Page 108 of The Gathering
She glanced back at Morgue, brows puckered with concern for the ex-monster he’d taken from death row for blowing up an elementary school. “I do hope we didn’t accidentally contaminate him.”
“Take me to the Bishop, Little Birdie. It’s critical that I speak to him about Morgue.”
****
Handy claimed the chair next to Bishop in the auditorium and the terror inside him eased up. Ever since they’d bonded over the baby, he had the odd need to keep him near. Did Handy sense it? Or share the same bond and need?
“Hi Handy,” Beth whispered, reaching around him and squeezing his hand.
“Hello Mah-Mah,” he said back. “Poppy says to tell you her answer is yes.”
Bishop grinned at Beth’s excited squeal. “Mah-Mah said ya’ll can have the guest house right next to the soap house!”
Bishop asked, “And what about your answer, mon t-feess?”
Handy chuckled. “I agreed as long as I have full access to the treehouse.”
Bishop nodded with a side grin. “We’ll have to share.”
Handy leaned in and murmured, “Poppy is happy to be around a big family.”
“And you?”
The red flecks in his eyes flared with an almost boyish smile. “Feels like I’m coming back home.”
Fuck, that’s exactly what it felt like to Bishop. Like a long-lost brother was returning. So fucking crazy.
“Four factions here,” Handy surmised, looking around the room. “You ready for this?”
“So fucking ready,” Bishop said.
They were set up in a square. Marsh Kings at one table, Creole Kings across at another, Quantum Kings on their left, Velkratos and Co. on their right, including a brand-new Morgue andSinrik.Bishop had met his gaze once. Long enough to tell him,yeah, I stole your cyborg. What you gonna do about it?
“Nidev looks antsy,” Handy said.
“Oh, I imagine he fucking is.”
“Who’s tellin’ on him?”
Bishop leaned his head forward, looking for Seer. “Was thinking Rev might call his ass into the mud.”
“Why you think that?”
“Look at ‘em. Brother’s got divine thunder pulsing under his skin.”
Handy leaned and looked then brought his grin back to Bishop. He confessed quietly, “I ate popcorn for the first time last night. And watched a movie with my wife. Achick-flick.”
Bishop had to laugh at that. “You have me beat. I haven’t done either of those with my wife.”
“Really!” he said, looking pleasantly shocked. “I barely remember the movie or the popcorn,” he said. “Now you can’t tell me if that’s normal.”
Bishop chuckled lowly. “Come to think of it, maybe I did watch a movie and eat popcorn with my wife and don’t remember it either.”
Handy’s laugh rose above the loud hum of noise.
“What’s funny?” Maggie whispered around Beth.
“They’re starting,” Beth hurried.
