Page 68 of Those That Are Lost

‘What was that tone?’

‘How are we going to do it? Get close enough to them to kill them without dying in the process.’

‘Guess that’s what we need to figure out in the next few weeks. Once we get to Scotia we’ll be pretty holed up in Henry’s apartment, the vampires residing there will mean we can’t go out any more than necessary or we’ll risk exposing our location.’

‘Do you think we would be better staying here? There’s not been any hint of the pack from Froan.’

I wince internally.

‘Ty?’

‘There was one sighting.’

‘What? When?’

‘Not long after we got here. Two of them landed at the docks, searched a few of the closest islands and then left. It was just as the snow was properly settling in, I think they didn’t like the cold as they left pretty quickly.’

‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘I didn’t want to worry you. They left within a couple of days and the wolves had eyes on them at all times. They never came close. But I think they’ll be back soon now the solstice is over and the weather will start to improve.’

‘Okay, so Scotia it is.’

‘Yes, and as I think Henry might accept our offer, I don’t wish to leave him exposed either.’

‘You still want him even after he tricked me into biting him?’

‘Yes… believe it or not it's not the first stunt he’s pulled like that. Bloody idiot needs reminding sometimes that we’re not characters in his stories he can manipulate. But he will be good for the pack, should he wish to join. It might be good for him to, he’s been without one his entire existence as a vampire. Unless you object?’

‘No. I’d love for him to stick around, he’s a great guy. And who else can I nerd out with?’

Red simply laughs as I bristle at her description of my friend. As much as I can now tell, because of the bond, that her feelings for him are firmly platonic I still don’t like her using ‘love’ and any other name in the same sentence.

Stretching in my seat, I may purposefully flex my tight shoulders a little more than necessary. Still, I enjoy the way Red’s mind empties and how she sucks her lower lip between her teeth.

“Come on, let's finish for the night.” I tell her, standing and coming to her side of the desk, offering her my hand. “The pack is probably eating about now, we should join them for one last meal and get an early night. We can pack this lot up in the morning before we leave.”

Red puts her pen as a marker in her notepad before closing it and taking my hand. I pull her into me and kiss her deeply before we head out in search of the others. I’m going to miss the peace we’ve found here but hopefully it won’t be long before we’ve set up our own, back home.

CHAPTER 29

AURORA

Fifty-four hours we’ve been travelling for. Looking up at the stairs to reach Henry’s apartment, I am seriously considering taking a nap in the gap underneath them, rather than forcing my feet to move another inch.

“It’s seven flights I’m afraid, I’m on the top floor.” If looks could kill, Henry would be dead with the daggers I shoot at him. He darts ahead, his stupid long legs climbing the first set and putting him out of my reach.

With a groan I start to climb, the pack on my back threatening to send me tumbling backwards.

“Give it here.” Ty holds out his hand.

“No, you’re already carrying more than me. I’m just tired and grumpy. I can do it.” It’s a sweet gesture but I couldn’t force him to carry both of our bags when he’s as tired as I am. I appreciate the gesture though, so take his hand and place a kiss to the back of it before keeping his fingers entangled in mine as we face the next staircase.

“Come on,” Henry calls from ahead. “The quicker you climb the quicker we can eat and wash.”

The thought of a shower does spur me on, being crampedon a boat and then sneaking through the most disgusting back alleys I’ve walked down to reach Henry’s flat has left a sticky residue on my skin, I swear. And as for my hair? It's been exposed to more than enough salt water and sweat to make it both oily and dry at the same time. It’s once again glamoured black, straight this time. And I’ve altered my eye colour and skin tone. I didn’t go with a full glamour because every single passenger on the boat had been checked by the wolf pack and we’d stuck to very quiet backstreets for the walk on each side of the crossing.

A shower and sleep sound like heaven right now. I don’t even care about getting some blood, even though I haven’t had a drop since we left the Northern Isles.