Page 72 of Call of the Blood

“Why?” Declan sounded like he was sobering up fast.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I said, moving into the dining room, with no pictures on the walls. Nothing to identify Henry anywhere so far.

“Who?”

“You definitely wouldn’t believe that,” I said, actually laughing a bit now.

“Try me. Is it someone famous? You are in Los Angeles.”

“Declan, it’s a vampire thing. Do you really want to know?”

“I guess you can’t because that would be outing someone as a vampire, huh?”

“Not to you,” I whispered.

“I could barely hear that,” Declan said. “Say it again?”

Is it time? I need to tell him, eventually. I’m here. He should know why. Right?

I shouldn’t just drop this on him. Let me try to avoid it. He deserves the talk in person.

“Declan, you know like four vampires. I couldn’t tell you who it is unless you know them already as a vampire,” I reminded him. “Hence why I don’t think you’d believe me.”

“Spit it out!” Declan had no idea what he was signing up for.

Okay, brother. Fine.

“It’s Uncle Henry’s home,” I answered, my words softer as the truth left my mouth. I walked into the sparse living room. Nothing interesting seemed to jump out to me.

“What?” So quiet, I almost missed it, even though the world was silent around me.

“Yeah. I found him. I wasn’t going to bother you with it because after he abandoned us… I didn’t think you would want the drama. Plus, he’s also a vampire, and I’m trying really hard⁠—”

“To keep me out of the supernatural stuff,” Declan said, cutting me off. “How? Where?”

“He’s living in California. He’s a member of Maria’s nest. Has been for a decade,” I said, shrugging as I spoke, even though he couldn’t see me. I went into the back hallway, finding doors to rooms. “Under a new name. James Henry Bishop instead of Henry⁠—”

“James Abbott,” Declan said, his words now stiff and clipped. I could envision his clenched jaw. “Fuck that guy.”

“Yeah. Why do you think I’m breaking into his house? I want his secrets because he’s been keeping some from me. He and I saw each other at a supernatural café. He recognized me, and I hadn’t been paying attention. I was testing the waters before even considering getting you involved, if I ever did.”

“Have you asked him why he left yet?”

“Are you sure you want to have this conversation over the phone, Declan?” I asked in return. “With Lexi there with you?”

“Honestly… you’re there right now. I want to know everything you do. Because fuck him. He walked out.”

“He didn’t. It’s actually a bit worse. Jacob banished him. Exiled. Henry couldn’t come back to us even if he’d wanted to. He went off the grid for a couple of years and then showed up in L.A. with a new identity and just fell into Maria’s nest with the help of a bit of magic.”

“Fucking shit,” Declan said, groaning, definitely sobering up now.

“Yeah. And from how Henry and my conversations went, I decided I needed to dig into him. He withheld some things and lied about others. So…”

“You broke into his house,” Declan finished, going back to that point.

“If you want to help, you were older when he disappeared. Do you remember him having any weird things he did? Some habits don't die. He probably has the same quirks.”

“He liked to show me a show box or photo box of photos of our previous generations,” Declan said immediately. “He loved that box, was really protective over it, like I couldn’t pick up any of the pictures, only view what he showed me. He never showed you. I don’t know why.”