Matthias looked haggard, drawn, and wouldn’t eat.
“You must eat something,” Tim scolded.
“I’m too worried.” He sat at the kitchen table, and Tim put a bowl of soup in front of him.
“Eat. Now.”
Matthias finally spooned some into his mouth.
Albert walked in. Matthias missed their shared glance.
Tim patted Matthias on the shoulder. “Finish that. I’ll be right back.”
They walked to the office, and Albert pointed at the screen. “You were right.”
“I didn’t want to say anything to Matthias because I don’t want him going after her. That would only make matters worse.”
“When do we tell him?”
Tim shook his head. “We don’t. Not yet. Let her have a day, she’s safe there. I’ve already made a few calls. She’ll have several people watching her once she checks in.”
“She had to really be moving to make it out there that soon.”
“She’s very determined. I’ll leave tonight, after Matthias is asleep. I’m sure she was smart enough not to take the north entrance. Probably cut through Cody, knowing her. I’ll fly into Livingston and send the jet back, arrange a plane to Gardiner and have a car waiting. Don’t tell him until I say so.”
“He’s going to be extremely upset, you know. At both of us.”
“I’m more concerned about her than I am him. She needs a chance to work through this in her way. Matthias must learn to give her space.”
Tim’s BlackBerry vibrated. He looked at it, then nodded.
“What?” Albert asked.
He held it up so Albert could read the text message. “Told you so.”
“Do you ever tire of being right?”
“She’s my baby, Albert, lest you forget.” Well, at least the child of my heart…in this life.
Taz drove, slowing once full dark settled. It was eerie watching the land disappear with only the asphalt in her headlights and occasional steam drifting across the road in front of her. Albert had told her Yellowstone was a safe haven for “their kind” because something about the sulfuric “brimstone” output from the thermal features kept the Others away.
Except the Others had apparently tag-teamed with a traitorous vampire and some daemon pulverem to infiltrate what was normally a refuge. With Caroline in custody, Taz wasn’t worried even though she knew it was foolish to be here alone. She’d be more careful.
She swallowed hard as she made the turn south at Fishing Bridge, toward West Thumb. Tightly gripping the steering wheel, she tried to ignore her racing heart and bad memories as she passed West Thumb and made her way west to the Old Faithful valley.
At check-in the desk clerk smiled, handing her the key. “Do you need more than one?”
Taz looked at it and shook her head. “No.”
It was a different cabin, and closer to the lodge than where they stayed before, fortunately not within sight of the cabin where Rafe died. Taz carried her bags inside and lay on the bed and took a deep breath. She could relax, breathe.
Morning snuck up on her and she realized she had fallen asleep with her clothes on. She took a shower, letting the hot water ease her stiff shoulders. She dressed and walked to the inn for breakfast, recognizing one of the servers from before.
“You’re back.” The waiter smiled and handed her a menu.
“Wanted to spend some more time here.” She couldn’t help but glance at the tables they sat at before. She imagined Matthias sitting across from her.
The sound of Rafe’s laugh.
After breakfast, she made her way to the boardwalk and slowly strolled in the opposite direction she had on the last visit, around the far end of the basin, and back to where she kissed Rafe. Sitting on the edge, out of the way of foot traffic, she closed her eyes and inhaled. She’d put on his shirt, the one from the floor of his closet, and could smell him. Faintly, but there.
Then came her tears. She wrapped her arms around herself and let them fall, replaying in her mind what happened. The teasing, the mental caresses, the playful flirting, his wink. Their talk over dinner, when he opened up to her and she saw a side of him few others ever knew. Feeling like he was a part of her past even though she’d only just met him that morning.
Remembering her promise, to give him a chance if there was ever one to give.
Admitting they loved one another. And her suspicions that he knew more than he was telling her.
One last, tender kiss good-bye…
“It’s okay, Taz baby.”
Her eyes snapped open. It must have been the breeze. Had to be. There were no others around.
Unless it was that damned disembodied voice again.
She stayed until lunch. Returning to the cabin, she changed to a different shirt and eyed her BlackBerry. She had reception here, could call and let them know not to worry.
No, she didn’t want to talk to anyone yet. There were still some personal demons she had to face down.
After lunch, she drove to West Thumb. In the parking lot she gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, and forced herself out of the car. The first time she was here was with Matthias, down by the lake, learning how to send her mind out. As far as Old Faithful until he’d called her back to him.
The last time…
With leaden feet, she retraced her steps down the boardwalk to Abyss Pool.
Had she really done it? Nearly dunked Caroline into the hot spring? If it hadn’t been for Matthias—
Taz gripped the handrail. He’d tackled her, sank his teeth into her neck, and drank to break her mental hold on Caroline. Then he temporarily went crazy and nearly killed Caroline himself. If Albert and Robertson hadn’t been there, Caroline would have gone into the pool. She deserved it, but still…
Taz’s fingers tightened around the wooden handrail separating her from the deceptively still water of the hot spring. Hot enough to kill someone.
Never again could she lose control, no matter how justified. Ever. She was a breath away from being a monster.
“You’re not a monster, Taz.” At the sound of the familiar voice Taz screamed, jumped, and wheeled around. Robertson stood a few feet away, looking sad.
At first she was shocked, not sure what to say, angry he was there. Then he held out his arms to her.
“My child,” he whispered. She fell into him, crying.
He caught her and sank to the boardwalk with her, holding her as she sobbed, letting her get it out of her system. Eventually he helped her stand and put an arm around her waist, and they walked down to the lake, found an empty bench, and sat staring out over the Absarokas in the distance. He didn’t speak, knowing her well enough to let the silence lie between them until she was ready to break it.
Finally, she did. “How did you know?”
“Besides the reservation?”
She nodded.
“I suspected. Even before your receipts showed up. You didn’t have time to deal with this before we left. I figured you’d want to sort things out where they all happened.”
“Matthias?”
“I imagine he’s probably strangled Albert by now.” He smiled. “I didn’t tell him. I left late last night after Matthias went to bed. I told Albert to wait, to let you have some time.”
“So you were here this morning?”
“I knew you would eventually find your way here and I decided to wait. I didn’t want to intrude too soon. I’ll leave, if you wish.”
She considered it, laying her head against his shoulder like she did when she was a child. “No. Please don’t.”
He hugged her closer. “I’m so sorry it happened, Taz. We all are. I know you need time to deal with this. Just keep in mind Matthias sees his responsibility is to protect you, take care of you, because he loves you.”