Understanding lit Briar’s eyes. “This is why you fainted when seeing me use magic for the first time.”
“An embarrassing part of my past that you’re so kind to remind me of, but yes.”
He pressed his lips together. With the humor, there was a spark of fascination. “Tell me more about this world. The people. The way of life. How you managed to travel from that world to this one.”
Of course, his pursuit of knowledge would cause him to focus on those details. My handsome scholar. “Well. The people are ordinary, I guess. As I said, magic isn’t really a thing. The people who claim to possess magical gifts, like fortune tellers and psychics, are often mocked by the general public.”
Maddox rubbed at his jaw. “This must also be the reason for your strange way of speaking.”
“And your clothing,” Briar added.
“The undergarments with the strange illustrations,” Lake said. “I’ve seen them too.”
“Exactly.” I smiled. It was the first time Lake had spoken up. Maybe he was feeling more comfortable.
He averted his gaze. “People like me don’t exist in this world you come from?”
“No,” I answered, my smile slipping. “That’s one reason why this world is so much better. Because you’re in it.”
His gaze shot back up to mine, and his ears did that cute wiggling thing.
“As for how I was transported here,” I continued, “Lupin has a shop. Apparently, it moves around and appears to people who need help. Like lost souls or whatever. Anyway. I came across the shop on my birthday. Lupin gave me a stone and told me to make a wish from the heart. It being my birthday was supposed to increase the magic power or something. So I made a wish, not expecting it to be real. Next thing I knew, I woke up here to your cheerful face.” I aimed the last sentence at Maddox.
“A wish brought you here?” he asked.
“Y-Yeah. That’s why I’ve been so weird and secretive. Lupin’s the only one who knows about it.”
“Why did he come to you during the Festival of Lights?” Briar pushed his glasses up his nose. Either a nervous tic or one derived from the eagerness to learn more.
“Because he needed my final answer. After I came to Bremloc, Lupin said he could reverse the wish but would need the power of the summer equinox to do it. So he gave me until the festival to make my decision.” I looked between the three of them. “And I chose to stay.”
Maddox exhaled and sat back on the bed. “You nearly left us? Left me?”
Damn if that didn’t cause a deep ache in my heart. I sat beside him. “The answer was right in front of me the whole time. It just took me a while to see it. But I promise I’m not going anywhere, Captain. I love you too much to even think about going somewhere else.” I linked our fingers, laying my head on his shoulder. “This is my home. With all of you.”
He exhaled again, this one shakier. He lightly squeezed my fingers.
“Why was Lupin here tonight?” Briar asked.
“To make my head explode.” I sighed. “I didn’t expect to see him again and panicked because I thought he came to send me back to my old world. Honestly, I still don’t know why he was here. He mentioned something about my fate and how I’d set a path into motion by opening my café. I just don’t know what, and he wouldn’t tell me more.”
More silence. They seemed to be trying to process the information, so I gave them a moment to do so. Doing my best to keep my mouth shut.
It was difficult.
“So,” I said after five whole seconds. “Any questions? Concerns? Speak now or forever hold your peace. Well, not really. You can ask questions later if you want. I know this is a lot to wrap your head around.”
“It makes a lot of sense actually,” Briar said. “I knew you were different from the first moment we met. Your aura, your light, was like a balm to my weary soul.”
Maddox huffed. “He was my light first.”
Briar rolled his eyes.
“That’s all you guys have to say? I’m from another world. Aren’t you… I don’t know, freaked out? Confused or afraid? Worried I’m some evil, time-jumping warlord or something?”
“An evil, time-jumping warlord?” Maddox’s lips twitched. “You’re much too clumsy for that.”
“Hey, I’m being serious.” I thumped him on the chest.
