Illusions (Night Roamers) Book Four by Kristen Middleton Page B

later.”
    I nodded. “I agree.”
    I just hoped that there would be a time when we could move past all of this, and concentrate on getting our lives sorted out.
    “Oh, I forgot to tell you – I met Celeste’s brother tonight. At Club Nightshade. Right before you raced out of the building.”
    His eyes widened. “She has a brother?”
    “Yes. I guess he’s been gone for a while. He found out about Caleb and returned to avenge his death.”
    “Shit.”
    I smiled grimly. “Looks like he might be trying to avenge more than one death now.”
    He waved his thumb at his chest. “She attacked me. I was only trying to protect myself.”
    “It’s her brother. I don’t think he’ll care too much.”
    “She’ll survive. Just like she did before.”
    “Unfortunately, I’m sure you’re right.”
    He let out a ragged sigh. “Did he know who I was?”
    “No.”
    “Well, that’s good.”
    “She’ll tell him and it won’t be good. Not for either of us. I thought that maybe he could have helped us with Victor. But now…”
    “He’s going to go after Victor for killing his dad. Even if we’re not on the same side, it’s still going to benefit us.”
    “Yeah. True.”
    “So, what was he like?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. Our conversation was short and I couldn’t really tell. He seemed like he was reasonable, though.”
    “Let’s hope he’s reasonable enough to hear my side of the st ory when he comes looking for blood.”
    “I’ll talk to him first, before you do. But only if she pulls through. No need to offer him the information if it’s only going to put you in more danger.”
    He smiled grimly. “I won’t argue that.”
    “Are you finished eating?”
    He took another drink of water and then wiped his mouth with a paper towel. “For now. I’m still hungry, but nothing in the refrigerator sounds good. I need meat. A steak would be really sweet right now.”
    “ One that’s extra rare?” I replied.
    He frowned . “Probably. Let’s drop it, though, okay?”
    I agreed. He was still having a hard time dealing with what had happened to him, and I couldn’t blame him.
    He put his plate and glass in the sink and turned to me. “So, back to the ranch? You’ll give me a ride, right?”
    “Yes, but before we fly there, do you think you can transform into a lycan at will? Or are you going to need some practice? It’s taken me awhile just to get the flying thing down, you know?” 
    He scratched the side of his head. “Hmm… Good question.”
    “Maybe you should practice before we head on out? Instead of going in there blindly.”
    “But, what if I can’t change back at will? Or worse, what if I come after you?”
    My eyes widened. “ Nathan, are you saying that you probably can’t control yourself?”
    He was silent for a few seconds and then sighed. “Honestly, I really don’t know. I mean, I was still conscious of who I was after I’d changed. But, I also had this twisted urge to hunt and kill something. Like I was some kind of predator. I literally wanted to stalk, kill, and eat. And, I did, too. A small rabbit, which disgusts me now. But at the time, it felt… awesome.”
    “ Of course it did,” I replied. “It was the wolf part of you. Don’t feel bad about it. At least you only do it when you’re a lycan. I always crave blood. I don’t have to change into a predator to do it. I’m always this way. It’s pretty pathetic.”
    His eyes softened.  “It’s not your fault, Nik. Don’t feel guilty.”
    “I’m not sure if it’s guilt that I feel,” I replied. “It’s more like… a feeling of remorse. I miss being normal.”
    “At least you’re alive. You have to remind yourself of that every time you start feeling bad about it.”
    I cleared my throat. “I do, but it doesn’t make it easier.”
    He sighed. “You’re not a bad person, Nikki. Neither am I. We were just thrown into bad situations and now we have to make the best of it. We can’t go back, but we