"Yes, I'm trying to remember that." She chewed her bottom lip pensively. "There's still that stupid problem about the Pocket Space. I hope they're not there with those cloaked maniacs. Actually… I managed to check in with Joseph before we left. I asked him about my parents, and if they were among the group that was left in the Black Rock facility in the office."
My eyebrows shot up with surprise. She’d failed to mention that, but a lot had happened in the past few days.
"Joseph said they disappeared with the first wave. They weren’t taken by the monster,” she said. “I know it’s sick, but part of me just wants to look for them and them alone.”
"It's not sick," I assured her. "You want them to be alive. It's natural to want that."
"You're right. Joseph said he did know my parents, though, and talked about them kindly. The confirmation is more positive than not."
"Absolutely." Lyra's parents still might have ended up in the Pocket Space, but since we didn't currently have a way to get there, taking care of this job in Florida was better than spinning our wheels.
"I'm interested in the job," she said after a quiet moment. "But let’s consult with Bryce. I need to call him to see how his shoulder is treating him, anyway."
"Yes, his body slam as he got thrown into me felt like it might have left him pretty bruised," I said, and then smirked, thinking of what Bryce might say about the Florida job. "If we make enough money, maybe Bryce can move someone into that apartment with him. We'll have to ask for hazard pay."
Lyra smirked. "And up our insurance. I have a feeling we'll need it again for this job. I hope Reshi can fix something up for Bryce and Arlonne, if she can study ours when we get the chance to go to the Immortal Plane." The problem with taking the necklaces to Reshi was that replicating the arbiters’ technology would take weeks, if not months, of study. That was assuming it could even be done. It wasn’t that we didn’t care about our friends’ happiness, but we needed the necklaces in order to work together on Callanish jobs and to find our parents. Since Bryce and Arlonne were living apart in the Mortal and Immortal planes for now, working on their separate missions, it had to wait.
“I spoke to Kane before he went back to the Immortal Plane,” I said. “About joining Callanish.” Lyra raised a brow, intrigued and hopeful. “He said there’s too much work for him in the Immortal Plane, and that ultimately he belongs there.”
She threw her head back and sighed, exhausted and overwhelmed from the last few days. I handed her the tea she’d left on the table. It was the perfect warmth. Vampires were good at sensing those kinds of things.
Lyra took a grateful sip and put it back down to wrap her arms around my neck. I pulled her in for a quick kiss, loving the feel of her against me. She was my only constant in this turmoil. We had lost so much together, but we had found endless possibilities in one another.
"It might be nice to get away from the winter for a while," Lyra said. "Busting human bad guys sounds like a nice change of pace."
It was curious. I wanted to know exactly how these humans were capitalizing on the Leftovers and how they’d figured out a way to avoid the dangers it presented. Lyra relaxed against me, scooting so that her back was against my chest. She leaned back, and I wrapped my arms around her, cradling her and enjoying her presence.
We still had a long road ahead of us, but we were together. We had great people on our side. Our motivation would push us forward to achieve peace again, even if we had to fight for it every day.
After we figured out the Leftovers, I was confident there would come a time when we would rest and celebrate again.
"I'm going to memorize this moment," Lyra told me, "so that I can visit it when times get tough."
I chuckled and kissed her cheek. "I'll be right at your side fighting," I whispered to her. "I'm not going anywhere."
Ready for the next part of Lyra and Dorian’s journey?
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Darkwilds!
Book 9: Darkhunt releases August 8, 2020.
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Love,
Bella x
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Read more by Bella Forrest
DARKLIGHT
Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)
HARLEY MERLIN
Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn’s Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin
