<b>Chapter </b><b>141 </b>
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The house smelled like salt and lemon oil, the kind of clean you only get when the wind does half the work. We crowded around the long kitchen table, pale wood, scuffed in the spots a family always sits. George set out cups with hands that still shook and Reina slid into the chair across from me, never taking her eyes off the doorway where the kids‘
voices echoed.
“I’ll give you the short truth,” I said, palms t to the table. “Marcus took Elliot when he
was small, obviously you know that. He kept him in a stasis cell, fed him souls to keep that spell alive and used him. We found him in one of Marcus’s holds but we couldn’t pull
him out as he was basically holding the veil between The dead, living and Devine. I’m sure you heard, or more saw when that dropped, when chaos started riddling this realm. That
was the moment Elliot was set free and he found his way to us. He’s been with us ever since: Underworld at night, packhouse by day. He’s… more than just a boy now. Some of
that is what Marcus did. Some is what the Underworld made him.”
George’s jaw tightened. Reina’s fingers curled into her shirt.
“He saved us,” I went on. “In so many ways. He stopped a rogue push at our orphanage, saved so many children and us, he took the souls out of the ones who wouldn’t stop and he ended Marcus in our dungeon when Marcus tried to y god onest time. He also helpped me build a new veil. He literally saved the world. Since then, the attacks haven’t stopped. Witches, calling themselves the Hands, led by one named Salira, the same line that hurt me as a newborn and stood with Marcus while Elliot was used. They’re back, organized, and they’ve started getting bold. They want the baby I’m carrying. I think they think they’ve perfected whatever ritual failed on me.”
George swore under his breath. Reina reached across and covered my hand with hers, simple and fierce. From the hall a small tangle of feet thumped closer. Elias hovered in the doorway, torn between listening and doing what he’d been told. Reina caught his eye. “Take Elliot and Macey,” she said gently. “Show them his room, the house. No going outside alone. We’ll talk about thatter.”
“Yes, Mama,” he said and then he did something that told me exactly who he’d be when he grew up. He walked straight to my mates first.
He offered his hand to Xavier, to Haiden, to Noah, to Levi, one by one, grip sure, chin up. “Thank you for keeping my brother safe,” he said, as if he understood the weight of the
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words<b>. </b>
“It’s an honor<b>,</b>” Xavier told him.
“Anytime,” Haiden added, eyes a little brighter than usual.
“Always<b>,</b>” from Noah.
Levi squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll keep doing it.”
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When Elias turned to me, my chest just… moved. I didn’t think. I stood and wrapped him up. He went stiff for a heartbeat, then melted into it like he’d been waiting for someone to hold the both of them together all this time.
“No thanks needed here,” I murmured into his hair. “He’s safe. That’s what matters.”
He nodded against me, then backed toward the hall. “Come on,” he told Elliot and Macey. “I’ve got a window that looks at the sea. And a jar of shells Dad hates because they stick to your
your feet.”
“Do you have snacks?” Macey asked, already trailing him.
“Obviously,” Elias said, scandalized, and the three of them vanished, their voices tumbling
down the corridor.
The silence that followed was softer. The kind that lets adultsy the world out where
children can’t see it.
Reina folded her hands. “You were right to bring them. The witches found your fences in daylight. They’ll test the cliffs too, but we have eyes and long paths here. We can keep the children out of reach while you brace for what’sing.”
She looked between us, steady. “But understand something: Elliot won’t stay here forever. He has two homes now. Two families. When it’s safe, we’ll share his time. He needs both halves of himself.”
“That’s what I want,” I said, relief loosening something I hadn’t even known I’d locked. “And when we start splitting time, Elias is wee with him. If being apart is hard on them and it will be, then we make the path easy<b>.</b>”
George huffed augh that was half a breath of gratitude. “You mean we might get a date
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<b>Wed</b>, Sep <b>3 </b>
night once in a blue moon?”
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<b>“</b>Dangerous concept,” Haiden said, deadpan. “Might start a trend.” He smirked at me.
Reina’s smile cracked and then held. “We’ll take turns on school, on training, on holidays<b>,</b>” she said, quick now that the picture made sense. “We’ll argue and adjust. We’ll keep the doors open.<b>” </b>
“Good,” Levi said. “And until the split starts, we set rules. Inside the house unless
escorted. No cliff paths without an adult. If Elliot’s power spikes, he sits, breathes, counts, he knows the drill. If he leaks… glitter…” Haiden coughed, grinning. “….you call us. If anything feels wrong, you call us<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Xavier leaned in, forearms on the table. “We’ll leave a warded line that rings our side and the Underworld both. Day or night.”
George looked to the window where the ocean hammered the rock in an old, patient
rhythm. “We may not be pack, but we know how to protect and we’ll do that with everything we have.”
Reina inhaled, slow. “Do you think the witches will try here?”
“I think they’ll try everywhere if they’re desperate enough,” I said, honest. “But I can feel
a swelling, and I don’t want the children anywhere near it.”
She reached out again, took my hand, squeezed. “Then we stand the line together.”
“Together,<b>” </b>I said. The baby rolled under my palm as if to agree.
From down the hall came a shout of victory, Elias had clearly found the shell jar and Macey’s giggle spilled over it like a ribbon. Elliot’sugh was in there too, high and bright.
For the first time in a long while, the sound didn’t make my chest ache. It steadied me. It reminded me why the maps, the watches, the fights were worth the bruises.
Xavier’s knee bumped mine under the table like a promise. Haiden was already ncing at the doors as if daring anyone to try them. Levi clicked his pen and started a neat column titled Cliff House Protocols. Noah set his palms to the wood like he could press steadiness straight into it.
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Family at one end of the hall. War at the other. We’d hold both.
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