Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,51
a fellow nephilim, and now the proof of what they could've had burrowed into his chest like it was a snowy day and he was an electric blanket.
Faust grabbed my hand at the exact right moment, when my anxiety and indecision had risen to its peak and my throat felt like it was closing up. My knees shook, threatening to drop out from under me so I could make myself small and nonthreatening. Faust didn't say anything or try to lead me away. He just held my hand, letting me know I wasn't alone in the slightest.
If the others noticed my mini-almost-freak out, they didn't let it show. They were still preoccupied with Angus, who had stopped crying but continued to let out tiny whimpers with each shaky exhale. He'd be happiest once the twins got back, but for the moment, Diesel's presence was enough to pacify him.
"I need to talk to you about something." Faust's whisper wasn't low enough for the others not to hear, but deep enough that I knew he didn't want to talk to me about anything pleasant.
Knox's eyes flitted quickly in our direction and a knowing look passed between the men. That moment of recognition only made me more worried. Whatever Faust had to tell me, it was a problem. It couldn't be something small. And if this was a problem, then my mind could only race to fill in the gaps as wildly and improbably as possible.
"Everyone should know," Knox murmured.
"Stop torturing the boy," Diesel growled, and I was surprised to see his eyes on me. I was the boy. I didn't know what to think when Diesel was in my corner.
By then, even Angus had turned his eyes on us.
Faust nodded. "I've been monitoring the helpline put in place to help find Storri."
"Have people been calling?" That was a big enough shock to distract me from my inner turmoil.
Faust's responding expression was dry. "Yes, Storri. People have been calling. Many people, in fact, though most call to express their concern."
"That's hardly helpful. I'll never get found that way."
Only Jazz laughed.
Faust dropped his arm over my shoulders, the moment having passed from certain incoming doom to something's up; let's discuss. "I admit this was something that I hoped would go away, but she hasn't. She's called every day since the hotline opened."
Mr. Grouse hadn't just been my closest friend and mentor—he'd been my only. My mother and I had lived privately. When she'd first gotten sick, I'd had no one. "Who?"
Faust sighed heavily and brought me to the table, opening his laptop lid. "Someone claiming to be your aunt."
I'd imagined this in the tower too—spontaneously being rescued by a family member who hadn't rested until they found me. At the time, I'd told myself they had no idea I even existed, that they didn't know they had a family member named Storri that they should care for. But, if my aunt really was calling a hotline, that meant she'd known enough of my existence to recognize me from a news story.
A deep betrayal clawed my chest. This woman hadn't reached out when my mother had been ill and I'd truly needed familial support. She'd waited until now, when my disappearance had made the news. "Do you believe her?"
The space between our bodies widened as Faust straightened to stare down at me. Relief shone in his chocolate gaze. He'd been worried I would've wanted to run after this woman claiming to be my relation. If she'd made any effort before now, I might have, but I'd learned I couldn't trust a person's words, only their actions. At the very least, my aunt's actions proved she didn't think about me unless my picture was blasted all over the news. The story hadn't gone national. It had only hit the coastal news outlets. That had to mean she lived nearby.
Faust's forehead crinkled with concern, and he paused to straighten my glasses—they'd fallen crooked and down my nose—before answering. "I think we should be cautious. I don't have enough information to say either way. The only thing I know for sure is she is persistent."
"Can I listen to the calls?"
Jazz settled into the chair on my other side and bumped our shoulders together in support.
"My program transcribes the calls. I've been training the software, introducing a wider variety of accent recognition as well as common idioms and slang." His chest puffed out proudly, and I realized I was seeing who Faust was when he wasn't my rock.