Lucas quietly closed the front door, a smile still lingering on his lips. After the movie, he'd seen that Tia had fallen asleep in his arms, and he wondered at the fact that anyone could feel safe enough with him to do that. It had taken all of his willpower to shout down the voices last night, so that he could focus on Tia. He felt exhausted, washed out, but it was worth it. She was worth it. Carrying her into her bedroom and tucking her in without waking her up felt better than a week in a Glade. He hoped she liked the note. He'd been working on his handwriting.
He paused for a moment as he passed the bird feeder. Slipping sideways for a moment, immersing himself in the spirit of the world, he opened his eyes to the umbral reflection of Tia's neighborhood. Hovering near the bird feeder was a hummingbird-spirit, watchful and war-like. Just what he needed. Speaking to him in the spirit-tongue, Lucas convinced the little warrior to guard this place until midday, plenty of time for Tia to wake up and discover her unlocked front door. With a whispered oath to maintain a feeder in one of his parks until the next full moon, the deal was struck.
It wasn't until he reached Sky Harbor that the whispers started again.
She isn't good enough for you.
Strengthen the blood, boy.
She's a tool of her tribe. You can't trust her.
Will you claim her unclean brat as your own?
Honor your heritage!
...kill her...
"NO!"
Two dozen waiting passengers turned as one to look at the crazy man. The panic rising within him, Lucas choked it back, plastering a smile on his face as he pulled the headset out of his ear and showed it to them. Two dozen waiting passengers went back to ignoring the douchebag with the bluetooth.
Lucas sighed in relief. Certain technical improvements made it much easier to hide his own infirmities. Ironic, really. It usually went the other way 'round.
Don't listen to them, Lucas. A mate is more than a vessel for a bloodline. She reminds me of your grandmother, in a way. At least she's nothing like her mother.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
Then the announcer called boarding for his flight, and he flew away to a place where he knew she would be safe from him, just in case.
