“The dragon doesn’t count as a toy?”
“He’s family.”
I couldn’t argue with that logic. “Fine. Seven toys and the dragon.”
“DEAL!” He stuck out his little hand to shake on it. I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me at his attitude.
I shook it solemnly. “Deal.”
An hour later, I was in Killian’s room packing his small suitcase. The scary monster shirt, finally clean. His favorite blue tunic. The stuffed dragon Mal had given him when he was born, worn soft from years of hugs. I folded each item carefully, trying not to think about how many days he’d be gone. Exactly seven toys sat in a neat row, waiting to be packed. He’d counted twice to make sure I didn’t cheat.
I finished and walked to our chambers. Mal had weapons laid out across the bed, methodically sharpening each blade.
“Ready?” I asked from the doorway.
He looked up and nodded. “Ready.”
We met Killian, Sorcha, and the ten guards in the hidden hallway where the permanent portal shimmered. Killian clutched his stuffed dragon, looking tiny between the towering guards.
“Everyone stay close,” I warned. “Portal travel can be disorienting.”
Everyone nodded, and we stepped through together.
The dizzy sensation hit like always. Colors blurred, sounds stretched. Then we landed with jarring suddenness, the storage chest in the back room of the bookstore spitting us to the floor. I groaned at my stupid landing, Mal giving me his hand to help me get up. He’d landed gracefully like a cat. I hated him. He was the total opposite - a wolf. So how could he have so much grace?
We walked out of the room and into the proper bookstore. Emma was there, restocking shelves. She barely glanced up.
“Hi, boss!”
“Hi, Emma. How’s the bookstore?”
“Thriving. The new mystery section is very popular.”
I nodded, saying goodbye before we made our way upstairs to the apartment. It was evening on Earth, late afternoon sun slanting through the windows. The door opened before I could knock.
“THERE’S MY FAVORITE NEPHEW!” Krystin shouted.
“AUNTIE KRYSTIN!” Killian tore away from me and launched himself at her.
She caught him and spun him around. “Look how big you got!”
Bella and Daphne stood behind her. Daphne had come through earlier to brief everyone, still wearing her Lytopia clothes.
“He got bigger since your last visit,” Bella observed.
“It’s been two weeks,” Daphne said. “Children grow.”
Krystin was pulling something from her pocket, eyes twinkling. “Look what I brought you!”
“CHOCOLATE!” Killian’s face lit up as she handed him a candy bar.
Within seconds, he had chocolate smeared on his cheeks.
“He just ate,” Sorcha said, but she was smiling.
“Dessert is important,” Krystin declared. “Essential for growing boys.”
The guards started walking through the door behind us. Most had never been to Earth before. They looked around the apartment like they’d landed on an alien planet, hands hovering near their weapons out of pure instinct.
