Page 66 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
I busied myself in the kitchen, cleaning up the small mess I’d made before getting everything ready to make chicken soup. While chopping the vegetables, I reached out to Alastor through my mind-speak magic.
“Is Javier’s friend okay?”he asked by way of greeting.
“Define okay,”I answered with a sigh.“The people at the orphanage didn’t bother giving him anything for his fever or vomiting. Kieren’s better now, though. But I won’t be able to have y’all over for dinner.”
“I can stop by to tend to him,”he offered.
“Yes.”I pushed the word out, grateful Alastor’s magic had healing properties.“If you can make it out here, that’d be great.”
I wasn’t used to caring for sick people, and maybe Kieren’s fever was normal, but it felt much worse than any flu I’d ever experienced. I blamed that on the headmistress and her negligence in administering medication when he first became ill. I understood she didn’t want the younger kids to get sick, but she was responsible for ensuring each child was cared for. There was no reason for Kieren to have gone hours without any treatment.
While I hated adding to Elias’s burdens, I planned on bringing it up to him.
“I can also pick the kids up from school.”
“Ry’s going to pick them up.”Thankfully, I’d thought to send Pietro to tell her, knowing I could count on her.
Someone knocked on my door. Not expecting anyone, I stared at my front door. When they knocked again, I put my knife down and wiped my hands on a kitchen towel.
“Someone’s at the door,”I told Alastor.“I’ll see you whenever you’re able to come tend to Kieren.”
On a groan, I stretched my back as I made my way to the door. The second I opened it, I staggered back.
A man I didn’t recognize stood there, gun in hand.
I slammed the door but he jammed his boot against the bottom, stopping it cold. No time to think, I swung my leg low and sharp, kicking his ankles out from under him. He dropped hard, and I threw my weight into the door, slamming it shut and locking it.
My hand pressed to my chest where my heart beat like a wild drum.
“Alastor,”I sent,“there’s a man at my door with a gun.”
Shouting erupted outside. A heavy thud hit the front door, making me flinch.
It was happening again. Another attack.
But no, Elias and the kids weren’t here this time.
It was just Kieren and me. No matter what, Kieren would survive this. I didn’t know how, but I would make it happen
“I’m on my way. Stay inside and get a weapon.”
Glass shattered in one of the bedrooms.
I sprinted to the kitchen. The knife—I’d just been chopping vegetables. I grabbed it with shaking hands. The pot of boiling water crossed my mind, but it was too heavy to throw.
The knife would have to do.
“Teddy?”Kieren’s sleepy voice brushed against my mind.
“Stay in your room.”Even in my own head, my voice cracked with urgency.
We could hide. Barricade ourselves. But if I was the target, staying near Kieren would only endanger him.
Before I could decide, a man charged down the hallway toward me.
Tall, broad, fast.
I didn’t have time to run.
