Page 86 of Secrets and Ruin

They can take my leather jackets from my cold dead hands.

The small defiance made me feel stronger as I struggled with sore muscles and bone-deep exhaustion that made itself more apparent every minute I was awake and moving around. I found my bag and tried my cellphone, seeing it was still dead. Part of me had hoped getting out of the deepest areas of the Black Forest would magically recharge it. I knew it was a pointless hope, but I couldn’t resist trying it, anyway. I put it on the charger, knowing if I got through breakfast, I would be able to use it. If I didn’t get through breakfast, I probably wouldn’t see it again.

Zuri had made the stakes of today very clear. Things had been brewing for a long time, and today would be the day to see if our family could survive the pressure.

In a way, the timing couldn’t be more right.

Walking to the windows, I threw open the curtains, letting the early glow wash over me. It was an east-facing window, and while it was probably a thoughtless thing, I was never more grateful to see the sun rise and usher in a new day. The light returning to Landon and me yesterday had been overshadowed by pain and the reality that we still had to get out of the forest. This morning, I savored it. There was always something wonderful about a real sunrise after a painful experience. The world kept moving. It didn’t burn down. It didn’t stop. The sun would continue to rise, and I would get a day to enjoy the light before the night returned.

The moment was shattered by a soft knock at the door.

Time to face the music.

I didn’t take anything, not my bag or a weapon. Nothing.

I swung the door open to see Aisha, Jabari’s mate. In her arms was little Amir, a smiling, babbling toddler. Hovering behind her was Makalo, as many back home knew him, the boy Carey spoke with for hours. He was the spitting image of Jabari, only inheriting some coloration from his mother.

“On kid duty?” I asked, trying to smile. “You’re here for me, you have Amir for Zuri, and Makalo is following you around, looking out of place like only teenage boys know how.”

Aisha chuckled.

“You can have a sense of humor at the strangest of times,” she said, holding out a free arm, an invitation for a hug that I took quickly. I had to be careful of Amir, but he knew what was happening and planted a wet, sloppy toddler kiss on my cheek.

“Hi, Aunty Jacky,” he said, his little smile making me want to break down into tears.

“Hi, Amir,” I said, kissing his forehead before dropping the hug. “And hello, Makalo. Can you stop getting taller? Is that a possibility?” I looked up to see his face as he gave me a sheepish smile.

“I don’t think so.” He shrugged.

“Such is life,” Aisha said with a chuckle. Aisha was a few inches taller than me, and Makalo was taller than her. He would probably be a giant like his father. I heard a doorknob turn but knew Aisha was about to say something, so I ignored it.

“We’re here to make sure you’re awake and you are. Dirk and Landon are in the next room—”

“I’ve got it from here, Aisha,” Jabari called. I looked around her to see him walking down a hall. His door clicked shut on its own.

“Are you sure? Jacky can walk with us. Or we’ll wait on everyone.”

“No, it’s fine. That one is probably hungry—”

“Yes!” Amir said, nodding his head once with a smile.

“Okay,” Aisha said, meeting Jabari for a quick kiss. “We won’t cause trouble,” she promised, but the way she said it was more of a warning. If anyone started trouble, she would definitely join in.

Makalo waved at me and followed his mother and cousin down the hall, leaving me alone with Jabari.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked, crossing my arms in expectation.

“No,” he said, sighing.

“Do they know how bad things are?” I had a feeling Aisha did, even if Jabari didn’t tell her, but Makalo could potentially see things about his new family he wasn’t prepared for. That would make me feel guilty sooner rather than later.

“You know Father and Aisha despise each other. They have from the moment Father learned about Makalo. Makalo isn’t ignorant of the tension and what’s been causing it.”

“I’m sorry for all of this,” I said, swallowing as I met his stare.

“It’s been a long time coming. Father is used to control, and he hasn’t had it for some time. We’ve never openly defied him this much. We’ve never fought, not like this. It’s not only you, either. I threatened him when he lost his temper when Aisha and I called a family meeting to talk about how she and I ended up in our situation and Makalo. Remember?”

“You said something like seeing if his handful of centuries on you made him powerful enough to beat you when you were one of the best warriors in history and never stopped being that. Or something.” I could remember the explosive argument very well. The day had been traumatic. For once, it hadn’t been a mess I caused.

---