Page 32 of A Silenced Midlife

The moment Luci's form dissolved into nothing, Ava whipped out her phone and dialed. When she spoke, she was all business. "Hi Mom. We've got a kid here, Liam. He’s a nephilim. Yes, nephilim, we didn't know they existed either. Hopefully you'll have some resources there. He just started showing signs. Can we make room at the Academy?"

Drew, meanwhile, unfolded his large frame from where he'd been leaning against the kitchen counter, stretching his arms above his head until his back cracked. "Well, I'm heading home," he announced. "Taking a nap."

"Sounds like a plan," I muttered, eyeing him enviously. A nap sounded amazing.

"Take care of this one for me," he said, tipping an imaginary hat my way before bending down to plant a gentle kiss on Ava's forehead.

"Always do," I replied, mustering a smile as he left the house, the door clicking shut behind him.

Ava ended her call with a relieved sigh, looking as if she'd lifted a weight off her shoulders. "It's set. Liam will have a place at the Rune Academy."

"Good." My hands were already busy scooping coffee grounds into the machine. It whirred to life, filling the space with the rich aroma of brewing coffee.

"Can't believe all this is happening," I said, more to myself than to Ava. As the coffee dripped, I gave her a wry smile. "I can't believe most things that happen to us lately."

"Tell me about it." She accepted the mug I handed her and took a long, grateful sip. After she drank about half of it in silence, she grimaced. "We need to go tell the mayor there's a nephilim in town."

I collapsed into a chair, utterly exhausted already. "Do we have to go tell the mayor now? Can't we take a nap too?" I complained, rubbing my eyes.

"Come on, Liv," Ava chided gently, though her own exhaustion was evident. "We'll drive. Portaling into his office might give the man a heart attack."

"Fine, fine." I poured the last drops of coffee into two to-go cups, snapping on the plastic lids with more force than necessary. The fatigue was real, but duty called.

"Let's take one of Luci's cars," I suggested, eyeing the row of gleaming keys on the rack by the door.

Ava's lips twisted into an impish grin. "Can I drive?"

"Why not?" I tossed her the keys with a Lamborghini logo.

We shuffled into the garage, and Ava clicked the fob. The sleek black car beeped in response, its headlights flashing. She slid into the driver's seat, adjusting it with care.

"Remember, it's not just any car, it's a beast," I warned her as I buckled up.

"Got it," she replied, though her hands gripped the steering wheel like it was fragile porcelain.

The engine roared to life, a sound that should've promised speed and excitement. Instead, Ava crawled out of the garage and onto the street at a snail's pace.

"What was the point of taking a Lamborghini if you're going to drive it like a Pinto?" I teased, watching as pedestrians moved faster than us.

"Hey, I'm being careful," she defended herself.

"Careful or geriatric?" I sniffed at her. "I'm driving home."

Ava ignored my jab, her concentration fixed on the road ahead. The journey to town felt endless, but eventually, we reached the mayor's office. An open parking spot awaited, as if it knew we needed this small win today. Rock star parking.

"Nice job," I admitted as Ava expertly parallel parked the crazy sports car. "But next time, we will unleash the beast. I mean what’s the point of being married to the sheriff if you can’t break a few speed laws."

"Deal," she said with a laugh, killing the engine and handing me the keys.

We stepped out of the Lamborghini, and the mayor's office loomed before us, its doors wide and welcoming. We didn't waste any time. With everything that was going on, leisure wasn't a luxury we could afford.

His secretary waved us through. "Mayor Brown?" I called out as we entered.

He looked up from a pile of paperwork. "Olivia, Ava, what brings you here?" He stood, coming around the desk with genuine curiosity etched across his features.

"Sir, there's a new nephilim in town, Liam," I began. "He's young, only seventeen, and he didn't know he was nephilim. He's the source of all our troubles around town."

"Liam?" Mayor Brown repeated, his brows knitting together. He looked shocked at the news. "I'll find him and offer any aid he needs. As soon as you leave, I’ll go look for him."

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