Page 70 of The Outcast
“Thank you.”
When Athena sat down on my other side, the three of them had me in a triangle of loving attention with Finn on my right, Athena on my left, and Linea in front of me.
“I’ll do a few healing sessions with you before we go back,” Athena promised. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay for more than a day, but Linea has promised to stay until you feel better and we have helped Aubri with the vetting of the candidates.”
“You’re staying?” I blinked my eyes in disbelief as I stared at Linea.
“Only until you feel better.” Tilting her head, Linea smiled. “I’ve known you my entire life, Sparrow. Did you think I wouldn’t help you in any way I can?”
“Now, give us a rundown of the damages,” Finn, who was a doctor by profession, said. “What are we dealing with here?”
“The worst part is the burn wounds but luckily they don’t believe I’ll need cosmetic surgery.”
“Why would you?” He smiled. “We Northlanders always embrace our scars as emblems of valor and life experience. Just look at Aubri, she never did anything to hide the scars on her jaw and forehead. Or what about Magni? He’s a scary son of a bitch with half his body mutilated in scars, but I’ve heard of men getting tattoos similar to his scars because they want to be like him.”
“Yes, Magni always had an intense fan group, but we’re different people. Anyway, I’m feeling fine. I’m just recovering from the exhaustion after the trauma and the drowning. My biggest concern is that my hair won’t grow back.”
Linea’s smile was warm and confident. “I told you. It will.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Hmm…” Finn leaned closer and whispered loud enough for all of us to hear him. “Her mother is a witch and even though I tried to dominate with my genes, the magic got through to the young one. It’s not her fault and we all love her just the same.”
Athena didn’t look the least bit offended about her husband calling her a witch.
“Finn is just jealous because he can’t use his hands to heal his patients like we can.”
“Nonsense, I use my hands every day. How else would I be able to prescribe medicine or mend broken bones?”
“Have you seen the others yet?” I asked.
“We saw Pearl and Khan in the foyer, but we firmly told them they would have to step aside and wait their turn as our first priority was you.”
Linea chuckled with a soft smile. “Then you were speaking in code, Dad, because I heard talk of catching up at dinner when Khan was done with his meetings. When did you tell him to step aside?”
Finn shushed her. “I was trying to make Sparrow feel better.”
Their inside family banter had me smiling from ear to ear. This was so typical of the MacCumhail family.
“How have you all been?” I asked.
This time it was Athena who answered. “Good. Tristan is touring with Salma Rose again, the boys are doing wonderful, and the three of us have no complaints.”
Just then the door to the entertainment room flew open and Huginn and Muninn, Thor’s two dogs that lived here at the mansion, came running straight to the visitors.
“Oh, there you are, my handsome friends.” Finn was licked and greeted by the two large black dogs, who he scratched with gusto. “You look as strong and strapping as always. Easy, boys. Tone it down. Yes, I know, I’ve missed you too. You both remember my beautiful wife, Athena, but let me introduce you to our daughter, Linea.”
As if the dogs could understand him, Finn spoke to them about Linea having lots of animals at home. “She gives amazing belly rubs and if you’re hurt, she can help you.”
I laughed when Huginn and Muninn, named after Odin’s two black ravens in the Norse mythology, ended up on the floor in front of Linea with their bellies turned upward.
Using both hands to scratch their tummies, Linea began talking with the dogs just as her father had done. Her tone was light and loving.
“What the hell are you doing to my dogs?”
We all looked up to see Thor and Banni standing in the doorway.
From their flushed cheeks, heavy breathing, and sportswear, it was evident that Thor and Banni had come from a run.
