Chapter Fifty-Six – The potential threat

Adam wanted to protest. Tell her that was unreasonable, that she couldn’t ask for such a thing. It wasn’t something to compromise on. But Damir was at his forefront, ready to mark her as his. “I…We…” Adam started but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“The bird woman asked me to come get you!” A little voice said from the outside. Alehtta. Adam sighed in relief, saved by the bell. But Talia didn’t seem too pleased, her smile turning into a frown as she moved from her lap.

“Hold on” Adam answered her, checking his appearance quickly before going to the door. Talia stayed behind, still sitting on the bed with a frown on her face. Normally Alehtta got her in a good mood, she loved being around the little bundle of pure energy, but she needed a moment to herself.

“Are you doing grown up things?” Alehtta called out, making Adam open the door in such a rush it almost tore of the hinges.

“No, we were just talking” He answered a little too rushed, walking into the hallways and hunching down beside Alehtta.

“It didn’t sound like talking”

“Okay – let’s go young lady. Show me where Katlyn is” Adam closed the door in a rush, leaving Talia alone. From the look on her face and the still posture he didn’t think she would join them any time soon.

“Miss Katlyn is down in the kitchen, said something about wanting something sweet. Can I also have something sweet? My mom would always give me treats on Saturdays” Alehtta said as they made their way back downstair, finding Katlyn exactly where Alehtta has said she would be, in the kitchen rummaging the upper cabinets from sweets.

“Did you have a good flight?” Adam asked, startling the young shifter. She almost fell of the counter.

“It’s not nice to scare people” Alehtta reprimanded, making both Katlyn and Adam chuckle lightly.

“No, it’s not. And since you know that you get this” Katlyn jumped down and handed one of the two chocolate bars to Alehtta, the young girls face lighting up.

“Can I have it now?” She turned to Adam, who nodded. Somehow that made her smile even wider.

“Thank you!” She hugged Katlyn tightly before running over to hug Adam as well.

“Why don’t you go eat that somewhere so I can talk to miss Katlyn?” Adam asked.

“Are you gonna talk this time?” Alehtta eyes him suspicious. It made him blush, and Katlyn laughed.

“We promise, we’re going to have a long, boring talk about adult stuff” Katlyn answered for him.

Alehtta eyes them suspicious for a moment longer before she ran off into the dining room and out the door. Adam could her hear shout about chocolate and wanting to share. It made him smile for a moment before turning back to Katlyn.

She’d spent the entire night sitting with Ariel, only to be released by Devan in the morning, once he was up and running after being knocked out by the sleeping powder. They had all insisted on her to get some sleep, but she was restless and left for a flight instead. It made her feel useful. And she’d managed to get some sleep while watching over Ariel. But she felt like crap now.

“Anything new?” Adam asked once he was sure they were out of earshot from young, prying eyes.

“I saw several dark cars of all shapes and sizes parked here and there further south, it looked like they were camping there for now, maybe to not draw attention to themselves. It’s normal for larger groups to venture into larger cities then out here after all” Katlyn reported, taking a bite of the chocolate. It made her feel slightly better.

“And I found them. Her parents. Or what I believe was left of them” Katlyn had to swallow. The sight hadn’t been pretty.

“That’s…” Adam didn’t know what else to say.

“Yes, I know”

“We need to find out if it’s them” He had to know. For Alehtta. And himself. And Talia.

“I suggest asking Lilith if she could go there. Maybe Nadine can portal her there and help her bring them back to the hospital for ID” Katlyn had seen enough medical shows to know how it worked, in theory.

“Is she still at the clinic?” When Adam had left the clinic hours earlier, she was still there, and she promised to let him know if she left. He hadn’t heard anything. Then again, he had been indisposed for who knew how long.

“How should I know; I went straight for the kitchen once I landed” Katlyn answered.

**'Devan. Is Lilith with you?'** Adam linked Devan.

**'She just left'** Devan answered within seconds.

**'Do you know where to?'**

**'To find you'**

**'Thank you'** Adam shut down the link and turned his attention back to Katlyn, who had propped herself down on one of the chairs by the island, happily eating the chocolate bar. “Where did you find them?” Adam asked, keeping his voice lower to avoid the prying ears of curious little pups. Even without their wolves they still had heightened senses.

“Just south of the border between Finland, Norway and Russia, on the Finnish side. I found that to be a little odd, considering her name. It’s sami, so I guess her parents were sami. And they often live close to both the Swedish and Finnish borders, but that far south along the Russian border, it surprised me” They couldn’t be sure if the people she had found half decayed was in fact Alehttas parents, but it was a chance considering the information she’d gained from Marjatta. Their little group had stumbled upon Alehtta and her parents in Finland, but further east, closer to Sweden than Russia.

“Maybe they had family in Russia?” Adam suggested. It wasn’t likely, but also not unlikely. Alehtta didn’t have the typical features of the sami people, making him think it was somewhere further down her bloodline.

“Maybe. We can ask Alehtta about it later” Katlyn finished her chocolate and jumped to her feet, stretching her heads well above her head, making her joins pop.

“But first, I need some rest. And I need to check up on my friend. I know you’re mad at her, and you have every right to be. I’m mad at her to for putting my other friends in danger. But I still care about her”

“Get some rest. I’ll ask Lilith and Nadine to accompany you later, tonight, when it’s quieter around here” Adam waved her off and sat down at the counter just as Lilith entered.

“Hi doc, by doc” Katlyn greeted as she disappeared out the door, leaving Adam and Lilith alone.

“Any news?” Lilith asked as she made a beeline for the coffee maker. She needed caffein.

“Katlyn may have found Alehtta’s parents, or what’s left of them. But we need ID to be sure. Can you help?”

“I can give it a try. Where are they?”

“Not sure. Katlyn knows, but she couldn’t take them with her. I’ll ask Nadine if she can portal your there and back, I believe it’s easier. It’s close to the borders” Adam explained, watching as Lilith nodded slowly while she waited for the coffee to be ready.

“How about Ariel. How is she?” He didn’t want to ask but felt obliged to. She was his responsibility while she was at the clinic, whether he liked it or not.

“The same. When she’s awake she keeps staring straight ahead, barely taking time to blink. She doesn’t answer questions or show any acknowledge of there being anyone else in the room. I’ve given her some nutrition, as well as hydration, through the IV. I’ll keep checking in on her, judging by the look the other doctor gave her I’m not confident he will give her the best medical care”

Lilith poured herself a cup of coffee and took a large sip. The liquid, black gold filling her in an instant, making her perch up a little. She needed the caffein, especially after dealing with the other doctor, and one of the nurses, constantly being on her case from helping someone who never would have helped them. It got on her last nerves.

“I’ll have a talk with them. I can’t say I don’t understand, if it had been my call she wouldn’t even be here. But I don’t believe in starving patients you don’t like” Adam got up, wanting to get that chat out of the way.

“Why did you let her stay?” Lilith asked curious.

“Talia convinced me it was the decent thing to do” Adam answered with a huff, lingering at the door for a moment.

“Ask” Lilith demanded.

“Do you think she’s a threat?” Adam had to ask.

“Who?”

“Both of them?” The question stung. He didn’t want to believe Talia was a threat, but he couldn’t shake her words away. What if she did hurt someone?

“Ariel is more of a threat to herself than anyone else at the moment. Talia – I wouldn’t know. She has a lot going on, been dealt some bad cards so to speak, and she needs time to come to terms with everything. But she would never hurt anyone intentionally” Lilith answered him, the confidence in both her voice and posture reassuring.

“Thank you” Adam gave her a smile before disappearing out of the doors, walking past Anthony and Xavier on the way to the front door.

“We’re taking a break” Xavier declared as he headed for the kitchen. Adam didn’t stop them.