“That won’t do,” he said. “You can take the Master’s apartment. That way you’ll be able to stay together, with the children. You’ll need space of your own to breathe and plan, and you’ll feel better if you can keep them close?”
Ava nodded with relief.
Ethan looked at Helen. “You can arrange cots for the children?”
“Of course,” she said. “But what about you?”
“We’ll stay in Merit’s old room.”
Since my dorm-sized room had only a twin bed, it would be a squeeze. But Luc and Lindsey managed well enough in her room. Besides, Ethan was right. It wasn’t much of a sacrifice to us, and it would give them all peace of mind.
“Then I offer our thanks,” Scott said.
“Margot, if you’ll take the desk,” Helen said, “I’ll show them the way.” When Margot nodded, Helen gestured toward the stairs with her clipboard and they moved forward. Ethan turned back to me.
“I hope that’s all right with you.”
“Of course,” I said. “They’ll want to be together. Especially after tonight.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He looked at Margot. “We’ll be in the Ops Room.”
Margot saluted with the pen in her hand.
Chapter Ten
THE SLUMBER PARTY
In the basement, the Ops Room buzzed with activity. Juliet, Kelley, Malik, and Luc were already inside, and the whiteboard was in position.
“Grey House guards?” Ethan asked, exchanging a manly patting of backs with Malik, who’d undoubtedly been worried for Ethan’s safety.
“They’re on-site and getting settled in,” Luc said. “We gave them a few minutes.”
Ethan nodded, then glanced at Malik. “Any trouble here while we were gone?”
“Not a hint. No rioters. No attempts to jump the fence. No crank phone calls. You four had all the fun.” He glanced at me with concern. “You were cut?”
“Yeah, but I’m okay. Just a little sore.”
Devilishness shined in Malik’s eyes. “What was the weapon again? Paring knife? Melon baller?” He squeezed his thumb and forefinger together. “One of those cinnamon-flavored toothpicks?”
I gave Luc, the only one who’d have had time to tell Malik about the weapon of choice, a very flat look. “Really.”
He winked. “I told him the rioter used a spatula. He got to the rest on his own.”
“It was a chef’s knife,” I said, holding my hands about a foot apart. “And a very large one.”
“That’s what she said,” Ethan murmured.
Maybe my sarcasm was catching.
“I did get a call from one Nicholas Breckenridge. He’s asked about the riots’ potential impact on the House getting a lengthy feature.”
Ethan looked very satisfied. “That was Merit’s idea. Our effort to change public opinion.”
“Nice thought,” Malik said, and I nodded.
“Thanks.”
“Give him whatever information he wants,” Ethan said. “I’ll apprise Scott. No interviews with individual vampires unless they specifically consent, but he’s welcome to ask within the halls of the House.”
Malik nodded, then glanced back at the door. “Speaking of access to the House, look who’s darkening our door.”
I glanced back, expecting to see the Grey House guards, but found a pleasant surprise. Jeff, Catcher, and my grandfather stood in the doorway, still bundled up in scarves and warm coats. Catcher must have picked up my grandfather and brought him back to Hyde Park. I smiled and walked toward them, accepting a very squeezy hug from Jeff.
“We heard there was a party,” he said. “And we decided to crash it.”
“Actually, we heard you were discussing the riots,” my grandfather said, giving Jeff an amused glance. “I’m not sure we’ll have a lot to offer, but we thought we’d chip in what we could.”
“It was nice of you to come all this way,” I said. “We appreciate it.”
Catcher looked over my ensemble. “Sullivan’s letting you dress down tonight?”
I lifted my shirt and showed them the scar across my belly. My grandfather looked mightily alarmed.
“Some nights, I’m not sure if I should be glad that you’re immortal, or rueful about it,” he said.
“We often have similar thoughts,” Ethan said, walking toward us. He shook my grandfather’s hand.
“How’d you get the cut?” Catcher asked.
“Rioter with a blade.”
“Paring knife,” Ethan said.
“It was a chef’s knife,” I pointedly said, giving Ethan the evil eye. “I tripped, and he got the jump on me. Literally.”