Chapter 52

Loki.

I pulled into the garage at my house and shut the engine off. Suddenly I felt even more exhausted than I had since leaving the house a week ago. Everything looked the same as I had left it. There was snow covering the yard and the trees had lost their leaves. The house was in the same shape. The porch light was on.

We got out of the car. Billy and Regory had the same look on their faces. Sad and hopeful. I had told them, after leaving Seattle yesterday morning, everything I had planned. Billy had gotten this bright light in her eyes and nearly tackled me in a hug. Regory, stoic Regory, pretty much did the same thing. Dovie had just looked satisfied, like she could have predicted the whole thing from the beginning.

Which, she sorta did.

Wearily, all of us went into the house. I got two steps in before Monday jumped out of nowhere and onto me. Her arms went around my neck and she squeezed happily. “I missed you!” she said.

I hugged her back, only I used more strength in my hug than she had in hers. “Missed you, too,” I told her.

“I know.” She grinned and before I could comment, gave the same greeting to Wynn. He smiled just as widely. “It’s so quiet here without anyone else,” Monday said. “Another reason for me to be bitter about getting left behind.” She stuck her tongue out so I knew she wasn’t really angry about it anymore. She was nineteen, she was prone to grudges and a short temper.

“Well, we weren’t exactly having a picnic ourselves,” Wynn said sourly, moving around her and into the room. Seattle is nothing but bad news.” He shook his head.

The rest of us followed into the living room. He plopped down on the couch and I took a recliner, feeling every minute I spent in Seattle etched into my muscles. It wasn’t until after everything that my body realized what it had been through. And holy hell was I tired. I wanted to drag my body upstairs and plop down in bed, but I wanted more to talk with my sister.

The others didn’t feel the same way. It was late and they were all tired, so all of them trooped upstairs to commandeer a bedroom for themselves. There was more than enough room. Tomorrow they’d go home and relax for a few days before it was back to work at the security company.

I almost felt guilty about their short break.

Almost.

“How’d it go?” Monday asked. “I know everything was successful, but give me details.”

Wynn started telling the story as he knew it. After he was finished, Monday begged and cajoled until I felt irritated enough to give her my half of things as well. It was a long story for having been so little time. After I was finished telling, she got a thoughtful look on her face. “You still should have brought me,” she declared.

I chuckled. “Not on your life.”

She shrugged. “Whatever. We’re all home now, so we should have a Family dinner tomorrow, don’t you think?”

“Don’t get too comfortable,” I told her.

She looked up at me curiously. “Oh. Why is that?”

“We’re going to Arizona in a week to convince Asire’s father and grandparents to reverse the Orphaning.”

Dead silence.

“What was that?” she asked, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. “I’m sorry, I’m pretty sure you just started talking crazy and I’m not fluent in crazy.” Her words may have been harsh, but her eyes were dancing merrily. My sister was always up for some, as she called it, crazy.

“You heard me right,” I said. “You, me and the others who stayed here are going to Arizona in a week to talk to the Poole Family. We’re going to persuade them to give her a chance by letting Asire out of Seattle to prove herself.”

“What you mean is,” Monday said with the biggest smile on her face. “We’re gonna scare them until they do as we say?”

“Same thing,” I said.

Wynn laughed in amusement. “Have fun with that. I look forward to sleeping in my bed for the next forty-eight hours. Wake me only if the house is on fire.” He went upstairs, moving at an easy clip and a second later I heard his door shut.

“I get to go?” my sister asked.

“Yes.”

“Hot damn!” She jumped up and did a little dance in the middle of the living room. Then stopped mid-move. “Do they know we’re showing up?”

“Nope,” I said.

Another grin. “You’re playing with fire, Loki.” However, her eyes were alive when she said it. Enjoying her brother’s stupid antics too much for her own good.

I’d never been one to let people tell me what to do, though. Too used to being on my own. So, far as I was concerned, Asire’s relatives brought this upon themselves.

After ironing out a few details with Monday, I climbed to my feet and slowly started making my way up the stairs. Each step was exhausting. I got upstairs and went toward my room. I could hear my Family sleeping. Their steady heartbeats and breathing.

I was almost to my door when Dovie’s door opened and she poked her head out. “Hey,” she said.

“Hey,” I said back.

“I talked to Reggie before we left,” she said.

“Oh.”

“She told me what you said to Asire.” She held a hand up to stop my coming comment. “No. I don’t want to hear it. I just wanted to tell you that if you think you can watch her fall in love and mate with somebody else, then you are a damn fool.” With that she stepped back into her room and closed the door. Gently.

Feeling even wearier, I opened my door and looked at my empty bed. Instead of leaving me hollow and alone, I felt as if, this time when the dust settled, everything would be okay.

The End.