Page 162 of Cast in Atonement

“I can’t see them at all,” Mrs. Erickson said softly. “Kaylin, I think Evanton wishes for you to stop now.”

She shook her head. She wasn’t done.

“Corporal,” Evanton snapped. “You are done. Stop this—there is only so much power you can channel and you have reached your limit.” Kaylin heard his cranky voice at a greater and greater remove.

But she could hear one sound so clearly, it might have been the only sound left in the world:

Bellusdeo began to sob.

Kaylin had never, ever heard that sound from a Dragon before, but didn’t find it awkward. Those tears were the tears that fell in both relief and joy, when the strain that had forced people to hold back was suddenly gone.

Mrs. Erickson’s hand tightened around the gold Dragon’s; Kaylin’s did the same.

And when the last of this knitting, this healing, was done, Kaylin was very glad for Severn’s presence, because she did what she often did when she’d overextended herself: she collapsed. As consciousness faded, she heard Evanton arguing with the Ancient. Or maybe arguing with the green. She was almost grateful to leave him to it.

EPILOGUE

Bellusdeo remained with Helen, Mrs. Erickson, and Kaylin until Kaylin regained consciousness. Which, according to their concerned reports, took three days.

Squawk.

“He says four days, dear; he is disparaging our ability to count, but I’m certain he doesn’t mean it.” Helen’s smile was gentle.

Kaylin, groggy, was certain he did. “How did I get home?”

“Bellusdeo broke the law.”

“I did not break the law,” the gold Dragon said. Kaylin sat up in bed at the sound of Bellusdeo’s voice, blinking sleep out of her eyes. “The law clearly states that in an emergency, we are permitted to assume our draconic forms—and it was late enough I’m certain no one in the streets panicked at the sight of a Dragon.”

“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” Kaylin told Bellusdeo. “But I couldn’t exactly walk home on my own. Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. Teela wanted to carry you. Tain offered the same. Severn looked like he might cut off an arm or two if either of them touched you.” Bellusdeo frowned. “That boy is seriously attached to you, in case you haven’t noticed.”

I wouldn’t have cut off anyone’s arm, Severn pointed out, his interior tone at odds with Bellusdeo’s description.

The Dragon’s voice was the same as it had always been, but she’d never called Severn a boy in that tone before.

“What happened to Mrs. Erickson?”

“Mrs. Erickson is fine,” Helen replied. “She was exhausted when she arrived—she joined you and Bellusdeo—but she slept normally, woke normally, and has been baking up a storm in the kitchen. She feels a bit guilty about neglecting the Hawks for the past week, and she’s determined to make up for it.”

“Tell her not to worry. They won’t be mad at her—they’ll blame me.”

“Which is not entirely fair.”

“Life, I’ve often been told, isn’t.” Kaylin rearranged her pillows so she could lean back into them; Helen offered her two more. “Did someone make excuses for me at the Halls of Law?”

“Teela did.”

Kaylin exhaled. Teela had had to face the angry Leontine, not her. “Is Mrs. Erickson going to stay with us?”

“Yes, dear.”

“I wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to go back to her house. It should be safe for her there.”

“Safe isn’t the same as happy; it only looks that way when things are dangerous. Imelda says she’s been happy here, and she expects she’ll continue to find things that make her happy. She also likes the kitchen. I may have made a few adjustments to it to give her more space to work.”

“Have we heard from Evanton?”

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