Page 98 of Serpent & Saviors

Communication.

The only one we had at our disposal back then. The sight of it shattered something deep inside me.

“Izzy B?” Kinsley croaked, sucking in several breaths.

Her eyes were as big as saucers, as if she couldn’t believe it either. They were glued to me.

I found my voice. “Ho…how?”

A soft kiss dusted my cheek. Andrew.

“Told you I’d reunite you. I keep my promises, just so you know. Two down, one to go. I think the three of you should talk.”

Everything happened in a blur. I barely had a second to brace myself before Kinsley launched herself forward, colliding with me in a flash of pink fabric and pure emotion. Her arms wrapped around my waist in a death grip, her face pressing into my chest as she let out a dramatic gasp.

“Oh. My. God! No way, no way, no way,” she gushed, squeezing even tighter.

Andrew’s bemused gaze met my shocked one. He knew them all along. How was this even possible? Then it hit. This was Andrew’s little pixie? My little Mouse. Here, and in the flesh. And not only her, but so was Autumn.

I hugged the girl in my arms while staring intently at the other. A deep desire had me wanting to see Kinsley’s face in full. I tried to tilt her head back, but she dug in further.

Murmuring against my chest, she said, “You’re real. You’re actually real. This better not be some trauma-induced hallucination. Because I’ll gut whoever disturbs it with my blade.”

My eyes grew wide, and Andrew let out a loud laugh. My hands shook as I smoothed them over her hair, feeling the warm weight of her against me, solid and alive.

“I’m real,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

“How is this possible? When? Where? Oh, my goodness. Are you the reason Marcel and Pasha have been away forever? Were you the girl they rescued? You are, aren’t you?”

“Slow down, Ms. Taylor. Give her a chance to breathe.”

“You don’t understand Dr. Marcel. This is our friend. How do you know her? Where did you find her? How did you find her? Izzy B- look it’s…it’s…”

Her face clouded over as our eyes locked.

“Victoria,” I filled in the blank.

Andrew stepped back, and Isabella, who seemed more reserved, stepped closer. She stuck out her pinkie. I immediately grasped it with my own. She leaned in, and I pulled her into me and Kinsley’s group hug. A loud sob escaped her, and the three of us hugged for several minutes as the emotions hit. Isabella was the first to pull away.

“No, I’m not done yet,” Kinsley huffed, holding on tighter.

Isabella chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. I rubbed Kinsley’s back, hearing her sigh softly.

“You smell so good, like apples. She smells like apples, Isabella. Isn’t that neat? I love apples, red ones, green ones. And maybe oranges.” She sniffed me some more, making me laugh. “No, it’s tangerines. You’re really real, aren’t you? We’ve been looking for you. Tell her Izzy.”

“How about if I tell you that you’re overwhelming her, just like you did me back in the day?”

“Oh, sorry,” she muttered and pulled away. “Isabella is right. I still get carried away. That hasn’t changed a bit, but so much else has. We should sit and talk. Do you want to talk? Isabella didn’t at first, but once she realized we were golden—”

“I swear, where is a King when you need one?” Isabella muttered, putting her finger to Kinsley’s lips.

“A King?”

“Oh yes, I have three of them,” Kinsley said, beaming at me. “They’re all mine. Boy, that came out territorial, didn’t it? But if you’re looking, there are three eligible men still in the house,” she stated confidently. “Maybe four, depending on Pasha’s goals. He’s been playing ping-pong lately with Hannah.”

“Hannah?” I asked, confused.

Andrew never mentioned a woman named Hannah. Our eyes met.