I held my head high as I stepped onto my front steps and stopped outside the door.

“Well you look…refreshed,” Frank said with a smirk. A couple men behind him started laughing and an older woman scowled.

“Shut up,” I whispered, one hand on the door knob. I smoothed my hair with the other, trying not to react.

We hadn’t stopped with just the one lovemaking session. He’d gotten hard again before I could even climb off him, and we’d had another go, the second time slower and more emotional. I’d meant to leave quickly. To hurry home and act like nothing untoward had happened. But I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Before I knew it, we’d been sitting there for hours, half naked and not worried about it, overlooking the ocean and chatting about everything and nothing.

Don’t waste your heart on me, Alexis.

Maybe he’d meant it in a different way, but he was right. I doubted we’d have a future together. We were from two different worlds, and I wasn’t sure either of us wanted to cross over. Kieran would be a leader someday. I knew that in my heart. He’d sort out the issue with his father and go on to rule a territory, probably a large one. Maybe he’d even take over magical San Francisco and fix it up a little. Kieran was destined for great things, and while I could joke about being a prince’s wife, sans the duties, I knew where I belonged. I was an outcast. A misfit. The girl who took in strays and lived in the crack of societies. That was all I knew. Maybe it was all I ever wanted to know. I could put my head down and do whatever I wanted. I didn’t have to listen to anyone, and was only responsible for a couple people, while he’d be a pillar of a community.

But man, being with him was a thrill. Sexy and exhilarating and heart-pumping.

Don’t waste your heart on me, Alexis.

“Yeah, yeah, I heard ya,” I muttered, rubbing at the ache in my chest. I might have to remind myself of that from time to time. Like every five minutes or so. Logic was having a hard time winning over how I felt when I was with him. A really hard time.

I took a deep breath. Time to face the kids.

The smell of BBQ wafted at me as I slowly opened the door. My stomach growled and I slipped inside, hearing voices from the kitchen.

The floor creaked under the weight of my foot. I paused. So did the talking.

Two quick steps brought an expressionless Daisy to the edge of the kitchen. She took one look at me, rolled her eyes, and turned.

“You were right, Bria,” she said. “We’re staying.”

“I knew it,” Jack hollered.

The toilet flushed down the hall and Zorn stepped out of the bathroom. His gaze drifted over me. He walked past me without a word, heading into the kitchen with the others.

Mordecai sat on a chair at the dining table, his face excited but fatigued, and his shoulders slumped. Jack stood at the counter, laughing—at me, apparently—and chopping something. Daisy slid into a chair next to Bria and pulled over a cutting board and a pile of green beans.

“We need a bigger house to congregate at,” Bria said, her voice nasally. There were still white bandages over her nose. She hadn’t wanted the Healer to meddle in her affairs, so she said. I had a feeling it was to get the pain meds.

“This kitchen is tiny,” Zorn said and reached over Jack to grab the salt and pepper shakers.

“Well excuse us, Mr. Money Bags,” Daisy said. “I don’t see you inviting us over to your house for dinner.”

“You’re not magical. You’re not welcome on my side of the tracks,” he said, deadpan.

Daisy narrowed her eyes at him.

“I got you,” Bria told her. “It’s in the works.”

“What’s in the works?” Jack asked.

“Don’t you nevermind.” Bria winked at Daisy before turning her attention to me. “You’re not moving to Sydney, I take it?”

I shifted uncomfortably, wondering how much they knew. “No. This is my home. I’m staying here.”

“I sure hope you didn’t pass up a new house for sentimental reasons,” Daisy said.

“She didn’t,” Mordecai said, drooping. “She wouldn’t pass up a free house. She’s obviously invested in Kieran’s cause and wants to join the fight.”

“Is it the fight, or the man?” Jack asked, turning around.

All eyes drifted my way, but no one spoke, everyone waiting for an answer.

“Toot, toot,” Bria said, pulling the imaginary chain.

“Hey,” someone called down the hall.

I leaned that way so I could see.

Donovan smiled and came forward, leaving the back door open behind him. “What’s up, Lexi? You’re back, I see. What’s the verdict? We have a bet going.”

“She’s staying,” Jack called. “Pay up!”

“No way!” Donovan laughed, putting his hand on his chest as he swaggered toward me. “Demigod Kieran was dead set on you leaving. Dead set.”

“We found someone who doesn’t mind saying no to him,” Zorn said. “That might be useful.”

Jack turned toward Zorn with his eyes wide and mouth opened in an incredulous smile. “Oh how the tables have turned, Zorn. Suddenly you don’t blindly follow our fearless leader?”

Zorn’s brows lowered. “I’ve never blindly followed anyone.”

“We all know he sometimes gets an idea in his head,” Donovan said, stopping by me, “and gets stuck on it even though it’s not the absolute best approach.”

Zorn nodded and handed a tray of seasoned steaks to him. “Occasionally he can be unreasonable. Especially regarding the safety of a certain…pain in the ass.”

“He means you.” Daisy pointed at me.

“I think we all knew that, Daisy,” Mordecai said.

“Well, he could have just as easily meant me, Fido,” she retorted, and earned a scowl.

“There are times when it’s wise to…back off,” Zorn finished.

“And those are the times we’ll send in Lexi.” Jack nodded. “Good plan.”

Bria shook her head. “You should run to Sydney, Alexis. Not walk, run. But don’t worry, I won’t let them use you.”

“I feel like I’ve walked into a fun house,” I mumbled. When had I seen the Six act so easy going and loose? Then again, they were usually only together like this when Kieran was present.

I was starting to realize everyone else saw a very different side of Kieran than I usually did. A harsher side, with more impenetrable walls and harder angles. A guy who didn’t tolerate the word no, and reduced people to quivering messes on the battlefield.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Don’t waste your heart on me, Alexis.

Oh yeah. That was how.

“Oh, did you show her?” Donovan asked as Thane called from the back door, “What’s the hold up?”

Jack snapped his fingers and turned toward the fridge.

“Oh hey, Alexis.” Thane walked down to me, just another large, muscular man in a very tiny house.

“We do need another place to congregate,” I said, flattening against the wall so Thane could join us.

“You staying or going?” Thane asked.

“Staying,” Jack sang. He pulled a newspaper from the top of the fridge and handed it to me.

“Damn,” Thane said with a smirk. “I mean, great, because that vitals-grabbing thing you do will sure be helpful, but damn, I thought Demigod Kieran was going to put his foot down this time. He was set on it. Demigods don’t usually bend.”

“I wouldn’t talk about the boss’s lady grabbing your vitals,” Donovan said with a smirk.

“She defies logic.” Jack tapped a story on the right column on the front page. “They got their man, and all it took was Demigod Kieran vouching for your authenticity.”

“Huh?” I asked, looking at the paper.

“That’s that guy, Lexi,” Daisy said, smiling at me. Mordecai perked up, his tired eyes shining. “That guy at the freak show, remember? The one you called the cops about? See? I told you they’d track you down. But you were right—”

“I can’t believe you’re admitting it,” Mordecai said.

She scowled at him. “Shut up, Rover, I was right, too.” She refocused on me. “Like you said, it led them to Kieran’s office. He talked to the cop shop about you being legit.”

“You don’t seem so weird when a Demigod is vouching for you,” Jack said, laughing.

“All aboard,” Bria called.

I pushed away the banter and zeroed in on the newspaper article.

The criminal from the freak show that seemed like forever ago stared at the camera in his mug shot, his expression pissed off and his hair mussed. In the four-color picture above, a SWAT team surrounded an opened locker, the contents hidden.

“They got enough evidence to put him away,” Mordecai said. “The cop you called took point.”

I glanced over the story, chuckling. “Guess I can’t use it for a new business, even if I wanted to, since the credit went to an anonymous caller.”

“Demigod Kieran figured you’d want to keep your privacy,” Zorn said.

Bria huffed out laughter, but didn’t say anything.

“We could easily get around all that,” Daisy said confidently. “We could definitely make a business work.”

“Chump change,” Donovan said, smiling over my shoulder. “You’re working for Demigod Kieran now. You don’t need no freaking freak show.” He laughed and handed off the steaks to Thane before patting me on the back. “That’s cool, though. You helped bring down a murderer.”

“And soon, you’ll help bring down another,” Bria said with a violent gleam in her eye.

“Hear-hear!” Donovan said as he followed Thane out to the grill.

“Are we really signed on to help bring Valens down?” Mordecai asked quietly.

Jack glanced back, then Zorn did, as if they were equally as interested in the answer.

“Not we, Mordecai,” I said. “Me. I signed on to—”

“No.” Daisy held up her hand, stopping me. “We. We go where you go. We’re a family. If you’re getting involved, we’re all getting involved. Maybe not on the front line, but we’re in this with you. That’s non-negotiable. I still maintain that Kieran is a possessive, stalking asshole and a bad idea, but these other yahoos are okay, so I’m good to join this team.”

“You’d make too many bad decisions without us,” Mordecai said seriously. Jack and Bria burst out laughing. They didn’t know that it was mostly true.

I took a deep breath, fire burning through my veins. I’d never taken a stand like this before. I’d never aggressively stepped up to authority and put myself out there. But if I did it against anyone, it was always going to be Valens. It was always going to be the guy who thought he was above the law.

“Yes,” I said, the fire overflowing and strengthening my words. “Yes, we’re going to get involved. And come hell or high water, possibly literally, we’re going to win.”

“Atta girl,” Jack said, clapping. “Let the games begin.”

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