Chapter 433: Chapter 433

Chapter 433

Lanie My heart ached at the way we’d had to treat Xander’s mother, but there was no other way for it to go. We’d had to dance a careful ballet of the truth interwoven with half-truths and semi-truths. Our choreography skirted outright lies, but just barely.

She had to know where we were going so the High Council would follow, and she had to be convinced that staying was the best protection for the twins. We also had to convince her that we couldn’t tell Malachi or anyone else.

“He wouldn’t let us go,” I told her. “Not alone. And Stella was very clear. It has to be the five of us only. Nobody else.”

Gabriela had put the twins to bed while we finished quickly packing. Stella had not returned, and although I suspected Gabriela didn’t really believe she was paying homage to the Moon Goddess in her temple, she also didn’t keep pressing us for more details. Now, Xander’s mother finished spreading peanut butter and jelly on some bread to make sandwiches we could take with us. I hadn’t had the heart to tell her we didn’t need them.

“If he doesn’t stop you from leaving before you get out the front gates, he’ll figure out you’ve gone before you make it to the portal town,” she said.

Her knife moved over the bread, adding more layers. Her hands were steady. They’d been shaking a few minutes ago.

“We have a safe route through Standard,” I told her carefully. “Through the maintenance tunnels.”

There was no way for us to know if she was transmitting our words to the High Council through the scrying device. Every word we said and every item we chose to take with us had to be specific and purposeful. We wanted them to know where we were going, what route we were taking, and what time we planned to leave. Like everything else, some of what we said was true. The rest of it…we didn’t even fully know.

The Moon Goddess had convinced me to place my trust in Stella and also my own instincts, and so that’s what I was determined to do. It wasn’t easy. I had to keep taking slow, deep breaths while at the same time keep my expression from giving away my anxiety to Gabriela. I also had to show some nervousness, because there was no way I’d be able to convince her that I wasn’t worried at all.

This dance had so many steps, and I hadn’t practiced them nearly enough. I felt way too clumsy to be performing it. All I could do was keep stepping, even if it was over an abyss.

“How will you stop the enclave’s security systems from alerting your grandfather that you’re leaving?” Gabriela asked. She folded waxed paper around the stack of sandwiches and tucked them into a tote bag. She lifted it, hefting its weight, and put it on the table with a laugh. “I haven’t made this many PB&Js since Xander was going through puberty. He and Zane ate me out of house and home. My two boys.”

Her voice cracked, and I went to her. I didn’t think she’d let me hug her, but she did. I held her tightly, hoping we were doing the right thing.

Gabriela extricated herself from me. She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes. “The twins will be safe here. I’ll take care of them.”

“I know you will. And when we come back—”

“Don’t,” she said firmly around a tremor in her voice. “Just don’t, Lanie. I can’t bear to hear a promise you can’t make. Not in good conscience. Accepting that promise means I’m letting you lie to me, and I can’t have that.”

I nodded after a moment. She was right. We both hated it, but looking into her eyes, I saw that she also understood it.

“Lanie,” Xander said from the doorway. “Mom. We have to get going. Stella will be waiting.”

We hadn’t told his mother that Stella could speak to us through a new mind link. That was one piece of information we didn’t want the High Council to suspect. We did, however, want them to be on alert that we were heading out.

“Take these,” Gabriela said, handing him the tote.

When he peeked inside, surprise and pleasure wreathed themselves across his face in a broad smile. I’d never seen my Alpha smile that way before. It lifted my heart and broke it at the same time. It was the grin of a boy whose mother had made sure he had everything he could possibly want or need.

It faded quickly, replaced with a sterner expression. He hugged his mother and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks, Ma.”

Mason and Zane bustled through the doorway. Each had a backpack slung over one shoulder. That was all we were taking with us—one small bag each. According to Stella, we would find whatever else we needed along the way.

According to Gabriela, it might be all we needed for the rest of our lives.