"Buongiorno, my lovelies," she said, beaming at the children. "And Cosimo."
"I don't count as a lovely? Rude," he replied and gestured at the kitchen. "Would you like an espresso before we start?"
"Oh, no. I've already had three this morning, and I'm eager to see Maria's research," she replied, her dark eyes bright.
Something was up with her, but Cosimo knew to pick a better moment to ask her what it was. "In that case, Valentine? You're up."
"Don't do it in the kitchen, please. I want to put some ragu on to slow cook and don't need magic causing a janky aftertaste," Bas requested.
Marcella looked up at Cosimo. "Do what?"
"You'll see." Cosimo winked at her. "The lounge room might be more appropriate, Val, especially if we need to keep it open."
The others followed them through the villa, eager to see Marcella's reactions. She was like a shiny new thing they all wanted to play with.
They aren't the only ones, his dragon grumbled. Cosimo ignored it.
"Should I be worried?" Marcella asked over her shoulder.
"Not unless portal travel isn't your thing," Valentine said and stepped into the lounge room. He pulled a silver token out of his pocket with a double dragon design stamped into it. "After dealing with a murderous fae king who was an expert in portal magic, Yelena and I thought it would be good to take his ideas and make them better."
"I…don't know what part of that to unpack first," Marcella admitted.
Valentine smiled. "Oh, don't worry. We dealt with the king. He had good ideas but was a bit too crazy. Anyway, Dad thought it would be best to take you home, and this is the quickest way."
Marcella still looked confused, and Cosimo couldn't help but enjoy it. She was always so collected, and he was also filled with fatherly pride for Valentine's abilities.
Valentine's magic hummed as he activated the token and tossed it up in the air. The scarlet and silver threads of his power burst out of the coin and formed a doorway into the Greatdrakes's library back in Dublin.
Marcella's mouth was hanging open. "That…that…"
"Is magic," Cosimo finished for her. He offered her his arm. "Don't worry. I'll be right with you."
"Have fun, you two!" Apollo called cheerily. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Marcella still looked nervous, but she slipped her arm around Cosimo's. "If I get lost in some void, I'm taking you with me."
"No chance of that," Valentine insisted. He gave Cosimo another token. "That's for when you guys want to come back. Bridget? You want one?"
"No. I'll hitch a ride with them. I want to show Marcella what I've been working on," Bridget replied. She kissed Bas. "I'll see you later."
Cosimo didn't give Marcella a chance to back out. He tightened his hold on her arm and walked through the portal. She gasped and clung to him, and he laughed softly.
"You can open your eyes. It's already over," he said, and she peeked one eye open.
"That's it? A warm tingle of his magic and nothing?" she asked, looking back at Valentine. "You're a clever one, aren't you? There's not even a wormhole."
"Seems like a waste of magic to add that in for ambience," Valentine replied. He moved out of the way for Bridget to come through, and then the portal closed.
"That is incredible," Marcella said and then turned around to see where they were. Her eyes went wide, and she stumbled backward. "Books."
"Yeah, that was my first reaction too," Bridget laughed merrily. "Come and find me when you're done in the tower."
Marcella was staring longingly at all the shelves. "You did say I could use the library as part of our deal?"
"I did," Cosimo said, enjoying her reaction far too much.
"Oh. Good. Good to know," Marcella mumbled. Cosimo patted her arm that was still looped around his. "The library can wait. It's not what I wanted to show you."
