Liam Takes Manhattan (Elder Races #9.5)

Stipulations were fine. They were good—they weren’t an outright refusal. “Oh yeah?” he replied. “Like what?”


“I want an undercover presence in Glenhaven, and another one in Edinburgh to protect the entrance to the crossover passageway. And you don’t linger or go on a UK walkabout between terms. There’s no sense in taking unnecessary chances. You go in, and when you come out, you leave Scotland entirely.”

That all sounded reasonable. He nodded. “I can do that.”

Pia said, “If you’re sure that this is what’s best for you, we’ll help you any way we can. And we’ll be here waiting when you’re ready to come home.”

Relief had him leaning sideways so that his head and shoulders fell into her lap. He muttered telepathically in her head, I hate arguing with you.

Well, technically, you argued with your dad, she told him, while she ran her fingers through his hair. But I get your point. And I hated it too. Are we all better now?

Comfort stole through him at her gentle touch, and he nodded again.

I’m proud of you, she told him.

Twisting onto his back, he looked up into her face. You are?

You thought things through, you used your best judgment and took independent action as the situation needed, and you didn’t take no for an answer. She smiled down at him. And who knows what the future will bring. After going to school, you might decide that you don’t want to try for the sentinel position after all. But if you still want to—you know, all of those things that you just did are good qualities for a sentinel to have.

They are?

Yes, they are.

For the first time in a week, he didn’t feel the compulsion to fly away. Things had started to feel right again, and that allowed tiredness to take over. A huge yawn cracked his face.

Nearby, chair springs creaked as Dragos stood. He said, “I have to get back to work. Don’t hold dinner for me. I think it’s going to be a late night.”

Pia nodded and said, “Okay. I’ll have something waiting for you in the fridge.”

Dragos stepped forward to bend over Liam and kiss his forehead. Liam looked up into his father’s fierce gold gaze.

Dragos said, “You are unexpectedly stubborn and resourceful. You’re also a good boy, and I’m sorry I lost my temper. And I’m sorry you had to push to get us to recognize what you needed and wanted from us.”

“It’s all good,” Liam said. “I mean, it’s not like you guys were experts on what to do with a magically growing kid.”

“Well, we’re the only experts there are,” Dragos told him wryly.

Liam grinned up at him, so happy not to be arguing with his dad anymore. Just plain stinking happy. “And I’m going to college!”

“Yes,” his father said, returning his smile. “It appears that you are.”





Chapter Four





When exhaustion set in, it was sudden and fierce. Liam went to bed early and slept in late. The only reason he woke up at all was because Pia knocked on his door and then walked into his room.

“Get up, sleepyhead!” she said.

“Mmph,” he grunted, and pulled his pillow over his head.

She dragged the bedcovers off his body. “I mean it—get up!”

“Mooooom, it’s too early,” he complained. “You sound disgustingly cheerful, and I don’t need those covers anyway.”

“It’s not early—it’s almost ten o’clock, Liam. Here, I brought you a cup of coffee.”

He could smell the coffee from underneath his pillow, dark, rich and alluring. “Get thee behind me, Satan,” he said experimentally.

She burst out laughing. “Where on earth did you hear that?”

“Some woman muttered it yesterday when she was looking at the pastries at Starbucks.” Light fingers tickled his bare feet, and he jackknifed to a sitting position. “Hey! You cheated!”

“There’s your beautiful face,” she said cheerfully. She had set the coffee mug on his bedside table. “If you get up and shower right now, you’ll have enough time to eat breakfast before we go to the West River Animal Shelter to meet with the executive director, Eileen Riley.”

“What?” He stared at her then grabbed up the coffee cup. “But it’s Christmas Eve!”

She opened her eyes wide. “I know, right? I emailed them a basic inquiry yesterday afternoon, but I wasn’t expecting to hear back from them until after the holidays. Eileen just called me, and she would love to talk. Apparently they’re having some serious financial difficulties, and she’s willing to consider almost anything to keep the doors open. She said my email was the Christmas miracle they’d been hoping for.” Pia paused and tilted her head. “You didn’t by any chance know anything about that somehow, did you?”