House of Leights (Secret Keepers, #3)(29)

“Will I see this transporter?” I asked, finally opening my eyes.

The tears were long gone, and I felt at peace. “Yes,” he confirmed. “It’s how we’ll all get back to Overworld when we move on from here.”

We walked back to the cabin. I personally wanted to stay with the trees, feel that epic vastness a little longer, but people were going to notice us missing soon and start to worry. Each step away from the forest tugged at my heart, and I imagined not having to leave, being able to sleep amongst the gentle giants of the forest.

I never thought I’d want that … but it was the truth. I was starting to see the trees in an entirely new light, and I definitely had Chase to thank for that.





9





My father was pacing near the doorway, and the moment I stepped inside he wrapped his arms around me. “What part of stay near the house did you misunderstand?” he said as he pulled away. He didn’t sound angry, more like a combination of joking and upset.

“Sorry.” I screwed my nose up as I shrugged. “Chase was trying to explain his tree thing to me, and we sort of needed to be among the trees for that to happen.”

He didn’t get a chance to reply, because I had a bone to pick with him. “When were you planning on telling me that I’m going to live for like a million years?” I was going to guess this was what that exchange of looks between my father and Chase had been in the car, after the overlord told us of Daelighters’ longevity.

The conversation that had been going on in the background stopped, and then Brad was at my side in half a second, his long legs eating up the space between us.

“What did you just say?” he asked, somewhat breathlessly. His brown hair was even messier than usual, like he’d been running his hands through it a lot. I wondered if he’d been worried when I was outside.

“I - I…” I trailed off, not sure how to tell him that the plans we made as five year olds of being best friends for a thousand years might become an actual reality.

“The secret keepers receive energy from the houses they’re born in,” Emma piped up. She was on the single-seater couch, Callie squished in beside her. “Which means we’ll live much longer than humans. Maybe even as long as the aliens in this room.”

Lexen snorted but didn’t comment. He just leveled a wolfish – dragonish? – sort of smile on Emma.

Brad’s face went very solemn. “But … Maya can’t live forever if I don’t. We made a pact when we were five.” I wanted to laugh because we’d read each other’s minds. Again.

Swallowing hard, I reached out and took his hands. “Chase says there are some special foods you can eat that will also extend your life.”

“None of us know for sure how long the humans will live,” Chase added, “but the previous secret keepers look no older than you all. And they’re well over a hundred years.”

Callie made a face from her spot on the couch. “I just can’t believe my dad was sooo old. In the photos he looks twenty, at the most. It’s hard to wrap my head around it. I wonder if he had kids and a life before he met Mom. I have so many unanswered questions.”

Emma’s eyes widened as she turned to her friend. “Oh my God, I never even thought of that. It’s like Wonder Woman. Having to keep creating new identities to cover up the fact they don’t age.”

“That’s what our government does,” my dad said. “We facilitate Daelighters integrating into our community. We help with identifying documents and the like.”

After eighteen years of secrets, I finally understood their jobs. And they were so much cooler than I could have ever imagined. The theme song to Men in Black ran through my mind, and despite the fact that I had a target on my head, I still – mostly – loved this new reality.

“So … this food?” Brad was single-minded when he wanted to be.

“We’ll get you all started when we travel across to Overworld,” Lexen told him. “Emma’s guardians have been taking it with no issue, and they’re already seeing some cell repair and rejuvenation.”

Emma laughed. “You should see how excited Sara and Michael are. The grays are disappearing from their hair.”

“Hard to believe that only forty-eight hours ago I believed humans were the top of the food chain.” Brad shook his head. “Should have known … those Roswell shows were very convincing.”

Star, who had been quiet up until now, rose gracefully, crossing to us. She moved in close enough to nudge Brad, and he winked at her. Okay, then. Those two must have gotten to know each other while I was outside. Typical, he never could resist a pretty – stunningly pretty – face.

“Roswell and Area 51 is all smoke and mirrors,” Star added. “We like to throw out some distractions so that you’re all looking for little green men. That way, no one looks right under their nose.”

“No one questions the weird and wonderful that exists right around them,” my father confirmed.

I certainly never had. So, whatever they were doing worked.

Conversation died off then; everyone dispersed, back to what they’d been doing before we arrived. I was shown to a room with two twin beds. I would share with Brad because there weren’t enough rooms to go around.