“Hi, baby,” he whispered, his bright eyes glinting with happiness. “I’m gonna be your dad.”
My fingers curled around the back of his neck, relishing in the relief that he wasn’t angry. I sighed loudly, which caught Rush’s attention. His neck stretched high and looked up at me. I touched his cheek with my thumb as a small pool of tears settled in my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I waved my hand. “I just thought you would be angry.”
“About our child?” he roared. He stood up to his full, towering height, and I shrunk back. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his chest, stroking my hair. “Sloane, I would never be angry about something like this. This is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me apart from meeting you. I only said those things because I thought you weren’t ready.”
“I know,” I murmured. “It was just a lot. The war, and Beckett, and me getting taken, and then this…”
“Sloane, it only makes this sweeter,” he promised. “We’re going to start our family. I promise you; I am anything but angry.”
“Okay.” I nodded, snuggling myself more into his chest.
“Now what do you say we get you home, into a hot bath, with a giant plate of nachos.” Rush laughed, pulling me off the ground and into his arms. I groaned and closed my eyes.
“You don’t even know how good that sounds.” I touched the stubble on his cheek. “But there is one other thing I need to tell you.” He tensed but didn’t put me down. “Emily is coming home with us.”
“Who is Emily?”
She stood up, cautiously from the couch, and waved her hand slightly. “I’m Emily.” She smiled cautiously.
Rush’s happy face fell, and he looked down at me before setting me on my feet. Emily stepped out from behind the couch and reached her hand out to greet Rush. Rush narrowed his eyes but grabbed her hand gently in his.
“Who hurt you?” he asked sadly.
Emily was surprised, and it showed on her face. She shook her head, looking over at me.
“We’ll talk about it later,” I told Rush, wrapping my fingers around his arm.
He looked at me skeptically and then back to Emily.
“She helped us escape,” I told Rush through the mind link. I watched his blue eyes relax around the corners, trusting in me.
“Okay,” Rush spoke aloud, nodding his head. “Let’s get home then.”
I reached my thin hand out and weaved my fingers through Rush’s much larger, sturdier hands. Rush began walking forward, holding the door open for me and Emily to file through. He gave one nod to the Warriors who found us and brought us to the packhouse.
Emily lagged behind, falling a few steps behind Rush and me, still holding hands, until Rush stopped and placed his hand on her upper back. She tensed up, eyes wide, looking to me. Rush continued walking, unperturbed by her behavior, which prompted Emily to slowly relax.
Two cars were waiting outside, one with the driver door left open and the other with all the doors closed. Rush opened the back door of the first car and helped Emily inside. He held my door open as well and lifted me inside, buckling my seatbelt and kissing the side of my forehead.
The other car followed us back to our packhouse, which took about an hour and a half. Emily remained quiet for the entirety of the trip while I told Rush what happened.
At the mention of Kenna’s name, his hand clenched the steering wheel. I glanced down, still confused about how someone I was once so close with could betray me. I knew she was angry about the day her father was killed, and I had regrets about how absentminded I had been. I wasn’t attentive to her needs, and I allowed myself to be swept up in something that took my mind off of the current situation.
It wasn’t right, but it didn’t warrant her helping humans kidnap the other Lunas and myself. A loud honk of the horn brought me back to the present as Rush’s hand slammed down on it angrily.
“Hey,” I called softly, reaching over to pull his hand off the center of the wheel. “There’s nothing we can do until we question her.”
“I mind-linked Casey, she’s in the dungeon.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
We didn’t talk much after that. We got home in the late evening when the sun was just beginning to lower behind the house. Emily climbed out hesitantly and scurried to my side. Rush walked next to us quietly.
Cordelia and Hollis were waiting anxiously in the main room for us. When we entered, Cordelia immediately ran up and embraced Rush, stroking the back of his head. “Oh, thank heavens, you both are alright.” She released Rush and patted my shoulder. “I thought he would never stop crying.”
“Mom,” Rush snarled, red-faced and embarrassed.
“It’s true.” Hollis smirked.
“I’m just happy you’re okay.” Cordelia pursed her lips, smoothing her hair. Her eyes caught the sight of Emily behind me. “And who is this? Let’s get you cleaned up. That lip looks horrible.”
Cordelia took Emily under her arm and whisked her away, promising to get her cleaned up and presentable. Hollis followed lamely behind them.
“Come on.” Rush grinned, his lip hitching higher on one side. “Let’s go upstairs.”
“Not yet.” I stepped away from him. “First, I need to talk to Kenna.”
“We can talk to her tomorrow,” he promised, placing his arm around me.
“No, I need to see her now,” I shot out. “She put our child in danger.”
“I know that.” He nodded. “But, she’ll still be down there tomorrow.”
“Not good enough.” I stalked off towards the basement corridor.
“Sloane, just wait,” Rush called. I could tell he wanted to grab me, but my quick movements, coupled with the frail look of my body, stopped him. I held onto the railing tightly as I descended the stairs, intent on getting to Kenna.
Two long staircases winded down to
