Magnus smiled faintly at the police chief’s comment as he undid his seat belt. There wasn’t much luggage to bother with. Just his suitcase and Allie’s two backpacks that she called Go bags. Tybo, Decker, and Dani hadn’t had time to pack anything and planned to shop tomorrow for necessities to see them through for a couple of days. So he wasn’t surprised that the two men had the baggage in hand and the back of the SUV closed before he’d even finished getting Allie out of the SUV. Very aware that Allie was mortal, Magnus had moved slowly and carefully to ensure he didn’t bang her head, arms, or legs into anything as he maneuvered cautiously out of the vehicle.

The second SUV, an unmarked one, was pulling in as Dani led them to a gate in the fence. As he paused to wait for her to open it, Magnus noted that Teddy and Decker were stopping to wait for the others. He briefly considered waiting as well so that Liam could see that his mother was all right. The boy had been anxious at being separated from her on landing, but it was extremely cold, and Allie was already in a weakened condition. He decided the less time they spent in the cold, the better, and quickly followed Dani through the gate when she held it open for him.

A short sidewalk led to a large deck that started halfway along the back of the house and wrapped around the side. Magnus wasn’t terribly surprised when Liam and Teddy Jr. caught up to them as they mounted the steps to the deck. The boys didn’t say anything; they merely fell into step on either side of him, Liam’s anxious gaze shifting between his mother and where he was going as they crossed the deck.

Magnus had just opened his mouth to assure the lad that his mother would be fine when the sound of a door opening drew his attention.

“Come in, come in. Out of the cold,” a pretty blonde greeted them, smiling in welcome as she held the door open.

“Oh, Mabel, hello,” Dani sighed, pausing briefly to hug the woman before leading the way past her and into the house.

Magnus nodded in greeting as he led the two boys inside, and then found himself entering a kitchen with an L-shaped counter that he followed Dani around to make room for the others now trooping into the house. A dining area was situated past the kitchen, separated only by the counter, and Dani led himself and the boys to stand next to the table before stopping, and turning back to look Allie over briefly.

“How long until the sedative wears off?” Magnus asked.

“Not for hours,” Dani assured him. “Which is fine—she needs the rest.”