Page 77 of Into The Light

Mark rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty strong. I’ve been working out a lot, so you never know. I had to try.”

“Of course, you did.” I smiled and stepped toward him. “Thank you, Mark. Thank you for taking care of her and protecting her.”

I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a tight embrace. He froze for a moment before returning the gesture and wrapping his arms around me.

“Thank you, Mark. For everything. You are the greatest friend I could have ever asked for.”

“Holy shit. Human Aiden hugs and is appreciative? This was unexpected... welcomed, but unexpected.” He tightened his grip on me. “I’m so glad you’re okay. You scared the shit out of us a few times there.”

“I scared the shit out of me a few times, too.”

We broke from our embrace and he skimmed his eyes over me. “So, this is real? You’re a human again?”

I nodded and pursed my lips. “It seems so.”

“Holy shit.”

“Holy shit,” I answered back, and we shared a chuckle.

“So, what now?” he asked, looking over to a beaming Emilia.

As much as I enjoyed these moments in the sun, I craved something else now as a human. “I’m hungry.”

They exchanged a worried look and Mark took a step back. I laughed from the belly and shook my head. “No. I’m hungry for food. Human food.”

“Oh.” He touched his chest. “I thought for a second you were going to ‘rarr!’” He lunged toward me with fake claws and a growl.

“No.” I laughed. “Those days are over. I want food.”

Mark swiped a hand across his forehead. “Phew! What kind of food? I’ll call the girls and have them whip up whatever you want!”

“I have no idea,” I said, realizing I didn’t know what current food tasted like and where to begin.

“I do.” Emilia smiled and stepped to my side. “Do we have a car?”

“A car? He’s not going to eat a car, Emilia.”

She laughed and shook her head. “No. I want to take him somewhere. Do we have cars here or only the helicopter?”

“We have cars.” I waggled my brows. “Lots of cars.”

“Where are you going?” Mark asked.

A coy smile lifted one half of her lips. “We. Where are we going is the question. And McDonald’s is the answer.”

“McDonald’s?” Mark shrieked, his voice hitting notes high enough to shatter the windows. “His first bite of food in centuries and you’re taking him to McDonald’s? That’s like shopping at Walmart when you could be at Bergdorf! He can have anything in the entire world, and you want to take him to McDonald’s? I won’t have it!” Mark stomped a foot.

Emilia just waggled her eyebrows and looked to me. “Do you trust me?”

I nodded my head. “Of course. Mark, we’re going to McDonald’s.”

He tossed his hands in the air. “Fine! It’s a tragedy to corrupt his tiny little newborn baby taste buds with peasant swill, but if you insist, then let’s go.”

Emilia squealed and grabbed my hand pulling me behind her through the house. I hated feeling the sun leave my skin when we disappeared into the darkness of my house. “I need more windows,” I said before Mark led us through the door down the stairs to the garage.

“Sweet Jesus,” Emilia said when we stepped into the garage and Mark turned on the lights. Dozens of luxury cars stretched out through the expansive underground garage, each glistening under the lights suspended from the concrete ceiling. “It’s like Grand Theft Auto in here! How in the hell did I not know we had these?”

Mark shrugged. “Aiden collected them, but we didn’t drive them much.”