Page 94 of The Human’s Heart

Unfortunately for us, our dads knew us well, and Dad walked over with a sigh. “You guys are going to follow us over no matter what we do, aren’t you?”

I grimaced, and Kian just shrugged.

Dad sighed again and called over his shoulder, “Tal? Come here.”

Pops walked over, stared at us for a moment, and let out his own sigh. “Really? You really need to come see this? What if it’s bloody?”

Kian shrugged. “You know I don’t care about that.”

“Maybe not, but your brother sure does.”

I held in my own disgust at the thought, but seriously, what did they think I did for a living? I worked in the emergency department. I’d seen a lot of gruesome things these past few years. “I’ve seen worse at the hospital, I’m sure.”

Pops looked at Hugo. “And you?”

“I’ve seen some things… I’ll be fine.”

My eyes widened when Pops randomly pulled a gigantic battle ax out of nowhere—some kind of fae pocket dimension thing I didn’t understand. He held it in one hand and sort of tapped it against his other, looking menacing. “You sure about that?”

Hugo’s eyes were absolutely humungous. Pops did kind of look unhinged with that giant thing. So I stepped in front of my viramore, saying, “He’ll be fine. Can you put your weapon away now? I think you’ve sufficiently scared him.”

To my surprise, Pops laughed, and the battle ax moved back into that pocket dimension thing, no longer in sight, although my pops could pull it out with just a thought at any time.

Literally at any time. Anywhere. Always.

Hopefully Hugo wouldn’t be scared of him now.

I checked our bond, and while he felt nervous, it wasn’t aimed at Pops. He seemed more shocked than anything else, and who could blame him for that?

Pops shook his head, gave my shoulder a pat, and said, “Come on, then. We’ll keep you in a shield, so you won’t be fighting—yes, Kian, you too. We’re not letting you out so you can get in trouble for hurting or killing this Theroli guy.”

“He’s the one who ordered Phia’s—”

“I know. I know, son. That’s why you’re staying in the shield with your brother and Hugo. Okay? Otherwise, I’ll put you in a shield right here, right now, and you won’t get to see anything.”

Kian blew out a breath. “Fine.”

With a nod, he led us over to the rest of the group, telling Granddad the new plan. He was not happy. At all. But after he got Pops to agree to put us in a shield created with a mix of both their magics—to make it even stronger—he finally agreed as well.

That meant there was no chance of us breaking it either.

But that was probably a good thing.

Finally, we were ready to see what the hell this Theroli guy had in store for our family.

Granddad and Grandpa were giving their Bonded Ones—Seraphina and Zammerra—instructions. We knew where the nymph clan was, and we didn’t want any stragglers getting away. So they were going to fly high up in the sky to disguise themselves as birds and patrol the small wooded area and beyond… picking up any escaping nymph.

I gave Beatrix one last look, then let out a sigh.

I walked over to her with Hugo and Kian flanking me. When I reached her, I surprised us both by pulling her into a hug. I whispered, “Take care of yourself, Bea. Be careful, yeah? Go live an amazing life and make a lot of friends… just don’t lie to them.”

“I won’t. Promise. Thank you, Zay. I wish… I wish I didn’t have to leave because you’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had. I hope you and Hugo have a wonderful, peaceful, lovely life together.”

The fact that I was the best friend she’d ever had made me a little sad for her since our friendship had been… partially fake. Hopefully she’d make a ton of new friends in her new life.

“We will.” I released her. “Take care of yourself, Bea.”

“You too. And… thank you.”