SO MANY WOUNDED, mostly IPI agents, but also some of our people. Toby faired the worst. I'd recovered quickly after feeding on Sam and had scoured the battlefield. When the smell of blood from the injured tempted me, I ignored it, hating the urge even though blood worked to heal wounds that would have killed anyone else.
I carried Toby into the infirmary as Dr. Susie set the lounge area to accommodate so many injured. Fortunately, no one had died, and the worst injuries were from the living trees. The Beast hadn't bitten anyone but me, so no one would die as Curtis did. We considered that a miracle given the level of destruction wrought.
Serena, so small with her long blond hair, dressed bandages and helped Dr. Susie. She'd become an apprentice to the nun-turned-doctor and was learning to use her healing powers in small doses, enough to help accelerate healing in others without draining herself and risking her own life. Her white Persian cat followed at her heels, hissing at anyone who threatened her human with too much closeness, especially anyone with shifter blood.
Rose stood next to Derek's bed, holding his hand and whispering something to him. Lucy did the same with Hunter. They'd both heal fast, but it couldn't be easy seeing someone you loved hurt.
Sam hugged me, shaking as the last of our friends and allies were given care. "What the hell happened out there? How could he control the trees like that?"
I kissed the top of her head. "I don't know. I've never seen powers like that. He's going to be harder to defeat than we'd thought."
Mr. White walked in, and I stormed over to him. "Bishop Alaric was right," I said. "This was a blood bath. You put everyone here at risk."
He inhaled a cigar and stared at me. "You can't catch a monster without taking risks."
"You didn't catch him," I said.
"No. We didn't. But we will." He walked away without any more explanation.
Sam and I went to collect Ana and help the younger kids get settled, and I held my little girl. Exhausted, she fell asleep on my shoulder, all innocence and trust.
"Sam, I need to talk to Beleth. Can you call him?"
She nodded, closing her eyes as she focused her tracking and mind reading to hunt down Beleth. When she opened her eyes, she looked tired.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I just need this day to be over."
We went back to our cottage and put Ana to bed while I waited for word from Beleth.
He showed up late that night, looking more haggard then I'd ever seen him.
We shouldn't have been walking around outside. There was a ban on the outdoors until the Beast was caught, but I wasn't worried with Beleth.
"I need you to train me," I told him. "I have to know more about my powers." I'd had a taste today, and it felt exhilarating, even under the circumstances. If I could channel that more, maybe I had a chance against the Beast.
"It went after my family," I continued. "Your family. It'll come back again, and I'm going to make sure it can't hurt us or anyone else ever again."
Beleth stared at the moon in the sky, a glowing sliver against the darkness. "This is not wise. Your powers should remain dormant. My talk with the Twilight Queen was… worrisome. You will be a pawn if you grow stronger."
"I don't care. I'm going after the Beast, with or without your help."
Beleth didn't reply and hope sank in my chest but I walked away, determined to end this no matter what I had to do.
A cool hand stopped me. "I will train you."
I turned to look at the man who was my father. "Thank you. I'm ready."
"You're not ready. But I will train you. And then we will face the Beast together."
EIGHT
Dear Absence
SAM
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.
— William Shakespeare, Othello
"I WANT TO COME with you."
Drake smiled, kissed me and slung a backpack over his shoulders. "Who will take care of Ana?"
I frowned, knowing he was right. I could leave her with Luke and Lucy, but with everything going on, I couldn't be away from her that long. "Can't you train here?"
"No. Beleth said we need to be somewhere so remote no one will notice the flying."
I arched an eyebrow. "The flying?"
He shrugged, but I could see the excitement in his eyes. "It's a Nephilim thing."
"Do I have to ring a bell for you to get your wings?" I teased, referencing the classic movie It's A Wonderful Life.
"No, you have to kiss me."
So I did, deeply, passionately, wishing we could go back to that night we let go of our inhibitions, but Ana toddled into the living room and squealed, "Daddy's going to fly!" and so we pulled away from each other, grinning.
I bent down to pick up our child, who patted my cheeks. "Mommy is sad, but I'll be here to make her happy."
I kissed her pudgy face and smiled. "You do make me happy, my little muffin. Now say goodbye to Daddy. He's going to learn how to be an angel."
She leapt into his arms and kissed him, then wrapped her little arms around his neck. "Daddy’s already an angel."
She pulled back and grinned. "Daddy, will you take me flying? I want to fly too!"
He laughed. "We'll see."
Beleth showed up at the door and stood like a dark statue made of ebony. Ana looked at him, wide-eyed. "That man has lots of pain," she whispered.