Chapter 16
Gray concentrated on following the directions Cormac had given him while keeping part of his mind focused on Simon.
He didn’t like how quiet Simon had become after learning Cormac was the mysterious vampire they sought.
He could feel Simon’s pain resonating through their bond and wanted nothing more than to comfort him.
All he could do was continue holding Simon’s hand as he kept driving. Cormac needed to answer Simon’s questions, and hopefully he had the other information they needed as well.
As he turned into the driveway of the address Cormac had provided, Gray tilted his head to the side and stared.
He had pictured the home of a vampire as old as Cormac to be, well, as old as Cormac.
Perhaps something dark and mysterious that kept out the sunlight.
Something hidden away where he couldn’t be found easily.
That wasn’t the case at all. Cormac’s home towered over the landscape, a newly constructed house with a vaulted roofline and a front facade made entirely of windows.
It was built of pale gray stone, which of course Gray appreciated, but the outdoor lights and lush landscaping welcomed visitors instead of frightening them away.
Simon took notice as well. He sat up straighter and looked around in confusion and a little bit of awe. Even Liam leaned forward between the seats to get a closer look. There wasn’t a fence or gate stopping them from driving directly to the front of the house, so that’s what Gray did.
The dark wood front door swung open as Cormac rushed out, and Gray experienced another moment of surprise.
The vampire only appeared to be in his thirties and had short, slightly curling brown hair.
He wasn’t even tall or commanding looking.
Gray thought Simon probably had an inch or two over him in height.
Not even his clothes gave a clue that he was old and powerful.
His jeans seemed new, and he wore a plain blue T-shirt.
Cormac opened Simon’s door and looked him over.
Gray wasn’t impressed with Cormac’s obvious attempt to assure himself his kin was safe and secure in the company of wolves.
Gray fought back a growl as he climbed out of the car and forced himself to remain calm.
Liam followed, and together they rounded the car to join Simon, who still appeared to be in a sort of shock.
Gray reached down and grabbed Simon’s hand, much to Cormac’s apparent annoyance.
Simon seemed oblivious to the tension, which was unlike him.
From their first meeting, Simon had picked up on the emotions of those surrounding him, much like he’d heard the cries of help from the cubs.
Gray thought Simon’s sensitivity to others was because his mage magic made him more aware of the feelings of those around him.
He reminded himself that Simon’s magic was messed up and that Cormac was their only lead to help Simon get back to normal.
Gray gave Simon’s hand a gentle squeeze, and Simon turned it slightly to lace their fingers together.
The motion wasn’t lost on Cormac, and his scowl deepened.
He turned to Simon and tried to lighten the expression on his face.
“Welcome to my home, Simon. I wish it were under different circumstances.”
“Thank you,” Simon replied, his voice still unusually low.
Cormac turned to Gray next and gave a brief nod. “Alpha Gray.”
Gray returned the gesture. “Cormac. And this is my beta, Liam.”
Cormac arched a brow at Liam, then turned back to Gray. “And you needed him here because…?”
Gray stepped forward, just one small step. Liam mirrored his gesture. The movement placed Simon just slightly behind and in between them. Gray then arched his brow right back, and Cormac nodded in understanding. “So that’s how it is.”
“How what is?” Simon asked from behind them.
Cormac smiled at Simon and gestured them all forward. “Welcome, all of you. Please come in. I find myself extremely curious as to what has happened.”
The entrance hall had two doors that led deeper into the house. Cormac led them across the marble mosaic floor and to the left. As they passed through the door, Gray realized why there wasn’t more security. Cormac didn’t need it. The magic protecting the doorway nearly knocked Gray off his feet.
With a gesture from Cormac, the magic eased, and Gray continued into the room.
Simon seemed unaffected, but Liam rubbed his arm like he’d been punched.
Gray felt the same. Cormac was much stronger than he’d even imagined, and there wouldn’t be much they could do to stop him if it came down to a fight.
The inside of Cormac’s home was the epitome of class and money. Antiques from several periods were placed discreetly around the main room. Framed paintings lit by fixtures in the ceiling decorated the walls. Gray didn’t recognize any of them, but he had a feeling he should.
The room they entered drew a happy gasp from Simon.
It was a library, but unlike any library Gray had ever seen.
The books all lined one wall, but that wall stood about twenty-five feet high.
A small ledge floated around the upper row of shelves, and a low black metal railing kept the intrepid reader from falling to the parquet floors below.
A circular wrought-iron staircase wound up one side of the room, allowing access to the upper level.
Simon released Gray’s hand and walked toward the books.
He trailed his fingers over them and traced over certain volumes lovingly.
He turned back to Gray with a happy grin, then continued his perusal.
Cormac watched him with a pleased smile of his own.
Gray had to fight back a sudden burst of jealousy.
Neither he nor his wolf liked that someone else was making Simon so happy.
There was a pair of matching couches in the center of the room, and while Simon explored, Cormac gestured for Gray and Liam to have a seat.
They sat and waited, Gray’s knee bouncing out an impatient rhythm.
After a few moments, Simon noticed them and hurried over.
He looked at the empty space beside Cormac for a brief moment before moving over to settle between Gray and Liam.
Gray’s knee quit jerking, his nerves soothed by Simon’s show of loyalty. Simon’s fingers took up its nervous beat though, tapping as his anxiety built. Gray laid his hand on Simon’s leg, and the movement stopped.
“Simon,” Cormac began, “would you please explain to me what is happening here?”
Simon nodded and began from the when he had first heard the cubs crying out for help. He made clear that his torn feelings on whether to become involved were due to his fear of breaking mage guidelines.
His explanation of the first demon attack drew an angry expression from Cormac, and Cormac’s frown deepened as Master Thomas’s reaction to the events were recounted.
“It’s disheartening to see so little has changed over the generations of my existence,” Cormac said when Simon finished.
“And that’s not all,” Gray added. “We’re actually here for another reason Simon failed to mention.”
“So you are not asking for my help with the Conclave of Mages?”
“No,” Simon insisted. “I made the decision to help and am willing to face the consequences.”
“Then what is it?”
Gray squeezed Simon’s knee, and Simon let out a long breath before continuing. “The demon placed some sort of spell on Gray’s son. Garon has some mage abilities and was able to contact me psychically for help.”
At this, Cormac leaned forward, his eyes wide. “There is a wolf with mage abilities?”
“Yes, sir. He’s only ten, so he’s still growing, but I think he’s going to be strong. Probably stronger than me, anyway.”
“Stronger than you? That seems unlikely.”
“Simon, tell him the rest.”
“Well, I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of the spell on Garon, so I took it into me.”
Cormac jumped to his feet and strode over to Simon. He placed his hands on Simon’s head and closed his eyes. “Oh, my. Simon, you should not have done that.”
“I had to. It was killing Garon.”
“Yes, it would have. You were right to come to me with this.”
Gray tried not to get overly protective at the sight of Cormac’s hands on Simon. He tensed, and Simon laid his hand over Gray’s where it still rested on Simon’s knee.
“Can you help, Grandfather?”
Cormac’s eyes closed on the word. “I can help. You weren’t supposed to find out about me yet, you know. I promised your grandfather that I would wait until you finished your apprenticeship before I revealed myself.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.”
“Of course it will, Simon. The Conclave will not be unreasonable in this, especially since children were involved.”
Simon shook his head. “Master Thomas said I’ve been tainted by the demon and refused to continue my training. I’ll be twenty-five in a week and haven’t been able to reach full mage status.”
Cormac shook his head as well. “This makes no sense. None at all. I’m not familiar with this master of yours, but he’s clearly new and uninformed.
The Conclave will hear your testimony, Simon, and though you may have to perform some sort of annoying service as a fine, they will not prevent you from completing your training. ”
Gray was happy for Simon, but still didn’t quite believe it. He wasn’t sure where Cormac was getting his information, but from what Simon had told him, this master person of his seemed pretty clear on the results of his actions.
“Now, first things first, let’s get this spell removed from you.” Cormac walked to the side of the room by the staircase and held his hands up to a door nearly hidden behind it. “Come along, Simon. All of you.”
They followed, and Gray felt more magic in the air as Cormac removed another layer of protections from the door. Once inside, he understood why this room was so well guarded. This was clearly where the vampire did his work.