Victory and Asaron had matched Max drink for drink, which probably explained Max’s absence from the docks that morning as well. It was the daylight, not hangovers, that prevented her mother and grandfather from seeing them off. However, Toria was pleased that Mikelos had joined them.
She slipped an arm around her father’s waist and leaned into him. “I’ll miss you, Dad.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” he said. Holding her close and whispering in her ear, he added, “You’ll be fine. In fact, you guys will be great.” Mikelos reached over and tugged Kane into a hug as well, and when he released them, his eyes were suspiciously bright.
That echoed what Victory had said to her last night, when she pulled her into the relative quiet of the library and away from the rest of the partygoers before either o
