“I think they’re probably just nosy,” I tell him as we walk slowly back to our vehicles.
“Enoch was keeping his dad in the loop before we left for Tierit. We’re back now, and I’m sure the elders want first dibs on any information we have that they can exploit.”
“Well, this should be interesting,” Bastien observes, and a couple of us chuckle.
“I’m sure it will be, especially when Elder Cleary notices that his son isn’t with us,” Sabin adds, and I snort.
“Should we fill him in on what Enoch and his coven are doing? Or should wereallyannoy him by pretending it’s top secret and shit?” Valen asks, and I laugh.
“Let’s see how annoying he is and go from there,” I tell them.
We separate into two cars again and move to follow the paladin into Solace.
“Did you get phase one worked out with Suryn and Ory?” my dad asks as we drive and I lean against the window and try not to fall back asleep.
“Close, we still need to work out some details. Ory suggested building another city just outside of Tierit,” I explain, looking over at him and Sorik. “The new city would be a home base for Sentinels who want to integrate back into the supe world. It would be close enough to Tierit to take advantage of their resources and protections, while keeping Tierit separate and safe for the Sentinels who want that.”
“Smart,” Bastien observes.
I nod and try to stifle a yawn. Everyone else in the car starts yawning too like it’s contagious, and I chuckle.
“So what do we do while all of that gets sorted out?” Valen asks.
“Well, first, we all sleep for like a month because we’ve fucking earned it,” I announce.
Everyone laughs and voices their agreement.
“We get the word out slowly that the Sentinels are back, and then we start setting up the infrastructureweneed to get Vigilantes R Us up and going.”
Bastien and Valen both crack up at the name and shake their heads.
“We’re not vigilantes, remember? We’re all legit and shit now,” Bastien teases.
“I know, but Legit Legion just didn’t have the same ring to it,” I joke, and we all dissolve into slaphappy, sleep-deprived giggles.
I’m pretty sure we’re never going to find a name that encapsulates who we are and what we want to do. I wipe laugh tears from my face, and I’m not even sure what any of us are laughing about anymore. We turn down the road that leads to the main street that runs through the heart of Solace, and my dad grows quiet as he stares out the window.
“You okay?” I ask him quietly while the others pitch out more horrible names for our group and continue to crack themselves up.
He gives me a warm smile. “Yeah, kid, it’s just weird being back here. It’s as if nothing has changed, it all looks the same, and yet everything I know and everything I am is so...different.”
I look around and understand exactly what he means. The guys and I drove away from Solace with nothing but questions and each other. Now we’re back, and it makes everything we’ve gone through feel even more surreal.
The paladin drive into a parking garage, and we all park side by side. I smirk at the paladin as they unload from their SUVs with surprised looks on their faces. They look confused as fuck that Sorik, Siah, and Vaughn are alive and well.
“Sentinels,” I call out to the paladin, and they turn to me.
“What?” the leader asks.
“We’re Sentinels,” I offer, but he just looks even more perplexed. “Don’t worry, you’ll be learning more about our kind soon,” I explain.
Sabin puts an arm around me, and I lean into his side as the paladin escort us into the building. He smiles down at me, and I tilt my head up and purse my lips. He grins and leans down to give me the peck I’m demanding.
“What’s that smile all about?” he asks, his eyes lighting with affection.
“Feels good not to have to hide what we are anymore,” I answer simply, and he looks away in thought.
“It does,” he agrees and then drops his lips to mine for another quick kiss.
