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And unlike everyone else in my life, Connor Keene had seen the monster.
“If you don’t mind,” Seri said, “I’m going to join Odette, as she appears frantic.”
We looked back at the Autos, where Odette was gesturing angrily at the growing pile of luggage.
“I hope they haven’t lost your bags,” my mother said.
“I’m sure it is fine.” She smiled, reached out to squeeze each of my parents’ hands in turn. “It was wonderful to meet you, finally. I hope we will have time to talk!”
“We hope so, too,” my mother said.
“She seems lovely,” my father said, when she’d moved toward the car.
“She is. She doesn’t take what she has for granted, which would be very easy for her to do.”
“Then she’s in good company,” my father said with a smile. “Not many would agree to a year of service when it wasn’t owed.”
“It was owed in spirit, even if not technically,” I said.
“You are your mother’s daughter,” my father said, with not a little pride in it.
“As if the thirty-eight hours of labor didn’t prove it,” my mother said with a smile.
“I recall them well,” my father said flatly. “You were... very angry.”
“Was it the cursing that tipped you off?”
“And the throwing of many objects,” he said, counting them off on his hands. “And challenging an Apex shifter to a knife fight. And accusing your sister of being a Russian spy. And promising to stake the doctor if you didn’t get drugs.”
“Nonsense. I was a paragon of patience and gentility.”
My father winked at her. “Of course you were, Duchess. And, to my point, you were also a very careful Sentinel.”
“Why are you smiling?” my mother asked me, eyes narrowed.
“Just... it’s good to be home,” I told her. And I hoped it would stay that way.
“Good,” my mother said. “Because we’re glad you’re here, too.” She tapped a silver band on her right ring finger, checked the time. “You should probably get to the hotel. Someone from theOmbudsman’s office will meet you there, give you your badges, and make sure you get into the reception.”
Relations between Chicago’s humans and vampires were managed by the city’s supernatural Ombudsman. My great-grandfather, Chuck Merit, had been the first Ombudsman, and the office had grown since his retirement ten years ago. William Dearborn held the office now.
“Sounds good.”
I glanced over at the slate gray McLaren coupe parked between the Autos, and guessed it was my father’s newest vehicular obsession. He didn’t care to be driven, and much preferred to drive.
“Yours?” I asked him, gesturing to it.
My mother pulled a key fob from her pocket, smiled. “Mine. He’s destroyed too many vehicles.”
“In fairness, you were with me for most of those incidents.”
“That’s why I’m driving,” she said, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “The Auto will take you to the hotel. We’ll see you at the reception.”
I nodded. “See you there.”
Odette met us at the Auto and offered small bottles of water. Like Seri, Odette had been made a vampire by a powerful and respected Master.
“Your parents are very much in love,” Seri said, when we slid into the vehicle together.
