Chapter 560 Chapter 560
Blaise flicked her gaze over to see Griffin was looking at her again. Getting up, she went into the bedroom and closed the door. That was a mistake, it was the one Griffin had slept in and the entire space was drenched with his scent. She sighed into the phone.
“What’s going on?” Emersyn asked her, “I know you call a few times a week, but you haven’t said five words this time just listen to me rattle on about Aspyn and the other kids.”
She needed to tell someone, and it wasn’t like she even had girl talks with any of her family. “Griffin, the half-brother of Aiden Tomas is,” she bit her lip, then softly breathed, “my mate.”
“Okay. Is that good or bad, because from your tone, I can’t be sure?”
“I don’t know.” It was the truth, she wasn’t sure because her own feelings and emotions were changing multiple times each hour. “He’s a half-breed.” She scowled at her own words. It felt wrong even to say that after what she’d been through in her life. She knew better than to use a label.
“I don’t think he had any choice in that.”
Blaise crossed her arm over her chest and rested her other elbow on it, “no, I get that.”
“Is he a bad person?”
Leave it to Emersyn to ask the questions no one else would think of. “No. I don’t get that vibe. Sure, he’s done some bad things to survive, but overall,” she looked at the door, “he might be boy-scout material.”
“Is that bad? I’m not sure what that means.”
“He’s given us a lot of intel, and I mean game-changing information that will help us stop Tomas and all those that work with him.”
“Bless him. That’s great. So, he wants to stop them then.”
“Yeah, but—” but what? “I have to go; we’re just taking a short break, and I’m sure Noah will want to check in with you.”
“Oh, okay. Blaise, I know I don’t understand a great deal, but I’m always here if you need someone to talk to.”
“I know. I appreciate that.”
“Are you okay? Or as okay as possible right now?”
Blaise smiled and then nodded, “I’m all aces, Em.”
She heard the soft laugh, “I can’t believe you still say that aces thing. That was a lifetime ago.”
“It was, but it still stands. I’ll talk to you soon.” She hung up as soon as her friend said goodbye and then looked at her phone. Emersyn was probably her only friend. Others she worked with, she rarely socialized with. All she had in her life was work. Going from assignment to assignment and carrying out orders.
Going back out, she saw that Blair and Devin were going over the notes and map again. Griffin had really come through with viable information. She turned to see he stood by the window staring out it. His shoulders lifted and dropped a few times. She knew the signs of feeling confined indoors all too well. “Grab your jacket, and we’ll go out for some air.”
He turned, and she saw him exhale. “Yes.”
“Comm up, report anything off,” Devin told her.
She nodded and picked up two of the earbuds sitting on the charger.
Blair came over and grabbed one, and put it in his ear. “Blaise and Griffin are coming out for some air.” He stated. She held out the other one to Griffin, who frowned at it, but put it in his ear anyway.
Blaise wasn’t sure who was nearby. She’d caught sight of a few she recognized in the last few days but didn’t know them by name, just that they were on one Alliance team or another.
She imagined Griffin wouldn’t be without hidden guards for a long time. He’d always had guards, only this time, they were here to protect him, not imprison him.
“Copy,” a voice she didn’t recognize said in her ear.
Slipping her boots on, she motioned for Griffin to go out after her. He stepped aside, happy to comply. Blaise wasn’t sure of their exact location, but the air was so clean and pure, she didn’t care. It was so much better than being in the city. How did shifters even tolerate breathing in toxins every day? She would never be a city dweller.
“Think we can go for a short walk?” Griffin spoke from behind her.
She held up her hand and then depressed the comm button. “We clear for a walk?” She scanned the area.
“Nothing seems out of place.” The unknown male informed her.
“Don’t go too far,” Blair’s voice she knew.
“Will do.” She responded and then motioned for Griffin to lead the way. She was more comfortable following.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, she was okay with the quiet. A rabbit darted out of the trees, and Blaise had her hand over the gun strapped to her side. She left it there to see if it was just one and not something in the snow-covered bush that was causing the critter to evacuate in such a hurry. After a moment, she confirmed it was just the one.
“I don’t think Aiden is aware.”
She looked at him when he paused so she was beside him. “Aware?”
“That he’s been watched all these years.” He started to walk again. “He seems to think your kind—"
"Our kind." He was, just as much as her.
“Our kind are addle-minded.”
“That’s an advantage for us.”
“It is.” He rolled his shoulders, “I’m exhausted. With each face or detail, I have to live through the memory to go with it.”
“I can’t even imagine that.” She had her own memories that haunted her, but her childhood issues couldn’t compare with thirty years of being a prisoner of circumstance.
“This new version of my body cramps up so easily.” He paused and stretched.
She smirked, “yeah, the animal inside isn’t calm and relaxed often. You’ll get used to it. Runs and stretching help a lot—and communication.”
He looked down at her, “I don’t think we’re talking yet.”
“I would probably be crabby if I’d been trapped for the last fifteen years too.”
“Fifteen years?”
“Yeah,” she motioned to walk, “our animals are dormant for fifteen years, roughly—mostly males, females are a bit longer.” She turned down a road, figuring they would circle back around in a few minutes. “Yours has been forced to sleep for the last fifteen years.”
“Guess I see his point with the anger, but he could give a guy a break. Trying to function when your leg muscle is rock hard, or arms don’t bend all the way because of muscle expansion—isn’t pleasant.”
Blaise grinned, “hopefully, you get used to it soon.” She looked him up and down, and then looked away before her cat got any ideas she didn’t need to think about.
“Do you think I’ll ever shift?”
“Hard to say.” She tensed when she heard a vehicle coming up on them. Turning she saw it was an old stake truck with crates on it, the tarp was falling off. She started walking again. “I don’t think you’ll shift all of a sudden without warning if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“That’s—” he collapsed on the ground beside her.
“Griffin?” She dropped down and then felt a pinch in her neck. Quickly she pushed the comm button, “stake truck, yellow—” everything blurred.
“I’ll find you, Blaise.”
She blinked, was that Tripp? Tripp was here.