Page 13 of Bound By the Moon

“I know, babe. I promise to be careful though.”

***

DARKNESS COMES

“So, did we manage to find out if anyone actuallyescaped or who it might have been?” I asked after Mikael went backin to check on things.

“No, we aren’t certain of who got out. We knowsomeone did though, there was evidence of both paw and foot printsat the site. Clearly, a couple of them shifted, and walked out ofthe area in their wolf form. We’re not sure if the foot prints arefrom people who aided them, from the hunter that was there, orwhat. That’s why we need to go check for ourselves.”

“Does Ashley know that Asi’s going?”

“He’s on his way to go tell her, Jess.”

“Okay, well, I’m going to head over there to see heronce you guys leave then. I don’t think there’s anything else thatI can do right now anyway.”

My father walked up about that time too. “I justcame to see you and Asi off this morning,” he said to Mikael.

“Thanks, I appreciate it, Jameson.”

“I also wanted to let Jess know that I’m putting asecurity detail on her and Willow.” He turned to address medirectly then. “The detail is to go wherever you go.”

One look at Mikael’s face told me he was in completeagreement with my father. “Fine. Everywhere, but in my housethen.”

“Jess..” My father started.

“No. I have to draw the line somewhere. I won’t havea constant invasive presence in our lives. I won’t have my daughtergrowing up feeling like a prisoner, and I certainly don’t want thatfor myself either. It gives me the creeps to know someone iswatching us, even if it is for our own good. I’ve been caged up onetoo many times before to want to live with guards surrounding myhouse inside and out. No. Just no.”

“Fine. They will sweep the house prior to youentering, then. Knowing what we know, we have to take everypossible precaution we can.”

Mikael stepped in at that point. “They can sweep thehouse, just until I get back. When I’m here, they don’t enter forany reason, other than sounds of duress.”

“Need I remind the two of you that Clarissa andAnnabelle were both in the locks, and you’re the reason they wereput there?” My father questioned. He didn’t stop there though. “Ordo you need reminding of the fact that the dark ones are huntingfor a woman who looks just like you to drain her on a specificsite, possibly to open a gateway between the world of the livingand the dead. Hell, the possibilities in that scenario alone arefrightening enough.”

“I understand all of that, and still, I’ve been heldcaptive enough times to know I don’t want to do it again. Not evenif it is for my own good. Having invited guests in my home is onething, but a security detail following Mikael, Willow, and I aboutour daily duties is far too intrusive. We’ve lived through thatbefore, and I won’t stand for it now.”

“Jess,” Mikael began as he walked toward me. “Iwon’t push you to have them in our home, because I completelyunderstand, but in a way… this isn’t just about you or even me.It’s about the rest of the people we look after, and their safetyif you are captured.”

“Uggh, Fine!” I relented. “They can do a sweepbefore I enter, but then I want them out.” I watched as wordlesswar was waged between the looks on my father’s face and those ofMikael’s. After a while, they both backed down a bit.

“Jess, you can have it your way, for now. If we feelthe need to step up security later, I won’t hesitate.” My fatherdictated before stomping back into his house.

Mikael and I went back in, and upstairs to grabWillow from Sierra. “I wish you would reconsider allowing thesecurity team to stay closer to you guys while I am away.”

“No. Damn it, Mikael, you know how I feel aboutthat. I might as well be back in Sophia’s cage with Zach leering atme through the bars.” Mikael winced at that, but I didn’t need tomake him feel better in that moment, I needed him to understand whyI couldn’t be under that close watchful eye. “I won’t be able tobreathe like that.”

“I know.” He sighed into my hair as he pulled meinto a hug. “I just don’t know what else to do to make sure you’resafe while I’m gone.”

“I’ll have Ashley, Sierra, and little Jack come staywith us if it will make you feel better. I’m sure Ashley will begoing stir-crazy without Asi nearby anyway.”

“Okay, that works, and I’m sure Asi will feel betterabout that situation too.”

“Good, it’s settled. Let’s get our daughter home andto bed, so we can enjoy the rest of our time together before youhave to go.”

~*~

“We rock this parenting thing.” Mikael whispered tome as he closed the door to Willow’s room almost all the way shut.“I don’t know what all these parents are talking about when theycomplain about lack of sleep. She’s awesome!”

“Maybe, Willow knows her mom and dad are stressedenough.” I untied my robe, so that it hung loose on me as weentered our bedroom. Mikael noticed right away, and gave a littletug so that the robe fell down my arms, and clung to my body for amoment before I straightened and let it slip the rest of the wayoff.

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