Instead of going back to Manhattan, they drove to LaGuardia Airport, which was only a few miles from the cemetery. After leaving the car in the parking garage, they waited in the main arrivals area in the terminal building, scanning the doors that separated them from the concourses where the passengers were deplaning.
Delacroix crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his fingers on his bicep. The flight was only thirty minutes delayed, but he couldn’t help but feel impatient.
“Don’t worry,” Mika said. “They’ll be here soon.”
As if her words conjured them up, the automatic doors whooshed open, and Gabrielle, Marina, and Adelaide stepped out.
“Mémère!” he called as they strode over to the trio. He bent down and kissed his grandmother’s cheeks as Mika embraced Gabrielle and Marina. “How was the flight?” He’d been nervous because it was Adelaide’s first time flying, as she’d never left Louisiana in her entire life.
“It was interestin’,” she said with a smile. “I never thought I’d ever get to ride in a plane.”
He hugged his aunt and cousin. “And did you enjoy it?” he asked the teen.
“Everyone was nice,” Marina said, her eyes wide and hands clapping together. “But I can’t believe we’re in New York. I’ve only seen it in pictures.”
“We’ll have plenty of time for sightseein’.” Gabrielle’s eyes turned serious. “We should get to our meeting. I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about.”
They led the Beaumonts to the car, and soon, they were on their way.
Marina let out squeaks of excitement as they crossed over the Manhattan Bridge and saw the New York skyline. “The buildings … everything … they’re all so big.”
Delacroix smiled to himself, remembering the first time he had seen it all. Of course, the circumstances were much different, as Nick Vrost had picked him up from a rest stop in the middle of nowhere in New Jersey. But there was the same sense of excitement as soon as he saw the skyline—it was that feeling that things were about to change, and now, looking at Mika, he couldn’t help but feel wonder at how much things had changed, and all for the better. Though his past molded him, now there was only the future to look forward to.
They arrived at Fenrir Corp. headquarters and headed up to the executive level floors. Adelaide, Gabrielle, and Marina were not only invited to New York to visit him and Mika, but because they were about to do something very important. As soon as his grandmother had learned about the mages, she was eager to join the fight. “We can’t just do nothin’. They haven’t come after us, but they soon will, and I’ll be damned if we don’t strike first,” she had said.
Almost everyone was there when they entered the Alpha’s office—Lucas Anderson, of course, as well as his sister, Adrianna Anderson. Daric stood in a corner, chatting quietly with the dragon himself, Sebastian Creed. Mika’s parents were sitting on the couch, while Jacob, Arch’s father Killian, and Lizzie were sitting opposite them. Arch and Cliff stood off to the side.
The only one missing from GI was Wyatt, but then again, where Lizzie was, he usually, well, wasn’t. It seemed strange to him because after Mika was hurt, he never wanted to leave her side ever again, but Wyatt’s reaction was the opposite. Since the incident at the carnival, he avoided Lizzie, stopped stalking her office or even following her with his gaze if they were in the same room together. Maybe his suspicions about the two of them were wrong, but he’d been so sure, especially after hearing that Jean-Baptiste had sustained mysterious bruises and cuts while he had been in their custody. He glanced at his grandmother, and wondered if it would be ethical to ask her if she could tell if Lizzie and Wyatt were True Mates so he could start a betting pool.
Lucas stood up and walked over to greet them. “Welcome to New York, Ms. Beaumont,” he said. “My name is Lucas Anderson, Alpha of New York. Thank you for coming all the way here to see us.”
Adelaide peered up at him, then looked around. “Hmmm … I can see the appeal. Seems they grow all Lycans big and handsome,” she cackled. “If I was thirty years younger—”
“Mama,” Gabrielle admonished. “Sorry, she’s not usually like this. I’m Gabrielle Beaumont, and this is my daughter, Marina.”
Lucas took their offered hands and glanced at the teen. “Perhaps you’d like a tour of the shopping center downstairs while we have our meeting, Marina? I can have one of the staff—”
“Just because she’s only thirteen doesn’t mean she can’t help.” Adelaide’s face grew serious. “Besides, I’m growing old, and my power is fading … that’s the price of dark magic, I’m afraid. But Marina, soon she will be all you have left. She will need to learn now before I am gone.”
Delacroix reached out to his grandmother. “Surely it’ll be a while—”
“Bah, don’t coddle me, child. I’m nearly ninety.” But she smiled up at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be here to see your bebes. Nothing will stop me from holding my great-grandchild.” She turned back to Lucas. “Marina’s much more sensitive than I, and her power is only growing. She can help you track what you’ve been looking for. Go ahead, ma chevrette.” She patted Marina’s shoulder. “Show them.”
Marina looked around the room. “So much … glowing.” She pointed to Lucas and Adrianna. “Your mates aren’t here, but I can see your glow. Same there,” she gestured to the couch where Killian sat with Jacob and Lizzie.
Before Delacroix could ask which one of the three she meant, Marina continued. “Oh, no.” Her nose wrinkled at Arch and Cliff. She shook her head. “No one yet.” Then she walked to Alynna and Alex, waving her hand between them, like she was touching something. “Oh, yes. Yes. The thread. So beautiful.” Then she headed toward Daric and Sebastian, and she let out a
