Page 134 of The Silent
“Please.”
She turned to see Leogrinning.
Kyra’s nerves fled. This was no trial. She would not have to prove herself. This was family. True family. As Leo grabbed their suitcases from the back of the cab and paid the driver, Kyra walked to Ava, who had tears inhereyes.
“I knew it,” Ava said, grabbing Kyra in a one-armed hug. “I knew it. I’ve waited so many years for you two to figure it out.” She sniffed. “And look at me. I’m a mess, but Iknewit.”
Malachi looked just as pleased, though he wasn’t crying. “Can I help?” hecalled.
“I’ve got it.” Leo joined them on the sidewalk, setting theirsuitcasesdown.
Malachi reached out for Leo and embraced his brother with a hard pat on the back as the little girl he carried shouted questions at Leo inTurkish.
“Ask me,” Malachi said. “I’ve waited a long time to answer this question foranother.”
Leo cleared his throat and stepped back, taking Kyra’s hand in his. “Watcher, does the fire still burn in thishouse?”
“It does,” Malachi said. “And you are welcome to its light. You andyourown.”
Ava grinned. “I totally know what thatmeansnow!”
Kyra was still a little confused. “What doesitmean?”
“It means you’re home.” Ava grabbed her hand. “You’re totally, one hundredpercent,home.”
* * *
“Ican’t believethey did all this,” Kyra said, staring at the stars from the roof of the new cottage behind the main house. Someone had put a low wooden bed on the roof, covered in blankets and pillows. It was the perfect place to enjoy the night breeze and listen to the sounds ofthecity.
“They’ve been planning to buy the house next door as soon as the owners were ready to sell. There was an elderly couple who lived there for fifty years. They passed last year, but their children were trying to decide if they wanted the money more than thehouse.”
“I guess they voted for themoney.”
“Which is good for us. Tearing down the wall between the houses was easy and it doubled the garden and courtyard space, which will be nice for the children. Plus”—he tugged a lock of her hair—“I think everyone was getting a little crowded in the mainhouse.”
The cottage was a single story with a roof garden that sat at the back of the new house. It was hidden by trees, and a small fountain bubbled outside the bedroom. It wasn’t a spacious home, but it was private and far more than the single room Leo had lived in before. Kyra, who had never lived in a grand house, thought it wasperfect.
She asked, “Was all this planned whenyouleft?”
“No, but apparently the Creator must have known that I’d be bringing amatehome.”
“Any mate?” Kyrateased.
“My perfect mate.” He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Reshon.”
“It feels good here,” she said. “It feels likeahome.”
“The voices aren’ttoomuch?”
She shook her head. Ever since they’d mated, it had been easier to control the firewalls in her mind. The magic obeyed her more readily. The spells lasted longer. Irin magic or more confidence? Perhaps a littleofboth.
“I’ve traveled over so much of the world,” he said. “But I love it here.” He rolled to the side. “I love the breeze at night. I love the call to prayer. I’m going to love waking up to you every morning.Ilove—”
“The sound of your tinkling laugh!” came a falsetto voice from the courtyard. “And the batting of yourbuttercupeyes!”
“Lips like rose petals!” Another voice called from the direction of the house. “Hair like…seaweed.”
Kyra stifled a laugh while Leofrowned.
