"I know. I'm so sorry. But you're here now, and I'm not going anywhere." I pull back enough to look at his face, checking for any signs of distress. "Are you okay? Did anything bad happen?"
"Nope! Uncle Thorne let me shift in the car and we played I-Spy and he told me stories about brave warriors." Asher's grin is pure sunshine. "Are we staying here? It smells different than home."
"We're staying for a while, yes. This is... this is where Mama used to live, a long time ago." I glance up as Thorne approaches, looking exhausted but relieved. "Thank you. For everything."
"Don't thank me yet." Thorne's voice is low. "Alaric knows we're gone. He's already issuing warrants for my arrest for kidnapping and violating service contracts."
"He can't enforce those here. Blackthorn territory is out
