Kindred by J. A. Redmerski Page A

containing the smile and hop inside.
    “The restaurant isn’t far,” he says. “I’ll drive slow so you don’t get any bugs in your teeth.” He grins.
    “Gee, thanks,” I say, smirking.
    The Jeep’s engine comes to life after Isaac gets in and he lets his window down as Treven comes around to his side.
    “So who’s it gonna’ be anyway?” Treven says, leaning over at level with the window.
    Isaac shakes his head once. “We don’t know yet,” he says. “So far, looks like it’ll be Nathan.”
    I know they’re talking about which of them will be Alpha.
    Treven looks mildly surprised. “He’s not going back with your father?”
    “No,” Isaac says looking at Nathan out ahead talking to Darren. “Things in our family have…changed.”
    I ignore the fact that his comment held an underlying meaning; one that I know involves me in some way.
    “Well, man,” Treven says, starting to lean away from the window, “not to be a dick, but you know you guys can’t leave this territory without an Alpha for too much longer. The next challenge probably won’t be from friends.”
    A knot forms in my throat and I can’t swallow it down.
    Isaac nods subtly, as if in thought, but agreeing with Treven. “I know.” His answer is distant.
    Treven smiles in at me, but there’s something more determined in his eyes. “You watch your ass, babygirl,” he says and looks back at Isaac. “You ever need us we’ve got your back.”
    “Thanks,” Isaac says.
    We pull away and Isaac drives slowly down the long dusty road, but it doesn’t help as much as I’d like at keeping the dirt out of my face now that there is no windshield.
    “You know,” I say, wrinkling my nose at him, “you’re kind of bloody to be going in a restaurant.”
    Isaac glances down at himself.
    “Shower?” he says, looking over.
    I nod heavily with a teeth-baring grimace.
    We stop at his house first and he showers and borrows one of his brother’s cars before we head to the restaurant.

5
     
     

     

    I PICK AT MY food after the waiter brings it to our table. All I can think about now is coming down with the flu right before our summer trip to Portland. Well, I have a few days to get over whatever it is. It’s annoying how at one moment I feel the sickness creeping up on me, and then the next moment I feel perfectly fine. At least the lightheadedness isn’t coming and going with the general crappiness.
    “I can’t believe you’re not going to eat that,” Isaac says across from me. He spears a huge piece of salmon on the end of his fork and somehow works it into his mouth. He’s a lot like Harry when it comes to food.
    “Hey, I ate some of it.”
    “Not enough,” he says, pointing at my plate with his fork. “Now eat.”
    I lean away from the table and press my back against the booth seat. Isaac stops eating and absently places his fork into the mound of rice on his plate. He swallows and takes a swig of soda, wiping his mouth afterwards with the edge of his thumb.
    “Don’t lie to me,” he says, “how long have you been feeling like this?”
    “Just since yesterday,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I kind of felt like this last year right before I got the flu—I do not want to go through that again.”
    He goes back to eating, but keeps his attention fully on me.
    “Maybe you should get a flu shot,” he says, taking a bite of rice.
    “Absolutely not,” I object. “I don’t do shots.”
    Isaac laughs.
    “Alright, well then I can get Camilla to mix you one of her health drink concoctions—some of that stuff she makes can burn the bacteria right out of your blood.”
    “Uhhh, no I think I’d rather take my chances with the fever.”
    “Smart girl,” he says grinning, pointing his fork toward me again.
    “Why does she make health drinks anyway?” I say. “Not like she’s going to die of any diseases or anything.”
    “She’s the weird sister,” is all that he says with the shrug of his shoulders. “Well, in