“Oh no, they are bonding. We could be in trouble,” Xavier whispers to Brannock, who just bats him away because he’s practically sitting in his lap.
“Did you get the orb?” Zeydan asks, looking me up and down.
“Yup, sure did. We can leave now.” The three of us find seats, and Saxon starts to maneuver the shuttle out of the hangar. This one is bigger than the one I flew into Fluxx and is designed more like a luxurious lounge than a plane. There are also a couple of cabins for sleeping and a large galley for meals. Thirty hours is a long time, but we shouldn’t go hungry, and we can take shifts napping.
Dad has taken the copilot seat, and I am next to my mom. “Are we sure that’s a good idea?” I ask her, nodding in Dad’s direction. He is doing something to the controls and chatting to Saxon.
Mom’s eyebrows jump. “Marcus is an excellent pilot. Why would you be worried?”
“Bubby told me exactly how good of a pilot he is. Apparently he crashed this shuttle before in the middle of space where there was nothing or no one, and I’d like to arrive in one piece.”
“The bit of space junk came out of nowhere. Damn that man, he has never let me live it down,” my dad growls overhis shoulder, and Mom’s peals of laughter echo around the shuttle. It is music to my ears, and I find myself grinning with unrestrained joy. I’m on a mission with my parents who I never thought I was going to see again. Life is freaking good. Now, we just need to survive the next forty-eight hours, and we can start enjoying the rest of our long lives.
We’re all a little irritable and crabby when we rendezvous with the fleet. We played one too many card games where I’m almost certain Xavier was cheating. As we approach the fleet, a lump develops in my throat of the sight of it. These ships are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. They put the Galaxy Circus ship to shame. These are flying cities and wouldn’t look out of place in an Earth sci-fi movie. In fact, the Vilaxian battleship looks very similar to something you might find a stormtrooper on. I wonder if one of their tech advisors was an alien.
I thought everyone was going to have to beam aboard, but Saxon just flies the shuttle right into the belly of the giant spaceship. There’s a greeting party once the doors open and the gangplank releases.
“Lila!” Cronus shouts. “It’s so good of you to join the party.” He holds up a glass of something. Hmm, a little early for him to be drinking, but I guess he may need to calm his nerves.
I hear a chuckle, and Xavier steps up next to me. “Pray he didn’t hear you think that, or he will never let you forget you doubted his nerves.”
Sabine and Aleister wave and engulf their girls in hugs. I hear them telling their parents all about Vanity finding her blood rose.
Astrea and Jalin are also there, and they greet Maxsim by hugging him and rubbing noses. It’s freaking adorable.
“Boys! There you are. When Tallon said you joined the circus, I thought she was joking!” Tysar greets all three of his sons jovially. “But I guess the joke’s on me. Come over here and hug me. I missed you, and we have wonderful news. Your mother is nesting.”
I snicker as all three of them wince. Brannock and the gods stand off to the side, keeping a barrier between Sanshia and everyone else.
“Lila, don’t you have a hug for your old grandpas?” Eric appears in my sight, and he’s smirking that maddening smile at me. He’s flanked by William and John, and all three of them look like years have been taken off their lives. I don’t even want to think about what might have caused that. Nope, no way.
I run down the ramp and tackle them, hugging them like it’s been years instead of barely over a week since I saw them, but I got so used to having them in my life, I missed them fiercely.
“Be careful with her, she still has a task,” my grandma scolds as she approaches us and also gives me a hug.
“I have so much to tell you,” I blurt out, but before I can tell them everything, she catches sight of her family.
“You found them!” she exclaims, tears welling in her eyes at the sight of the elemental gods.
“We did, but be gentle with Sanshia, Gigi. She isn’t in a good place.” My grandma pales and takes a step toward them, but before she can get farther, my parents appear in the door of the shuttle.
“Holy fuck, I have had too much to drink. I’m seeing ghosts.” Cronus stares into his mug. “What did you put in this, Xylene?”
“Oh, so I see you’re still blaming your beautiful wife for all your mistakes. Typical.” My dad grins at his best friend who turns white and then falls backward in a dead faint.
“Ha!” Xavier laughs and points at his dad. “Please tell me someone is catching this on film. I want a copy. He’s going to be mortified. The great and mighty warlock king in a dead faint.” He doubles over laughing, and Xylene hisses at him.
“Marcus? Alina?” All of my grandparents are staring at my mom and dad like they can’t believe they are here.
“Smith had them. Well, don’t just stand there, go hug your son and daughter,” I tell them, and there’s a split second where I think I’m going to have four more unconscious people, but then there’s a mad rush up the ramp. All four of my grandparents and Xylene tackle my parents, shouting and crying and laughing as I crouch down next to Cronus and slap him on the cheek. “Come on, Dad, you’re missing out. I have another one now, so the competition is on for which one is best.”
That has him moving quickly. He bolts up and puffs out his chest. “Please, I have magic. What does he have? Pretty lights.” All of a sudden, a bolt of lightning streaks across the room and strikes Cronus on the ass. He screams and clutches his butt cheeks, glaring at my dad.
“Damn you, asshole. I missed you. It’s so good to see you.” He stomps up the ramp and joins in, tears streaming down his face. Later, he’ll claim it was because he was happy, but Xavier will claim it was from the hit to the ass.
Silac and Brannock step up next to me, and each grab a hand. “This is nice, isn’t it?” Silac murmurs, watching the drama with a small smile.
“Are you okay?” I ask him. He and Brannock are the only ones without family here, and I know Brannock’s made peace with it for a long time, but Silac’s father’s betrayal is fresh. Allof this happy family stuff could be rubbing salt into an open wound.
