Vesik 04 - This Broken World Read Online Free PDF Page A

the gesture.
    “I think it would be best if we all retired for the evening,” Hugh said. “Alan and I have much traveling to do, and little time to accomplish it.”
    “Where to?” I asked.
    “Some of the packs are not so open to the idea of working together. I intend to visit the more powerful alphas in the eastern states who did not attend this evening. We have made contact with each Voice. They will let their alphas know we are coming.” He took a drink of water and wiped his mouth slowly. “I hope to convince them of the fact working together is their only option. Then we will join you at the war council in Faerie.” He was quiet for a moment while he watched Vicky scratch Happy’s chin as the bear raised his head, leaned into the scratching, and practically smiled.
    “No matter how long,” Hugh said, “or how well we may come to know the Fae, they are different from us. As different as a raven from a man.” He looked at Alan as he said this, and then turned to me. “They are different from you as well. In some ways, even from Foster.”
    Foster nodded his head and rested his hand on the sword pommel at his side. “Every race of Fae has its own … quirks.” He gave us a lopsided smile.
    Hugh dipped his chin briefly as he said, “While we may never truly know the Fae, we can come to understand them. We can accept them for what they are, much as they accept us.” He leaned forward slightly. “All of you must remember that a slight insult among friends here could be considered a grave insult in Faerie. I do not know who, or what, will be involved in this council. We must be on our guard. We must keep Glenn on our side at all costs. Then we will learn of our fate.”
    One week before I would travel with the hand of glory. One day before my training resumed with the Old Man. One night before lunch with Sam and my parents. I wasn’t sure which I was dreading the most.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    “Y ou ready for this?” Sam asked.
    “Fuck no,” I said.
    “Me either.” She smiled and ruffled my hair from the passenger seat as we bounced into my parents’ driveway.
    Briefly, I flashed back to the previous year, to Sam’s scream as she warned me our parents’ home was under attack. The horrific scene as I pulled in to discover dozens of exploded zombies in our childhood home. The realization Philip had kidnapped our mother and injured my sister.
    My fingers strangled the steering wheel for a moment before I turned the car off. “Let’s do this.”
    We walked to the front door slowly. It was just a conversation, only a little story of genealogy. So what was the weight hanging over me as the door cracked open before I could even knock? The weak smile on my Dad’s face as he gave Sam and me a hug in turn told me he was dreading the conversation too.
    We followed him through the hall and into the kitchen. The Watchers had restored everything after the attack that tore our home apart. Mom was already sitting at the table. A glass of wine rested in her hand, and three more sat at each of the place settings. I smiled as we all took our childhood seats. Sam sat in the chair right in front of the stove, and I sat next to her with my back to the other counter, across from Mom.
    “Are you sure you want to know?” Mom asked as her eyes flickered up to mine and then back to her glass.
    “Yes,” I said. Sam took my hand and nodded her own agreement.
    “We told everyone you were premature,” Dad said. He’d never been one to delay a conversation he didn’t want to have. “It was almost a month before you started to look … normal.”
    “What do you mean?” Sam said. “He didn’t look normal? I mean, less normal than now?”
    I jabbed Sam in the ribs with my elbow.
    “Oh, you two,” Mom said before she took a deep breath. “The doctors thought you were stillborn.” Her voice cracked when she said that last word. “You were so white. We thought you might be albino, but you weren’t. I held you and you