Chapter 211

Grace

I went boneless in my seat when Charles hung up. My mind was clear even as my chest felt so tight I could barely breathe. I was silent for the rest of the car ride, riding out the rush of whatever Eason had given me and Charles’ words. As the car pulled to a stop, I looked out the window. Rolling fields stretched as far as the eye could see, golden under the afternoon sun. The car went quiet as the driver cut the engine. Cecil, my ever-energetic four-year-old, bounced in her car seat, practically vibrating with excitement. Even Richard, barely a year old, seemed to perk up in his carrier, cooing at the open sky.

"Wow!" Cecil squealed. "Are we moving here?"

"No, Cecil," I said before looking at Eason. “Where are we?”

“A piece of Mooncrest Reparations,” Eason grinned. “That piece of land you threatened out of a certain someone?”

I blinked and nodded before stepping out. Dust swirled around us.

The sprawling farmland before us was a sight to behold. Rolling hills, painted in vibrant hues of wildflowers, stretched out in every direction. A meandering stream sparkled like a silver ribbon, and in the distance, a weathered farmhouse stood tall, its paint peeling, but its presence felt like it completed the scene.

I knelt down, scooping Cecil into my arms.

"It's ours nonetheless." I looked at Eason. "What are we doing here?"

"I called in a friend, and I figure that you'd want to see it before heading into the next phase."

Eason picked Richard up, grinning at Cecil's wide-eyed wonder.

"For now, think of it like a giant garden box," Eason said.

"Can we put sunflowers here?"

I frowned. "Sunflowers?"

She nodded. "I saw them in a book Uncle Charles got me! They're really tall and yellow..." Cecil gasped, her eyes sparkling. "Can we have a unicorn?"

Eason chuckled.

"Unicorns don't--"

"I don't think they'd like a farm, but I'm sure while you're visiting the castle, you'll get to see one," Eason said.

I looked at him. "Why would you say that?"

Eason's lips twitched. "Because unicorns love well-protected territories."

I blinked at him, stunned. He could not be saying that unicorns existed.

"Come on, let's get the tour underway before he shows up."

I cocked an eyebrow. "He?"

"A friend who owes me a favor," Eason said easily.

He led us toward the old building. The land, while undeniably beautiful, bore the marks of neglect. The farmhouse stood silent, its windows boarded up, and the outbuildings leaned precariously. Yet, from what was growing here already, it was nearly everything I'd been told it would be.

Cecil wriggled free from my embrace and darted towards the wildflowers, her laughter echoing through the air. Richard gurgled happily in his carrier as Eason crouched down to get him a flower to play with. We walked the overgrown fields, and I felt a bit of peace settling over me. Then, a flash of movement caught my eye.

I darted forward as the car slowed to a stop near the house. Out of the car emerged a man. His skin was copper-colored and seemed to glow in the sunlight. The sunglasses on his face seemed to make his features sharper, almost aristocratic. His dark, long, curly hair was gathered up and piled on top of his head in a neat bun. Then, he lifted his sunglasses, revealing his eyes, glinting with an otherworldly red that sent a shiver down my spine.

"You made it!" Eason called, waving his hand over his head and approaching. The man put his sunglasses back on and grinned.

"You have grown, little Eason," the man said, his voice glided through the air like poured chocolate. My heart sped up. "And your eyes! I suppose you will be fluttering those eyelashes more than ever now."

Eason laughed and hugged the man gently, careful of Richard, who cooed up at the man.

"I'll get around to it eventually. Thanks for coming. And let me tell you, it's a long story. Later. Over a very stiff drink."

"I will await it in utter anticipation," he said and turned to me. He offered his hand. "And who is this little precious child?"

"Richard, the younger."

The man snorted. "Very nice. A pleasure, young Richard. You are more precious than I imagined."

He took Richard's little hand and shook it. My stomach lurched with a deep terror. Richard babbled back at him happily. His eyes flashed red. Richard had to have felt it, too.

"Ah, a little lycan tyke," he said, lifting his sunglasses. His red eyes flashed as he smiled. I wanted to snatch Richard from Eason and run. "I see you, little alpha. I look forward to seeing how you will handle your power."

Richard cooed and babbled. The man put his shades on and looked up at Eason.

"I suspect you will take after your uncle quite a bit."

Eason laughed. "I'm not..."

He frowned and blinked. "You know what? Put a pin in that. I have questions."

"Of course." Then, the man turned to me. His smile was just as charming as it had been before. "You must be Grace, Eason's sister. A pleasure."

I looked down at his hand. Nothing in me wanted to take it. Warning signals were going off in the back of my head. News articles flashed through my mind almost too fast to read. His long draping coat and the blood red of his t-shirt. It was all like something out of a news spot. Eason's eyes widened as he looked between the two of us.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Avery," he said. "Avery Bloodthorn, if it matters."

I set my jaw. My stomach churned as I pulled Cecil further away from him.

"It doesn't. What are you doing here?"

Eason twitched, but Avery started to speak. His tone turned more reserved, losing some of its warmth, but it did nothing for the feeling he gave me. It was too sensual. Too close. He lowered his hand.

"A business proposition," he said. "From what Eason told me, you run Wolfe Medical and are looking to move into the next phase of development for a rather revolutionary longevity drug for werewolf-kind."

I set my jaw and glanced at Eason, who was giving me the most pointed look I had ever seen. I ignored it.

"Did he now?" I looked him over. "He told me nothing about you..."

Eason narrowed his eyes. "Avery and I studied together at Northfall."

I set my jaw and started to feel like it was a good thing that I hadn't gotten into Northfall.

Avery chuckled. "Your brother was sent from the heart of magic to help me. He tutored me extensively while he was there." He grinned. "I assure you, I wasn't the only one to mourn his absence."

"You all are fine."

"Mostly, but that does not change what happened before. But thank you, my friend. I will say it until I no longer can."

He pat Eason's shoulder and looked at me. "I owe him a great deal, so when he asked for my help, I was more than happy to come."

He smiled again. "From what he said, I had hoped we could discuss the specifics. Given the border laws, it is safer here than in other places. As I understand, you already have the formulation, the base at least, but you're looking to make it cheaper to make, correct?"

My gut churned, and I looked at Eason. The border laws that kept vampires from entering the States had no bearing on the neutral territory, and they were put there for a reason.

Lycans might have an immunity to vampires, but werewolves didn't. We were weaker than many of the other supernatural species, and it had been a hard-won treaty and agreement to keep vampires out of the States officially, but it hadn't done anything to lower the number of missing and murdered people found drained of blood.

I swallowed, biting my lip and remembering the way he lifted his sunglasses and the feeling that had washed over me. This man was a vampire. Who knew what he wanted, actually? Who knew what he'd do to us? I tightened my grip on Cecil's hand as a headline went through my mind.

Ten Werewolf Children Taken. Suspects? Vampires.

My mind buzzed with unease as the wind blew, and we remained standing there, saying nothing.

Vampires Rampaging On The East Coast Again! Five Children And Counting!

"Yes," I said stiffly.

"Congratulations on a full formulation," he said. "Eason said you were brilliant. Do you attribute its effectiveness to increasing werewolf healing abilities or shoring up a werewolf's physicality?"

I narrowed my eyes. Did he think I was stupid? Just because I didn't go to Northfall? I looked at Eason, trying to figure out his aim, but Eason's expression was completely neutral. Maybe he thought I was an idiot too.

"What difference do you see between the two?"