I opened the door fully and stepped inside.
Lydia looked up first. Her eyes moved from me to the man standing behind me.
“Who is that?”
Mara turned from the small table. She looked just as surprised.
“This is Lucius,” I said. “We knew each other from Blackridge.”
Lucius gave them a polite nod. “It is nice to meet you.”
Lydia stood slowly. “You came here with him? From Blackridge?”
“He found me,” I explained.
Mara looked at me with concern, but she did not ask more.
Before anyone could say anything else, small footsteps came from the other side of the room.
“Mama!”
I smiled immediately.
Derek ran toward me with his little arms stretched out.
I bent down and caught him before he could fall.
“Slow down,” I said, laughing softly. “You are going to hurt yourself.”
He grabbed my d
