Ryder's Angel

Chapter Thirty-Two: Not Over: Angeline

Chapter Thirty-Two: Not Over: Angeline

I struggled to wake up fully.

I was groggy, tired, and aching all over from all the banging around in the halls – but otherwise I was pleased beyond all means. Last night was the best night of my life and it definitely was worth it.

But as I came to, I became aware of myself and Danny. Our legs were tangled with the blanket, my feet were hanging off the bed, and my head was on his bare chest. No wonder my head ached. Danny moaned and his rumbling jerked me awake. I shifted off of him and untangled myself. I looked at his peaceful face – he was out cold.

Passing a hand over my face, I stared at the wall and just floated in the good memories of last night.

I did not expect the timid knock on the door.

Danny jolted awake, flailing, and fell off the bed. Leaping up, he yanked on pants and, bare-chested, pressed himself against the door, his hand ready on the knob. His eyes glued to me, I pulled the covers up to my chest, but set my gaze on the door as if I could see through it. Who could possibly be here now?

“Hello?” Danny’s voice was dull but there was sharpness. I couldn’t blame him – I was in heaven as much as him. And he didn’t like to be woken up so brusquely.

At first, silence answered. I shot Danny a confused look and he shrugged, but waited. Then –

“Daddy?”

My mouth popped open. What was Ethan doing? How did he find the room? How did he get away from Kendall?

Before I had time to find clothes, Danny yanked open the door and let Ethan jump in his arms. “Daddy!” he squealed. He didn’t give his father a chance to speak. “Daddy, I came here all by myself!” He didn’t notice me yet, and Danny flashed me a look before Ethan noticed. As quickly and quietly as possible, I threw on some clothes.

“Ethan, how did you get here? I asked him, coming up next to them. My voice boded no joking.

But my five-year-old didn’t notice. Delighted, he stretched out for me. I took him in my arms. “Mommy,” he cried, “I got here all by myself!”

I gave a flickering smile. “That’s great, sweetie –”

“Yeah, I turned to doggie and sniff myself here!” He was clearly very proud of himself. His eyes sparkled.

Even I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride. He was already using his powers wisely and not only using his nose but his brain. He’d used his sense of smell to pick out our scents, and followed determinedly. He would no doubt have Danny’s keen willpower.

Yet the irritation in me still lingered. Last night and this morning was Danny’s and mine, and ours only. Ethan was intruding. But I couldn’t blame it all on him, I couldn’t yell at him. He didn’t know better, and we shouldn’t have locked him in with his uncle. Although I couldn’t understand why my son didn’t like my brother.

“That’s wonderful, darling,” I purred. “How did you sniff us?”

Ethan tried to wriggle out of my grip. “Show you!”

I quickly set him down before he fell and sat on the bed with Danny. Ethan stood there in the middle of the room, grinning his toothy smile. He hadn’t lost all his teeth yet, but the few adult teeth he had were slowly growing in straight. Then Ethan began to shrink, and when I blinked, there was a puppy bloodhound in his place. With its droopy eyes and skin, its ears were perked and its tail wagged madly. Its happy bark almost sounded like Ethan’s voice.