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“Are you excited for Christmas?” Kiera asked, breaking the silence that only their footsteps filled.
There was a pause as he seemed to search for an answer. “I like the Christmas market on the Traverse River Walk,” he said carefully, as if choosing his words. “What about you, little princess? Are you excited for Christmas?”
“Yes!” She cried out.
They reached the stairs and descended slowly, with arms linked. Faith wasn’t about to pull away.
“My dad is going to marry Chad’s mum, my mum now too,” she sang out. “And the Rindlesbachers are finally dead so we can have parties without worrying they’ll try and explode us.”
“Kiera,” Faith whispered, stunned by her words.
“Sorry.” Kiera shrugged. “I’ve heard lots of people say that.”
“She’s not wrong.” Levi smiled down at Faith.
“And the best news of all is Faith is going to stay with me for one entire month!”
“All month?” Levi’s brow squiggled.
“Yes, sir,” Kiera sang out. “By the end of the month I’ll teach her to climb up the side of the castle better than Spiderman and race me down the poles.”
Faith refused to slide down the brass pipes that ran the length of the exterior walls of the twelve-story castle. Kiera refused to give up on trying to coerce her into it.
“I’m not in favor of that plan,” Levi said to Kiera, a stern note in his deliciously-accented voice.
“Favor?” Kiera giggled. “Because your Captain Favor?”
They reached the lowest level and walked toward the garages.
“Wait.” Kiera’s smooth brow wrinkled. “You’re not in favor of Faith staying with us all month? Why not? Faith’s the best.”
Faith’s heart raced. He didn’t want her here? Her hopes were more far-fetched than she’d believed.
“I’m not in favor of Faith risking her life climbing the castle or sliding down those ‘tubes of death’.”
“I would never kill my favorite friend,” Kiera insisted.
“I’m in the business of protecting all of you,” Levi said. “I am telling you it’s a no on climbing up or sliding down the exterior of the castle. Especially when they’re covered in ice.”
“Ah you’re no fun,” Kiera moaned.
“Thank you,” Faith said to Levi. “You’ve saved my life.”
He grinned down at her. She’d never seen his full grin before. The effect was inspiring and devastating at the same time.
They reached the door that led to the massive garage. Levi gently disentangled his arms and backed toward the door. “Thank you for escorting me.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” Kiera waved, turned, and sprinted off down the hall. “I’ll be in the kitchen!” Then she ran up the side of the wall and did a twisting flip off of it. She laughed happily and dodged into one of the kitchen doors.
“That girl.” Levi shook his head, pushing a hand through his short hair. “It’s hard enough keeping her safe from external influences, then she has to risk her life every other minute doing her crazy stunts.”
Faith tilted her head and studied him. “You aren’t a big risk taker, are you?”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“I rock climb, ride dirt bikes, paraglide, and cliff dive. Why?”
