Wyatt held up his sandwich. “It’s not fair. Candles are a full-time job. And then I get wax all over my shirts.”
Shepherd lifted his wineglass. “Cry me a river.”
“I’ll help with the candles,” Niko offered.
Wyatt glowered. “You can’t even see the wick.”
“Exactly.”
“Nobody asked you, buddy,” Wyatt muttered as he picked up his sandwich. “Says you.”
Shepherd looked at Hunter and pointed his fork at Wyatt, who was talking to himself again. “That’swhy you don’t do drugs.”
Gem chewed while studying her plate. “I think I should have used the green jelly beans.”
“The girl can’t stay here,” Christian said, twisting the stem of his wineglass. “What’s your plan?”
Viktor buttered a heel of bread. “We have no choice but to return the child and hope the pack does not seek compensation. We have no reason to keep her from her family, and they will come for her if we do not send her back.”
Blue leaned into view. “Something’s not right with that pack.”
“We have no evidence. She is not ours to keep. Shepherd, how is her health?”
Shepherd set down his glass. “Better. She won’t talk to me, but she’s up and about.”
“Then it is settled. The girl goes home tomorrow.”
“No!” a voice cried.
We all turned toward the doorway. The young girl had on a nightgown that was too big for her—probably one of Kira’s. Her eyes darted between the group of adults before she ran behind Blue and clung to her.
“Please don’t let them take me back,” she whimpered.
Niko shifted to face her. “How old are you, little one?”
“Twelve.”
She sure as hell didn’t look twelve, and everyone else was thinking the same thing. Maybe she just looked young for her age, but she also didn’t look well-fed. Her arms were thinner than they should have been and her cheeks concave.
Blue coaxed the girl to stand between her and Niko. “What’s your name?”
“Marelle.”
“Are you hungry? Do you want some pasta?”
She stared at Blue’s plate. “I’m not eating that.”
Wyatt chortled. “Smart kid.”
Gem elbowed him, and he shut up.
“Are you feeling better?” Blue asked.
“Uh-huh.”
“We’re glad to hear that. You had us really scared.”
She guiltily looked around the table before lowering her head. “Sorry.”
