Page 81 of Shiny Things

Elias chuckled again. “We’ve had lots of time to talk things out while you were sleeping.”

“I don’t always deal well with things sprung on me like that and really don’t handle change well. So I reacted when I should have just shut my mouth and listened. All Edward and I have ever wanted was for the kids to be happy in life. And only a fool would miss the way he looks at you. I mean, I haven’t seen my son smile this much in, well, ever. I swear he was born with a scowl on his face. And while I may be a bitch, I am no fool.”

I had no words in which to respond to that confession.

“What happened after I passed out? Is everyone okay? Did they take anyone else?” I had a dozen questions running through my head.

“Thanks to you, dear, the Congress is safe, and all Flocks have accounted for everyone, with the exception of Joe who we all saw drive away with the Collector and that horrid witch.”

“That’s hardly thanks to me. He did it to get back at me. Otherwise, he might not have gotten involved with them at all. They were coming after me.”

“And for now, we don’t know why, but don’t think for a second any of this was your fault. I’ve heard all the details of what occurred at the party, and I am truly sorry for not listening sooner. In no way did you deserve that. What you did today was brave.”

This time I laughed, but neither of them joined me.

“Oh, you’re serious?”

“I am. Your warning call may have saved countless ravens today. You had already been shot once, and instead of hiding and letting it pass, you alerted all the Flocks.”

I grimaced. “I did try to hide at first. I was so out of it but managed to land in a tree. There was a hollow, and I was trying to get to it so I could sleep off the first tranq. But they found me, and that’s when I realized it had a tracking device. I could have stayed, but they would have found me, and I would have woken up who knows where. But in the midst of it all, I remembered the lessons on safety my father used to preach to my brother and I. ‘We’re safer in numbers.’ I could see the apartment in the distance, and I just took off flying as hard as I could. I knew I couldn’t sustain it, but I cried out in warning as loud as I could and that’s when they shot me again. It was too much, and I fell out of the sky. And that’s all I really remember.”

“Well, you’re safe now,” Helena insisted.

“We knew there was a threat with possible Collector attacks, but none of us really imagined it would happen. Not here in Ravenden. I’m so sorry. I should have pushed harder for them to act the second we found out.”

“Elias, none of this was your fault. Maybe we should all stop laying blame on ourselves and just move forward.”

“Does that include me too?” Helena asked.

I wasn’t sure I could trust her, but I knew that if Elias and I were going to have a future together, then I had to try.

“Yes. If you can overlook the whole ‘she’s an unworthy Grimes’ thing, then I can try and let it go too.”

“How about a do-over?” Elias suggested. “Mom, this is my mate, Kim Grimes.”

She rolled her eyes but played along anyway. “Hello Kim, I’m Helena Dean Davenport, Elias’s mother, and I’ve been looking forward to this day since the moment he was born. It is so nice to meet you.”

“A little overkill but better,” he teased.

I knew that the words that had been said and the archaic system behind them weren’t going to just disappear overnight, but just maybe this was a step in the right direction.

We stayed up a bit longer talking, and it was nice. His mother and I had more in common than either of us had ever imagined. But eventually, I wore out once more.

With a big yawn, I apologized. “I’m so sorry. I just can’t seem to stop.”

“You take this girl to bed, but let her actually sleep,” she warned him.

“Do you think you could make it back to the apartment first? Honestly, I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep here. Too much happened today.”

“I agree, but my car’s already there. We both flew here.”

“Dean brought his bike over hours ago. Do you think you’re up to ride on it though? My car is also here. I could drop you off.”

“Um okay. The car would probably be best.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“I’m sure.”

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