Her father was quiet, and Rory resisted the urge to glance his way.Did he really want to stay?As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I work the night shift now. I’ll stay with you during the day, though I will sleep most of it.”
The night shift?Her father was a vet, and veterinarians didn’t have night shifts. She didn’t want them altering their lives for her. “No.”
They stared at her as she shook her head. “My return will not disrupt your lives. I have these two to protect me.” She tipped her head to the two guards. “Besides, no one will know I’ve returned, remember?”
Dume opened his mouth to argue, but she held up a hand. “This is not up for debate. I’ll still meet the group for drinks,” she promised. “But we should probably choose a new spot.”
Her father looked up with a stern expression. “Aurora Raven, I am staying here, and that’s final.”
Rory bit back a smile. Turning to Dume, she said, “I’d like to see Kordie and Keith soon.”If they really wanted to see her.“Can you three pick a new spot? Preferably one where no one will recognize me.”
“Many people lobbied for your release,” Dume said. “Not everyone is afraid of you.”
“What does that mean?” she asked cautiously. Lobbied for her release?
“Sera organizes protests,” he said, smiling to himself. “And the other people you saved speak to anyone who will listen.”
Rory licked her suddenly dry lips as she processed the information. Her eyes burned at the thought. “Who is Sera?”
“A person you saved,” Sam said, making her jump a foot in the air.How did someone that large move around that quietly?
“Can you not yell?” she snipped over her shoulder. “Your voice sounds like a megaphone.” He scowled at her. “You know this Sera person?”
“Sam showed up at Whiplash a couple of months back,” Dume interjected. “Sera found us there, too, and demanded our help to clear your name.”
Rory studied the behemoth beside her. “Why would you find my friends?”
His eyes flicked to Lauren before returning to her. “That is none of your concern.”
“Bullshit,” she bit out. “Tell me, or I will cut your hair in your sleep.” Was the threat immature?Yes. Would she still do it?Also, yes.
Sam’s jaw hardened. “I would like to see you try.”
“Stop fighting, you two.” Lauren butted in and then muttered, “Some things never change.” She directed her next statement at Dume. “You need to keep holding the protests.”
Rory turned to her. “Why? I’m free.”
“No one can know you’ve been released,” the guard reminded her. “If the protests stop, people will wonder why.”
Rory threw her hands up. “I can’t stay here twenty-four seven. I’ll go crazy.”
“We know,” Lauren said, looking bored. “One of us will go with you.”
Rory waved her hand over her face. “I’m pretty sure people will recognize me, and I refuse to take shapeshifting potions every time I leave the house. I can take care of myself, and if I can’t, you two will be there.”
“Wear a hat,” Sam said flatly. “Everyone thinks The Butcher is in Vincula. Say you are a cousin.”
Dume nodded. “He’s right. Your sentence has been all anyone can talk about.”
She blew out a long breath. “Fine.”
“I’m hungry,” Lauren said out of nowhere and pulled her phone from her pocket. “I’m ordering food.”
“I can go pick it up,” Patrick offered, standing.
Rory eyed Sam’s large body. “Dume, you should go too. I think it’ll take two grown men to carry it all.”
Everyone sataround the table eating and catching Rory up on everything she’d missed over the past three months, but she barely heard them. Her mind raced, wondering why she was released early and obsessing over her missing memories.
