The ferry docked at half past nine.
Onyx House was lit up like someone had plugged it directly into the city grid.
I heard them before I saw them. Music thumping through the walls, voices overlapping, something shattering and then laughter. The usual chaos of seventeen people with superpowers sharing a building that wasn't designed for any of this.
Noah held the front door open and I walked through into a wall of noise.
"HE'S BACK."
Jaime's voice. Of course.
He came at me like a golden retriever who'd been told I was made of protein powder, arms spread wide, and I sidestepped on pure reflex.
"Don't hug me, I have ribs."
"I will be gentle like a butterfly."
"You have never been gentle about anything in your life."
He settled for gripping my shoulder instead, beaming down at me with the specific joy of someone who'd been waiting to say something embarrassing for hours.
"Brother," he said solemnly. "I watched the interview."
"Great."
"You were magnificent."
"I know."
