Page 77 of Lost
Nova lifts a shoulder weakly as she gazes at her grandparents in wonder.
“Apparently, pretty good,” she says, voice cracking. “I went out on a date and found my grandparents.”
The maid comes in with tea, food, and glasses of water, and Nova gratefully takes a sip as she looks around.
Kevin doesn’t seem to know if he wants to laugh or take my brother and I into the backyard and blow our heads off. Growing older doesn’t mean that you’re any less dangerous.
“So what exactly are your intentions with Nova?” he asks, making my heart sink.
On second thought, I’d probably deserve the bullet to the brain with how I’ve been treating his grandchild.
“I think that’s a little heavy handed,” Nova intervenes. “We haven’t known each other for very long, and I just found out we’re scent matches a few days ago.”
“Hmm,” Kevin mutters.
Lars and I share a glance, and we can tell we’re on thin fucking ice.
“Check the testosterone at the door, boys,” Aine says sharply. “You’ve shown you can’t be in control of this conversation, Kevin. Take a breather. Nova, ignore them. They’ll growl andposture. The only way to keep my husband from killing them both is to keep them from talking.”
Nova’s breath catches at that, and my lips curl into a smug smile. All I see is that she’d miss me if I disappeared. I can work with that.
“How long have you been in town, Nova?” Aine asks, her tone softening.
“Since September,” she says. “I’m a traveling midwife, and was passing through. I stay as long as I can before moving on.”
“Why is that?” her grandmother asks, her lips pursed.
“I had people following me. They’re dead now.”
Nova and Aine talk, allowing Lars and I to really see how fucked her life has been. I’ve overheard things here and there, but I haven’t heard the full extent of things. Nova doesn’t speak about the sexual assault John put her through, but her scent changes when she talks about the physical abuse.
Hollis comes in during this part, her pack surrounding her as she walks in as if she owns the place.
“Hey, baby sister,” she says, striding in and grabbing Nova’s arm as she yanks her to her feet. It’s a little aggressive, and Lars and I growl under our breath. “Hush, I didn’t hurt her, guys.”
“She didn’t,” Nova whispers, her eyes watering. “Oh my God. You’re a mess.”
“A properly over-medicated mess,” she corrects her sister. “Come here. I’ve been wanting to hug you for ages.”
Hollis and Nova are squeezing the hell out of each other as they both sob, and Kevin’s eyes soften. This isn’t about any of us, not really. They may have all lost Nova, but she’s Hollis’ other half.
Pack Ledger stands in the doorway watching them and Kevin turns his attention toward them.
“And you are?” he asks, standing.
“Grandfather,” Hollis hiccups, looking over at him. “It’s been too long since I’ve been by, hasn’t it? This is my pack and also Nova’s landlords.”
“Your sister did mention them,” Aine says, taking Kevin’s hand as she hoists herself up. “She didn’t tell me that they were your pack though.”
“Already keeping my secrets, huh?” Hollis teases Nova as she grins. “Not that it was a secret, we’ve just been in that figuring it out phase.”
Aine and Kevin make a sound together that could mean anything, and Hollis steps back from her sister to face her grandparents.
“I understand the people who did this are dead?” Aine growls, moving over to inspect Hollis’ face.
While she has the ability to heal faster than the average person, the bruising is still apparent on her face.
“Super dead,” Hollis says with a giggle, the drugs in her system making an appearance. “They’re also ash because we played with fire, Grandma.”
