Page 66 of Salvation
“I was so afraid I had lost you here.” Alex sobbed, her tears soaking his shoulder. All he could do was stroke her hair until she finally subsided and pulled back. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more empathic, Nicky. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I don’t know when or how you got here, sis, but I’m glad you came.”
“Me too,” she sniffed. “So is Gryf, but he’s not too happy with you for making me cry.”
“Aw. Is he crying too?”
She nodded. “You know how closely bonded we are.”
Yes, he did. They could close their link for periods of time, but when they were connected, everything that happened to one of them was experienced by both. He gazed intently into her eyes. “Yo, Gryf. If you can hear me, sorry about that, man.”
Alex made a watery laugh noise. “He’ll be fine. So, I guess this makes us even on saving each other’s lives now.”
She must mean the time he’d saved her life in the meadow of Camp One. “I guess so. How did you guys find us?”
“Well,” she glanced at Sakura. “About that….”
Five minutes later, Nick sat up gaping from Saku to Alex and back again. “No, shit. Really? Icalledyou?”
Dante, who was also now upright, shook his head. “It is conceivable that your Gift is strong enough to transmit itself in this manner, Nick.” The Matiran healer rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. “I wonder if you could have sustained the call had you been conscious?”
“An intriguing question, Master Healer,” Storo said. “Perhaps we can address it later. This dwelling becomes increasingly uncomfortable for those of us who were barely able to squeeze through the door.”
Ita nodded vigorously.
Right. Time to go.
~*~
“Uncle Nick!”
Nick braced himself as Flora all but flew across the common room at him, her face lit with an expression of utter joy and relief. His niece had never been one to hide her feelings. Like now. If he were lucky, she wouldn’t knock him flat on his ass. Which she could probably actually do, now that she was taller than him. Would the kid ever stop growing? And what the hell had happened to all her hair?
Flora seemed to hesitate a split second before impact, the realization of her own potential apparently compelling her to rein it in. Then her arms were around him. “I was so worried.”
A chuckle rolled through him as he wrapped his arms around her. “I was too, Red. But, Saku and your mom found us in plenty of time. Can’t tell you how good it is to be home.”
The former wasn’t exactly the truth, but Flora didn’t need to know how close he’d come to dying. The latter, however…yeah, this place was home, and he was damn happy for it.
They separated. “Poppy got here about five minutes before you,” Flora told him.
Nick followed the direction of her gaze to Alex and Gryf sharing an embrace, a faint aura glowing around them. Warmth spread in his chest and he glanced down at Saku next to him, the Hello Kitty bag in her hand. She’d been so happy when B’iha intercepted them on their way home to return the damn thing. After one of Kelly’s stooges had launched it into the trees, he’d figured it was gone forever. No such luck.
“Where’s Uncle Dante?” Flora asked.
Nick jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “He stopped at the guest cube to shower and change. He’ll be here soon.”
A movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Gryf extended his hand and Nick stepped over to clasp it as his brother-in-law pulled him into a firm embrace. “Good to have you back and safe, Nick.”
“Good to be back.” He slipped his arm around Saku, pulled her against him and gave the top of her head a kiss. Yeah, it was really good to be back.
~*~
Sakura sat on the couch, curled against Nick’s side. The weight of his arm across her shoulders and the warmth of his hand stroking her arm was heavenly. He was here and he was safe. They’d only been home an hour, but already she wouldn’t mind if everyone else just picked up and left.
Unfortunately, they all seemed inclined to stay—Dante, Alex, Gryf, K’rona, and Storo. She loved them all, but enough already. There were things she had to update Nick about…and there were things she wanted todowith Nick too.
“I can’t believe Kelly is in league with Haesi Velo.” Alex shuddered.
