“Nor should you,” Wade says, his jaw setting. “But please tell me that doesn’t mean what I think it means?”
“We’re going to need as much help as we can get, Wade. You know this,” I say, reaching out for his arm.
Wade makes a face, but nods. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“True,” I say softly. “We also need to find someone else. Abigail was cryptic, but she said that in order to make sure no more revenants rise, we need to consecrate the cemeteries.”
“How is that cryptic? Seems pretty straightforward.”
“She said it has to be done by someone who has been ‘touched by death, but who doesn’t want to control it.’” I say, using air quotes. “Whatever the hell that means.”
Wade’s eyes widen and he recoils like I just told him I’m about to grow horns.
“What is it?” I say, narrowing my gaze and reaching out for him.
He shakes his head, his hands flying to his hair, as he rakes his fingertips though the strands. “That can’t be. No…”
“Wade?”
Suddenly, his expression brightens. “I know exactly who you’re looking for.”
Chapter 21
Sworn To Secrecy
Wade’s beautiful face is tormented as he struggles to find the words to tell me what he means. I can’t help but wish I could read his mind in order to know what is making this so difficult for him.
Finally, he drops his hands to his sides and says, “Autumn, there’s something I need to tell you, but I’m not sure you’re gonna like it.”
I blink back at him, unsure what to even say to something like that.
He swallows hard, taking a step away from me. “You were right. The day we buried my grandpa, I knew who I was talking to; it wasn’t just the groundkeeper.”
I stare at him, waiting for him to continue.
“I wish I could have told you then. I wish I could tell you more now, but you have to understand, we’re sworn to secrecy. There are laws and if—” he swallows hard, taking a step away from me.
“What is it?” I ask. “Just say it.”
He exhales, dropping his gaze to the ground. The lines on his forehead crease as he whispers, “He’s my dad.”
I cross my arms as an unsettling feeling washes over me. “So, your dad’s not really dead?”
Wade winces, tipping his head to the side. “It’s complicated.”
“Wade, we’re down to the wire here. Now’s not the time for half-truths,” I say with a little more venom than originally anticipated.
“I’m sorry, I know that. Look, there’s a lot to all of this and I promise, we can get into all of it later…but for now we need to focus on the task at hand. Long story short, I think my dad is the one Abigail was referring to.”
Shaking my head, I say, “What makes you think that?”
“Remember what we found in the Academy’s library? It said my dad was the main suspect, right? And there were symbols on the ground,” he says, his silver eyes pleading with me.
“I remember,” I say, nodding.
“I don’t think he was the one they were looking for. I think he was the one consecrating the cemetery,” he says.
“Okay?”
Wade clears his throat. “I can’t tell you why I know this yet. You’ll have to trust me, Dru. I would never do anything to put you in jeopardy. As soon as I can tell you, I will.”
Inhaling deeply, I tip my head in acknowledgement. “I’ll hold you to it.”
He nods. “Come on. First, we need to find my grandpa. My dad’s not going to want to help us, so it’ll give us some leverage.”
I bite back more of my questions as I pull my phone from my pocket. Dialing up Cat, I take a few steps away from him, waiting for her to pick up the line.
After a few rings, she finally answers. “Hey, Autumn. I was just thinking about—”
“Cat, I need your help,” I say, cutting her off.
“What is it? What do you need?” she asks, her voice suddenly serious.
“Can you and Colton get Dominic and meet me at my house? It’s important. I’ll explain everything when you’re here,” I say, clutching the phone tightly to my ear.
Without missing a beat, she says, “On it. We’ll be there in ten.”
She hangs up before I can even say thank you.
Turning to Wade, I extend my arm and hold a hand out to him. “Come on. Let’s see if we can find your grandpa.”
He takes my hand and we make our way up the stairs. When we reach the doorway to my bedroom, twilight is descending and darkness isn’t far off. A rush of adrenaline courses through my veins, and I can’t help but worry about what happens when darkness falls.
Will we be able to make this all happen? How will we find the one who’s been raising the dead?
There’s so much that needs to happen and I don’t even know if we’ll be able to make it all work.
By the time we reach the front door, Dominic’s car is already racing down the driveway. The loud, distinctive sports car exhaust on his Civic is hard to miss.
As I open the front door, Dominic pulls into the driveway’s loop, with Cat and Colton following immediately behind in their Ford Escape.
Dominic is the first one to hop out of his vehicle. “What’s up, Blackwood? Cat sounded pretty urgent. Everything okay?” His gaze darts to Wade, then back to me.
“Let’s wait for Cat and Colton,” I say, tipping my chin toward their vehicle.
Colton gets out first, his dark eyes sweeping between me and Wade before his lips tug downward. Cat hops out next, practically dashing around the front
