silas felt better about me going out on my own, but even then, I could tell he was holding back his concern. It was quite endearing.

I nodded. “Positive.”

His lips curved and he stuck one hand in his pocket, feigning nonchalance even though I could hear his heart racing. “Would you like for me to take you there? I could drive," he offered.

Just like everything else since we had gotten closer together, Silas never demanded that I do anything differently.

Even as stress worked to consume me, he made it clear that he would be available to me in whatever capacity I needed him.

But he always did it in such a way that never felt like he was smothering me.

“I think I may walk tonight,” I responded quietly, taking his hand in mine when he reached out. “But if you’d like to pick me up or walk back with me once I’m done with my shift, I certainly will welcome the company. Maybe we can even stop at Kait’s for a drink or two?”

Silas’s silver eyes lit up as his smile widened. “Sure. Just text me and I’ll meet you there, Lo.”

Even without Luca on the streets searching for me, I could still feel the tug on the tether.

It was more prominent now with him in the same town.

Even without his fangs on me, I felt it in my heart that I was his creation—still tied to him.

It made the wait for these next steps that much more anxiety-inducing, forcing me to find solace in distractions or now… a routine I had gotten used to.

As I made my way to the bookstore, I tried to imagine what life could be like if I could finally be free of the connection to my brother.

In truth, it wasn’t much different. I didn’t wish for extravagance, or anything other than what I already had.

I had my family in Reina, Kait, and Silas.

Plus, I even considered Mateo and Quinn part of my small circle.

The bond I shared with them did not require familial blood running through our veins. This bond went beyond blood.

When I arrived, I quickly let Silas know that I made it before slipping my phone back in my purse. It was a good thing I did, because it only took moments after I entered for Reina to rush at me with her arms ready to throw around my neck. Her delightful squeals greeted me.

“Oh, my gods! You’re finally back!” she laughed once she allowed herself to pull away to look me up and down. “You look fucking good, girl! ”

“Wow, had I known you’d react that way, I might have come back sooner.” I smirked and allowed for her to pull me deeper into the store. The moment the fragrance of my favorite books hit my nose, I immediately felt like I was back home.

“Come, come,” Reina whispered, ushering us to the checkout counter where we could continue our conversation, but also keep an eye out for any customers in need of assistance. “So, what’s been going on? Tired of staring at your vampire eye candy, so you decided to come in?”

I appreciated her lightheartedness. Despite not showing up to work since Luca was arrested, I continue to keep Reina and Kait informed on any developments.

“Ah, not quite. I just needed a break from Mateo accidentally spoiling Love After Sunset for me,” I said with a wink.

We laughed, catching up on the happenings at the store before our conversation inevitably brought us back to the true questions that lingered between us. What was happening? Was there any news? What will happen to you?

“Can you feel him?” Reina asked softly, pressing her hand to her chest.

I repeated the motion and exhaled steadily. “Yes. Because he’s so close it’s like trying to block out a buzzing fly that just won’t leave you alone. I can feel his strain on it.”

Hearing my disappointment, Reina reached across the counter and pressed her hands over mine. “They’ll figure something out, Lo. They have to.”

That was all that I wanted to hear. Not because it would solve everything and make me feel better, but because I needed a mental break from the anguish that roared in my head.

Without the need to explain myself, Reina moved on to talking about her dating life as if we never skipped a beat.

She filled me in on her recent dating app matches while we put books away, and for a little bit it felt like nothing had changed.

That my personal history wouldn’t have to be unearthed.

But even the facade of normalcy had to be shattered eventually. I just did not suspect for it to happen so soon. Even while I listened to Reina continue on about her after-work escapades, I felt the air in the store shift.

I turned at the sound of a man clearing his throat and set the book I held onto the counter.

Reina quickly followed and wasted no time in donning on a smile worthy of customer service awards.

But it was when the man’s pointed canines revealed his vampiric nature that Reina paused and glanced back at me.

“Detective Morello,” I began. “How may I help you? ”

The man, who looked no older than his early thirties, stepped deeper into the store and reciprocated the greeting.

He was dressed in black fitted slacks and a striped navy button-down shirt.

He wore it with the sleeves rolled up to reveal an intricate sleeve tattoo on both of his arms. No doubt one of them connected to the ones on the side of this head.

At his waist was his badge that he didn’t bother concealing. “Hello Ms. Everett and…?”

“Ms. Everett’s best friend,” Reina spoke simply. Her eyes were black slits, a protective air shrouded her, but I could hear her heart pounding wildly against her chest.

“This is the detective who came when…” I started before Reina stepped in front of me. The idea was quite noble, despite me being about a head and half taller than her.

“I know,” she quickly responded. “Are you here about her brother, or what?”

“Reina,” I sighed softly, placing my hand on her shoulder.

I tried masking my tension as best as I could.

The detective did not yet state what he was doing at my place of work, so I had to allow him a moment to speak to us because the sooner he did, the sooner I would know if the tension in my entire body could let up. “What can I do for you, Detective?”

The man nodded slowly and pivoted on his right foot, glancing back at the door before looking back at me. “I’d like for you to come with me to the precinct. We just have some questions to ask you.”

“Um—what?” Reina squawked. “Lotus didn’t do anything wrong!”

Before Reina’s feathers could be even more ruffled, I stepped in front of her and cocked my head to the side. “Is this about my brother?”

He nodded. “Just some information we need to go over with you.”

“Will I need someone with me?”

“If at any point you do not wish to speak, you can absolutely request representation. We can take my car together and you can inform anyone you need about your whereabouts.”

Despite Reina already racing to text Silas, I grabbed my cross-body bag and fitted it across my chest. “Alright.”