“Is Javier coming today?” she asked, her brown eyes wide as she peered up at me.
“He’s at the military school.” My reminder came out soft, but I noticed the sadness that spread over her features.
She crossed her arms over her chest and blew out a long breath that I felt in the cavity of my chest. While I couldn’t fix this rift, I could continue to show up for her.
“You’ll see him as soon as the school gives him a weekend leave,” I said. “You know he misses you too.”
She sniffled, wiping the bottom of her nose with her hand. “I don’t miss him.” She set her lips into a defiant line. “I think Juanita and Tori miss him, though.”
“I miss him.” I let the sincerity of the sentiment speak for me because I did miss him.
The memory of him, of what we’d come to mean to each other and the trust that I’d betrayed, danced inside the confines of my mind.
“Will he come back home when he finishes school?” she asked.
“Once he graduates, he will be a warrior for ourarmy,” I said. “His duty will be to our people, and he’ll continue to live with his fellow warriors.”
She huffed out an angry sound.
“It’s okay to miss him, Jazz,” I said. “It’s okay to want him back home with us. I want it too, but he’s a warrior-in-training now. This was his choice to make, and I hope one day you’ll be as proud of him as I am.”
Although she stayed quiet, I felt the echoes of her emotions glide through me. She was far too young to have experienced so much loss. I could only hope she’d grow to mimic her brother’s strength and resilience.
Quietly, Teddy left our bedroom and headed toward the kitchen, no doubt to make a cup of her beloved coffee. She looked . . . rested.
“It’s not fair! I can’t do it.” Victoria threw her hands in the air, scowling at the maze.
I looked back at our intricate maze and smirked when I realized we’d made it too hard.
I then felt Alastor’s magic stir and found him concentrating on the maze. Jasmine stuck her tongue from the side of her mouth, focusing just as hard.
I laughed as did George when he realized what was going on.
“Looks like Jazz is going to win,” George said, clapping as she made her way through the maze.
“Nuh-uh,” Juanita said.
“Go Jazzy!” Teddy clapped, watching Jasmine go farther than anyone else.
When Jasmine made it to the end, the room broke out in cheers. After patting Jasmine’s head, I went to Teddy with the remnants of my earlier conversation with Jasmine following me. I pulled Teddy to me, but she hesitated, her eyesnarrowing on my shirt that hid the burns on my upper chest. I patted the burn, satisfied when it didn’t hurt too much.
“I’m okay,” I said.
This time, when I cupped the back of her head, she came to me, winding her arms behind my back while she kissed my chest. I held on to her as if she’d disappear before my eyes. She inched back, and I trailed my hand over her every curve. The soft curls of her red hair fanned over her shoulders, her smile small and almost shy.
She was stunning.
“I love you.” Those three words came out as a whispered secret, one I captured with my lips.
“Food,” Everly called from the kitchen.
Like a pack of wild, starving animals, everyone ran to the kitchen. Everly barked at them, which made them slow their approach.
“I hope she made enough.” I chuckled.
“If not, we have some pastries I hid from everyone last night,” she said.
“You hid pastries from us?” Brenton asked, pressing a hand to his chest. “That’s just cruel, Teddy.”
