Chapter 212

Grace

"If you were increasing a werewolf's healing abilities, I would be interested to know if you have a sense of why werewolf longevity is so short. Perhaps it is simply that the werewolf body degrades faster than its healing factor, but if it is the latter, that would imply that the werewolf body is simply more human or more damaged from the beginning. I suppose it's the difference between building a house of scrap wood and trying to add brackets for bracing or repairing a decent building that's just been beaten down by time." He shrugged. "It's not my area of expertise, but some plants work better for either purpose depending on how they are grown or prepared... Eason?" He looked at Eason. "Am I right on that? You took that potions class for preparation."

I looked at Eason, the knowledge striking me. I had not known he'd taken a potions class.

"You're right," Eason said. "Prep would change the effectiveness of it. Grace? Brackets or repairs?"

I set my jaw, combing through my mind. "I... I'm not entirely sure. It hasn't gone to clinical trial."

Avery bobbed his head. "You'll be looking for a cheaper production method before then, hm? Or at least before mass trial?"

"Yes."

He hummed and looked out across the field. He winced.

"Time scale? The patent's in what stage? Are you starting trials before it's approved?"

"No," I said. "That would be illegal."

Avery looked between Eason and me. "Is... that a werewolf thing? You're going through the States?"

"Of course I am," I said, glaring at him. "What else did you think?"

"The Zaibatsu?" He looked at Eason. "I can't imagine Jacques wouldn't help."

Eason's lips twitched. "I haven't asked."

"Baise-moi," he shook his head. "Why not?"

Eason gestured to me. "It's her rodeo. I'm just helping."

"Don't sound so put-upon about it," I said, glowering at Eason.

Eason's lips twitched. "I'm not. Going through the States, while slower, would look better for you."

"Ah," he said. "He did say you were going after a Senate seat, congratulations. I wish you the best of luck. Admittedly, I don't understand werewolf politics all that much, but I've been told it's quite the endeavor."

"Thank you," I said.

"Mommy!" My heart jumped into my throat as Cecil rushed toward me. "Mommy, who is that?"

Avery turned, and my heart started to pound at my chest. Fear filled me. I saw a little girl's missing poster. I felt the intent. I felt his gaze on her, the fire from the night before--the terror. I darted forward and grabbed her hand.

"I think that's as much of this as I can take," I said. "Eason, a word?"

Eason set his jaw. He put his hand on Avery's shoulder. "Give me a second, will you?"

"Of course."

I pulled Eason away from Avery, more than what felt like far enough, and glared at Eason.

"What are you thinking?" I hissed. "Bringing me, Cecil, and Richard here to meet a vampire?"

Eason looked at me as if he had no idea what I was talking about.

"Look, I don't know what you all did at Northfall, and I don't care, but if you were a little more in touch with the news of the States, you'd know how many werewolf children have gone missing because of vampires over the years. How many have ended up dead? I can't believe you'd bring us here, invite him here, and put Cecil and Richard in danger like this! You know vampires can track you miles away. And for what?"

Eason's jaw clenched, his eyes glinting with irritation.

"What a take," Eason said. "Considering how my most recent injuries kept Richard from being kidnapped, and I nearly ended up in Asylum protecting them?" I flinched. "But sure, I brought you all here to put you in danger. Sure."

His words stung, laced with a truth that made my cheeks burn.

"And the fact that you can stand here and talk about States' news when you know what kind of president you have tells me a lot."

"The president has nothing to do with this. The reports? They're all public record."

"... controlled by the States' government," he said. "Which has a vested interest in controlling the population through fear. You can't even get access to a real map inside the States. What makes you think you get real news? What makes you think anything you know about any other species is accurate?"

I blinked. I set my jaw. "The way he looked at Cecil--"

"With his eyes, Grace? Behind his sunglasses?"

"I know what my instincts say."

Eason shook his head. "I'm not going to argue about what you think you need to do to protect your children, Grace. No one is telling you not to do what you feel you must, but at least open your fucking mouth and say you have concerns."

"You could have told me that we were meeting a vampire here. Why the secrecy?"

"Not everyone's worldview is the size of Mooncrest!" Eason huffed. "How was I supposed to know you don't trust me enough to have brought you here with good intentions? How was I supposed to know it would be a problem?" He glared at me. "Though I get the sense that you'd have something to say no matter who I could have called, if they aren't a werewolf."

"I--"

He held up a hand. "I'll cut you slack because you're clearly still riding the Shift, but the Shift doesn't create things in people. It just magnifies them. You're going to have to get a better poker face, or that seat isn't going to happen."

"Eason, you're not listening," I said. "He's a vampire. They're--"

"You've never met a vampire, Grace," Eason said. "Not before today. You know absolutely nothing about vampires, lycan--hell, you barely know a thing about werewolves, and you've lived in the States your entire life."

I set my jaw. "That's not true."

"Sure, Grace. And the sky is green." He turned away. "Consider this the last favor I'm calling for you."

"Eason--"

Before I could get the words at, Eason handed Richard to me and strode over to Avery. I didn't dare get any closer. I could tell from Avery's face that he'd heard everything I said. Was he angry? Did he have any real reason to be? I wasn't wrong. Whatever propaganda may have been circulated, they couldn't have made up video footage of those attacks, the pictures, the open cases that have been tried. The Border Laws existed for a reason.

Eason stopped beside him. Avery turned toward him.

"I'm sorry, Avery, I--"

"You need not apologize, Eason," he said, patting my shoulder. "You are not the only person with those sorts of family members."

I flinched at that.

"Though... she is certainly worse than you said. Are you certain you want to stay? You know my coven is always open to you... I think Grandmere would adore you even more with your changes."

My blood ran cold as Eason chuckled.

"Thank you, really. I'll come visit again soon. Did she enjoy the chocolate at least?"

"You are her favorite yet again," he chuckled and pat him on the shoulder. "I will see you at the reunion, yes?"

"Of course."

"If you still need me, I will make myself available. You only need to ask."

"It'll be a favor for me if so... And I owe you a drink for dealing with that."

He chuckled. "Not from you, I hope."

Eason laughed, and Avery headed back to his car. Eason waved goodbye to him before turning back and walking toward me.

"Eason--"

He said nothing and crouched down in front of Cecil.

"It's almost lunchtime. I promised you fancy noodles, didn't I?"

"Yeah!" She looked back at where the dust was drifting through the air. "Who was that Uncle Eason?"

"He's a friend of mine," Eason said. "He's really good at growing magical crops and turning land like this into magical farms." He offered her his hand. "With him at the helm, there was a good chance to lure a unicorn out to graze."

I winced at that as Cecil oohed, and we headed back to the car. The driver cranked up the car and pulled away. Eason and Cecil kept talking. He opened his phone and showed her things, completely ignoring me. The small distance between us felt like a chasm. Maybe I'd overreacted, but after everything that had happened with Cecil getting kidnapped, he had to understand where I was coming from. Or maybe he couldn't because his worldview was so different.

When Cecil drifted off, Eason turned his gaze out the window. His expression was neutral, and his eyes seemed brighter than ever. My words were stuck in my throat, choked by the weight of his silence. Wasn't he being insensitive? He could have at least told me who we were going to meet. He had to know that vampires weren't to be trusted, especially not around children. The drive back stretched on, punctuated only by the rhythmic hum of the engine and the gnawing sense of wrong in my chest.

It felt like hours had passed before we were pulling up in front of the pack house. Silence still hung in the air between Eason and me, heavier now with the familiar building.

"Eason--"

He climbed out, not bothering to look back, leaving me to get Cecil and Richard out on my own. I set my jaw as he disappeared into the house. A lump formed in my throat as I gathered my kids up and followed. I wanted to call after him, but I couldn't get the words out.

I heard something sparking; then, I smelled something sharp like ozone. Just before I opened my mouth to call out to him, my phone buzzed. A notification announcing my flight details for the next day appeared, and my mind went blank.

Tomorrow.

The court case was tomorrow.