The landslide of objections I was expecting didn't come. Not that Mom and Gram didn't try.

Absolutely not, young lady.

You've lost your fool mind, girl.

I loved them so much. Predictable. But neither sounded convinced by their own denial.

We can't let the Gate go unprotected, I sent, aiming for cool and logical, knowing that would win Mom over. Liam is absolutely necessary and we all know it.

My mother hesitated, but Gram barreled through anyway. ...