“And Hannah,” Garrett said, holding up a smaller plant.
Seymour reached for Hannah, so I took her from Garrett’s blood grip, grimacing at the smear of red on the side of her pot.
I had a million questions, but Garrett and Simone looked like they’d walked out of a war zone. Dad reached them before Rowan, his swirling eyes taking in the situation.
“I see,” he said, magic glowing in his palms. “If you allow it, I can heal you.”
“Please,” Simone gasped.
Garrett let go of her waist but kept his hand at her elbow as she limped over to my father. Her face was covered with soot and scratches. The blouse she wore had a long tear in one sleeve and several still smoking holes. Simone’s jeans were in shreds, and she was missing a shoe.
Garrett was in worse form. His shirt was completely gone, his honed chest covered in burns and bruises. He had a split lip anda black eye, and a long cut across one cheek. His knuckles were bruised and bloody, and I was pretty sure that was bone poking out from a hole in his pants. It was a miracle he was able to walk.
“How—” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll save my questions for later. For now, I’m glad you’re in one piece.”
Dad reached out both hands and touched Simone and Garrett at the same time. Both sagged with relief a moment later.
“Thank you,” Garrett said.
Simone flung out her arms and brought my dad in for a tight hug. “Evie’s dad, you’re a real one.”
He chuckled awkwardly and patted her on the back before stepping away. “It seems you two have a story to tell.”
Simone held up a finger. “Wait. There’s more.”
Rowan grimaced. “Is it the police?”
Garrett snorted. “You know me well enough to know I leave no witnesses, Lord.”
I blinked at Garrett. “Don’t forget you’re under new management.”
A dark-haired female came into view. All thoughts fled from my head as her lips widened into a grin.
I shoved Seymour and Hannah into Rowan’s arms, burst into tears, and took off running. Moira and I collided, both of us talking and crying at the same time.
“You look?—”
“How did you?—”
“When did?—”
We stopped talking and held each other. Moira smelled of herbs and magic, and it was the best thing I’d smelled in over a month. She was as thin as she always was, but her frame held a coiled power I usually never noticed. Moira was going through things just like I was, though she held those closer to her than I did these days, even with my gentle but insistent prodding.
“I missed you so much.” With a gentle squeeze, I stepped back and examined my vampire friend. Her eyes held a haunted look she normally kept hidden. “Moira?”
She smiled. “There’s plenty of time to talk later.” Moira looped an arm through mine and tugged me toward Rowan. “Let’s go have our reunion.”
Chapter
Sixteen
After a massive lunch and three more pitchers of strawberry lemonade, Rowan leaned forward. “Tell me, Garrett. After your adventures, are we at war with Caelan?”
Garrett’s grin was a cold, smug thing. “Strength recognizes strength. There were no life-altering injuries, and we only took things Evie has a claim to.”
Rowan chuckled. “And he forgot to alter his wards to keep you out.”
Garrett inclined his head. “And there’s that. Technically, we did nothing wrong. We came onto Keep lands because we were not barred and had not yet signed our separation paperwork.”
