Page 78 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

I’m grateful to wake up comfortable and safe in Kate’s living room. I think I remember her saying something about how I can go home again soon, but I was pretty out of it.

Something warm snuggles into me. My neck is so sore that I jolt wide awake when I try to look down. I suck in a breath, and the warmth against me shifts and lets out an upset whine.

‘Sorry.’ My hand slides around Lady and holds her close to me. I don’t need to see her to know she’s here and okay, but her beautiful face would have been as comforting as a hug.

Just behind my head and around my feet, Keano and Bruin are cuddled to me. I kinda want to move because the more I wake up the more I feel how much my feet have fallen asleep, but I can’t disturb them. Besides, if these puppies want to cuddle me healthy, I won’t say no.

So, I take a second to appreciate this wonderful, comforting living room and its dogs before I make myself get up. Without looking around too much, I think I’m the only one here. No idea where Kate, Leverett, and Bonnie are. It would have been even nicer to wake up with Bonnie sleeping nearby, but I guess everything we said to each other still hangs over us. That’s fair. We’ll need to talk through it when we get a moment.

‘Hello?’ I try. No one answers.

I make myself sit up. Now that I’m starting to stretch everything out, I can tell the wound isn’t as painful as it was in Chiara’s basement. I sat up more easily, for one. But I’m not sure if it’s really healing that quickly or if it’s just whatever Kate gave me numbing the pain, so I move slowly. After everything she’s done for me, I’d feel rude bleeding all over her carpet. I gingerly touch my neck around the wound and am surprised to feel fabric. Someone bandaged my neck. It’s a little flimsy, but I was probably lying on it and whoever bandaged me up likely didn’t want to risk waking me.

I do take a moment to look into Lady’s worried eyes. My dog is okay. A part of me was terrified that something might happen to her while I was dying somewhere else, but we’re both here, and she’s okay. Everything else will be okay, too.

It’s all the motivation I need to pull myself up completely. The dogs don’t look too happy that I’ve disturbed their nap after all, but I won’t sleep completely peacefully until I know this final business is dealt with.

‘Where are the others?’

Keano barks as he and Bruin jump up, their tails wagging like they were just waiting for a command, and then they both lead me through the kitchen and into the garden. Lady stretches and trots alongside me. I already see them from the window—Kate, Bonnie, and Leverett are sitting in the garden with drinks. I daydream about Bonnie being the first to see me, how she comes running and we apologise profusely and then everything is alright between us again, but of course Leverett sees me first. His vampire hearing probably picked up on me dragging myself through the house. His eyes are already on the door when I step out.

He says something, and Bonnie’s head shoots around. Kate merely smiles like she already knew I was awake and on my way, like she’s mentally linked with her dogs. I guess if even I have magic, anything is possible. Not that I feel a hint of it now except for the breeze on my skin, which always feels magical. Not sure that counts, though.

Leverett makes to stand but catches himself and stays seated. It reminds me of how he reacted outside Chiara’s house—like he wanted to come to me but was worried about how I’d see him now. Or maybe it’s just awkward because of what we feel for each other? Whatever the reason, he doesn’t approach me first.

Bonnie runs over and stops just shy of throwing herself into my arms. As much as I want to hug her, I don’t think my neck can handle the strain.

‘You’re okay!’ she says, her eyes flying to the wound.

I carefully touch it and find the skin around the bandage crusted with dried blood.

‘I will be,’ I say. Once everything has sunk in, I... I don’t know. Maybe the shock of everything will suddenly hit me in a week, or maybe I really will be okay. Maybe I’ll need therapy. Or maybe I just need to not get threatened for a while.

I remember something the Dreamcatcher and the Mara said. Someone sent them. What if this same person sent the boggart? It’ll be something to ask it, if we get along well enough by the time we’re done pacifying it. But if it was the same person, my days of being kidnapped may not be over. I got lucky with Chiara. If Mischief hadn’t activated my magic, or whatever she did, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have escaped. If there’s a way I can use it on purpose, I want to learn how, but I don’t know how it’s supposed to feel. I don’t feel magical right now; I’m tired and in desperate need of a soak.

I look past Bonnie at Kate. ‘Could I use your shower?’

She nods. ‘Of course. Take as long as you want. We’ll be here.’

With that, I excuse myself and lock myself in the bathroom. I take off all my clothes. I don’t look at my reflection; I don’t want to see my bloody neck in another mirror, and I don’t want to see the wound. I turn on the shower and get in.

Then I sit on the floor, hug my knees to my chest, and cry.

I’m alive. I got out. I’m alright.

Why, then, do I feel so vulnerable?

I cross my arms and grip my shoulders. I sink against the shower wall. I must look pathetic, but I don’t care. I know I need to actually scrub off the blood and sweat, but right now, I don’t think I can stand. My legs are shaking. My whole body is rocking from the sobs. I’m glad the others are outside; I don’t want them to hear. I also want Bonnie, at least, to get in with me and hold me. I want to be alone, but I don’t want to be alone.

Mischief doesn’t say anything, and maybe I’m imagining her here with me, but I feel soft fur brush around my legs, a weight climb onto my knees and cuddle into the unhurt nape of my neck. I even reach out, but there’s nothing there. I think I hear purring, right in my ear. Slowly, gently, it soothes the pain inside me.

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