The boys find the crash-landing hilarious and are still laughing as Ash sits up with Makayla.
“Wow.” Ash’s hair flies around her face. If she’d had pigtails, they would definitely have become lopsided. “You’re getting too big for me to catch you when you jump!” Ash’s tone is a mix of admiration and reproach. “Come on, Makayla.” Standing up, she takes the girl’s hand. “Can you help Finn and I search the closet for Draco? He’s a pretty sneaky dragon, and we need the help.”
Makayla nods amiably and pushes up her sleeves. Finn hooks an arm around Makayla’s and says something about their being a team.
We continue searching the room, and it’s Irina who discovers the adorable black-and-red stuffed dragon crammed behind Sean’s bed.
The kids all gather around the toy and discuss what sort of new prison to put him in so he won’t be able to escape.
There’s a banging knock on the door that causes us to jump. When the door swings open to reveal War, clad in head-to-toe black and looming like a gothic tower, the kids freeze, like bunnies scenting a lion.
Makayla launches herself forward like a rocket. When she’s a foot from War, she raises her fist. My jaw drops as Makayla punches his leg with more force than should be contained in such a small body.
“The hell?” he says, looking down.
Undeterred, Makayla draws her fist back and shuffles her feet into what may be a boxer’s stance.
War reaches down, but Ash springs forward and snatches Makayla, then backpedals out of reach. In a low, cool voice, Ash says, “I would kill you.”
Rolling his eyes, War makes a sound of derision. “Right.” He points at me and then wags his finger for me to come over.
“No,” Ash says, stepping in front of me. “Why are you here?” Her firing the question at War in no way means he will answer. He does not.
Putting a hand on Ash’s shoulder, I try to reassure her. “It’s fine.” I walk around them, noticing that Makayla has almost twisted out of Ash’s grip.
Irina comes over, her brows crinkled with concern. When she addresses her sister by name, the little girl stops trying to writhe free, instead focusing all her attention on Irina.
My brows rise as the older girl speaks to her in what sounds like Russian.
“Good advice,” War says.
Makayla glares at War and redoubles her efforts at escape, swinging her body so hard she breaks free of Ash’s hold. Ash tries to grab her but lands on one knee and a palm instead.
Makayla barrels forward, but this time War plucks her up before she can land a punch. She does manage to kick his chest in a move a ninja might envy.
Unconcerned, he tosses her into the pile of stuffed animals.
I gasp because she’s flown so far through the air. But she pops up immediately and explodes out of the pile like lava from a volcano.
“Don’t you dare do that again,” Irina snaps at War before whirling around to face her sister. Throwing up her hand, she yells, “Stop.” Then, Irina launches into what sounds like a sharp rebuke in Russian.
Makayla halts in front of Irina, and despite the fact that she’s apparently younger, she’s a bit taller, and they’re eye-to-eye.
With furrowed brows, Makayla whispers a couple words, also in Russian. It’s the first time I’ve heard her speak since she arrived, and she looks as grave as a general about to go into battle.
War’s brows rise in surprise at whatever she says, then he laughs. The entire room is shocked at the deep, rich sound.
“Enemy?” War says, amusement still playing at the edges of his mouth. “I’ll remember that.”
Ash’s nephews crowd around the girls, with Sean and Finn both asking questions.
“Sawyer,” War says, all amusement gone. “I need to speak to you.”
Deciding I should show at least as much courage as a three-year-old, I cross the room to face Jamie’s giant housemate.
“Hallway.” He ushers me out the door and closes it before Ash can follow.
* * *
