“Come on, little boys,” I call to Ian and Alvin as I stand up. “Come inside with me.” “What!” Alvin protests, running forward a little. “But there might be fireflies – the first ones of the season! We were going to –“ “Nope!” I say, putting my hand out towards them. “Inside!” “Whyyyy,” Ian whines
“Okay!” Alvin says, not sharing any of Ian’s worries. Together, they push upwards on the wide window and open it fully. Then, to my shock, they start to crawl out of it. “Oh my god,” I gasp, moving forward just as Alvin’s little feet disappear into the darkness beyond. My jaw is hanging open when I
Alvin, Ian, and I all jump at once, spinning towards the room, peeking in the window to see – “Duck!” I whisper, seeing Victor standing alone in the empty room, confused as he looks for his missing family. Alvin and Ian comply immediately, tucking their heads down below the windowsill, but I am eit
I feel little tears prick at my eyes and Victor’s hand comes gently to the back of my head then, running down the length of my hair. He sends me a little nudge down our bond, letting me know that he makes that same promise to me. I send my faith back to him, the knowledge that I know that already –
I’m up first the next morning, but I decide to let Victor have a little more rest. I smile at him as I watch him sleep for a moment, wanting very much to reach out and rub my hand against the new stubble lining his jaw, but holding back. He’s been working so hard lately – he deserves this break as m
“I’m sure you will,” Bridgette replies, laughing as he takes both of her hands, spreading out her fingers and frowning. Then, Alvin looks up sharply and makes eye contact with Ian, clearly communicating mind-to-mind. “Hey,” Ian says, taking up Alvin’s questioning thought and looking between Rafe an
The day unfolds happily from there on out, with Bridgette and I spending most of the morning curled on the sofa, enjoying ourselves. The Betas come, of course, but we bribed Ian and Alvin with the offer of much candy to move Victor’s little command station into the kitchen, which they do with enthus
Victor comes to my side as we all listen to the reporter, taking my hand and squeezing it. I smile up at him, knowing that he, too, is relieved to see that they’re telling rather…well, rather a romantic story. This could have had a much more scandalous bent, marking Victor as a man who betrayed his