Lily felt her anger flare, and she wanted to tear something to pieces. Instead, she took a slow deep breath. “So what are you guys going to do now?”
“We’ve got to check on the other Aequivalere sites,” Evan told her. “I can’t believe that the three of us are all that’s left.”
“I’m sure there’s some more out there. I’d help, but you know…”
“You’ve got to see the girl home, and then there’s my little buddy,” Donovan finished for her.
Lily smiled with a nod. “Yeah, that. I’m really glad you guys didn’t jump ship. I’ll talk to you later, I want to speak with Tristen, and check up on her.”
“Okay, come see me before you leave,” Evan told her then nudged Donovan. “Help me inside, I want to talk to Nick. We can still help them while we wait for Dorin to wake up.”
The fairy made another snort but helped the succubus along. Lily watched them for a moment before turning on her heel and walking towards Tristen’s room. When she knocked, it didn’t surprise her that it was Zander who opened the door. Ever since they got back, he’d been shadowing the girl, never letting her out of his sight. “Hey Rebel, I want to talk to Tristen,” she told him.
“Sure, come on in,” he replied, stepping to the side to let her in.
Tristen sat on the bed, cross-legged, so Lily sat in one of the chairs. “Hey Tristen, How are you feeling?”
“Zander could you give us a minute, maybe get me something to drink?” she asked him.
He frowned, looking as if he knew he was being gotten rid of then left with a “Sure. No problem. Be back in a minute.”
“Something wrong?” Lily asked, feeling worried.
“I don’t feel right.”
Lily stared at her, horror and dread flooding through her. “What do you mean you don’t feel right?” She asked, fearing the answer Tristen might give.
“It’s not bad, not really,” Tristen started, looking down at her hands. “But… that doctor he’s been putting something in my drink and food as soon as I got there. He didn’t say what it was…”
Lily’s hands curled into fists and she closed her eyes, cursing the doctor once more. “What exactly are you feeling that’s not right? Maybe if you explain it to me, we can figure out what he did?”
“Well for one,” Tristen started and removed her cast and wiggled her fingers. “My wrist is completely healed. Also, I can see, hear, and smell better too.”
Lily didn’t dare move or even breath, fearing that if she did she’d explode in a furious rage. That bastard, she swore silently then moved on to more colorful insults.
“Am I… like you now?” Tristen asked.
A smile managed to break through Lily’s stony expression when Tristen sounded more curious than horrified. “Like me? No, but you may be a werewolf now.”
“I thought you had to be bitten to be a werewolf?”
“In the world before Xavier, you’re either bitter or born. Those were the only ways, but I became a werewolf when someone who was working with Thompson slipped something into my coffee. It was a serum that acted like a werewolf bite,” Lily explained.
“And that’s possibly what he gave to me?”
“It sounds like it, but we won’t know for sure until the full moon. Are you feeling shaky or feverish?” Lily asked, surprised that she was taking this all so well.
“No, I actually feel really good right now.”
Lily leaned back in the chair, not sure what that meant. When she was turned, she had thought at first she’d gotten a cold. She’d been tired, feverish and it didn’t get better until she went through her first shift. “Well,” Lily said, still pondering what he could have given her. “We’ll keep an eye on it and see what happens. Maybe we’re lucky, and he just gave you some really good vitamins.”
Tristen scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Somehow I don’t think I’ll be that lucky,” she replied.
Lily couldn’t help but laugh. It was true. Her family seemed cursed. “You’re lucky enough to be going home. That’s something. Speaking of which someone will accompany you on the plane back to Miami tomorrow morning. Nick’s going to make the call to the locals and tell them you were ‘found’ alive and well, and you’ll be heading home. It’s best if you don’t try not to make up any details and just tell everyone you’d rather not talk about it.”
“No kidding,” Tristen said with a sarcastic tone then grew worried. “Lily do you think they’ll leave my family alone now?”
“Lord Etienne gave his word, but I’m not sure how far we can trust that,” Lily admitted. “Just to be on the safe side, I’m going to give you some numbers, mine, my real dad’s, Nick’s, and a few others. You see, hear, or feel anything weird you call me or any of these people and we’ll come out and investigate. I’m also planning on having a word with the local Alpha and see if they can’t be encouraged to keep an eye on you and your family too. In case of the worst, someone will be with you during the full moon.”
The teen slumped as she relaxed. “Thanks, that makes me feel a better,” she said, sounding relieved. “But could you be the person who comes with me back home.”
“Me? Why?” Lily blurted in a knee jerk reaction.
“You’re my sister and Mom never said anything. I want to see what she has to say for herself. You say she abandoned you, don’t you want some answers?”
Lily wrinkled up her nose at the idea of talking to that woman again. “I use to, but now? I’m just not sure I care any more Tristen.”
“Well, I do. Will you please, please, come with me?”
Lily sighed then glared at the girl. “You know I hate you right,” she told her which made Tristen grin before getting up off the bed and hugging Lily.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” She said excitedly.
“But I didn’t agree,” Lily argued.
“It was close enough,” Tristen said, still hugging her.
Zander walked into the room, gave them an odd look. “I’ll come back,” he said and started out towards the door.