My throat closes up. Every foster kid dreams of finding that perfect family where they fit in. We all dream of getting adopted. It never happened for me. And, in fact, because I was such a strange and troubled child, I bounced around to more homes than normal. I gave up on the dream of having a real family a long time ago. Terrance has no idea how much what he’s offering means to me. “Terrance…” I choke out the word. “Of course I’ll accept. You’re my first family, too. I’m honored to be part of your clan.”
We hug again and are interrupted by a loud, giddy squeal. I look toward the noise and notice four trolls. Two of them I recognize. Shandra looks groggy and like she might be in need of a puke bucket, but it’s good to see her conscious. She’s standing with two men who make Terrance look like a runt. They look like a grumpy lot, but I have a feeling that’s just how trolls always look. Terrance’s sister, however, has a wide smile plastered on her face. The squeal had come from her, and when we make eye contact, she can no longer contain herself. She bounds across the room toward us. The entire place thumps with each of her footsteps. Terrance blocks her before she can tackle me. “Little sister, she is human. Do not break her.”
The affection in his voice makes me smile, as does Nell’s enthusiasm. Once she calms down enough, Terrance steps out of the way and allows her to wrap her arms around me. She’s almost as big as Terrance, and her hug engulfs me just as much. “I’m so excited!” she cries, letting me go to grin at me. “We’ve all wanted Terrance to start his clan for years. Surprising that it’s a human, but my brother’s never been much of a rule follower.”
Terrance and I both snort. “Well, I’ve definitely found the right family, then,” I say, making Terrance unleash his booming laugh.
“Nora, meet my little sister Nell. Nell…this is Trouble. And trust me, she lives up to the name.”
My grin only widens at his stern look. I look around the room and shrug. “I won’t deny it.”
Nell squeaks. “Oh, you guys are just perfect for each other! I’m so glad my big brother isn’t alone anymore. Now if we can only find him a mate…”
Terrance sighs, exasperated, but I can’t help casting a glance toward Shandra. She and the two other trolls are headed our way. “I thought…”
Nell follows my gaze, and her face falls. “Nope. They didn’t bond. Shandra isn’t the one.”
“It happens right away?” I ask, startled. I’m not much of a fan of the love at first sight theory.
Nell and Terrance both shake their heads. “No,” Nell explains, “but if it was going to happen, it would have kicked into place when she went missing. Or, at the very least, when Parker brought her out of the warehouse unconscious. A male troll’s instincts for his mate are even stronger than for those in his clan. He was concerned for Shandra, but his instincts didn’t take over like they did for you.”
I blush and shoot Terrance a look. He understands what I’m asking. “No. You are not my mate. My instincts for you are clan only. I promise.”
I huff out a breath of relief that has Nell snorting. “So you’re as afraid of commitment as he is?”
I laugh. “Something like that. Told you we’re a good fit for each other.”
I hold up my fist to Terrance, and he smashes his meaty knuckles against mine just as his friends reach us. Shandra is the first to speak. “I heard you’re the one who found me. Thank you for saving my life.”
“It was no problem. Happy I could help.”
She blinks, seeming stunned by my response. I hold back the urge to sigh. This is the part I hate—the gratitude. The awkwardness of feeling like they owe me something. I’d tell her she doesn’t, but if she’s anything like Terrance, I know it won’t matter.
One of the men clears his throat. He’s frowning at me, but I think it’s just his normal expression, because he doesn’t seem angry when he speaks. “Miss Jacobs, you are in favor with the Mackinac Clan. If there is ever anything we can do to repay you for your service to us and to Shandra, please let us know.”
“I will,” I agree, because, yeah, this guy definitely won’t accept a not necessary answer. “But honestly, I’ve got Terrance now. Seems like a fair trade to me.”
Terrance chuckles.
The two male trolls exchange wary looks. “It is…unconventional for a troll to claim a human as clan,” the first one says.
The second shakes his head. I can recognize his bewilderment through his permafrown. “It has never been done in the history of trolls.”
“But there is no denying that Terrance’s instincts have kicked in where you’re concerned. He is a good man, and you have proven yourself worthy, so we will honor the claim.”
He holds out his hand, which is a third of the size bigger than Terrance’s giant one. I place mine in it, and my entire hand fits in his palm, so he covers my hand to shake it instead of gripping it. “Welcome to the family, Miss Jacobs.”
“Thanks.”
With that, both men bow to Terrance and me and then tell the girls it’s time to leave. They need to get Shandra home, the poor, traumatized girl. I don’t blame her for wanting to get away from here as quickly as possible. Detroit isn’t a city for just anyone. It takes a special kind of psycho—or someone with no other choice—to stay here.
“We should get you home, too,” Terrance tells me after they walk away. “You should rest for at least a week.”
I’m so weak I can’t really stand on my own. Terrance has to hold an arm around my waist. He offers to carry me, but I’m determined to walk out of here on my own two feet. If it were just us, I’d let him, but I don’t want to look weak in this room full of underworlders. Thankfully, Terrance understands this and lets me walk even though he’s struggling with his instincts to take care of me.
On our way out, Director West stops us. Parker and Nick both follow her over. “Hang on a minute, Nora.” She flashes me that small, stern smile that seems forced even though I don’t think it is. I think she’s just naturally a little prickly. “We still need to get your statement before you go.”
I try not to be rude, but I’m starting to get a headache, and I’m tired as hell. “Can it wait? Elijah took too much of my blood the other day, and then I had to feed Parker in order to wake him up and get him out. I’m really feeling the blood loss.”
Director West shoots me a startled look. I try to make her feel better by saying, “Come over to Terrance’s place after all this is cleaned up, and I’ll tell you everything, I swear. I just need to sleep for a while, and maybe eat an entire cow.”
Terrance laughs at that. Parker looks green with guilt, and Nick is glaring at me for some reason. I’m not sure what crawled up his ass, but I know there’s a lecture he wants to give me about something. That should be fun.
“Talk to Maya,” I say, meeting Nick’s scowl with a frown before turning back to Director West. “Maya, Nadine, and that other werewolf guy know everything that happened here since I woke up. Maya will tell you. She was in the cell next to mine.”
Director West narrows her eyes in thought, then nods once. “Very well.” She gives me another curt smile. “Go get some rest, and we will come to visit you soon.”
“Thanks.”
“Just one thing before you go,” Nick says, stepping forward, his glare as severe as ever. “What the hell were you thinking, Nora? We were supposed to be partners on this. You promised if I let you help me, you wouldn’t go off on your own. Why the hell didn’t you call me?”
I’m surprised that I detect as much hurt as anger in his voice. It makes it impossible to jump on his case back. My anger has to find a different target. Good thing Henry is standing across the room with Nadine. Two of my least favorite people in the world. “You can blame Henry for that,” I tell Nick.