The Darkness in Dreams (Enforcer's Legacy, #1)(20)

Lexi hesitated, working through her disorganized thoughts. “Wallace asked if I liked it when Arsen shifted and I realized what he was. He never told me his other name. We talked about the dreams. He wanted me to remember something about Christan, said there was a reason I should be afraid, that he was trying to help me. And then he threw the phone and told me to call if I wanted to chat.”

“Why didn’t you tell this to Christan when he asked you?”

“I don’t recall him asking.”

Lexi pulled her hand from Marge’s grasp and wrapped both arms around her waist. She doubted she would sleep that night; she didn’t want to dream. The longing to go home was overwhelming.

After a long, long moment the woman spoke again.

“I’m going to trust you with information. Am I right to trust you?”

It hurt that Marge needed to ask, but trust was such a fragile thing, and it had been broken for both of them. Lexi nodded, not willing to speak.

Slowly, Marge reached out and reclaimed Lexi’s hand. She continued to clean away the dirt, explaining how, when Christan was forced from the Void, he’d been weak and disoriented. Three had returned him to Montana, thinking he’d be protected there. It took five minutes to explain the effects of long exposure in that place between space and matter. How vulnerable Christan had been before Arsen found him. Finally, as Marge attached a small bandage to an oozing cut, she mentioned the curious fact that Lexi had been wandering around within a half-mile from Christan’s location. Because Kace had sent her there.

“Why?” Lexi demanded.

“To draw Christan out, attack while he was still weak,” Marge said as she took the medical supplies to the sink “And considering those facts, perhaps you can understand why the meeting in the rocks today erupted as it did, with all three of you being in close proximity again.”

The woman was removing two white mugs from a cupboard and filling them with steaming peppermint tea. She pointed out how Christan was not over the effects of the Void. Lexi looked up and said very deliberately that she didn’t give a damn about how brutal the Void was, she would not forgive Christan even when Marge asked if she would. No one had been reasonable, other than Robbie. But Marge was looking uncomfortable as she returned to the table, and Lexi had to ask.

“There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

“I’m ashamed to admit it, but yes.” Marge handed Lexi a mug of tea and sipped at her own. “Arsen knew about you six months ago. He asked if I would move to Rock Cove after your grandmother died.”

Lexi left the tea untouched. “You were spying for him?”

“I know you don’t believe me, but I was your friend first. I became your therapist because I wanted to help you. Our friendship was genuine, at least on my end, and I don’t want that to change.”

“You’ll understand if I don’t feel the same.”

“We all regret what happened today. But three girls are dead in what is considered an act of war. There wasn’t time to tell you gently.”

Lexi looked toward the kitchen window. The night was black beyond the glass. “How did they die?”

“Arsen didn’t share the details, only that immortals have an utter lack of conscience for their actions. Kace is an Enforcer, pledged to the Calata member known as Six. If Kace was operating under orders, then you were very lucky in those rocks today.”

“He knew Robbie was there, didn’t he?”

“He knew someone was there, and he didn’t want to take the chance it was Arsen. And especially not Christan.”

“Would Robbie have been able to kill him?”

“No. Not in his current state. I’ve weakened him through my vanity.” There were more victims than Lexi realized. Marge sipped her tea. After a moment, Lexi reached for her own mug. In the kitchen, a clock ticked away the seconds in soft reproof.

“How long have you and Robbie been together?”

“In this lifetime, it’s been five years. In other lifetimes, we weren’t as lucky.”

“Did he leave you?”

“Often. I accept that it wasn’t his choice.”

“None of them had a choice, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Christan was obligated more than the others because of who he is—Three’s Enforcer. All the members on the Calata demanded his presence, and they weren’t friendly about it. He was required to leave often and he would be gone longer.”

Something hard and heavy was unfurling and Lexi remembered it. Felt hands that knew what they were doing. Saw him with blood all over his body. She reached for the tea knowing that her hand was unsteady and it wasn’t due to exhaustion.

“I’d rather talk about Arsen.”

Marge sighed. “Arsen is Christan’s second.”

“Which means?”

“They’re more than friends, they’re like brothers. And Arsen assumes an Christan's responsibilities in his absence—Arsen is powerful enough to be an enforcer if he wanted the job, but he doesn’t. Once Arsen picked up on your bond energy, he kept dropping in to Rock Cove. Warriors can sense who a girl’s mate is, and Arsen is particularly good at it. When he told Christan about you, well, Christan came to see for himself.”