“Theo!” Willow looks up with relief. “You got them. You actually got them all. I’d hug you, but my arms are a little full.”
I give her a half-smile. “I’m not celebrating until we’re all reunited,” I say softly. “I don’t like that Alexis is still out of range for my telepathy.”
For a while we just stand in silence, exhausted, waiting and listening. The forest is too quiet. No engine noise. No beat of dragon wings.
“They’ll be here,” Max says, though his hand is white-knuckled on the van’s doorframe. “Alexis doesn't leave a job half-done. He’ll wait until he’s sure they’re all dead.”
Minutes tick by like hours.
I reach out with my mind, searching for the familiar connection with my professor.
Nothing.
“What time is it?” Donovan asks. The evening is now fully dark
“Nearly seven,” Max replies. “What a fucking day.”
Willow picks up the eleven year old into her arms. “Let’s put her with the others.”
“I’ll take her.” Max gently gathers up the child and takes her to the van.
“Hey, where’s Ludo?” Willow asks.
“He’s still in with the kids,” Max says. “Looks like he’s sleeping.”
I look around; we all look wrecked. “We should all rest when we can.”
“That’s probably not happening, Sparkles,” Max replies, cracking his neck and stretching.
“I’ll go seek out caffeine," Donovan says, heading towards the vending machine outside the small, shuttered store.
“No credit cards,” I call after him. We’ve had a big talk about not doing anything that will make us trackable. Donovan pulls a card from his back pocket and waves it in the air. It’s one of the prepaid anonymous cards Alexis picked up.
He’s back two minutes later. “Cash only. Anyone got some?”
We all come up empty, but Max grins. “I got this.”
I’m curious, so follow.
Maximus takes something out of his wallet and gets to work. Within a couple of minutes, the vending machine side panel comes loose.
“Did you pick the lock?”
“I’ve so many talents you’ve yet to experience, Sparkles. I’m extremely dextrous.” He winks.
I shake my head, smiling, as I help him empty the machine of candy and drinks.
“We’ll send cash anonymously to pay for it all,” he tells me. “Not fair to dick over the little guys.”
“I like this side of you,” I tell him.
“My breaking and entering side?”
“No, the Maximus who thinks about people that others overlook. The little guys.” With my shirt front filled up with gummy bears and chocolate, I move closer and stand on my toes to kiss him, a shiver running down my spine as the Lumina surges between us.
“For you, Sparkles, I’ll always be Robin Hood.” He inhales deeply. “Gods, you always smell so good, like sex and glitter.”
“You’re crazy, I smell like smoke and sweat, plus I’m pretty sure I’ve been peed on by at least two of the kids.”
