The Rising

THIRTY-FIVE

I FOUND ASH BACK by the old camp. He was sitting on the ground, legs pulled up, just staring into the forest. I approached slowly, making enough noise so I wouldn’t startle him.

When he looked over I said, “Getting used to it, huh?”

He lifted his brows.

I waved around us. “The forest.”

“Right. Yeah.” He gazed out again. “Never really been in one this big. I know this isn’t big for a forest, just . . . It’s different.” He paused. “No people. I can see why you like it. It feels like . . .”

“Home.”

He shrugged that off, making a face. Another moment of silence. “If you’ve come to talk to me about this negotiating crap—”

“I haven’t.” I sat down beside him. “I just want to . . . check in with you. I know this isn’t the resolution you want, and I’m hoping you don’t decide to cut out.”

He glanced over. “Cut out?”

“Take off. Leave. We’re not at the point yet of making an absolute decision. So I’m hoping you’ll stick around until we are. And then I’m hoping you’ll give it more thought.”

“Have I bolted yet?”

“No, I’m just—”

“Well, don’t.”

He studied me for a moment, then said, voice lowered, “I’m not our mother.”

I nodded. Another minute of silence. Then I said, “He . . . Calvin . . . Antone.” I sighed. “I don’t know what to call him.”

“Just not Dad, I bet.”

I shook my head. “No, never. Calvin, I guess. He told me what happened to you. What our mother did.”

He snorted. “Yeah, I can just imagine his version.”

I told him what Antone said. He listened, then shrugged. “Close enough, I guess. So what’s he been doing? Sitting back and watching me?”

“Looking for you. He’d get updates from one of the parents you were in contact with, one working both sides—trading information between the St. Clouds and your contacts.”

He cursed at that. Really cursed. For a while.

“But that contact wouldn’t tell Calvin where you were. I think he was trying to protect you.”

He met my gaze. “He was protecting himself and his kid. Don’t sugarcoat things for me, Maya. Ever.”

“I’m sorry.” I paused. “Do you know anything about a guy named Lucas Cortez?”

“Huh?”

“He’s the son—”

“Oh, I know who he is. I’m just really hoping you aren’t asking because the Cortezes are getting involved in this. Because if they are, we might as well throw in the towel now. One Cabal is tough to outrun. Two? Damned near impossible, as you’ve noticed. Three?” He shook his head.

“They aren’t involved. But someone mentioned Lucas Cortez as a crusader against Cabals. That might be a backup plan, if you know anything about him.”

“I know he’s the son of a Cabal CEO. I know he’s the supposed heir to the Cortez Cabal. I know he used to be a crusader, until his brothers got murdered and he had to step up in the family business.”

“Oh.”

Ash shrugged. “Some say he’s still helping supernaturals. Some say it’s a front and he’s luring them into the Cabal. Cyril Mitchell believed he was still helping, but there’s a reason he never went to him for help. Or to the interracial council that’s supposed to help supernaturals. Because they can’t fight the Cabals on big things like this. If the Cabals want us, they’ll get us. That’s the way it works in the world, Maya. The good guys have ideals; the bad guys have cash and firepower. You can guess which one wins in a real battle.”

I could tell he’d worked this through long before now, probably some cold and hungry night when he just couldn’t take it anymore. He’d come to the conclusion that this Lucas guy and the council couldn’t help. I agreed. The Cabals had massive corporate and supernatural resources. Which was why we had to deal with them or spend our lives running.

“We need to get going,” Ash said, standing. “Can’t take a chance they’ll find a way to track you.”

We started to walk.

“So, this Rafe,” Ash said. “He’s really your boyfriend?”

I looked over sharply. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing. Lot of guys. It gets confusing. Especially when you seem to hug all of them.”

I made a face at him.

A few more steps. Then, “He’s a skin-walker, right?”

I nodded.

“That makes sense, I guess.”

This time, I didn’t ask what he meant by that, just kept walking.

“Like I said, though, I don’t want him following you off to shift. You need to be careful or he’ll take advantage. Which he’d better not do while I’m around.”

I could say that I’d been successfully dating so far without a brother to watch out for me. But it was kind of sweet, in a misguided “girls need a guy to look after them” kind of way.

“He doesn’t take advantage,” I said. “If he did, I wouldn’t have let him come with me. Hell, if he did, I wouldn’t be dating him.”

“Good,” Ash grunted. A few more steps. “Is he shifting yet?”

“Nope. Developmentally, the guys are all lagging behind.” I shot him a grin. “As usual.”

He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, and we continued on to the campsite.