Chapter 8 - Joshua #2
Joshua tensed at the dismissive tone of Bael’s voice. “I did.”
“Why’d you do something like that?” Bael’s nose twisted in disgust, as though the thought of it alone was offensive.
Joshua’s wolf growled, but he tamped down on that reaction. After sorting out the business with the special ops, he didn’t want to cause another inter-pack incident. “Kira is my mate.”
He liked saying it out loud. He’d said it a few times now, and every time it felt even better.
If he told Kira about it—privately, because the confrontation with Sandy didn’t count—would she believe him?
He could see it going either way. Then again, if she believed him, it wouldn’t automatically solve their issues.
She could be furious at him for not telling her before now.
And how could he explain why he rejected her, then?
No. He had to tell her the truth of his past first, then he could tell her she was his mate.
Bael didn’t look pleased with this information, but he shrugged. “I hope you know what you’re doing. It’s the witches’ fault all this is happening to start with, and your Alpha’s already married to one of them.”
“That’s not true,” Michael barked.
Bael lifted an eyebrow at him. “No?”
Joshua moved closer to Michael, giving him his silent support.
“No,” Michael snapped. “It’s not true. We have done extensive research into our town records.
Everything indicates that the demons were attacking Nightfall well before the witches arrived.
It was only through their efforts that the demons were contained in the first place.
The reason the demons can’t attack our towns is that they have magical protections over them. Placed by the witches.”
Bael scoffed. “Sure.”
“It’s true. We can send you copies of all our research if you wish to verify it yourself,” Joshua said, his voice flat. “It includes both journals and official records kept by the Elder Council and Elder Priest of the time. You can even come to the town and look at them yourself, if you wish.”
“What if I want the originals sent to me?”
Joshua shook his head. “I’m afraid that they are far too valuable to allow outside of our archives. But as I say, you are welcome to come view them in person, whenever you wish.”
Bael snorted and scuffed his foot on the ground, as though he was deciding whether to be offended by the offer.
He apparently decided that he didn’t care enough.
He didn’t give any sort of answer and turned his back on them.
He headed back to his truck, indicating without words that the discussion was over.
Joshua repressed the urge to roll his eyes. It was all just posturing.
“Report back to your Alpha. And don’t you let any of your people into my territory without my permission again, or I won’t be so generous next time,” he called as he wrenched open the door to his truck.
Just as Bael started to heft himself into the truck, Joshua stepped forward. “Wait!” he blurted.
Michael had already started to turn away and paused. He gave Joshua a puzzled look, but Joshua only shook his head slightly.
Bael twisted to glare over his shoulder. “What?”
“I would like to ask a favor from you,” Joshua said.
He sounded uncertain, which made him wince, but he held Bael’s gaze.
“Can I have a copy of whatever information there is on my biological parents? Any genealogy records or other information about my ancestry. I would especially appreciate copies of whatever journals or letters that might have been kept. Though I understand that such records might not exist.”
Bael balanced on the running board, clicking his tongue. “I’ll get someone to look to see what we have. No promises.”
Joshua inclined his head. “Of course. Thank you for looking.”
A grunt answered him, and Bael got into the truck. As he drove away, Michael let out a heavy groan as he headed for their vehicle. “Could have gone better.”
“Could have gone worse, too,” Joshua pointed out.
“True.”
Joshua opened his door, then closed it again. “I’m going to go back on foot.”
Michael lifted an eyebrow at him. “You sure?”
“You know better than to ask that.”
Michael shrugged, chuckling. “Suppose I do. See you in town.”
Joshua stripped down and bundled his clothes before shifting to his wolf form.
He grabbed the bundle and started through the forest. The tall pines swayed in the wind.
The resinous scent of the forest filled his lungs.
He set a steady pace toward town, letting the quiet of his surroundings empty his mind.
He was almost to town when he caught Kira’s scent.
Automatically, he turned toward the scent and followed it to the beach.
He recognized the place instantly. It was a favored space for bonfires, but it also held other, more intimate memories for him.
Kira sat next to the circle of stones just above the tideline, her hands resting on her knees.
Her body was relaxed, her face tilted toward the sky. A breeze wafted off the ocean, rustling her hair. She looked so serene that Joshua sat, watching her. It didn’t surprise him that she looked more at peace when he wasn’t around. If only he knew how to open up to her, to share the truth…
He was just about to sneak away before she could see him when a shiver ran down his spine. A shadow speared through the water, and a dark energy surged through the air.
A demon. It was heading straight for her.