“There you three are,” Tracy said as the trio returned to the party. “We were just about to send the search party to find you.”
“Auntie Tracy, you’re so silly,” Alexis giggled. “How are you feeling mom?”
Ava hugged her tight but Alexis didn’t feel any tension or strain in her mother’s embrace. It was all she needed to know her mother was all right despite their little drama show.
“How could you three do that?” Ava said after a moment. “You could have gotten hurt.”
“We’re fine mom,” Sean shrugged. They were never in any danger.
“Yeah, we’ll never let anyone hurt you,” Theo seconded.
“Consider yourself lucky,” Silas said. “They protect you. They use me as bait.”
“That doesn’t mean we don’t like you,” Alexis giggled.
“I know. You called me dad,” Silas slipped an arm around Ava and A
