Page 70 of Those That Are Lost

The slight growl rumbling out of Ty’s throat tells me hedidn’t need me telling him who stood in front of us. Antares not only fought on the Fae side, he’d commanded legions within it.

Henry steps away from the kitchenette area, where he’d been tidying, to stand in the space between us. His posture reminds me of a referee.

“Do you immediately have to tell people who you used to be? It’s a small miracle you’re not dead yet.” He sounds exacerbated, this can’t be the first time Antares has revealed his lineage in front of other vampires.

“They may as well find out now.” Antares shrugs.

‘Do you trust him?’I silently ask.

‘Not at all. But Henry wouldn’t risk our exposure, or himself, by harbouring someone dangerous.’

‘He’s going to be powerful. The Mariqua line isn’t just purebred, they are directly descended from the original Fae that crossed the veil.’

‘We could leave.’

‘But what about Henry? We were going to ask him to join us.’I place my hand on Ty’s arm. He’s still standing slightly in front of me so I lean a little into his back. I inhale his scent a little deeper, needing his closeness. ‘We’re going to need as many allies as possible. Maybe if Henry trusts Antares, we could have a second vampire joining our pack.’

Ty’s head snaps so fast to look down at me at his side I’m surprised I don’t hear his spine crack.‘I’m not letting anyone in that quickly.’

‘Me either. But we’re here for a few weeks. I trust Henry. There’s gotta be more to Antares’s story.’

‘Red, this could be very dangerous for us. He’s only got to go and blab?—’

‘Henry wouldn’t risk us. You just said so.’

He’s silent for a beat. His eyes close as he leans forward to kissmy forehead.

“What’s going on, you two?” Henry eyes us quizzically.

“Nothing.” Ty’s response is quick.‘We’re not revealing our telepathy just yet.’

‘Wasn’t going to,’I reassure him.

“You sure he won’t talk?” Ty asks Henry, ignoring the other male.

“Yes. Even if he did, no one would believe him. He’s not exactly popular around here.” Henry gives us both a sympathetic look.

“Those jerks in the pack are assholes.” Antares scoffs.

“Be that as it may, you antagonise them. It’s why you end up in my apartment so much of the time, is it not?” Henry raises an eyebrow at him. “And did you have to drink all the blood and not replace it?” He points to the kitchen unit along the opposite wall. It's small even by our standards, just a few cabinets, one of which I’m guessing is an undercounter fridge. A small pile of empty blood packets are now stacked on the draining board next to the sink.

“I was going out this afternoon to restock it. Don’t worry.”

“Okay, well, you do that. We’re all knackered from travelling, so you go stock us up whilst we shower and sleep.”

“You mean I can stay? If I bring you some blood?” Antares’s eyes narrow like he wasn’t expecting the invitation.

Henry lets out a long breath. “Yes, you can stay. It’s going to be cramped but Ty and Aurora, you two can take the spare room. Antares you’re on the couch. No arguments. And I can’t be doing with any of you bickering, okay?” He eyes each of us in turn but lingers on the two males for a beat more. “I’ve got a meeting with my publisher tomorrow so if you take up what little prep-time I have left, you’re all out on the street.”

We all nod in response. Henry is so easy going but I’ve noticed that when this side of him comes out, no one argues. Iadmire his ability to take control—he’s very logical and fair but none of us are going to try negotiating the rules he’s just set out.

Ty and I grab our stuff and tentatively walk across the space to follow Henry as he disappears through a door on the far side, set into the bookshelf wall. I keep one hand on Ty’s back as I drag my bag behind me, lifting it just enough it isn’t scraping on the ground.

Inside the bedroom, Henry is already stripping the unmade bed, clearly where Antares has been sleeping. “I’ve got a spare set of sheets. I’ll put them on then leave you alone.”

“Sorry we’re imposing on you,” I say, feeling bad that Henry is now not only hiding fugitives, but is also having to do chores and keep the peace when he must be as tired as we are. And he has a deadline to be ready for tomorrow.

“You’re not,” Henry replies. “And look, I know Antares comes across as a dick but he’s a good guy really. He only comes here when he feels unsafe from the Scotian pack. They really do hate him for what he was.”