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16
ADDIE
We took my car over to see Maddox’s uncle. I brimmed with excitement. While I tried to play it off like I was excited for more pie, I was really excited to have a family now. My own drifted away from me the moment I left home. My biological father and his new family wanted nothing to do with the weirdo that had been dropped on their doorstep after Mom died.
Now, Maddox’s uncle practically demanded that we come visit him. The words had a hold on my heart that I couldn’t explain.
This was what we were protecting. While I was frustrated with Hel and her demands, I knew that I would never stop fighting for this world.
We pulled up the driveway leading to the shack. I scanned our surroundings, suddenly afraid that Fenrir would appear out of nowhere. We could have led a real threat back to this man’s abode. I would never forgive myself if something happened, and Maddox’s uncle got hurt.
I thought of the car that Fenrir had partially eaten…and the mountain. We were in for trouble.
“Are you having second thoughts about meeting my family?” Maddox asked. “Or are you thinking about all the ways this could go wrong?”
I sighed. “The second one.”
Maddox reached over, took my hand, and squeezed it. His touch still made my heart thump wildly in my chest. I couldn’t believe that I’d made it past this man’s unbreakable exterior and into his heart.
“We won’t stay long,” he promised. “Uncle Tom might be grumpy about it, but that’s just how it has to be.”
Man, falling in love in the midst of a world-threatening disaster didn’t feel right. When Maddox and I locked eyes, we seemed to be thinking the same thing. Neither of us wanted to be in the middle of this war. We didn’t want it to bleed into the other parts of our lives, either.
I let go of Maddox’s hand and reached into the back seat for my tote bag. Potato poked her head out of the top of it. I’d missed her with all this running around we’d been doing, and I figured this outdoor restaurant wouldn’t be too upset if I brought her.
Besides, it wasn’t like Potato had any interest in real food anymore. I knew she would sit quietly in my bag like the most well-behaved cat ever—which was probably the first hint that she wasn’t a normal cat in the least. She would also let us know if Fenrir was about to jump us. The cat was startlingly aware of her surroundings and had kept me out of trouble more than once.
When I opened the car door, the smell of roast chicken rolled towards us. My eyes nearly rolled back in my head. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten, and I was suddenly ravenous. I pulled the tote bag straps higher onto my shoulder, took Maddox’s hand, and tugged him to the shack.
Uncle Tom was already outside, leaning back against the counter of his service window. There was a takeout container sitting on either side of him. My heart leapt with greedy excitement.
The man spread his arms wide at the sight of us. He didn’t wait for us to let go of each other before embracing both of us at once. The tight squeeze should have been uncomfortable, but there was something about it that released tension tight in my back. I sighed happily as he pulled back.
“It’s about time,” he said.
The man turned and bent to grab something from behind his counter. When he faced us once more, he had a small box in his hand. The velvet flocking told me exactly what was in the box. I took a half step back before Maddox put a hand to my lower back.
Potato halfheartedly thwacked Maddox’s hand before settling back into her bag once more. I gave the cat a chastising look. She’d been awfully rude to Maddox lately, but it didn’t feel like she hated him. If Potato hated you, you would know. If anything, the cat seemed to be teasing Maddox.
Maybe she could tell that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay or not, too. Potato wanted him to stick around as much as I did, and she was mad that Maddox was even considering leaving. At least, that’s how I felt. Maybe I was projecting onto my cat.
“Your parents aren’t here to give this to you,” Uncle Tom said.
To our left, the house’s screen door opened, and an older woman stepped out with her hands full of pie tins. A pendant in the shape of a stylized, five-petaled flower glinted around her neck. She paused to kiss her husband on the cheek, flashed us a wink, and went to tuck the pies away into the fridge.
Uncle Tom smiled, the look on his face as he watched his wife reminding me of the way that Maddox looked at me. The expression lingered when he turned back to us. He hefted the box in his hand once more.
“This isn’t a family heirloom or anything, so don’t act like it’s a big deal. We heard that you and your new wife rushed things. I know you, Maddox. You can be a bit too practical. You wouldn’t have taken this into consideration, but that’s why I’m here.” Tom tapped his temple. “I’ve got your back, especially since I couldn’t help pay for your wedding.”
He placed the box into Maddox’s open palm and covered Maddox’s hands with his own. I thought I saw a glimmer of unshed tears in Maddox’s eyes before Tom released his hands.
Maddox inhaled, one big breath that lifted his chest, and exhaled. When he dropped to his knee in front of me, I nearly balked. I swallowed the lump in my throat and questioned why I was so nervous. We were already married. What was there to fear?
Well, there was a world-devouring monster on the loose. I had a couple of goddesses keeping secrets from me. On top of all that, I was standing in front of my new family that I barely knew.
Okay, the loud thump of my heart made a lot more sense now. Though I tried to quiet the whirlwind going on inside me, I failed miserably. It showed in the way my lower lip trembled as I exhaled.
Maddox cracked open the box, and the ring inside surprised me. It wasn’t a typical diamond engagement ring. This one seemed specially made by a boutique crafter. The gold band was shaped like a bone, the joints holding a green stone threaded with mossy inclusions.
