Chapter 163 Chapter 163
Carrying the coffee, he really didn’t need, but had needed to stall for a moment, he stepped into the room. It wasn’t a large room and now, with nine people crowded around the bed, it felt like there wasn’t enough room to breathe.
“What’s going on?” Jay asked in a quiet voice.
“Blair has something to tell us,” Kobie said but didn’t make eye contact with him when she said it.
Everyone looked at him. Was spontaneous stage fright a thing? Because something was happening he’d never felt before. His chest was tight, his heart was racing, he had to work to keep his breathing under control and he wasn’t sure, but it felt like his fricken cat was pacing inside him. Clearing his throat, he bent down and set his cup on the side table. “I spoke to the King of the Alliance a while ago,” he glanced around at the hopeful faces watching his every breath, “he’s approved moving all of you to a property not far from where my clan is.” He cleared his throat again, “it’s a huge property, a great big house, more than big enough for everyone.” He stopped there and looked around, trying to gauge the opinions.
“Will we be safe there?” Daisie asked.
He gave her a reassuring smile, “yes,” he looked down at Jay, “it’s easily defendable, easy to patrol.” He was being as respectful as he could to the only male left in this clan, the one that if he hadn’t been in the state, he was in would for all purposes already be the Alpha. “And my clan is close by, you’ll always have help.”
Jay looked at him for a moment, then moved his eyes and looked at his sister.
“How will we support the clan? We left everything we had behind.” Torrey hugged Kasia against her side.
“The Alliance can afford to help, so don’t worry about that right now. Details like that can be sorted out later on.” He knew it was the truth. He’d find a way to get what they needed.
“When are we moving to it?” Nichelle kept her voice quiet, respecting the seriousness of the conversation.
“A few days from now.” He glanced at Jay, his expression was hard to read because he was still watching his sister. Blair was willing to bet that he sensed the trouble their earlier conversation has stirred up.
“There’s a catch,” Kobie said quietly.
“No Alpha,” Jay said in a small voice.
Blair nodded, “it’s not an issue right now, with everything you’ve been through.”
“But it will be?” Cortney was sitting beside the bed with Daisie in her lap.
“It’s part of the Alliance’s pact that no clan is left without a leader.” He looked to see Jay was looking at him now. “For everyone’s safety.”
“It makes sense,” Franki said. “You can’t have clans out there running amok and doing whatever, they could endanger all shifters.”
Blair gave her an appreciative look for saying that.
“I can’t be Alpha,” Jay said slowly. A few of the women gasped at that. Jay turned and looked at Mika for a second, “I can’t lead when I can’t even move, Mika.”
She blew out a scant breath and nodded briefly.
“So what happens then?” Annamarie asked, looking only to Blair.
“There are a few options.” He said slowly and looked at Kobie, trying to get a sense of how much he was to share. “Merging with another clan, but no specifics have been figured out regarding that.”
Torrey looked at Kobie, she shook her head.
“Kobie has never been after a leader’s position,” Jay said to the room.
Daisie jumped up from her mother’s lap. “Blair can do it.” She looked very excited. “He got us here.” She nodded, “he helped Annamarie, and,” she looked at Jay, “he let me ride on his back up the mountain when I was tired.”
Blair rubbed his hand along the side of his jaw as he looked around at the others. “No decisions have to be made right now.” He finally said as ten pairs of eyes studied him with great scrutiny, “I just wanted you to know that you have a safe place to call home.”
“Thank you,” Jay said and then glanced at Kobie again. “I’m quite tired.”
Those sitting stood up.
Blair wasn’t sure if he really was or if he was throwing him a little help in a crazy-tense situation. Picking up his cup, he backed out of the room and went out into the kitchen.
Annamarie came out and looked at him. “I agree with Daisie.” She gave him a serious smile, no flirtation at all. With that, she walked outside.
Nichelle came out and smiled at him. “Thanks, for looking out for us.”
Blair lifted his cup to her, but couldn’t think of a thing to say that didn’t sound boastful.
Daisie and Kasia came out and darted out the door. Right behind them was Cortney. She paused by the door. “Any word?”
He knew what she was asking. “The king still has a team down there looking into it. He’s hopeful they’ll have some answers in the next few days.”
She nodded and then looked over her shoulder checking on the others. She came over quickly, “do you know if they were all…” she broke off, tears in her eyes.
“All they know right now is, they took six unharmed.” He didn’t know if it was unharmed, but he couldn’t bring himself to say six were alive.
Cortney inhaled loudly through her nose and then nodded. “Okay, that’s more than I had. Thank you.” She touched his arm briefly and then went outside.
The others came out, Kobie was last.
“Blair, Jay wants a second with you.”
Setting his cup down, he went over to the door.
“He needs to sleep.” She whispered as he went by her.
He nodded and went in and closed the door.
“I couldn’t back you,” Jay said quickly, “in front of my sister—not with the waves of anxiety coming off her.”
Blair nodded, “I get that.” And he did. That same sister was pissed at him right now, so he understood that her brother would know all about his sister’s wrath.
“But I do.” He whispered. “The girls have been telling me things you’ve done.”
Blair tucked his hands in his pockets, unsure if he was meant to say something or not.
“When Daisie was taken,” Jay gave him a look that said he’d understood those two were no longer among the living, “what you did for Annamarie earlier.” Jay moved his head slowly like he was trying to nod, but it was just too much effort to follow through. “They’ve lost all their menfolk, Blair,” his voice cracked with emotion, “they need a strong one to get them through.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He said, meaning it completely.
“I know,” Jay looked at him again, “but you have to convince my sister that you are what she needs.” His voice was getting quieter and quieter, “just,” he coughed breathlessly, “if you’re one of the Alliance’s warriors, make sure you’re on the same page with her and her with that.”
Blair nodded, even though Jay had closed his eyes again. “Get some rest.”
“Yeah.”