Courage (Mark of Nexus) Page 9

  Rena beat me to the punch. “They’re insane.”

  Gail scoffed and crossed her arms. “Says the girl who struck me in the face over a cell phone.”

  “It looked like a gun,” Rena yelled, drawing the attention of a few passersby.

  Corynn waved us off. “If you mean your misunderstanding in the forest a while back, yeah, they mentioned it. Seems you lot got off on the wrong foot, huh? Crazy how it all worked out.”

  “Yeah, crazy,” Rena agreed, shooting me a look. “So, where are you staying, Corynn?”

  “Foster. Maverick’s going to show me around.” Corynn smiled at the skinny punk in question, making my skin crawl. “Actually, we’d better head off. It was nice meeting you both.”

  Rena reached back and took my hand as they skirted around us on the sidewalk. “You too.”

  Faye looked over her shoulder and waved. “See you at your next check-up, dear.”

  Dear. I scowled. So patronizing. ERA had made some kind of move today, but at this point, it was impossible to figure out. All I knew was they felt pretty smug about it, and that was more than enough to keep me on edge.

  “Wallace,” Rena called, waving a hand in front of my face. “They’re gone. Relax.”

  Relax? Easy for her to say. Things had just been set into motion, and the duty of keeping us safe fell squarely on my shoulders. Either ERA was trying to neutralize me for some kind of physical advantage, or the visit was meant to lower our guards. I shoved the card in my back pocket.

  As much as I hated it, Rena and I needed to split up for a few hours. It was time for a family meeting.

  CHAPTER 14

  I buried my head under Rena’s covers as Gabby continued her tirade.

  “And don’t you give me that ‘it’s nothing’ business. Ree hangs out with Ace every Friday night, and you end up moping around like some sad, dejected puppy.”

  “I do not,” I whined, poking my head out. “There’s just nothing to do upstairs. Josh is gaming and—”

  “There’s nothing to do upstairs,” she mimicked with a sneer. “Like there’s something to do up there any other night of the week? Please.”

  My nostrils flared. “Well, you’re home on a Friday night, too!”

  “I’m tired.” She cradled a pillow against her chest. “And you know I’ve been sick, so cram it. We’re talking about you now. You think I don’t see the way you look at Ree? It’s written all over your face.”

  “What do you mean?” My heart stopped beating. I couldn’t breathe. I threw the covers back and sat up. “She doesn’t know, does she? I mean, she hasn’t said anything?”

  That got a smile out of her. “You serious? She didn’t even know Ace liked her until things got hot and heavy between them. I love the girl, but she’s dense when it comes to these things.”

  I exhaled into a slouch, nearly overcome with relief. “Thank God.”

  “Oh no.” Gabby shook her head and sent curls flying. “That doesn’t mean you can sit on this crush forever. If you’re serious, you gotta tell her.”

  “Um, Gabby…” I fiddled with the edge of the comforter. “In case you forgot, she has a boyfriend. A big, scary-lookin’ boyfriend.”

  Not to mention the last time I’d let myself get close to a girl, she used our tutoring sessions to steal my stinkin’ homework. Stupid Macy…

  Gabby pursed her lips and had a silent conversation with the ceiling. “Boy, you don’t even know how much I want to smack you right now. How do you expect Rena to decide who makes her happier, if you never tell her how you feel?”

  I started to reply, but she cut me off.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I love Wallace. I think he’s a great guy, but—news flash—so are you.”

  Something warm burned my eyes as I swallowed. “Do you really mean that?”

  “No, I said it for shits and giggles.” She chucked a pillow across the room. “Of course I mean it.”

  I dove to the side, and it hit the wall behind me. “Thanks.”

  “You can thank me by manning up.”

  My stomach lurched at the thought. “I don’t think that’s such a good—”

  “She deserves to know,” Gabby argued. “Maybe nothing will come of it, but at least you’ll have tried. You want to go through the rest of your life regretting this?”

  “Well, no, but—”

  A key twisted in the lock, and Gabby shot me a warning with her eyes. “If you don’t tell her, I will.”

  Rena bumped the door open and threw her bag off to the side. “Tell who what?”

  “Nothing,” I answered, pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose. “We were just talking. What are you doing here?”

  She kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed beside me. “Uh, I live here?”

  “Yeah, but don’t you normally hang out in Wallace’s room on Fridays?” Like I needed to ask. Her visits to our suite were like clockwork. That lucky jerk.

  Realization lit her features as she leaned back to fluff the once-projectile pillow. “Oh, not tonight. He has some family stuff to take care of.”

  “That’s perfect,” Gabby said in a tired voice. “Didn’t you have something to tell Rena, Aiden?”

  My heart slammed against my chest. “W-What? No, I just…”

  Rena turned to look at me, her green eyes narrowed in scrutiny. “Tell me what? What’d I miss?”

  “Miss?” I gulped and prayed she hadn’t overheard any of our conversation. “N-Nothing much. We were just talking…”

  “Yeah, you mentioned that.” She leaned in, sending me wafts of her perfume. “What is it? You’re blushing.”

  Gabby snorted across the room, but I couldn’t break my focus to look at her. This was my worst-case scenario. What could I say? I couldn’t tell her. Oh man. My eyes were burning again.

  “Geez, Aiden,” Rena said. “Relax. I’m just asking.”

  “I…” I stole a glance at Gabby and she nodded, urging me on. “I like someone.”

  How freakin' high school did that sound?

  Rena’s jaw dropped, and she slapped my arm. “No, you don’t. Who is it?” Her gaze practically sparked as she grinned at me, ready to share my secret. “Do I know her?”

  “Probably not,” I lied. “Look, it’s just some girl. It’s not a big deal.”

  “Not a big deal?” she repeated. “Our little boy is growing up. What’s she like? How’d you meet her?” A second ticked by before she added, “And why did you tell Gabby before me?”

  I leaned back against the bedpost. “You think I would just tell her something like this? She dragged it out of me.”

  Rena nodded, accepting it easily enough. “She does have a way with these situations.”

  “Yeah, so…”

  “When do we get to meet her?” she asked.

  “Huh?” I ran my sweaty palms down the front of my cargo shorts. “You can’t meet her. She…doesn’t even know yet.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Well, you have to tell her, obviously.”

  “Same thing I said!” Gabby cut in.

  “It’s not that easy,” I argued. “The situation is complicated, and she’s way out of my league. I don’t think I have a chance.”

  Rena frowned. “Why not give it a shot, anyway? Nice guys don’t always finish last, Aiden.”

  “No,” I admitted, standing up. “But they do come in second.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Forget it.” I waved a hand over my shoulder. “I better go.” Now, before I throw up.

  She rose to her feet behind me, casting a shadow on the wall. “Hey, you’re okay, aren’t you?”

  I turned back and forced a smile. “I’m fine. I just need to—you know—think things through.”

  “If you say so.” Her brows knit together. “Come back down if you want to talk, okay?”

  “Sure.” I gave another wave and slipped out the door. The walls were closing in on me, and I had to escape. I couldn’t tell her like this. It was too sudden, too
forced. When and if I chose to share my feelings, I refused to look weak in front of her.

  Like I just did. Again.

  The ride up to the seventh floor took longer than usual. By the time I got off the elevator, I was in full retreat mode. I rounded the corner in a jog and nearly ran smack into Wallace. Of course.

  Fortunately, he had his back to me. With one finger pressed to his ear, he made a desperate attempt to find cell signal by the windows. “No, Grandma. I can’t talk about it here. I’ll have to drive down tonight.”

  I crept around him, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “Yeah, probably by six thirty. It has to be somewhere public. Can you call Henry and Grandpa Edwin, too?” He paused and lowered his voice. “I know.”

  Ugh. The dude was making plans to spend Friday night with his grandma, and somehow I was the uncool one? Life wasn’t fair.

  I went through the suite door and crammed my key into the next lock. Maybe Gabby was right. Rena deserved a choice in the matter, eventually. I just needed to man up and lay my cards on the table. Soon—before the secret killed me.

  CHAPTER 15

  The Scion Slice was packed. I stood close to the entrance, thankful to stretch my legs after the long drive, and waited for Grandma. She promised Henry would come when we spoke on the phone, but I wasn't confident he'd show. Faye had him by the balls, and he was paranoid as hell about it.

  A redheaded waitress slipped between me and the families in line to be seated, holding a tray over her head. Spicy aromas trailed the air behind her, and I almost followed. When was the last time I'd eaten? Sometime before Gail hijacked my body to—

  “Oh, sweetie, there you are.”

  I glanced over my shoulder, surprised to find Grandma so close without me noticing. “Sorry, I was…”

  “Thinking about Rena?” she offered with a grin. “That's quite all right.”

  If only.

  We moved up in line without need for conversation. I'd been brief on the phone, but she'd had her own suspicions regarding the situation. Henry wouldn't return to Ohio without a reason, especially with Grandpa Edwin in tow. Faye had to have a hand in this. We just didn't know how.

  Once we made it to the hostess' podium, a wave of anxiety crept into my consciousness. It spilled into guilt and spiked in urgency as the seconds ticked by. I barely had a chance to register the emotions before someone wrenched the door open behind us. Henry.

  Grandma dipped her head and touched my arm. She'd felt it, too.

  Edwin banged over the threshold in his walker, muttering something about parking jobs as Henry limped in behind him. One second, they were both faceless silhouettes in the doorway—the next, they were here. In person. Staring us down with expectation in their eyes.

  “Hey, guys,” a pretty brunette in a green polo called, ducking down to fish out four menus. “How are we doing tonight?”

  “What?” Grandpa Edwin asked in his familiar, obnoxious decibel.

  She started to repeat herself, but Grandma waved her off. “We're just fine, honey. Thank you.”

  The girl smiled. She couldn't have been older than sixteen. “Would you prefer a booth or a table?”

  “A booth in the corner, please,” Henry said, stepping forward. “And if we could draw the shades, that would be great.”

  She faltered, confusion masking the eagerness she'd held before, but she gave him a quick smile. “Uh, sure. Just a second.”

  With that, she spun on her heel and went to scan the dining room. Her ponytail swished back and forth, and I tried my best to keep my expression neutral. Drawn shades? Was Henry that nervous?

  When she came back, it didn't take long for us to be seated and give our orders. The place might've been busy, but it was efficient. There was a reason it had been in business for over forty years.

  “How are those injections working out for you, Wallace?” Henry asked, attempting to make small talk—not that neurology could be considered small. He'd written me a new prescription over winter break, and after years of trial and error, we'd finally started using denser injection needles to break my skin. It worked, for the most part.

  “I can knock out a couple of clusters a week,” I told him. “Maybe we can up the supply next time.”

  “We'll look into it.”

  We, I assumed, meant his former partner—the girlfriend he'd left in Virginia. Actually, that was a point. “Why didn't Jaya come up here with you?”

  He bristled and looked down to trace the table scratches with his forefinger. “The move was unexpected.”

  Grandpa Edwin snorted and turned to study the heavy shades blocking the window.

  “Why?” I asked. “Did someone force you to come back here?”

  “Define force.”

  “Henry,” Grandma cut in, leaning across the table. “Let's just get down to brass tacks here. What is your involvement in our sister's affairs?”

  “I'm…” He opened his mouth, shut it, and retrieved the handkerchief from his pocket. After two quick swipes, he folded it back into a rectangle and opened his mouth again. “I'm…”

  Nervous. Worried. Hiding something…

  He met my eyes and swallowed. “First, I should apologize for your visit last week. You kids showed up at a difficult time, and I…I wasn't prepared to answer your questions.”

  “Are you prepared now?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  It felt weird to be sitting here, practically interrogating my great-uncle. Despite being well into my twenties, I still felt like I didn't belong at the adult table.

  “Somewhat,” he answered.

  “Good.”

  Henry picked up a shaker full of weird, unidentifiable flakes and twisted it in his hands. “She contacted me in January. I assume it was after your incident in the forest.”

  She, being Faye. Did he think the place was bugged or something? “In regards to what?”

  He nodded toward the Mark of Nexus on my forearm and shifted his gaze back toward his father. “She assumed I—well, we—would have the answers she needed.”

  Grandpa Edwin's brow furrowed, and he turned to scowl at the shades. He was giving off the guilt vibe, too, but it was buried under a slew of other things. Resentment, bitterness, detachment…

  “Is there something I'm missing here?” Grandma asked.

  Noise continued to buzz around us, making it impossible to distinguish one conversation from the other. Henry leaned in and gave her a reluctant gist of his findings. The Dynari, Augari, and Nullari—how they relate to one another and what we knew about them. When he mentioned the Nexus, the color drained from her face.

  “Then, Rena is…”

  “An Augari,” I answered with a nod. “You were right when you thought something felt off about her. She was augmenting your power.”

  “But, how do we know all of this now?”

  No one said anything. I didn't think it was my place to explain, and apparently, Henry was having a hard time with it.

  “My mother bore the mark,” Edwin wheezed in irritation. “She'd bonded with some Augari boy named Luke, who didn't have a hold on his ability. One night, after too many drinks, he got into a fight with her brother—ended up surging more power into him than his body could handle. Killed him instantly.

  “Mother couldn't look at Luke the same after that. They parted ways, and the families all came to an understanding. Knowledge of each other's existence was dangerous. Intermingling was too much of a risk. So, they did everything in their power to bury the knowledge with their generation. I wouldn't have—”

  He paused and coughed so hard it rattled in his chest. “I wouldn't have known a thing if it weren't for her journal, so I kept her wishes. I didn't tell any of my children, either. And if this one”—he cast a weary glance in Henry's direction—”hadn't put me in a home for a few months, he would've never found it in my things.”

  “You know my career kept me too busy to look after you at first,” Henry said. “And it wasn't like Clara had the
means to keep you.”

  “Keep me.” Edwin snorted. “I'm not a dog.”

  “I offered,” Grandma told Henry, her jaw tight. “You said he wouldn't be comfortable here. You said you were taking care of it. You never mentioned putting him in another home.”

  “It was only until I got the practice going. We ended up hiring a live-in healthcare worker.”

  “As opposed to family,” Grandma huffed.

  I tuned them out. The conversation had gotten off track, and we'd overlooked a very important piece of information. An Augari killed a Dynari. I didn't remember reading that. Then again, we never made it through the whole journal. I just assumed we saw the pertinent information.

  Though, Rena did tell me to read the journal. Did she see it? Is that what's getting to her?

  “—called and wanted two things,” Henry droned on. “Information and cooperation. I told her what I could remember about the Nexus, but it wasn't enough. She seemed so interested, so focused. I was having a hard enough time believing she'd come back from the dead. Now, all of a sudden, I was supposed to be an expert on something I'd never even seen with my own eyes. I told her I'd look for the journal again.”

  Faye…

  I clenched my hands to keep from gripping anything that might break. “Didn't you think to ask her what she was going to do with this information?”

  Henry shook his head. “Clara had told me about you and Rena. I just assumed Fa—I mean, she—was interested in the phenomenon. It wasn't until a few weeks later, when her offers turned to demands, that I questioned her motives.

  “She wanted me to move back to Ohio with Dad. She said she regretted the years she’d missed with her family and wanted my help with some big research endeavor. The offer was nice, but I wasn't about to uproot my life just to toil away at some project she wouldn't explain. I turned her down, and…she resorted to threats.”

  His words sank in as the waitress brought our drinks. Faye had tried to lure him here under the pretense of goodwill, when what she really wanted was to exploit his knowledge and abilities. No shocker there.