Bombing? What the hell?
Mama went on. “Last week proved they can’t live without each other. Neither of them can. Whatever happens, they have to stick together.”
Daddy sighed. “I know you’re right. I wish there was an easier way.”
“It’s not going to be easy for any of us from this point out.”
Their footsteps roamed away. They must’ve left to get coffee.
Charlie finally stirred beside me. His hair was a mess as he sat up and gave a couple of bleary blinks.
I didn’t give him time to wake up. “There was a bombing? Charlie, what are you hiding?”
His expression was blank. He didn’t want to tell me what was going on.
Before he could answer, the door opened again. I caught a flash of red hair as my little sister walked into the room, along with Ezekiel. Alana looked painfully worried as she looked me over, although Ezekiel appeared nothing but relieved.
“Sis,” Ez choked out. He stroked back my hair. “I really am sorry about what I said.”
His words were distant to me— I vaguely recalled our argument, how he’d said he’d wanted me out of his life, but the memory was muddled. I had no emotion attached to it, though Ez was clearly harboring guilt. “It doesn’t mean anything, Ez, I promise. Shit like that doesn’t matter in these kinds of situations. I’m just glad we’re all together.”
Ez let out a choked noise and dropped his head. At my side, I watched Alana keenly observe Charlie. They had never been properly introduced.
“Alana, this is Charlie, my husband, and Charlie, this is my little sister, Alana. Sorry you weren’t at the wedding. I know you would’ve wanted to be there,” I apologized.
“Hi,” Charlie said. He reached out to shake Alana’s hand. She took it formally, grasping it lightly the way Grandmother Eleanor did. For seventeen years old, she moved with so much grace.
Alana smirked. “Ha. You sure are Ava’s type. Tall, dark and broody.”
Charlie’s eyebrows furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She likes them with dark hair and edgy pasts, and I’m sure you’ve got both,” Alana joked.
“Okay, cut it out,” I told her. “The interrogation’s over.”
Charlie smiled. “It’s all right. I’m sure when you get a boyfriend your siblings won’t stop teasing you about it, either.”
I snorted, and Ez let out a chuckle. Alana smiled slightly as she replied, “I prefer women, actually.”
Alana sat on the edge of my bed and scratched Oberi’s ears. My heart ached as I took her in. I hadn’t seen her in a year. She’d grown so much.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I said, grasping her arm. Charlie slid off the bed and sat in a chair on the right side of the bed.
“They don’t allow anyone under eighteen to visit the Institute, but they made a special exception for Maverick and me, so we could see you,” Alana explained. “Mav’s with Mom and Dad. Are you feeling okay?”
“Is everyone safe back home?” I immediately asked, avoiding her question. We could discuss my health once I knew what was happening out there.
Ez frowned and dropped his gaze. Alana ran a hand through her hair, grabbing at the fiery locks. “It’s… it was fucked, Ava. The whole thing is.”
“What do you mean?” My heartbeat picked up. I was already expecting the worst.
“We don’t need to excite her,” Charlie insisted. “Ava needs to relax, so she can heal.”
“She’s gonna find out anyway. It’s all anyone ever talks about,” Ez stated.
“I can’t lay here and not know what’s going on. It’ll shoot my anxiety through the roof,” I told them. “I need to know what’s happening.”
Alana chewed on her lip for a moment, before she spat it out. “The day after you went to the Infernal Underground, I was at home with Mav. I was making dinner when I heard a sound like thousands of wings beating. We hurried outside… it was angels, hundreds of them, flying through the sky.”
