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We gathered everyone close to make it easier on Ava. The telltale tingle of magic flared, and Ava nodded for us to begin our walk. I scowled around us as we moved. Practically daring the universe to throw one more punch at us when all we wanted to do was hole up somewhere and rest.
Mother Moon smiled upon us and we made it back to the SUVs without incident. Or perhaps I should have said Father Sun, given that the first hints of dawn had begun to paint the eastern horizon. Our Spellbinders thoroughly checked each vehicle for signs of tampering before giving the go-ahead to pile inside. Good thing we’d parked in a random garage rather than using the one attached to the bank’s building.
Shea started our SUV and turned to arch a brow. “Do we risk bringing trouble back to the girls’ safe house or that we’ll be blown up returning to the Manor?”
“Neither,” Ava said with a fierce expression. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to your house or my condo, either.”
I frowned. “So you suggesting we hit up a random hotel or Airbnb?”
Connor smirked. “The girls’ tree house sounds kinda tempting right now. Though it might be a tight squeeze for our whole group.”
Ava laughed, although it turned into a yawn halfway through. “As St. Louis Beacon and Understudy, the Circle gave Kayleigh and me funds to purchase several safe houses of our own. Let me plug the address of one into your GPS.”
Shea handed over his phone after unlocking it, and Ava quickly programmed in our new destination. I couldn’t help frowning again. “While I’m relieved to have somewhere safe to rest for the next few hours, wouldn’t that have been a better option for the girls than the Pack safe house?”
Ava’s lips twisted. “Once we suspected another Beacon of being involved, the last place I wanted to take the girls was to a Circle-funded safe house. Despite my belief that nobody knows about the ones Kayleigh and I established, that could be wrong. Besides, I’m hoping that our enemies will focus on trackingusdown rather than the girls. Better for them if we stay somewhere separate tonight.” She handed Shea back his phone and glanced outside. “I mean today.”
Another yawn escaped, and she leaned back against the seat with a weary sigh. Connor wrapped his arm around Ava and tugged her closer to his side, allowing her to get more comfortable. A stupid flash of jealousy hit, but then Ava’s right hand snaked out to claim my left, and I let out a sigh of my own. Her hand felt fucking wonderful wrapped around mine. I pressed my thighs closer to hers and began softly stroking her hand with my free one. Wordlessly encouraging her to shut her eyes and get the rest she needed.
Within moments, she did just that. Leaving the rest of us to keep watch as Shea drove toward the unknown safe house. Hoping it would shelter us—shelter her—until we could figure out where to go from here.
* * *
Shea
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the driveway of an upscale two-story home in an affluent neighborhood. Connor let out a soft whistle. Poor Ava was so exhausted she didn’t even stir from the deep slumber into which she had fallen. I glanced at the Brittany, the Spellbinder who had ridden in our SUV. “Think you can open that garage?”
She nodded. “Easy peasy.”
I felt magic stir, and the double doors of the garage slid upward. I pulled in and a second SUV did the same, with the others slipping into the driveway behind us. Most of our guardians and Spellbinders stepped through the connecting doorway to ensure the house held no secret dangers. Finn reached into the middle rear seat to gather Ava into his arms and tenderly tuck her close. She barely stirred as he carried her into the safe house. Connor and I exchanged amused glances before closing the doors and following after our prickly but protective brother. That age-old adage about the "bigger they are, the harder they fall" must have held a lot of truth.
One of the female guardians motioned to Finn from a nearby staircase. Connor and I trailed after them to what must have been the house's primary bedroom. The guardian bowed slightly, before stepping outside the room to take up position beside the door. Obviously intending to keep guard over our precious little Beacon. Judging by the careful way Finn slid Ava beneath the bedcovers before settling in next to her, so did he.
Connor's eyes met mine and we shared a satisfied smirk. Seemed like Finn had finally decided to stop fighting the inevitable.
I murmured quietly, "I'll take the first watch along with whichever guardians and Spellbinder draw the short stick. There's a couple calls I want to make." I nodded over at the bed with a suggestive eyebrow raise. "Looks like there's plenty of room in that king-sized bed if you want to catch some Z's yourself."
My youngest brother shook his head with a smile. "Nah, let's give those two some overdue bonding time. Maybe our brother will finally work up the balls to apologize and confide in our little Beacon what he hasn't been able to tell us."
I scowled briefly, because Connor obviously meant whatever mind games Finn's ex-girlfriend Danielle had played with him a couple years earlier. No amount of coaxing had convinced him to give us the full story. But maybe he'd show a more vulnerable side to Ava.
A big brother could hope.
Connor waved to the hallway. "I'll find another bedroom to grab a quick catnap. Wake me when you're ready to sleep, and I'll take the next watch. Someone needs to scrounge for sustenance, and I’m the best cook out of us."
My lips twisted in amusement. I could scramble eggs and fry meat like a champ, but Finn couldn't even do that. Connor's creative soul was definitely more suited to culinary skills than Finn or me. "Hopefully they keep some basics stocked in this place. If not, there's always Door Dash."
A more serious expression crossed Connor's face. "It's probably best that we keep outside visitors knowing where we’re at to a bare minimum. Less chance of someone dangerous using them to track us. If there's not enough food here, I'll take one of the Spellbinders and hit a grocery store."
I nodded. "I was just joking, but valid point. Now get some rest."
"Yes, Dad," Connor mocked before stepping away to find a bedroom. I glanced across the room to meet Finn's exhausted eyes. "Make sure you get some sleep rather than just staring at our little Beacon to make sure nothing bad happens to her. She'll need you rested for later."
"Yes, Dad," Finn deadpanned softly before waving me away.
I grinned and stepped into the hall, softly shutting the door behind me. In addition to the guardian on one side of the door, a Spellbinder now stood on the other side. They bowed slightly and I echoed the gesture. I might have become one of their Packleaders, but that didn't mean I couldn't still observe social niceties. I tended to follow the “catch more flies with honey than vinegar" school of philosophy. At least until I needed to switch to the "speak softly but carry a big stick" strategy.
I had a feeling that the second option was going to better serve us over the next few days. And it was one I was perfectly willing to employ if it meant keeping my Pack, my brothers, and my future mate safe.
