Until I Die

least waved from the window to let me know you were okay.” He looked angry, but I could tell it was because he had been worried sick.
“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it.
We got into the car, and Jules pulled out of the parking lot and headed south. After fifteen minutes of silence, he spoke. “Kate, you have to tell me what you were doing back there with that crazy old lady and Raven-boy.”
“Raven-boy?”
“Bran. It’s a Breton name that means ‘raven.’”
Okay .
“Kate … how did that woman know what I was?”
“She’s a guérisseur whose family has links to the revenants.”
He paused, absorbing that information. “And you were there because …”
“I’m trying to find a way to help Vincent. So that he doesn’t have to finish this stupid experiment he’s doing at the moment. Whatever it is looks like it’s hurting him, not helping him.”
This seemed to defuse his tenseness, and his voice became softer. Understanding. “Honestly, Kate, I don’t even know what to say. I don’t think that you realize what you’re getting yourself into by exploring our world like this … by yourself. Those people could have been dangerous. They could still be dangerous. Everything having to do with revenants is. Because everything that has to do with us also includes the numa. Those people could have ties with our enemies.”
“They don’t, Jules. I’m sure of it. Gwenhaël even mentioned that her family had had a problem with numa hundreds of years ago.”
“WHAT? You see, Kate?” Jules yelled, banging his hand on the steering wheel.
“They aren’t aligned with the numa, Jules. They’re on your side. The revenants’ side. Our side. And I was never in danger.”
“And how do you know that from a twenty-minute chat?” Jules asked, his words short and clipped.
“I just know.”
“If the numa knew where this family of guérisseurs was hundreds of years ago, they might still know where they are now,” he said softly, almost to himself. He glanced at me, and then turned his gaze back to the road.
“Kate,” he said, weighing his words. “I care about you. You don’t even know how—” He cut himself off before he could finish and placed his hand on mine. I felt its warmth for one long second before he squeezed tenderly and moved it back to the steering wheel. “And what you’re doing right now scares the hell out of me. Swear that you will not put yourself into a dangerous position like that again. Not by yourself. Not without warning one of us what you’re doing.”
“I swear,” I said.
“I’m not sure if I believe you, but I’ve said my piece.” He glanced over at me and then back at the road, gritting his teeth. “So, Kate. You think of me as a friend, right?”
I nodded, wondering what in the world could be coming next.
“Then why did you involve me in something like this? Vincent is the person I am closest to in this world. When he finds out I took you to that place, behind his back, he is going to go ballistic. And he won’t be mad at you. He’ll be mad at me.”
“You’re not going to tell him?” I gasped.
“No. I’m going to leave that to you.”
“Well, I will tell him,” I said, suddenly feeling defiant. “As soon as I have more information. While he’s making himself look like an anemic insomniac, I’m not just going to sit on my butt and wait for him to come up with a solution to our problems.”
As we pulled up in front of my house, Jules looked at me with a strained expression. “Kates, I’ve got to give it to you—you are one determined, ballsy chick. But if you ever plan on doing something that’s going to piss Vincent off, leave me out of it.” It was his tone of voice, his obvious loyalty to his kindred, that got to me.
“I swear I didn’t think it through before I asked you to do this,” I said, choking a little on the words. “The last thing I want to do is cause a problem between you and Vincent. I am sorry for that part, Jules.”
He nodded his acceptance of my apology. “Out,” he said with a tired smile.
After pulling myself from the car, I leaned back in and said, “Thanks,” and gave him a peck on the cheek.
“Aren’t your grandparents going to wonder why you’re home so early?”
“Papy’s at his gallery, and Mamie’s working on a weeklong project at the Louvre. Unless you tell them, they’ll never know.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow morning, seven thirty sharp.”
My smile was difficult to pull off with the lump in my