Embracing a banshee was like standing shirtless in an icy breeze, and it cut right to Hailey’s core.
“Because they hate me,” Giselle said as she released her. “They always find an excuse to leave me here. I can’t remember the last time I spent Christmas with those Gorgons.”
Hailey shivered and felt her eyes sting again. She was so relieved Giselle was staying. It was her first Christmas without Holly, and she didn’t want to be alone.
“You’re not alone, you have Asher,” Giselle said, and Hailey tsk’ed.
“You mean the omnipotent, bag-of-cats-crazy Envoy? Stop reading my emotions or mind or whatever.”
Being with Asher made her feel more lonely than when she was alone, if that made any sense. Maybe it had something to do with his burning desire to save her by killing her, which still wasn’t making sense.
She missed Fin.
“Glad you’re staying,” she muttered, and Giselle smiled, looking rather pleased with herself. She was up to something. “What?”
“So is David,” she said proudly.
Hailey shook her head and watched, arms crossed, as Giselle’s awful demon family disappeared outside. But coming inside those same doors was a sight that lifted Hailey’s heart in a way she hadn’t felt since August.
He carried in his mittened hands a small burlap sack, and though he was 99% covered from head to toe in puffy brown denim pants and a puffier black jacket with a hood that obscured his face, she immediately recognized his awkward waddle and jump-sprinted to the door.
“Uncle Dale!” she yelled, and she barreled into his pillow-jacket, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Hah! There she is!” he said, gathering her up in his marshmallow arms.
He sounded just like Uncle Pix, and he smelled like Uncle Pix…and dirt. She gripped him tighter and buried her whole face in his shoulder.
“Sorry I didn’t call sooner, dear, we were against the clock on this dig.”
That’s okay, was what she wanted to say, but it wasn’t okay. She’d been trying to stand on her own two feet here, but the truth was she needed him, and she should have called him like Uncle Pix had told her.
She slid back and wiped her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She looked around his arm at the door behind him.
He knitted his brow together. “Pix had business in Ireland. Sure he’s really after missing you. Speaks of nothin’ else.”
She missed him too and wished Bear Towne had better cell phone coverage, or rather, any at all.
Giselle cleared her throat, and Hailey spun around.
“Oh! Uncle Dale, this is my roommate, Giselle.”
“Roommate, huh?” he said with a crocked eyebrow. “Well, let’s get a look at yeh,” he said, and he stepped back.
Giselle stood stone-faced.
“You’re looking well, yeh are.”
“You found one,” she said, side-eying the bag in his hand, and she wasn’t the only one. No fewer than ten students were staring at it, with another two who’d just entered the building stopping dead in their tracks and glancing its way.
Uncle Dale patted it and sighed.
“Right. I was half-set on stayin’ the day with ye, but, I’ll have to leg it. Sorry now,” he said. He pointed at Hailey’s face. “You remember what Pix told yeh.”
Hailey nodded quickly, gathering her thoughts, because there was so much she wanted to say before he left her…that Fin broke her heart, that a poltergeist stapled her back, and oh by the way she may not be home for spring break because two Envoys wanted to rip her soul out…
She moved her mouth, but nothing came out.
He squeezed her hand. “Ye’ve the love of me, now and always.” He smiled briefly, and still holding her hand, he turned to leave.
