Page 50 of Magical Mayhem
“We’ll ask later,” Vivienne said sweetly, and winked.
Stella took one slow circuit of the room, appraising it like a jeweler eyeing settings.
“Ember chose well. Quiet. Manageable. And far enough from Keegan’s usual route if he feels better, that he won’t stumble into a coronary before we explain.”
Twobble slumped against the wall, sliding down to sit with a thud. “I feel like I carried a mountain.”
“You carried the feet,” Skonk said, lounging on the little settee as if he’d paid for it. “I carried destiny.”
“You carried boots,” Twobble said.
Bella ignored them both, fingers resting on Gideon’s wrist, counting something only she could hear. After a moment, she nodded, once. “Stronger than before.”
“Because he’s not fighting to stand,” Limora said. “Some battles are easier to survive lying down.”
Silence settled, but it was more like the pause between one choice and the next.
The dormer window framed a sliver of sky so dark it looked like velvet pressed to glass. Somewhere distant, students laughed, and the summer session did its best to imitate normalcy.
My thoughts refused to be still.
Keegan, pale and stubborn, was in his bed at the Academy.
“Maeve,” Stella said quietly. “We’ll need a rotation. Who sits, who fetches. I can hold the door with a spell for a while, but I won’t waste it if we’re not using it.”
“I’ll take first watch,” Bella said immediately.
“I’ll bring food,” Twobble volunteered.
“You always bring food,” Skonk said. “Bring silence. It’s far more of a gift, Twiblet.”
“Rude,” Twobble muttered, but he smiled.
Lady Limora touched my shoulder, warm and grounding.
“Go breathe for a moment,” she said. “Wash your face. Sleep. Then come back and decide what truth you’re going to tell Keegan when you must tell him something.”
That last part knocked the wind from me in the gentlest way, but I nodded, stood, and leaned forward without thinking and straightened the quilt’s border along Gideon’s chest.
“Don’t make me regret this,” I whispered, and then wanted to take the words back because they were less prayer than threat.
His eyelids fluttered. For a heartbeat, a breath, I thought he might open them.
He didn’t.
Stella set her teacup on the desk with a click.
“All right, my darlings. We’ve delivered the goods. Let’s manage the aftermath with style.”
“We’re at your service,” Skonk said.
“Questionable,” Stella replied. “Guard the corridor. If anyone wanders this way, I want you to look boring.”
Twobble looked genuinely affronted. “I’ve never been boring.”
“Then this is character growth,” Stella said.
I drew a breath that didn’t shake and told him, “Rest. You’re not in the Wilds anymore.”
