Lindsay leaned into him, conserving his energy and putting all his magic behind an illusion that was so perfect, it was the next best thing to real. All that training with Dane had done him good. But he couldn’t stop the relentless whisper in his head that wouldn’t let him forget—he’d never won that race.
Chapter Thirteen
There was little relief to be found on the long drive home. For one thing, they were crammed into the car and no one could really claim to be comfortable, not even Lindsay, who was pressed up close against Noah while Kristan drove. Noah’s eyes were closed, but Lindsay could feel his tension. In the back, Ylli was worst off, with his wings folded along his sides as best he could and his back to the door. Zoey had curled up at the opposite end of the backseat and, when Lindsay glanced back, her eyes were a flicker of suspicion and confusion in the dark.
There was no chance of Lindsay relaxing, not even in Noah’s arms. Even after the searching pressure was off of them and the last hint of the Hounds was far behind, he couldn’t let it go. Moore had someone—
or something—new that hunted thoughts. The mind searching for them hadn’t been Lourdes and—for some reason—he was certain that she hadn’t betrayed them. They wouldn’t have made it out in one piece if she had. His only consolation was that his illusions seemed to hold up against the new threat.
After an hour on the road, Kristan finally spoke.
“Back to the same place?”
Noah shifted at the sound of her voice and Lindsay glanced up to find Noah looking down at him expectantly. It hadn’t occurred to Lindsay to go anywhere else. They had a few friends—or at least a few resources—and whatever had been searching for them before had been there once and left empty-handed.
“Yes.” If they were staying in Patches’s territory... There was so much he still didn’t know. “I should go speak to Patches, ask her permission.”
“No.” Lindsay got the word in stereo as both Noah and Kristan spoke at once.
“You’ll look weak if you go,” Noah explained. “We can’t do that. You should let someone else go for you. At least send Kristan, and someone else.”
Like a delegation. Lindsay could appreciate that.
“You should come,” Kristan said, glancing over at Noah.
“I’m not leaving the house unprotected.”
Lindsay felt irritation wash through Noah’s body as his muscles rippled. Suddenly, he saw Cyrus in his mind’s eye, with Vivian and Dane having a similar argument. The image made him want to laugh—the more things changed, the more they stayed the same—almost as much as it made his chest ache with grief. It was up to him to settle these things now.
“I need you to go if she says it will help.” Lindsay shifted to see Noah better, and he cupped Noah’s hot cheek in his hand. “We’ll be less safe if Patches decides we’re more trouble to have around than not.”
Noah’s jaw clenched, but he kissed Lindsay’s palm. “As you will.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t make me pull this thing over to puke,” Kristan muttered.
Noah laughed at that, softly, without taking his eyes from Lindsay. He relaxed enough to give Lindsay a soft kiss on the mouth that was as welcome as clean water. Lindsay leaned into it, seeking comfort, and was rewarded with Noah pulling him close.
Maybe he’d try to rest a little now. With Noah’s kisses stealing his tension, Lindsay finally felt the weight of all his exhaustion. He wove the illusion that hid them tighter. If it slipped in his sleep, it would still be strong enough to hold until he was awake. Only then did he rest his head on Noah’s shoulder and close his eyes.
The motion of Noah carefully moving to get him out of the car was enough to wake Lindsay, even though the bright light of day hadn’t kept him from sleeping for the last hour of the trip. The drive had been uneventful but tedious, and Lindsay’s head was throbbing with the unbearable tension of nothing happening.
“Kristan and I are going to see Patches now.” Noah helped Lindsay out of the car and slid an arm around him to make sure he was steady on his feet. “It’s best if we’re there during her normal business hours and have an audience of sorts. Word spreads and people will know we’re welcome if she agrees to let us stay.”
They’ll know we’re not welcome if she says no. Lindsay bit back the bitter words, feeling the bile of rejection and fear and rootlessness bubbling to the surface.
“She won’t say no.” Kristan came around the front of the car, tossing the keys and catching them again with an irritating ching-chunk noise that went straight to Lindsay’s brain. “She likes you, and she won’t pass on Noah.”
Lindsay looked up in time to catch the wolfish grin Kristan aimed at Noah and—if he’d been Dane—
his hackles would have gone up. Noah was his, and not for anyone to be taking as payment for anything.
“Noah’s not on offer,” he snapped and headed toward the house, forcing Noah to keep up or let go.
“She’s taking the piss out of me because of my family,” Noah murmured. “That’s all. Patches isn’t going to give up the chance to give refuge to a Quinn.”
Lindsay had forgotten there had ever been a time that Noah wasn’t his, that Noah had once belonged to something more powerful. More safe.
“Not that it matters.” Noah kissed his hair as they made their way into the house. “If she likes to think it does, she can, but I’m not one of them anymore.”
“You’d be safer if you were,” Lindsay pointed out.
“I’d rather be yours.”
Noah’s tone had the edge that Lindsay knew meant—for all that Noah was his—Noah wasn’t going to be yielding on the matter. He let Noah help him to bed and tuck him in, telling himself that it was to make Noah happy and no more. That didn’t stop him from falling asleep before the car left the driveway.
Lindsay woke to breakfast—takeout from Apollo 11—brought to him by Ylli.
“Noah said to tell you that Patches agreed to everything.” Ylli put the takeout bag down on the chair.
“He and Kristan are putting up some kind of eco-shower tank together, and we have a chemical toilet.
Patches is going to let us know how to turn the utilities back on, or where to find a generator. Meantime, we have what we need and you can probably shower by noon.”
Lindsay could have kissed him, but settled for a genuine smile instead. “Thanks. How is Zoey?”
“Happy to have a bed. I should go check on her, though. You can call if you need anything. Someone will hear.”
Ylli slipped out with a rustle of wings, and Lindsay was left to enjoy his breakfast and the distant sound of Noah and Kristan bickering. He was sure it would drive him crazy tomorrow, but today, it was music to his ears.
After he finished eating, Lindsay discovered a worn but serviceable armchair in the front room. The day’s papers were on the floor by the chair and, though the windows were papered over, there was enough light to read by.
He picked up the Free Press, which had a little sidebar article about an escape from the local juvenile detention center, and curled up in the chair to read. “Mysterious Disappearance”, the paper said. Lindsay smiled. They had no idea. Even such a tiny victory felt good.
“There you are.” Noah came in with a steaming cup in his hand. “Tea?” He didn’t look any worse for wear after all the driving and lack of sleep.
“Please.” It was strange, being taken care of by Noah—and Kristan and Ylli—but Lindsay was starting to feel more comfortable in his new role. He wasn’t just Dane’s apprentice anymore.
The transition was made easier by the way Noah seemed to know what Lindsay needed before Lindsay realized it himself. Like the tea.