Chapter 23 #2
Sam and Alayna greeted them as they approached the stable, offering to help with the children and all the gear. Sam muttered good-naturedly about the estate becoming a halfway house but hugged Celina nonetheless as she dismounted.
“Connor!” The high-pitched shriek sounded in his mind as well as his ears as Cat mind-spoke to him.
Connor jerked his gaze up and his heart nearly burst to see his baby sister racing toward him from the main house, her red hair tumbling around her like a halo of light. Leaping down from Rogue, he situated Opal with the reins.
“You okay to take Rogue into the barn?”
Opal bit her lip but nodded. Patting Rogue on the shoulder, she redirected him toward the barn without using the reins he’d handed her.
Shaking his head in amusement, Connor turned around just in time to catch his sister in a hug.
My little spark. He held her tight, blinking back tears as he crushed her to him. The snippets of memory he’d seen of her childhood were forefront in his mind, even though she was here, all grown up.
Don’t you ever die on us again! I mean it, Connor!
I missed you too, Spark. He smiled as he as she leaned back, her sharp eyes going over him and cataloguing everything for future questions and lectures. She did it every time he came home. Though usually with less anger.
“What are you doing here, Cat?”
“Would you believe me if I told you it was coincidence?”
“Not for a moment.”
“Mmm. Well, in that case, I decided to tag along with Alayna—who was already coming to visit Sam—when I heard you were on your way home.”
As happy as he was to see Cat, her presence was a little concerning. Her leaving her normal routine was bound to be suspicious.
“Quit worrying.” She waved away his unspoken concern.
I was with Morgan when Cass came to see him.
He already lectured me and was the one to suggest traveling with Alayna.
We made sure people overheard my meltdown and her generous offer for me to join her for a restful visit to Rosewood to help alleviate my overwhelming stress.
Morgan will be here after dark with your team.
I hope he gave you a good lecture, he teased, relaxing a little.
Top-notch. His disappointed parent scowl has improved since he adopted Sarai as his daughter. I told him if he was that concerned, he needed to give me lessons in subterfuge.
Connor laughed and shook his head. Of course Cat had found a way to get something out of a situation when she should have been in trouble.
She was technically an adult, but he swore sometimes she’d never outgrown the mischievous little girl she’d been.
Something told him Opal would be a lot like her when she gained some confidence.
“Come on, then. I want you to meet someone.” He tucked his sister under his arm as they walked together toward the stable.
Speculation lit in Cat’s eyes as she looked up at him, but he just smiled.
“Opal!” he called as they entered the darkened stable, trying to find where she’d gone.
Her white-blonde head appeared around Rogue’s open stall door. She ran over to him immediately, making him suspect she’d been hiding, waiting for him. She leaned heavily against his leg as she stared up at Cat curiously.
Connor put a hand on her head. “Opal, I want you to meet my other sister. She’s a bit of a troublemaker, so you have to keep an eye on her. This is your aunt, Cat.”
Aunt? Shock flickered through Cat’s eyes, but she hid it quickly, lowering down to greet Opal with a warm smile. “Hi Opal.”
Anything else I should know about?
Later, Connor promised. Can you keep an extra eye on her for me?
“You know, Sam is pretty good at baking. I bet there are some treats in the kitchen. Want to go find some?” Cat asked Opal.
Opal’s eyes lit, but she looked up at Connor anxiously.
“It’s okay. Cat’s a good person to hang out with when I’m gone. I bet some of the others will want to go with you.”
Opal bit her lip, ducking her head quietly. Connor motioned to Cat to wait quietly, explaining through the mental link that the girl was talking to Rogue.
After consulting with the horse, Opal finally returned her attention to them. “Rogue says yes.”
“Oh, good. I was worried there for a second!” Cat smiled and offered Opal her hand before turning her gaze to him. “And you, sir, are not allowed to set foot off the estate without telling us. Right, Opal?”
Opal nodded vigorously in agreement. “Right.”
“Understood,” he told them.
I mean it, Con. Your freedom of movement is revoked!
Spark. He chuckled, letting his joy flow through the mental connection to her. Don’t you think that’s a little extreme?
You were dead, Connor.
Oh, come on, you didn’t believe that for a minute. He’d helped her hone her truth-seeking abilities himself. She was very adept at hearing lies with and without her magic. He’d made sure she’d learned regular cues in addition to developing her magic.
Maybe, she sniffed. But that one minute was the worst of my life. Whatever you’re planning better not bring it about again. I can’t lose you.
You won’t, I promise.
That was why his team was coming here to strategize. He wasn’t going to bring the traitor down alone. His heart swelled as he watched the two walk away, Opal taking to her vivacious aunt quickly.
I love you, Cat.
Love you too, big brother.