They were only blocks away from home when Geoffrey spotted familiar faces and relief started to replace his sense of dread. Some of the reasoning for selecting Tsumi as home may have been selfish, but they could have not chosen a Circle more adequately protected. Natasha, the vampiric bride of Tsumi’s Third waved an exuberant greeting from across the busy thoroughfare.
“Who is that with Nat?” Evadia waved and took Geoffrey’s hand before they accepted the excited offer to join them.
“Another of Lord Eidolon’s wolves.” Geoffrey pointed out as they carefully crossed to meet them. They had been in Tsumi only a short time and Evadia had yet to meet the entire pack. Even Geoffrey himself was only mildly acquainted with them. As they neared the curb he gently reminded her of their position. “Mind your manners. Lady Nat may be young, but she is still your elder.”
“I heard that; I am not old.” Nat latched onto Evadia and lifted her into a friendly embrace. “Hello there you adorable thing. Don’t you mind him, you just call me Nat. Have you met Luka?”
“Hi!” Evadia smiled and offered her hand in friendship to the fluffy eared demon awkwardly from Nat’s unending embrace. “I’m Evadia. Nice to meet you.”
“Such a pretty child.” Luka took the girl’s hand warmly. She had of course been informed of the girl and her caretaker. They were each extended special protection by Eidolon’s order. There had been only a brief explanation as to why. She only knew that the child was Farren’s and her guardian was once a soldier under Gabriel’s command. After greeting the girl she bowed her head slightly to the angel. “I am Luka.”
“I am honored.” Geoffrey returned her respect with an abundance of excess. “Eidolon’s wolves are highly thought of even in Heaven.”
“Where are you headed?” Nat released Evadia from her friendly grasp and sat her on solid ground before she reclaimed her bag of the days shopping treasures. “We don’t see you much.”
“The Circle.” Evadia took Geoffrey’s hand again. Dutifully playing the part of a child that needed him as she looked up and smiled. His mood had much improved already. She was thrilled at suggesting the outing.
“Making a quick delivery.” Geoffrey agreed. “A letter.”
“I see.” Nat gave a friendly laugh. “Well you should get a good show on your way through. Kryss and Taranis are sparring in the hall.”
“Fighting?” Evadia frowned. She had seen enough fighting to last a lifetime. She suddenly wanted to turn back and bring the letter another day, but any chance to see her father was one she didn’t want to pass up.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Nat leaned down and rubbed her face against Evadia’s in a motherly attempt to comfort her. “It’s not like that. It’s training, they are having fun.”
“It’s great exercise.” Levina added from behind them.
“She isn’t fond of violence.” Geoffrey explained as he smiled back at a young demon that was surely one of Luka’s pups. “I respect your pack and its discipline, but those ways are not suited for everyone.”
“True enough.” Luka swiftly ended the debate. It was not her place to push her ways on another child. The angel was doing well with the girl from what she could see. Though it was clear she missed the bond of a real family. The child seemed nearly crushed when Levina greeted her mother and took her arm. Luka quickly extended an invitation almost out of pity. “We are all headed in the same direction. Join us?”
“If it is no bother.” Geoffrey was about to decline politely but Evadia gave him a hopeful squeeze of the hand and he changed his mind quickly. “We would be delighted to.”
Ansel had been watching the exchange from a distance with Levina. The two of them had been tracking the unfamiliar wind blowing through Tsumi. When he sent Levina to join her mother, he noticed the slightest change in the wind. Just enough to confirm what Kryss believed.
As Kryss suspected when he sent them all out that morning, the hunters would be acting as bait. Just as Ansel was following the presence that had arrived uninvited in Tsumi, it was following them. It was also more than one.
Ansel removed his phone from his pocket and sent a message to Kryss sharing this new revelation before he moved on to follow Luka and the others on their journey back to the center of Tsumi.
Tsuriai 