Chapter 396
#Chapter 396 – The Long Road Home
E
“No more road trips,” I grumble under my breath, trying to rock my little baby in my arms and distract
him from the rumbling of the road, “ever again.”” Don’t be so sore about it,” Cora says, moving one of
her checkers forward a space. “At least we got the information we wereing for.”
“WellthatI will never begrudge,” I say, turning my head and smiling at her.” But next time?”
She grins, anticipating what I’m going to say next. “We’re taking a private jet.” Coraughs, shaking her
head at me and sitting back against the backrest of her seat in the kitchte.” That would be a waste
of resources, and it’s probably too short of a flight or something to mom’s temple,” she sighs.
“Well thenoneof our children,” I huff, leaning forward to study the board, “is going to have to learn to
bend time and space, because I amnotsuffering through this agai-”
But before I can even finish my sentence, Roger at the driver’s seat hits a huge bump and the game
board goes flying in the air, pieces scattering despite their maic bond. I groan and sit back against
my own seat as Cora sighs and picks up the pieces, putting them back in the box. We both know that
particr distraction is over. “Sorry!” Roger calls over his shoulder. “Won’t happen again!” “He just
knew I was beathing you,” I grumble as Sinires and sits next to me.” Why did you let him drive,
anyway? You’re better at it than he is.” “Oh, no he’s not,” Cora murmurs, defending her mate, but
Sinir and I ignore her.
“He insisted,” Sinir tells me with a shrug, reaching for the baby. “And youknowhow he gets when he
feels like he’s not getting his turn with the toy.”
Iugh a little, handing the baby over to my mate who smiles down at his grumpy son. “I agree though,”
Sinir says, smiling at me now and reaching out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Next
time? All luxury. We’ll get you all drunk at the airport so you don’t even remember the flight, and then
we’ll spend the rest of our time luxuriating.” “This had better be a promise,” I murmur, leaning against
him and closing my eyes. “You got it, baby,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head. “Hey, so,” Cora
says, and I open my eyes to see her leaning across the table, her attention focused mostly on Sinir.
“Where are we going, anyway?” “Um, home?” he says, frowning at her. “Yeah,” she says, cocking her
head to the side, “but…like, bunker home? Horribly ufortable clinic home? Your home, the house
of a thousand corpses?” Sinirughs a little. “Those are gone now,” he says, waving a hand and
smiling. “We have a very…particr service which helps us with those kinds of needs.”
“Ohweird,” I say, sitting up and looking at him with curiosity. “What isthatjob interview like?”
“Information above your pay grade,” he says, smiling and patting my knee. ” So, we’re going to the
house?” Cora asks, interested. “Is that…safe?” ” Well,” Sinir considers seriously, we’re pretty damn
sure that the Cult itself doesn’t have any particr problem with us – that they were merely serving
Xander, probably because he supplied them with a great deal of money and resources. But now that
we’ve put a serious dent in the Cult’s resources and manpower, and Xander has fled,” he shrugs, “we
don’t see any reason not to go back to the city.
We’re keeping a close eye on it, but I think it’s time to start our lives again.” “It has to be more
complicated than that,” I say, shaking my head and frowning at him. “Xander isn’t going to rest -” “No,
he’s not,” Sinir agrees, looking at me seriously. “But we aren’t without resources, love. We only went
to the bunker because we didn’t know what we were up against.
But now that our enemy is on the run, it is a good a time as any to regroup and focus on the interrupted
task: ensuring this country is united under a single King.” “And that’s you, right?” Cora asks, looking at
him curiously. “Well, we hope so,” he says, grinning at her. “Do you have any objections?”
“Are the people of this nation aware,” she says, “that theirKingeatsallthe chips? And does not bother to
consider whether his sister-inw wanted any?”
Sinir grins and leans forward. “Are they likewise aware, that said sister-in-w ateallof the chocte
chip cookies
Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.
Cora gasps, appalled. “Unfair!” she says. “This sister-inw is pregnant!” “Enough!” I groan, especially
as Rafe starts to fuss more in Sinir’s arms. I raise my hands to my temples and rub them gently as
my mate and my sister fall silent, grinning at each other. “I cannot take argument on top of traveling in a
sardine can. Also, it is smelly in here.” “Truce, then,” Cora sighs. “So, house?” I say, likewise curious as
I look up at my mate. ” House,” he says with a nod. “…for now.”
I frown at him, intrigued, but he sends a little pulse down the bond which shushes me, letting me know
he wants to have a private conversation instead of one with Cora. I nod and give him a little kiss on the
shoulder before resting my head in the same spot. “So, what do you think,” Cora asks, looking down at
her hands again and opening and closing them as if she can see her gift sparking there. “Am I going to
be able to shoot lightening bolts at people? Or not?”
“You can do anything you put your mind to,” I say catingly to my sister, grinning, imagining how very
much she’d like to zap everyone who got on her nerves. “I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you
about that,” Sinir says. “Really?”
she asks, her eyes going wide with curiosity.” Sure,” he says, giving a little shrug and leaning forward to
engage her morepletely. “Considering that I’m likely to be the King of a nation that’s going to
have a lot of military concerns, I wonder if you’d be willing to consider experimenting with your gift and
seeing how it could be used… well, as a kind of weapon.”
“Really!?” she says again, more eager now. “I never thought of it like that -”
“Cora!” I scold, sitting up straight and frowning between my mate and my sister. “You’re a doctor! You
shouldnotbe thinking about hurting people with your gift!”
“Chill out, E,” she murmurs, leaning back in her seat and frowning at me. “I’m not actuallygoing to
strike people down with lightning bolts, but Sinir is right – this could be strategically useful.”
“Creating a hurricane in the face of an advancing Navy,” Sinir offers, turning to me with a shrug. “Or
even, on the day of a battle, ensuring that the other troops are rained on while ours stay dry this could
turn the tide in any war.” I go a little pale thinking about it, looking down at my baby. I’ve had enough of
war, and I certainly don’t want him raised in a world filled with it. “Do you really think we’re headed for
situations like that?” I ask, my voice soft. Sinir lifts a hand and softly strokes my hair, sympathy clear
on his face. “I’m sorry to say it, love,” he gently replies, “but I think so.
We’re noting to power in a time of peace. We can fight for that but…we have to fight.” I sigh,
looking down at the table, worried all over again. “But at least they’ve got us,” Cora says, leaning over
the table and offering her hand. I look up at her, not really understanding what she means. She shrugs.
“You and I want peace. So do these three,” she says, nodding her head to indicate the Sinir men.
“Put together, we’re…kind of a force to be reckoned with. I’d rather be fighting for peace than letting
others decide for us.” “I get it,” I mumble, sinking back in my chair with another sigh. “I just… want more
for our children than that.”
“We’ll give it to them,” Sinir promises, and I look up into his eyes, wanting to believe him very much.
” Together, we’ll make this world what it should be for their sake, as well as everyone else’s.” Slowly, I
nod, agreeing to the n. I take my sister’s offered hand and give it a squeeze. And the RV continues
to rumble down the road, driving us back to the city where this all started. The city, and that nation, and
the world that is ours to shape if we’re willing to fight for it.