Search (The Empire Chronicles #2) (7 page)

“I don’t think we can. You probably can’t find Murphy either. He keeps himself well hidden. I’ve searched for him for months. The messages I get are always through a third party.”

“Searching in Russia?”

“No, but before then. I didn’t want to do field work, but the department head made me go. It came out of the blue, and I couldn’t say no to the position.”

My guess was the assignment wasn’t a coincidence. They wanted the cousin out of the way, but I kept my thoughts to myself. “We have to find them. I’m not going to let her get used as a pawn.”

“I want to protect her too. That’s why I had her move in with me when she had to leave school. I figured the best way to keep an eye on her was to have her under my own roof.”

“Until you left…”

“Don’t remind me.” His regret and guilt was clear on his face.

“Did you know her well growing up?” This wasn’t part of the interrogation, but I was dying to know more about Casey. Maybe discovering more about her past would help me protect her better in the present.

“Yes and no. I knew Vera better. I tried to get more involved when Vera left, but her mom didn’t want her getting too close. She knew Casey was in for a rough road no matter what she was.”

“I wonder how her mom got involved with the Pterons,” I thought out loud.

“She’s never talked about it. Neither have my parents.” He coughed, making me feel slightly bad about denying the water. “But she’s a good woman. A good mom. It never really added up.”

“Casey took Vera’s leaving hard.” I stated the obvious, hoping to get more info.

“Very. She really curled up inside herself. Casey’s never had many friends, and after Vera left, she pretty much stopped talking to the few she had.”

I made a decision. “I have to tell her. She has to know about Vera.”

“Does she? Will it help her to know her sister abandoned her?” He sighed. “Either way, I need to find Vera. She doesn’t belong with those kind of bears. She’s good through and through.”

“Did she know she was a bear?” The question came to me, and the answer seemed especially important.

“No. Their mom didn’t want them to know…” He closed his eyes then opened them. “But I’m pretty sure she knew when she left. Maybe that’s why she went with them.”

“Does she know what Casey is?” I asked the question out loud even though I assumed he didn’t know the answer.

“If Murphy told her. But, of course, no one knows for sure if she can shift into a Pteron.”

“She can shift. There’s no doubt about that.” I thought about her elegant, black wings.

“Really? Has she flown?” There was an excitement on Rhett’s face that felt strange considering the rest of the conversation.

I ignored him, keeping my memories of our first flight to myself. There was something amazing about flying with someone you love. Holding her would have been one thing, but watching her stretch her wings and discover the experience herself was something incredible. “I don’t know when I’ll tell Casey, but she needs to know about Vera.”

“Just remember, they usually shoot the messenger.”

“Yeah, I know.” I backed away. I was done intimidating him.

“Where’s Casey?”

“With the Laurents.”

He paled. “Do they know who her mom is?”

“No. Casey knows she might be a bear, but…”

“Make sure she doesn’t tell them.” His face reddened.

I nodded, secrecy was essential. “I will. You’ll be hearing from me.”

“You’re letting me go?”

“Yes. But make no mistake you’re being watched.”

“Gotcha. I have to do what I have to do.”

“Oh, one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“Nelly? We’re ready for you.”

Nelly, dressed in a tailored suit, walked in. “Just the way we discussed?”

“Yes. Do it.”

I excused myself from the room. I couldn’t be seen by Rhett again.

Nelly stood in front of him and closed her eyes. I didn’t understand the strange words she chanted, but I recognized them. She’d used it on my friends before.

From the hallway, I heard Rhett’s voice. “Where am I? What happened?”

You could never be too safe. Besides, someone who caved that easily was a dangerous person to work with. He’d give up everything in a pinch.

I headed back to my apartment but texted Casey first.
Keep your mom to yourself.

Her text came back immediately.
I am.

I wanted to tell her everything else, but I couldn’t do it over the phone. Her phone was almost for sure compromised. I also had to broach the Vera conversation carefully. Beyond her getting upset with me for it, I knew she wouldn’t take it well. I hoped that Rhett was wrong. Or, if he was right and she did go willingly, that she had a good reason for it. I pocketed my phone, hoping Casey was planning to return to New York soon. If not, I was going down to New Orleans after her.

My first day in New Orleans wasn’t particularly exciting. I spent most of it talking with Georgina and getting my measurements taken. My grandmother had introduced me to one of her seamstresses within an hour of landing. After getting everything set for my bridesmaid dress, Georgina decided it was time for me to meet the “important members of the community.” The names and faces blurred together, and I couldn’t even remember who was human and who wasn’t. Finally, when I thought I couldn’t take any more introductions or questions, Allie rescued me with an invitation to come by her house. I didn’t think it over long. I quickly excused myself from Georgina and her friends, and I waited for Allie in the lobby.

As glad as I was to have a break from Georgina’s constant appraisal, I wasn’t sure if hanging out at Allie and Levi’s mansion sounded any better. The fact that I was about to come face to face with my half-brother was hard to swallow. Allie assured me he’d be nice, but the guy made me nervous before I knew we were related. Now it seemed even scarier to see the king. I was beginning to see a pattern with the Laurents. They were all intimidating. I couldn’t imagine how much scarier Robert was. I laughed to myself as I imagined calling him Dad. I’m sure his reaction would be priceless.

“Are you coming?” Allie gave me a sympathetic smile as she leaned into the driver’s side of her lavender Land Rover. She’d hopped right out, probably expecting me to do the same.

I was holding on to my seat for dear life. “Do I have to?”

She laughed. “I promise he’s not going to bite. I think it’s better you talk to him at home first. He’s just Levi here. He kind of changes in his office. He jumps into ‘king’ mode.”

“When you put it that way…” I knew I couldn’t put it off forever. Short of hiding out in a cave for the rest of my life, I was going to have to talk to him.

“Come on. I promise it will be okay.”

I breathed out a few times before forcing myself to get out of the car. I wasn’t sure why Allie was being so nice to me, but I appreciated it. If I was going to face my new Pteron identity, I couldn’t do it alone. Toby was helpful, but he wasn’t a Laurent. As little as I knew about The Society, I understood that it was controlled by the Pterons, and that the different ruling families didn’t exactly get along.

After walking up the front steps and reaching the expansive porch, complete with large white columns, Allie pushed open the front door. I reluctantly followed, trying to ignore the twisting of my stomach. Couldn’t becoming a Pteron come with super courage?

“Casey, hey!” Hailey barely let me walk into the foyer before she pulled me into a hug. For a girl I’d only met once, she was really friendly. But maybe it wasn’t about having met me. It could have just been a Pteron thing. It’s funny how much had changed in the short time since I was last in New Orleans.

“Hey, Hailey.” I untangled myself from her embrace, feeling more relaxed than I’d been before the hug. Having a female Pteron to talk to might really come in handy.

I looked up from Hailey and immediately locked eyes with Levi. I froze. What does one say to their half-brother who also happens to be a paranormal king?

Luckily, he didn’t have the same problem. “Hey, sis.” He cracked this big goofy grin that immediately put me at ease. A hand gently patted my back, and I knew it was Allie.

“Hey, bro.” I fought to keep a somewhat straight face. At least he wasn’t hugging me or anything that awkward.

“This should be taped. Could you think of a better episode for one of those talk shows?” Hailey laughed. “Paranormal royal siblings meet for the first time.”

I shook my head. “I’ll pass, besides we’ve met before even if we didn’t know we were related.” The momentary ease started dissipating. This was really happening.

“Come on in.” Levi gestured for me to walk into the main area of the house. My breath hitched. The place was even more of a mansion than it looked on the outside. Each room was neat and perfectly furnished. The pieces were mostly white and beige with red accents. I still couldn’t quite comprehend how people close to my age could have such a place. Toby and Jared had fancy apartments, but this was something else altogether.

“It’s over the top, I know.” Allie gestured for me to take a seat on a beige couch. “This was a bribe—I mean gift—from Levi’s parents.” By the sparkle in her eye, the slip was very much intentional.

Levi’s parents. That meant his dad—my dad.

“Nice. I wouldn’t complain if I had to live in a place like this.”

“I’m sure Georgina is going to find you an awesome place in New York, but if you want a place down here, we could find you a great one.” She pushed Levi’s arm. “Right?”

“Of course. You’re family.”

I forced a smile. “Yeah. Family.” I was tired of the act. Levi couldn’t be that okay with the situation. He’d found out that his parents’ relationship wasn’t as perfect as he thought. Judging by how upset I was at finding out that my family was also less than what it seemed, I couldn’t imagine he was very happy to have me around.

I took a seat on the couch, and Hailey sat down next to me. Allie and Levi sat across from us. He rested his hand on her leg. “How has the adjustment been? Finding out you are a Pteron couldn’t have been easy.”

“It’s been interesting.” That was honest.

“Interesting? What’s your favorite part?” He surprised me with the question. He seemed to legitimately want to know.

I didn’t need to think about my answer for long. “Flying. It’s definitely flying.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I figured. There’s nothing quite like it, is there?”

“No. It’s a high like no other. I thought flying with Jared was cool, but doing it myself is so much better.” My stomach turned at Jared’s name. I was still terrified of facing him.

“Everything without Jared is better,” Hailey mumbled. Did she really dislike Jared, or was it a show of support? Then she smiled. “I had to say it. I’d usually let one of the guys do it, but Levi’s not going there.”

“Going where?” His forehead crinkled.

“Doing it yourself is so much better than doing it with Jared…” She bumped her shoulder into mine.

I groaned.

“Hailey…” Allie glared.

“Oh, come on. It was too perfect. I had to go for it.”

I forced a laugh. If the situation had been a little different, I might have laughed for real.

Levi smiled, probably trying to hold in a laugh of his own. “We’ll have to fly together sometime.” Levi’s words seemed to surprise even Allie. She tried to hide the surprise, but the expression on her face betrayed her. She’d told Levi to be on good behavior, but this particular suggestion wasn’t one of hers.

His words seemed genuine. Maybe he understood me. Maybe he understood just how alone and confused I was. “Sure. That would be nice.”

“Although many of the Pteron traits come naturally, we all need training. You will be assigned a mentor to work with you over the next few months.”

“Months? I need to go back to New York.” Although considering the circumstances, I doubted Marty and Eric would fire me, but I still couldn’t take that much time off.

“You can come and go as needed. The benefit of wings is that travel isn’t quite as big of an inconvenience.” Oh. Flying from New York to New Orleans? I hadn’t even considered the benefits of wings for long distance travel. I’d been focusing on the rush of it all still.

“Who’s my mentor?” His answer would determine whether I agreed or not.

“My first choice isn’t being cooperative, but Hailey has graciously offered to work with you.”

“Oh. Awesome.” I smiled at Hailey and tried to hide the ache in my chest. I knew who his first choice was, and his response meant one thing. Jared wanted nothing to do with me.

I mustered all my courage. “You can tell him I’d prefer to work with Hailey anyway. Women tend to be far superior teachers than men.”

Levi looked at me for a second then smiled. “Now you’re starting to sound like a Laurent. Hold on to that confidence. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

“Don’t I know it?”

“Can we start tonight?” Hailey looked at me even though I knew she was asking Levi.

“By start, do you mean actually training or going out?” he asked.

Hailey didn’t hesitate. “We’re going out.”

He laughed and turned to Allie. “I’m guessing you’re going with them?”

“Yeah…I’d ask you to come, but you’re not invited.”

He shook his head and smiled. “Gotcha. Have fun.”

I sighed with relief. Hanging out with Allie and Hailey was something I could handle. I happily followed them out the front door after a quasi-awkward goodbye with Levi. I wondered if I’d ever truly consider him a brother. Despite his charm and attempts to put me at ease, he was still more daunting than welcoming.

“Let’s take your car, Allie. It’s more comfortable.” Hailey walked over to the back door on the driver’s side.

“Oh. You can have the front,” I quickly offered. I was still the new girl. I wasn’t going to step on any toes.

“No. I insist. You’ll have a better view of the city that way.”

Arguing seemed pointless, so I got into the front seat. “Where are we going?” I looked down at my jeans and black t-shirt. I hoped I was appropriately attired for an evening out wherever we went.

Allie started the car. “Are you thinking college bar, tourist place, or just local?”