Bound by Duty (Bound Series Book 1) (24 page)

“Are one of you going to tell me where we’re actually going? I didn’t dress up to hang out in the forest all day,” I asked flippantly.

With another giant smile and a laugh, Derreck pointed off in the distance. “This way, it isn’t far.”

I was shocked at how “not far” it was. We only walked for maybe five minutes and then his giant log cabin was just
there
. “Wait a minute…that wasn’t there. I would have seen it as we were walking.”

I was turning in circles, thoroughly confused, as Charlie and another giant Dane that had to be Onyx, came bounding up.

“Magic, my dear. It can do far more than you realize,” Derreck said with a grin that was still too similar to Cole’s for me to be comfortable with.

Charlie head-butted my hand, breaking my train of thought and running in circles around me as Onyx joined him. I could tell he wanted me to meet his brother, his mind was a repeating image of me petting Onyx and playing fetch with them both.

I laughed and squatted down. I didn’t even have the chance to say his name before Onyx came to a skidding stop in front of me. He was jet black with eyes so dark, they blended in with his shiny coat. He was gorgeous and only slightly smaller than Charlie. I cautiously reached out to establish a connection as I also stretched my hand to take his lifted paw, sending reassuring vibes as I did both, though he looked all too happy to interact. As soon as I touched his mind, he immediately flooded me with images.

He dipped his head into my hand and I found him squatting between my legs as he wiggled in as close to me as possible, his thick tail thumping a quick rhythm in the dry dirt. I couldn’t focus as he assaulted me with every memory he had of his brother — from being a puppy and playing with Charlie, to how sad he was when he left, to Cole bringing Charlie to visit. It was clear that the best days were when Charlie was “home” with him, and that Cole had been here often.

I couldn’t believe all of the emotion he conveyed. I gave him a hug, sending him my own images of me and Charlie cuddled on the couch and how good it felt to have him with me. Then, I stood up, intending to send him off to play, but before I could, Onyx lifted a massive paw and dropped it onto my thigh. With that deliberate connection by him, the images from his mind hit me harder than they had previously. Instead of flitting through my head like a movie reel, his thoughts slammed into my head and took over.

Suddenly, my father’s image filled my head. I expected this to be some kind of memory from years ago, realizing it was only logical for my father and uncle to have known each other. Yet, as the memory played, I realized that I wasn’t seeing a younger version of my father, that it was him, now, recently. As he walked away, I also caught Rynna in the background, laughing at something Derreck was saying. She was leaned in closely to him, her hand on his arm.

“Onyx, down! No! I told you to keep things to yourself, you mangy brat.” Derreck’s booming voice filled my ears as Onyx was pulled away from me, our connection breaking, and with it, the vision of my father disappeared. I was still crouched on the ground, my head feeling fuzzy, as I looked up at my uncle. He held Onyx by the collar, glaring down at him. The dog tucked his head sheepishly behind his master’s leg, sneaking a look around and at me. I swear, in my head, I heard him whisper,
You needed to know
.

I tried to stand up, but was assaulted by spinning nausea and dropped back to my hands and knees.

“I’m sorry, Amelia. Sometimes Onyx comes on a little strong. He’s only really used to me and Cole being around.” Derreck grasped my biceps and helped to steady me as I stood. As soon as I had righted myself and the world stopped spinning around me, I yanked away and stepped back.

“How about my dad? Is he used to him? Or Rynna? She looked pretty comfortable with you. Does Onyx know her, too? It’s great that your dog is telling me things you aren’t. Very reassuring.” My words were biting. I spat them out coated in angry venom, so completely sick of the lies that followed me everywhere.

Derreck’s shoulders slumped and he didn’t even bother with a rebuttal as he pulled a hand through his hair and wrapped it around the back of his neck in obvious frustration. Cole had been standing just behind him, leaned on the deck railing, but when he heard my accusations, came to stand beside me.

“I thought you were supposed to different,
Uncle,”
I said with contempt. “You were supposed to help, but you’re no different than everyone else.” I stood my ground, feeling strong with Cole beside me.

“Why was he here? Rynna told me he wanted to go see someone who had answers. What answers do you have?” I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat. I hadn’t expected the emotion that lodged itself there. Cole put his hand on my shoulder and the constriction in my chest let up the tiniest bit. My eyes glowed brightly but I was able to quell the waves into ripples as my power stretched itself through me.

“Is what Onyx showed her true, Uncle? Why didn’t you tell me?” I felt the hurt before I looked over at my brother, his expression pained.

At that exact moment, Charlie came bounding around the house and skidded to a stop next to me. A low growl hummed in his throat as he took one step toward Derreck, feeling the animosity radiating from both Cole and me.

Derreck’s head snapped back in surprise. “Charlie, it’s okay. It’s just me.” He held his hands up and looked over at Cole and me, questioning what we had done. Without breaking eye contact, I laid my hand on Charlie’s scruff and silently told him to heel. He stepped back beside me and sat down, though the quiet growls continued.

I quirked an eyebrow at Derreck, still waiting for a response.

“Alright. Yes. Your father and Rynna were here. He did come to me for answers. He thought I could help break the spell the Hunters had put on him for good.” Derreck’s words were quiet and calm but his eyes were filled with shame.

Cole and I turned to each other, and then back to him, saying at the same time, “What spell?”

Derreck took a deep breath, forcefully blowing the air out of his mouth as he tried to control his own reaction to his words. A flash of green in his eyes was all that truly gave away his internal struggle. The thought that I was jealous of his control deepened that scowl I was already wearing.

“There is so much you two don’t understand. So much we’ve tried to protect you from in various ways, but we can’t do it anymore. The time is coming and from what Cole has told me, they’ve realized who you are, Amelia. Let’s go inside, this may take some time.” Derreck turned and walked up the wooden stairs into the cabin. He took dragging steps, his boots making a distinct
thud
on each one, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. In minutes, he seemed to have aged hours, all the joy and happiness he’d shown me earlier erased.

I closed my eyes and tried to understand what was happening.

My father has been under a spell?

Rynna knew?

I have an uncle?

Cole knew Derreck all these years? What else isn’t he telling me?

There were more unanswered questions than I had even realized and it seemed like the more I asked, the less I knew. I took a few steps forward until I realized Cole was still standing where I’d left him.

“Hey. We need to go inside. We need to find out what’s going on, Cole.” I stood in front of him, looking into his glazed and unfocused eyes, and finally waved a hand in front of his face. “Cole!” I shouted.

He slowly blinked and focused a now angry stare on me. “He’s been lying to me, Amelia. All these years.”

I couldn’t stop my bitter laugh. “Welcome to the club, big brother. This is how it’s always been. I wish I could say you get used to it.” I lightly smacked him on the chest twice, punctuating my words, and turned away. “The only thing you can do is listen when people talk and decide later what was worth hearing.”

As I walked up the stairs and toward the front door of the cabin, the pit in my stomach grew, along with the inescapable feeling that in just a few steps nothing would ever be the same.

I stepped across the threshold of Derreck’s home and was surprised by what I found. I was surrounded by sleek black appliances, dark granite counter tops, exposed piping, black leather furniture, and modern art. I stood in the center of the very open floor plan and turned in a slow circle.

“You were expecting animal heads and an old brown recliner?” There was a hint of smile playing on Derreck’s lips as he put a tea kettle on to boil. I looked away, embarrassed to realize I had expected just that.

“It’s…um, nice. Really nice.” I fumbled for words and was glad when Cole stepped quietly through the door. Just having him here, realizing that I wasn’t the only one people had been holding out on, gave me strength. The last few weeks had been hell and I was ready for it to end. I just didn’t feel like tonight was the night. No, tonight was just the beginning.

I paced the length of the living room and back. Charlie and Onyx sat on opposite ends and I let my hand drop to absently caress their heads as I walked past. I chewed on my lip, deep in thought about what it all could mean. What would happen if I sat down and let Derreck speak? Would he be the one who could tell me the truth? Or would he only tell me the parts he wanted to share like everyone else had done? Would I find out exactly what it all means? Or would he just lead me down another path I hated more?

Aidan’s face flashed in my mind and the ache in my chest deepened. That sent me down a whole other line of thinking.

I could walk away. Right now. I could walk away, find Aidan, and do what my mom had done. I could leave the truth and the drama behind and be happy. I could live the life I chose.

But, could I?

“You’re going to wear a path, Amelia. Sit down.”

My head flew up and I realized that both Cole and Derreck were sitting on the black leather couches in the living room. Cole’s jaw was locked, a muscle ticking in frustration, as he struggled with his own emotions. Derreck simply sat back, sipping his tea, not really looking at either of us directly.

I took quick steps to the overstuffed chair and pulled the blanket from the back over myself, suddenly needing comfort of any kind. As the thought entered and left, Charlie appeared beside me, whimpering as he licked my palm. I scratched behind his ears and left my hand on his scruff as he sat beside my chair, his big head sitting taller than the armrest. I threaded my fingers through his course fur, preparing myself for what was to come.

I couldn’t walk away. I had been waiting for the truth for longer than I could remember. My mother lived with the truth her whole life. She got to make an educated decision. If I wanted to do the same, I needed all of the facts, however I could get them.

“Okay. Go.” I wanted to get back up and go sit by Cole; I had a feeling I would need him. But, someday I was going to have to be able to handle this stuff myself, so I stayed in my chair.

Derreck set his tea cup on the table and put his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands in front of him. He looked intently between Cole and I, but his gaze returned to Cole.

“Cole, before I start, I want you to understand that I was trying to help you. To make the right choices to protect you. I never got to be a part of Amelia’s life and honestly, I wasn’t supposed to be part of yours. That was the agreement we all made. So, please, listen to me before you judge me. That’s all I ask.”

Derreck sat and waited. Cole eventually lifted his eyes and met Derreck’s. So many emotions and unspoken words traveled between them in mere seconds but even I could see the pain and apology etched in Uncle Derreck’s features. Finally, Cole simply nodded and Derreck’s face relaxed in relief, some of the tension visibly draining from his rigid posture.

“Okay.” He took a deep breath. “I’m not sure exactly where to start, but you need to understand what’s really happening.

“First, most importantly, you both need to know that your parents loved you more than anything.” He looked at me. “You, especially, Amelia, need to understand that. You didn’t get time with your mother like Cole did, but know this — she loved you from the very moment she felt your light inside of her to the moment hers was snuffed out by that
Hunter
.” The snarl that accompanied that last word changed his every feature. His mouth twisted, his nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed to slits.

“So, our dad isn’t crazy? She really was murdered?” I asked. It had been a possibility, but having it confirmed challenged everything I thought I knew. My father’s delusions were legendary and this one always seemed so far-fetched.

Derreck’s eyes glowed an iridescent green, like the glow of the green flash you could sometimes catch just as the sun set over the ocean. Against his dark features and the black leather of the couch, he looked scary.

“Oh, yes, Amelia. Your mother was absolutely murdered.” Derreck’s eyes glittered with hate, the green glowing brighter and brighter. “The queen sent her most ruthless Hunter specifically to find your mother. It was only dumb luck that he found her giving birth to you, and his own good sense to make the deal he did to keep you alive. Julia would have likely preferred he wiped out the whole line, but the Hunter, Rhi, understood immediately what you would be capable of. That you were the one.”

“The one what? I know I’m an Elder but there have been hundreds of Elders over the years. There is nothing special about me, Uncle Derreck, except the fact that I'm the last female and have absolutely no idea how to handle the crazy power I’ve got.” I shook my head at him, trying to make him understand that if they were pinning any hopes and dreams on me, it wasn’t a safe bet. And, given what had been happening lately, there was no way he wanted to put my dual personalities in charge of saving anyone.

Cole kept quiet as I looked at him, waiting for some back-up, but I got nothing. “Really, Cole? You know how much of a disaster I’ve been. I’m nobody’s
one
anything,” I muttered those last few words to myself. We had agreed not to bring up my alter ego until Uncle Derreck had showed his hand, but I wanted help. I wanted to just spill it all.