Page 40 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

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Mimi watches Lachlan very carefully whenever he’s with her.

She seems certain that he’s mad at her, even though he’s not.

It’s not anger. It’s not anything he could even name beyond a sense of catastrophic failure and guilt for what he’s allowed to happen.

‘Bad lady was gonna hurt Danny,’ Mimi tells him the day Penhalyx arrives, hours before he does. ‘Danny is family. We protect family always.’

‘I know, it’s OK.’

It’s actually so far from OK that it’d be funny in any other circumstances. Lachlan stood over Carrigan’s body before it was fed into the furnace, and then he watched through the small glass window as it went into the flames.

Maybe he should be mad, maybe he should yell and punish her, but he doesn’t have it in him.

It’s not her fault, besides.

She’s a child.

Six years old.

They know now that she stole his gun from the same lockbox where they put Mari that summer. She must have remembered the code.

It’s Lachlan’s fault.

It’s all Lachlan’s fault.

‘I was good bodygarden, Daddy. Shadowsneak.’

Lachlan closes his eyes.

You’re the one she loves more than the waking day.

You are the one she wants to be like.

Blaire was right.

You’re twisting these kids.

You’re dangerous.

Carrigan was right too.

‘Yeah, I know, baby. Daddy knows.’

‘I do better next time.’

He hugs her and keeps his eyes closed tight.

It’s better that way.

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The day Penhalyx arrives is also the day Savannah leaves.

He runs into her on his way to double-check airspace integrity.

‘Savannah.’