Hidden (House of Night Novels)

danger.”
    “I am not blaming you. Not at this time,” Thanatos said. “You say you left yesterday, and then returned today?”
    Aurox nodded. “I left because I needed to figure out who I am—what I am. I came here. I hid under the shattered tree.” He looked beseechingly at Thanatos. “I heard what you said at Dragon’s funeral pyre about what I am. I couldn’t bear it. All I could think was that I had to get back to Grandma Redbird—that she would help me figure out a way to undo whatever was done to make me.”
    “The killing of her daughter made you, Vessel,” Kalona said, his voice cold. “You expect us to believe you were granted sanctuary by the woman whose daughter’s death created you?”
    “It is unbelievable. I know that.” Aurox’s strangely colored eyes found mine again. “I do not understand how Grandma could be so kind, so forgiving, but she is. She even fed me chocolate chip and lavender cookies with milk.” He pointed down to his shoes, which I recognized as hand-stitched moccasins, the kind Grandma liked to make for Yule gifts.
    “No human is that forgiving. Even a goddess would find it difficult to forgive one such as you,” said Kalona’s cold, dead voice.
    “A goddess forgave me,” Rephaim said softly. “And I have done worse things than Aurox.”
    “Grandma named him bull. She makes chocolate chip and lavender cookies,” I said. “And those are her handmade moccasins, too.”
    “Which means you have been at her house, and that she talked to you,” Stark said. “But it doesn’t mean you didn’t do something terrible to her and then steal her stuff.”
    “If that’s true, then why would he come here?” I heard myself asking.
    “An excellent point,” Thanatos said. She turned to Shaylin. “Child, read his colors.”
    “I already have. That’s why Aphrodite stopped Darius and Stark from beating him up,” Shaylin said.
    “His aura is made of moonlight,” Aphrodite took up the explanation. “Which is why I stepped in and used a PAUSE button on the testosterone.”
    “Explain, Prophetess,” Thanatos commanded.
    “If he’s the color of moonlight then I have to believe he is, somehow, connected to Nyx because the moon is her main symbol,” Aphrodite said.
    “Well reasoned,” Thanatos said. She studied Aurox. “Even before Zoey strengthened your spirit you were controlling the metamorphosis that was trying to change you.”
    “I wasn’t controlling it very well,” he admitted.
    “But I could see you were trying.” Her gaze went from Aurox to me. “Would your grandmother forgive him, even after witnessing what he can become?”
    I didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Grandma is the kindest person I’ve ever known. She is our Wise Woman, our Ghigua.” I walked up to Aurox. “Where is she? Where has Neferet taken her?”
    “I do not know. I only know that Neferet battled with her. Grandma Redbird drew her blood, and now they are both gone. I am sorry, Zo.”
    “Don’t you ever, ever call me that again,” I said.
    Beside me, I could see Stark had narrowed his eyes and was studying Aurox like a fly he wanted to pull the wings off of.
    “You are not Heath Luck,” Stark said. He kept his voice pitched low, but it was obvious that he was ready to explode.
    Aurox shook his head, looking utterly confused. “I am Aurox. I do not know this Heath Luck.”
    “Damn right you don’t,” Stark said. “So, like Zoey said, don’t ever call her Zo again. You couldn’t even wipe the shoes of the guy who used to call her that.”
    “Does Heath Luck have something to do with Grandma Redbird?” Aurox asked.
    “No!” I cut off whatever pissed-off thing Stark was getting ready to say. “And we really need to focus on finding Grandma.”
    “I may know where Neferet has taken Sylvia Redbird,” Kalona said. We all stared at him expectantly. “She has a penthouse suite at the Mayo Hotel. The entire balcony is hers. The walls are solid marble and leak no sounds. She has all the privacy that her wealth can purchase. She could have taken Sylvia Redbird there.”
    “How could she have done that?” I asked, even though I wanted very much to believe finding Grandma was as easy as following Neferet to her penthouse. “Grandma wouldn’t have just walked in there with her, and even though the mayor and City Council seem to be kissing her butt, no way is the staff of the Mayo going to ignore the fact that she’s dragging an old woman through their lobby.”
    “You