She wanted to know that she mattered to them?
Sadie was the reason that Myka was even alive. Peter had been trying to figure out how to show her how thankful he was.
He had asked Alice to ensure she found a good family for Sadie. He had gone out of his way to ask if she was adapting or needed anything.
Alice gave him minor updates about her here and there. Then she offered to take him to meet the family and see Sadie. He had turned her down, thinking that Sadie would be reminded of all she had gone through in the lab if Peter came around.
Peter felt a tear roll down his cheek. He sniffled and wiped it away.
"I didn't know that…" he whispered.
"I think you did," Myka replied.
Peter furrowed his brows and looked at Myka.
Myka smiled.
"You didn't want to promise to come back because you didn't know if that was a lie," he said. "But you did promise. And I think you did that because you wanted her to know you would do everything possible to keep that promise. For her."
Peter didn't know what to say. He licked his lips and tried to avoid the subject.
"You seem to know her well. Have you spent a lot of time with Sadie?" Peter asked, already knowing the answer.
Myka had come home talking about the children he spent time with. When he mentioned Sadie, Peter had initially gotten nervous. But after a while, he looked forward to hearing about her more than anything.
Myka smiled and nodded.
"I've spent a lot of time with all the kids, but Sadie has come out of her shell a lot in the past few weeks," Myka said, looking back toward the gate. "I think she was nervous around me at first. But she warmed up eventually. Now, she's usually one of the first to run to me and one of the last to say goodbye."
Peter smiled and nodded. He was glad Myka had found such joy with the refugee children. He had done it entirely on his own, and it was clear that it benefitted them all in different ways.
The bond he had built with Sadie wasn't because of how she had helped him. It was just because they got along. Peter was happy and a little jealous.
"Did you… know the couple that was taking care of her?" Peter asked with some hesitation.
Myka nodded sadly.
"They were an older couple," he said. "Nomads like me. They never had pups, so they volunteered right away when Alice was looking for homes for the kids. She said they were a good fit for Sadie because they would be more like grandparents. She thought it would help Sadie ease out of her comfort zone."
Peter nodded. Alice had told him the same thing. He was concerned that Sadie couldn't connect with them because of the age gap. But Alice explained that bringing in a younger couple that would have treated her like their child from the start would have likely made it difficult for Sadie to adapt to the family setting. She would have tried to meet their expectations as though she were still in the lab and closed herself off further.
"Alice was right," Myka continued. "Sadie had started to really get comfortable with them, and they were patient and understanding. Letting her decide how the relationship would grow."
From everything he had heard, Peter knew that the older couple was affectionate, but they gave Sadie room to stay as close or as far as she needed to. They were not hurt by her distance. Instead, they encouraged her to find her footing while reassuring her that they were always there.
Myka took a deep breath. He clenched his jaw as he remembered what he had found in the back room of the house. He was thankful that Sadie had not witnessed more of what they had experienced at the hands of the monster.
Peter swallowed. Looking at the expression on Myka's face, he could see that it had hurt him to be the one to confirm the couple didn't survive the attack.
He was reminded suddenly of what had happened outside the house.
"Myka," Peter began, feeling a little nervous. "What happened back there… with the monster? What did you do?"
Myka swallowed, turning his eyes back toward the portal. He had been waiting for this question since it happened. He had seen the look of horror on Peter's face and dreaded what he must have thought of him.
He took a moment and then a deep breath before finally answering.
"I was at my last house, I heard noises, but I wasn't sure what it was. By the time I made it outside, you and Sadie were already on the ground," he began. "I ran and got Sadie in my arms, but I knew there was no way I could reach you in time."
Myka paused, lowering his gaze.
"I was scared, I didn't know what to do or how to help, but I couldn't let you die," he continued, licking his lips nervously. "And then I heard them… deep below… these sleeping giants."
Peter swallowed.
"I felt their strength, and I knew they could help," Myka said. "So, I asked for help."
Peter thought of the violence with which the roots had attacked the beast.
"Just for help?" he asked.
Myka turned away.
"Seeing you like that… with the monster coming for you," Myka growled softly. "Was upsetting."
"It was a pretty disturbing visual on my end, too, Myka," Peter replied honestly.
Myka took a deep breath.
"I didn't tell them to rip it apart," he sighed. "…But my intent may have been more violent than I realized…."
Peter looked at Myka with concern.
"This power you have," he whispered. "Honestly, it scares me."
Myka nodded and then turned with a half-hearted smile and tears in his eyes.
"Me, too."
Seeing the expression on Myka's face, Peter sighed and pulled him into a warm hug.
"Just be careful," he whispered.
Myka nodded, hugging Peter tightly.
Peter didn't let go, feeling they both needed each other more than they could say.
"I will try not to be scared," he whispered. "But I need you to talk to me. About the things you hear, feel… all of it."
"I will," Myka said right away.
Peter pulled back, grabbed Myka's face, and looked him in the eye.
"I mean it," he said, choking back on the swell of emotions pressing on his chest. "From everything that Ashleigh and Alice have said, this power has driven people crazy before they could understand it."
Myka listened, seeing the concern that Peter had been holding onto.
"But those people were alone," Peter said. "You are not."
Myka nodded with tears in his eyes.
"You're not," Peter whispered. Pressing a quick but tender kiss to Myka's lips. "So don't think you need to deal with this as though you are."
"I know," Myka whispered, kissing Peter and smiling.
Peter let go and took a step back. He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Thank you," Myka smiled.
Peter looked up.
"For caring," Myka continued. "About me, about Sadie."
Peter took a deep breath.
"I think…" he said, licking his lips and swallowing. "When this is all done, we need to have a real conversation about Sadie... and our future."
Myka's eyes widened, and he felt a jolt of anticipation in his heart. He nodded, but before he could say anything else, he felt something from the portal. He turned.
"Something's happening," he whispered.
Both Myka and Peter looked toward the golden light. Then, a silky shifting like ripples in the water began to move all over the smooth surface of the portal.
Finally, three people stepped through the portal, and then four, five, and so on, until a large group of at least twenty stood before the golden light of the gate.
Peter furrowed his brow and stepped forward, a smile forming as he recognized them. Myka tried to grab him.
"What are you doing?" Myka hissed.
"It's all right, Myka," Peter smiled, staring at the woman at the front of the group. Then, he turned with a joyful smile. "That's Luna Fiona… Summer has arrived in Winter."
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