The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

"So come on," he said, backing up. "Lets go find the perfect spot."

"We aren't supposed to go out of shouting distance."

"So if we did, that would be wrong. Irresponsible. Immature."

"It would."

"Well, I think we've earned it." He started backing up. "Race you?"

"To where?"

His smile broke into a grin, blue eyes glittering in the twilight. "Anywhere."

He turned and ran. I laughed and ran after him.

EPILOGUE

Eight Months Later

WHEN ASH ENTERED THE kitchen, I noticed. He didn't make a sound as he crept in. Maybe I caught his scent, but I still wasn't good at distinguishing that. I just knew he was there. And I knew why he was there. I continued cutting sandwiches until his hand slipped around me, heading for the pile. A flash of the knife and the hand vanished in a volley of curses.

"Watch the language," I said. "You know house rules. That particular word is not permitted, on pain of laundry duty."

"It's the pain of having my hand sliced open that I'm worried about."

He eased around the island, still eyeing the sandwich pile. I waved the knife at him.

"Wait two minutes and you can make your own. I'll even leave everything out . . . for you to put away."

"I want half a sandwich. We've got a million kids coming to the party. No one's going to notice one half missing."

"Still working on your math, huh? It's twelve kids, plus Annie."

"Feels like a million," he grumbled as he settled onto a stool.

"Then don't come." I handed him one of the sandwich halves. It was slightly mangled, from a poor cutting job.

"How would that look? Me skipping Daniel's birthday? It's an insult."

"He'd understand."

Ash only grumbled some more. He wasn't big on crowds--and to him, a dozen was a crowd--but he'd go, for Daniel's sake. When he reached for another half sandwich, I threatened him with the knife again.

"No one's going to miss--"

"They aren't for the party. Daniel and I are releasing the rabbits later, and I'm bringing food."

"So it's a picnic?"

"Right," I said, packing the sandwiches into the box.

"Just the two of you?"

I gave him a look. "We're releasing the rabbits."

"With a picnic. For two." He leaned over and lowered his voice. "I've got a couple of beers in my room if you want--"

Dad walked in. Ash sat up fast and took another bite of the sandwich.