Page 6 of Midnight Rules
“You’re perfect, just as you are. We’ll always love you.”
“Even if I have the darkness inside me?”
“Even then. And besides, dark magic isn’t bad. It’s just different from other types of magic.”
Regan sniffled, and he buried his face in Marric’s chest.
Marric held him closer. “I’m going to tell you a secret. But you can’t tell anyone.”
“I’m good at keeping secrets.”
“You’re very good at it. Not even Miss Marie suspected you have dark magic. But it’s good you talked about it. That way, Grandpa can find a good dark magic teacher when the time comes.” Marric wasn’t sure if they would get to keep Regan. When they were well again, if they ever got better, they might have to report his whereabouts. He might have a family out there somewhere. “Are you ready to hear my secret?”
Regan nodded.
“I’m a wolf shifter and a witch. Emery is too.”
Regan met his gaze. He had tears clinging to his lashes, but he frowned. “That’s not a secret.”
Marric didn’t know what to say. His mouth hung open, and he blinked.
Dad chuckled and ruffled Regan’s hair. “You’re a smart boy.”
Regan shook his head. “I’m just a witch.”
“You can sense the magic in us.” That much was obvious, but Marric couldn’t sense magic in others. He wondered if it came naturally for Regan or if someone had taught him how. If it was teachable, Marric wanted to learn.
“Your magic is bigger than Emery’s. But I can see it.” Regan pointed to the center of Marric’s chest. “I like yours.”
Marric wished he could see Regan’s magic like Regan could see Marric’s. Regan was a lot more powerful than Marric. “I like yours too. Maybe one day you’ll tell me more about it.”
“Like the dungeon and stuff?” Regan averted his gaze.
Marric wanted to know more about this dungeon, since it was the first time Regan had mentioned it. Given the way Dad’s eyes had shifted to his wolf and he growled, Regan hadn’t said anything to him either.
Marric hadn’t asked questions because Regan had been uncomfortable talking about it. But maybe it was time for some answers.
“Maybe we can talk about what happened before you came here.”
Regan pulled the blanket over his head.
“Not now. And only if you want to.” But Marric needed to know if his and Emry getting sick had something to do with Regan showing up. What did it mean? And why them and no one else?
There were so many questions. But there was one thing Marric knew. There was no such thing as a coincidence.
Chapter Three
Marric’s mind was still foggy when he woke, but his bladder told him he had to get up in the next minute or he’d be sleeping in his own body fluids. He had to push Regan’s legs off him. The boy was all limbs.
Marric slid out of under Regan as slow as possible.
Regan didn’t stir.
Marric held on to the wall when the dizziness took over.
He thought he heard voices. At first Marric thought his dad was speaking to Miss Marie outside his bedroom door. When he concentrated on the tone and pitch, he realized the person speaking didn’t have a deep enough voice to be his father and the other person didn’t have a high enough pitch to be Miss Marie. Not only that, but it might have been coming from outside the house.
He glanced at his alarm clock. The time read three o’clock in the morning. Why would he hear voices so early? None of them were night people, not that they could be on a farm. The animals deserved to have breakfast at a decent time of the morning andtending the fields was a lot better of an experience when they weren’t in the high heat.
