Free Ascend (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #4) by Alexandra Anthony Page B

“Tomorrow.”
     

Chapter 4 - Line in the Sand
     
    "Do you want to explain why Lukas and Anna are both frantically working the phones next door?  What's going on?"  Nikolaus asked.  He glanced between Stefan and myself for an answer.  We were both stone faced, refusing to give anything away.
    I knew this wouldn’t be easy with my brother after I’d made the call to see him this morning.  I’d anticipated his reaction, carefully planning out my answers.  We were cut from the same cloth.  We were both difficult, argumentative and stubborn.
    Stefan left my side and lowered his large frame in the chair by the window.  He didn’t relax; he simply sat and tapped out a nervous rhythm on his thigh as his blue eyes followed my every move.  He was giving us our space, yet still close enough to intervene if the questions became too difficult to answer.  Honestly, I was on my own.  Stefan and I could easily communicate telepathically because of our bond, but he didn’t have that advantage with Nikolaus.
    Focusing back on my brother, I studied him briefly.  I could see his agitation building as he waited for my answer.  His wild, dark hair was rumpled from frequent passes of his fingers and his lips were tense. "Long version or short?" I finally asked, exhaling loudly.  I was hoping he’d go for the short version and this could be over quickly.
    His fingers brushed through his dark hair, making it stick up in all directions.  "Fuck, Josie.  Why is it always complicated?  I just need facts.  Something concrete."
    Tapping my temple, I thought to Nikolaus instead of talking .  "Anna is arranging for movers.  It's not safe here.  The walls may have ears."
    His green eyes tightened and I caught him looking over the living room of our apartment.  I almost expected him to start lifting vases and looking behind the artwork on the walls for bugs, but he simply waited for me to explain.
    Verbally, I spoke.  "Anna's settling things.  Human things.  She's never had the chance since her…change.”
    His dark eyebrows rose until I thought they’d disappear into his hairline.  He rubbed his lips with his fingers. "Safe for who?  You?  Or all of us?"
    Shrugging, I flipped my long hair over my shoulder.  "All of us.  I'm not willing to chance it, Nik."
    Nikolaus began to walk around the room, lifting up sculptures and pulling books from the bookshelf, just as I thought he’d do.  He glanced over at me with a half-smile. "And what is Lukas up to?  He’s acting like he’s on a party line."
    Oh boy.  This was going to be the part where things were going to become difficult for him.  "He's making travel plans for Stefan and myself."
    He froze with a heavy book in his hand.  He didn’t make any effort to move.  He simply stood, his shoulders slumping. "You're leaving?"
    Nodding, I stepped closer to my brother.  Once I was close enough, I placed a gentle hand on his tattooed arm.  "I have things to wrap up at Garrett's house.  There will be a day I won’t be able to return.  You know this."
    He slammed the book on the shelf with a loud thump, causing me to jump from the impact.  "It’s settled.  I’m going with you.  You need to tell Lukas to add another person to your party."  
    Stefan's finger tapping stopped abruptly, drawing our attention to him.  His voice was gravelly and deep when he spoke.  "The fewer involved is best."
    Nikolaus ignored Stefan and spun so he could grip my shoulders.  "Garrett was my uncle too.  Please, Josie.  I need closure too."
    His words cut like a knife and guilt crept in through the wounds his words inflicted, gripping my chest like a vice.  "I know he was your uncle.  But you need to stay here with Anna and help her.  Some of this won’t be easy for her to handle.”  Silently, I pled with him to understand .  “If Kian finds her alone...who knows what could happen.  I need you here to handle things and support Anna.  She needs you now more than