Page 64 of Havenfall Harbor
Evan lets out a chuff of laughter. “No, not if you believe the old tales.”
I put my feet back on the ground so I don’t need to twist to see Evan. “There aren’t any actual accounts of supernatural history available to us. Just a bunch of speculation and old, exaggerated stories that people have chosen to assume are facts.”
The science of supernaturals is as heavily debated as the origins of humans. If God is your higher power, it would reasonably seem that he created vampires and shifters alike. Others think they’re just an evolutionary offshoot of humans. Either way, they are here, and so are we.
I doubt supernaturals would have ever let themselves be known to humans. But the advancements in DNA and the medical field made that near impossible.
Michael Bishop’s murder was the catalyst. He was found dead in a cabin, and his injuries were presumed to be from an animal, a bear, but the DNA found on the scene wasn’t like anything that had been tested before.
Fast forward a few years and DNA sequencing had come even further. Add in one pathologist who was a little more curious than the others, and you have the first ever shifter discovery.
“Yeah, that probably won’t change for a while. We hand down our stories, there’s some information.” Evan waves his hands behind us, indicating the books. I want to know about them even more now. “But each pack, each clan, all has their own histories.”
“So, what brought two groups together?” I would love to know everything, but I’m dying to know how they learned to get along, to see if it will somehow help forge a future where we all flourish.
“A mutual adversary,” Griffin says plainly. I half wince, already assuming I know who that adversary is—humans.
“Well, unless we’re about to have an alien invasion, I don’t think that will work for humans and supernaturals.” I lean back against the sofa and fold my hands together, popping my knuckles. I stop myself after the first pop, it used to drive my mother crazy, so I would do it just to piss her off and it became a habit.
Griffin reaches over and pulls my top hand off the other. “But that’s why we have you,” he murmurs, pretending all the hope he’s putting into me creating a better bond between the species isn’t a big deal, and silently telling me to stop cracking my knuckles. It makes me want to do it again, maybe to bother him, or maybe so he’ll touch me again.
Chapter 19
Evan
Quinn’s eyeskeep darting to the books on Griffin’s shelf. I bet I just did the bastard a huge favor. She’ll probably never want to leave now. That’s fine with me, I prefer his room to mine anyway, not to mention the solace that comes from being with others. Even if it isn’t a true pack, the companionship is appreciated.
Many of the adult shifters, teachers and staff alike, have migrated to rooming together as friends, family, or lovers. It’s one of the few things I miss about my pack.
When I told Quinn we didn’t have any other rooms, I wasn’t being exactly truthful. There are empty rooms, but those aren’t next to Griffin’s, and I don’t think he would be happy if she moved. Hell, I’m pretty sure he’d be happy if she just moved right in here. Again, not that I blame him, but he better be making room for me too.
My thoughts of what our days could look like, what our nights would be like if exactly that happened, flit through my mind. I steal a glance at Quinn to see if she can sense the pheromones that just burst from me.
Her nose twitches and she wiggles her lips. I bite the inside of my cheek, a grin tugging at my mouth. Humans ignore so much. Griff turns his head slowly and gives me a droll look. We’ve been watching TV for the last several hours. Probably a record for the both of us, but neither of us want to leave, so here we sit.
I tilt my head toward Quinn as an explanation. What can I say? She’s sitting next to me and I like it. Griff’s head bobs once. An acknowledgement, he gets it. Quinn turns and looks up at me briefly. Her eyelids are heavy, but she hasn’t left to go to bed. I think she likes it right where she is too. A few times tonight, I’ve scented the barest hint of arousal, but it’s usually covered quickly with the washed-out smell of her embarrassment. Which is an indicator in itself of what she’s feeling.
If she was a supernatural, she might act on the attraction, or at least give us the cues that we should, depending on her dominance level, but she’s too human for that. I quite like this little dance, the chase speaks to my inner animal.
I scrub my palms over my thighs, trying to get my muscles to relax. I feel like I’m one movement away from jumping out of my skin. Quinn lets her head fall back against the couch, then it’s a fight to keep her eyes open. The seconds between her blinks extend until her eyes fall shut and don’t open again, then her shoulders relax. Her breathing deepens almost immediately as well, and when I look over, Griff’s eyes are already on her too.
Neither of us do anything but observe her. If either of us tried to move her, she would wake right up, then we wouldn’t get to watch her chest rise and fall, wouldn’t be able to study the little freckles across her cheeks.
“I accept your proposition,” Griff declares, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Quinn.
I meet his eyes. “Was there ever a question you might not?”
“Not truthfully. I’ve wanted her since the moment I heard her heartbeat. But I wish there was.” Griffin’s eyes grow darker as he gazes down at her. The guilt that eats away at his insides is as clear as the longing in his tone. It’s obvious that if he could walk away from her, he would.
“Griff, we make a good team, always have,” I tell him, only because I know he’s worried that he’s going to hurt her or be the cause of her being hurt, which I know isn’t true. Not really anyway. He may have to learn when to keep his mouth shut, but he would never do anything that would actually jeopardize her.
Now we just have to convince her to be with us. I don’t want to change anything about Quinn, but it would be a lot easier if she weren’t human.
“She has no idea what she’s in for.” I run the tip of my finger gently down her nose and cupid’s bow, just barely stopping myself before I touch her lips.
“How should we handle it?” When I look over, Griffin’s hand is balled into a fist. For a moment, I think he’s upset that I touched Quinn, then I realize he’s just trying to keep himself from doing the same.
“I think we should spend more time with her.Be nice to her, show her we’re interested, but give her time to adjust.”
