Page 91 of Resurrection

“I did tell you, Ronnie. I think you asked me what the fuck I did for Max, and I saidI’m an enforcer.”

“For a secret witch organization?”

“We aren’t a witch organization.” Sam put his hands to his chest. “Vampire. Lots of fucking vampires here.”

“And witches.”

“And shifters. Stay away from the workout rooms if you don’t want that stink of sweaty dog to linger with you.” Sam shivered. “Now are we going, or do you need me to knock you unconscious for a while?”

“As if you could.”

“Try me, Ronnie.”

“Fine, let’s go.” Seiran followed Sam, hoping that he didn’t come apart at the seams before he could catch a break. The names kept scrolling across the screens, dead witches, witches in custody for Crimes Against Humanity, and those wanted for questioning. It was too much, and he needed to get away, even if it was just to bury himself in another mystery.

Chapter 30

Gabe woke feeling like he’d had a long nap. A cool swath of earth cradled him, but he was aboveground, not floundering below it.

He stretched, working out the aches and taking in the scent of earth, flowers, and green. He was a bit startled to open his eyes and find himself in the arboretum rather than a crypt.

There was a buzz of bees going about their work, and flying balls of color darting too fast to be any sort of bug. The light overhead, beaming in to illuminate the space felt warm, but not uncomfortable. Gabe blinked at it all, taking in the scenery and letting his body work out the kinks of having mortal weight again.

Distantly he heard a door open, and thought Seiran was headed his way because he smelled Seiran’s blood. But it was Kaine who appeared beside him, in his fae form, the pretty ethereal man, rather than the wide-eyed child.

Gabe tried to recall if he knew the details of Kaine’s creation, but if they’d been shared with him, he’d forgotten them. Though, thankfully, all his other memories seemed to be in place.

Kaine set a cup down on a bench and held out a piece of fabric. Gabe frowned at it for a minute, then reached out to snag it from Kaine’s grasp. A robe.

“Thank you,” Gabe said, slurring a bit. He felt well rested, but it would take blood and some movement to get the last bit of stiffness out of his joints and brain. He tugged on the robe and slowly found his way to the bench, a bit reluctant to leave the cool draw of the soil. He recalled the burns. That memory would hurt for a while. His skin was whole, and as it had been since the day he’d died his first mortal death, more than two thousand years prior, but the lingering ache etched into his memory would take some time to fade.

Kaine picked up the cup and pressed it into Gabe’s hands. “I warmed it. It’s only a few days old. Daddy tries to keep a bit stocked.”

Gabe accepted the cup and expected it to be regular blood, with maybe a touch of Seiran’s since it smelled like chocolate cake and strawberries with a hint of vanilla honey. But when he put the cup to his lips and took the first sip, he knew it wasn’t a spiked version of Seiran’s blood. It was Seiran’s blood. Not fresh, but holy fuck the punch through his veins had Gabe spinning as his nerves came alive all at once.

Kaine gripped Gabe’s shoulder, holding him upright, and keeping the cup from spilling. “It’s got a bit of a kick, right?” Kaine’s smile was so similar to Seiran’s, that Gabe’s gut hurt. Was Seiran mad? How long had Gabe been gone this time? Fae didn’t age, and Gabe recalled Kaine looking like this when they crossed the veil. Which meant he had really no indication of how much time had passed.

He took another long draw from the cup, letting the sparkles fill his sight, and magic swirl through his body. He squeezed his eyes shut as dizziness came and went. The bond zinged into place, awakening and stretching much as he had, like muscles too long unused. He could feel Seiran through the bond. Not close, but not across the world or anything. It wasn’t at all withered or stretched like it had been.

“Maybe Daddy can forgive Grandma. I miss Grandma,” Kaine said wistfully.

“What did Tanaka do now?” Gabe wondered, taking his time to work through every drop. Too soon the cup was empty. He craved more, though didn’t need it.

“Didn’t tell Daddy about the secret organization she was a part of to take down the Dominion.”

Gabe’s memories chugged into place.Hehad helped found a new organization. Though he could only recall having a meeting or two to get it started before he’d gone to ground the last time. Had they made it happen without him then? He hadn’t invited Tanaka in, but he’d never trusted her enough to actually look after Seiran’s best interest.

“How long was I down?” Gabe asked.

Kaine shrugged. “Time is weird here.”

“Time is weird across the veil,” Gabe corrected.

“Nah. There is no time across the veil.” Kaine took the empty cup and got up, offering a hand in support. “Maybe get cleaned up?”

“Seiran isn’t home?”

“He’s at work.”