“You have made your intentions clear,” Haloke said. “Charlie understands he cannot continue to make mistakes, and so does Ava. They both must work to make this marriage right again.”
“Ava has done nothing wrong. None of this would be happening if she hadn’t chosen him.”
Ava was far from a saint, but Doya didn’t want to admit that. I wasn’t the only one who saw her through rose-colored glasses.
“This marriage is theirs to work out.” Haloke stepped back. “Ava is strong enough to handle it, because you’ve taught her how. Now let there be peace.”
“Hmph. Very well.” A manicured finger poked into my chest as Doya threatened, “I’m watching you, boy. No more missteps against my granddaughter. Or they will be the last errors you make.”
Doya roamed down the hallway, muttering under her breath, while Baine went bumbling behind her. The lioness Familiar followed, taking with her the promise of death. I breathed a sigh, feeling my body slacken. That had been really intense, and if the situation had become even more heated, it would’ve ended badly.
Haloke brushed my singed clothes of ash. “Are you all right, pawee?”
I didn’t know a lot of Hawkei, but Ava had told me that pawee was a word that meant little child. It softened me right up. “I’m fine. She didn’t hurt me. I wasn’t afraid, really. I knew she wouldn’t go that far.”
“She would, if truly provoked, but she understands Ava still needs you.” Haloke combed a strand of hair back into my messy locks.
“You shouldn’t be so kind. You should be just as angry with me as she is.”
“I’m not angry at you, pawee. I do not see a broken man, but a wounded child that is lashing out. Life has given me the experience to understand these things.” Haloke gently patted my chest.
Tears burned, threatening to overspill at her empathy. “But I’ve hurt your granddaughter so badly. It’s incredible you’re forgiving me like this.”
“Because you were hurting,” Haloke soothed. “You were reacting to your pain. You didn’t pause to comprehend who you might hurt.”
Haloke wrapped her arms around me, pressing her heart to mine. She was so tiny she only came halfway up my chest, but she tried to reassure me like I was her own grandson. I barely knew this woman, but her embrace was warm and comforting. I’d never had a grandmother, so it was nice to fall into her arms and allow myself to be consoled, for once.
“Thank you.” I managed to get my tongue around the thick words as a few more tears slipped out. “I really am trying as hard as I can.”
“I know you are, Charlie. You aren’t the only one who has to heal. This family has to heal together.” Haloke pulled away, and I could hear the genuine smile in her voice. “Heal yourself, so you don’t pass on your wounds to your son.”
“I will.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. Haloke’s soft footsteps faded away as she exited the hall gracefully.
Ava was like Doya. But she was a lot like Haloke, too.
Ez approached. “You okay, man?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “No. But I’ll get through it. I just wish Casey wasn’t in the middle of all these family meltdowns.”
“Don’t talk about the baby, man. I’ll start crying.” Ez already sounded on the brink of tears. “He’s so adorable and small and stuff. I can’t even?—”
“I get it.” I cut him off, because if he broke down, I would too, and I couldn’t walk into this meeting a mess. “Do you think Doya will like Casey? I don’t want anyone around my kid who isn’t happy he’s around.”
“Uh, I don’t know.” I felt Ez shrug beside me. “She wasn’t thrilled when I came along, from what I hear, because she only wanted granddaughters, but I guess I cracked her hard shell. I always wanted to climb into her lap and hug her when I was little, even though she didn’t like me much at first. She used to pat my head awkwardly and go, there there.” Ez laughed. “Eventually she started hugging me back. I softened her up a lot, I guess. Everyone says she’s a lot sweeter than she used to be.”
I couldn’t tell. If Doya spoiled Ez, Casey would probably grow on her, and she didn’t have to like me. I just had to quit slipping up.
The council room buzzed with curious whispers when we entered. By the sounds of chatter rising to the glass ceiling overhead, there had to be nearly twenty people here. The voices quieted when I approached the round table in the middle of the room, until all that could be heard was the trickling of the waterfall that fell around the Elvish tree.
I just wanted to get this done, so I could get back to my main focus— being a dad. If I had to travel to the afterlife and back to be with my kid, I would, so I didn’t want to wait on finishing the job.
My Elf powers tingled, sensing magic from all supernatural races. The demigods had all shown up— apart from Ava— along with my friends’ parents and the Demigod Guardians. Even Opal, Ivy, Chancey, and Eddie were here, huddled in the corner far away from the doors. I’d pissed enough of them off that I didn’t think they wanted to be around, but this meeting was crucial.
Another witch was present, sitting beside Marcus’ parents. When she cleared her throat, I realized it was Doctor Mack, the Seer who the Warden was torturing for her visions.
Doya and Baine had come along for the meeting, and I knew, because I could still sense the heat coming off Doya from across the room. Someone gave an angry gasp, which I was certain had come from Ava’s mom. My burnt clothes were apparent, clearly.
“Mother,” Sophia growled, like she’d known this was coming and was planning on lecturing Doya the minute this meeting was done.
