“Good idea. Besides, my father sent me to find you. He wants to see you before you leave.”
I blinked. “Your father? Why would he want to see me?”
Annie rolled her eyes, tugging me through the arched double doors as we shut them behind us.
“Because you’re part of the best treasure-hunting crew he ever led! And we have a gift for you.”
My feet tripped over themselves. “Wait. Bowen McKenzie is your father? But you’re too old. I thought…”
“I’m adopted. Both my brother, Will, and I.”
And the hits keep coming.
Gavin hadn’t found his family. He’d been teaching tricks of the trade to Bowen’s kid. Telling her my stories.
Oh, no. I had put a knife to his throat in the alcove.When Gavin found out I knew the whole truth, he was going to be insufferable. My lips curled, warmth unfurling inside my chest. Then again, what else was new?
We walked onto the terrace, where I found Bowen talking to Gavin. The two of them had their heads hunched together, speaking quietly. Gavin had already changed his clothes, and his hair was damp.
I cleared my throat. Bowen looked up, a wide smile cracking his features. I almost didn’t recognize him. He had scars running down the side of his face. They were brutal and made him look almost savage. Anger twisted in my gut at whoever had done this to him, but I pushed it down.
That smile was pure Bowen.
“Marin!” He opened his arms, and I raced into them. Bowen swung me in the air, spinning us in a tight circle before dropping me back to my feet. His hands closed over my shoulders. “It is so good to see you. You have been missed.”
“I missed you, too.”
Gavin shifted his weight against the rail, his grip flexing once, then tightening on the edge like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay or walk away. His head dropped to his chin, but not before I saw the flicker of something, almost like envy, in his eyes.
“I hear you’ve been busy.” Bowen cocked his head toward Gavin. His smile stretched a scar across his face. “Next time you shackle our friend here, make sure it’s to something unbreakable.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Lessons were learned.”
Gavin grumbled under his breath, “I thought we agreed not to give her any more weapons against me.”
He still wore the iron cuff on his wrist. It dangled against his side as if he’d forgotten it was there.
I squeezed Bowen’s arms. “I met Annie. She’s wonderful and very clever. Congratulations. I know how much you wanted a family someday. A whole brood to follow in your treasure-hunting footsteps.”
Gavin kicked the rail with his boot.
Bowen’s chest filled with a breath steeped in pride. “When you get back, I want you to meet my wife, Liana. You’ll love her. She changed my life when I was at my lowest.”
My gaze found Gavin’s over Bowen’s shoulder, and something expanded inside my chest.
“I’m happy for you.” But my eyes were still on Gavin, myvoice softening. “You were always the most sentimental one out of all of us.”
A muscle ticked in Gavin’s jaw. Then he pushed off the rail and stretched like he’d woken from a long nap.
“Touching. Truly. But we have a vine to climb.”
Annie approached and tugged on her father’s sleeve. “Give Marin our gift.”
“What gift?” I asked as Bowen removed a scroll from inside his jacket.
“A map to the shard.”
Bowen ruffled the top of Annie’s head, and she squirmed. “You’re messing up my braids. Let me give it to her!”
