Axel frowns as he follows me out. “Are ‘teenagers’ bad?”
Mom actually laughs as we walk into the entryway. “Notoriously bad.”
“Except for me,” I say. “I was a delight.”
“You broke a guy’s wrist,” Gideon says.
“He grabbed my butt,” I say.
“What about the car you rammed?” Dad asks. “Did it grab your backside?”
“No.” I scowl. “But the guy driving it grabbed my friend’s butt.”
“Why do these guys all grab things that aren’t theirs?” Axel asks.
“It’s a common human failing,” I say. “But it really shouldn’t be.”
“Speaking of grabbing things that aren’t yours, didn’t you forcibly bond my sister?” Coral asks.
“She’s going to be awful as a teenager,” I whisper. “Just awful.”
“I’m sad you’re going back,” Jade says from the corner.
Sammy’s behind her, looking at his feet.
Gordon and Rufus are behind them in human form. Gordon drops a hand on Sammy’s shoulder, and Rufus hands Jade a tissue.
“We have to go back,” Gideon says. “We can’t tell you how much we appreciate your efforts in Vancouver, and we know you sustained terrible losses. We hear there may be more blessed coming, and we need to head back to prepare to find more bondable humans.”
“So we’ll keep fighting for you,” I say.
Gideon shrugs. “We didn’t realize how much worse the vanir would be.”
I sigh.
Axel’s brow furrows. “I’m the recovery leader, though my brother Thunar?—”
“Who I hear slayed more vanir than any other single dragon,” Gideon says. “He’s quite a bad—uh. He’s a real baddie.” He glances at the kids, clearly happy he kept control of his mouth. I imagine being the Secretary of Defense hasn’t been very fun for him. Gideon hates being in boardrooms and wearing suits.
“He’s not easy to control,” Axel says, “but my father?” He shakes his head. “When he arrives with the rest of our people, I won’t be in charge anymore, not even tentatively. In fact, I might be facing a bit of trouble. There’s a good chance my father may not be pleased with how I’ve handled things.”
Gideon blinks. “Oh.”
“As long as we’re able, we will continue to do all we can to help the humans—even the Americans who attacked us and killed me.” Axel scowls. “My father, however, is not understanding, and he’s not easy to persuade.”
Gideon nods. “Understood.”
“We’ll still find as many brights as we’re able,” my mom says. “And then we’ll be ready to make the same kind of deal—an alliance and a partnership. Our people would be more than willing to fight alongside you when the vanir return.”
“I can’t imagine they won’t return.” Dad looks grim. “I won’t lie and say that I’m sad to hear that your father’s coming, even if we’re unsure how he’ll react to your leadership decisions since you returned. I have faith that once he hears what the vanir are doing, he’ll do the right thing.”
I wish I had faith in that.
I’m spending most of my wishing and hoping on ensuring Azar’s safety when his dad returns. I’m also a little surprised they aren’t demanding the kids return with them. “You’re okay leaving Sammy, Jade, and Coral with me?”
Mom inhales and exhales slowly. “I was. . .unfair before. You’ve done your very best in terrifying and dangerous situations to keep them safe and protected. It’s clear they have close bonds with powerful dragons, and they’re probably safer here in Australia with those beasts, far from the vanir threat.” She steps closer to me, her arms slightly raised at her sides. “Thank you.”
Part of me wants to slap her, but most of me just wants to hug her, so I do. It feels surprisingly good, having my mom hug me, thank me, and not be angry with me or disappointed. It feels. . .therapeutic.
