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The power is fading. You must run, now, my Tirian said.
“Time to go, people!” Finn shouted, and we moved.
I’ve never wanted anything more than to walk through that fucking portal. That sliver of a calm, sunny afternoon called to me. Of cars and electronics and running water. Of my baby, Buddy, and his yodelling singing. Of the matriarchs and Nerida. Of Slade’s mad family and Finn’s sad one. Of really getting to know Brandon’s. Of fucking and footy and food and Foster’s even. I’d scull a six-pack of the horse piss if it meant getting back home.
Home, that’s what it was. Our home, our pack house, our pack, where we belonged. As my foot hit the asphalt, I felt it vibrate up through my whole body. We’d done it. We were home.
The portal closed with a pop when the last person got through, and I collapsed down onto the hot road, not caring about the way the surface bit into my skin. I just lay there and hugged Sanctuary, realising after a few minutes that this was just about the spot where Sylvan bit me. My fingers went to the many marks on my neck, but his were gone now. I’d removed it like it was an errant pubic hair on my panty line, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I hadn’t, if we’d have been able to use that bond to bring him back. My pack fell down beside me, their breaths coming in hard.
“Jules is overthinking things already,” Brandon said, taking my hand.
“Must be a day that ends with a Y,” Slade said.
“What the freaking hell? Jules, is that you?” I opened up an eye to see Nerida, scanning the lot of us with a confused expression on her face. “I’ve got to get Ophelia.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “Sounds good indeed.”
33
“Max?”
My head jerked up at the corroded sound of the woman’s voice. It sounded like pain, and I just couldn’t deal with any more pain right now. Everything had to be all hearts and flowers and shit for at least…a month. No, make that two months. But I flipped over onto my back to take a look, anyway. I was still glad to be back in Sanctuary, but hugging a dirty road was only satisfying in small doses. I rolled into a seated position, brushing stuff I really didn’t want to classify off my face and front, and saw Nerida had been true to her word.
It was weird to see a woman like Ophelia with shaking hands, her grey eyes taking on that same burning intensity her grandsons’ did. A group of people followed her, edging closer. I saw eyes dart to the women, and the refugees of Leifgart clung to their children, using as much of their bodies to hide their children from the curious gazes.
“We need to get the women away from here, or they’re going to bolt,” I muttered to Aaron and Finn.
They glanced at each other for a second, and then got to their feet.
“Fellas, we’ve just gotten back from Leifgart, and the place is demolished,” Aaron said. “The Volken are no more. We need to arrange for a retrieval crew to go and get Johnno and the boys, but it's done, so if you’d like to adjourn to the mess, I reckon the first round or two is on Sanctuary. No one’s going back to work today.”
“Free piss and an RDO?” Slade said. “Smart. Only thing that would take their attention away from an influx of women. I better go and supervise.”
“Have a Foster’s for me?” I said weakly.
“And here I was thinking that you loved me.” He dropped a quick kiss on my temple and then moved to follow the rest of the guys, herding the stragglers when they paused to take another look.
“Nan, we need to get the women and children into Doc’s field hospital. They’ve been through hell, and they need to be looked after. They also need somewhere safe, to adjust.”
“Who are you to start giving orders, Finn, son of Grace?” Asher said with a frown.
Finn smiled, something that damn near stopped my heart in the golden sun of Sanctuary.
“I’m the son of Grace and Max and Rhydian and Grey. I’m the grandson of Ophelia.” Finn’s eyes dropped to where Jack and Hawk sprawled on the ground. “We both are. I also have come to believe that giving orders and leadership is best in the hands of those who can prove their capability, rather than because they belong to a certain family, gender, or social class. I look forward to attending the next council meeting the alpha convenes and discussing this further. But right now, can we have some medical assistance for these women? The line remains unbroken.”
“Of course.” Doc pushed her way through t
he crowd, kneeling down beside the nearest woman, Jeananne.
“It’s OK,” I said when she pulled away. “She’s just here to help.”
“She smells strange? Why does she smell like that?” her daughter asked.
“Because she’s human,” I replied. “But she’s a skilled healer and just wants you guys to be safe and healthy.”
“My name is Doctor Hobbes, but you can call me Doc,” the medic said, holding out her hand. She held it there for a few moments, and then the girl took it, just holding her palm for a second. “Come with me, ladies. No one or nothing will harm you under my care.”
“I won’t let it.” Our heads jerked around to see Hawk standing, arms across his chest. He should have looked scary and intimidating, but the women didn’t seem to think so. “I’ll stand by the door, make sure no one comes in or out without your say so.”
