Red String {EDITING}

Chapter Nine | Tracking Frost

"Zen—"

The white-haired elder – Zen – laughed hopelessly. It sounded so different to his. "A child's misdeeds can often be traced back to their parents," Zen spoke. "My son has hurt you. Deeply. For that I apologise." He closed his eyes, hands covering his face as he sucked in a long breath. "I still don't know where I went wrong with him."

"You didn't go wrong with that brat," Blythe muttered. "Actually, I lie. You should've been tougher on him when he came out of juvie."

Zen shook his head. "He shouldn't have gone there in the first place."

"Like I was saying – you're too soft on him."

Zen snarled. "And what would you know about parenthood?" he snapped, glaring at the other elder, and Lyra flinched back. "You haven't even found your mate yet."

"I practically raised Blu and the other little terrors who now run the Pack," Blythe muttered blithely. "That's parenthood right there."

Zen rolled his eyes. "That's different... not to mention Blu still flinches whenever you go near him," he said, sounding oddly petulant.

Arrow snickered.

"Ugh. Don't get me started on you, brat," Blythe grumbled, finally letting go of her face to go and plop himself back down on the sofa. "You were a little nightmare."

"Who followed you everywhere," Zen said with a smirk despite the glare sent his way, sounding decidedly calmer than before.

"Let's just get on with what we came here for," he said, pointing at the seat opposite him as he turned to stare at her. "Get over here, red. You too, little fish," he added, waving Rylan over. "We don't actually need to ask any questions, so stop looking like you're going to bodily remove us from the room – you wouldn't succeed in it in the first place."

Grunting in annoyance, Rylan guided her over to the sofa, seating himself down next to her with a glare aimed at the pair opposite them. "So," Lyra began, looking less nervous than she actually felt. "What can I help you with?"

"All Zen needs is some of your blood," Blythe said. "Then his gift will do the rest, and we'll be a step closer to finding Frost."

"Frost," Lyra echoed, blinking dumbly. "His name is actually Frost? That wasn't a codename?"

"Nope," Blythe murmured, pointing at his companion. "You can blame this idiot for his lack of skill with naming his children."

"Child," Zen corrected. "I only have one child, in case you forgot."

Blythe ignored his words, turning to her instead. "So," he said. "Your hand, if you would."

Gingerly, Lyra held her hand out, eyeing the pair of them warily. A hand crept around her back, sliding around her waist to land in her lap. Her gaze flickered over to Rylan, and she startled at the feel of his hand almost clawing at her stomach. It didn't feel wrong.

The bond purred.

Rylan growled lowly, chest vibrating softly as Zen took her hand, and Lyra almost rolled her eyes. The joys of having a possessive mate, she mused, gently pressing her free hand over his own. Though she couldn't deny she didn't mind either his possessiveness or his touch. Partially the work of the bond no doubt.

"My apologies," Zen said, revealing a pair of sharp canines hidden behind his thin lips.

It was no worse than a pinprick, and Blythe already had the disinfectant and a plaster handy. Not that she really needed them. "Calm down, little fish," he said, wrapping the plaster over her finger all the while. "I know you probably wanted to be the first to bite her, but the information we needed was more pressing of an issue."

Rylan sighed. "I know," he murmured, and Lyra was fairly certain she saw the beginnings of a pout. "Doesn't mean I enjoyed watching another break her skin."

"Then you should probably be glad you don't have my gift," Zen mumbled, a faraway look in his eyes.

Lyra stared at him, throat dry as she began to have an inkling of what his ability was. She prayed she was wrong – she didn't want anyone else to see. "What is your... ability?" she asked, stiffening even as Rylan's hand shifted to capture her own in his warm grasp.

"Oh, it's a blood-based ability, in case you hadn't guessed," Blythe answered for him, shifting on his seat to face them once again. "It's why he has rather prominent canines – something fairly common amongst blood-based abilities. There are a few conditions regulating his, but it's falls under the category of psychometry." He shrugged. "He can see memories when he consumes the blood of living creatures. How much depends on how fresh the blood is."

Lyra froze, understanding the haunted look in Zen's eyes in an instant. She never should have let him taste her blood. "Oh," she mumbled, shrinking back away from those blue eyes which stared at her in sorrow.

"I don't think any number of apologies in the world can make up for what my... son did to you," he said, rising to his feet slowly, looking terribly pale as he did so. "I'll keep what I saw to myself, you have my word on that. But"—Zen paused in front of the door—"Rylan... you should probably hug her a lot. Goddess knows she deserves it."

Lyra stood, determinedly looking away from the elder. "I should get back to work," she said blankly. He knew. Her fingers went to her neck, nails scraping at the soft skin there. "You don't need anything else from me, do you?"

Arrow shook his head. "No, but are you sure you're in any state to—"

"I'm fine," she hissed, scratching as though she could get rid of the cold steel blade she could still feel digging into her neck. Why couldn't the memories leave her alone already?

"The scratching says otherwise," Blythe declared, but Lyra was already storming towards the door. She just needed to work. To numb her mind with the boredom of sorting papers. Maybe then the feeling would vanish.

Arms came around her, pulling her back before she could reach the door. She found herself spun around in an instant, her face pressed up against a warm, familiar chest. "I don't know what Zen saw," Rylan began, tucking his chin atop her frizzy red hair. "But I take the words of my elders very seriously – so expect lots more hugs, alright?"

Lyra blinked, sinking almost bonelessly into the comforting arms of her mate. It didn't make everything OK... but it helped.

Rylan smiled down at her, letting his arms drop back to his side, and Lyra wasted no time in hurrying out the door. There was heat in her cheeks, and the feeling of his arms wrapped around her which followed her through the corridor even as the conversation continued on behind her.

Blythe arched an eyebrow. "You take the words of your elders very seriously now, do you?"

Rylan blushed. "Shut it, old man."