Reynaud's Redemption, стр. 17
“That is not my intention, love. You know that.”
“Okay, well then, just talk to me. I’m sure if we—”
“Can we talk about it later? We’ve had a long day and there is still much to put away before we get to bed.”
Cameron pressed his lips into a thin line. The muscles in his jaw twitched, as he seemed to struggle with whether or not to release a retort.
“Fine,” he said through clenched teeth and walked away.
Reynaud groaned. His little lover was not happy with him. The tight, one-word agreement was proof of that. Cameron continued to unload the vehicle with him, but he didn’t say another word or send a glance his way.
Hours later, after food and a shower, Reynaud slipped into bed. He reached over to hug Cameron but the man rolled away, letting Reynaud’s hand slide off his body.
“All right, Cam. Let’s talk.”
Cameron looked over his shoulder. “I don’t have anything to say, Reynaud. There’s nothing bothering me,” he stated then rolled over again.
Reynaud sighed. There’s that tone again.
Fortunately, he had not caused too much friction in their relationship to merit the tone. On the rare occasions when it had come out, however, Reynaud knew that whatever the issue was that had created it needed to be resolved if there was to be peace between them again.
“You’re right, Cam. It’s me, but… Well, I don’t know where to start.”
Cameron shifted onto his back and folded his arms over his chest. “How about at the beginning?”
Reynaud nodded. Sitting up, he propped his pillow behind him and raised his arm in invitation. Cameron hesitated only for a moment. With a surrendering sigh, Cameron scooted beside him and Reynaud held him close.
“I don’t really know how to explain it, love. You’re right, though. Ever since my magic returned, something has been nagging at me. It almost feels like someone is calling out to me, but it is just outside my conscious reach.”
Cameron looked up with a raised brow. “You think someone is looking for you? Wouldn’t all your people be dead after all this time?”
“Not necessarily. Creolytes coexist with humans, but because we were born with magic, we live longer. Our powers make us stronger from the inside out. It enhances cellular regeneration, allowing us to age slower. Most Creolytes move from sect to sect so regular people don’t notice that they have not grown old after some time has passed.”
“So it could be possible that someone is reaching out to you?”
“Yes, very possible.”
“Do you think it may be Angele?”
Reynaud heard the apprehension in Cameron’s voice as he pushed the question out. He hugged him reassuringly then lifted his chin to place a soft kiss on his lips.
“No, my love. Angele has been dead a very long time. Though our powers makes us more resilient, we share the same frailties as regular humans. We are very mortal, and can die in the same ways as people with no magic abilities. Baptiste killed Angele. He is dead.”
Cameron let out a breath, seemingly relieved. “Then who?” he asked.
Reynaud pondered. “I think it may be Madame Cousteau.”
“The council leader? The one who was like a mother to you?”
Reynaud nodded.
“Could she still be alive after all this time too? I mean, she was old even then, wasn’t she?”
Shrugging, Reynaud replied. “I don’t see why not. Barring any unforeseen disaster that may have ended her life prematurely, Madame Cousteau and the other leaders could be alive, albeit they’d be very elderly. Though she and the others were my seniors of at least fifty years at the time of my punishment, their magic was extremely strong. It would have preserved them.”
Cameron gasped. Sadness filled Cam’s gaze when he looked up at Reynaud.
“What is it?”
“Reynaud, New Orleans did have a disaster. It happened about ten years ago. A storm came through and destroyed the levies. Water devastated everything. Some parts of the city are still recovering, even now.”
As the ramifications of Cameron’s words sank in, horror swelled within him and unanswered questions became clear. Cameron had taken him to different parts of the city since his powers had returned to help re-familiarize himself with his surroundings as a man. It did not escape him that much had changed, but Reynaud hadn’t thought too much of it.
More than one hundred years had gone by since his sentencing. He remembered the passage of time that had transpired while he was in his dog form and how he’d felt when people either liked or hated him, but noticing changes in the landscape were beyond his canine mind. Some of the anger and disappointment he felt toward his people still lingered after he’d been restored, but Cameron’s love had eased it away with time.
Now that he had his man form, Reynaud expected his body to buzz as the magic inside him reacted to his surroundings, but that had not been the case. The territory was once abundant in the herbs needed to perform many enchantments, but he’d seen very few during his tour. The plants were one of the reasons why the first Creoles chose New Orleans to settle so long ago. They had not gone back to where he once lived yet because the café had become successful enough to occupy all of his free time. Now a desperate need rose within him to verify its existence.
“Cameron, you say there are places that have not yet recovered? Even after a decade has passed?”
Cameron nodded. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“I must see if my old home is one of those places. Will you take me there tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
Reynaud let out a breath and eased down the headboard onto his pillow, drawing Cameron with him. Fear of what he would find filled his thoughts. He made a