Page 44

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ENDER

The house we end up at is out in the middle of nowhere. It’s about a twenty-minute drive out of the city, but it’s nice and quite large with a tall fence around it that I have to assume is monitored to know if someone climbs over it.

Just as we’re pulling in, another car drives in behind us. I see Rylee plastered against the window like a dog thrilled to go to the park.

“She sure adores you,” Mads says.

“She does,” I agree as we get out.

“Ennnnnnnder!” Rylee yells as she runs at me like we’ve been apart months instead of a few hours. But before she reaches me, Mads nabs her.

“Is he really even that good? I mean… look at his evil face. Oh! I know how to fix it!” Mads says as he scoops her up and flips her upside down. “Now it looks like he’s smiling, eh?”

Rylee giggles. “Ooh! He is smiling from this angle!”

“This is how I used to get money out of people,” Mads says as he gives her a shake. “See if anything falls out.”

“I don’t have any money! En said that I’m ‘not skilled with money.’”

“You spent the last money I gave you for ‘emergencies’ on the ugliest stuffed dog,” I say as I walk up and poke her in the belly button.

“It was an emergency! He was so cute!” She thrashes and giggles before holding her hands out to me. “EN! EN! Save me!”

I grab her arms and look up at Mads, who has her feet. “I bet we could toss her right into that pond over there.”

“You ever seen Matilda? ” Mads asks.

“NO! I can’t fly!” she protests. “FINN! Finn, save me! The evil vampires have me.”

“Yeah but… if they toss you into the pond, I could have your cat and he’s just so cute,” Finn says with an “I’m sorry” look.

“No! Not Senor Fluffybottom!”

“I’ll rename him too!”

“Don’t you dare . He loves his name! I asked if he liked his name and he was all purr purr purr, so obviously, he likes it.”

“Hopefully, we don’t both let go at the same time,” Mads says.

“You wouldn’t! En, why are all your friends evil?”

“I don’t know,” I admit.

“You’re the only one who isn’t evil!”

“Thank you,” I say, although I’m pretty sure she’s the only one who’d declare that.

“Ha! Is that right?” Mads asks as he drops her legs, and since I still have her hands, he rushes forward and tickles her. She laughs and squirms and jumps, but she can’t get away.

“Let’s go get settled. I’m so tired I could probably sleep for a year,” I say.

“I was so good while you were gone. You should give me a gold star and definitely read like three books to me before bed. Like full million-page books. I was super mature and did mature things. You’d have been so proud of me.”

“Oh yeah? Is that true? Was she ‘super mature’?” I ask, which makes Rylee look a bit nervous.

“Well… I’d say I’m pretty mature, and I’ve been known to wallow on the ground and cry a time or two,” Orin says.

“Orin, no! Shush! If you don’t shush, you can’t ever pet Senor Fluffybottom ever again!”

“Oh no… that’d be awful.”

“Sure would be,” she says, proud of her threat as I let her go. She checks that Orin is carrying her cat properly before leaping up into my arms.

“Why do you always want to be carried? You’re seven now. Are you a baby?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you declared that you were mature like thirty seconds ago.”

“Nah. Being mature is for losers.”

Then she latches on to me, and because I’m easily swayed, I carry her into the house. Fucking hell, I love this child.

I squeeze her tightly as the idea of Abel touching her sweeps through my mind. I will kill him. I will kill anyone who ever thinks about touching her.

Mads reaches out and I assume he’s reaching for her, but instead, he ruffles my hair. “We’ll keep her safe.”

I nod, feeling immense relief as I realize that I don’t have to do it alone.

“Might need a whole lot more Soup, but we’ll keep her safe.”

I can’t help but smile.

Rylee gasps. “ENDER MADE A FRIEND.”

“Rylee, you’re not as funny as you think you are.”

“I’m hilarious. Orin, tell Ender how hilarious I am. I’m like… so hilarious.”

“You’re the most hilarious person I’ve ever met,” Finn assures her.

“Thank you.”

She’s beaming, quite proud of herself as I carry her into the house. “Can I pick out my bedroom?”

“Sure,” Orin says. “Go pick your bedroom out.”

I set her down and she rushes off, surveying every bedroom as she goes. It doesn’t take her long before she returns. “I want this one,” she proclaims as she points to the gigantic master bedroom with a king-sized bed, attached bathroom, and walk-in closet.

I shake my head. “You don’t need the biggest bedroom. Let’s give that to Orin since it’s his house.”

“Boo.”

“Oh, it’s fine. You can have the biggest bedroom,” Orin says.

She’s delighted and drags me into the room before leaping and diving right onto the bed, looking like a starfish. “It’s so big. I want a bed this big, En.”

“Looks like you get one tonight because someone is spoiling you,” I tell her.

“I would never,” Orin says as he sets the cat down. “You got pretty lucky with this cat, you know that? Most cats would be terrified being hauled around, facing vampires, and being mauled, hugged, and sobbed on for hours.”

Rylee frowns. “Why were you sobbing on him, Orin? That’s not very mature.”

“Ah, right. That was me. I forgot,” he says. “Ender, take the room next door.”

“Thanks. Rylee, I’m going to get a shower.”

“Take a shower in my bathroom. Please? Please? Please? And then you’ll just stay forever in my room.”

“I’ll take a shower in there but I’m not sleeping in here. I want to actually sleep and not get repeatedly kicked all night long.”

“Don’t leave.”

“I’m not. It’s a simple shower.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” I say.

Once I’ve fetched clothes that Orin has acquired for us, I head into the bathroom and shower.

It feels amazing, so amazing that I’m not quite sure I have the energy to get out.

I could probably stay here for the night if it meant I didn’t have to move.

But before long, there are little hands pounding against the door.

“En! En, you’ve been in there for at least a year,” Rylee says. “Orin already got a litter box set up and food and toys for Fluffybottom. And Mads already took a shower and is back and read to me. ENDDEEERRR.”

“I’m coming,” I call out and shut the water off. I dress and walk back into her room where she’s all smiles when she sees me. Why she even needed me when it looks like Mads was in here entertaining her, I don’t know.

“It’s past your bedtime,” I say.

“Only because you took the longest shower of your life.”

“I know,” I respond as I drag Rylee to her bed. I tuck her in and climb in next to her before looking at Mads. “You headed to bed?”

“Yeah. Finn was letting me borrow his phone to read her a book. You want it?”

“Thanks,” I say as I take it from him.

“Good night, little one. Good night, Ender.”

“Night.”

I watch him go, and even after the door shuts behind him, I stare at the spot he’d been standing for far too long.

Rylee pokes me. “Are you going to read or stare at the door?”

“Probably just stare at the door.”

“It’s not that interesting.”

I look down at the book that’s open on Finn’s phone and start to read.

She quiets down immediately, telling me that she really is tired.

I can’t blame her; it sounds like she didn’t get the best sleep while I was gone if she was busy crying over my disappearance.

I read longer than I usually do, and when I look up, I realize she’s fallen asleep at some point.

I set the phone down and reach out to pull her covers up, glad the room seems pretty soundproof so the noise of the others in the house won’t wake her, meaning maybe there’s a chance I’ll get a decent night’s sleep.

I don’t know why I took this child. I knew that her mother was taking horrible care of her. I knew Watson was watching her. I knew he wanted her. I knew so much, but I also knew so little about why I did it.

Was it because she reminded me so much of my niece who I couldn’t save?

Or was it because she made me feel like less of a monster?

“Good night,” I say softly. I reach out and trail my finger over the cat who immediately starts purring. He’s snuggled against her, loving every moment of affection he’s been given. Was he loved once before being thrown out into the world and now wants to appreciate every second of it?

Quietly, I push out of bed and slip out of the bedroom, glad she doesn’t wake up. I head back to the kitchen where Marcus is talking to Alexei with two dogs by his side. He must have left to get them and was just coming in since he’s setting the keys to the vehicle on the table.

“Here’s Finn’s phone. Tell him I said thank you,” I say as the large dog comes over to sniff me. I hold my hand out to him and he scrutinizes it while the little one jumps on my legs for attention.

“I will,” Marcus replies.

I hesitate. “And thank you for everything else. I don’t deserve the help you’ve given me. I’m very thankful that Finn has the ability to forgive like he does or I’m aware I wouldn’t have received any of this assistance.”

“He’s a pretty special person… but you did save his life. Even if it was for Rylee’s benefit, you saved him when I couldn’t,” Marcus says. “Finn is very precious to me.”

“Why haven’t you changed him?” I ask, a question that has been floating around in my head.

“The council has denied permission, but now that the council is in shambles, who knows what might happen. Although, we’re afraid of what will happen if we do.

Would his new body work against the prostheses?

Would the uniqueness of his blood affect his ability to be turned?

There are so many what-ifs that make us both nervous. ”