The ferry docked at six forty-seven. Malachi parked the van behind Onyx House at six fifty-three. I walked through the back door at six fifty-five on legs that worked because Emi had spent forty minutes holding them together with green light and spite, and the common room hit me like a wall of sound and body heat and the unmistakable smell of Jaime's protein shake, which he had blended with what appeared to be an entire banana and something that might have been motor oil.
"SATORI." Jaime materialized shirtless from behind the kitchen island. "The muscles spoke of your return. Sakura herself could not have predicted a more glorious entrance. Your deltoids carry the weight of a thousand sunrises."
"Jaime."
"Yes, my king."
"I need you to go upstairs and stay there for approximately two hours."
"The muscles understand the need for solitude after great battle. I will do push-ups in your honor." He was already moving toward the stairs. "One thousand, for the glory of your triceps."
