Brothers 3

Chapter 28

James awoke the next morning to hear voices arguing in the other room. He had managed to make it to Robert's room last night which meant he was a fair distance from the living room, yet the voices carried. Someone must be yelling. He was tempted to close his eyes and ignore the daylight that burned his vampire eyes. No one would care if the asshole vampire never showed up. Who knows if they would even notice if he was gone. That was a dangerous thought pattern to follow. Burying his self-pity, he climbed out of the bed.

Getting up and facing the day was better than wallowing. He couldn't afford to wallow. His eyes stung in the harsh light of the day as he made his way down the stairs and to the living room.

"It can't mean anything good. The fact that word of it has even reached us at all is a bad sign. She must have gone to someone we know." James knew the alpha's voice before he even saw his face.

Mikey was standing there, Ella pacing in front of him. Skylar was leaned against the wall and her eyes snapped to James for a half a second before they were away again. James willed her to look at him again, for him to see something of what happened last night in her but he didn't get anything. She folded her arms over her chest.

Bonnie was lounged in the chair, legs dangling off one end and her head the other. She gave James a tight smile when she saw him.

Mrs Greene was by the door, worrying the skin of her lip between her teeth.

"Morning sunshine!" Bonnie chimed at him.

He made a face at her and she responded with a sneer.

"James, would you like some breakfast?" The corners of Mrs Greene's eyes were creased with concern and James wracked his brain for a reason for it. He didn't think he was in any danger and he hadn't drank too much last night so he couldn't look that bad. Although even he could get a whiff of his stale breath. He should have brushed his teeth.

James waved her off. "What are you all yelling about?"

Mikey didn't meet his gaze, instead looking to Ella. James bristled. Since when did she get to decide what he did or did not get to know? He clamped his mouth shut against the snide comments that came to mind and waited.

"It's nothing to worry about," Mrs Greene said. The tension evident in her face said otherwise. What was she trying to protect him from?

"I think we can assume we should worry." Mikey kept his voice low, speaking to the others in the room instead of James. James was beginning to feel like a child who needed to be given the altered version of events.

"Tell me what is going on." He addressed Skylar, the only person he knew wouldn't shy away from telling him the truth, no matter how hard.

She wet her lips. "There has been word on the witch."

James raised his eyebrows. "She has run into trouble already. I expected it to take longer than that for someone to take an interest." A tinge of guilt turned in his chest. He only hoped her death would be quick. Few people in the area would allow a witch with loyalties to the Morris family to live. It was too dangerous for their rivals.

Skylar glanced at the others and no one spoke. James's mouth went suddenly dry. If she wasn't dead then why did they all look so upset?

Skylar cleared her throat and pushed off the wall. "James there has been word that she is seeking out someone to teach her to use her magic, another witch."

James's blood turned to ice in his veins. "Why?"

Mikey growled. "That's what we don't know. She could be just trying to make sure she didn't lose control or...."