Page 42 of Catastrophe

“I sometimes write spells for them to try,” Laurence admitted, which brought me out of my serious thoughts and into a pregnant silence which followed his comment.

I choked back a shocked laugh. “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“We were all sharing and …” Laurence stuttered, his cheeks turning bright red, visible even by campfire light.

“Don’t take it back. That’s adorable.”

Laurence coughed and then slapped his thighs before he stood. “Anyway, should we get some rest? I’ll wash up these tins.”

I let out a laugh as I watched him hurry off to the lake.

Savida called, “Charlie, I don’t believe we will all fit in here,” and I turned to see half of Savida’s body and wings crouched inside the tent. I pulled him out and poked my head inside, hoping to find it was like the Tardis or that tent in Harry Potter. But no. He was right. There was no room for everyone, and I was too tired to sort it out.

“Dibs.”

“Pardon?”

“It means I’m sleeping in here, and the rest of you can fight about who gets to join me, but considering I was a dragon and you guys attacked me, I’m calling this penance.”

Savida crouched and looked inside again. “It’s awfully dark in there. I think I’ll sleep under the stars and with the fire.”

Daithi nodded and said, “And I will sleep in your wings. I’m sure the four of you smaller beings will squeeze in there.”

Smaller beings. Fucking bastard.

“Keep an eye on the fire,” I instructed.

Savida nodded and took Daithi’s hand. “We will get logs now before we settle.”

I started putting the mats and sleeping bags inside the tent, my body still buzzing but also aching from the missing bond.

“Can I be of assistance?” Baelen asked when I’d finished. Behind him, Sigurd continued to sit on the log, staring into the fire like it would tell him the secrets of the universe.

I couldn’t figure out that guy, and I wouldn’t when my brain felt like mush. Sleep first. Assess the protector for sleeper agent tendencies later.

“No. I just pray you don’t snore,” I told him as I dragged myself into the tent, kicking off my shoes in the little porch area and settling at the edge of the tent, claiming my area and sleeping bag. If the protector did want to murder me, he would have to reach over Baelen to do it.

“Not as far as I’m aware,” he replied as he crawled in behind me.

Staring at the shadows cast on the ceiling of the tent, I asked, “How was she? Can she feel this?”

“Feel what?” Baelen asked as he took his shoes off and made himself comfortable.

I rubbed my chest absentmindedly. “Like there’s a hole in her chest and she might die because she can’t feel me?”

He paused, and I felt his eyes look over at me. “I think it’s not as painful as that for her. But she has been beside herself worrying about you.”

I was glad she couldn’t feel this. “Have you told her I’m okay?”

“She knows.”

I threw my forearm over my eyes. “I’m so fucking tired.”

“It’s been a long day.”

I snorted. “Yours started well, at least.”

“It did.”

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