49 | ROCKY SHORES

It’s dusk and I’m perched on my desk, reading through a fresh set of rather repetitive reports, when I get an unexpected visitor.

“Good afternoon, Sunshine.” Hale’s voice has my head snapping up so fast my entire body practically springs off my desk. My father’s standing just a few feet away from me, still dressed in the same tweed jacket and slacks he wore to class today. It’s been three days since the snafu in Darklight, and though the reports on the area haven’t really changed, I have a feeling I won’t be welcomed back anytime soon.

“Evening.” I correct without meaning to, a grin on my face despite how annoyed I’ve been at him for not seeing me sooner. Hale’s jade green eyes sparkle as the glamor around him shifts, my vampire sight making the magic hovering around him thin to almost invisible. It’s normally so thick at school when we’re around the humans, but here he doesn’t have to exert any power into the shielding of his too pale skin or unusually vibrant eyes. The thing that seems to be missing, however, is the youth to his skin, there are fresh silvery streaks in his dark hair as well, making him look much older than he usually appears to be. “You okay?” It feels weird to be asking him this, being that he’s a super powerful and old vampire, but I can’t help the concern in my chest that gives the words permission to leave my mouth.

“I’m fine, Sunshine.” Hale’s already thin smile seems to thin even more as the lie floats between us. I feel my own grin stiffen, a pang of worry stabbing at my gut - a little too close to my chest to feel comfortable.

“What can I do for you?” I ask, my tone belying the worry I feel. Hale’s face smooths out a little and he glances at the awaiting stack of reports on my desk. I’ve barely touched them, and the pile looks bigger than they normally do by this time of the day. For a second, I have the childish urge to hide them from him, as if that would help him relax or not worry so much. But I don’t.

“I can see you’re busy, so I’ll make this quick.” He tells me and stands a little straighter as he gets to the point of his visit. I guess after the last time we talked/argued, he’s going to actually be reporting in semi-regularly. Go figure. “Dr. Chambers and Shola contacted me this morning about your visit to Darklight.”

“Did they?” I ask softly, settling my hands on my knees and trying not to seem nervous about their responses. Shola had told me she’d try to reach out to Dalton - her Hunter cousin - and see if she could pass along information on his whereabouts to me, but that had been before I pissed Dr. Chambers off.

“They did,” Hale replies, quirking an eyebrow at me and giving me a thoughtful look. “We should probably give you lessons on etiquette, you know, since you were literally raised by wolves.” I blink as his smile grows and humor dances in his eyes.

“That’s a shit-joke.” I tell him blankly, narrowing my eyes at him and he laughs. I feel the slight sting of his offensive words, but I also see how the joke could be funny - if I weren’t part Wolven. I can’t help but feel a tug at the corner of my mouth to smirk at his attempt at the joke.

“Yes, well, none the less - it is true.” Hale sighs, relaxing a little more as he looks at me. There’s a somberness in his eyes I don’t like, a heaviness to the set of his shoulders and in the way he stands. I can’t help but feel like he’s about to deliver bad news.

“Etiquette classes may not be such a bad idea.” I shrug after a second, giving into the suggestion more easily than I normally would. Hale nods once and straightens a little, like he’d been prepared to fight me on the topic.

“Regardless…Dr. Chambers is considering your request, with conditions.” Hale holds up a hand as my jaw drops open and I feel a burst of elation flutters through me. “I don’t know what possessed you to speak so openly to the man, but he seems to have taken your words under consideration because of your brashness.” Hale’s no longer smiling, but the mirth in his eyes is still there so I know he’s not that mad.

“Honestly, it kind of just slipped out. Akira seemed like the most logical option.” I try to justify my reasoning - aside from the gut feeling. “You should have seen how easily she handled tensions. It was like second nature. She seems like she’d make a great Enforcer.” I had seen the easy way she took hold of the situation, the caution and interaction between her and the rest of the supernaturals in the room. She’d instinctively diffused the tension and resolved it peacefully - but it was clear in her stance that she was ready for conflict. That’s exactly how Enforcers in the Pack were - Paris included.

“And there, Dr. Chambers agrees with you.” Hale nods again. “I’m not sure what it was you saw in the *draki*, but Dr. Chambers seems to think the same. He’ll begin training Akira on the matter and see if she is a viable fit. However, he very specifically said he would not allow her to take on the task of Executioner.” Hale tells me. “He claimed the burden of carrying out sentencing belongs to the person who gives the sentence.” I get where Chambers is coming from, really, I do…but that seems a little too much like guilt to me. I don’t immediately voice my thoughts though.

“Well, I’m sure if we were in their shoes you’d probably react the same.” I mutter, more to myself than to my father. Hale’s eyes darken a little and his smile falters as he considers my words.

“Yes, well…” Hale hesitates on actually agreeing. I can see the conflicting emotions flickering through his mind through the color fluctuation in his eyes. “It’s a good thing we don’t have such issues here.” I can’t help but agree with him there. I may miss the comradery of a Pack, but I don’t miss the fighting that could sometimes arise. “Shola asked me to pass along a message as well.”

“What is it?” I ask slowly, not sure if this will be negative or positive.

“She told me to tell you that she was able to track down her cousin, and that he was last seen in Memphis, but she was unable to speak to him personally before he ‘went under’.” Hale tells me and I let out a breath I’d been holding. I pull my phone from my pocket and fire a quick message to Craven and Ryker about the lead. If anyone can pick up his scent, it’d be those two, even if the Hunter managed to shake them off last time.

“Hey, Hale?” I ask him after a minute of silence. It seems he’s given me all the information he came to give…and yet, there’s still a sort of dimness to his mood I find I can’t ignore. One of my many mental notes comes floating back through my mind. “How’s Mikyle? I haven’t heard anything from him.”

“Mikyle has given me brief reports on the status of the Court,” Hale tells me, his expression not wavering in the least. “Everything seems to be fine.”

“Seems to be?” I echo slowly, knowing my skeptical question is the same as Hale’s when he gives me a stiff nod.

“These reports have been communicated to me via phone.” Hale sighs, rubbing a hand over his forehead. “I haven’t seen Mikyle in person since he left to stay at Court, though he assures me he is doing well and simply staying in the Palace so as to not draw attention or suspicion.” I feel a prickle of worry start up in my stomach, churning it into uncomfortable knots.

“You don’t think he’s in any trouble, do you?” I hesitate to even voice the question that’s been pulsing in the back of my mind.

“Mikyle is a very strong individual. He is in good graces with the Court.” Hale says back, but he’s no longer looking at me.

“That’s not an answer.” I point out, my teeth gritting together as the worry increases and chills my blood.

“I have attempted to get a face-to-face meeting with him over the last week, but never make it past the main gates of the Palace. And short of declaring war, there’s no way I can go into the Palace without an invitation.” Hale bites out in an icy tone. I stare at my father, a fresh wave of fear curling through me as I realize the danger my ex-bodyguard may be in.

“Y-you don’t th-think-” I stutter, my voice raspy as my throat threatens to close with my anxiety.

“No. I would know if Mikyle had…if he was being physically harmed.” Hale confirms and I can breathe more easily. “I will try to speak to the Queen. She had been busy the last time I went to see her, but perhaps she will be available to speak to me and ease our concerns.” But even as he says it, I can’t help but doubt his words. He’s right, though, short of declaring war on the Royal Court, no one’s allowed in without an invitation.
And it’s too dangerous for me to even try to get near the King. I shiver and nod to Hale, turning to the stack of reports are waiting to be read.