Rise Against: A Foundling novel (The Foundling Series) Page 13

  In the uncanny way he had, Thom sat in the field beside the house, waiting like he had been expecting us. Cole touched down, and I hopped off in the grass. Thom smiled at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling, and prowled to us.

  “How’s it going?” I kept it casual right up to the point when I pounced, wrapping his frail shoulders in a hug that left him chuckling breathily. “Tell me if I’m invading your me space too much.”

  “Never.” He rubbed our cheeks together. “It’s an instinctive response to an injured coterie member.” He withdrew and started leading us toward the house. “Your presence gives me strength, and your touch anchors me.”

  “What I’m hearing is you should stick with me.” I winked at him. “Clearly, I’m good for your health.”

  Minus the part where aligning with me had cost him his wing in the first place.

  “Luce.” He slowed until I caught up to him. “I made my choice to join this coterie long before you arrived, and I don’t regret my decision. What happened to me … ” His shoulder twitched at the reminder. “It wasn’t your fault.” Satisfaction lent his voice an edge when he growled, “You avenged me.”

  A stomach full of Drosera was a small price to pay for how proud he was of me. “You would have done the same for me.”

  “Yes,” he said, gaze sweeping my face. “I would have.”

  Rustling leaves betrayed Mateo’s arrival. “You’re back.”

  “I am.” I gestured for them to follow then circled the house to sit on the weathered picnic bench beneath the old oak tree. “We’re expecting company. A clan of Oncas will arrive in a few hours carrying wounded. They have tents, so they’ll be camping around the property. They won’t be sharing with the enclave, and they shouldn’t bother you. I just want you to be aware of them.”

  Cole shook hands with Mateo. “We’ll introduce you once their leaders arrive.”

  “Our people have lived in isolation to avoid conflict for so long, we’ve lost touch with our charun brethren.” He smiled like he meant it. “I look forward to renewing old acquaintances, and alliances.”

  With that, he shot off to rejoin his people and spread the word about the guests who ought to be arriving shortly.

  “I’m going to nap,” Thom announced. “I spent too long outside today, enjoying the sun.”

  A hint of suspicion had me examining him for signs of fatigue. “Are you sure you don’t want to hang out with us for a bit?”

  “You have a few hours,” he said pointedly. “I’m sure you can think of a constructive way to spend them.”

  When I glanced over my shoulder at Cole, who had fallen behind while checking his phone, I got the hint.

  We had time for a trip out to Cypress Swamp. We might as well since we were back in the area. It would put his mind at ease and give me a chance to update Death on our progress and see if she had made any.

  Death had retained her knockoff movie star guise, right down to the mole high on her cheek. Dressed in jersey knit shorts and a tank top salvaged from one of our drawers, she gave the impression of a Hollywood starlet researching an upcoming role about the lives of swampers. She also wore socks but no shoes and … Were those oven mitts on her hands?

  “Hey, sis.” I stepped onto the pier, wary of what we might have interrupted. “What are you up to?”

  “Janardan is teaching me how to microwave frozen dinners for the children.” Neat furrows gathered across her brow. “They prefer to catch their meals, but we agreed humans are off limits, and local wildlife is scarce.”

  Between the Drosera churning up the swamp, and the ever-present smell of decomposition that trailed her children like perfume, I couldn’t blame the deer or gators for making themselves scarce. Fish had been plentiful, but the ones her coterie hadn’t already devoured had relocated before entire schools got digested.

  “Nicodemus.” Janardan beamed. “I didn’t expect a visit for another week at least.”

  “We were in the area.” I nudged Cole toward his friend. “You guys catch up, and us girls will chat out here.”

  While they retreated to where Phoebe was being kept, I claimed a chair at the wrought-iron table near the water and indicated Death should join me.

  As she removed the mitts, her dark eyes found mine. “You don’t wish to see the child?”

  There was no good answer for my reluctance, so I went with, “Cole will appreciate time alone with her.”

  “You no longer feel the bond between mother and daughter.” Her slender fingers rose to her throat. “I can’t imagine the magnitude of such a loss.”

  “I don’t remember her to miss her,” I admitted. “I’m sure we’ll bond once she hatches — revives? — but I’m not sure we’ll ever have the same connection she shared with her mother. How’s that going, anyway?”

  Cole might not have told me in as many words that he planned on waking Phoebe, but he and Miller had built an incubation chamber to jumpstart the process, which was proof enough of his intentions. He might not be ready to admit it — even to himself — but he wouldn’t rest easy until he saw her again.

  Tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed for any of us, so I wouldn’t stand in the way of him claiming what happiness he could grasp, however fleeting. Even if a sliver of me regretted sharing his attention with a wooden obelisk when our time together was limited enough without this latest complication.

  “Phoebe will emerge within another week if we go on as we are now.”

  I swallowed hard. “A week?”

  Seven days until I learned if I had it in me to mother Conquest’s child. No, Cole’s child. Conquest might have given birth to her, but Cole had named her Phoebe. Sweet one. He was the one willing to sacrifice it all to spare her from embracing her heritage and claiming her mother’s title as her own by secreting her away into Death’s care.

  “It will come back to you,” she decided. “Your bonds with your coterie are too strong for you not to embrace the girl as one of you. She is your mate’s offspring, after all. Even if you couldn’t love her for herself, you would open your heart for his sake.”

  “I don’t know how much you know about my life,” I started, “but I was adopted by the man who found me when I was a child. He raised me as his daughter, and I see him as my father.” I absorbed her surprise with a grin. “He showed me every day that it’s possible to love a child who’s not a blood relation. Phoebe and I are complicated, but we’ll figure it out. Not for Cole’s sake, but for hers.”

  “Well said.” She smiled, and there was genuine warmth there. “Tell me more of your life among humans. I’m interested to learn how they shaped you into this … ” She gestured to me, and I braced for her to call me a shell, “ … person. You remind me a little of Conquest, when she was a child, but even then she was ambitious. She was bred for her title, and she never stopped to enjoy what was in front of her. Her eyes were always turned skyward, her thoughts a world away.”

  Unhappy to find myself intrigued by memories of a childlike Conquest, I told Death my story instead. Each word cemented my identity and reminded me of who I was — Luce Boudreau, daughter, friend, godmother, cop. And by the end of the hour we spent there, I was tempted to add sister to the list and mean it.

  Out of my siblings, I had feared Death’s title most of all. Not for what it might mean for me, but for those around me. Dad was no spring chicken, and Uncle Harold hadn’t been either. But instead of an enemy, I had found an ally, maybe even a friend. Death held a reverence for life that mirrored mine. And wasn’t life funny like that? When what scares the pants off you is actually what’s best for you?

  Now all I could do is hope life knew what the heck it was doing.

  That would make one of us.

  The Oncas beat us to the farmhouse, but not by much. Several enclave members greeted them to help move the wounded indoors until tents could be erected. Santiago ditched his cot and rejoined us, but Miller was still out cold and so was Wu. Portia hadn’t surfaced yet, either. We had no choice but to spe
nd the night and hope for the best come tomorrow.

  “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the others.” Santiago stared off into the distance. “You two can go stay in your tent in the woods, far away from the rest of us. We really don’t want to smell what you get up to tonight. You’ll be doing us all a favor.”

  A flutter twitched through my lower stomach, but I held firm. “You’re kicking us out?”

  “I already have a cot with my name on it. We should keep the last one open in case we need it.”

  Cole hadn’t spoken much since we left the bunkhouse. The inner battle over whether waking his daughter was a selfish act or a merciful one crowded his mind, and I didn’t want to add my two cents when it should be his call. But that didn’t stop me from admiring the view as the gears in his mind gained traction.

  As if surfacing from a deep pool, Cole sucked in a breath that cranked his head toward me.

  Rubbing my thighs together, I got the impression I was the reason a flush was darkening his cheekbones.

  “We’ll take the tent.” Cole watched for my reaction when he said it. “This might be the last chance we get to be alone for a while.”

  “On that note, I’m out.” Santiago made a beeline for Maggie, who smiled hesitantly as he stared down his nose at her like he might will Portia to the surface. “Need a break? I can wait here if you need to pee or something.”

  “Oh.” She rose slowly. “Okay. Sure.”

  On her way past us, she shot me a what do I do look, but I was just as stumped by his behavior.

  Nice Santiago was … disturbing. No wonder she powerwalked back to the house to avoid him.

  “I would offer to race you to the tent,” I said once we were alone, “but I’m beat.”

  The tender look he shot me almost made me feel bad when I pivoted away and sprinted for the woods.

  “Sucker,” I called over my shoulder and laughed when his roar scared birds — and Cuprina — from the trees.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The next morning, Thom delivered us a hearty breakfast of two freshly killed lizards, one missing its tail, and an update on our wounded before leaving us to eat and dress while he stretched his legs on a walk. Thankfully, his absence meant I could toss the limp bodies into the nearby underbrush without offending his feline sensibilities.

  Confinement with the enclave had clearly worn on him. Winged charun weren’t meant to spend so much time belowground, but I suspected the real problem wasn’t confinement to a particular area but to a particular shape. His inability to fly meant he had all but abandoned his natural form, and I missed his ratty ears and stubby tail. Most of all, I missed his mischief. No, that’s not right either. Plain and simple, I just missed my friend.

  On the upside, Thom had brought us good news, and I was eager to see for myself.

  Back at the farmhouse, we approached the medical tent in time to watch Portia step through the flaps.

  “I’ll go check on Miller.” Cole pressed a kiss to my temple. “Meet me later?”

  “Sure.”

  Portia hesitated when we split up, like maybe she had wanted to talk to both of us, but she elected to visit me first.

  “Hey.” I touched her arm, hoping the contact gave her a boost. “How are you feeling?”

  “Rested.” She tried on a smile, but it wobbled. “For me, it was no different than falling asleep. Maggie had to endure the healing. I woke up, and our body was good to go.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. We were all worried about you.”

  “You weren’t hoping Maggie might stay in control?” Lips trembling, she folded her arms across her chest. “I get it if you did. She’s your best friend. It must have been nice having unrestricted access to her again, getting to talk without fear of being overheard. That kind of thing.”

  “Portia.” I gripped her shoulders. “You’re the only reason she’s still here. I can never repay you for what you did for me, for us. She’s my best friend, but you’re my friend too. I’m not choosing one of you over the other. That’s not how this works.”

  “I don’t worry for myself,” she said, mouth firming, “but I’m the only friend Santiago’s got. I don’t want him to lose that.”

  “He won’t.” I gave her a hug, and even the way she returned it spoke of her own personality. “And you’re not his only friend. He might not want me to be, but I am.”

  “I’m glad.” She released me. “He never had that with Conquest. Believe it or not, he’s been in a better mood since you joined the team.”

  “If this is Santiago in a good mood … ” I locked my jaw to keep from insulting her bestie. “Glad I could help.” I set out toward the tent, and she fell in step with me. “How is Miller?”

  “Good as new.” She smirked at the bright sky overhead. “He hasn’t gotten out of bed yet, though.”

  “Why?” I glanced around at the hustle and bustle of charun overrunning the farmhouse.

  “You can’t guess?” Laughter danced in her eyes. “He woke up to Nurse Maggie clutching his hand and holding his straw while he sipped water with ice chips. Miller isn’t stupid. He’s willing to walk with a limp if it means she offers him her arm for support.”

  “What are we going to do about that?” I wondered aloud, more to myself than anything else.

  “We let them figure it out on their own.” She shrugged. “You might be responsible for everyone on Earth, but you’re not responsible for their happiness.”

  My laugh came out sounding more like a wheeze. “No pressure.”

  As I pushed through the flaps on my way to see Miller, I noticed the empty cot and remembered who had occupied it last.

  Wrapped up in memories of last night and reconnecting with my coterie, I had forgotten all about Wu.

  An Onca was changing the sheets, and I paused to ask, “Where did he go?”

  Her head twisted left to right in a quick check that I meant her, that some other Onca nurse wasn’t standing behind her. “He went on a walk last night, and he didn’t come back.”

  “You just let him leave?” I hadn’t meant to shout. I hadn’t meant to advance on her either. But there I was, yelling and looming. Recognizing how close I skated the edge of my temper, I forced myself to take a step back before the cooling sensation in my core spread outward. “Was he okay? Delirious? What?”

  Her eyes rounded, her pupils contracted, and her muzzle quivered. “I-I-I … d-d-don’t know.”

  “Cole?” I turned my back on her and heard her relieved sigh to be out of the crosshairs. “We have to find Wu. He wandered off in the middle of the night, and no one thought to stop him. He’s too valuable to lose.”

  “Your concern warms my heart,” Wu drawled from behind me.

  I spun and swept my gaze over him, a frown tipping my mouth. “You left to get fresh clothes?”

  “The ones I wore yesterday were ruined.” He studied me, and his voice hardened to a razor’s edge. “As my invitation to frolic through the woods naked must have gotten lost in the mail, I thought I should procure more.”

  The blood rushed from my cheeks, anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell. Maybe it was safer for him if I didn’t peg the emotions roiling in my gut at his jab.

  I knew then that he had followed us. He had seen us. What had drawn him out, I had no idea, but there was no mistaking the pinch of hurt at the corners of his eyes or the twist of disgust on his top-heavy mouth.

  “You son of a bitch.”

  Aware I was forming a habit, I walked right up to him and slapped him hard across the face.

  He didn’t so much as blink, let alone demand an explanation. He was lucky I didn’t use my fist.

  “I have a lead on Bruster.” He touched his fingers to his cheek. “I’m going to Nebo, North Carolina.”

  Blood still hot, I cut him a smile. “Then so am I.” Turning to Cole, I cocked an eyebrow. “Give me a lift?”

  “It would be my pleasure.” He rolled that last r until it came out sounding like a purr.
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br />   Breaking his fifteen-year dry spell had definitely put him in a good mood.

  “Meet you outside?” I wanted a moment alone with Miller before we departed, but Cole read me easily. He left and took Wu and the others with him.

  Miller, propped up in bed, had been watching the show with a half-smile that told me he could smell what we had been up to from where he rested.

  “I heard you’re a dirty faker.” I plopped down in the seat Mags had faithfully occupied while he remained unconscious. “Has Maggie figured it out yet, or is she too polite to call you out?”

  “I didn’t mean to let it drag on.” He fussed with the sheets around his hips. “It was nice … having someone care.”

  “I care.” I pinched his thigh and relished his yelp. “You mean it was nice having Maggie care.”

  “Yeah.” Pink brushed his cheekbones. “That.”

  “I get it.” I leaned back, crossed my arms over my chest. “I used to be so hungry for Cole’s attention, I was starving to death no matter how many friends or how much family surrounded me.”

  “That’s it exactly,” he admitted softly. “Do you know if … ?”

  “I haven’t asked her outright. I don’t think she knows how she feels or wants to admit it if she does.” I sighed. “You have to remember she was engaged. I don’t mean to be the hammer hitting you over the head with that at every opportunity, but she had her whole life planned out before I dragged her into this world.”

  “Justin Sheridan.”

  “I’m going to pretend you remember that name because of our investigation into Maggie’s disappearance and not because you’re stalking her ex.”

  “I have an excellent memory.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” I pushed to my feet. “Maggie would forgive a lot, but she would never forget you hurt Justin because of how you feel about her.” I debated not saying the rest, but I might as well put it out there. “You would remind her of how War beat her to a pulp to punish me. You don’t want her drawing that parallel. Trust me.”

  Tossing the cover off his legs, he swung them over the edge of the cot. “I do.”