Tegan adjusted her body in Tenn’s lap so she was looking out toward the room, yet her gaze was locked on my soulmate. “Go ahead.”

Go ahead? Go ahead what? Before I could voice my question, Everest smirked and held his hand up and the Seelie tunnel opened up in the middle of the living room. Well, on the edge by the foyer. But still. I’d yet to see Thorne or Sage open the tunnel right inside the house. I glanced around to find startled expressions on everyone’s faces, except for Tegan who was now eyeing Everest with that mischievous glint in her eyes. She was scheming.

A massive shadow filled the opening and then Malik poked his head out. His black and red eyes glanced around with a wide-eyed, startled expression. He looked down at the ground, then tentatively stuck his foot out, like he was afraid to take a step. Mei-Ling was already crying, tears pouring down her face. She must’ve decided he was taking too long because she leapt to her feet and charged for him. He’d just put one foot on the hardwood floor when she grabbed his hand and yanked him out of the tunnel. She shrieked his name and jumped—he caught her mid-air and hugged her tight to his chest.

My jaw burned from how hard I smiled. I had no idea how their relationship was going to work moving forward, if at all, but I was happy he was alive and they’d get the chance to decide.

Malik kissed her cheek, then set her on her feet before tugging on her now neon-orange hair. “I like this color on you.”

She nervously ran her hands through her hair. “Better than the pink?”

“Yeah. More you.” He grinned and then stepped back and held his hand out behind him. “C’mon out. It just looks terrifying.”

There was a soft sigh and then Aunt Shi-Shi poked her head out of the tunnel opening at the same time as she reached out and put her hand in his. She let him help her out of the tunnel, then glanced around with wide black and red eyes. Her jaw was dropped.

Malik cleared his throat. “Shi-Shi, your real niece and your nephew.”

Mei-Ling was really crying now, big sobbing tears. She choked on her own breath then tackled her aunt. I’d told them about their aunt and the truth of what happened to her, that she hadn’t died but been turned. Mei-Ling had been safe in Coven Headquarters by the time Shi-Shi returned to Avolire. Tai’s eyes were red, and his lips trembled like he was trying to hold it together but struggling. Shi-Shi looked over and then pulled her nephew in for a hug.

Malik’s eyes were glassy as he watched them. Then he turned to Everest and smiled. “We good?”