Chapter 4
WHEN NEITHER ANGEL nor I moved, Herne reached across the table for the brandy bottle. He waited a moment, then opened the bottle and was about to upend it into his mouth.
“I’ll get you a glass,” I said then, shaking myself out of my stupor. I hurried into the kitchen and brought back another snifter, handing it to him.
“My thanks,” he said, pouring himself a stiff belt. He slammed it back and then poured another. “Not bad, not bad.” He glanced up at us, the smile still tilting the corners of his mouth. “Nothing to say? I’m not surprised. That’s all right, news like this takes a while to assimilate.”
I held out my hand. “Hand me that bottle.”
He passed it to me and I poured drinks for Angel and me. This time, we didn’t sip the booze, just slugged it back, the way he had. I poured another round, and the liquid fire rolling down my throat seemed to drain some of the disbelief out of my system.
“So, let’s start from the beginning. You were out there in the woods?” I paused, then made a connection. “Did you send the stag to me?”
“Guess again,” he said, as he poured himself another. He held up the glass, staring at the brandy. As I gazed into his eyes, I caught a silver tinge that looked familiar.
“You are the stag,” I whispered.
He just arched his eyebrows and winked, then drained the snifter again. “As I said when I was standing outside of your door, I took care of the bodies for you. They’ll never be found. But that doesn’t solve the problem of the fact that there was a third participant.”
“We were worried about Morte Seers. You didn’t happen to pick up DJ’s wallet and ID while you were there, did you?”
“Morte Seers are a deadly possibility. And no, I didn’t notice it. I was too busy trying to keep you both from being killed.” He turned to Angel. “Your brother is in danger. And you, too.”
“What am I going to do?” Her eyes were wide, and I could feel the fear rising. Angel was brave enough for herself, but if something threatened her brother, it triggered her fears.
Herne stared at the table for a moment before answering. “Your best bet is to send him away.”
Angel let out a faint cry. “I’m the only family he has.”
“That’s why you need to keep him safe. I know a family who will keep him safe and sound and cared for. You do not want to underestimate the treachery of the Fae—either side. They would kill him for spite, as quickly as they’d stomp on a bug.” He glanced at me. “No offense intended.”
I wasn’t sure what to think. He was right about them, and yet he was including me by default. “No offense taken. At least, I don’t think so. You said that Angel and I should join the Wild Hunt? What the hell is that?”
“I’ll explain in a moment. But in order to do so, first, I must explain the nature of the Fae.”
“I know their nature. I was born with it and stay as far away from my kin as possible.”
Herne ignored me. “From the beginning of time, the Dark and Light courts have fought. It is the nature of the balance. As the world grew smaller—and the populations of all beings increased—their battles went underground, and a squad of bounty hunters were formed to keep that war from spilling out into full-scale conflicts that would affect everyone else. We’re stationed around the world. My agency is called the Wild Hunt.”
“So, you’re peacekeepers?”
“In a way,” he said. “Cernunnos and Morgana spearhead the efforts. Basically, we clean up the mess that the Fae make, and when situations arise that could endanger the rest of the world, we put a stop to them.”
“How does this relate to DJ and Angel? Or me?” I was trying to follow the flow of information.
“It wouldn’t, normally. But given the way things played out, they’ll spin it so that DJ will be considered the main instigator—regardless of the way it happened.”
He yawned, stretching. His muscles rippled beneath the form-fitting muscle shirt. I found myself musing as I watched him. He was extraordinarily handsome, in so many ways that I found attractive. He was fascinating. Probably too fascinating for my own good.
He’s the son of a god, after all, I thought. Of course I’m going to find him attractive.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Angel said, startling me out of my reverie. “All I know is that my brother’s in danger and you’re telling me I have to send him away? And then I have to help you stop the Fae from murdering each other? I think you’re barking up the wrong tree, dude. I’m human.”
Herne gave her a dry look. “If I have to, I will take you back to my father and let him explain things. But I guarantee, he’s a lot more intimidating than me. Or I can just let you go on your merry way, until they find you and kill you and your brother.”
“Fucking hell, you’re just full of good news, aren’t you?” Angel let out an exasperated sigh. “Why should we trust you? And what good would it do for us to work for you?”
“You should trust me because without my help, your brother and Ember would be dead by now.” His words stopped us both cold. Arrogant he might be, but he was also correct on that score.
I took a long breath and counted to three before releasing it slowly. “We need a moment to clear our heads. You’re dropping a lot of information on us right now.”
“I realize that,” Herne said. “It’s a lot to take in.” He glanced at the kitchen. “How about some tea to go with the booze?”
Angel nodded, mutely rising to fix a pot of tea. I kept a variety of flavors around, along with a teapot, just for her. I crossed into the living room, trying to collect my thoughts. I had no clue what was happening. Everything from this afternoon on felt like chaos had descended. It had been this way when I came home to find my parents murdered, too. Sudden confusion and the feeling as though my world had turned on end.
A few moments later, we gathered at the table again. Angel brought a pot of peppermint tea over, along with three mugs.
I was trying to sort out things. “So we’re all in danger, especially Angel and DJ? Will the Light Fae ever stop looking for them?”
Herne leaned his elbows on the table. “The truth is, all three of you are in jeopardy from both sides, for differing reasons. The moment you get mixed up in the machinations of Fae politics, you’re fair game. But we can help.”
“And the answer to that is to join your agency?” It didn’t make sense to me. “I mean, thank you—I suppose I should say that because thanks to you, DJ and I are alive.”
“You would never have managed both those assassins.” Herne’s voice was grave. “They’re highly trained.”
“Be that as it may, the fact remains that Angel and I know very little about what you’re referring to. Why should Angel have to give up her brother to strangers? And what good will joining the Wild Hunt do?”
“I can protect Angel—and you—to a degree by taking you into the agency. But as long as DJ is visible, the Fae will have the chance to blackmail Angel. They aren’t above using children as pawns.”
My headache was steadily growing. I realized that I was both exhausted from my encounters out in the woods as well as from the fact that I had only had about six hours of sleep after a busy night of goblin bashing. “I need some aspirin.”
Angel refilled my mug. “Peppermint’s good for a headache.” She turned to Herne. “Please, explain so we understand.”
“All right. I’ll start from the beginning.” Herne leaned forward. “The Fae have been at war since the beginning of time. I don’t know if you know that or not, given your heritage.”
“Mostly, yes. If you want me to be a liaison, it won’t work. Neither side wants anything to do with me.”
“No worries on that. The Light and Dark courts hate each other. It’s a wonder they didn’t kill your parents earlier.” He paused as I winced. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me. You’ll find that I tend to be direct. At times, blunt to the point of offensive. It’s because of who I am and what I am here to do. I mean no harm.”
I nodded, accepting his apology. “Go on.”
“As I said, the Fae have been at war with each other since the beginning of time. They were in danger of devastating the world, so my father and Morgana stepped in. She is the goddess of the Fae, both Light and Dark. Before you say anything, I know there are other goddesses who exist within that realm, but Morgana connects with the Fae more than any of the others.”
“My mother worked with her. She was pledged in her service,” I said quietly.
“Yes, and that is a plus for you. The Fae truly believe they will always be at war, and it’s lodged in the bones of their very nature. Very few exist who are like you, Ember. You contain both bloodlines, and you’re a rare specimen among your people. You are a threat—an example that the blood of either line will not poison the other side.”
“I never thought of it that way. If I can exist, then peace might actually be achieved. I’m not trying to kill myself out of self-loathing, that’s for sure.”
“Right. Morgana favors neither side and helps keep a balance of power between the two. She also happens to be my mother.”
I blinked. So he was part Fae—divine Fae, at that.
“When I grew to an age where I could be on my own, Cernunnos sent me into this world to keep watch. There are others like me around the planet, but this area is my territory. We keep a close watch over the battles, and step in when necessary. We enforce the necessary balance. One of my duties is to ensure that as little collateral damage happens as possible. Especially to those not of Fae blood, like your brother, Angel.”
All this was a great deal to take in. I found myself desperately wanting fresh air, and held up my hand for him to pause as I opened the door leading up to my balcony.
Fresh air swept in on the night breeze as the sounds of the city filtered in, ambulances and sirens wailing, traffic grinding its way through the night. I stepped out on the balcony, leaning against the metal railing. I had never given much thought to my heritage or the people who made up my bloodlines. They had no love lost for me and I had no love lost for them. But now it occurred to me that I should at least know the history of my ancestors, whether or not I ever was welcome there. There was so much about my parents that I would never know.
Overwhelmed, I suddenly felt dizzy. I grabbed hold of the railing, inhaling deeply, then let out a slow breath and returned to the table, making sure to close to the door so the cat wouldn’t get out there.
“So basically, the Fae are always at war, and you keep things from getting out of hand?”
He nodded. “That sums it up. Yes. I, and others like me. During the down times, the Wild Hunt Agency hires itself out for SubCult investigations.”
“And the Fae don’t try to kill you?”
He shook his head. “They are forbidden. Anybody who works for me, or anyone of my kind, is under what you might call divine immunity, which is why it would benefit the two of you to come work for me.”
“You can’t be killed?” Angel asked, her voice hopeful.
“Oh, we can—at least those who work for me can, given they aren’t of divine birth. But both sides—Light and Dark—agreed to abide by the rules Cernunnos and Morgana set forth. If we find out they’re breaking those rules, they are subject to dangerous punishment. That doesn’t mean some haven’t tried, and if they hire someone from the sub-Fae or one of the other Crypto races, those outlier agents are not bound to the agreement.”
I was beginning to get a picture of how this worked, although it was still confusing. Angel crossed to my cupboard and pulled out a box of cookies. She brought them back and tore open the package. It was covered with dust, and was probably stale, but in a pinch, anything would do.
“I don’t know about you, but I need chocolate and I need it now,” she said. “It’s past the expiration date, but I’m willing to take a chance, if you are.”
Herne laughed. “Mind if I join you?” He accepted a cookie. “It will fall into place eventually. But to cut to the chase: since you and Angel have ended up embroiled in this mess, I’m bringing you into my agency. You’ll have diplomatic immunity. Nothing else I can do stands as good a chance of keeping you both alive. Given they know DJ’s name and address, do you really want to take the chance? Are you willing to risk your brother’s life? Or your own lives? Ask yourself that before you answer me.”
Angel slowly raised her hand. “May I ask a question?”
“Of course. I will answer as thoroughly as I can.”
“Why are the Fae courts allowed in the United Coalition, if they are at war with each other?”
The United Coalition was the governmental structure in place that was composed of the Shifter Alliance, the Vampire Nation, the Human League, and the Fae courts. Most of the nations had adopted something similar—at least those that espoused democracy of any sort—once the human world realized it was not the primary inhabitant on the planet.
“Because it’s recognized that the Fae are like this. The other groups know, but they also know we do our best to keep the balance. If they tried to kick the Fae out, then Light and Dark would launch all-out open war on each other, and the rest of the world be damned. This way, it’s a delicate balance that’s kept and no one group can try to push out the others.”
He paused, then added, “I would have come to see Ember even if today hadn’t happened.”
I blinked. “Why?”
“As I said, you’re a rare specimen—half Light Fae, half Dark Fae. There are qualities about yourself that you haven’t yet realized because of your breeding. Both sides know this, and for that reason, if you had been at home the day your parents were killed, they would have killed you as well. When Morgana found out about your parents’ deaths, she visited Névé and Saílle and forbade them to touch you as you were growing up. Over time, we believe they forgot about you. And you’ve never done anything to bring yourself to their attention until now.”
“And now, if this Sasha is able to identify me, it will mean that I’m on their radar again. Just what kind of qualities are you talking about?”
He shook his head. “That, I cannot tell you. I don’t know and my mother has not seen fit to tell me. But if you join my agency, you’ll have some semblance of safety.” He paused, then added, “Did you know that your father was pledged to Cernunnos? You have a birthmark on your lower back—the right side—don’t you?”
I stirred, uncomfortable. “How did you know about that?”
“It’s the head and antlers of the stag, isn’t it?”
I nodded, not sure of what to say. He was correct. I had a jet-black birthmark at the base of my lower right side, right above my butt cheek. It was the head and antlers of a stag, all right. My mother never told me why I was born with it, only that I would learn when I was older. But they were killed before I did.
Herne cleared his throat. “You were born with the mark of the silver stag. It marks you as one of my father’s chosen hunters. Your father served Cernunnos, just as your mother served Morgana. So you see, you were already on my father’s radar.”
I caught my breath. I worked with Morgana with my water magic, because my mother had been pledged to her. But I had no clue my father had dedicated himself to Cernunnos. The Lord of the Forest was a primal hunter, and more often than not, it was humans who gravitated to him.
“You’re for real, aren’t you?” For months now, I had felt like something was about to happen. I hadn’t known what, but the anticipation, almost an anxiety, had been nagging at the back of my mind.
He nodded, looking solemn. “You will always have a choice, but if you choose to walk away from this, you’re fair game for both Fae courts. And there are rumors they’ve begun a purge of all those who are of mixed Fae blood. Not half-human, half-Fae, although they don’t care for them either, but of Light and Dark blend. There aren’t a lot of you out there. By joining the Wild Hunt, you’ll be protected as much as we can protect you.”
Stunned, I slumped back in my chair. “Why not leave us be?”
Herne cupped his brandy snifter in his hands. “I don’t know. Something has escalated, but we don’t know what. Maybe it’s as simple as what we were talking about—that you and those like you represent a threat. A potential for co-existence.”
I hated being funneled into anything. I hated authority in general, but it was obvious that I didn’t have much of a choice. I was a walking target. And with Angel and DJ now involved, I wasn’t about to hedge my bets with their lives on the line.
The truth was, I had been drifting through the days, not quite certain how I wanted to spend my life. Hiring myself out as a freelance hunter was what I knew best, but it hadn’t been a conscious choice. I hadn’t woken up one day and decided, Gee, I want to go hunt goblins. I hated feeling like I didn’t have a purpose. On that level alone, Herne’s invitation appealed to me.
“And me? What about me and DJ?” Angel looked like she was about to cry.
“I can guarantee both of you safety—as much as anybody can guarantee anything—if you come work for me as well. But we should send DJ away. This is dangerous work, Angel, and it’s better if your loved ones aren’t in the immediate vicinity. Especially someone as young and vulnerable as your brother.”
“Where would you send him?”
“We can place him with a foster family where he can learn more about his Wulfine heritage. I can arrange for you to visit him several times a year. No one need know that he doesn’t belong to that family.” Herne cleared his throat. He poured another round of brandy. It was almost empty. “As I said, I know this is a great deal to take in, but I need your decisions tonight. We need to declare you as part of the agency tonight just in case they’re searching for you. The two of you are at a crossroads, and the rest of your life depends on what you choose to do. I’ll excuse myself and visit the restroom while you talk it over.”
ANGEL AND I sat there staring at each other after he walked away. As the bathroom door closed behind him, I slumped back, shaking my head.
“What the hell?” I looked over at Angel. “I had no clue. I had no fucking clue.”
She looked on the verge of tears. “I wish DJ had never stayed overnight at Sarah’s last night. But if wishes were pennies, I’d be rich. What’s done is done, and now we have to make a decision.”
“I think we can trust him. I don’t know why, but there’s something about him that tells me he’s straight up.”
She nodded, her shoulders sagging. “Oh, we can trust him. I can sense when people are lying—and even though he’s a god, he’s telling us the truth.”
Pausing, she trailed her finger along the rim of her teacup. “I have to say yes, Ember. I don’t want to give DJ up, but I can’t put him in danger.” Then the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. “I hate myself for saying this, but I’m almost relieved. I don’t make much money. I’m doing my best to give him the life he deserves, but I don’t think I can help him grow into an adult and learn how to handle his wolf. I have no clue what it means to be a shifter, and most of his own kind won’t give him a second glance. If Herne can find a family to willingly and lovingly take him in, and show him what it means to be Wulfine, then I can’t stand in his way.”
I knew how hard it was for Angel to say that—how hard it was for her to willingly give up her brother. I reached out and took her hand and squeezed hard, holding on tight.
“Do you remember when we first met, after I told you who my parents were? I expected you to sneer and make fun of me. A couple of the other Fae children were taunting me and calling me names. You beat the crap out of them and told them that if they ever did that again there’d be more where that came from. I’ve never forgotten how brave you were.”
She squeezed my hand back. “I couldn’t let them pick on my bestie. I had your back, and I’ve always known you had mine.”
“I still have your back. We’ll join the Wild Hunt. We’ll make sure DJ’s okay, and that we’re okay. I guess this is what they call fate.”
She sniffed back her tears and gave me a wide smile. “Destiny’s a bitch, isn’t she?”
“She sure is, Angel. She sure is.”
BY THE TIME Herne returned, we had wiped our eyes. One thing that Angel and I had in common: when we made up our minds, done was done. We weren’t wishy-washy people. I refilled our glasses and pushed Herne’s snifter over to him.
“Shall we drink to our new alliance? You’d better pay well, and give good benefits.” I raised my glass and Angel raised hers.
Herne stared at us for a moment, then his lips curved into a sensuous smile. I found myself noticing him far too much for my own good. His eyes were twinkling.
“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that. To the Wild Hunt’s newest employees. And for your information, I doubt either one of you has ever made as much money as you’re about to. You’re not going to be rich, but you’ll be able to pay your rent and bills without worry. As far as benefits go, health and life insurance are included.” He leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table. “Angel, I suggest you move over to this side of the lake. My agency is down in the Old Town section of Seattle. The Pioneer Square area.”
I grimaced. Old Town was a seedy place. At one point it had been the center of business, but business moved north, and the downtown sector of Seattle had become a seedy wasteland. Now, there were a lot of clubs and taverns down there, and a number of brothels. Once prostitution was legalized, it had become a major moneymaker for most city governments. Taxed high and regulated strictly, it had put the pimps out of business and kept the kids from walking the streets. Punishment for anyone breaking the rules was strict and swift.
“Don’t turn up your nose. Rent is cheap, and down there nobody asks questions.” He pulled out his wallet and tossed us each a card. “There’s the address. As soon as I leave here, I’ll contact Névé and Saílle, and put your names on the roster of people they cannot touch. Or that they shouldn’t touch. As I said I can’t guarantee anything one hundred percent, but at least you’ll be on the registers.”
“What about DJ?” Angel’s voice was quivering, but she was trying to keep it together.
“I’ve already been in contact with the family where he’ll stay, just in case. They live down south a ways, in the Chehalis area. A lot of shifters live there, and the family he’ll stay with are very open-minded as to parentage. They’ll say he’s a cousin from back east, and if anybody questions them, we will forge papers to prove that his parentage was approved by the Alpha.”
“What if somebody checks? I mean, a busybody could look into it and find out that he really wasn’t from back there.”
I had the feeling Angel was grasping at straws, trying to figure out some way she could keep DJ with her even though she knew it was in his best interests to let him go.
“We have an arrangement with the Alpha of the New Hampshire division of the Shifter Alliance. He owes Cernunnos a great debt, one that he’s not likely to work off in this lifetime. As a result, we utilize his services in this manner when need be. He also happens to be one of us—one of Cernunnos’s bounty hunters.”
Angel let out a long sigh. “I guess that’s it, then. When does he have to leave?”
“The father of the family is waiting for my call. He’s just down the street. We believe in being prepared. He’ll take DJ with him. I’m not going to tell you the family’s last name or anything about them. I’ll make arrangements for you to see him at least four times a year for a week or so. The holidays, if you like. But the less you know about his foster family, the safer he will be. He’ll have a new name and a new life.”
“You’re asking a lot on trust,” I said.
“At some point, you have to take a leap of faith. One thing I have learned over the years I have been alive is that nothing is ever guaranteed. Oh, the sun will rise and set, the world will turn, and birth and death come to us all. Other than that, there is absolutely no surety.” Herne leaned forward again, propping his chin on his hands. “You have to do what your heart tells you is right.”
“I thought the gods were immortal.” Angel seemed to be almost holding her breath, her gaze so intent upon our visitor that I thought she might burn a hole through his head.
“My father is. My mother became a goddess. She herself was born of a god and a mortal. She can die, if wounded gravely and not attended to. As can I, though it takes a lot to bring us to death’s doorstep.”
“I trust you,” Angel said. “My heart tells me to go on faith. I will entrust you with my brother’s life. I’m going to hold you to it. I know you can’t control everything that happens to him, but if the people you give him to hurt him in any way, god or not I’m coming after you.”
“And I will be at her side.” I reached over and took her hand again. “Angel and I have a bond that goes beyond friendship. We are oath sisters.”
Herne gave us a solemn nod. “I would expect nothing less, given what I’ve heard about you. Both of you.” He turned to Angel. “Your brother will be loved and cared for. And I will make sure that you see him several times a year, without interference, and you can judge for yourself then. Shall I call for his new foster father to come by?”
Angel bit her lip, pressing one hand against her stomach. She nodded, very slowly. “Yeah. Call him. I’m going to go spend a little time with DJ till he gets here. I don’t know how I’m going to tell him about this.”
“Tell him that he’s going to a safe haven. A sanctuary house. That’s the truth of the matter and he will hear the truth in your voice. Tell him that what he witnessed this afternoon may not be over, and that he will put you out of danger by going into sanctuary. That will speak to such a brave young man.”
Angel vanished into my bedroom, softly closing the door behind her.
I held my breath for a moment, then let it out slowly. “What’s a sanctuary house?”
Herne held up his hand as he pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. “It’s set,” he said to whomever answered. “The Miriam G building—fifteenth floor. I’ll meet you by the elevator in ten minutes. Bring the sanctuary flag.”
As he hung up, I felt like the world was shifting beneath my feet. Angel had to be feeling the same way.
“A sanctuary house—or building—is a place where no one—be they from the Shifter Alliance, the Vampire Nation, the Fae courts, or the Human League—can interfere. Anyone who claims sanctuary in one of those places will be safe until a decision is made by the Grand Council. And I suggest you not ask questions about the Council at this moment. There are some things better off left in the dark, if you know what I mean.”
I felt like I was getting a schooling on a world I had grown up in, but never truly knew. Everything seemed different, and all of my normals were flying out the window.
“Do most people know about all of this?”
Herne shook his head. “Not really. There’s a vast network running below the surface of the governments in this world, whether they be human, shifter, Fae, or vampire. And that doesn’t even account for the rest of the Cryptos, most of whom have some sort of representative on the Grand Council.”
I hugged myself, suddenly cold. “So most of the world goes through the motions without any understanding of what’s taking place?”
“Most of the world goes through the motions of life in general, blissfully unaware of anything beyond their lives. And if you gave them a choice, ten to one they’d pick ignorance over knowledge. Knowledge carries great responsibility. Ignorance offers most people an out.”
I nodded, thinking he was right. “I know a lot of people who don’t want to take responsibility for their lives. It’s easier to blame somebody else when something goes wrong than accept their part in whatever happened.”
Herne stood up. “I should wait by the elevator.” He paused, glancing back at me. “It really is for the best, sending DJ away. Angel’s brother would be in grave danger. I can’t have him working for the agency at his age, and while families of my employees are supposed to be immune to retribution, it doesn’t always play out.”
I wanted to ask him if he could send Angel with DJ, but I knew his answer would be no. I wasn’t sure why, but I instinctively knew there was some reason that she couldn’t go with him. And maybe Herne was right. DJ would grow up with other wolf shifters. He would learn what it meant to be part of that society.
As Herne waited outside my front door, near the elevator, Angel escorted DJ out into the living room. Both of them looked like they had been crying. She sat down and pulled him toward her, brushing the myriad of tiny braids back from his face.
“Remember, you promised to be strong for me.”
There was so much pain in her voice that I wanted to dive in, say No—both of you run away as far as you can get. But that wouldn’t solve the problem.
DJ nodded, straightening. A frightened light filled his eyes, but he was doing his best to be brave.
“I promise. You promise that I’ll see you before school starts again?”
“I promise with all my heart. You spend the summer with these nice people, and I’ll see you before you go back to school in the fall. Herne promised. And you know I can tell when somebody’s lying. He was telling me the truth.”
DJ let out a hiccup and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I don’t have my toys or my schoolbooks.”
“We’ll make sure you get them. Now give me a hug—as long and hard of a hug as you’ve ever given me. It will have to last until I see you again, so it better be a good one.” Angel held out her arms and DJ flung himself into them.
I looked away, wanting to give them privacy. I was crying, wondering how everything had become so convoluted in the space of one day. If only I could go back to the morning, knowing what I knew now, and call Angel to go pick up DJ before he left Sarah’s house. But there was no going back. What was done was done, and we had to move forward.
The next moment, Herne entered the apartment again, a burly man standing behind him. I glanced up into the man’s eyes and saw that, as rough as he looked on the outside, his eyes held nothing but gentleness. He walked over to Angel and DJ, and knelt beside them.
“Hey DJ, you can call me Cooper. I know this is hard for you and your sister. I’ll make the transition as easy as possible for you. I have two girls and a boy. We could sure use another young man around the place. My wife bakes the best chocolate chip cookies ever, and she loves children. We’re all wolf shifters, and we’re going to teach you how to handle your inner wolf. You’ll go to school with my kids, and we’ll get you all squared away.” His voice was modulated, soft and soothing.
DJ looked frightened still, but his voice was a little less shaky as he asked, “Can Angel come visit me before school starts in the fall?”
“We’ll make sure that she does, and we’ll be sure that you get to spend Thanksgiving and the holidays with her. It may have to be down near where we live, but we’ll figure out a way. I promise you that. I give you my word.”
“You’d better hurry. You may have the sanctuary flag flying from the antenna, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be followed. I have a cloaking spell that you can use, but you have to use it before midnight. It’s time-sensitive.”
Cooper stood up, and held out his hand to DJ. “Don’t worry about clothes or anything. We have everything you need.” He turned to Angel. “I give you my word, he’ll be safe and happy. I know you’re going on a lot of trust right now, but we’ll uphold our end of the bargain.”
DJ tucked his hand into Cooper’s, and then glanced back at Angel. “I love you.”
“Be brave and make me proud. I don’t want to hear that you’ve given them any trouble when I get there to visit you.” Angel stood up, squaring her shoulders. “You hear me? Mama J. will be watching over you. You know she’s always there.”
As Cooper led DJ out of the apartment, Herne glanced back at us.
“I’ll make sure they get off safely. I want to get the cloaking spell into their car.” He shut the apartment door behind him.
As I turned back to Angel she collapsed on the sofa, crying so hard I was afraid she might break a rib. I hurried over and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her head onto my shoulder. I had a horrible feeling that this was just the first in a long line of drastic changes we were both facing. But at least we’d be facing them together.