"Hello!" Bianca said, glaring up at her brother.
He hugged her and pulled her into the small room. It housed two beds and two sets of drawers and was connected to a shared bathroom by a closed door.
"You've got a shitload of explaining to do," she told him.
Jonny sighed and relaxed against her.
"I know," he mumbled. "I'm so sorry, B. I promise I'll never do anything so stupid again."
"Tell me what happened, Jonny."
"No, B. I did bad things. I won't drag you into it."
She pulled away and met his gaze, surprised to see his resolve. He'd changed since she last saw him. His eyes were wiser, his face firmer with few signs of the troubled youth she remembered. Even his air was different.
The poison she thought she'd cleared from his body lingered. She released her cool power into him, but to no effect. She dismissed the uneasy instinct.
"You've turned into a man overnight," she said softly, ruffling his hair.
"I figured some shit out. You and the Guardians gave me a second chance, B, and I owe it to you, and me, and the … the girl I hurt to make things right."
Her eyes watered at his brave words, and she hugged him.
"I love you, Jonny, no matter what," she whispered.
"I love you, too, B. I know I'm a Natural warrior now, but can you still make me some cookies?"
"Of course! Do they have a kitchen around here?"
He took her hand and led her out of the barracks through the back door and into the main house. Several of the Guardians were in the kitchen making sandwiches or rifling through the massive pantry.
Jonny started collecting the supplies she'd need, and she watched him, proud. The Guardians glanced at her curiously. Her phone vibrated. She pulled it free to see a text from Dusty.
Foyer.
She walked from the kitchen down a long hall to the foyer. He stood in the center, one phone at his ear while he texted on another. He glanced at her then back, hanging up the phone.
She cringed as he approached, sensing his anger. His blue eyes were sharp, his jaw clenched. He stopped too close for her comfort, and she looked up at him, breathless at how handsome he was.
"I'm so sorry about your car," she said quickly.
"I don't give a shit about the car." He stared down at her, and she wondered what else she might have done to piss him off. "Bianca, I'm sorry. I left you completely exposed. It's the worst thing I've done in many lifetimes.