Page 286 of Sorrow & Strangers

How’s Alice?

I press the button on the coffee maker, yawning as it whirs to life.

Summer

Not great.

Unknown

And you?

Summer

I’m okay. Tired.

The kitchen door swings open behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to see a mass of fiery red hair. She stops in the doorway of the kitchen, wearing one of Rafe’s old jerseys.

“Oh, sorry. I just wanted to get some water,” she says, blushing.

I nod and walk to the fridge to grab a blood bag for Alice. A heavy silence falls over the kitchen as she pulls a cup from the cabinet and fills it with water.

“You’ve been staying over a lot,” I say, the words echoing in the silence.

Her shoulders tense. “Is that a problem?” she asks, defensiveness lacing her voice.

I briefly wonder whether two such volatile species will be a good fit.

I lean against the counter as the coffee drips into my waiting mug. “Our family is hurting right now, Mira.” I stare at her back, waiting for her to turn and look at me before I continue. “Don’t hurt Rafe.”

Mira’s eyes flicker with what looks like flames, and I can tell the thought of hurting him makes her recoil, but it’s the spark of respect I see that sets my mind at ease. “I won’t.”

I nod and pull my coffee cup from under the nozzle just as it finishes. Taking a sip of the steaming brew, I turn to leave the kitchen. “Welcome to the family, then,” I say, and just like that, Mira is a part of the Morningstar band of misfits. I’m not sure why I trust her, but deep down, there is something telling me she belongs with us.

Alice sits up in bed when I walk in, and I hand her the blood bag. “Were you talking to someone?”

“Mira.”

“She’s here a lot now,” Alice says, spearing the bag with a straw.

“I know,” I say. “I was maybe a little harsh with her, but she’s been threatened enough that she’s now initiated.”

Alice nods. “Good. It’s how we show our affection.”

I climb into bed and sip my coffee. “I just don’t want Rafe to get hurt. Though I get the feeling that she would rather die than hurt him.”

“He’s still our little demon baby,” Alice says, and I’m happy to see that even after a couple of sips of blood, she’s looking more pink in the cheeks. “You like her?” Alice asks.

I nod. “I think she’s good for Rafe.”

“Me too. He seems lighter since she came back. Even with all the drama.”

“Well, he wouldn’t be a Morningstar if he didn’t attract a little bit of drama.”

Alice laughs, and it is so good to hear. “Definitely a family trait, and an adoptive trait as well, unfortunately.”

“I broke up with Max,” I exhale, my words coming out on the breath.

“Your stranger wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would he?” Alice asks, watching me intently as she takes another sip of blood.