Page 37 of Awakening Storm

She inhaled sharply, her chest pounding as if fireworks were going off in her heart. She thanked the others and then hurried after the man.

She exited the building to find Aidan marching toward her. He pulled her aside. “What are you doing here?”

His tone irritated her at first, but then the knot in her stomach eased. She hadn’t realized how tense she had been. Just having him near gave her comfort. If only he weren’t being so overbearing.

She rested her palm on his chest. “I’m collecting information,” she said matter-of-factly. “What about you? Did you discover anything?”

He glanced at the man beside her. “Yes. I’ll tell you when we get back to the station.”

“Well, I may have struck pay dirt.” She smiled up at him. She look to the man who was helping her and smiled at him, too.

Her escort didn’t seem too pleased that Aidan had joined them, though. He backed away from them, saying, “Maybe we should do this later.”

“No.” Aidan flashed a grin, obviously trying to charm the man. “I only want to help.”

Slowly, the man stepped forward. “Katsu is usually at his home. This way.”

She didn’t know if any of these buildings could truly be considered a home, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to find her great-grandfather.

Aidan slipped his hand behind her back as they walked. She leaned into him, savoring his touch. At least that was something real that she could hold on to, unlike the rest of this . . . this . . . make-believe world. She was at a loss of how else to think about this place.

When they made their way halfway across town the man stopped in front of a small building that had no door in the frame and no windows to be seen. “This is it,” he said. “If he’s not here, then I don’t know where he is.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate your help.

Her guide left, and she reached across to take Aidan’s hand in hers. “I’m nervous.”

“After all that’s happened,thisis what makes you uneasy?” He gave her a half smile, obviously trying to calm her.

She shrugged. Everything else that had happened hadn’t had expectations attached to it. It had all been a flat-out shock and surprise. But her great-grandfather . . . She’d wanted to know about him for as long as she could remember. Her palms grew moist, and her breathing turned shallow.

Aidan squeezed her hand. “Have courage.”

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded.

Once she opened them again, Aidan slapped his hand against the entry wall. “Hello?”

They walked slowly inside, stopping at the inner doorway. A man sat cross-legged in the center of the room, his head dipped down. He appeared to be meditating.

“Katsu Mori?” she whispered.

“How may I help you?” he said without lifting his head, his eyes closed.

Rhianna shuffled forward. “I don’t mean to interrupt your mediation.”

“Yet you have.” He looked up, raised an eyebrow but then smiled.

Aidan came up beside her.

“You are Katsu Mori, yes?” she asked quietly, squatting.

He lifted his head a little more, seaming curious at her question. She glimpsed a single row of black marks now visible on his neck. He hadn’t died very many times considering how long he’d been there.

“I am,” he said.

“I am the daughter of Akira Mori, who is the son of Shiro Mori . . . your son.” She sat back on her heels and waited for his response.

A double blink of his eyelids was the only sign of his surprise.