He nodded. “That’s the ‘Agent’ part of my name. Don’t look so worried. Your friend Deborah Pratt contacted me some time ago. We’ve been monitoring strange activity in this area for several years. At first, her story sounded unbelievable, but as we learned more, it became clear she was at least telling the partial truth. We knew something big was happening when all the parents of past students of Miskatonic Prep started to lose their fortunes. Then, the IRS informed us that large sums of money were withdrawn from their kids’ bank accounts, all on the same night. Tonight, we witnessed something incredible, so we thought we’d better get up here.”
My chest tightened. “What did you see?”
“A weather phenomenon,” Agent Anderson’s eyes sparkled. “To the untrained eye, it might have looked like a cosmic deity blasting off from our planet in a ship made of black stone and powered by human souls, but that’s obviously completely ridiculous.”
“Obviously,” I agreed, my throat tightening.
He nodded. “As long as you and your classmates can attest that you saw a weather phenomenon, stay out of the papers, and help us curb any potential hysteria about other things thatdefinitely didn’t happenhere, we can help you. I understand these students need money, new identities, perhaps…” his gaze fell on the tattered robes hanging from my frame. “…college placement?”
“Yes. I mean, for the others, yes. We’ve already got fake passports and visas, but if you could help them with something more official that would be amazing. But not me. You probably know me already. My name is definitely in your database from a little arson back in Philadelphia.”
“Of course.” That kind smile never left his face. “Hazel Waite, the brave student who saved her classmates from a freak weather event.”
“No, I mean, two people died in that fire. You need to clap me in handcuffs and—”
But Anderson kept gazing at me with that kind expression. “Crimes go unsolved every day in this country, Ms. Waite. Arson is especially difficult to prove, and convictions are rare. I don’t see the need to waste the court’s time in this case.”
Paramedics swarmed around me. A woman lifted my arms, studying my face. “Is anything wrong? Does anything hurt or feel broken?”
Good question.I aimed my palm at the tree and tried to call upon the flame inside me. All I felt was a fizzing spark, like a lighter trying without enough fuel. Nothing ignited.
I lowered my hand and smiled. “Nope. Nothing is wrong at all.”
Epilogue
Five years later
EPILOGUE: FIVE YEARS LATER
“Arf!” Fergus barked from the backseat as his face smushed against the window, tongue licking the glass.
“I can’t believe they still haven’t fixed this road,” Quinn muttered as he yanked the wheel around the corner, sliding out the back wheels of the car.
“Don’t fucking do that,” Trey muttered from the front seat. “We’ve got precious cargo.”
Acting on instinct, Ayaz reached across the seat to hold his hand over my belly, which now protruded so significantly I couldn’t see my Docs over top of it. My last midwife said I shouldn’t be wearing Docs while I was pregnant, and tried to shove my feet into orthopedic horrors. Big mistake. Luckily, Trey managed to smooth things over with the agency and they agreed not to sue us. My new midwife never mentioned my choice of footwear.
Smart woman.
I knitted my fingers in Ayaz’s, pressing his palm against my skin just as the baby kicked. The way my Turk’s face lit up as he felt the tiny limb made the pain of it wriggling around on my spinal column worth it. This little guy or girl was a fighter, just like me.
Even though I was in my twenty-fifth week of swollen ankles and morning sickness, I still couldn’t quite believe I was growing a real-life human inside me. Not just any human – a child of my Kings. We’d decided early on not to test for paternity unless it was medically required. I’d put Trey’s name down on the birth certificate for the associated benefits, but it could have belonged to any of them. It didn’t matter. Our baby belonged to all of us.
We all had a new name now – the same last name. When I’d created my new identity, I’d chosen to take my mother’s maiden name, Pratt. The guys had followed suit. It wasn’t the same as being able to legally marry, but it made us feel like a family.
Also, ‘Pratt’ described Quinn perfectly. And now our baby would share it.
Our baby.
I never thought I wanted children. The thought of a tiny parasite growing inside my belly for nine months before being unleashed in a fountain of blood sounded far too close to everything I endured at Miskatonic Prep. But the day that strip turned pink changed my life. Now, I counted down the days until we got to meet a new little human.
Ayaz squeezed my hand. He never recovered his memories – Ms. West had been too thorough – but it was okay. We made new ones. “We don’t have to go today if it’s too much. They’ll understand. It’s not too late to turn around.”
“Speak for yourself, Ataturk.” Quinn’s hands yanked the wheel around the next corner. The back wheel spun out again, kicking up a spray of loose gravel. “There ain’t exactly anywhere to turn around.”
“Arf!” Fergus agreed, throwing his head over the back of the seat to lick my face.
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile as I shoved Fergus’ head away. “Really. I want to see what they’ve done to the place.”
