Page 97 of Mortis

Arlo frowned and leaned closer, placing a hand on my bicep. “Kael, are you, like, wanted by the police or something?”

That finally drew Teddy’s attention away from me. He caught Arlo by the arm and pulled him closer until their foreheads touched. When he spoke, his voice dropped to barely more than a whisper. But my excellent hearing ensured I caught every word.

“I can’t tell you right now, Lo,” he murmured. “But I promise I will soon.”

Teddy glanced at me, silently asking a question. I looked at Arlo. He was watching me with concern. Not fear or suspicion. Simply the kind of worry mortals seemed to reserve for those they cared about. For family. And somehow, inexplicably, I had been permitted into that circle.

I nodded once, and Teddy turned back to his friend. “Trust me?”

Arlo worried his lower lip between his teeth for a moment. Then he kissed Teddy’s cheek. “Always.”

His hand remained on my arm, fingers giving my bicep a firm squeeze as he looked up at me. “I don’t know what’s happening. But you’re family, Kael. Whatever this is, I’ve got your back.”

Something lodged itself in my throat. I swallowed against it. Once upon a time, I’d belonged to mortals because they’d chained me to the floor and declared me theirs. This was different. Arlo called me family, yet asked for nothing in return. No obedience. No blood. No sacrifice.

Just me.

I covered his hand with mine. “Thank you, Arlo.”

His answering grin was blinding.

Teddy suddenly spun back towards the fountain. His gaze swept across the crowd, moving from one unfamiliar face to another. I knew the moment he found whatever he was searching for. His shoulders went rigid.

“Of course he’s fucking here,” he growled.

I followed his stare, and inhaled sharply. Across the fountain stood Sebastian. The stranger who had knocked Teddy to the ground. The mortal whose mismatched eyes had unsettled me from the moment they first met mine. He wasn’t watching the body or the police. He was watching us. Something about him felt inherently wrong. Familiar in a way I couldn’t place, yet every instinct I possessed recoiled from him. I didn’t want Teddy anywhere near that man. The Beast stirred in agreement.

Unfortunately, Teddy had other ideas.

Before I could stop him, he ducked beneath the police tape.

“Teds!” Arlo cried, immediately chasing after him. “Teds, wait!”

Protect him, He snarled, and for once, I required no instruction. We cannot let them take him.

The police tape snapped easily in my hands as I followed, and a young officer hurried into my path. “Excuse me, sir. You need to⁠—”

I snarled. My blunt human teeth were hardly impressive, but the crimson light that flared through my eyes apparently compensated for them. The officer made a peculiar squeaking sound, then stepped aside.

Excellent.

I strode across the square after Teddy and Arlo, catching up just as they reached Sebastian. Teddy stopped directly in front of him, then jabbed one delicate finger towards his chest.

“Did you have something to do with this?”

Sebastian looked over Teddy’s head at me. His mouth slowly curled into a smile. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

“Bullshit.”

Teddy stepped closer. Arlo immediately caught his arm, glancing towards the police officers currently distracted by a group of journalists a few feet away. “Teds,” he whispered. “We need to go.”

“Your friend is right.” Sebastian was speaking to Teddy, yet he continued to stare at me. “You should go home. Back to Adler & Sons. The funeral home on Church Lane.”

His smile widened.

“Or to your flat on Acacia Avenue. Third floor, I believe.”

Teddy went rigid, and so did I. There was no reason for Sebastian to know where we worked. No reason for him to know where we lived. Teddy shook Arlo’s hand free and moved directly in front of me, attempting to block Sebastian’s view with his much smaller body.