24 AURORA
The LandRover slams violently over a deep rut, making my head smash hard against the ripped foam ceiling of the cabin.
On my lap, Lil’ Hare lets out a small squeak, her tiny fingers latching into the wool of my sweater as we’re momentarily weightless.
“Blimey,” London yells, reaching back to try and grab Pepper and Sheena, who are probably bouncing around like pinballs in the trunk space. “This ride’s more bouncy than taking the tube to Clapham Common!”
I crane my neck around, trying to see if anyone is pursuing us, but so far the coast is clear. Was that police, homeowners, or just some rando?
Hopefully, we’ll never know.
Another lurch through a pothole has me banging my knee against a metal bolt that’s sticking out from the door frame.
Motherfucker.
This thing is fucking basic.
Tally makes the gears crunch horribly as we start up a rise.
The Vista View family home we briefly hijacked is out of sight now.
As this field is a little less turbulent, I try to unfold the map and get our bearings.
It’s not easy, and I instantly feel car-sick, but after a few minutes I’m pretty sure I know where we are.
“There should be a small road coming up on our right, Tally. See if we can get on somewhere.”
Rounding a bend, a scattering of startled goats zoom out of our way. London sticks a hand out of the window. “Hello, cousins!”
“Up ahead!” Basil points and Taliesin changes direction, screeching to a halt shortly after.
“Open it,” he barks at Basil, who instantly scrambles out, running to the wooden gate. It’s not locked, just secured with a long metal arm that hinges upward. Basil swings the gate wide then runs back to us. “Shut it again,” Tally tells him.
Right, the livestock.
“Which way, Princess?”
“Take a left, then first right, and another left by a small group of houses.”
“Got it.”
Even though it’s early and the fog is thick once more, he’s kept the headlights off. I’m amazed he can see where he’s going. Maybe it’s a wolf thing.
Lil’ Hare tugs on my sleeve. “What’s up, sweetie?”
She doesn’t reply, but her big eyes fill with tears. Fuck.
“I know this is scary, but it will all be over soon. Just close your eyes.” I don’t really know what else to tell her.
“Pass her to me,” London suggests. I do so with relief—he’s a natural around kids. A beat later, Incy Wincy spider is crawling up the spout, which is apparently her arm.
We take the right-hand turn.
“Down came the rain, and washed the spider out!”
Lil’ Hare gives a tiny giggle.
Up ahead is maybe a dozen houses. “This must be where you go left again,” I yell over the engine. “Why the fuck are there no road signs?”
Nobody answers me, but I answer the question for myself. These roads are potholed and have weeds growing through the cracks. The public amenities budget in North Havengard leaves something to be desired.
Such a fucking contrast to the south—all sleek, pristine highways, award-winning architectural bridges, and computerized billboards that dazzle you with a million bright lights. Glancing up, I notice Lil’ Hare has gone quiet again and her bottom lip is trembling.
Hmm.
Even though my magic still feels stale and dull from disuse, I know it will only get better with practice. Concentrating, I manage to form three glowing little light globes, which I push over towards the girl.
She’s instantly distracted. Crisis averted.
“Kitten, that’s so sexy,” London whispers in my ear. “Seeing you do magic makes my horns go funny.”
Fuck. I realize something for the first time. He and Taliesin must have sparks now, and magic—after all, they can shift.
I can teach them spells!
Not that I know a ton. I’m pretty sure my father kept me untrained on purpose. But what little I know, I should teach the guys. I’ve a feeling London could be amazing.
“Watch this.” As we barrel along, I carefully walk through the components to make the globes. London studies me intently, an uncharacteristic concentration settling over my dear faun’s brow.
Over my shoulder, I’m aware of Basil tracking my every command as well. The boy is too young for a spark, but it can only be good for him to learn the mechanics early.
“So I just say the words, then whish-whosh my hands? Piece of cake.” London attempts to cast, his expression immediately collapsing into a crestfallen pout when nothing happens.
“Try it slower, and you have to hum too. Casting has to be precise.”
“Ugh, precise-ing is my least favorite thing,” he grumbles.
An elbow nudges me in the back. “Like this?” Basil asks, perfectly executing the maneuver.
“Exactly. Good work.”
I’m about to go over the basics again when a rusted, pale-blue water tower cuts through the mist, signaling the start of another town. As we get closer, it’s just possible to read the faded, poorly painted letters on the side: Waddington.
Tally pulls over next to a closed-down store, which is almost engulfed by overgrown brambles.
He turns off the vehicle and the sudden silence is deafening, punctuated only by the rhythmic ticking of the cooling engine.
Swivelling around in the seat, he looks at me, then beyond to the two girls in the back.
“Hey, ladies. Do you recognize where we are?”
Sheena keeps her head ducked low, but Pepper peeks around. “Oh yeah, this is where we pick berries.”
“Excellent. So, um, when you picked berries, would you walk from your house?”
My heart does a little skip. Tally is so fucking clever and resourceful. I had no idea how we’d get the girl's address.
“Um, yeah.”
“So do you think you’d know the way home from here?”
Pepper frowns and we all wait anxiously until she gives a small, proud smile. “Yeah, cos we’d always play in the spaceship, then go up the hill.”
“Spaceship?”
Tally and I exchange a glance, but London nods excitedly. “That sounds banger. Did it have controls? And rockets?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, but it had a phone and a glass door. We could press all the buttons if we stood on tiptoes.”
“Phone box,” Basil announces. “I’ll walk the kids down the road, find the phone box, then Pepper can point out which way to go.”
“No,” Tally and I say in unison.
This kid seems to have no clue that he’s twelve, and we are the adults in this system.
“I have to agree with young Fuckwad,” London says, shaking his head. “He’s the only one of us without a price on our lovely heads.”
I want to tell London that Basil is not one of ‘us’, but I’ve a feeling it would hurt the kid’s feelings, not that he’d let it show. Probably just call us morons or something.
Then I realize the perfect excuse to keep him out of trouble. “Your ankle is still swollen. Tally should go.”
“Don’t be a moron?” Basil sneers, waving a hand dismissively. “If a local cop cruises by, we’re all completely fucked. No one will pay attention to a gang of kids just wandering around, happens all the time. What else are kids to do if you’re not welcome at home?”
My stomach twists.
“Anyway, my foot is fucking fine now it’s wrapped.”
Tally sighs then begrudgingly nods. “He’s right, Princess. It’s the safest play for the drop.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to just stay with Pepper and Sheena’s parents?” I ask the boy. “It would be safer not to be with us.”
He scowls. “If you don’t want me around, just fucking say so. I’ll fuck off on my own like normal. Doesn’t bother me.” He may say that, but I detect a small tremor in his voice.
Fuck. As much as Sky is my priority, I’m not going to abandon this kid. Seems like he doesn’t have a person in the world who cares for him. “We want you, Basil. You’re amazing, but I’m scared that we’re putting you in danger.”
Before Basil can reply, London rolls his eyes at me. “Much as I love your clucky-hen bit, Kitten, I’ve got to side with Fuckwad on this. Age is just a number and our Basil is as old as the hills. And most hills are really old. I’d bet all my pennies on him in a scrape.”
The boy in question rolls his eyes. “Let’s go.” Basil opens the door, easing his wrapped foot onto the gravel. Tally, London and I follow suit, helping Ricky, Lil’ Hare, and the sisters onto the lot.
“I’ll shift and follow in wolf form,” Tally suggests.
“Yeah, good idea.” That puts my mind at ease.
I lean my head against London’s shoulder as the small posse disappears down the foggy street.
The moment they turn a corner, London slides his arms around me, pulling me close. “I know it’s hard to see our ducklings swim off on their own, Kitten, but we haven’t got a nest big enough for them all.”
“I know, you’re right.”
He kisses my temple. “And think how cheery you’ll be when we rescue your BFF.”
“You say ‘when’ like it’s a given.”
“Of course it’s a given. All we need is to find the house with the moat. We’re done with the boat, so now it’s the moat—and you’ve got a goat. It’s destiny.” He moves his mouth to kiss the top of my head then wraps me inside his floral cardigan.
My arms tighten around his waist, soaking in the beautiful heat radiating off him. “London?”
“Yes, Kitten?”
I take a moment, trying to work out how to say the words on my mind.
“Kitten?”
Deep breath. “You’ve been so great with the kids, and I truly feel that you are one hundred percent invested in helping me find Sky…”
I feel his body tense. “This sounds like one of those times when people say ‘but’ and then something sad comes out of their mouth,” he sighs. “Go ahead, Kitten, I can take it.”
Fuck. “I guess, what I want to know is, um, is this the real you? Like, the rhymes and the fun, and the facts. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate it at all, but I get the feeling it’s a defense mechanism or something.
I think what I’m saying is, don’t think you have to ‘do your bit’ around me all the time.
Or keep a cheery attitude. I want to know you.
All of you. You don’t have to hide yourself from me. ”
For a long beat, the only sound is a flock of geese overhead and the hum of an engine somewhere in the distance.