Chapter 37 Ezra #3
I can’t imagine what my poor sister has been through at the hands of the Disciples. However, if I’m going to collect allies, these two are a good place to start.
Luca runs his hand along Astrid’s arm, whispering soft Italian into her hair.
Astrid blinks—once, twice—then her face distorts into pure anguish.
A shadow tenses at my ribs, twitching toward her. Not to attack, but to shield.
I force it back.
She doesn’t need me.
She needs him.
Astrid wraps her arms around Luca and curls up in his lap. Sobs wrack her small body while Luca tangles his hand in her hair and continues softly whispering in her ear. Luca exhales sharply, shaking his head.
“Enough. She’s at her limit.” He looks at me, calm but unyielding. “I won’t let her break herself over this.”
“Luca, I appreciate everything you’ve done. For me and for Astrid. Truly.”
I glance at the vampire cradling my sister like she’s made of glass.
“Just tell me if there’s anything else I need to know before I leave. I need to go home. I need to make sure Aurora’s safe.”
Even though my sister passed out from the exertion of reliving the Purgatory she’s been through, she still whimpers and growls softly in her sleep.
She almost seems sweet like this.
“You’re right. You need to go, Ezra.” Luca’s voice is calm and even.
The petulant voidlings bristle at the command. They take direction about as well as I do. Unless it’s from her.
“She needs her power. Not just for herself. For all of us.”
A slow ripple moves through my shadows. They agree … even if they don’t want to.
Luca leans his forehead on Astrid’s shoulder and takes a deep breath.
“Neither Astrid nor I ever saw la Fauce, but Isa suggested to Astrid that it was small. Something she always keeps on her. You do not want your mate to get caught by the Disciples. They’ll do almost anything to end her bloodline and wipe out every underborne and erevald left on Earth.
“Renato always said there was no need for violence if souls were offered freely. But now I wonder if that was ever true. If peace built on silence is just another form of slavery.”
Luca looks defeated and sad even as he stares lovingly at my very broken little sister.
“Well, Luca, if we can get past the Vermilion Maw, I believe Aurora will unite the humans and underborne.”
The inky tendrils shift with purpose, drawing back like the tide.
One curls around my throat. Not choking, not restricting. Just waiting.
“I make no promises about the erevald. Pretentious pricks, the lot of them. But she will shift our reality into something good, something better. At least that’s what I believe, especially after getting to know her.
“The Disciples aren’t going after the supernatural creatures or the Daughter to protect humanity. They’re doing it as a form of self-preservation. Humans will have to share visible space and Earthly power with the underborne, something the Disciples will not allow.”
When I hang my head, the pain in my face beats right along with my heart.
The journey home will be slow and painful. But I’ll find at least one wretched soul to devour along the way. Humans may fear monsters, but they never stop making them.
I carefully stand up and the shadows tighten.
Nausea crashes into me as a shadow curls at my knee, steadying me.
I wait, letting the dizziness pass. Then, finally, I extend my hand to the vampire.
“Thank you, Luca. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you, and I appreciate the information you and Astrid shared with me.
I’m sorry that she’s gone through so much.
I’ve never had good experiences with my siblings.
Astrid seems different. Because of you. If you hurt her, though, I will find out and destroy you.
I hope you understand,” I say with a snarl while crushing Luca’s hand.
Luca nods, his gaze steady and sure. “I won’t leave her. Not now, not ever.”
Shadows shift at my ribs, a subtle knowing movement, then settle. They approve.
He studies me, voice dipping into something silkier, laced with intrigue.
“Will you come back? I know Astrid would love to meet her. This … living myth.”
I don’t answer right away.
No fucking way I’d bring Aurora here. Not with my deranged sister still recovering from her trauma.
“Well, we have quite a bit of work to do, so I’m not sure if I’ll be back anytime soon. However, if you wish to visit Lorewood or if you need anything, please contact me. In fact …”
I trail off, looking over my shoulder for a mostly blank piece of paper that flew from the red folder. I pull a pen from my jacket and scribble on a filthy page.
“Here is my address and phone number. Do you have a number I could program into my phone?”
Luca snorts. “Ren gave me a phone. I tossed it in a river.” He waves a lazy hand, as if that explains everything. “We’ll be gone soon. Somewhere better. Safer. Once I get my money sorted.” His fingers tighten in Astrid’s hair. “I didn’t plan on finding her. But now? I can’t live without her.”
The shadows stir, drawn to Astrid’s quiet grief, but before they can reach her, Luca’s steady gaze snaps to them.
They hesitate, flickering between instinct and restraint, then slowly retreat, satisfied she’s safe.
I reach into my pocket and pull out a few hundred-dollar bills.
“Here, use this to buy a phone and anything else you might need. Text me with your new number so we can stay in touch. Aurora and I will need allies when she gains her power, and I hope I can count on the two of you to fight by our side.”
Luca lightly traces his fingers over Astrid’s cheek.
“I won’t speak for her. But you have me, Ezra.”
Something dark and protective flickers behind his eyes as he looks down at Astrid’s sleeping form.
“She’ll decide when she wakes.” Luca exhales, his voice barely a whisper. “She fights even in her sleep.”
His fingers dance over the faint scars on her arms. “I stay close … just in case.”
“Please say goodbye for me. I’m growing quite fond of my wild little sister. I hope she feels the same. Take care of yourself. It seems Renato is currently out of town, so I will head straight home instead of Chicago. But once I speak with him, I will let him know you’ll not return to his side.”
I bow my head to the vampire, then hobble out the door—one step closer to home.
And to her.