Page 25 of Witchbane
Toby nodded, understanding, though not seeming worried at all. “We are fine.”
The fact that Toby was awerather than anIstill worried me. “Maybe Dylan and Sean could stay,” I said. Toby and Sean seemed to get along, even though Toby hit Dylan’s radar the same way he hit Carl’s, with a need to protect but possible danger. Dylan just handled it better. They could also get some time away from Al if he was causing the rift.
“No,” Liam said instantly. “They have their own things to work out right now.”
“Stay with your mom and the alpha’s wife?” Toby inquired.
I flinched.
“Ex-wife,” Liam reminded him.
“Sorry. That’s what I meant,” Toby said.
“Is she planning to move here?” I asked.
“Not here to Maple Falls, but to the state,” Liam said. “She says she wants to be closer to Korissa.”
“And you,” I growled. “Fucking fuckity fuck!” I zipped the bag shut, needing out of here right this minute. Maybe a life on the run with Liam would be a good thing. We could hunt together, explore Canada on four feet instead of two. It would sound super fun if the cold hadn’t already descended. “Fuck.” The energy of the kitsune inside me did some kind of rolling churn, like feeling my frustration and anger had loosened something.
“So eloquent,” Liam teased. Toby’s eyes were huge. Had he felt the kitsune?
My stomach cramped hard, and I dropped the bag to rush to the bathroom. Since I hadn’t eaten, nothing came up. Dry heaves, I breathed hard, and relaxed into Liam’s arms when they wrapped around me. “You need to pack for us,” I told him. “I’ll be fine in a minute.”
“Toby is packing. He’ll add water and more food. Rest for a few minutes, and then we’ll go.”
It calmed something in me to know he was coming with me. This moment felt a lot like a full circle of me running again, only to come to a screeching halt when faced with Liam again. “Don’t leave me,” I begged him. “I know I’m not good enough for you, but I need you.”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind, tucking his face into the back of my neck. “Mine,” he whispered in a fierce growl. The tone was more animal than man. I shivered, him around me and that boundless control triggering that switch that always seemed to be on around him. Not fair to be turned on and feeling like shit.
“I hate my life,” I grumbled.
“Yeah?” he murmured; his breath warm against my neck.
“Fuck. Not you. Me and all my messed-up baggage. You could totally fuck me right now and I’d be good with that.” If anyone walked in on us in the bathroom at that moment, it would have looked very bad. A lot like he was taking me doggy style, while crouched on the bathroom rug in front of the toilet. But I didn’t care. His arms around me were grounding, and I needed that, even if I was still lost in a billion worries about finding the forest god,Apa, and Nicky, and fixing this kitsune thing. For the moment, I enjoyed his arms and tried to let him soothe away some of the anxiety.
Chapter 7
Carl arrived as we were headed out. He did not look happy about having to babysit the women of our lives. I don’t think he minded Korissa, but my mom and Elaine made his perpetual frown worse.
“He’s got a calm head even if he pushes your buttons,” Liam informed me as he tugged on hiking boots and pawed through a downstairs coat closet.
“Carl is an asshole,” I said loud enough for him to hear, but he didn’t appear at all offended.
“You know a lot about assholes, right?” Carl threw back. “They are a thing for you? Studying them or whatever?”
If Liam hadn’t kissed me stupid right that second, I might have really given Carl the what for. In truth, Carl in charge wasn’t a bad thing. He knew how to take care of the pack, even if his views were a bit more archaic. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt them. Even the two gorgons we couldn’t get to leave.
Both the women began sputtering at seeing the backpacks. It made me wonder how much Elaine knew about Liam. Did she suspect he wasn’t human? Or to her did it look like he was being rude and going on a camping trip with his lover while his ex-wife stayed in his house?
“You’re leaving?” my mother demanded to know.
“We have stuff to take care of,” I told her. “Stuff you witnessed in the car.”
She stared at me like she’d already forgotten the portal in the middle of the road. I stared back, but she looked away first. My powers had always frightened her, even when all I could do was transform into a baby fox. They frightened me a lot these days too, and I hated seeing that fear in her eyes, but had no choice. Sometimes life chooses a path for you. Right now, mine was to find a way to release the kitsune or die. Both sounded painful, but I’d try option one first.
“For days?” Elaine said. “You’re leaving our daughter for days?”
“She’s in good hands,” Liam said.