Kelan silenced the rest of her reminder of the mischief they used to get into with a fierce, passionate kiss. A ripple of laughter went through the room. Mandra released a groan and gave up not running his hands through his hair.
His focus was locked on the tall, lanky boy who was turning into a responsible young man, there in the center of an alien garden, so close, yet so far away.
Jabir stood just outside the forming portal, his brow furrowed, his gaze lingering behind him. A flicker of indecision played across his face. The others were already rushing to pass through the swirling doorway. Phoenix stood near the opening, steady, radiant, and waiting.
But Jabir…
He hesitated.
Mandra clenched his hands into white-knuckled fists.
Beside him, Ariel released a low, distressed cry. Her smaller fingers gently wrapped around his, prying his fist open with a quiet strength that only she could offer.
“He’ll come home,” she whispered.
He pulled his gaze away from the screen when he heard the catch of uncertainty in her voice. Her eyes shimmered with worry.
He couldn’t take it anymore. With a sharp turn, he threaded his fingers through Ariel’s and pulled her with him out of the conference room and down the corridors of the palace. Behind him, he heard chairs scrape and the thunder of booted feet.
They weren’t the only ones who couldn’t stand the suspense any longer.
He didn’t stop. He couldn’t.
His strides were long and purposeful, eating up the marble floors. Ariel kept pace at his side, her hand tight in his. He pushed through the doors that led to the gardens. They descended the stone stairs two at a time.
Mandra ignored the yelp of a startled gardener as they raced past him. Ariel took the lead when the path narrowed briefly. Within minutes, the kids’ treehouse came into view—along with the portal. Voices carried from the other side—laughing, calling, teasing.
His heart thundered as he slowed. Outlined in the portal’s swirling, colorful center was Jabir. Mandra swallowed when Jabir turned his head slightly to look behind him.
Fear gripped him. Beside him, Ariel stumbled to a stop, one hand lifting to cover her mouth. Her breath hitched. He glanced down at her, his heart clenching at the shimmer of tears in her eyes, the way her fingers trembled.
Their son stood between two worlds. As he studied Jabir, he could see himself at that age—caught between childhood and something more. Emotion flooded him, making his throat thick and his eyes burn.
He tensed when Jabir turned to look back through the portal—and their eyes met.
The world seemed to stop.
A slow smile curved his lips as they looked back at each other—a deep understanding passing between them as they recognized that they weren’t that much different after all. Jabir’s expression cracked open into a brilliant, boyish smile that shattered Mandra’s composure in one swift blow.
They each took a step in the other’s direction. Opening his arms, he caught Jabir around the waist as he slammed into them, strong and solid, but still their boy. A shudder of emotion shook Mandra’s massive frame as he wrapped Jabir tight in his arms, crushing him between them like he would never let go.
Ariel was already sobbing softly into Jabir’s shoulder, her hands clutching his shirt between her fisted fingers.
“I missed you,” Jabir breathed, his voice muffled.
“I love you so damn much. And I’m proud as hell of the man you’re becoming,” he mumbled in a gruff voice.
Jabir’s shoulders shook.
Mandra didn’t let go.
He closed his eyes and let the sound of laughter wash over him. Around them, the other teens were excitedly sharing their adventure with parents who were too relieved to be upset. None of that mattered in this moment. His family was whole.
Jabir had come home, and everything would be alright.
Chapter Forty-Five
Later that evening, Phoenix sighed with contentment as she glanced around her and Spring’s cluttered room. It felt good to be home.
