Page 71 of Bait Wolf
Everest swallowed, looking unconvinced, but nodded.
“I’m going to go check on Glen,” he said. “He’s choked about all of this.”
“I can’t imagine,” Aurora said sadly. “Danica would be inconsolable if I got hurt like that…”
She stood, patting Everest on the back.
“I’ll go home to her, and then we’ll meet you at Seymour and Glen’s place with some dinner.”
“We’ll probably be at the hospital,” Everest said.
She nodded.
“I’ll come visit too,” Coal said, but Everest shook his head.
“Come tomorrow. Spend the day with your family. You deserve that.”
Coal pursed his lips but nodded.
They said their goodbyes to Asha and left us.
The three members of our new family, together for the first time ever.
Coal pulled us over to the couch, settling Asha in between us.
“What happened to Seymour?” I asked when Asha got absorbed in her movie again.
“He got shot helping me get Asha back,” Coal said quietly. “He’s in a coma.”
My jaw dropped, and he met my gaze, all the guilt and fear clear in his expressive eyes.
“God,” I whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
“I should have gone alone.”
I shook my head.
“I get feeling that way but, I’m sure he wanted to be there. He knew the risks, right?”
Coal shrugged.
“He has a mate at home, waiting for him.”
I squeezed his arm.
“I’m sure he’ll wake up. I have a good feeling about it.”
That seemed to mollify him. He snuggled closer to us, turning his attention back to the TV.
Asha was into her movie, but every time something big happened she either repeated it or tried to explain it. Seeing as I had never seen this rainbow unicorn show before, she seemed intent on helping me understand.
Once she finished telling me about the horns kind of being like magic wands, Coal leaned close, breath tickling my ears.
“What do you think?” he asked.
There was an anxious note to his voice. He didn’t need to explain how much my answer meant to him.
“I already love her,” I said honestly.
