Holding back a laugh of my own, I shoved her out the door before she could make any more jokes about my arrangement with the guys.
“Don’t knock the meat-lover’s sampler platter until you’ve tried it,” I said.
“Knockit? Seriously? Girl, I’m over here trying to figure out where to order myownsampler platter.” Haley giggled and linked her arm in mine, and together we followed the hounds into the woods, Elena’s laughter trailing us all the way there.
Twenty-Four
GRAY
The snow out back was hip-deep in parts, and though Haley and I had to push ourselves to plod through it, it was no match for the hounds. They bounded around like a couple of pups, carving figure eights in the thick layers of white as Haley and I fought for every breath. When we finally reached the shelter of the backwoods, the snow leveled off, and we scouted around for a good place to take a muffin break.
“There,” she said, pointing out a huge nurse log lying in a copse of trees, mostly untouched by the snow.
We sat on the log side by side, unwrapping the muffins while the hounds waited at our feet, their hypnotic eyes fixated on our every move.
“Haley,” I began, at the same time she said, “Can we talk about the hounds?”
We both laughed, then she said, “I’m sorry. You go first.”
“No, it’s fine. They’re kind of new to the family. Courtesy of Sebastian.”
She hadn’t spent much time with them yet—other than for a few brief hours with Emilio last night before dinner, they’d hardly left my side since we’d all escaped the warehouse.
“So basically, they’re your jailers?” she asked.
“More like my protectors,” I told her. “And my friends. I don’t think that’s how Sebastian intended it, but that’s how it worked out. Right, girls?”
They wagged their tails and licked their chops, probably thinking I was about to hand over the muffin. Not happening.
“Their cuteness is definitely in the eye of the beholder,” Haley said, narrowing her gaze on them. “But I have to admit… they’re kind of growing on me.”
“They have that effect.”
“Can I…?” She held out her hand, tentatively, and Sunshine nudged it with her nose.
“Be my guest. Looks like they like you.”
She stroked Sunshine’s muzzle, and of course, Sparkle wanted in on the action too. Soon they were competing for her affection, plodding around the woods in search of sticks and rocks and other gifts for their new friend.
Sparkle came back with a huge, snow-packed pine bough about the size of Haley herself, and we both cracked up.
“I’m so honored, Sparkle,” Haley said. “What a beautiful gift. I shall treasure it always. From a great distance.”
The sun peeked through the clouds overhead, rimming the snow-covered pines around us in a golden glow, and a calmness came over me. The sound of my sister’s laugh filled me with pure happiness, and suddenly I felt lighter, knowing that the moment was right.
It was time.
“I need to tell you something, Haley,” I said softly. “It’s important.”
She stopped petting Sparkle and glanced up at me, expectant. “Everything okay?”
“More than okay. You’re… you’re my sister.”
“Oh my God, I’msoglad you said that.” Her eyes filled with emotion, and she leaned over to pull me into a hug. “I feel the same way, Gray. I know we got off to a rough start at Norah’s place, but that was just growing pains, you know? We make a kickass team. Remember that time at the morgue, with that security guard? I wonder what he’s—”
“Haley.” I pulled out of her crushing hug and grabbed her arms, blinking the happy tears from my eyes. She was such a crazy witch, in the best possible way, and she was mine. All mine. How did I get so lucky? “Listen to me. You’re my sister. Myrealsister. As in, we have the same biological parents. The same blood. The same grandmother—Deirdre.”
Haley’s eyes widened. For a moment, she went totally still. She didn’t breathe, didn’t make a sound. I held my breath, too, worried she was about to bolt on me, or laugh, or just… not react at all.
