She nods as she folds her napkin in her lap and leans back from her food.
"He's just stressed out, dear. You know how torn up about her disappearance he was. He's just a little hesitant about leaving her side right now. Don't worry. It'll all be fine. Your mother is one tough woman."
I smile, still feeling uncertain about how tough she really is. Everyone has a breaking point, and Mom has had a rough enough life for this to be her final straw.
Our chitchat turns idler, and I start to feel a distance between us. I think with all that's going on with her, she's starting to feel the weight of the life she's chosen. It makes me question my alignment with the light. Though I'd never go dark, no one says I have to stay light.
My dad is unaligned. A few others have chosen his path. I'd have to learn a whole new way of magic, but I'm starting to think it might be worth it.
"Oh, by the way, I found that information you wanted... about Castine. You're not thinking about going after her, are you?"
Her concern is genuine, but I can't tell her what's going on.
"Of course not, but I like to be well versed on all the special-circumstance beings. Lately, I've learned she's a little more than just a night stalker."
She nods as she pulls out a leather-bound book. As she hands it to me, a page falls free to reveal handwritten passages. It almost looks like a journal.
"Indeed. She's not something you should be messing with. She's vicious, merciless, and completely insane. She's an old-school killer, sweet niece. Don't start a fight you'll never win."
I clutch the book to me, looking her in the eyes. "I don't intend to, but I know someone who does. I want him to have the facts before hand. Thanks for this. Where'd you get it?"
An enigmatic smirk quirks up. "Let's just say the light library is short a book now. They'll never know it's missing as long as you return it to me soon. Just call it our little secret. I think you might be able to use this one, too."
She hands me another, old fragile book, and I add it to my bag to hide it with the one on Castine. I smile, and then I stand to my feet while tossing the napkin to my plate.
"Thanks for lunch, Aunt Hilly. And for the Intel. I need to get back."
She smiles softly, and then she stands to offer me a noninvasive hug. After her light embrace ends, I walk out, pulling my phone from my purse.
&nb
sp; Punching in the number I never thought I'd use, I anxiously wait for the ringing to turn into a voice.
"Yeah," a gruff voice answers, proving I've just woke him up.
"Zee, this is Alyssa. I've got something Kane will need before he faces Castine, but I don't want to see him. Can you meet me somewhere tomorrow when I get home?"
"Yeah. Um, actually, I'm on guard detail tomorrow. Amy loses it about three days a month right now, and we have to keep her chained up. The others are going to the blood bank in town, so it'll be safe for you to just swing by. I can't leave, or I'd meet you."
Three days? That's all? I didn't know she ever had it to lose. Psycho bitch.
"As long as he's not there, I'll swing by."
"He won't be back until nightfall. It'll be fine."
Chapter 5
Marking the Prey
"This is truly amazing," Gage says as he carries around the leather book on the deadly woman who might be after me.
I had to drive us back since he was enthralled by writings. Three days in the same hotel room hasn't done much for my aura issue. If anything, it's made it worse, since Gage is a complete gentleman.
I don't know if I want him to just lose it and take me, or if I'm glad he's using restraint. This is all so annoying and frustrating to the nth degree.
"Does it say how to kill her?" I ask while sitting down behind the bar.
"If it does, I haven't gotten there yet. I still can't believe I'm holding this. The light got all the best pieces of history after the divide."