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“Fiancé?” Lucas mouthed to me.
I shrugged. Explaining right now would take too long. Plus, it wasn’t like Lucas really cared if I was engaged or not.
“From the way you two were just acting, I wouldn’t bet on seeing her in a white dress any time soon.” Lucas stood, his eyes on me. “You ready?”
The half-eaten food on my plate wasn’t worth sticking around to finish. “Sure.” I brushed my hands off on a napkin and placed a tip on the table. No one else was doing it, but that didn’t mean the staff didn’t deserve at least a little tip for their hospitality. “I’m going to go see if they have some water bottles I can take. I’ll just be a second.” I started off for the front desk, but Lucas’ voice stopped me.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of you.”
I whipped around. The way he said it, so seriously, it sounded like he meant that he’d take care of more than just water. But by the time I turned, he was already walking out the door.
I sighed. Just because you have a crush on a guy, doesn’t mean he likes you too.
“You can’t go with him.” Matt pointed at Lucas. His face contorted with anger, making him look more than a little crazy. “He’s a wolf.” Disgust was thick in his voice.
Sure, I can. “Have a safe flight home, Matt,” I said as I started after Lucas.
Today I was going to find a way to save my brother. That was the only thing that mattered.
Chapter Eleven
I hopped in the van with Lucas and buckled my belt.
“So, we’re looking for the old mages?” Lucas asked as he started the car.
“Yeah. Did Muraco tell you where to start?”
“He did. I’m heading to one of the smaller villages.” He pulled into the street and started the direction we’d come from last night. “It’s closest to where the old temple was, but I’ve been all over those mountains and never seen a thing.”
Perfect.
“I know that’s not what you want to hear, but I want you to be realistic.”
“Good. Realistic is good. But this is my best shot at saving my brother, breaking the oath that’s binding me to maybe one of the worst people in the world, and finding a way to stop said person from raising demons that will destroy us all. So, no pressure.”
He muttered a string of curses. “Muraco said that it was bad, but he didn’t say it was that bad.” He gave me a long look before focusing back on the road. “Your brother?”
“Twin brother.”
“Somehow that makes it worse.”
I shrugged. “It’s bad either way. But yes, he’s my twin. And the only family I really have left. Besides my cousin, Teresa.”
“She’s Dastien’s new mate, right?”
“Yes,” I said, a little surprised that he knew about the happenings of small town Texas.
He rubbed his forehead. “Muraco is always tight-lipped, but I feel like he’s left out some need-to-know details this time. Fill me in. What are you up against?”
This wasn’t the time to be shy. I wasn’t sure why I felt comfortable spilling my guts to him, but it felt like if I left anything out, something bad would happen. I hadn’t told everyone all of it. Not ever. But I told Lucas. About my family. About how my parents left. How things got bad with Luciana and she started draining my power. And finally, how I manipulated Teresa and then left the coven. I even spilled about Matt.
Lucas was kind as I spoke. He was a total stranger, but he was outraged at all the right parts. He stayed quiet during the hard parts, and in the end, I didn’t think he judged me as anything less.
“You’ve been through a lot for someone so young.”
I sighed. “I’m twenty now, but I feel older. I’m exhausted, and I feel like this fight is only just beginning. Sometimes it’s difficult to see the light at the end, you know?”
“It’s there. I promise.”
