Shrouded Loyalties by Reese Hogan

Author:Reese Hogan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Watkins Media

Chapter 14

BLACKWOOD AMBUSHED

“There. Was that there when we were here earlier?” Blackwood pointed at the single empty water glass against the wall in the foyer.

Holland moaned under his breath, laying his head on the arm of the couch he had collapsed on. “I don’t know, CSO.”

Blackwood grimaced, and did a quick run-through of the rest of the house. Closets she’d thrown open still gaping wide, empty boxes in her parents’ room still overturned, Andrew’s room still a wreck. Nothing had been disturbed, as far as she could tell. But where else would Andrew have gone?

“Do you think Cu Zanthus came and got him, before we woke?” she called as she walked briskly back down the hallway.

“I don’t know, CSO.”

Blackwood’s fists balled up. Holland would pass out on that couch, if she let him. She briefly ran the idea through her head. She could move faster without him.

She rounded the sofa, looking down at the bloody, matted hair on the back of his skull. She could easily see the finger-long slash beneath the dark strands, where he’d split his head open on the corner of a concrete stair. Just seeing it made the pounding pain in Blackwood’s own head worse. It was almost as bad as the sharp twinge in her back every time she moved it. Better than being dead. But still, the last thing I needed right now.

Holland, sensing her presence, turned his head in her direction. His eyes were red-rimmed with fatigue and pain. “I’m sorry…” he said hoarsely.

She waved him off. “Don’t be. Xeil knows I should stay here and take care of you. Unfortunately, I can’t.” Xeil. Andrew’s comments, unbidden, rang through her head again. Xeil isn’t real. It’s all there in those notes… She glared at the duffel she’d left by the door. The time since Andrew had disappeared weighed heavily on her. He’s not stable. He’s not safe. He shouldn’t be alone out there.

“CSO,” said Holland. “You’re not thinking of leaving me.”

“What choice do I have, Holland?”

“I’m fine. I’m already better.” He pushed himself back to sitting. To his credit, she only saw him wince because she was watching for it. “Maybe your brother has something. You know. For the…” Gingerly, he put a hand toward the gash on his head, stopping just short of touching it.

“Painkillers?”

“Yeah. I mean, yes, ma’am.”

“Doubtful. But I’ll check. I’ll get you a rag to clean it, too.” She walked back down the hall, gritting her teeth at the extra time spent. She tried to picture how it would go if Andrew returned to find Holland on his couch. Holland should be too weak to attack him again, at least. But what if it wasn’t Andrew who found him? What if it was Cu Zanthus? She shook her head as she knelt at the cabinet under the washroom sink. More complications. I have to keep him safe. Somehow. It’s my job. But her persistent anger was making it hard to think straight. Her anger at Andrew for disappearing, and at Holland for setting the fuse for all this with his pendant.

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