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Hank’s words sobered the mood as our path became more real. We had been planning this for a while now, but the realness of the situation was here. We weren’t going on a fun road trip with friends. We were risking our lives on the chance of finding the prophecy. And yet, I knew this was the right choice for me. This was the path I had been set on since my grandfather found the prophecy decades ago, since Mom had chosen to protect me with her own life, I knew that this was what I was meant to do.
Desiree and Hank bid us all goodbye, both of them tightly hugging Eli and Knox before the exited the house. I was the last to leave and when Desiree wrapped me in an embrace that only a mother could give, I felt tears pricking the backs of my eyes. How I wished that my own mother was here to help me through all this.
“Thank you for everything.” I told her, squeezing her back and hoping my gratefulness was conveyed in my words and my touch.
“You’re welcome. All of you stay safe.” She whispered and I smiled.
Backing away, I gave Hank a quick hug and thank you, before I exited the house and found the six others waiting outside the truck. Taking one last look at the home that was filled with family, love, and memories, I wondered what my life would have been like if I hadn’t been an Enchantress, if Mom hadn’t been murdered for a sadistic plan. But the sadness ebbed away as I looked at the six people who were becoming the family I never knew. Because even though my journey was different than others, there was plenty of love flowing through my heart when I looked at them.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Madden
Hank had a large SUV, but it felt like a fucking clown car when you shoved seven people into it. Add four large men and I felt like I was suffocating with all the body parts pushing against me. Knox and Eli sat in the front seat, the two chatting like there was nothing wrong. And when they had as much space up there as they did, there wasn’t a damn problem for them. I understood why Knox was driving, considering he was the only one with an idea of where we were going, but Eli was the slimmest of the three other men. The only reason he sat up front was because once we were all ready, he announced shot gun with a wide smile on his face. Currently, I wanted to wipe that smug smile off with my fist.
Kalani, Maeve, and Halley were all sitting in the furthest back seat, heads bent together and whispering, occasional laughs filtering through the otherwise quiet SUV. Wilder and I had been shoved in the middle row and although we sat on both ends, our shoulders kept brushing, our knees bumping given how cramped we both were with the seats in front of us. Right now, I desperately wished I could teach Halley how to transport to cut some time off this trip. Not only would I get out of this cramped space, but the Council would have a lesser chance of catching up to us.
When Wilder’s knee dug into my thigh once more, I groaned, tugging on the strands of my hair. I swear, this had been the longest car ride of my life and for the past academic year, half of my time was spent traversing the country to grab Divines.
A soft breath tickled my ear before Halley’s voice whispered. “We’ve been in the car for ten minutes, Madden. Maybe hold off on the grumbling for another hour.”
Turning towards her as well as I could, I glared, conveying that I wasn’t happy with her input. If I wanted to be fucking angry about the car, I would be. All I got in return was a quiet laugh and I couldn’t help when my lips twitched with their own smile. If there was ever anything to bring me out of a bad mood, it was this damn girl. She flipped my world upside down and I didn’t even think she realized how much.
“Try closing your eyes and taking a nap. It will make the time go by faster.” Patting my shoulder with her slim hand, she gave me one last smile before rejoining the conversation with Kalani and Maeve.
Sighing, I did as she suggested and closed my eyes, hoping that when I woke up, we’d be there.
? ? ?
The feel of the car coming to a stop jostled me from sleep. I heard the voices of the others filtering around me, but at the moment I was so comfortable I didn’t want to move. My head rested on a soft shoulder and I could feel warm breath fanning across my forehead. I didn’t know when Halley had moved to the middle seat, but I wasn’t going to complain about this new position. It was a fuck ton more comfortable than leaning against the cool window.
“Should we wake them up?” Kalani whispered and I wanted to tell her that Halley and I were fine and the rest of them could leave us for a few minutes.
“They look adorable though.” Halley’s voice sounded.
Except, Halley was supposed to be the one I was leaning against and that voice had definitely come from somewhere in front of me. Lifting quickly, I woke the person next to me with the movement. Slowly turning, I met Wilder’s horrified gaze and I’m sure mine matched. Unfortunately for both of us, Halley had indeed not moved seats and apparently Wilder had also fallen asleep. Our gazes broke when laughter sounded from the five voices outside of the car.
“Oh my god, that was priceless.” Halley’s loud laugh cleared some of my annoyance over the situation but I still felt like I needed to defend myself.
“I was unconscious.” I grumbled, removing myself from the car with Wilder following behind.
“And subconsciously you wanted to cuddle with Wilder.” Kalani muttered, causing more peals of laughter to sound.
“I had no choice in the matter.” Wilder told the crowd, continuing to glare at me out of the corner of his eye as if I had chosen to curl up next to him.
“Actually, for a while your head was resting right on top of his.” Eli added and Wilder’s glare turned towards him instead.
Wilder and I both opened our mouths, prepared to defend ourselves, but Knox interrupted.
“As precious as this moment is, we’re stopping for the night. We don’t have much further to go but with not knowing the exact location, we can’t search in the dark.”
The entire group nodded, and I took the moment to look around our destination. Sparse vegetation surrounded the area, but otherwise we looked to be in a clearing used for camping. There was a fire pit made of rocks in the middle of the area and flat ground surrounding it.
Knox pulled two large tents out from the trunk of the SUV and held them up in invitation.
“My dad packed tents. We can split up into setting up the tents and others grabbing the food out of the back.”
Everyone listened, Knox’s position as the leader cemented by this point, going about doing tasks. Knox and Wilder began setting up one tent while Eli and Kalani set up the other, leaving Maeve, Halley, and I to set up dinner for everyone. Once the food was set out and the tents ready, Halley began making a fire in the pit while we all sat around.
