“The foxes made their way through the sky several times. And then your mom slumped to the side … and the foxes vanished.”
My brain throws up an error message. I just …
“Aurora, I fucking panicked. I wrapped my coat around her, scooped her into my arms, and followed the fox-like paw prints back to the tent. I held her all night, questioning my sanity.”
His voice is rough now, worn at the edges.
“I could have walked away. Forced her to see a doctor. But she was something else. Someone to be protected. And I knew, in that moment … that was my job now.”
He goes quiet, the silence stretching thin across our connection.
But I have no clue what to say.
“Wow, Dad.” My voice is barely a whisper. “I don’t even know how to respond. If this was coming from anyone else, I’d laugh it off. But you’ve always been the grounded one in our family. It just … sounds like something out of one of my books.” I run a hand down my face and let out a sharp breath. “Christ. Tonight has been so strange.”
“I get it, princess.” His voice is annoyingly calm. “And I know you probably have questions, but I don’t have any answers. We never talked about it again. And while strange things happened in our home from time to time, it always felt safe. Always felt like her. Your mother was a source of light in the world. And I wouldn’t have done anything to dim that flame.”
I rub a hand over my chest, where the old grief stirs like something half-awake.
“Ellie was certain you’d change the world, Aurora. And I’ve always agreed.”
I press my lips together, willing myself not to shatter.
“With that said, I thought sharing this story might make you feel better.” His words land soft, like he’s unsure. “Fuck, I don’t know. The world is so much more than work and bills and the bullshit we deal with every day. It’s complex. Layered. And sometimes? It’s goddamn magical.”
He pauses, his voice softer now. “So, if you say you saw or felt something … I believe you. I’ll always believe you, princess. I just wanted you to know you’re not alone.”
“I love you, Dad. And thank you for telling me. I’m not sure what I believe. Maybe I just got overwhelmed and imagined all of this. But … if it was something more, I’ll keep what you told me in mind.”
“I love you, too, Aurora. More than all the stars in the sky. And I’ll always be here for you. You know I can reach Lorewood in under three hours.”
A loud yawn comes through the phone, and I snicker.
“Thanks, Dad. You’re the best. I’ll call you soon. And please, for the love of your cholesterol, eat a salad this week.”
“No promises, princess.”
The call ends, but my mind won’t stop spinning. My dad’s always been the logical one—the one who kept me grounded. And now he’s telling me this?
Fire foxes and magic. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?
I sigh, pressing my fingers hard into my temples. I need sleep. Maybe everything will make sense in the morning.
I drag myself to the front door and call for Louie one last time.
Her response? A sharp yip in the distance.
Yeah. She’s not coming in tonight.
I lock the door, shuffle to my bedroom, and collapse under the duvet.
My body begs for rest. But my thoughts won’t let me.
I never fully fall asleep. I just hover in that blurry space where dreams feel too real. Magic and monsters slip through the cracks, weaving themselves into my dreams, refusing to let me go.
Ezra
I linger outside the bar, a predator in the dark, the shadows wrapping around me like sinew to bone. She was always going to leave after I pulled her too close.
