Page 116 of Dragon Fires Everywhere
She looks at me a little longer. Then she gives me a nod. That’s it.
But I think that’s all it needed to be. Silent acknowledgment that we don’t need to make this athing.
“If we’re going to stick to the schedule, we better get to the bookstore,” Rebekah says, and the fact she’s even paying attentionto the schedule is for Emerson and Emerson alone. A sweet gesture.
Emerson knows it. She’s grinning as she stands up.
“We did it, you guys.” But she’s being generous. Sure, being a witch means that putting together events is a breeze, but it’sstill herwedding, and no matter how we helped, she did the bulk of the work. Just like with everything else.
Zander arrives, dressed in his wedding finery. He hesitates in the doorway, though he smiles. “You look great, Em,” he says.
But there’s something in his eyes, in his expression. Kind of aforcedcheer.
“What’s that look about?” Ellowyn demands, narrowed eyes of suspicion arrowing in on him. “You’re not supposed to be here.The guys are supposed to meet us at the bookstore.”
“Yeah, and we will. I just wanted to give you a little heads-up.” He tries that smile again. “Uh, well. Jacob is just, uh,running a little... late.”
“Then you need to go make himnotlate,” Ellowyn is saying, with just enough malice and threat evenI’minclined to believe she might shank Zander right here, right now.
“There was another black magic attack last night,” Zanderexplains apologetically to Emerson. “It was brutal. A couple Healers tried to handle it themselves. No one wanted to bother you or Jacob this morning, but... it was bad, and they needed him.”
Everyone is quiet at that. Our happy, excited wedding bubble is officially popped.
But Zander steps forward and puts his hand on Emerson’s shoulder. “We’ll head on down to the bookstore just as planned. He’llget there when he’s done. It’ll all be good. Maybe we start five minutes late, but that’s not the end of the world.”
“Have youmetyour cousin?” Rebekah asks, and I think maybe she’s trying to lighten the mood, but it doesn’t land.
Emerson reaches out and takes Zander’s arm. “Will you go be with him? Just in case he needs help after?”
“Of course.” He pats her hand, then disappears.
All of us are frozen for a moment. This was unexpected. I think maybe if it had been an attackonJacob, it might feel more run-of-the-mill. We’re used to that.
But this is a happenstance we weren’t prepared for. It isn’t evil, per se. Sure, it’s black magic, and that’s evil, but it’snotatJacob.
It’s not aimed atus.
As far as we know.
“Come on, Em,” I say, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Zander wouldn’t make that up. Five minutes late, tops. Let’s headover to the bookstore and get situated.”
She nods, and so we magic ourselves over to the bookstore. Emerson doesn’t even try to look outside to make sure everythingis set up the way she wants it, which is how I know she isNot Okay.
“We’d feel it if something was really wrong,” I tell her, giving her a squeeze.
“The black magic attacks getting worsearereally wrong,” Emerson says, pulling away from me. She goes to stand behindthe bookstore counter. Like that gives her some kind of strength or makes her feel more in control.
“Okay,” Rebekah agrees. “But that’s not something we can fix right this second, so let’s focus on what we can. Don’t you wantto see the chairs? They look great.”
She points toward the outside.
Emerson shakes her head. “I’m sure it’s fine.”
We all exchange terrified looks. But after another minute or two of painful silence, Zander and Frost appear.
With Jacob, thank Hecate.
They’re all dressed in the wedding suits Emerson picked out, but Jacob looks awful. Like he’s barely standing, and with theway Zander positions himself behind Jacob, I wonder if he’s holding him up.
