Sam #2
“You’re always hungry,” Henry said.
“Yep! Can I have a banana, Nana?” He recognized the rhyme and giggled. “Banana Nana!”
“You’re the banana,” she said.
Everyone began to untangle themselves from the pile, the moment of nervous tension over. Vaughn stayed sitting with Henry tucked up against his side. Sam checked his gaze but he didn’t seem concerned anymore. It was as good a sign as any that things were going to be okay.
“Come on and get a snack when you’re ready, Henry.”
Nana ushered the others over to the kitchen table. Ben seemed reluctant to leave Henry’s side, but Sam gave his leg a pat to let him know it was okay. He looked to Henry, took in his smiling face, and then stood and followed the others.
“So, Henry, Meshaq and your alpha want me to do some magic around the house here. It’ll be really strong magic and you’ll definitely be able to feel it, but it won’t hurt you. It’ll be like what just happened, but stronger.”
Henry paled then turned to look at Vaughn. “I…” He gulped but clamped his mouth shut again. Sam tightened his hold on Henry’s leg and looked to Vaughn for guidance.
“Henry, it’s okay. Tell me what you’re thinking and we’ll figure it out together.”
Henry hid his face in Vaughn’s arm and reached blindly for Sam. Sam grabbed his hand and held tight. “It’s okay, Henry. We won’t be mad. We just want to understand. Can you explain to us what has you upset so we know?”
He sniffed but nodded. “I don’t like being trapped. It doesn’t feel good. Do we have to put magic around the house?”
Zaire’s magic must have flared again because even Sam could feel the sudden increase in heat in the room. Meshaq pulled her firmly against his side and began whispering furiously in her ear.
Instead of upsetting Henry further, he rolled his head a little to the side and peeked out at her from beneath his lashes.
Her eyes were closed and she was muttering under her breath.
Wind picked up in the room as well, but again, it was little more than a breeze.
“Zaire?” Henry whispered. “Are you mad again?”
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She had a sheen of tears over them and she smiled sadly. “Yeah, sweetie. I’m really mad that someone used their magic to trap you. I’m going to teach you how to fix that so it doesn’t happen again, okay?”
“I wouldn’t get stuck again? It really didn’t feel good.”
“I bet it didn’t. How about I show you? We’ll go outside, just us and your alphas and Meshaq, and I’ll show you what it’s supposed to be like so you know.
And I’ll show you how to fix it, too. We really need to put the magic in place to keep you safe, but this is your house now, so it’s yours to protect.
That’s powerful magic, Henry, and once you’re a little older, you’ll be able to do it all by yourself. I can help you now, though.”
“What if…what if it hurts, though?”
“Remember what your alpha promised earlier? If you don’t like it, we stop. And you’ll have them and Meshaq to help.”
Henry bit on his lip for a second and Sam watched as his little mind worked it through. The kid was so smart, knew more about magic than he realized he did. He trusted Zaire, if only a little. “You said I could say no… right?”
“I did. And you can, Henry. At any time.”
“Okay.”
Sam smiled and gave Henry’s hand a quick squeeze. “Let’s go see what the fuss is about. You’ll have to show me. I don’t know anything about magic.”
He climbed to his feet and pulled Henry up after him. Henry smiled and leaned against him as Vaughn stood also. He put his hand on Henry’s hair and met Sam’s gaze.
They had an unspoken conversation, each promising the other to be careful, to keep Henry safe, and to watch over him. It was the strangest sensation, but Sam knew exactly what Vaughn meant with his look, could read his face like he’d known him for years.
“Let’s go,” Vaughn said after a moment. He turned to look at Zaire, giving her a hard stare. “I’m trusting you. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t.”
She led them out into the front yard and over to one of the fence posts that edged the property. She leaned up against it, the crisp white paint a stark contrast to the black leather she wore. Henry stayed between Vaughn and Sam, and he still had Sam’s hand clenched tightly in his.
“Here’s the plan,” Zaire said. “I’m going to basically draw a line with magic, Henry. Right here between these posts. It won’t go anywhere else, okay?”
Henry nodded. “Okay.”
Meshaq moved in front of him and knelt down, mimicking Sam’s earlier position as Henry’s front shield.
The hellhound was so big Henry had to lean to the side a bit to be able to see Zaire.
She waited until Henry was settled then closed her eyes and lifted her hands.
The air around them heated up, and Henry gasped.
Whatever was happening, he could feel it much more intensely than Sam, and it appeared as if he might even be able to see it, too.
His eyes followed a path that looked normal to Sam, but he seemed to be watching something that Sam couldn’t see.
“Okay, come see,” Zaire said.
Henry chewed his lip nervously. He touched Meshaq’s shoulder with his free hand even as his other continued to squeeze Sam’s tightly. Meshaq covered Henry’s hand with one of his own before meeting Henry’s gaze with his fire-rimmed eyes.
“Want me to come with you?” Meshaq asked.
Henry turned shy for a moment, looking down and leaning against Vaughn’s leg.
But he nodded after a second and straightened.
He let go of Sam’s hand as Meshaq stood and then he grabbed Meshaq’s instead.
The hellhound looked startled for a moment but his eyes softened and the look he gave Henry melted Sam’s heart.
Sam leaned against Vaughn who wrapped an arm over his shoulders as Meshaq led Henry forward to Zaire. “Try beside me first,” she said. “See? No ward.”
Henry tentatively held his hand up, but nothing happened, and he was able to move through the spot with no difficulties.
“Now try here. Gently.”
Henry leaned against Meshaq’s leg as he sucked in a nervous breath and reached for the spot Zaire had warded. He jerked his hand back quickly, as if he’d been burned, but then looked up at Meshaq with a puzzled frown. “It feels like you. A little,” Henry said. “But you’re different.”
Meshaq nodded. “My power comes directly from the goddess.”
“I like it,” Henry said shyly. He leaned a little more against Meshaq who placed a hand on Henry’s head. He seemed stunned by Henry’s reaction to him, as if he’d never had a child trust him so completely.
“Want to try again?” Zaire asked. “I know it feels strange, but it won’t hurt you.”
Henry glanced over at Vaughn and Sam. Vaughn nodded. “It’s okay.”
Then he looked up at Meshaq. “Promise?”
Meshaq looked gutted but he nodded as well. “I promise, little one. It won’t hurt you.”
Henry held on tightly to Meshaq as he stretched his hand out once more. He trembled when he crossed the magical line but didn’t jerk his hand back this time. He breathed a little heavier and a breeze kicked up around them.
“Easy,” Zaire said quietly.
“Mrs. Foote’s magic felt different,” Henry said after a moment. “Yours doesn’t hurt, exactly. It says stay away. Keep out.”
“That’s what it’s supposed to do. It’s a warning,” she explained.
He took his hand back and pressed up against Meshaq. “But what if Mrs. Foote comes back? She won’t stay away just because your magic says to. Her magic is mean.”
“Well, I’m going to have my magic call Meshaq and tell him to come quick. You know how fast he can get here, right? You saw his portal?”
“The fire circle thing?” Henry asked.
She nodded.
Henry looked up at Meshaq. “But what if you’re busy?”
Meshaq knelt down in front of Henry, and they stared at each other for a long, tense minute. “I will come as fast as I can,” Meshaq said. “Your alpha will protect you until I arrive.”
“Shifter magic doesn’t work against Mrs. Foote, though. Ben said.”
Meshaq lifted his arm and untied a bracelet made up of black leather cords from his wrist. The center had a red stone which glowed in the afternoon sun. He picked up Henry’s hand and wrapped the bracelet around his wrist instead. The strap was too big but Henry touched it reverently.
“You are under my protection. I will come if you call.” He didn’t have to promise Henry. The vow was there in his words.
Henry looked up at him again and smiled softly. “You’re big and kinda scary. And you’re really strong. And you have magic. And the goddess protects you.”
Meshaq nodded.
“And you’ll protect my…” Henry paused and glanced over at Zaire before turning back to Meshaq. “My brothers and sisters too?”
“I will.”
“And… my alpha and my Sam?”
“And everyone in your pack. I will come if you call,” Meshaq repeated.
Henry let out a little sigh and flung his arms around Meshaq’s neck.
Sam’s eyes filled with tears, and he turned in Vaughn’s arms. His alpha was as affected by Henry’s display of trust as they were.
Meshaq looked up at them, gutted as well.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Henry and held him tight.
Zaire sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Okay, let’s do this. I’m going to blubber like an idiot if we don’t.”
Henry raised his head but kept his arm around Meshaq’s shoulder. “Okay.”
He turned to look at them, and Vaughn moved them forward as well.
Henry smiled as he watched Zaire work, and for the first time, Sam understood the depth of the fear Henry had been carrying with him.
But now, he believed he was safe, that the people around him were going to help him. He trusted them.
And so did Sam.