“I can help as well,” said Christoph. His wing brushed my side as he stepped forward. He and Bas grasped the bars of the cage, lifted, and walked toward the entrance. Meribah’s eyes were closed, her arm was bandaged and she didn’t even twitch as she was being transported. “Shall we bring the prisoner to the portal?”
“Yes. Please.”
I left Maritza, Bas, Christoph, and the cage at the portal tree with the excuse I wanted to see if anyone was at the farmhouse. I assured them I could drive myself home and added that a checking-in superseded a hot bath.
Memories had been unspooling all day and into the night. I used the time walking the path from the oldest section of the orchard to the newest, winding them into a ball, like I did when Aunt Noémi asked for my help with her yarns.
By the time I reached the warm yellow glow of the porch lights, I was ready to crawl the rest of the way to my car. I mounted the steps, let myself in, and listened for voices.
Belle rounded the corner from the pantry, dessert bowls in each hand. “Wes is resting upstairs,” she said. “L’Runa and Rose left a while ago. Both of them said you’re to call no matter the time if there is anything you need.”
I plopped my sore butt onto the kitchen chair she offered. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“I don’t have all the details, but I can tell you the LaFleurs insisted the girls come home and invited Hyslop and Peasgood to go with them. Vadim was adamant they would be back in good time.”
“Was anyone injured?”
Belle blew out a breath, set the stack of bowls in the table, and pulled out a chair for herself.
“Doug’s in bad shape. There’s a psychiatric wing at the Grand St. Kitts Clinic, and two of the Fae guards will escort him there in the morning.”
“Where is he now?” I asked.
Belle looked at the ceiling. “Up there. Tied to the bed and knocked out. Good thing I brought an emergency stash of elixirs with me. The guards are with him.” She patted the hand picking at the dried streaks of dirt disguising the original color of my pants. “There’s no reason in the world for you to see him, Calli. Wait until he’s of sounder mind.”
I nodded, my chin quivering. “How’s Wes?”
“Banged up but otherwise well. Kaz has been in touch with me since he arrived at your house. Your Thatcher’s quite the empath, and Harper will recover. Though what Doug put him through…” Belled tsk’d.
“And Roger and Adelaide?” I had to ask, had to know what kind of protection we would need in the coming days and weeks.
“You took after Meribah, and all hell broke loose between those two, the LaFleuer’s Fae, and that wolf, the brown one.”
Jack. “Is the wolf okay?”
Belle slapped the table and laughed. “Man’s got an appetite, that’s for sure. It’s a good thing you thawed all those steaks,” she said. “By the time he was done with Adelaide, he was missing a lot of fur, but he got her. One of the guards used the chains on Adelaide and bound her up good. Jack brought her to the jail, said he’ll call you tomorrow.”
“And Roger?”
Belle snapped her fingers. “The way Jack and Wes described it, Doug’s brother went berserker then disappeared. It was his knives that carved up Wes, but like I said, Wes is resting.”
“Do you think he’d mind if checked on him?” If any permanent damage had befallen Wes, I wasn’t sure how I would handle the guilt. The man had become someone I considered a friend.
“I think it’d be best if you got yourself home, Calliope Jones. Your boys need you more than that old druid. Besides,” she said, winking, “Rowan will be here soon, and if anyone knows how to heal Wes, it’s her.”
I stood and opened my arms for a hug, comforting myself in her soft curves and her mysterious scent. “Thanks, Belle.”
The twenty-minute drive home took closer to forty. I was exhausted and overly cautious, but when I passed through the wards and they shimmered green in response, I had a feeling we would be okay.
I left my car on the grass, glanced at the roof in case more flying relatives were waiting to descend. Instead, the quickening flap of wings called my gaze skyward. A pair of giants bats circled the house, and as my heart quieted, I found comfort in their high-pitched back and forth.
Christoph was right. Bats were a chatty bunch.
I had to make myself move my feet, or else I would be listening to bats all night.
The screen door squeaked, and Thatcher whispered, “Mom, is that you?”
“Come here, sweetie,” I said, dropping to the ground and patting the spot beside me. “Let’s listen to the bats and look for constellations.”
“Pokey’s here too,” he said, landing next to me and looking up. “The bats know Harper’s hurting. They keep landing on the roof outside his window and trying to get inside.” He shook his head. “I’m worried about Harp, Mom.”
I wrapped my arm around my youngest’s ever-broadening shoulders and pulled him in tight. Pokey clambered into Thatcher’s lap and patted the pockets of his flannel shirt before giving up and wandering off.
“We’re going to have to talk about what’s best for Harper,” I said. “And what’s best for you. We’re also going to have to talk about your dad. But for right now, let’s imagine everything’s going to turn out the way it’s meant to be.”
Thatcher nodded his head, leaned back on his hands, and crossed his ankles. “Want to see who can name the most constellations?”
When I nodded, he added, “You go first.”
I followed his lead. We looked skyward at the same time. I let my eyes adjust, found a familiar
