Page 117 of High Water

“Like hell, but happy to be alive and have you here. I talked to Fallon already. Did you see her?”

“Yeah. She gave me a big hug. I think I might have won points for saving her mom.”

“She was worried about you too, you know.” Aspen gives me a sympathetic look. “She asked about you and wanted to be sure you were okay when you were gone for testing.”

My heart warms at the thought of my family being safe, all of us having each other again, and only being a little bit worse for wear. The nurse helps me into my bed, giving me a lecture about taking it easy and allowing people to support me while I’m healing.

“I got that same talking to.” Aspen grins at the nurse and then me.

“You both should get some rest. You’ll need it to heal properly. Your body needs all the extra rest it can get if you want to go home sooner rather than later.” The nurse looks between us and gives us a warning look.

“Yes, well, I just got word our new home is ready. So the sooner the better.” I glance at the text on my phone from Anson. I have a feeling he hurried things along a little when he heard about everything that’s happened.

“Is it really?” Aspen’s face lights with the news.

“Anson just texted.” I hold up my phone to show her the text, with a photo of the homestead all finished and a bottle of champagne sitting on the counter for us.

“All right, well, in that case, sleep it is. I can’t wait to get home,” Aspen insists, grinning brightly.

It’ll take me some time before I don’t see her dangling from that rope or feel her shivering in my arms, probably even longer before I can think of Fallon going missing and not feel a pit in my stomach, but we’re on the track to being together again. A family under one roof, and right now, that’s all I care about.

“I have something I need to show you.” Aspen looks at all of us gathered around the massive coffee table in the living room, scattered across chairs and couches and the floor. It’s me, her brothers, and their fiancées.

She holds up three keys, similar, almost identical, but clearly keyed to different locks when I look closer at them.

“What are these?” We’re home in the penthouse, still muddling through our early recovery period with Fallon’s help and our family stopping by regularly to check on us. I promised to take it easy as long as she did, and so far, we’ve both met the challenge.

“They were in the mine. On the hilt of the sword. I stuffed them into my pocket when I was down there working to get the sword out of the ice before anyone could see. Not that they could see much with how dark it was.”

“And you’re just telling us now?” Levi sits up straighter to get a better look at them.

“I honestly forgot at first, and when we were discharged, I promised I’d be good about recovery and call off work for a few weeks. If I told you, you’d be off to do research without me. I want to be part of it. I found them.”

She told me as soon as we’d gotten home, and I told her to give it a few days before she told everyone else.

“It’s my fault. I made her promise to take it easy,” I explain.

“As she should,” Grant agrees with my decision.

Levi takes one and turns it around in his palm. The light catches on the metal and glints off as we all study it.

“I recognize this style. Look.” Levi hands the key to Grant.

“Well, damn.” Grant smirks down at it and then hands it back to his sister.

“You recognize it?”

“They’re the keys the Heritage Bank in the Springs uses. For their safe deposit storage. I have one that I gave to Dakota.” He turns and smiles at her.

“Want to go tomorrow to see what they open?” Aspen’s eyes light with intrigue.

“Are you sure you’re ready for all of that? It hasn’t been that long.” Grant gives her a once-over.

“I’m being careful and not pushing it. Bishop can tell you.” She looks at me for support, and I nod.

“She’s been good. Resting and taking it easy. I think she’s earned a small outing.” I grin at her when she rolls her eyes at the idea that I actually get to give her permission on anything.

But I’m truly proud of how well she’s handled everything, giving herself time and space to work through her feelings, booking herself and me appointments with a therapist in addition to Fallon, and taking real time off from her lecturer job without letting herself feel guilty about what she’s missing.