Chapter Twenty-Two

Tryst or Trust

Gift of Brothers

Athair tried to connect his mind to Hope's one more time, and again he failed. At first, he thought she was too scared or confused to open herself to him. But now he knew she had locked him out on purpose. Why she would do so baffled him. She should know by now that whatever was wrong, he would help her make it right.

Hope walked back to the group slowly. When she came to them, she continued past and angled toward the house.

"Hope?" Athair questioned her quietly as he matched his stride to hers.

She glanced his way but said nothing.

"Hope, talk to me. Who was it? Who was killed?"

"Jimmy."

"Who?" At least it hadn't been Steve. Athair thought she would have been relieved that her friend wasn't hurt.

"The boy who brought the pizza."

"Oh. Did you know him?" She must have, but he wanted her to open up. To tell him what was wrong.

She didn't answer but she must have known the boy to react this strongly. Was that why she had shut him out? Was it her way of dealing with her pain? With loss?

"I'm sorry. Does the sheriff know what happened?"

Several steps later, she said, "Not much. Someone stopped Jimmy's car and killed him."

"What else?" Her clipped words told him that the sheriff had said more.

"Nothing."

"There is more." Why was she lying? Although she had managed to block most of her emotions, Athair could still sense confusion and sadness. Both emotions were expected. So, what was she hiding from him?

"There is nothing more."

They reached the house and Hope slammed inside, leaving him standing with the others. He took a moment to explain what little he knew about the incident to Sandulfr, and then he went after Hope to find out what was wrong and why she was lying.

He found her in her bedroom. "Hope, what are you doing?"

She looked up at him, her expression grim. She was loading a pistol.

"Who do you intend to shoot?" Did she know how to use a gun? It looked like she did. She slid the bullets into the gun's chambers with a sureness that told him she'd had training and at least some experience.

"The one who killed Jimmy." She looked up for an instant, and then her eyes darted away.

Are you ready to tell me who that is?"

"Oh Athair. I'm so sorry." She sank down onto the bed. "I..." Her words faded away without him learning anything. He tried to sense her thoughts, but her mind was still closed.

"Please Hope, you must tell me what you are thinking so we can face it together." He knelt before her and took her hands in his, uncurling her fingers and placing the gun on the night stand. "Tell me who you think killed the boy."

This time she met his gaze. "Sgrios."

"What did you say?" He couldn't have heard her correctly.

"I'm sorry, Athair. It was Sgrios."

"It couldn't have been." Sgrios had no reason to kill Jimmy. Maybe she had forgotten the traitors were camped nearby.

"It was. There was a witness. And I think he was the one who attacked me, too. A girl died that night."

"It was not my brother." Where had this come from? Had she been afraid of Sgrios all this time?

"You said yourself he was poisoned by his guilt. Blame the poison if you wish, but you need to see what he's become. Sgrios has killed before, and he will again. He must be stopped."

"You can't mean this. I won't let you kill him. I doubt you could, anyhow."

"Oh, I didn't think about his powers." She blinked twice. "I'd probably need silver bullets, wouldn't I?"

"He did not kill that boy." Athair growled but regretted it when she pulled away.

"Someone saw him stop Jimmy's car, and they called the police. The sheriff described Sgrios perfectly. Where was he when Jimmy left?"

"He went for a walk, but I don't know where. I was with Sandulfr, remember?" Someone had seen Sgrios stop the boy's car? Why would he do that?

"That gives you an alibi, but it doesn't help him. I don't suppose you know where he was a month ago, either." She kept insisting he was a suspect.

But no matter how certain she was, he had to convince her to let it go. He'd start with the earlier incident. He could settle that one quickly enough. "Actually, I do know where he was. He was hunting."

"I guess you could say that. He was hunting humans. He was hunting me."

"You've forgotten that our home is halfway across the state. It took us three weeks to get here."

"And you're forgetting that Sgrios steals cars but prefers motorcycles. He would have had plenty of time to kill that girl and get home to your family."

"You really think he did it." He knew it wasn't possible, but she did have a valid argument. One he needed to counter quickly, if there was any chance to save the situation.

"Yes, I do."

"It doesn't feel right. Tell me again what happened the night you were attacked." There had to be some way he could convince Hope of his brother's innocence.

"I followed a black animal into an alley, where I saw the girl who was killed. There were four men. One of them chased me down, beat me, but ran when Steve came looking for me."

"And you could identify the attacker? If it was Sgrios, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

She shook her head slightly. "I remembered details about the girl, but little about the men. All I saw was the black wolf-like animal and his green eyes shining back at me after the attack. As close as we were, I couldn't make out my attacker's face."

"He used an empathic blur. Some of us can manipulate emotions to interfere with perception." So Sgrios was innocent. How could he have doubted his brother even for a moment?

"That's a useful skill for a predator." Her voice was condemning.

"Yes. But not for Sgrios." Somehow, he had to make her understand and believe. Their relationship was at stake. She could never trust him if he defended her attacker.

"I know you don't want to believe it but—" She sounded resigned.

"Listen to me. A couple of things you just told me clear Sgrios of at least one of these crimes. He did not attack you." Athair knelt before her and met her gaze. "Will you listen to why I say that without a doubt?"

"I'll listen."

"You said there were four men, right?" Athair clasped her hands in his to reassure himself that she wasn't afraid of him. Her suspicions showed him that their relationship still needed work. They had to have trust between them, but trust could be built brick by brick.

"Four."

"Sgrios hunts alone. This trip with Reultan and Díon is the first he's ever taken with others. He goes to escape our presence, to be alone or with wild wolves, but not to actually hunt. And certainly not to hunt humans."

"I see what you're saying, but I don't know what it proves."

"Then what about the empathic blur? Sgrios is incapable of using that skill. He can no longer use his empathy that way."

"Why not?"

He felt her curiosity and was encouraged. "That is a precision skill of empathy and requires a delicate touch."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"Think of the skill required to blur perceptions as being like that needed to sew fine silk. Instead of a needle, Sgrios holds an axe."

"So, he's an axe murderer. That doesn't make him innocent."

"Hope, if he had tried to blur your perception, you'd be dead. There's nothing delicate or subtle about my brother's emotions. Can you understand that? You. Would. Be. Dead. His empathy is too potent to be used casually. All these centuries, he has locked his emotions behind that hard shell, to keep from accidentally hurting anyone. You aren't dead, so it wasn't Sgrios. As for Jimmy, I don't believe my brother killed the boy. But I intend to find out who did."

"Fine. I need to call Steve. I want to be sure he's all right."

"You do that while I see what I can learn about the boy's death." Athair said nothing more and left her sitting alone on her bed.

Hope reached for the bedside phone and dialed Steve's number. After only one ring, he answered. "Hello?"

"Steve, this is Hope." And I just did something really stupid.

"What's up? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you got home without any problems." And have you tell me how to fix all my mistakes...

"Sure, why? Is something going on? Why do you sound like you're about to cry?"

"I- I just knew you were tired and wanted to be sure. I'll let you get some sleep." She was glad he had gotten home, but she didn't know how to tell him what she'd done to Athair.

"Wait. What's wrong? Did you and Athair have a fight?"

"I guess we did." She wiped a tear from her cheek and rubbed a hand over her eyes. Steve would know. He always knew.

"What about? Tell me what you fought over."

"His brother, Sgrios." She started to explain. "I thought—I accused him of the attack in Warren."

"You said this to Sgrios?"

"No, I told Athair," And she had hurt him. She'd shown him she didn't trust his family, and that she didn't trust him.

"How did he react?"

"He used logic to prove Sgrios couldn't have done it." Logic they could have used together, instead of fighting with each other.

"How horrible. I hope you dumped him for being so reasonable. I mean, how dare he use logic to prove his point? Really, the nerve—"

"All right. I get it. But I was scared and angry." And now she knew better. Even if Sgrios was a murderer, Athair was still who she wanted to be with.

"Seriously, you worked it out. Right?"

"Not really. I hurt him by questioning his brother." And she had to figure out how to make it up to him, to show him she was willing to fight alongside him instead of against him.

"That probably did bother him. I don't think he would let anyone hurt you. I've seen how he looks at you. It's like you are the most precious thing in his world." Steeve was saying all the things she already knew.

The only thing she could do was be an adult and admit she'd been wrong. "I'll apologize to him as soon as he comes back. I'll find a way to make it right."

"You should. Oh no! I just thought of something."

"What?"

"Boy, am I glad I came home!" He laughed. "Your make-up sex may blow away the whole house!"

* * *

Athair hurried back through the house and motioned to Sandulfr. Together, they went back outside.

"She told you more?"

"She did. The boy was most likely killed by one of our kind. I plan to hide the evidence to protect the clans. I could use your help in this."

"I'm willing. Can you tell me what your mate knew?"

"She believed Sgrios killed the boy, but it isn't possible. Regardless of her so-called proof."

"I agree. If he was in the mood to kill, he would seek out more challenging prey. Probably my strays, since they're the current thorn in his side."

"You know Sgrios?"

"I've met him, but mostly I know his type."

They reached the bend in the road that partially hid the accident scene. They could see that another patrol car had arrived with two more officers. Jimmy's car and body were unmoved. Together they turned the corner and approached the scene.

The sheriff stood at the side of his car and yelled into a small black device tethered to the car by a cord piece. It was mostly hidden in his large hand. "I don't care what's going on! You get that ambulance here pronto!" Athair decided the handheld piece was some kind of communication device, similar to the telephone in the house.

He led the way toward the man. He didn't know present ways, but he did know people. Certain features never changed, like how to deal with those who felt they were in control.

The sheriff tossed the handheld back into his car and greeted them. "How can I help you?"

"I just wanted to offer my help." Athair reached out his hand as if to shake. At the same time, he used his empathy to convince the sheriff of his honesty and how useful he could be. He felt Sandulfr reinforcing his empathy but making no effort to take control.

"How do you suppose you could help?" The sheriff responded well.

"We're experts in animal attacks and heard that may be what you're dealing with." He used his own brand of empathic blur to encourage the sheriff to believe him and ignore that they turned up there without reason. "Can we see the body?"

"It's over there under the blanket. Looks to me as if there are both bite and knife wounds. The body is so damaged, it's hard to tell." The sheriff reached back into his car to answer the squawk of the radio, and Athair and Sandulfr walked toward the body.

Athair knelt next to the boy and flinched at the terrible wounds. He had definitely been killed by a Valàfrn. Someone filled with rage had committed the pointless murder. But how would they clear Sgrios and cover up this crime?

"So, you have any suggestions for disguising this?" Athair asked Sandulfr in a hushed whisper.

"I think a car accident would cover it well, but many memories will need to be adjusted. Especially those of our so-called witness."

"We will need to change the scene, as well. Can you get them away from here? Give me ten minutes."

"I'll lead them away and do what I can to manipulate their memories to fit a car accident and animal attack." Sandulfr called out. "Sheriff, I believe I can help you gather evidence. I have some tracking skills and can show you where the trail leads away from the crime."

"Do you think we may find the beast?" The sheriff walked up to them.

"Perhaps. You should bring your deputies and weapons, in case it was a pack." The four started off into the woods, following Sandulfr's made-up trail.

How could he simulate an accident? The only way Athair could think of was to drive the car into one of the large trees lining the roadway. He lifted the poor boy's mangled body into the vehicle and climbed into the driver's seat. He looked for the safety belt, but found it cut in two. There was no time for any other options. The car started easily and Athair backed it up the road. Fortunately, Hope had explained about automatic cars as well as those with a stick shift. This one was an automatic. He backed quite a ways, but how fast would he have to go to make the accident realistic? Probably faster than he had driven in the field. He floored the gas pedal, and the car spun its tires while the engine roared. He aimed the car at a thick tree a little way from the patrol cars. Two breaths later, the car smashed into the tree and plowed off to the side into another.

Athair fared worse than the car. He and the boy's dead body were thrown through the windshield. Athair bounced to a stop some fifty feet before landing in a painful heap.

Wrecking the car had proven to be a far from intelligent idea. True, it had accomplished a reasonable fake scene they would force all to believe, but the pain he had endured was worse than he'd expected.

He lay on the ground gasping for air through his crushed lungs. The world swam around him. He must have a head injury as well. He tried to raise a hand to his throbbing skull, and found he'd broken his arm. He couldn't move it.

He tried to heal the worst of his injuries with magic. As it worked, he lay there waiting, thinking of Hope, and praying that Sandulfr hadn't gone too far.

Then Sgrios was at his side. "Just what the hell did you do?" His words were snarled savagely, as if Sgrios was considering finishing him off for his stupidity.

The throbbing agony in his head eased. Finally, he was able to take a deep breath as his lungs healed and reabsorbed the blood that had flooded them.

"You're a damned fool." Sgrios continued to berate Athair as he healed Athair's battered body. Athair looked up at his brother through the blue glow of magical energy.

"I had no idea it would be like that." Athair spoke slowly to get the words out on panted gasps.

"Why would you take any risks now that you have Hope? You would make her grieve for you already? You're lucky I followed your worthless hide out here."

Athair sat up. He was amazed by how strong Sgrios had become in his healing magic. In just moments, his broken body was put back to rights. It was astounding. "I needed to disguise the evidence."

"You did not have to do it this way."

"We need to keep our people hidden."

"Not at this cost. What if I hadn't been here? If one of us must risk our lives, please, let it be me. There is no mate to mourn me."

Athair clasped his brother's arm so he could stand. He relished the physical contact, and he knew Sgrios meant that if he died, there was a chance he would be rejoined with Cairistione.

"Many would mourn for you, brother." Athair wobbled and Sgrios braced him upright.

"What's left to do?" Sgrios asked. "I'll help you finish."

"Only to convince the officers they were wrong about what killed Jimmy."

When Sandulfr and the officers returned, Athair encouraged Sgrios to stay out of sight while he and Sandulfr helped the policemen see the scene the way they needed to.

When they finished explaining how they saw the evidence, they were all in agreement that Jimmy had been in a terrible car accident and had died from his injuries. The bite wounds were explained by a stray dog finding the body afterwards.

As for the supposed witness, that had actually been a hoax. To get the sheriff on the scene quickly, the call had been made before Jimmy had left Hope's. There simply hadn't been time for anyone to see Sgrios stop the boy's car more than a half hour before the sheriff had arrived. Yet Sheriff Blackwell had admitted he and the others were in the next town attending a fellow officer's anniversary party when he'd received the call.

Someone had purposely incriminated Sgrios. They could all easily guess who it had been.

* * *

Dàn sat at the table in the kitchen. Maura placed a cup of tea in front of him and sat down across from him with her own.

"You are not responsible for the boy's death," she told him again.

"I should have known. I should have stopped it."

"You did not kill the boy, so you are not guilty of any part of this crime," she insisted. "I know you don't hate me for what Bequlf did, but I saw it happen and did nothing to stop it. This is the same for you. It isn't your fault when others get hurt."

"I just wanted a few minutes of my life to be normal. But getting what I want usually means someone else pays the price. No pizza is worth a lost life."

"Some might argue about that." She smiled at him. "I know what you mean. I have seen visions where someone I loved was hurt and I could do nothing to change that. I can never do anything. You at least can save some lives and prevent pain. You should think of the good you do, not about the things you can't change."

Díon walked into the kitchen, interrupting their quiet conversation. "Hey, I forgot to give you this." He held out a long staff for Dàn to take. He remembered that it had once belonged to the oracles. "Well, I thought maybe it could help balance your magic."

As Dàn's fingers wrapped around the wood, he felt soft, gentle emotions fill him. But from where?

Díon explained, "Adhar has kept it all these years. She used it for years to help Cradh, but they don't need it now. She agreed that you would be the best one to have it."

Dàn stroked his hand over the smooth wood and the staff responded with soothing energy that flooded up his arm. The staff was sentient.

* * *

Hope dropped the window curtain back into place. Finally, Athair was coming back up the driveway with Sandulfr and Sgrios. Athair smiled in response to something Sgrios said. Had he told Sgrios about her accusations? How would he react to her now?

Sandulfr stopped at his van, but the brothers came directly to the house. She stepped back to the doorway of the den, which was now empty.

When Sgrios saw her waiting he said to Athair, "Why don't you go relax to regain your strength? I'll make sure everyone gets settled, and I'll be around for a while if you need me."

Regain his strength? Hope shifted her gaze from Sgrios to Athair and saw that he looked pale, and his skin had a slight bluish tint. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Don't tell me that. Something went wrong?" She looked closer, and spotted drops of blood flecked over his shirt, many tiny flecks that Athair brushed off the fabric.

This time, Sgrios answered. "Your mate tried to beat some sense into his head with the trunk of a large tree. Regrettably, it didn't help."

"What on earth?" She caught Athair's eye and noticed the fine white lines of recent scars which faded even as she watched.

"He wrecked that boy's car to create a convincing scene. But he forgot to buckle up."

Alarm flared in Hope's breast. Athair could have been killed. She wrapped her arms around his waist to feel his solid build and reassure herself of his good health. "Why weren't you hurt worse than this?"

"I was." Athair said and he held her tight. "Sgrios healed me."

"He's fine, but he may be weak for a while." Sgrios was about to step back out the door when he caught Hope staring at him. "And yes, I know. Don't worry about it. Everyone always thinks the worst of me. I am quite used to it by now." Sgrios closed the door quietly behind him.

"I really am all right. Can we sit down for a little while?"

"Sure." She took his hand, and they walked together to the couch.

"I'm sorry I scared you. It was a risk I shouldn't have taken."

"Our last words would have been a fight," she said, speaking her thoughts aloud.

"I want to apologize for that as well. You had good reason to fear Sgrios. The facts did make him appear guilty."

"No, I was wrong. I should have trusted you. You know him better than I ever will. I should have believed you when you said he was innocent. Please forgive me."

"I love you, Hope. I will forgive you for anything."

"How seriously were you hurt? Can I do anything to help?"

"We can try out your ability to heal with magic, if you want. Sgrios may have healed my injuries, but a sharing of energy would speed the return of my strength."

"How do I do it?" She turned sideways on the couch to face him.

"It's not very difficult. Some choose to rub their hands together to start, because the friction creates heat. Heat is energy. It isn't really needed, but it could help you while learning. Think of the power within yourself and picture it as a source. A ball of energy or a spring of power. When you feel that part of you expanding, draw it into your hands. That will allow you to direct it where you wish."

"I feel it! But what do I do?"

"Now we touch." He held out his hands. "And we share."

She reached to touch his fingers but jerked back when a spark shot across the short distance separating them. "What was that?"

"That was you, my dear. Your energy is strong." He touched his hands to hers, and heat burned through her body. A burn that consumed but didn't harm her. Athair closed his eyes in the pleasure. Was this her, or him, or both of them? Whatever was happening, it heated her desire and made her want to share more than energy with Athair.

"Steve made a comment on the phone about make-up sex that I thought sounded pretty good…."

"By make-up sex, you mean we make love to show that the fight is over, and all is forgiven?"

"Yes."

His low chuckle was all the answer she received before his lips claimed hers.