Page 123 of Nyx

Dean, too excited to get started, doesn't take the bait, and I'm grateful to avoid yet another mini argument between the two of them.

Once they get started, they ignore everything around them except for the art they’re creating.

Drawing and painting can be very cathartic for anyone, and although I was worried that some of their fears would come out in their creations, they both painted happy scenes.

Daisy spends a lot of time on a mountain scene with animals and cloudless skies, and Dean paints every dinosaur he can pull from memory.

Victoria and I watch for a while before letting Dana know we were going back inside to work on the final preparations for the fundraiser tomorrow.

She looks a little nervous, but dips her head in understanding.

By the end of the day, I’m exhausted, but not exactly in a bad way.

I was able to focus on my tasks, the idea of Graham still on the edge of my thoughts as always, but they don't take over like they normally would.

When Denise arrives for the overnight shift, I’m more than ready to head out, knowing that tomorrow is going to be just as tiring.

Chapter 31

Nyx

Anticipation is something I'm familiar with.

I have felt it more times than I can count—the buildup of suspense when I know shit is going to go down.

Every mission, in the Corps and with Cerberus, has that same edge to it.

Excitement for what I get to do, how I get to help the world by taking one more bad guy out, is something I've grown accustomed to.

Standing outside, counting down the hours just to see someone step outside?

That's a very new thing for me.

I don't hate the feeling, but it does make me realize I need to take a few beats and try to figure out why something so mundane would make my heart race.

I know it has nothing to do with a threat to her safety. We've got that covered.

It has everything to do with her and her alone.

Something I can only describe as joy comes along with the sight of her stepping out of Juniper House, and for some reason, that joy is gifted to me a little earlier than it normally is.

Juliet opens the front door, her eyes searching the property until they land on me.

It makes me stand a little taller, pride that I'm the first one she looks for filling every gap inside me.

As she steps off the porch and makes her way in my direction, I pull my earpiece out and nod in Bishop's direction.

We walk down the sidewalk, her steps much smaller than mine, but I've already learned to adjust my speed to accommodate hers.

"I have to get groceries," she reminds me.

"We can take one of the SUVs," I offer.

She pauses, her steps halting, and for a brief second, I consider that she has seen something that I should've noticed first.

But as my eyes scan the immediate area for danger, she turns to face me.

A laugh bubbles out of her, and it leaves me frozen in place. I've never heard that sound come from her, not even when overhearing her groups in the backyard.