Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut

toward them, her shoulder-length black curls pulled back with a headband. She carried an empty pizza box in one hand. Flipping open the container, she tossed it in. “Hi,” she said, noticing Finn for the first time.
    â€œUh, this is my little sister, Savannah. Savannah, this is Finn MacCullen. He just moved here.”
    â€œHey, Finn.” She smiled, the dimples in her cheeks matching her brother’s. “And I’ve told you to stop introducing me as your little sister,” she added as she punched Rafe in the arm. “You’ve got like, what, six minutes on me?”
    â€œLet me guess—twins?” Finn looked from one to the other.
    â€œYeah. Twins.” Rafe made a face. “Why couldn’t she have been a brother?”
    Finn grinned at Savannah’s chuff of exasperation. “So, why haven’t I seen you two around before?”
    â€œOh, we go to South Africa every year for a few weeks. As soon as school’s out. To visit our grandfather,” Savannah said. “We just got back yesterday evening. In fact, we’re still unpacking our—”
    â€œFinnegan?”
    All three looked over as Gideon strolled across the yard toward them. Pausing at the end of the path, he nodded politely at the Steel children.
    â€œGood morning.” He opened the gate wider. “Come, lad,” he called.
    Finn’s face burned at his master’s tone. And choice of words. Dude, I’m nota dog! “I’ve gotta go.”
    Rafe grinned in understanding. “Later, Finn.” He waved a hand and headed up the driveway, his sister on his heels.
    Finn whirled around. “Why did you have to embarrass me like that?” he grumbled as he stomped home and handed the paper over. “I was just talking to them.” He yanked the gate shut with a clang before following his master up the porch steps.
    â€œWell, I’d rather ye not,” Gideon said over his shoulder. “Relationships with mortals cause nothing but complications for our kind.” He opened the screen and went in.
    Finn paused, one foot on the lowest step. He glanced back across the street. “Says you.”

Twelve
    Pulling the bronze wire tight, Finn wrapped another strand around the gatepost, then twisted the ends together with a pair of pliers. The reddish metal twined around the bars like the stripes on a candy cane. This should slow the Amandán down . Taking a break, he gave a nod of satisfaction as he straightened up and pulled his sweaty tee away from his body.
    â€œWhat’s all that for?”
    He spun around. Rafe was walking toward him holding a soda pop can in one hand. Reaching behind, Finn yanked his shirt down over his sheathed knife.
    â€œJust something to keep out…you know, animals.” He grinned, pleased to see the other boy again after only a few days.
    Rafe took a sip, then nodded. “Mom tried aluminum foil once, but the rabbits still did a smackdown on her geraniums.” He ran a finger along the wire. “Is this copper?”
    â€œBronze.” Finn wiped his face on a sleeve.
    â€œHere.” Rafe held out the can. “Want some?”
    â€œOh, thanks.” Finn drank gratefully, then handed it back. They both laughed when he burped. “Sorry.”
    â€œYou should be. That was totally lame. Here, listen to this.” Rafe chugged the rest of the can, then let loose a drawn-out rumble.
    They laughed again, Rafe pinching his nose to keep soda from spraying. As the boy held his arm up, Finn’s eyes widened with curiosity.
    â€œHey, what’s that?”
    â€œWhat—this?” A slender bracelet, woven of coarse black hairs intermingled with tawny ones, encircled Rafe’s wrist. The ends were tied together with leather thongs. “Oh, this is from a ceremony I did with my grandfather. In South Africa. It’s made from real lion’s hair. From the tip of its tail.”
    Finn peered more closely.