Gypsy Truths

Without any farther delay, she darts off, barking just as excitedly, tail wagging, as she charges through the woods with more carefree abandon than I’ve ever seen her use.

“You too,” I tell the wolves behind me, who are all being really quiet.

All of my other favorite wolf omegas chase after Leiza, their barks high-pitched and giddy. Even Ingrid is with them, in her wolf form I’ve only ever seen a time or two, as they race by.

I’ve never seen them so free.

A smile tugs at my lips once again, as I turn and move through the forest, studying the scene before me. I can’t really see that well, but I can tell enough about what’s going on.

It’s sacred and private, because they’ve all got their guards completely down for this moon.

It’s the exact opposite of what the full moon usually does to them.

I wish this was their monthly reward, instead of the feral monthly curse.

He worried I was hunting his wolf spirits, once upon a time. He was fiercely protective of even his dead.

He said they return to their human roots after dying. At some point, they must return to their wolf homes, though. Being a wolf is just as important to many of them, as being a vampire is to Shera.

“Are you looking for your boyfriend’s furry tail?” Anna asks as she joins me at my side, startling me once again.

“I hate it when you do that,” I remind her.

“Since I’ve been back, you’ve been a total bitch to me,” Anna says on a mock sad sigh.

Giving her a dry look, I emotionlessly respond, “Because now I know who you are. You’re not Anna, the friendly neighborhood ghost. And when the guys find out who you are, I’m not sure they’re going to be happy about it. You should have been honest with me from the beginning.”

“But then you’d have never loved me, and I enjoy being loved,” she says, grinning darkly.

“You’re being creepy right now. Stop being creepy or go away.”

“You’re too uptight these days. Just sayin’, no one likes an uptight bitch. And you’re being very stupid with Idun.”

“Of course I’m being stupid with Idun. The only way to be smart with Idun is to outsmart her, and I don’t know how to do that. She’s a hell of a lot smarter than me, and she’s been alive for a lot longer. Also, she’s an established, terrifying alpha, and everyone fears her. There’s no such thing as smart, because the smart thing to do would be to let her win. However, that means sacrificing lives so that she feels she’s got some sort of power over me. I can’t do that. I won’t do that.”

“Said the fool to the spirit,” she quips. “Maybe you should listen to the dead, or at least loan me your body and try to handle things my way. You really botch shit up when you’re the main character.”

I stare at her. Very hard. For a very long time.

She stares back at me, her face as dry and expressionless as mine.

“I forget why I missed you so much. One more insult, and I’ll salt you,” I tell her, pointing my finger in her face.

“Back before you took on the responsibility of saving the weak and pissing off the powerful, you were a lot more fun,” she informs me.

Hot breath fans over the back of my neck, and I go stiff. Anna turns and grins, as I remain completely motionless.

“It’s Grandma, Violet! She’s huge!” Anna crows.

A subtle growl vibrates against me, as the hot breath blows against my neck once more, sending my hair into an instant part when it blows up on my shoulders from the force of the exhale.

A chill runs down my spine, and I slowly turn to face…Emit.

My entire body sags with relief, and I think the jackass grins at me. Wolves have tried killing me, and I’ve killed wolves. That’s so not cool.

They really are a desensitized bunch.

Moving against me, he nuzzles my throat, his soft fur tickling across my flesh with a stain-like graze. My fingers run through the thick, lush strands, and he makes a content noise in his throat.

“Did you find Fay?” I ask.

He stiffens briefly, before exhaling and giving a shake of his head. My heart sinks a little, since I was hoping I’d have the chance to tell her that her death was avenged.

He pulls back, sniffs the air, and takes off once again, as though the moon has him doing something else more pressing than nuzzling me with all his soft wolf fur.

I smile at his back, but I turn again, and I spot headstones. I’ve somehow found their private cemetery, amongst all the trees. They usually burn the bodies to quickly free the spirits and limit infection, but those special to the alpha are buried like family.

Even though I probably don’t want to see it or know what really happened that night, I still go to find the stone marked with Fay’s name, letting my fingers run over the engraving.

Without hesitating for too long, I let my heartbeat drop and start searching for the death window. My brow furrows when one never arises.

The others don’t use death windows as often as I do, because it’s apparently not as easy for them as it is me. It’s hit or miss with most people, but I hit it every time.

Until now.

Too many times I’ve opened a death window from a person, place or a dead body. It’s gotten almost impossibly easier than ever.

Blinking my eyes open, I stare down at the grave that doesn’t look disturbed. Grass has grown over it, proving it’s been left alone.

The sound of leaves crunching has me looking up to find Tiara and Leiza moving toward me, both of them whimpering as though they’re informing me Fay isn’t among the dead they’ll see tonight.

My throat feels tight.

My chest feels heavy.

Something terrible pops into my head, and the thought won’t go away.

“Dig up her grave,” I tell them.

They both stare at me with twin blank looks.

“I can dig it up myself, but paws and claws dig faster than two normal hands,” I point out. “Dig it up. Hurry.”

As if they’re reluctant to do so, they take a step back.

“I can’t open a death window. Fay’s body isn’t down there. If I’m wrong, it’s a terrible mistake. If I’m right, then I have a terrible suspicion I’m trying not to let myself think about. Please, dig up her grave.”

Leiza hesitantly moves to the grave, but when her paws start digging, she makes quick work about it, clearing a foot of depth at one end in less than a few minutes.

Tiara moves to the other end and begins slinging up the earth. The two of them reach the sleek, black metal casket with ornate, silver embellishments, in no time.

My stomach gets queasy as I drop into the hole and lift the top half of the casket…only to find it empty.

Dirt.

A little dirt is all that’s in here.

Leiza whimpers, and Tiara begins pacing, as my heartbeat starts drumming in my ears.

“Take me to her death spot. Now,” I state a little too insistently.

Leiza doesn’t waste time, and I struggle to keep up with her, as she weaves in and out of the trees with quick feet and agile movements.

Tiara stays at a slower pace, deliberately remaining behind me, as the two of them hurry me toward something I hope I’m wrong about.

“Because he’s never there. And you probably wish he was around. Then he shows up and you feel angry,” Fay once said to me when she was relating to me about my father issues.