“What does the mostly good Joyce need now?”“Just cuddle me for a bit and then I’ll take you home. I hope that’s OK.”I just moved next to h...r, pulled her to me, and we cuddled. If she wanted to talk, I’d talk. If she wanted quiet, I’d stay quiet. We cuddled for about fifteen minutes and she got up. We dressed, and she took my hand and led me back to the car. We drove to Milford. When we turned onto Overlook, she pulled to the side, leaned over, and kissed me.“Let your parents think Larry dropped. My routine was to immediately strip the hide before the feasting began. I looked at the animal a bit wearily, however. I was banged up and the bruises were already being felt in my hips and shoulder. I was very … VERY … tempted to just let the pack rip into it, but even that would be awkward because they were waiting for me to cut open the hide before they started. The routine was as strong for them.Stripping the hide off an adult elk was a lot of work, so I was preparing myself for much. And I have much more research to do on Lydia’s codex, so I won’t be bored. I do love it here. In fact, I love it so much, if Kalani will have me, I may never leave.”That reminded me that I should check in with the queen. I found her and Mikeya together, about to go into another of their seemingly endless meetings. So I quickly explained what was going on, and how she might have a little more peace and quiet around here for a while.“Not too long, I hope. And I hope you find your treasure soon,”. Toby fetched the two halves of the leather hood from the cupboard, giving one half to me. Standing either side of her head we placed the soft, padded material against the side of her face and while I held them in place Toby slipped one part of the zipper into the other and began drawing the two halves together. As the zip ran from the base of her neck up the back her skull, over the top and down the front I saw that the fit was perfect. Snug but not tight. It came to the end of its run at the.