Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,147

spread along his body from the point of the bird. All of his senses heightened and the air around him became hazy with power. Then he let his concentration go, the power dissipating as quickly as it had come. "Good enough?"

"Why yes, it is. You can go. Oh, and if you see my shoe, will you let me know? Thanks." Enak crawled back under the table, another thud sounding.

You've got to be kidding me... He sighed mentally, leaving the room. Enak was such a weirdo, and he asked for the most random thing. Mathieu was just glad it hadn’t taken long. Down below, he could hear voices arguing, which hastened his steps.

Erik's voice was the first he could distinguish, "Kiev, leave him be."

"A mysterious teen showing up the day before the start of our attack? That's so suspicious it's making me itch." She responded.

Mathieu rounded the corner to see his father and Kiev both holding one of Vincent's arms, their hands like steel traps. "Let. Him. Go." Three pairs of eyes snapped to him before apologies were spilling from the guilty parties. Vincent was thin and willowy, with dark eyes too big for his head. He had a perpetual half-smile on his face, and his strawberry blond bangs fell into his eyes often.

Vincent skittered off his stool to hide behind Mathieu, eyes wide. "Crazies..."

Lione looked up at him from where he was petting the wild cat, next to a pouting Jo.

"Sorry, Vincent. Listen, thank you for coming on such short notice. And for not eating Niveus."

"Like nothing..." He smiled vacantly.

Mathieu motioned to a stool, "I'm glad you came. I have a question or two before tomorrow." At the blank nod he received, he continued, all the while wondering if Vincent was touched in the head. "So the army Anastasie is forming...is it definitely going to be ready?"

Suddenly, Vincent’s eyes came into focus and his voice was clear as a bell. "Of course it will be. It's always alive, just waiting in the labyrinth to be called upon. She will send it out with Banin tomorrow, and follow soon after."

"Wait, Banin is coming to this thing?" Asked Erik.

"Yes, Uncle. But my father wants you to know that he won't take his vengeance because Anastasie has given him orders, but someday you will answer to him." Vincent took a sip of water.

Mathieu looked at him, confused, "Vengeance?"

"Yes. Erik betrayed my father when he ran away to be with Anita. The things he was responsible for fell to Banin, including purging our family."

"Purging?" Mathieu prompted.

Vincent nodded, "Yes.” The teenager’s eyes became glossy again and a confused smile came over his face.

"Vincent? What was that about purging?”

“No idea.” Vincent said lazily.

Studying the teen for a moment, Mathieu shook his head, "I was wondering if we could possibly incorporate one of your…guys into each of my units?"

"Probably. I'll be in your group, 'cause my change is the fastest. Banin, Anastasie, Chadwell, and Luca are the other ones that can become wolves." Vincent's tone was becoming more and more absent, as was his gaze.

Mathieu decided that was enough questions for now, and patted the boy's head. "Eat, drink, do whatever you want. Our home is yours."

"Of course. I'd like to sleep if that's possible..."

"I'll do it." Jo said, getting to his feet.

Mathieu sighed as Jo brushed passed him, dragging Vincent with him. Mathieu then turned to the others, "Has anyone seen Enak's shoe...?"

Erik grinned at him, "Haven't seen it. Did he lose it? Poor kid." It was clear that he didn’t feel bad in the slightest.

"Okay, I know you have his shoe, but I don't want to know why. So I'll settle for knowing where Solomon got to." Mathieu said.

Lione pointed to the door, "He went outside a few minutes ago. He and Mina were going to do some training, I believe."

He looked out the window with concern. Their backyard area now had a forest, where he was fairly sure his beau was currently. "Damn it, I wanted to talk to him."

"Then go find him, jeez." Kiev said.

"He hates his time with Mina being interrupted." Mathieu said simply. "But it's fine. Erik, why did you take Enak's shoe?"

"Because he's being a twit. He spent all last night barking at me. Literally, barking. Annoyed the crap out of me until he fell asleep. So I took his shoe."

Mathieu gave his father a blank look, "I'll pretend that made some form of sense. Let me ask you something."

"I'm going to smoke. Come with me." Erik led him onto