The Watcher

How many different hues of gray had the Great Mother created that the human eye could detect? When mixed with the beauty of a showery vernal equinox atop the bemired landscape of ranch land, perhaps the question wasn’t so much one of hue or shadow as it was one of human endurance.

Winter had come and gone on the Erdriech Ranch. In that time, a new family member had been born. When Rhain Erdriech made her grand appearance into the world, the entire Wolf Coven had been there to greet her. Wrapped instantly in a cocoon of immeasurable love and devotion, the newest member of the family was rarely without the warm embrace of a coven member or grandparent. Today was no exception.

Nestled safely in the arms of her Auntie Starshine, Rhain cooed happily as she listened, once again, to the story of the night she was born. “It was the kind of night where one could only see the dark riders approaching when the sky lit on fire,” Star began softly. “The Element of Air battered the house with its strength, desperate to gain entry and witness your arrival. The Water Element crashed over the roof, demanding to be the first to meet its newest child. While all five Elements continued jockeying to set eyes upon you first, the sky released a thunderous roar that shook the bones of the old farmhouse to its core.” She gently rocked the baby as she continued. “In that moment—just as the night sky turned darkness into day—your Mama screamed your entrance into this world. The lightning split the great arm of old Mr. Oak outside the kitchen window, sending it crashing onto the aging roof. Just as you took your very first breath, Gaia sent the Water Element to welcome you, christening you Rhain Erdriech.”

Star smiled down at her niece, tickling her belly before nuzzling her nose into the softness of the baby’s neck. Rhain answered with delighted coos. Halfway through her affection, Star noticed long shadows creeping across the nursery floor. When she finally glanced up, she saw Algiz and Raidho standing in the doorway. Their expressions were hard. Their eyes were filled with unmistakable anger and frustration.

Before Star could react, Grandmother Dia—Abuela, as everyone now called her—stepped gracefully between the two towering men and reached for her granddaughter. Star hesitated before carefully handing Rhain over, giving the baby one final squeeze before whispering teasingly in her ear, “Remember, Rhain—you’re never too old to get into trouble in this family.” When she looked up, Algiz was silently pointing one stern finger at her, then toward the living room. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

“It’ll be okay, Mi Reina,” Abuela tried to assure her.

Star offered her a weak smile, silently letting her know she didn’t share the same optimism. With her head hanging low, she left the nursery and followed Algiz down the hallway. Raidho fell into step directly behind her, close enough that she wondered if he feared she might try to run.

Entering the living room, Star immediately noticed nearly the entire Wolf Coven waiting for her. Everyone was present except Calian and Moondust, who were currently in Idaho assisting a small group of witches on behalf of their Queen. Algiz positioned himself behind Kai’s chair and instructed Star to sit down. She slowly lowered herself into the high-backed seat beside the dry bar. She studied each face in the room before finally returning her gaze to her brother. “I think I know what y’all are going to say,” she pleaded softly, “but I just want you to hear me out.”

Algiz rolled his eyes and drew in a deep breath, trying to steady his temper. “It hasn’t stopped raining for weeks,” he began. “The fence in the west pasture—between Uncle’s property and ours—came down. As you can imagine, we were out there getting soaked, trying to separate his herd from ours.” His voice hardened as he continued. “Then what happens? I get a call from Aunt Janie telling me she just got off the phone with the instructor who’s supposed to be here the day after tomorrow. He tells her someone called him to say he’s no longer needed.”

Color rose in his face as he struggled to keep his anger in check. “Which one of you made that call?” he demanded, his eyes shifting between Akash and Star.

Akash stood quietly near the front window, waiting for his wife to speak. When Star remained silent under her brother’s glare, he stepped forward. “I think what we’re dealing with here is fear,” he said calmly. “Star is concerned after what happened to her last instructor. I can’t say I blame her.”

“Mi Reina,” Wynono said gently, trying to understand, “are you saying you think whoever comes here to teach you will die?”

Star lowered her head again and closed her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to see the reaction on their faces. “I don’t want anyone else getting hurt by coming here,” she admitted quietly. “I asked Darius if he was scared to come, and I may have mentioned my previous tutor and what happened to her. He sounded worried, so I told him his services were no longer needed at this time.”

A low, rumbling growl came from Algiz before he spoke again. “You made a unilateral decision based on what happened to River?” he demanded, his voice rising as the anger he’d been holding back finally surfaced. “We’ve put off bringing this witch here for nearly a year so everyone could heal from that loss. You don’t get to make decisions like this on your own. We’re a family and we’ll conduct ourselves as one!”

“I know,” she admitted, flinching under the weight of his words.

“Who do you expect to teach you?” William asked gently. “Are you thinking you’re finished learning about the Elements?”

Star straightened slightly in her chair, grateful for the opportunity to explain herself. She motioned toward Raidho, then over to Chaz, who was seated beside William. “I thought Ray and Chaz could teach me,” she said. “They both have the Element of Fire. I mean, why should some stranger come here when I could learn from family?”

The two men exchanged a quick glance before looking back at her. “I… I don’t rightly know what to say,” Chaz began carefully. “My Queen, rodeo season is starting back up. I’ll be leaving here in just a few days. There’s no way I could teach you anytime soon.”

“Shiny,” Raidho added, “you and I both know you don’t do well trying to learn from Al or from me. Besides, who’s going to help run the ranch and handle all my chores while I’m off teaching you?” He shook his head. “This idea won’t work for a lot of reasons. We’ve already proven most of them.”

Star looked from one brother to the other, desperation creeping into her voice. “What if I promise to do better?” she pleaded. “I know I can learn from you. Just give me another chance.”

“The answer is no, Shiny,” Raidho said gently but firmly. “It’s not that I think you’re incapable of change. But the fact remains—I can’t spend entire days teaching you while ignoring my responsibilities to everyone else.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Algiz added. When Star looked up at him, he continued, his voice leaving no room for argument. “I already called Darius back and told him his services are still needed. I told him to disregard anything anyone else says. He’s rearranging his schedule. He’ll be here in two weeks. End of story.”

A heavy sigh escaped Star as she sank back into her chair, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “So that’s that,” she muttered quietly.

Algiz softened his tone before responding. “I’m afraid so.”

Star curled inward, slouching deeper into the chair while nervously fumbling with her fingers. Maybe if she avoided eye contact long enough, the others would assume the conversation was over. Deep down, she knew that thought was foolish. “I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt,” she murmured.

“That isn’t something we control,” Kai said gently. “The best we can do is try to mitigate the risks before moving forward. You know as well as everyone here that what we do comes with danger. Sometimes we’re going to find ourselves in harm’s way. Darius knows that. He understands what he’s walking into.”

“Does he, though?” Star asked quietly.

“Yes, he does,” Algiz replied. “We spoke at length. I can promise you he’s coming here with his eyes wide open.”

Star could feel everyone in the room watching her, waiting to see how she would respond. Slowly, she sat up straighter and pulled her knees to her chest. Resting her head against them, she closed her eyes, doing her best to ignore the heavy silence that had settled over the room and the people filling it. Perhaps she needed to take a moment and truly analyze what she was feeling. Maybe the real reason she didn’t want Darius to come had nothing to do with fear at all. Maybe it was simply the thought of yet another change to the delicate balance of their family dynamic. The one thing she knew for certain was that she didn’t want to discuss it any further with the rest of the Coven.

Her thoughts were abruptly cut short by the sound of cars pulling into the turnout outside the front window. The noise drew everyone’s attention. Akash stepped closer to the glass to inspect their visitors. “It looks like our visiting witches are starting to arrive,” he said. Turning back toward her, he extended his hand. “May I assist you in getting ready, My Queen?”

Star accepted his hand and rose from her chair as William headed toward the front door. “Chaz and I will greet them,” he offered. “The rest of you might as well go get ready.”

Starshine followed Akash upstairs to their bedroom while the others dispersed to prepare themselves for hosting. Over the past year, the Wolf Coven had settled into a routine that worked well for the family. Three days out of every week were dedicated to welcoming witches who traveled from all over the United States—and sometimes beyond. They came seeking assistance from their Queen and King. Some sought advice. Others hoped to have problems resolved. Many came requesting healings, spells, or potion work.

Closing the bedroom door behind them, Akash paused for a moment and watched Star sit down at her vanity, quietly preparing her makeup before meeting their guests. “Well,” he said at last, leaning casually against the wall, “that went better than I expected. At least you managed to buy yourself two more weeks.”

She stared at him through the reflection in her mirror, her glare making her displeasure perfectly clear. “I know you’re trying to help,” she said sharply, “but it’s not helping.”

Akash crouched down behind her, balancing on the balls of his feet. With a featherlight touch, he placed his hands gently around her waist. “How did you see this going?” he asked quietly. “Be honest with me. You knew they were going to find out. You knew they’d be angry. So how did you imagine this playing out?”

Star turned away from the mirror to face him, already knowing he had a point. “Yes,” she admitted. “I knew they’d get mad. And yes, I knew they’d call a meeting.” Her voice softened. “But something in me hoped they’d at least hear me out before reversing my decision. Al just called Darius right away. He didn’t even wait to talk to me about it first.”

“Well, Shiny,” Akash said gently, “you didn’t wait to talk with him before doing what you did.” He tilted his head slightly. “You can’t expect that kind of courtesy from the others if you’re not willing to lead by example.”

“Why is it that I’m always the one who has to lead by example?” she pouted.

Akash had seen her slip into self-pity more times than he could count. By now, he recognized exactly what she was doing. He chuckled. “You’re not, and you know it. You’re just the one who keeps pushing your brother’s buttons.” He gave her a playful grin. “So if you want to wear that badge of honor, go right ahead.”

Star flashed him a mischievous smile before sticking her tongue out at him. Turning back to face the mirror, she began chanting softly. “Do as you’re told, twist and mold.” Her hair responded instantly, weaving itself into a long, elegant white braid that draped down her back. Akash reached forward to secure the end with a hair tie.

“I miss Moon,” she admitted quietly. “I wish he and Cal would come back soon. I like it when he meets the new witches first and tells me about them before they’re presented to us. It makes me feel safer.”

Akash rested his hands gently on her shoulders. “I know, Shiny. If I’m being honest, I feel the same way.” He pulled out his phone and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. “Let me text Chaz and see if they’re ready for us. Why don’t you reach out to Moon and check in with him?”

Star nodded and followed his suggestion. Dusty, what are you doing?

Cal and I are dealing with a wayward witch at the moment.

Her brother sounded frustrated but willing to give her his time. Everything okay? Star asked.

It will be. Cal is doing his suggestive mind tricks on her. What’s up?

Nothing. I just miss you, she pouted.

I miss you too, Shiny. You sound sad. Want to talk about it?

No. Not right now, at least. We’re about to go downstairs and do a meetup with visiting witches.

Ah… bet you wish I was there to tell you about them.

I do. More than that, though, my heart hurts because it needs you.

All right, something’s going on and you’re not telling me. Ooh, I’ve got to go, Sis. Our nasty witch is getting pissy. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.

Love you, Big Brother.

A chirp from Akash’s phone broke the quiet of the room, signaling that more guests had arrived. They were currently being entertained by Chaz and William. He stood and extended his hand toward her. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she replied.

Calling Vreni to her side, Star opened the door and started down the stairs. Halfway down, she suddenly stopped. “Do you feel that?” she asked quietly.

Akash paused beside her. “There’s a Natural here,” he confirmed, leaning closer to whisper the words in her ear.

Star frowned slightly. “What’s a Natural doing here?”

Akash continued down the stairs, gently pulling her along with him. “Only one way to find out, Shiny.”

Entering the formal living room, the Queen and King, along with the Wolf Coven, were greeted by eight visitors waiting for them. Once everyone had taken their seats, William would normally have taken charge of the introductions, but today was different. There was someone in the room who didn’t belong. Star refused to move forward until the matter was addressed. As William began to speak, Star raised her hand, silently stopping him. Her eyes moved directly to the outsider. “Who brought the Natural?” she asked the visiting witches.

Soft gasps rippled through the group as several of the visitors realized for the first time who was sitting among them. Akash carefully watched everyone’s reaction to his wife’s question. One particular witch caught his attention. Unlike the others, she didn’t appear surprised. Instead, she sat rigidly in her chair, nervously tapping each of her fingers against her thumbs. “You there,” Akash said, pointing toward her. “Why did you bring a Natural into our home?”

The woman sat silently, clearly uncomfortable under the scrutiny. Her fingers continued their anxious rhythm as she stared down at the floor. “My King,” she said at last, her voice quiet but steady, “I felt I had no other choice. If you’ll allow me to state my case—and that of my friend here—I believe you’ll understand why I felt compelled to bring him.”

Star cleared her throat before addressing the room. “I’m sorry,” she said firmly, “but we can’t proceed like this. What you’ve done isn’t fair to anyone else here.” She glanced toward Chaz and Kai, who were standing quietly against the back wall. “Chaz, could you please take our other visitors out to the barn until we’re ready to address their needs?”

He immediately motioned for the remaining witches to stand while bowing his head respectfully toward Star. “Of course, My Queen.”

“Kai,” Star continued, “would you please take our surprise guest outside to wait for his friend?”

Kai stepped beside the Natural’s chair and extended her hand politely. “I promise you no harm will come to you while you’re with me. Please take my hand. I’ll keep you company while your friend stays here.”

The young man looked nervously at his companion, silently asking what he should do.

“It’s all right, Matthew,” the woman reassured him calmly. “Remember, we talked about this possibly happening. They won’t hurt you.” She offered him a warm, encouraging smile.

After a moment’s hesitation, Matthew placed his hand in Kai’s and allowed himself to be guided out of the room. Once the door closed behind them, the remaining members of the Wolf Coven slowly gathered around the woman. Some leaned casually against the walls while others pulled chairs closer, surrounding their unexpected guest.

“Explain yourself,” Star demanded. She wasn’t pleased with this stranger taking liberties in her home. She felt unprepared to be blindsided in such a manner.

“Thank you for the opportunity,” the visitor replied, clearing her throat. “My name is Anastasia, and Matthew and I have traveled a long way to see you. We’re from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. About a month ago, my friend and I were hiking in the woods north of town, near a lake where we often fish. At some point, we became separated. We were lost to each other for nearly four hours. I know that area extremely well—my Coven holds many of our rituals there—so it struck me as very strange that I couldn’t locate him, even after casting a location spell.” Her fingers tightened together in her lap as she recalled the moment. “When he finally stumbled out of the woods, he appeared on the opposite side of the lake from where we’d entered. He looked like he didn’t know where—or who—he was.”

“What did he say when you questioned him?” Raidho asked.

Anastasia shrugged slightly. “He seemed confused and couldn’t remember anything from the time we were separated. When I drove him home, I had to stay with him. I even had to guide him to his front door and walk him inside. He behaved almost childlike, as though he were moving through someone else’s body. I cooked him something to eat, helped him change his clothes, then eventually put him to bed. But when he woke the next morning, he seemed much closer to his old self. I asked him again what had happened to him. He just laughed and asked what I was talking about.”

Algiz leaned forward slightly. “I’m assuming you discreetly cast something on him to see if another witch might have been involved?”

She nodded, assuring Algiz she’d thought the same thing. “I did, yes. I even kept it hidden from my Coven in case it was one of them, but nothing came of it.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “I know this is going to sound bad, but I felt I had no choice but to bring him here. You see… he’s not who he used to be.”

“How so?” William asked.

Anastasia exhaled slowly, searching for the right words. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. Matt used to be this larger-than-life kind of guy. You wanted to go out to a bar and play pool but didn’t feel safe doing it alone? Matt would have your back. Not only would he take you out, he’d pay for everything, even hype you up so you didn’t have a care in the world.” A faint, sad smile crossed her face as she continued. “He’d call at three in the afternoon to rally a group of friends to go water-skiing after work, or he’d take everyone horseback riding through the mountains on a Saturday. Everywhere you went with him, he made it fun. But not after that afternoon. Since then, he never leaves the house unless a friend shows up to take him out. He has to be led everywhere, even to work and back. He’s a shell of who he used to be. I don’t understand it.”

Star listened closely, just as transfixed by the story as everyone else in the room. “When did he find out about you?”

Anastasia looked at her with confusion. “I don’t understand the question, My Queen.”

“When did he find out about you being a witch—and by extension, all of us?” Star clarified.

Their visitor could sense her Queen wasn’t pleased with her, though she’d expected that might be the case. “About a week ago, My Queen,” Anastasia answered. “I pulled out a box of old photographs I’d kept—pictures from trips we took with our larger group of friends. I showed them to him, hoping something might trigger his memory, but he didn’t seem to recognize any of it. In fact, he became quite upset that he couldn’t recall the moments he was seeing. Coming here to ask for your help had been in the back of my mind for a couple of weeks, so I finally told him who I really was. I told him I believed you might be able to help him. Matt has always been very open-minded. That part of him hasn’t changed. After thinking about it for a while, he agreed to give it a try. So we drove here to ask for your assistance.”

A heavy silence settled over the room as the Coven absorbed what she’d said. “So,” Akash finally spoke, “we don’t really know what we’re dealing with here.”

“I suppose not, My King,” Anastasia replied honestly.

“Did you try anything else?” Star asked.

Anastasia nodded. “Yes. He agreed to let me attempt a memory spell. I pricked his finger and held it while I drew a sigil on my mirror using his blood. Then I mixed the blood with some crystals and sand from the banks of the river.” Her brow furrowed as she remembered the result. “But when I looked into the mirror… all I could see was a large gray cloud. Almost like a mist. It completely obscured everything. It was very confusing to me.”

“Do you think Vreni can see anything?” William suggested.

“It’s worth a try,” Star agreed.

Algiz stepped out onto the back patio and returned a few moments later with Kai and Matthew. He guided the Natural back to the seat beside his friend. Once Matthew sat down, Algiz gently tapped him on the forehead, placing him under a sleeping spell.

Star turned to Anastasia and explained what they were about to do. “Through Vreni’s eyes, we’ll be able to see your friend’s aura, along with any signs that he may be hexed or under a spell. Our eyes may look strange to you while we’re connected, so please try not to be frightened.”

Anastasia nodded nervously. When the Wolf Coven connected with Vreni, shock rippled through them. Where they’d normally see the energy of a living person—the vibration of life and Spirit—they saw nothing. Absolutely nothing. “I… don’t understand what I’m seeing,” Star admitted quietly.

“There’s nothing to see,” William said, equally baffled. “But how’s that even possible?” He looked around the room. “Does anyone have any ideas?”

“I think we need Ray to walk through his mind,” Wynono suggested carefully. “But before we do that, we need to make sure it’s safe.” He turned his attention to Anastasia. “If I’m understanding everything you’ve told us correctly, I believe we may be dealing with something far worse than a rogue witch or Coven.”

Anastasia swallowed. “Like what?”

“I’d rather not say anything until I’m certain,” Wynono replied thoughtfully. “But based on what you’ve told us, I suspect Ray will find nothing when he searches. If I may, could I hold your hand? It’ll allow me to see your memories and help me better understand the events you’ve described here today.”

Anastasia immediately extended her hand. “I’ll do anything to help my friend,” she said sincerely. “Even suffer whatever punishment is coming my way for bringing him here.”

Wynono took the seat beside her and offered a faint smile at her statement. “I promise you, this won’t hurt at all.” Removing his gloves, he gently took her hand in his. When he finished, he thanked her, then carefully placed her hand back on her leg. Star could see the confusion written clearly across his face as he slowly pulled his gloves back on. “I believe we need to shelve this matter for the moment,” Wynono said after a pause. “Our new friend here doesn’t appear to realize that she, too, has time that’s unaccounted for.”

He glanced around the room. “Might I suggest that we house these two overnight, then move on with the others?”

“Did I hear you correctly?” Star asked in disbelief. “You want to house a Natural in our home?”

“Yes and no, My Queen,” Wynono replied calmly. “I’m suggesting we allow them to stay at my place overnight. I promise the Natural will be under close watch, and kept away from prying eyes there.” He looked back at Matthew, still sleeping peacefully in his chair. “For now, however, I do believe we should refrain from entering his mind or altering any memories. It’d be far too dangerous.”

Wynono then turned to William. “Will, could you do me a favor? Is it possible to reach out to your Elder Sage so I may speak with him? I believe he needs to begin researching everything he can for us about what to expect from a succubus.”

Another audible gasp rippled through the witches in the room. “Are you certain?” William asked carefully.

“If you’re asking whether I’m one hundred percent certain,” Wynono replied, “then no. That’s precisely why I’d like to speak with the Sage personally.”

Worry overtook Anastasia. She began tapping her fingers against her thumbs again. “Why would I have lost time?” she asked anxiously. “I thought succubi didn’t interfere with witches. Hell, I thought they came from witches.”

Wynono could see the fear in her eyes. He could hear it trembling in her voice. “Ana,” he said gently, “I need you to try to bring yourself under control. Your friend Matthew will need you to remain calm. If we’re going to help him, he must have confidence in us—in all of us—that includes you.”

She nodded, though her fingers continued their nervous counting. “What do you need me to do?”

“We’re going to wake him,” Wynono explained, “then you and I will take him to my house. It’s not far from here. I have a few extra rooms, so the two of you may choose whichever you like. I suggest we don’t tell him what we suspect until we know for certain. Start thinking now about what he might believe as a cover story. I can offer suggestions, but you know him best.” Wynono reached forward, gently taking hold of her hands to still her restless fingers. “Ana, can you do this?”

Anastasia nodded before turning toward Star, desperation filling her eyes. “My Queen, My King, I’m so sorry to lay this at your feet,” she pleaded. “I didn’t know. I promise you—I had no idea.”

Star recognized the distress in Anastasia’s voice. Beneath the fear was something else: the deep worry of being a burden to the Wolf Coven. Rising from her seat, Star walked over to her, then gently took her hands. “Ana, there was no way you could’ve known, and no one here blames you for anything. I’m grateful you came.”

She offered the frightened witch a soft smile while guiding her toward the door. “Now I want you to go with Wynono and help him with Matthew. We’ll see you later this evening once we’ve finished with the others, all right?” Star purposely kept her voice calm and light. Anastasia nodded repeatedly, visibly relieved. She thanked each member of the Coven personally before following Wynono and Matthew out the door. Together, they escorted the pair to their overnight accommodations.

When the door closed behind them, Kai looked around the room. “What now?”

Star returned to her seat beside her husband. The story they’d just heard, along with Wynono’s troubling suspicions, continued to swirl through her thoughts. “William,” she said after a moment, “would you please head down to the barn to help Chaz escort the others back here? I think now would be a good time for you to make that phone call. We can take care of the remaining visitors until you return.”

Everyone agreed. Almost as if on cue, Baby Rhain’s cries drifted in from the other room, announcing that she was ready to eat.

“I think I need to bow out for a while,” Kai said with a smile toward her husband.

Algiz reached behind her back, then leaned down to kiss her. “Give my baby a kiss from her Daddy,” he requested softly.

“I’ll be back when I’m done,” she laughed. “Abuela would never let me stay away for long.”

Once she left the room, only Star’s brothers and her husband remained. Raidho moved to his usual place beside the front window, keeping watch for the returning visitors. “Have you spoken with Dusty lately?” he asked his sister.

“Yes,” Star replied. “Right before I came downstairs. He said they found the witch they were searching for. They were currently… changing her mind. Quite literally.” She tilted her head slightly. “Why? Are you worried?”

“No,” Raidho said thoughtfully. “Not worried. Just thinking that if we have to get to Idaho, they’re already there.”

“Hmmm,” Akash said. “They’re in southern Idaho, near Boise. Matt and Ana are from the northern part—closer to Canada and Washington.”

Star reached for Akash’s hand but kept her eyes on her brother. “I don’t see how we could go anywhere,” she said quietly, “especially with a teacher arriving in two weeks.”

“He can come with us, Shiny,” Algiz told her. “Please don’t start with me tonight. I’m not in the mood.”

“They’re coming,” Raidho announced, watching through the front window to give the others a moment to prepare.

“I’m not starting with you, Al,” Star replied quietly. “I’m just thinking out loud. Last time we took my instructor with us, she never made it home.”

Algiz had taken the chair opposite his sister after Kai left the room. He sat there for a moment, appearing relaxed, his arm draped across the back of the seat beside him. Slowly chewing on his thumbnail, he studied his sister in silence. Then he shifted forward, rose from the chair, and knelt in front of her as if he were begging—or praying. Instead, he reached out, taking her hand firmly while he searched her eyes.

“Shiny,” he said softly, “I give you my word—nothing bad will happen to Darius while he’s your teacher. I promise you, he’ll make it home alive and in one piece.”

Star leaned forward and cupped his cheeks in her hands. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I love you, Big Brother.” She kissed his forehead just as the front door opened. Chaz ushered their waiting visitors back into the house.