Page 37 of Anywhere

“Maybe if I’d wanted all of this in the first place and had just accepted him at the ritual, all of the tension between us would’ve been avoided. I’ve never been insecure before. Is this what it’s like?”

Gregory laughed, and it came out like a loud boom. “Aye, it is, and ya, yer tryin’ ta fuck it all up ta push ‘em away. Dinnie worry. Rhys will forgive ya.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Gregory’s face sobered, and he looked over at me. “Because I see da way he looks at ya. Whether he wants ta be or no, Rhys is developing feelings fir ya.” Giving me a clap on the back, Gregory wandered back into the large kitchen. “But I won’t be guaranteein’ he won’t be da one bendin’ ya over as punishment for pissin’ ‘im off,” he said and laughed again. “Who be makin’ da mess on da counter,” he mumbled as he wiped up the mess I’d left of my coffee.

I smiled at my uncle as he began to make himself breakfast. “Gregory, do you mind if I ask how Gerrit died? My father doesn’t talk about it.”

Gregory’s hands never stilled as he cracked eggs into a bowl, but the earlier smile faded. “Like all da men dat ‘ave died in our family,” he said and looked up at me. “He was murdered.”

I swallowed, trying to get rid of the sudden dryness in my throat. “He was your two, and he was murdered?”

“Aye.”

“And my father’s pairing with Ailill, he was my father’s number two.”

“Aye, I think ya might be catchin’ on,” he said softly.

“I was made the one… that means….” My heart suddenly fluttered with panic.

“Son, dis life dat was forged hundreds of years ago now, it’s no’ an easy one. I din’t ask for it, and neither did yer da, but we do it to keep da family, our people, and our way of livin’ safe.”

Gregory leaned against the counter and looked at me. For the first time in my life, I felt the weight of this responsibility.

“Whadda think will happen if anotha Faction takes ova?”

I shrugged and felt stupid that I’d never thought about it.

“All of us will be da first to go. They will no’ want any livin’ blood that be a threat for a revolution to be left breathin’. Whetha ya knew it or no’, ya were always part of all dis, and the threat to all in yer triad is real.”

“Will someone try to go after Rhys first?”

Gregory stood straight and looked up at me. “What do ya think, son?”

I rubbed at the spot over my heart, the pain hitting with the thought of someone hurting him or worse. “Will they come before the next ritual moon?”

“Hunters and otha’ Factions can decide to come any time, but aye, yer weakest until ya complete the first ritual. Ya be strongest once all tree of ya are in union.”

Panic was beginning to form as I scanned the large green area, unable to see Rhys. “I should go find Rhys.”

“Rhys be fine. He will be where he always goes when he wants some quiet time. Ya can find him by da water. He has a wee spot where he likes ta sit.” Gregory pointed out the door toward Mari with the spatula he was now using for his scrambled eggs. “Ya betta head on out, otherwise it won’t be da otha’ Factions ya will need ta be scared of.”

Mari was talking to one of the guards on the lawn. The fact that she was pointing like she wanted guards in other locations did nothing to settle the unease sitting on my chest.

“Thanks for the talk,” I said, pushing away from the wall to make my way toward Mari. I had no idea what I was in for, but as she picked up two long sticks from the pile on the ground, I had a pretty good idea and groaned. This would not end well for me.

Rook

“Ooof.”

The air exploded from my lungs as I landed on my ass for what had to be the thousandth time. Breathing hard, I stared up at Mari. She hadn’t even broken a sweat.

“Dear spirits, tell me we are done. If not, just kill me now,” I moaned.

“We are done for today,” she said, taking pity on me. “But you’re terrible. Not even mildly good. I’m really shocked you’re so bad, actually. Why your father never made you learn to fight is beyond me, but I was a better fighter by five.”

I glared at her while pushing myself up, then winced as every muscle screamed. There wasn’t a single part of my body not covered in welts.