Page 282 of The Curse Trilogy

“So you think you could have it done sooner?” Brazen asks.

“I’m sure I can. Maybe six months or less at the pace I’m on. Then you won’t have to keep your miracle a secret anymore.”

“That would be incredible. I still don’t want anyone knowing it came from her though. Some might do it just to taste a hybrid,” Brazen says in a whisper almost too soft to be heard.

“I’d never risk her safety, so I can assure you it’s of no concern. The four of us, along with Angelica, Nicholas, and Grayson are the only ones who know. I still need her to sit down and speak with Nicholas. We need to know what happened to make Araya so special. The identity of her mother could be the secret because I’ve tested Angelica’s blood, and it’s nothing like Araya’s. In fact, there’s nothing any different about Angelica at all.”

“Have you checked Araya’s life span?” Brazen interjects, and I scowl the moment I hear the question Clay had better say no to.

“I haven’t. Araya has always adamantly opposed such testing, but I wish she would let me. I was born around the same time, and I’ve still got three hundred years left on my span.”

Brazen sighs out loudly, and then he shakes his head. “Three hundred years isn’t enough time for someone like me. I don’t want to be around after she’s gone. I wish she’d do the damn tests.”

“She’s not going to, but I’ll try talking to her. I want her to know as well. Are you still avoiding her?”

“For now. I’ll speak to her eventually though. I love her too damn much not to,” Brazen grumbles, and I feel my heart breaking.

“I need to go see if Hale has called,” Clay murmurs while patting Brazen on the back, and then I see my full blood skulking in the opposite direction.

Hale is gone? Thanks for telling me.

“Where is Hale?” I ask as soon as Clay rounds the corner, and he almost trips all over himself to avoid plowing into me.

“Damn it. You have to stop doing that to me,” he exasperates.

“Why? You don’t like me listening in on conversations being had about me?” I snark, and he narrows his eyes.

“Brazen is just concerned, as am I.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to know my span, and I don’t want you or Brazen knowing either. Now where is Hale? He was supposed to speak to Wendy about procuring me another room so I don’t have to keep staying with you because I sure as hell am not staying with Ty. His phone is turned off, and he didn’t come to the door. I assumed it was because he’s still pissed at me.”

“He’s actually gone. He’s been gone for two days now. I’m surprised you’re just now noticing.”

“Well I might have noticed sooner if he and Brazen weren’t icing me out.”

“He had to go to Callan to track down the blood source. He took a team, they made the bust, and Hale handled the interrogations himself. They came out with quite a few leads, and Brazen’s team went to inspect Cheyenne.”

“What did they find?”

“Nothing. There’s nothing but dust on the surface, and they tried blowing up the underground access. They weren’t successful though. They did underground reads which checks for body temperatures below the surface, but there wasn’t anyone there. Either they’ve moved on, or they were never there. It’s possible she was wrong about the location.”

“I don’t think so. Cheyenne runs deep. Those readers aren’t strong enough to reach some places. I’m sure they’ve moved on by now though if we’ve already played our hand. Damn it,” I growl, and the walls around me vibrate as my frustration shines through.

“I need you to speak to Nicholas,” he blurts out.

“I don’t think so. There’s no need to know about my mother. I heard that part too,” I grumble, and his eyes narrow.

“You’re eyes are streaked with more purple than ever before. I’m worried there’s more to be told about you that we don’t know, and we have to know everything, Araya. Your power, strength, and gifts are growing almost daily now. Your savage is a hell of a lot stronger than ever before, and you’re barely in control for split seconds anymore. At this rate, we’re going to have to bump you up from an eight to a nine.”

My teeth grind together as my jaws clench. I hate to admit he’s right. I’m getting more dangerous by the minute, and the last thing I want to do is hurt someone I care about.

“Fine. Call Nicholas and let’s get this over with,” I strain out, and his eyes gape open.

“You’re sure?”

“Don’t ask me that, and don’t dawdle. Take it while I’m offering before I change my mind.”

“I’ll do it,” he says quickly, and then he pulls out his phone to make the call I’ve been dreading for far too long.

Can I do this without Hale’s help? What if I lose it?

I have to learn to handle myself at some point, and now is as good a time as any I suppose.