Page 50 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Henry tightened the hold he had on Vaughn’s hand. “You’d make her leave?” Henry looked up at Vaughn, clearly not sure whether or not to believe Sam.

“She’ll be out of here faster than Ben eats blueberries,” Vaughn replied.

Henry giggled and leaned his head against Vaughn’s arm. The volume of blueberries Ben had consumed that morning with breakfast had impressed them all. “Promise?” Henry asked.

“I promise,” Sam said. “Anything at all you don’t like and she’s gone.”

“It doesn’t feel so weird anymore,” Henry said. “I just…”

Henry chewed nervously on his lip, staring at Sam with his bright blue eyes.

“What can I do to help?”

Henry shrugged.

The front door opened, and Sam held up his hand. Meshaq and Zaire paused in the doorway at his gesture.

Sam followed his instincts once more. “No one’s going to get through pack to you. Ollie, come here, buddy.”

Ollie crawled over everyone’s laps until he was sitting on Vaughn. Sam plucked him up and set him on top of Henry instead, getting a snicker out of them both. “Emily, you too.”

She sat on Nana’s lap but draped a leg over Henry’s. Jack sat on Vaughn’s lap and leaned in so his shoulder covered part of Henry’s chest. Natasha caught onto the game and sprawled out over Jack’s legs. “Ben, you and I are the front guard.”

Ben nodded and sat down on the floor, leaning his back against Henry’s legs.

Henry let out a little happy sigh.

Vaughn rested his hand on Henry’s head and gave Sam a very pleased look. Sam waved Meshaq and Zaire over then knelt down beside Ben.

The only part of Henry visible was his face. He looked very nervous, and probably a little embarrassed, but nowhere near as scared as he had been minutes ago. Meshaq and Zaire walked over to them, but stood on the opposite side of the room.

Zaire smiled softly at Henry. “Hey, Henry. Sorry I scared you.”

“Hi,” Henry replied. His voice trembled a little, and he darted a nervous look toward Vaughn, but he seemed to be holding his own.

“Would you mind if I sat down on the floor here?” Zaire gestured to the opposite side of the coffee table.

Henry glanced at Sam for approval this time. “Is that okay?”

“I think so. How about you?”

“I think so, too.”

Vaughn nodded at Zaire, so she sat down on the floor and propped her elbows up on the table. It only took Sam a second to realize she’d made a point of keeping her hands visible, and he remembered the blue sparks he’d seen forming from Mrs. Foote’s hands. It seemed significant, and he made a mental note to find out more later.

Sam adjusted his position so Henry’s knee was tucked under his arm and he put a comforting hand on Henry’s ankle.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Zaire said. “I found out what happened to you and your brothers and sisters and it made me mad. Sometimes when I get mad, my magic gets a little wonky. Does that happen to you sometimes?”

Henry shrugged. “Sometimes.” He glanced at Vaughn again. “They aren’t really my brothers and sisters.”

Zaire made a scoffing snort that made Sam smirk. “They most certainly are,” Zaire said. “Family is the people in your heart, not just the people in your blood.”

Henry’s leg tensed for a moment, but Sam didn’t turn around far enough to see how he was reacting. He did glance up at Meshaq and found him smiling as well.

“Is that true?” Henry asked softly.

“Absolutely,” Vaughn said.