Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

BEAU

The bear hug from Mom is unexpected. Any emotion other than grumpy and angry is new territory. But I let it slide and return her embrace. The five-year-old in me, starving for any scraps of affection from this woman, has been waiting a long time. Who knew almost dying would do the trick?

"I'm fine, Mom."

She pulls back, sniffles once, and nods. "Yes. For now. But you're in a helluva mess, Beau. I don't know what's happening, but people are looking for you. Powerful people." Her hands tighten on my arms, and she darts a look at Killian and Walter. "Are you sure about this boy?" she whispers like I'm fifteen again. I don't mention Killian's exceptional hearing.

"I am." I smile, not holding back for once. Letting her see how I feel about him.

She nods again. Resigned. "Who's the midget?"

"You can't say midget, Mom. It's rude. Little person or dwarf is the correct, less offensive term." We're still whispering but a huff from Walter tells me he can also hear us.

"Why's he dressed like a pirate?"

"That I don't know."

"This is sweet, but we don't have time for family reunions," Walter says loudly with a bit of snark. "They'll be back. And I'd rather not be here when that happens."

Killian found a trash bag from somewhere, maybe the trailer, and is cleaning up the site. Beer cans I hadn't noticed before, cigarette butts, and a Taco Bell wrapper that he holds up to examine. How long had they been watching us anyway? And is he cleaning up or gathering evidence?

"You can go, Walter. Beau and I have everything under control."

We do? But I'm not contradicting him. Not a Walter fan.

Walter cackles and shakes his head. "I know when I'm not wanted. But don't forget what I told you. Austyn can help you." He pulls a card out of his pocket and hands it to Killian. "Here are his details. You can look him up."

Killian looks it over and brings it to me with a shrug.

Austyn Burkes .

Tailor .

And a picture of a young guy with blond hair and blue eyes.

When I glance back up, Walter is gone. Not sure how he left without making a sound but at least we're rid of him. For now.

"Beau, the first thing you need to do is—" Mom stops, pressing her lips tightly together. "I promised myself I wasn't going to boss you around, but old habits and all." She draws in a breath and lets it out. "What are you going to do?"

"Go home…" I say, but she's already shaking her head. "Why can't I go home?"

"You can. But they've ransacked your house again. Destroyed—" She cuts off with a sob. It's so unlike my mom that I'm instantly on edge. More on edge? I reach for my watch…right. They took it. Fucking bastards.

"Mom?"

"I can take you home if you want to get things, although I packed a bag for you. Things I thought you might need. But you, both of you, should leave New Orleans. The state. Hell, the country if possible."

"Really, Mom? You thought he murdered someone." I couldn't help teasing her, just a bit.

"No. Not unless he's a wild animal who can chew through flesh and bone. Jassan was attacked by something big and then his body was moved. In my gut, I know it was murder, but I have no way to prove it."

Before I can respond to that—and really, what could I say—Killian is beside us.

"Your mom is right, Beau. We have to go." He glances around, and I know he's scouting possible threats. "Now."

A red cardinal chirps, and I spot it in the tree above. Otherwise, the area is quiet. But for how long?

We pack up. Not that we have much, but I gather a few things from my car and give her a fond pat on the hood. I hate leaving her, but she's too easy to identify.

Mom drives us out of the refuge. No lights this time. I sit up front with her so I can answer her questions. But mostly, I've spent way too much time in the back of a cruiser to ever want to be there again. I was a rebellious teen. And Mom was all about natural consequences.

"What's going on, Beau?" she asks once we're out of the refuge center.

I open my mouth, my normal evasion tactics at the ready, and stop. I'm done with lying. At least to my mother. At least about some things. "I'm not exactly sure. It started with my research with Professor Jassan. Then, I found a jawbone that couldn't exist. Not in the shape it was in. Pristine. New. They stole it from me the first time they searched my house. But not before I extracted a DNA sample."

I told her everything. Although not everything, everything. Definitely didn't mention getting railed by Killian. But with a nod from him, I did tell her about him shifting into a Llukalkan aliocranianus.

"Holy shit, Beau." Her eyes are wide as she stares at me.

"Watch the road, Mom."

She glances back, but only for a moment. "Can you imagine your dad's face if he'd come face to face with a dinosaur?"

I've tried to imagine it. He would have been thrilled.

She glances up at the rear-view mirror. "So you could actually have killed Jassan? Did you?"

"Mom, stop."

"It's a fair question," Killian says calmly, more calmly than I would have been. "But I don't know the answer. I still don't remember my name or my past. The only thing I know for sure is that I will protect Beau with every bone—human and dinosaur—in my body."

Mom grins. "Good enough for me."

We arrive at my house, and it looks almost normal from the outside. But the coral honeysuckle around my trellis has been dug up. Piles of dirt patted back down, with the flowers left to die. Assholes.

Inside, they weren't as careful. The entire house is destroyed. The couch gutted. Lamps broken. As I walk through the kitchen, my Keurig and coffee pods are smashed on the floor, and I feel violated. I almost turn back. Do I really want to see the rest? But I force my feet forward.

My study is the worst. Not in the amount of damage but in how much it hurts. My animal bones litter the floor. Smashed. Years of collecting and piecing together. A cry escapes me.

"I'm sorry, Beau. I didn't want you to see this," Mom says, her eyes bright.

I yank her into a hug, overcome with emotion. She understands. Years of feeling like my bone collecting was a silly hobby. And an even sillier thing to build a career on, especially after Dad left. But she gets it. Took her long enough.

I pull away just as quickly. Killian places his hand on my back, and I absorb his strength. Time to move on. I gather the things I need that Mom hasn't already gotten. It isn't much. Coco Tremere prides herself on being thorough.

It's one of her strengths I used to hate but now greatly appreciate as she drives us to the train station. "I still have some pull in this town. I got you tickets traveling north, no questions asked. From there, you can go anywhere." She jabs a wad of cash into my hands.

I'm tempted to give it back, but I know we'll need it. "Thanks, Mom."

"I don't want to know where you are…in case anyone asks. But I'd like to know you're safe."

I nod. Why is this so hard? I'm an adult, for fuck's sake. The only thing keeping me from sobbing like a baby is Killian's arm around my shoulder. "All this fuss over a jawbone and some DNA."

"I think there's more to it than that, Beau."

"Is there something you're not telling me, Mom?" Just when I thought it was safe to trust her. Is she holding something back?

"Just a hunch. What better way to get to someone than through their son?"

What the hell? I push back the spike of anger—hurt—that surges through me. Show no emotion, right? But I still have my words. "You think they came after me because of you? Is this political?" And shouldn't I have expected that?

"Oh, honey." Her smile is sad but knowing as she palms my cheek. "You have more than one parent."

Dad? She thinks this is about my father? But I can't ask any more questions because we barely have enough time to board. We say quick goodbyes and rush to get on the train. Once we're settled in our seats, and with Killian's hand on my leg, I glance out the window. Mom looks smaller. More fragile than I've ever seen her. Will they go after her? God, I hope not. But I can't worry about that, or I'll never leave. Coco Tremere is tough. She can take care of herself. She waves, and I wave back, only stopping when she's out of sight.

"Are you okay?"

I touch his face, drinking in his green eyes filled with care. I kiss his lips, and it helps me focus. This is exactly where I need to be. "Better now."

"I've remembered some things. Mostly flashes of stuff."

"Oh my God, Killian. That's great." I'm happy for him, but something about it makes me uneasy. I focus on him instead of my neurosis. My watch is gone, so I touch the pendant around my neck. "Tell me."

"Mountains. Beautiful mountains. And a river. Or maybe it's a stream."

I laugh. "That could be almost anywhere in the US." And many places overseas, but I keep that part to myself.

"And a white flower. I remember eating them."

"It's a long ride to Chicago. Let's see what we can find."

Mom also bought not one but two untraceable phones. We search through pictures of flowers, which is heaven for me but probably torture for Killian. He finally stops me on a picture of a yucca blossom.

"There. That's it." He grins, looking so pleased with himself that I have to kiss him. And then kiss him again.

"They grow in mostly dry areas. Deserts and dry woodlands, but they can also be in prairies." I smile at him. "We're getting closer."

When we reach Chicago, I drag Killian out of Union Station to see the tall buildings. I'd been on trips with my dad when I was young, but I barely remember them. And that trip with Mom to Yellowstone. But never a big city like this.

"This is amazing."

Killian stares at the buildings around us. Even in his dinosaur form, they would be taller than him. It would be easy to get lost here…until he needed to shift. The buildings are beautiful but still just boxes. Killian would hate living here. And so would I.

I grab his hand. "Come on. Let's grab some food. And then get our tickets."

"To Idaho?"

"I'd rather not. Unless you want to go there."

"It might be a setup."

"My thoughts exactly. Let's travel a bit."

"What do you suggest?"

"Did you know the yucca is the state flower of New Mexico? I thought we'd start there."

"Really?" He grins, excitement shining from his eyes. And then he kisses me. Light at first. Then insistent. Hard. Oh my. Would it be wasting money to stay the night in Chicago? Probably.

"Are you sure, Beau?"

"Of course, I'm sure."

"Then why are you frowning?"

I kiss him again. "I'm sure. I love you, Killian."

"That's impossible. You've known me for three days."

"Impossible? Yes. Except it isn't."

He doesn't say it back, and I don't expect him to. I can feel his love for me. He couldn't hide it, even if he wanted to.

We're both starving, so we grab some food. Chicago style pizza is just okay, by the way. Nothing to rave about. And then we're back on a train, this time to New Mexico and possibilities. Killian's body vibrates with excitement.

"You know it might take a while, right?"

"I know. But this feels right. I just want to remember."

I nod, but my uneasiness from before returns. "What if your memory comes back and you find…" I hesitate to say the words.

"Find what?"

"That you have a family."

He cups my face with his big hands. "I do have a family. You."

"Me?" I search his eyes for the truth. All I see is love and acceptance.

"No matter what happens, Beau Tremere," he says with such intensity I finally let myself believe. "You will always be my family."