Page 289 of The Curse Trilogy

Chapter 6

Raising Hale

The Seminole comes into view, and I see the gates opening as their captain arrives home for the first time in several days. I’m wearing his shirt and boxers still, considering we didn’t want to risk stopping anywhere.

Everyone rushes out to the car, including Clay. I slowly climb out, and I see Brazen perched on the rooftop above us. He stands and drops the distance to the ground. His knees barely bend upon impact, and I get sick as the tortured expression on his face becomes clearer. It’s as if he already knows. Or it could be the fact he knows what I was doing all night long.

“Hey,” he says softly, and I fidget awkwardly as Hale walks on by.

“I’m sorry about the other day. It just came out of nowhere,” I murmur while keeping the shades firmly planted on my face to hide more than the purple in my eyes.

“It’s not your fault, and you didn’t even try to hurt me this time, baby. Maybe this is a good thing,” he says too hopefully, and those pale eyes make me feel all the guiltier.

“It’s not a good thing. I caused some serious damage out there, and they came looking for me this morning.”

The sun has already set after our exhausting journey, and Hale used the last of his gas supply to get us here on fumes. Brazen pulls down the glasses I don’t need, and he shakes his head as he stares at the purple in my eyes.

“Araya, I’m feeling a disconnect with you, and I don’t like the way it feels. What’s going on?” he prompts.

“It has just been a rough couple of days. Let’s go in. I really want to change and rest,” I murmur softly in an effort to stall the big drop.

“Yeah,” he says with a disheartened air.

Hale walks back out just as we make it to the doors, and his bag is still on his shoulder as he heads to his car.

“What are you doing?” I ask a little too pitifully when he starts to walk by without saying anything at all.

He stifles a grin, and I can see pain etching into Brazen’s face.

“I have to go to the Summit. It’s an ungifted hybrid colony, and their chief just called to tell me he has something to show me that could help us cipher the mystery girl’s identity. This is huge. I told him I’d be there as soon as possible. Clay and you will be coming in tomorrow after I’ve broken the ice. They don’t trust easily, so it’s a big deal for him to have even called me.”

“I don’t suppose I’m invited on this excursion,” Brazen grumbles.

“I wish I could invite you to be honest. Being that I’m a hybrid, I’m not crazy about driving through several full blood territories alone, but the Summit are unaligned. They don’t allow full bloods to enter their camp at all, and they would never trust me again.”

Brazen’s lips tighten as he nods softly, and then he walks on into the building as I follow Hale back out to the car. He keeps his smug smirk in check as the eyes of Seminole gauge me in my shameful attire.

“You walking me out to my car?” he asks when his true grin can’t be suppressed any longer.

My stupid grin tries to emerge, but I fight it back.

“I just wanted to tell you thank you,” I murmur when nothing else comes to mind.

Take me with you.

“You would have done the same for me,” he says casually. “You know I’m always here for you, Araya. Clay has some blue contacts which should hide your purple. Go get with him, get some rest, and be careful tomorrow. He’s bringing you in case this leads us somewhere. He wants you to interrogate without seeming like you’re interrogating.”

“Okay. Will you still be there when I get there?” I ask softly.

He smiles a little more, and then he tosses his bag into the back of his car while sitting in the driver’s seat.

“I will. This colony has been at war with a full blood colony for years. I’ll be there to make sure no disputes spill over into our time there.”

Several men run up to fill his trunk full of gas jugs, and one carries the mobile pump over to fill his tank as I take a step back. Wendy runs over to jump in the passenger seat, and I look at him with confusion.

“They allow humans and I need someone to take over driving since it’s so far away,” he says to answer my eyes’ question.

My lips tighten as she giddily sits down in my seat, and a twinge of jealously fills me for some odd reason. It’s Wendy. She’s human. He doesn’t mess with humans. Why do I care if she goes?