her powers. He made me do it, and…” I glance down at my hands, the vine tattoos seeming to mock me.
“You got her powers?” Mads seems taken aback.
“That’s not the worst of it,” I breathe, hardly daring to admit to the next part. “He made me attack a city in the U.S. He’s gone completely insane. I didn’t have a choice.”
Mads swallows as she takes this all in. “I’m sorry,” she says weakly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
“You’re here for me now,” I reply, “and that’s what matters.” Straightening up and pushing my hair behind my ears, I say, “So do you want to go say hello to the others? To Peyton?”
“Yes,” she replies without missing a beat. “If…you know, if he still wants to see me.”
“Of course he does,” I tell her. “He’s been beside himself ever since they changed you. Let’s not keep him waiting.”
We head down the hallway, Mads leaning on me a little. She reminds me of a small child about to meet new people for the first time. In a sense, I suppose she is. “I’m nervous,” she admits when we reach the top of the stairs.
“Don’t be,” I murmur. “I’m right here with you.”
That seems to reinvigorate her somewhat, and we pick up the pace as we descend to the ground floor. Outside in the yard, I can see the justice twins leaning against the fence, engaged in conversation with Michael. The smell of food wafts in from the kitchen, and I can hear mum explaining to Ruby how to tell when steak is done cooking. Peering into the living room, I see Peyton still on the couch. He might as well be a statue, he’s in the exact same position I left him in. Storm is standing by the bay window, arms crossed as he surveys the outside of the house.
I clear my throat, and that finally gets their attention. Storm turns around and, seeing Mads, bristles defensively. “It’s all right,” I assure him, putting up my hands. “She’s okay now. She’s fine.”
Peyton lifts his head and stares at Mads like he’s seeing her for the first time. His eyes are wide, and his mouth is opening and closing, but no sound comes out. “Hey,” Mads says quietly, raising a tentative hand to him.
“Hey,” he echoes, sounding like he can’t quite believe his eyes.
“Karma…woke me up,” Mads explains, wrapping her arms around herself. “It’s not all back yet, but I remember a lot of it. I remember you.”
Peyton looks like a man in a dream as he slowly gets to his feet, moving across the room unsteadily and lifting a hand to brush Mads’s shoulder. “It’s really you?” he asks quietly.
I see a flash of the old Mads then when she grins up at him and replies, “You tell me.” Then she pulls him down into a kiss that seems to catch him off guard, wrapping her arms around his neck while Peyton eagerly reciprocates. They stay like that for a long time, to the point where it might be awkward, but I can’t bring myself to make any sarcastic comments. Seeing them happy together again is worth the discomfort. Storm is watching the exchange too, and I could swear I see the corner of his mouth twitch up when his violet eyes meet mine. I wink at him, making him break into a smile big enough to send warm fuzzies up and down my spine.
Finally, Peyton pulls away, taking Mads’s hands in his own as he turns to me. “I can’t believe you did it, sis,” he says. “Remind me never to underestimate you again.”
I snort and wave him off. “Like that’s ever going to happen, Pey.”
“Is that Madison we hear in there?” comes Hugo’s booming voice, and I turn to see him and Damien making their way in from the dining room.
“Damn right, it is,” Peyton replies, and I watch as my other brothers swarm around the happy couple, buzzing with relief and excitement. Mum follows soon after, Ruby trailing behind her, and I’m left to stand back and watch the reunion with a contented smile on my face. I’m so distracted that I don’t even realize Storm has approached me until he slips his hand into mine, his thumb brushing gently over my palm.
I look up at him, and he meets my eyes. “You did well, little one,” he tells me.
“I did what I had to,” I reply simply. It’s the truth, and right now, it’s all that