Nik stared at him, realization setting in. “You knew she was alive all this time and you didn't say anything?”
“I knew she was safe. I was always watching her. I didn't know that Lora wasn't a pureblood Were. I couldn't be certain about anything. Not when they both had the Were scent on them. I couldn't say or do anything without putting someone in danger. You understand?”
Nik nodded.
“Thorpe messed up sending her away but I understood why he did it. I promised myself I'd keep an eye on her. When I started seeing changes in her -the first signs she was ready to Change- I made little anonymous hints unknown to her aunt, to you, and anyone else on the search, just so she could be found quicker. I got hospital records, bribed and threatened my way to get the information I needed. It was difficult to hide the fact I knew where she was already.”
“Why put up this fa?ade? Everyone always thought you despised your brother for running and then concealing his Were child's existence.”
Garik smiled. “It means I get an upper hand. And speaking of the Were. There are things we need to discuss about her but we'll leave that until I'm sure I can trust you.”
Nik's expression showed he didn't like this. It was he who had more reason not to trust Garik.
“But for now, there's something I think you should know,” Garik added in a cautious tone that made Nik uncomfortable. He sat up straighter. Garik continued. “I saw Jaz coming out of the pharmacy a few days ago. I convinced Egor to tell me what she'd gone in for. Well, you're not gonna like this, but I think she's using hemlock.”
Nik's eyes widened in shock, and then his face turned red with fury. “You're sure?” He didn't want to trust Garik's words -not about something like this- but after being around Jaz, having ideas of what was in her heart, he knew deep down she would do something like this. It still wasn't easy to take in.
Garik's expression became grave. He pulled out a plastic sealed bag from his pocket. Inside was a gunky heap of damp roots. “I found this in her bin today. Check her cabin. My bet is the rest is hidden in her room.”
*
Even after having sex for the second time that night, Fraya was still furious about losing the fight. She flopped her head back on the pillow and huffed, glaring at the wooden ceiling.
“Just let it go, Fraya,” said a deep, lazy voice by her side.
She sat up, letting the sheet slip from her bare breasts. Her slender naked back facing the man next to her.
His chocolate hand reached up and caressed her skin. “You'll heal soon enough.”
“Physically, yes,” she snarled then cradled her throbbing jaw in her palm.
He gave her a look that said 'Come on now'.
She fought with her emotions for a good minute, keeping her unblinking eyes fixed on his. Then she gave in, sighing heavily. All the anger left her face, her body loosened up.
“Why do you hate her so much?”
“I don't hate her.”
His black eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“I resent her. I envy her. I feel guilty and tormented by her whenever I see her, or smell her near me.”
“Because of Nik?”
“Because of everything!” she snapped.
Her lover's stroking hand dropped onto the mattress. He patted it, beckoning her to lie back with him. She wouldn't so he sat up. He then got out of bed, flipping the sheet from his naked body and stood up, baring all in front of her. His dark skin looked dramatic as the light from the fire waved across it. Even in her foul mood, Fraya could still admit he looked pretty magnificent.
“You have to stop this. Now,” he said. “You know what happened before. You made a mistake because of it and you have to move on. Every time you bring it up it makes me feel guilty all over again.”
Fraya scrutinized him. “You didn't do anything.”
“Exactly!” he retorted. “I didn't do anything. I had every chance to tell someone. To tell Nik. And I didn't... I still have that chance.”
Fraya stared at him wide-eyed, then her eyes narrowed. “You wouldn't.”
He locked his eyes on her. “Stop doing this. Leave her alone. Stop all of this and I won't. Keep bringing this up, causing all this shit to happen and putting me in the middle to pick up the pieces and I won't have any other choice.”
“You wouldn't do that to someone you're supposed to love.”
He leant forward holding her face in his hands, running his fingers tenderly under her fractured, blackened jaw. “I love you, which is why I'm telling you this. Stop it, or I'll do it. I'll find a way, even if you have me killed.”
“I would never do that, Carr.”
He smiled sadly. “I hope not.”
*
3:02 p.m.
Jaz's cabin
Nik stormed into the cabin, the front door bashing against the wall.
Edda stood up in astonishment as he marched into the living room, his eyes scanning over her. He barely acknowledged her presence as he went over to the kitchen cupboards and began rummaging through them, not caring about spilling the contents.
Edda stammered, “What the hell's happened?”
Nik glared at her. “Is Jaz here?” he demanded in a deep growl. He didn't wait for her to answer as he marched off into the direction of Jaz's bedroom.