“Yes.”
“I’m not sure what to say. He’s scary and killed a lot of people,” said Jennica.
“Do you really think your dad is back, Marty? Could it be a mistake and you thought you saw him?” asked Callie.
“I have no doubt it’s him. I’ve known he was a monster long before the world did.”
“Why now?” Callie asked.
And that was the question of the day.
“I don’t know. And, that worries me the most. If he’s been alive and in hiding for five years, what prompted his reconciliation attempts? When Lochlan and Sterling come back, they can help us strategize. He can’t be allowed to remain free,” I said.
Where is Zander and why isn’t he helping us?
“Has anyone seen Zander? I asked.
“No, do you think he went with Lochlan?” asked Callie.
“You saw him literally snap his way out of here. Zander was still here when Lochlan left,” I said. “We have more than enough help for now, but we can save something difficult for him to do. He’s probably smoking, but he can’t get out of this completely.”
“Marty, I’m so sorry. Things have gotten bad and you have more than enough to take care of without me adding to the burden. Should I leave?” asked Jennica in a soft, wavering voice.
I placed my hand on her shoulder and she leaned into me for the barest of touches before pulling back.
“No, you should stay.” Then to confuse her more, I added, “Actually, I’m not sure. I don’t know how safe any of us are. I can’t promise that staying here won’t put you and the others in danger.”
“We aren’t leaving you, Marty,” said Callie.
“I’m sorry I said to do otherwise. I want to stay. We’re family. Don’t think that doesn’t include you, Jennica. So no running off,” I said.
“I no intentions of running away. I’m not that irresponsible,” snipped Jennica. “Do you think the worst of me?”
She stomped away sniffling. That was a mood change. In that moment, she reminded me very much of Zander. With the two of them, it was like having teenagers in the house. Not that I thought badly of her, it was just that she used to be so different. The new Jennica could go from sweet and kind to waspish and surly in an instant.
Callie shook her head at me as if she knew what unkind thoughts were running through my mind.
I shouldn’t think of my dearest friend like this. It wasn’t right or fair what was done to her. And, now I had magic and she didn’t. Magic Jennica so desperately tried to get unblocked for herself when she was kidnapped.
“We can fix this. I don’t know her like you do, but she’s working through things. We all get like that and you know what it feels like to be kidnapped. She’s probably reacting more out of fear than anything,” said Callie.
“Not everything is so easily fixed,” I said as I worried that it would turn out to be the case.
I did know what that felt like. While, I wasn’t held against my will as long as Jennica was, my own recent kidnapping was still pretty fresh in my mind. Jennica wasn’t adjusting at all.
They removed the block on her magic and stole it. Jennica felt I should have done more to stop her from going to the mysterious group in the first place. Their promise of a cure to unblock her magic was crap and I knew it, but I was too wrapped up in my cases to look out for her. She had every reason to blame me, heck, I blamed me.
I turned my attention back to the damaged wall. If Lochlan hadn’t left, he could have magically restored the wall. As it was, we couldn’t leave it like this. It was a serious security breach and we needed security now more than ever. We’d come to stay with Lochlan when my magic demolished our old Agency and home. Now, we needed the protection from my dad as well.
Even with Lochlan’s protective wards surrounding the house, it wasn’t safe. My father had easily gotten through those without the wards indicating they were breached. Alarms should have gone off, but didn’t.
The front door was flung open and I flinched and yanked my sword out thinking it was my father. God, I’m such a baby. Once I saw who it was, I relaxed and put my sword away.
“I brought your bear back,” said Lochlan.
3
Lochlan walked into the house with his arm around Sterling, partially holding him up. Sterling’s shoulders drooped and lines of fatigue were etched around his face. And his face told me about his failure more than his words could. My father was still out there.
A sound from outside cut through the air, distracting me from Sterling’s condition.
“What’s that noise?” I asked, wincing at the baying or whatever the animal outside was doing.
“That is your beloved animal. It sounds like he’s ready to be untied,” said Sterling.
“You look terrible. Don’t bother telling us what happened. Let me get that monster of mine and then you can tell us all about it,” I said.
I quickly got Muffin and sat on the couch with him. He settled down on the floor near me, leaning against my leg.
Lochlan cleared his throat.
“I’m concerned about your safety. I can’t have you losing control and rampaging my house and the community, Sterling,” said Lochlan.
Sterling ducked his head. He prided himself on his ability to control his bear. This was a blow to his pride.
“I owe you an apology. You have every reason to question my control. I am not normally so undisciplined that I instantly transform. I’m ashamed by that. We’ll make it a priority to get a new place,” said Sterling.
“That wasn’t my intention. Be at ease, I’m not kicking any of you out,” said Lochlan. “We need to establish some boundaries.”
He stopped and pointed at my feet. “Marty, do something about that dog.”
The dog in question was once again nibbling on the furniture. I jerked on
