Page 39 of Havenfall Harbor
“We could just go back tonight,” I suggest, looking over at Griffin.
“Did your doctor call?” Evan turns so he’s looking into the backseat.
“No, but it’s fine.” My eyes dart to the back of Jacob’s head. He’s been without his sister for weeks. I can handle a few more hours on the plane. “I’ll probably sleep anyway.”
Griffin and Evan make eye contact. Their silence lasts for a few seconds when Griffin finally asks, “You sure?” He sounds doubtful, and that, more than anything, makes me want to get on the plane. I’m not going to let a little fear keep me from doing something, especially when I know how long Jacob has been waiting for Riley.
“I’m positive, as long as it’s not too late for Max. I don’t want him falling asleep or something.” I try for a chuckle, but the thought makes my pulse flutter a bit.
“Max is fine,” Evan replies, easily dismissing the thought.
“It’ll take a little bit to get the flight logged and to prep the plane—”
“Plane!” Jacob interrupts Griffin.
“I’ll have Max handle it while we grab you something to eat,” Griffin finishes.
“I’ve never been on a plane.” Jacob looks over at Evan. “Did Riley have to fly? I thought we were driving.” I can’t tell if the excitement in his voice is nerves or interest.
“She did, same plane. Today or tomorrow morning, what do you say?” Evan gives Jacob the choice. Good, it should be up to him.
“I could see her tonight?” Jacob’s voice goes soft. It’s the first time he’s sounded hopeful, more like the child he looks like.
“She’ll probably be asleep when we get there, but we can figure it out.” Evan starts to back out of the small parking lot.
Griffin pulls out his phone and begins typing quickly. A moment later, it vibrates in his palm. “Max knows the plan,” is all he says.
I let out a heavy breath. Now that I know I’m getting back on the plane, my appetite has pretty much disappeared. Fantastic.
Griffin
This is exactlythe kind of place I avoid. It’s teeming with humans. Evan meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. He’s silently questioning if I’m going to behave. I glare back at him. Of fucking course I’ll behave. He was the one that went all alpha just an hour ago, and now he’s judging me?
The rancid smell of sickeningly sweet soda and gasoline fill the air before the car doors are even open. And that’s not even the worst of it. There’s the stench of unwashed males and the cloying aroma of perfumes to cover all matter of human disease rampant in places like these.
Quinn reaches for the door handle, but her head turns to me. “Are we going in?” She squints and peers out the front window into the well-lit diner. “It looks a little sketchy.” Her nose wrinkles.
Evan lets out a dry chuckle. “Unless you’re worried about a foodborne illness, you’ll be okay.”
“Great, now all I can think about is nacho cheese botulism,” Quinn grouses, while opening the door.
Evan slams his door shut and gazes around the larger parking lot, scrutinizing everything he sees while Jacob meets Quinn near the entrance. I notice how close he gets to Quinn without touching her. Seems like he’s comfortable with humans, which is a little strange considering his sister was taken by humans.
Quinn pulls the door open and motions for Jacob to precede her. He’s small for a shifter, but at his age it doesn’t mean much. He has years to fill out. If he and Riley struggled as much as I think they did, it’s easy to understand why he’s underdeveloped.
Evan and I are slower following behind them. I want to ask him what the hell happened with the pack, but the set of his jaw and the fact that we’re not alone makes it a bad time. But what really keeps my lips sealed is my suspicion that Quinn’s presence played a role in why he wasn’t behaving like himself.
Most of the heads turn in our direction when Evan and I enter the restaurant. I work to control the scowl on my face. Evan saunters past me and places his hand on Quinn’s shoulder, stopping her from sliding into a booth I know neither of us would fit into. His touch on her doesn’t bother me, but I glance around, not liking the attention they’re drawing. While it’s obvious to me Evan isn’t human, he can pass under the radar much easier than I can. His height and stature make him intimidating, but he’s much better at fitting in than I’ve ever been.
Evan directs Quinn and the kid to a table near the back wall. He pulls out her chair and nods his head to the seat next to her for the boy to sit in, leaving the back two chairs open for us. It puts us in a position to watch the rest of the room. Exactly what I would have done.
Jacob reaches for the paper menu folded between the napkin holder and condiment container, his eyes scanning over the sheet quickly. Quinn’s gaze bounces around the room while she folds her hands in her lap. She looks completely out of place, and even after a long day and a trek through the woods, she still looks beautiful. Her blonde hair is curled behind one ear, while the rest is loosely pulled back in a braid. Her allure seems almost effortless.
A waitress slowly makes her way over to our table. Her heartbeat picks up a few paces. The appeal of her human blood is almost nonexistent, or anyone else’s blood here besides Quinn’s for that matter. I haven’t thought about drinking from anyone else since the moment her scent pulled me from my room.
“Can I get you guys anything to drink?” The waitress pushes the ends of her dyed pink hair over her shoulder.
Quinn tips her head back, a soft but forced smile on her lips. “Hot tea?”
