“Now”—my mother clasps her hands while looking to Holden and Serena—“once you’re taken captive by those nasty federal agents, I’ll look into a reversal of your newfound fortune. The three of you are bound to this mission. Enjoy each and every breath through human nostrils while it lasts—it won’t last. And, Skyla, take care of that husband situation.” She addresses my marriage as if it were an oil spill, and she wants me to take care of it? “And mind, Ezrina.” She expels a heavy sigh. “For goodness’ sake, the entire lot of you belongs on leashes.” And just like that, she’sgone.
“Wait! How do I go about resurrecting thedead?”
Holden stands and narrows that familiar sinister gaze my way. “Now what,Messenger?”
“Now what,indeed.”
Marshall isn’t at home,and, per his usual secretive Sector ways, he isn’t answering his texts. He thinks technology iscuteand more of a pest than a reliable source of communication. But, thankfully, Ezrina and Nev don’t feel the same. When I ask Nevermore about Marshall’s whereabouts, not only is the wily Sector at the Gas Lab but so is Ezrina—another hard-to-find extraordinary creature. Technically, she’s Nephilim, always has been, but since she’s taking up occupancy in Chloe’s old body,creaturesounds aboutright.
So off to the Gas Lab I go with my newfound trio of friends. There’s Emerson—the OG version, which looks more like she can be Giselle’s sister than she can twin. I keep forgetting my mother added the dimples, and Giselle’s bright and cheery affect really does do wonders for a face. But I digress. Not only is a sulking Emerson with me—for God’s sake you’d think she’d be thrilled to be rid of the feathers, but Holden—he’s both seemingly cheery andnice! In his case the feathers really did him a world of good. I’m finally ready to put that whole quasi-sexual assault behind us. And lest not we forget the stunningly beautiful Serena—blonde hair, blue-eyed, pale as winter snow—okay, we’re talking deathly pale on a scary level, but in her dermal defense, she has been stark white raven mad for the last few hundred years. Okay, so it wasn’t that funny. But in addition to that motley crew, I’ve also dragged my precious babies out of the house for this little celestial field trip. The same baby boys who suffered unconscionably for a month, no thanks to Emma and herallergies. Damn lies I tell you, and that woman can spew them. Allergy alibi, myass.
I pause a moment and take a rather benign head count of the Kraggers in their newly issued bodies with those old familiar faces, sans Serena, of course, who is so stunning I’m half-afraid someone will haul her off this oversized rock and offer her a modeling contract before she explodes right back into a ball offeathers.
“Stick close to me.” I search my mind as to what I can possibly do with these former plumes, considering the fact I’ll soon have an entire army of graveyard soldiers at my disposal. “You know, unless something changes, I want the three of you to enjoy your stay onParagon.”
Holden shoots up abrow.
“I mean it,” I’m quick to make it clear. “I kind of feel bad about that whole feathered nightmare. And, honestly, you’ll only be here for a few minutes in the grand scheme of things. Go ahead and have some fun. On me.” I give a crooked smile. The truth is, I don’t want to utilize a single Kragger unless I absolutely have to. The only thing I can rely on them to do is rattle off my secrets to Big Daddy K, and I’m pretty sure no matter how well I threaten them not to, the big blab session isinevitable.
We head into the Gas Lab like the unruly mob we are, me with a double stroller that Holden actually helped figure out how to get into a locked position—total gentleman! Serena can’t stop cooing over the boys. And really? Who can blame her? My mini Gages are basically a hit with women wherever we go. Wait until she sees the real deal. Just because Gage and I are on the outs doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate his seismic beauty. And obviously and thankfully, when God made him, he didn’t break the mold. He elected to use it at least two more times with our preciousboys.
I spot the sexy Sector near the back, staring into his laptop as if he were just another human sipping the java and checking out cat porn. God, cat porn had better be the only lewd content that extraterrestrial being scopes out on the Internet. I stroll on over, and just as I’m about to do the resurrected intros, I see the crew I was leading has already goneastray.
“Gah! Marshall, watch the boys for a minute.” I practically dive back to the front where Holden is carrying on a conversation withNevermore.
“He’s not Pierce!” I shout so loud half the customers turn to gawk my way. His nametag might readPierce, but he’s Nevermore, Heathcliff O’Hare through andthrough.
Holden sheds a rather relaxed smile. I’m still far from used to this subdued version of the Kragger in question. “I realize that, Skyla. I was just introducing myself and my wife. It’s pretty cool that even though Pierce is gone he sort of lives on. Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather be a bird thandead.”
Serena giggles at the thought. “I’m sure dead is great, too. But Holden and I sort of consider the feathered life a liberating one. And after seeing the price of a cup of coffee, I’m happier than ever before to roam the earthfreely.”
“Nice.” I think. Honestly, dead probably trumps feathers, but then, she and Holden did have hatchlings last spring. Feathered sex must be amazing. I look to Nev. “Where’sEzrina?”
Nev glances back to the kitchen. “It appears she’s entertaining a guest. Here she comesnow.”
Ezrina and Emerson emerge from the back. Doublegah!
Holy shit. I’m going to go gray or bald trying to keep track of Kraggers2.0.
“Emerson, this isn’treally—”
“I got it. She’s not Chloe.” She grunts, looking out at the place. “Who I really want to see is mydad.”
“No!” I shout so loud I hear Barron choke with a cry. It’s funny how distinctly different their cries are. I’m so thrilled I can finally tell them apart to the point I’m no longer paranoid I’ll mix them up for good and each will grow up as the other. “Your dadthinks—”
“I know.” She’s quick to wave me off. “My dad loves me, Skyla. Haven’t you ever missed anyone so bad that you need to see them no matterwhat?”
Deep down, I knew this was a bad idea. “Once your father gets wind of what you’re doing and for who, it will kill the purpose of the operation.” Would it, though? How could the Counts possibly stopme?
Ezrina and Nev exchange aglance.
“I won’t tell.” She shrugs as if it’s as easy as that. “Come on, Holden. We’ll walkover.”
“It’s six miles from here,” he balks at the ambulatoryidea.
“You haven’t used your legs in years.” She’s quick to point out. “You should be glad you havethem.”
Holden frowns as he looks to me. “What say you,Messenger?”
