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The other maybe-surprise was the last vampire to stay.

Zoe Fox sat on the grass, staying behind when her boss, Brick, bailed on her.

It was everyone Nick would have expected.

It was a few surprise additions he had not.

Still, he was pleased with the group, all in all.

“Well,” he said finally, gazing around at all of them. “What do you think?”

They all looked at him.

They all looked at the portal.

Then the last person Nick would have expected spoke up, her melodic voice clear in the crisp, night air.

“I think the army will close it up,” Zoe Fox said decisively. “I think they’ll come back up here tomorrow and declare this government property and no one will ever be able to get near it again.”

Nick nodded thoughtfully.

He didn’t bother to answer that. He knew she was right.

He saw everyone else in their huddled group nodding too.

“So?” Nick prompted again.

“So if we’re going to go, husband,” Wynter said, matter of fact. “I think it’s pretty much understood we’re going to go tonight.”

She looked up from where she snuggled half in his lap, smiling.

Nick smiled back at her.

“Agreed, wife,” he said simply.

There was another silence.

Then, all of them without another word, turned to look at the glowing portal.

For another long feeling few minutes, no one said anything at all.