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He frowned. “Wait. What are you doing out here?”
I smiled sheepishly. “Perdita reckons I was hovering. Said I’m almost as bad as you. I decided it would be safer if I kept out of her way for a bit.”
He looked over his shoulder, agitation clear in his gaze. “I suppose so. Has she seemed different to you since… everything that happened?”
“I mean, she almost died.”
“I know, but—” He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “Are you coming in to face the music?”
“Sure you’re brave enough?” I teased.
“I’ll have you to protect me. Come on."
I followed his slow stride to our house. Things had been a bit tense between my guardians since a pack member tried to kill her, but that was understandable. Nathan was acting even more protective than usual, but that was understandable too, and totally not his fault. Perdita was his actual soul mate, the result of a centuries-old curse on his family. His sister had broken the curse, but the ties would always remain. That was why Perdita had been targeted—to effectively destroy Nathan Evans. That had to be playing on his mind. Perdita knew that, which would likely drive her crazy, too, so it was my job to worry about both of them.
“Be cool,” I advised before we reached the front door.
He grinned at me, the tension wiping off his face. “Noted.” He ruffled my hair, and then we headed inside.
Perdita was cooking in the kitchen, her short auburn hair pinned back off her face. She looked us over. “How are you all now?”
“Tired.” I sat at the table and pulled a bowl of chopped carrots towards me.
She glanced at Nathan. “And the family?”
“They’ll survive.” He grimaced. “But it could have gone very wrong.” He hugged her from behind then took the knife from her hand. “Need help?”
She retrieved the knife with a scowl. “Go stop the boy from eating everything. That might help.”
“Yes, Boss,” he murmured then smacked the back of my head as he passed behind me.
I looked up at Perdita, slowly pushing the bowl away. She winked then went back to chopping.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Nathan said. “Won’t be long.”
After he left, Perdita swapped my bowl of veggies for a bowl of almonds. I accepted the trade. “Need me to wash anything?” I asked.
“I’m good for now,” she said. “Have you spoken to any of the kids? I haven’t seen anyone all day.”
“They just got back. I spoke to Victor, for a second,” I said. “It’s still weird.”
She shot me a sympathetic glance. “It takes time to find a new normal.”
“I know, but I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for somebody to throw something at me.”
She threw a small piece of broccoli my way. I caught it with ease then ate that, too. “There,” she said. “Now it’s done. You can stop waiting.”
“Funny.” I made a face. “Your dad is going to check on Margo.”
“He’s there right now,” she said. “He’ll be honest, so don’t worry, okay? We’ll do what’s best for her.”
I huffed out a disgruntled sound. “Will everyone?”
She stopped chopping. “Do you mean Amelia? Is she putting pressure on Margo?”
I shrugged. “Margo wants to figure this stuff out, but today she was so… I don’t know, cold? And pale. And exhausted. Like it drains her somehow. Like… before.” When Margo passed out after leading me to Perdita in time to save her life.
Her lips pressed together. She didn’t want to talk about that particular incident. I wondered if she would ever.
