Chapter 32
Hugo
After the strange little battle of the nymphs, more BCA agents showed up to haul everyone away, including Theroli’s body. They would all be interviewed, tried, and likely spend some time in jail or have to pay fines or something, I didn’t know.
But I overheard Zay’s grandfathers talking about placing the nymphs in some kind of sanctuary in the middle of Brinnswick Forest. So… even though they attacked us, his grandparents wanted to make sure they were taken care of.
Which was more than those assholes deserved.
They’d killed Phia, Anithea’s sister, and who knew how many others. Maybe none of them had pulled the trigger, but they’d all been told what Theroli did, and they’d continued to follow him anyway.
It was disgusting.
Good riddance.
After the clean-up was through, only my sire, his viramore, and Zay’s dads remained. The rest of the Ellwoods went with the nymphs back to central Brinnswick to take care of the paperwork and everything else.
Toby walked over to me and gave me one of his big dad hugs, and I soaked it up, happy he’d stayed behind.
“I was thinking we’d stay in one of your guest rooms tonight so we can spend some time together,” he said after he released me. I could tell it was a question, and I couldn’t help but smile at him.
“That would be great.” After all of that, it’d be nice to get a little sire time in.
“Good.” He gave me a nod, then threw his arm around my shoulders and started leading me back to the house. Zay was talking to his dads, and when he noticed us, he began following, along with everyone else.
“He wants to stay with us tonight. I told him I was good with that, but I didn’t ask you first. Sorry.”
“You don’t need to ask me, isa mezelie. I’m glad you said yes. Especially because my dads want to stay with us too.”
I held in a laugh. “Looks like we’re having a sleepover tonight. Where’s Kian?”
I wasn’t sure if he’d stayed here or went ahead in the cars.
“He’s in the house already. He’s making some food and plans on staying too.”
“Good. He shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
“Agreed.”
We walked into the house, and Kian was indeed cooking. I asked, “Do you need help? It looks like it’s us, plus your dads, Toby, and Thayer.”
“I’m good. I’m making more than enough for everyone.”
I grinned at him. “Even with your appetite? You usually eat enough for four people.”
He flipped me off but was smiling, which was my goal.
Zay came over to the kitchen island and kissed my temple. “Need any help?” he asked his brother, making me laugh.
Kian groaned. “You two are ridiculous. Get out of my kitchen. Go.” He shooed us away with a spatula.
I laughed, calling over my shoulder, “It’s actually our kitchen, thank you very much.”
“Shut it, you, or you won’t get any supper.”
I laughed again and let myself let go of all the fear, anger, and frustration of the last few months.
It was over.
It was really over.
A week or so after the big nymph arrests, Basil stopped by to give us an update. “All the nymphs are paying fines and will be forced to do community service for the next year. They all took deals, so there won’t be any trials or anything.”
“Is that a good thing, you think?” Zay asked him.
He nodded. “Yes. They’re also being forced into counseling, and they have restraining orders for pretty much our entire coven.
If they even come anywhere near you or any of the other kids, they’ll go straight to jail.
” He made a little airplane-like noise and moved his hand through the air like he was flying them to jail or something.
It made my lips twitch in amusement.
“Good.” Zay nodded. “Do you need anything from us?”
“You already gave your statements, and like I said, they already made deals. It’s over.”
“Does that mean we don’t need bodyguards anymore?” I asked. We’d still had them the last few days while things were being figured out, just in case.
“Correct. No more bodyguards. You’re safe. There’s no one else left who’s connected to Bart… or Theroli, for that matter.”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“We made sure all Theroli’s clanmates were accounted for, and we looked into his history and made sure there were no other threats.”
“That’s good. But… what about the Bart thing?”
He gave me a strange look. “After what happened with Bart over the winter, the BCA hunted down all his associates, checked them out, made a few arrests, and determined that others weren’t criminals.”
I blinked at that. “Wh-what? Really?”
“Of course. We had to make sure you were safe. I’m just sorry we missed this group. Their connection was so small, at least digitally, that they didn’t come up on any of our research. I’m really sorry.”
I waved that off because what the hell was he even apologizing for? Not being perfect? “You don’t need to say that. I… we appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
To my surprise, he sent me a small smile, stood from his seat, walked around the table, and pulled me into a hug.
Why I was surprised someone in this family was hugging me, I didn’t know. They were the most huggy family I’d ever met after all.
“I’m just glad you’re safe, here with Zay, and a part of our family.”
My eyes started blinking because I didn’t want to tear up around one of Zay’s tough-guy uncles, even when he was being all sweet and soft.
He tightened his hold for a second before he released me, sent me a smile, and gave Zay a small hug. “Love you both. I’ll see you at movie night in two days.”
“We’ll be there,” we said together before looking at one another and laughing as he walked out.
Zay reached over, snagged my hand, and pulled me into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned my head against his, content to sit in his arms for as long as he wanted.
“You’ll be stuck here forever, then,” he murmured, overhearing my thoughts as usual.
“Good. I like it here.”
He gave me a squeeze, holding me even tighter.