“Hey!” Nathan calls out to Tad, his little face turning pink with rage. “I hate aliens. I going to hit them in the head!”
The kids all break out into riotous laughter.
Crap. I step over to the three stooges sitting on the couch. “Keep it down. I don’t want this blowing up and freaking the kids out.” God knows the boys won’t sleep if they think they’re about to get abducted by a UFO. “Give it a few months and no one is going to believe in this bull.” That’s the plan. The Factions all check out as human, the humans are in the clear—the Spectators that were captured pan out to be real people with real families—the so-called aliens are chalked up to nothing more than mass hysteria and we all live happily ever after once again just the way we have since the beginning of time.
Skyla pops back and hands her mother a pouch full of milk.
That damn pouch. I cringe and Lizbeth tapes it to her boob, one handed with the ease of an expert. I’m not proud to say I’ve seen Lizbeth’s bare chest more times than I care to remember.
She brings Jaxson up to the apparatus that sits right next to her nipple, and I have to close my eyes a moment while he latches onto the fake teat. And when I open them back up again, he looks as if he’s happily sucking away at my mother-in-law’s tit.
Great.
I take a deep breath as Skyla cinches her purse over her shoulder.
“Any of you guys coming to the Havers’ for the meeting tonight?”
Tad grunts for her to hush up, and Lizbeth is too busy tickling Jaxson’s cheek. She can’t take her eyes off him, and I can’t blame her for that. He’s beautiful. And not to sound egotistical, but Emma showed me pictures of myself at that age and we’re practically twins. But I see Skyla in him, too. Our sweet son is perfection, and I’ll go to the grave believing it.
Skyla looks to Emily and Bree. “You witches better get behind the gates within the hour. This is going to be one party you won’t want to miss.”
Emily sniffs. “I’m coming. So are my parents and Ethan. You freed my brother, Skyla. I’m never going to forget it. You’ve got me for life. Don’t make me regret it.” She scowls at the two of us before heading into the bedroom she shares with Ethan.
Bree blows out a heavy breath. “Skyla. You know I’m a bounty hunter for Demetri. He’s paying me a stipend.”
Skyla inches back. “Brielle, how many people have you brought to the dark side?”
“Zero. But who’s counting? And don’t tell Demetri. He’s taking care of my legal fees. He made all of my trouble with those assholes who were suing me go away. And suddenly, Uncle Sam couldn’t care less if I pay taxes. And most importantly, I’m rich again, Skyla. Why in the hell would I want to screw that up?”
“I don’t know, Bree, maybe to save yourself from living in a four-by-five cell on Raven’s Eye? I don’t really have time for this.” Skyla quickly kisses the boys goodbye.
Bree leans in. “A cell on Raven’s Eye? Is she serious?”
“Dead serious. We’re done playing games, Bree. It’s over for the Barricade. We’re not interested in anything but victory. Skyla has decided to play hardball.”
“But I’m her best friend.” Her face grows white, and her eyes elongate with fear.
“And Gage was her husband,” I say.
Her mouth falls open as Skyla and I say goodnight to everyone and make our way to the door.
I point an umbrella to the sky, and it explodes overhead with a membrane of shelter to keep us dry from the storm.
Skyla presses a kiss to my lips. “Are you ready to do this?”
“I was born to do this.” I steal another kiss from her lips. “And so were you.”
“Two people, one destiny. Let’s take down the Counts—theBarricadeonce and for all.” She gives a little wink.
“And that’s just what we’ll do.”
* * *
Nicolas Haver’s property—of the late Nicolas Haver, sits on a hillside that oversees the rest of the properties behind the gates. It affords a world view, and even in the rain you can see the lights of the houses below, filled with unassuming innocent people actually unaware of what’s happening just above them—oblivious to the hell we’ve been through, oblivious to the triumph we’re about to achieve.
Skyla takes my hand and warms my lips with hers just before we crest the entry to the enormous structure.
“Here goes nothing.” Skyla shakes her head as if correcting herself. “Here goes everything.”
