Grim Echoes

Chapter 22 - Will

"You should go stay with family. Family far away from here," Will said before he took another bite of his hot wing. A bit too much vinegar, common mistake with hot wings. There was a delicate balance between the vinegar and spices. His search would continue. Good hot wings but not the perfect ones.

Maeve shook her head no. Her dark hair swung near his arm. The scent of leaves and cloves filled his nostrils. Why'd he sat beside her? She'd taken the news pretty well. Probably happy to not have to be around either of them anymore. He was gonna be relieved when she was gone. It was too damn complicated with her around. He'd called Mason to have her arrange other Soldiers of Night to meet Maeve tonight. He'd made sure not to tell Mason of all the random fucked up things that'd gone down.

"No. If demons are hunting me, then I'm not going anywhere near my family. I don't want them to get hurt because of me. I'll leave here and go somewhere west. If they want me, they'll have to come and find me." her voice resolute.

"Good plan." Will cleaned off another wing and tossed the bones on the plate. He respected what she was trying to do. Wouldn't work, but he didn't want to piss all over her plan. For the most part, once demons started hunting you, they wouldn't stop till you were dead. He paused, another wing almost to his lips, and recalled what she told him the werewolf had said to her. He shook his head. That fucker had been heavier than expected to move from the SUV into the motel room, but they couldn't leave him in the SUV all day. The smell would've been intolerable.

He and Ander would track her for a while and keep an eye on her, at least until they figured out more. Couldn't babysit her anymore, but they wouldn't throw her to the wolves either. His phone vibrated. It was the other Soldiers of Night, they'd be there in thirty minutes. He finished and announced it was time to roll. Needed to grab her bag and give her the neck pouch, just in case.

On the way to the SUV Ander re-explained how the ward worked and how to activate the pouch in seven days. It was the most Ander had said since Will told her she was leaving. When it was time to say goodbyes, Will struggled and felt stupid. Couldn't think of one damn thing to say.

"I programmed our numbers on your speed dial." Ander's voice sounded entirely too concerned as he handed her purse back to her.

Will glared at him, but his cousin didn't notice. Will looked at his watch. Only fifteen more minutes.

"Well, thank you both, for everything," Maeve said and looked back and forth between him and Ander.

"We'll be in touch," Will managed. He'd avoided looking at her except when necessary, but it hadn't helped like he thought it would. He felt her eyes on him. She wanted him to look at her, tell her to stay. Wasn't gonna happen.

 Fool, the voice grunted in his head.

Shut the fuck up, you just want between her legs asshole he replied in a harsh tone.

We want to mate with her. There is a difference.

His phone vibrated again. Ten minutes or less. They wanted her to meet them across the street at the convenient store so they wouldn't all be in one location together. Will told her where she needed to walk to and pointed, "We can see you the whole time, it'll be safe enough."

She looked unsure. Ander shot him a nasty look. Apparently, he didn't agree.

"Its best we stay here, can't have too many soldiers together in public, draws too much attention," he explained, still not looking directly at her.

"Ok... I, with one last long look at both of them, Maeve bit her lip and backed away for until she reached the edge of the parking lot and then turned around.

Will stood, his face blank, but his eyes followed her the tendrils of dark hair that blew in the wind.