Page 114 of Wicching Hour

“Fire!” Frank said, staring back at Cal’s house.

I nodded. “A friend is burning it to the ground for us.”

He looked alarmed for a moment and then seemed to realize that was for the best, slumping back and holding his mother’s hand. “Sorry,” he murmured to her.

Robert piloted the boat back to the gallery while the rest of us sat, lost in a haze of thoughts.

We made plans to have dinner again in a few days, once we’d decompressed, to discuss the night. Under cover of dark, Declan, Mom, Bracken, and I hopped quickly off the boat and back onto my deck while they sailed away.

We stood for a moment and stared at one another.

“I should tend to your Gran,” Mom said.

“Not tonight,” I told her. “You stay here with us and then we’ll tend Gran together tomorrow.”

Dad appeared on a bench. “That makes good sense, Sybil. Your mother is safe in her own home. She’ll be okay until you get there.”

Mom looked torn, but at Dad’s words, she nodded, her shoulders slumping.

I turned to Bracken. “Do you want to stay with us?”

He shook his head. “That’s a kind invitation, but I have an artifact to store and then I’d like to sleep for a very long time.”

“Sounds good. Mom, you should stay here. Don’t go home all alone.” It hadn’t hit me before, just how huge and empty that house was with Mom living there on her own.

Dad stood. “Your mother and I have things to discuss. She won’t be alone.”

I gave him a hug. “Thank you for your help tonight.”

He nodded and then held out his arm for Mom to take. Bracken shuffled off to his RV and Mom and Dad walked around the gallery in the opposite direction, leaving Declan and me staring at each other.

“There were so many times tonight,” I began, “when you could have understandably walked away, but you never did. You stuck by me, getting cut and burned, fighting a damn monster and dealing with curses. It hit me when Robert asked you if it’s always like this. I can’t tell you it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out, because that’s never been my life.”

“Shh.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. “I told you. I love you. You’re my family. And I turn into a wolf. I lead a pack of others who also turn into wolves.” He shook his head. “If you can handle my crazy, I can handle yours.”

I squeezed him as hard as I could. How’d I get so lucky?

“Come on,” he said, rubbing my back. “Let’s get cleaned up, and you need a conditioning pack for your hair.”

I laughed. “I really do.”

We went up and showered, getting cleaned up, dirty, and then cleaned up again. Being the responsible Alpha, he remembered to send a message to the pack, letting them know the sorcerer was gone and everyone should sleep in.

As the sun was beginning to rise and we were tumbling into bed, I thought we’d sleep for days. Unfortunately, it felt as though I’d just closed my eyes when I heard a knock on the back door.

Declan grumbled, “No,” and tightened his arm around me.

The knock came again,

“Go ’way,” he growled.

When I heard my phone vibrating on the worktable below, I gave up and got up. I pulled on sweatpants and a hoodie, slippers, and my gloves. My hair was still wet and probably looked stupid, but I was too tired to care. If you knocked on my door at the butt crack of dawn, you got what you got.

Squinting one eye, I made out Hernández’s silhouette. I opened the door and squinted some more.

“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t realize you’d still be sleeping,” she said, pushing her sunglasses up on top of her head.

“Why would I not be? It’s only—” I looked over her shoulder and found it far too sunny for early morning. “Never mind.” I waved her backward. “Let’s go out there. Declan’s sleeping.”

---