Once there, I stopped beneath our old tree house. It was starting to fall apart, as were the rest of the homes. With no one here to repair them, the wood would one day return to the land from which we harvested it.
It made me sad that we’d lost yet another home, but we couldn’t hide away here anymore. Even if we didn’t rule it, Tempest still needed us.
I wasn’t sure where our home would be. While we’d remained at the manor, it didn’t feel right.
The property Ryker’s mother left him was too big and far away. Maybe we’d eventually build our own home again, but there was still too much going on for that to happen now.
Ryker settled his hand on my shoulder as Mouse darted out of the trees. Instead of throwing himself into my arms, the boy skidded to a halt when he spotted Lillian strapped to my chest. He grinned as he stood on his toes to look down at her.
Mouse visited us and the orphanage often enough that he wasn’t completely filthy and his clothes were in good condition. He’d forever remain wild and free, but he craved being around us too.
“Do you ever spend time with the gargoyles?” I asked him.
Mouse grinned as he nodded. He formed his fingers into a heart.
“Yeah,” I said, “I love them too.”
Mouse pointed at me, Lillian, and Ryker before forming another heart.
Tears burned my eyes, and my words came out hoarse. “I love you so much, Mouse. You’ll always have a home with us.”
He kissed my cheek, caressed Lillian’s head, and hugged Ryker before dashing into the woods again.
“I wish he’d stay with us,” Ryker murmured.
I sighed. “He wouldn’t be Mouse if he did.”
“True.”
Ryker rested his hand on my waist and guided me out of the clearing and back toward the manor. While we strolled through the trees, ghosts floated past.
None of them acknowledged our existence as they floated through trees and other obstacles. Unlike the poltergeists, the ghosts weren’t sentient beings, but the sight of them was, in some ways, more unsettling than the bloodthirsty specters.
We’d been walking for an hour when Farley found us. He waved his dagger in greeting.
“Aw, it’s the little one,” he cried excitedly.
When he zipped over to hover above my shoulder, Lillian’s eyes fluttered open. I wasn’t sure if she could see him or not, but she smiled before settling into sleep again.
“Just like her mama.” Farley puffed out a little like he was her mother. “She recognizes a good man when she sees one, isn’t that right, Aristodick?” Farley asked Ryker.
“Fuck off, you free-floating blob of impotence.”
Farley chuckled as he waved his blade. “I’m not so impotent with this.”
“Try it, and I’ll take that blade from you. Permanently,” Ryker warned.
“I’d never attack you. I like Lery too much for that.”
“One of these days, you two will get along,” I muttered.
“That’s not ever going to happen,” they both said.
I chuckled. “You’re so much alike.”
The looks they gave me were equal parts disbelieving and irritated. “You’re not funny,” Farley said.
Ryker opened his mouth but closed it before speaking. I laughed when I realized he’d been about to agree with Farley and didn’t like it. When Ryker scowled at me, I playfully bumped his hip with mine.
