Bloodmark (15 page)

“Baran?” Mund said.

“I don’t know about this.”

Mund laughed. “Do you think I want my baby sister dating some punk? No. But I can’t come home every day and see her cry either. Besides, you don’t want to see her mad.”

Baran grunted.

“I’m joining the high school. And if we know when and where they’re together, we can keep an eye on them. It’s not like he’ll hurt her. You told me yourself, he’s a good kid,” Mund said. “I think we should trust her to make this decision, not make it for her.”

“What about Brenna?” Baran asked.

“That’s doesn’t concern Ash, Baran, and you know it. And Grey was as much a victim in that as Brenna was.”

I pulled away from Mund, wiping the dampness from my eyes. I wanted to push Baran for details on Brenna, but then I risked making him angry again, and Grey was more important than my curiosity.

“You heard her, Baran. You know how she feels.”

Baran simply nodded his head. They were going to let me see Grey. I wanted to howl to the moon, for my love, my victory, but something about Baran’s face made me leery. He turned and walked back downstairs without another word, leaving Mund and me in the aftermath of Hurricane Brenna. Though I didn’t yet know the damage.

“Mund, does that mean I can keep seeing Grey?”

“I want you to be safe, but I can feel the love you have for him. I don’t understand it. He’s just a human, but if he makes you happy now, I’m okay with that. Now get some rest. We have to start translating that journal of yours, and school starts next week.”

“Thanks, Mund. Grey and I really love each other,” I said. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

“He may love you for the rest of his life,” he said, “but you will mourn him for the rest of yours.” I knew he was trying to make me realize my mistake in falling in love with a human, but I wasn’t listening.

The week flew by without a single visit from Grey, and I didn’t have his phone number. Baran promised he would tell Grey to stop by the house if he saw him at the shop, but he never came. It was as though he had vanished. The separation was physically painful. My stomach was tied in knots, and I was constantly nauseous. I would have gone crazy if it wasn’t for Mund making me study ancient Greek and the language of the Bloodmoon. I had to translate every individual letter to get a word, and each word to get a sentence. It was monotonous, but it filled my time with something other than worry.

The labor had been worth it. I knew it was the journal of my aunt, Lady Calista Vanir, and it was filled with prophecies. Every one I researched from the early entries had come true: wars, conquests, marriages. It was frightening and intriguing. Her last entry was in her own blood, just as Baran had said it was, but it wasn’t even a sentence. Mund said before she died, she had written the words using her own blood, handed the journal and her wedding ring to my mother, and said, “This oracle is for the dream—she will need it.” She turned back to her mate, Ragnall, and said, “I will always be yours.” Then she died. It was tragic and poetic.

Claim her, rule them all
. The last thing she wrote.

The prophecy predicted the birth of a baby girl with snow-white skin and crimson curls at Carrowmore’s Bloodmoon of the Vanir family line. She would unite the packs and bring balance and love to the humans. How could I ever unite the packs? I was just one wolf. How could one person change the fate of the world?

Every wolf in every pack around the world knew of the prophecy all these years—except me. I was frustrated with my entire family. How could they protect me by making me ignorant? They didn’t trust me enough to tell me my purpose. I was born of her bloodline on the earth where her blood spilled at Carrowmore’s Bloodmoon. I was her dream, and still they kept the truth from me. I was appalled by their distrust.

It did partially explain why Father was trying to find someone he trusted to claim me. Brychan was a gentleman and Tegan and Gwyn’s brother, a trusted family ally, but why couldn’t he just tell me that?

Baran said other packs were trying to abduct me or kill me, and that was why they hid me away from the world for so long. But was Adomnan determined to kill me—or claim me as his? It was frightening to even think about. I constantly felt the cold sweat of fear waiting for him to attack. He didn’t come, but my fear remained.

A week passed without any sign of Grey. It made me incredibly sad, but my nervousness at starting school scared me nearly as much. On the morning of my first day, I rushed around the house, getting ready. Mund was ready far quicker than I, and he was completely at ease. Considering he was over four hundred years old, he looked remarkably like a seventeen-year-old boy. He hadn’t aged a day since he first changed, but he shifted with every full moon, unlike Father, who lived closely among the humans before he took the throne and aged as a mortal with every Bloodmoon he missed.

Mund bought a heroic-looking white-and-silver motorcycle that waited for us in the driveway. I followed Mund outside to find Grey waiting for me on his motorcycle. I was excited to see him, but his smile brightened my mood, and I jumped on his bike.

“See you at school,” I said to Mund, and Grey and I drove away. Mund was clearly annoyed, but he would get over it. I wrapped my arms tightly around Grey’s chest, letting his warmth radiate through me.

“So that was your brother, huh?”

“Yep. That’s Mund.”

“He sure doesn’t like me,” Grey laughed.

“He’s just hard to get to know. You guys will love each other in no time.”

“So he’s joining high school? I thought he was married.”

“Yeah, he is. He’s just not finished with school,” I fibbed.

“Huh . . .” he said.

“Where were you all week?”

He was quiet for a while. I almost thought he hadn’t heard me, but then he finally responded. “I’m sorry about that, Ashling. I had a fight with my dad, and I couldn’t leave the house. I hope you’re not mad.”

I hugged him tightly. “Nope, just glad to have you back in my arms.”

“Me too.”

We arrived at the school with Mund right behind us. I spotted Emma, Beth, and Eric chatting by Beth’s truck, and Lacey was watching for Grey’s arrival. Lacey was ready to attack. It was amazing how she looked so evil dressed all in fuzzy pink. Such a contradiction. Maybe if she’d eat something, she wouldn’t be so crabby all the time.

Mund came up and flanked me on the right. Oh good, I came with my own personal bodyguard. Just what every boy wants in a girlfriend—an over-protective brother. I tried to stifle my hysteria, but a small giggle escaped. They both turned to look at me, only to catch each other’s glances and continue their stare-off.

If I actually had known where I was supposed to go, I would have walked away from them both, but I had no idea where to go. Luckily Beth ran over, smiling.

“Good morning, Ashling!”

“Hi, Beth. How are you?”

“Great! Ask me why!” she said.

“Why?”

She beamed back at me like a child at Winter Solstice. “Clint asked me to the dance!” she said. “I’m so excited . . .” And she was, so much that she hadn’t even noticed my good-looking brother standing next to me, staring at her as if she were possessed.

“That’s great, Beth.” I smiled back, ignoring him. “But what dance?”

“The homecoming dance, of course. I’ve never gone before, but it’s supposed to be awesome,” she said. “You’re coming, right?”

“I have no idea,” I replied.

“Hey, what’s your first class? I have English.”

“I don’t have my schedule yet. Where’s the office?”

“I’ll show you,” Grey said, smiling and taking my hand before Beth could reply.

“Show the way,” Mund said.

“Beth, if I don’t see you before, I’ll see you at lunch. Okay?” I said.

“Definitely!”

I walked across campus with the two most important men in my life. The hostility rolled off them both, but they turned on the charm as soon as we entered the school office. Not stupid, over-protective boys, but charming, good-looking men. The transformation was disturbing. Two middle-aged women sat behind the counter, already being enchanted by their antics.

“What can we help you with this morning, Grey?”

“These are new students, Ashling and Mund Boru,” he said, gesturing toward us. He gently pushed me ahead of Mund.

“Welcome to York Harbor,” she said, placing a stack of papers in front of me. “Here you go, dear. It looks like your first class is with Grey. He can show you the way.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“And for you, dear,” she said, turning her attention to Mund. “Here is your schedule. You are in World Events this morning, across the quad. Here is the map, from where we are standing now.”

Grey and I turned to go.

“Oh wait. Grey, you’ll need this pass, so you aren’t tardy.” She handed him a pink slip of paper and turned back to Mund, who wasn’t listening at all. He was watching me. I smiled big, waved, and walked out. I knew I would pay for that later, but right now I was escaping with all my skin still intact.

“What class do we have first?”

Grey glanced down at the schedule. “We are both in English with Ms. Erickson.”

The halls were empty, as classes had already started. The idea of walking in late made my stomach churn. Everyone would notice us and have a long time to stare at me before I could hide. I wasn’t looking forward to that.

“Do we have any other classes together?”

He leaned up against the lockers, looking rebellious, and glanced over our schedules. “Yep, fourth period,” he said, pulling me toward the door. “They’ll hardly even notice us slip in.”

The teacher was already doing introductions when we entered, and everyone stopped and stared at us. The only person I recognized in the class was Lacey sitting in the front of the room. All the other faces were new to me. Grey walked to the teacher and handed her his slip. “Sorry I’m late, Ms. Erickson. The office asked me to show Ashling to class.” I smiled on cue. “Where should I park?” Grey asked.

She looked down at her seating chart. “Grey, you are assigned to the back table, by the window. As for you, Ashling,” she said, turning her attention back to me, “how about you tell us a little about yourself while I decide where to seat you.”

I turned red under the class’s scrutiny. I wanted to die. This was far worse than any execution in all of history. I just wanted to sit down, but my path to freedom was paved by my story, so I quickly summarized. “My name is Ashling. I’m from Ireland. My brother and I moved here this summer to live with our uncle.” Hopefully that was enough information to earn myself a chair.

“Welcome,” Ms. Erickson said with a smile. “Why don’t you take the seat next to Grey at the back table.”

I wanted to run, but that would only make them stare more. I slowly took my seat next to Grey, and the students were forced to turn their attention back to Ms. Erickson. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. One down, six periods to go.

I had my next two classes with Beth and Kelsey, which was a friendly relief. Fourth period was with Grey, as promised, but I wasn’t as lucky this time. I had to sit next to Lacey. At least they were individual desks.

Mund caught up to me at lunch. Grey took his seat at the table, and I tried to sit next to him, but Lacey shoved me out of the way as I started to set my tray down. She took the seat next to Grey.

I wanted to reach over and smash my lunch tray into her face, but I calmly walked around the table to sit across from Grey.

“Grey,” Lacey said, “would you like to take me to the homecoming dance?” She batted her hideously perfect blue eyes at him. I couldn’t believe this was how she was going to play this. She was going to ask him out right in front of my eyes. She was a banshee.

Grey continued looking into my eyes as he answered the pest, “Lace, I’m in the band.” My heart fell. That wasn’t a true no. He was intentionally not answering the question. “Ashling, you’ll be there right?” he asked.

What did that mean? How could I answer? He had doomed me to no date, but if I said no, then Lacey would be there and I wouldn’t. High school was harder than I thought it would be.

“You will, right?” Emma said.

Now I was trapped. “Yep. Sounds fun,” I lied.

“Great!” Emma said.

Mund was openly staring at Grey. Knowing Mund, he was sizing him up, deciding how to fight him. In case the time came. Though I don’t know why he was concentrating so hard. A fight between a wolf and a human—the human didn’t stand a chance.

The bell rang, and we were sent off to our afternoon classes. They went by in a delightful blur, but seventh period was just what I needed, art class with Beth.

High school was painful. How did they do this every day and not die inside? The constant judgment of peers and boring nature of the classes was excruciating. I had no real interest in any of what they taught. Mund and Mother taught me, and I had a tutor for many years. The stuff they were teaching here for juniors was stuff I’d learned when I was ten.

“So you’re dating Grey?” Beth said.

I smiled.

“He never really said much before you showed up. He was incredibly quiet for someone so popular. I mean, he dated Lacey on and off, but he never paid attention to her like he dotes on you. It’s cute.”

I blushed. “Oh . . .” Changing the subject because of all the ears around us, I said, “So this dance thing—what do you wear?”

“We’ll need to go shopping and buy dresses. Not super formal, but semi-formal. Cocktail dresses and suits for homecoming, and gowns and tuxes for prom in the spring. Can you help me pick one out? I’m no good at dresses.”

“Only if you help me,” I said. “We should invite Emma, Kelsey, and Kate.”

“That’d be fantastic.”

“You should mention it to Emma.”

The final bell rang, and we were free. Beth and I darted out of the class, running right into Grey, who had been waiting in the hall. I shivered, whether from impact or the mere sight of him, I wasn’t sure.

“Bike’s parked out the side door,” he said. Adrenaline pulsed through my veins, and my skin tingled with delight.

“Beth, be sure to talk to Emma. How about Saturday?” I waved and ran out the door with Grey.