I forced out a nervous laugh. “I’m fine.”
Donnie angled his head, his eyes soft. “It’s us, Ted. You can tell us anything.”
The laugh that escaped me was brittle—less nervous, more manic. Of course, I could tell them anything. From the time I was in diapers, it’d always been Ryenne, Donnie, and me. Ryenne and I had our own unbreakable tether. But Donnie? He became my anchor when Mom died. When my world tilted and everyone tiptoed around my grief, he didn’t. He sat beside me in silence and offered comfort. He became the quiet place I ran to when everything was too loud.
I didn’t want to keep this from them, but I wanted Elias tobe the first to know. And, selfishly, I wanted to let this information settle a bit so it didn’t feel quite so insane.
Beside Ryenne, her boyfriend, Nate rested a hand on her lap that she clasped onto.
“I’m honestly fine,” I told my friends. “I went to see Leah because I hurt myself while training with Everly. I ruptured some ligaments in my ankle, but I’m mostly healed now. I can’t train for several days, and she strongly recommended I eat lots of chocolate for healing purposes.”
Everly chuckled.
From behind us, George pulled up a chair by Everly and she turned to tuck her hand in his.
“Was this your first time being examined by a healer?” he asked.
“Elias has healed me before, but other than that, yeah.”
He nodded, the worry lines on his forehead deepening when he lifted his brows. “The first time I saw a healer, it left me out of sorts.” His lips pressed together in a tight line as he gave another nod, his eyes briefly widening before his expression smoothed back into careful neutrality.
He knew. Dammit to hell, the seer knew.
Everly watched our exchange, and understanding bloomed across her face. Maybe she didn’t know what George had learned, but she knew enough to follow his lead.
“I forgot,” she said, smacking her forehead. “It’s been over a hundred years since my first healer visit, but I remember feeling off afterward.”
Not buying it, Donnie narrowed his eyes further.
“My mother accused me of acting strange afterward, too,” she continued.
“That must be it,” I said, holding on to that lifeline in the hopes Donnie and Ryenne wouldn’t continue prodding.
“You should rest,” George said, voice calm but meaningful. “Not just your foot but your . . . everything.” He coughed.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “My everything?”
“Yes,” Everly added, “until the lingering effects of your exam wear off.”
Except the remnants of my exam wouldn’t wear off for another eight months. And then I’d get to hold my baby boys.
“You’re acting strange again,” Ryenne said, not believing George’s lie. “What’s with that smile? You look drunk.”
I blinked at her, forcing the grin off my face even as it tugged stubbornly at the corners of my mouth. “I look strange because I’m happy?”
“This is a different kind of happy,” she said slowly.
Leave it to Ryenne to notice a difference in my smile.
“Didn’t you bring a cake?” George asked, pointing his chin toward the booth Ryenne sat on.
I perked up. “Cake time,” I sang.
Ryenne glared at me while I took the cake out of its box, and George lit the candy-melt candle. With another worried look in my direction, Donnie took the cake, and we all followed him to the older kids’ table. Ryenne led us in a screech-filled rendition of “Happy Birthday”while the fae looked at us curiously.
Javier frowned at the cake, his fingers gripping the edge of the table like it might steady him.
I froze.
