Page 67 of Light Magic

“You helped so many of our friends,” Evelyn said with a small smile. “It was time someone helped you.” Her shoulders sagged. “I’m sad that we needed to flee so fast. It's the first time Kaz has let me see the dragons, and I wanted to spend time with them.”

“We can bother Kaz until he lets you see the dragons again,” Ash said.

“I’m sorry about that,” I said. Everything had been going so well, I had forgotten to take the potion, and as soon as I was out in the open, the angels found me. “It was my fault the angels cut our time short.”

“At least they arrived after the spell was done,” Ash said.

Evelyn nodded. “True. If they had interrupted it, I doubt the little dragons would have let us try again.”

“I was going to wait until we hear from Abbie, but I can’t take it,” Britt said. “Tell us what happened.”

“Please,” Gwen added.

So, we did.

We told them everything from the moment we got to the island, to when they came to us at the infirmary.

“Do you know how she’s doing?” I asked the witches.

“She’s going to be okay,” Maggie’s voice startled me. I turned and saw her entering the library and walking toward us. “Abbie was able to channel Lacey’s healing magic. She’s weak, and still hurting, but she’ll be fine. We gave her a sedative to truly rest, so she’ll be out for a while.”

“That’s good news.” I let out a long breath, then realized she was alone. “Where’s Levi and Abbie?”

“Abbie is still hovering over Lacey,” Maggie said. “And Levi was with her.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “Go. I think he needs you.”

I nodded and turned to Evelyn and Ash. “Will I see you later?”

“Maybe?” Evelyn said, glancing at Ash.

“They will be here.” Maggie took over, sounding like a mini-Abbie, which was so unlike her. “Why don’t I give you a quick tour of the Grand Eternity Hall, and then we’ll stop by the dining room. I bet everyone is starving.”

Gwen leaned closer to them and whispered, “The dining room is the best room in this entire place.”

I chuckled. “It probably is.”

With that, Maggie guided them farther into the library and I dashed to the infirmary. I had just come from there, but I was sure I would get lost again in the hundreds of endless hallways, especially because I wasn’t thinking right. Because if I had been thinking, I wouldn’t go to Levi, not with this desperation, this need to see him. I tried telling myself this was the bond and I should resist it, but how could I? I still could feel his fear, and now it had mixed up with exhaustion.

I entered the infirmary, expecting to find him with Lacey, but he was sitting on one of the couches in the waiting room, his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands.

My heart tugged.

He looked up, his blue eyes dull. “Hey.” I didn’t think. I went to him, pushed his chest back, and crawled onto his lap him, straddling him on the couch, and wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He let out a soft scoff. “Careful, sweetheart, or I’ll think you care.”

“Just blame the bond,” I said, trying to play it lightly, but I felt him tensing under me. I squeezed him harder, though I was sure he barely felt anything. “How are you?”

Finally, his arms wound around my waist and he buried his head in the crook of my neck. “Better now.”

“What can I do for you?”

“You’re already doing it,” he said, his voice muffled against my skin.

We stayed like that for a little while, until I felt his fear lessen a little, but his exhaustion was increasing.

I was about to suggest he go to his bedroom to sleep when Abbie walked out of the infirmary.

Levi jumped up, holding me by my waist and setting me down beside him. “And?”

“She’s fine, Levi. I told you before,” Abbie said. “And she’s stable. Let her rest for now.”

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