Chapter 37
Nova
We make our way down the ladder faster than we went up, which is saying something because Trey almost takes out Rane on the way down and Beckett has to grab the railing to keep from falling.
Outside the community hall, there’s a crowd. Because of course there is.
I push through. The guys are behind me. I know they’re there without having to look back.
The crow squawks overhead.
The crowd finally realizes I’m trying to get through and it parts for me. Thank goodness, because so many sweaty shifters crammed into one little area is a lot.
I stop when I reach the front.
I swear my jaw hits the floor.
“About fucking time.”
“Zoe.”
She’s standing in the doorway of the community hall looking like she’s pissed off at me and I’m not quite sure what I’ve done. Her hair is a mess. Her clothes are ripped and dirty. She looks like she’s been walking for a week.
She looks amazing.
“Zoe?” Eli says from next to her, looking genuinely confused by whatever is happening on her face.
She grins.
“Get over here!” she yells, taking three long strides and wrapping her arms around me so hard my feet almost leave the ground.
“Oh I’ve missed you!”
“I’ve missed you too… but Zoe, I can’t breathe,” I gasp.
“Oh, oops, sorry!” she says, pulling back but keeping her hands on my shoulders like she’s making sure I’m real. Her eyes scan my face, my arms, everything. Like she’s taking inventory.
“How the hell did you find us?” Locke asks from behind me.
She shrugs. “I have my ways.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She sighs. “Okay, if you must know, my aunt mentioned you were headed toward Memory and we ran into someone named Max who was kind enough to bring us here.”
“Max…” I say. Then it clicks. “Oh!”
“Booze, right?” Lena calls from somewhere in the crowd.
I laugh. “That’s Lena, you’ll like her,” I tell Zoe.
“Noted.” Zoe looks past me, taking in the hall, the lanterns, the music still playing. “So… the Hollow.”
“Yeah. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
She nods but I can see how tired she is. All of them are. They look like they’ve been on the road for days. Which they have.
“Tomorrow,” I say. I look at her guys. “Let’s get you settled first.”
I turn, looking for Jonah.
He’s already walking up with Brent. “We’ve got you covered.” He nods at me. “The house isn’t as big as theirs, but it’s right next door.”
Zoe beams. All of her guys are grinning.
Vaelor steps forward. “Rest up and we’ll all talk tomorrow, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Eli says. “You need to know—”
“Tomorrow.” Zoe stops him. Firm. He closes his mouth and nods.
Vaelor looks at Brent and Jonah. “Our place, eight AM.”
I make a sound before I can stop it. Kyron laughs.
“Might want to make it ten,” he says.
I watch Jonah lead them to the house next to ours. Zoe looks back once, catches my eye, and grins. Then she disappears through the door.
The crowd starts to disperse. People heading home. The music winding down.
“Let’s go home,” I say.
They start moving. “Wait,” I say. “All the stuff on the roof…”
“I’ll grab it tomorrow,” Trey says.
“Or it’ll rain and we’ll pretend it never happened,” Rane adds.
Close enough.
We walk. The main street is quiet now except for the crow flying past.
“I can’t believe they’re here,” I say.
“I know, right?” Rane says. “But they are.”
I nod. Glad of it. More than glad.
But I can’t think about tomorrow. Not yet.
We go inside. The house is warm. The fireplace still has embers from this morning.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I say.
Nobody argues.
I make my way upstairs thinking about tonight.
The rooftop, the moonlight… Even the dancing. Kyron’s mouth on mine. Locke’s favorite sound. Trey stepping on my feet. Vaelor dipping me. Beckett in the hallway. Rane’s arms around my waist.
The best night of my life.
Tomorrow can wait.