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His arms wrapped tighter around. A hug that warmed me. We held it for a long time. It was very much like a parting embrace, though we weren’t, but what we were doing was so full of uncertainty that we held each other like a goodbye anyway.

His voice rumbled up from his heart. “I want ye tae ken, mo reul-iuil, that I love ye beyond what I have the words tae say. I canna describe the depths of it, but I need ye tae ken that I will live my life tryin’ tae speak tae ye on it.”

I pressed against him. “Then I will spend my whole life listening.”

“Aye, I thank ye for it.”

Finally we pulled away.

Magnus strapped a knife to my leg.

And he finished dressing, quietly, methodically. It was how I knew he was scared.

We drove through McDonald’s for three combo meals, one for me, two for Magnus, and we, with the ac blasting, were headed south to a few acres of unused land outside of Gainesville, where we had hidden the vessels.

I needed to call Zach and tell him we were gone.

“Hey, how’s the honeymoon?”

“Good, except, um, Katie, hate to tell you this but I heard about a video⁠—”

“Oh god, don’t watch it!”

“I didn’t. But what are we⁠—”

“Magnus and I are leaving, we’re headed to Gainesville right now to get the vessels. I don’t think you can go back to the house. We have to move again.”

“Tell Magnus I said hi.”

“His eyes are closed I think he’s sleeping.”

Magnus said, “I am nae sleepin’, but ye are hurtlin’ the car down the highway and tis too fast.”

“It’s not too fast, Magnus, I’m only going 65.” To Zach I said, “I need you to hire me a lawyer, I mean besides the one I already have, he’s a family lawyer, I need a not family-friendly lawyer, a mean ass lawyer, one that will sue the hell out of Braden and restore my good name.”

“Good, Okay.”

“Plus you have to move the whole house again.”

“Fuck, Katie, seriously?”

“Yeah, I’m really sorry about it.”

“I mean we just got settled. It’s our honeymoon. This danger bullshit is getting really old.” I heard him huff through the phone and Emma asked in the background, “What’s happening?”

I said, “I’m so so sorry.”

“I know you are, it’s just — I’d like some peace, you know? Sorry, I know you know, you want it too. This is just hard.”

“I know. I agree. I’m dumping a lot in your lap and⁠—”

“It’s not that it’s too much work. I don’t mind the work, hell, I want to be useful. But can’t we all have a home for once?”

I sounded like Magnus when I answered, “We’re going to do everything in our power to get to that. I promise.”

“Yeah, I know. I just needed to vent.” He blew out some air. “Where should we go?”

I looked over at Magnus, “Where should they move to?”