Page 159 of Vicious Knight

My father was flown here from the Hallows two days ago.

Dad spent the last two days being processed, whatever that means. No one has ever made it back from the Hallows alive, so I guess it had something to do with that.

We weren’t allowed to see him until today. It’s like waiting for someone to come out of a courthouse.

Any minute now my father should walk through those sliding doors as a free man.

It will be the first time he’ll see us in almost a decade.

Mom links her arm with mine. She looks brighter than days ago but still drained. I have every emotion still running through me

The two of us stare directly at the doors as if we’re scared he’ll come out and we’ll miss him.

We’ve been watching officials go in and out for the half hour that we’ve stood here waiting.

All sorts of crazy things are running through my mind and I keep worrying that something will go wrong.

This is too good to be true, so something may happen and we won’t see him. What if they send him back?

As if sensing my thoughts Thorne takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.

The doors slide open, and I wait with my breath swelling in my chest, hoping that this time it will be my father.

And it is.

Dad walks out dressed in the same black clothes he would have worn at the Hallows. But he’s carrying a duffel bag.

Unlike the picture I saw of him weeks ago, his hair has grown back. It’s still cropped but at least it’s not shaved. And he has a patch covering his lost eye.

When he sees us he stops and stares, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Go,” Thorne mutters, and we do.

Mom and I run toward my father, who pulls us into his arms.

The last time the three of us were together like this we were at the helm of danger, fleeing for our lives. Now we have a fresh start.

Dad cups my face and smiles down at me. “Annika,” he whispers, pressing his forehead to mine. “It’s really you?”

It sounds so good to hear his voice. “Yes Papa, it’s me.”

He touches my cheek and I no longer feel like the lost little girl.

Dad focuses on Mom next and tries to speak, but he’s so caught up in emotion it breaks him. It breaks her, too.

While they hug I look at Thorne and find him staring at us.

I owe him everything.

He did this for me. He gave me my father back.

I feel sad that I can’t bring his family back too.

But I promise to give him all my love.

Chapter 39

Thorne