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I held up the business card. “Apparently they wanted a contact. And they wanted to make sure I had their info in case something comes up. Some people—” I coughed to muffle FBI. “—frown on the whole let’s-burn-everything-down-before-the-cops-get-here attitude.”
Dad shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
I snorted. “I still can’t believe you showed up with gasoline. It’s like I don’t even kn
ow you.”
“You know me as your dad. There’s a whole other side.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really? Does Mom know about this side of you?”
“You’d be surprised what your mother knows.”
Gross. “You’re blowing my mind, Dad. I’m totally telling Axel.”
“Well, there’s no need for that.”
I laughed. “There’s definitely a need.” Dastien had been awfully quiet. Was everything okay out here?
Yes. We sorted some stuff out, but it’s okay now.
My cheeks heated and I started for the exit. “Now that all this excitement is over, I’m going back to bed. I only got—” I grabbed Dad’s wrist and checked the time. “—three hours of sleep. I can’t function on that.”
“I thought you might want to go to the lab. Work on the potions.”
I rubbed my eyes. “I probably should.” He had a point. I was already awake. A couple cans of Diet Coke would probably fix me up. At least for a little while. “Okay. I just need to get out of this blouse—” I didn’t want to spill something on it. It was the nicest one I owned. “—and then we’ll head to the labs.”
“I’m going to check on the agents,” Dad said. “I’ll come see you before I go.” He pulled me in for a hug. I ignored the pain in my side and let myself hang onto him for a second before pulling away.
“See you later,” I said.
“Yeah.” He seemed sad as I walked out the door.
“Are you sure something didn’t happen while I was in the room?” I asked.
“He realized his daughter was grown up.” Dastien looked over his shoulder. “I think it must be a hard thing.”
I glanced back and Dad was still there in the doorway, watching us. I waved, and he held up his hand in answer.
Funny. I didn’t feel grown up. But Dastien was right. Things had changed. Starting the second he bit me.
I was never going to be able to go back home. I’d just realized that sooner than Dad.
Chapter Twenty-One
I was pulling on my favorite pair of comfy jeans when someone started knocking. I jerked, but my side barely twinged. At least my wounds were healing fast. The knock came again. “What’s with today?” I couldn’t even change in peace.
Dastien laughed as he tugged a T-shirt over his head, and I stopped to stare at the ripple of muscle along his stomach.
Cherie. His voice rumbled through the bond.
The knocking started again. “Right. Right. The door,” I muttered. “Who is it?”
“Claudia and Lucas.”
I rushed to finish dressing. None of the witches had ever come into the dorms. I spared Dastien a second to make sure he was fully clothed before opening the door. “Hey. Everything okay?”
Claudia looked up and down the hall nervously. “Can we come in?”
