“Hey.” I pressed the door open. Alex was still reclined in our bed of hay, a blanket draped over him, and a candle lighting the dark room. “What are you reading?”
“A healing text.” He grinned, one of the first smiles I’d seen from him since he’d woken up four days ago. “I’m learning all about the humors and bloodletting.”
“How interesting. Perhaps for your next birthday, you’ll get a bag of leeches.”
“That’s love.” He gestured to the cup in my hand. “Is that for me?”
“Yup. Morgan has been doing a lot of research on non-spirit walkers moving through the ghost realm. This will help to ground you in our world faster.” I handed over the cup of liquid.
Understandably, Alex hated feeling as if he’d float away at any second. But according to M&M, traveling through the ghost realm often made people who weren’t spirit walkers feel weightless, ill, and lethargic. Especially those who were totally unprepared. Which Alex had been when a demon-possessed ghost kidnapped him from Spellcasters and transported him through the spirit world so that he could arrive in London in mere minutes.
Add in timewalking through centuries shortly after traveling through the ghost realm and Alex was a total mess.
For now, the poor guy was allowed only one walk per day for exercise. During that walk, we had to watch after him and keep him grounded—literally. He couldn’t even relieve himself unaccompanied; perhaps selfishly, I was thankful that task fell to Hunter. Until the sensation that he’d float away at any moment disappeared, Alex was stuck here.
“Bottoms up.” He chugged the potion, then wrinkled his nose as he handed the empty mug back to me. “That was awful.”
“You don’t want to know what we put in it,” I admitted.
“If dragon piss will make me better faster, I’d drink it all day.” He glanced at the healing books Merlin had given him. “I’m trying to remain upbeat, but I’m missing out on so much. Especially now that your lessons are starting.”
My heart broke for him. Being bedbound when there were two legendary witches around to learn from was torture for Alex. It didn’t help that we’d barely had any time alone in a week.
My hand slid over his. “I know, babe. But if anyone knows how to make a potion that will help, it’s Morgan. I’m sure you’ll be up and running in no time.” I bent down and kissed him. “In the meantime, I’ll tell you about everything I learn. That way, you have something meaty to chew on.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it,” Alex replied with a smile that almost hid the sourness in his tone.
The door to the main cottage slammed shut, and voices grew louder as everyone stomped outside.
“Odie!” Eva called out. “We gotta go!”
“Guess that’s my cue.”
I felt terrible leaving him after such a brief visit, but I was also undeniably excited to get started. Although it had only been a week of resting and allowing our magic to acclimate after timewalking had screwed us all up, it had felt like a year. Not to mention, Morgan had something important she wanted to discuss with Eva and me. We’d been on pins and needles for days, wondering what it might be.
Alex tried to sit up to kiss me. I laid my hand on his chest and forced him to lie down again before pressing my lips to his.
“Get some rest, babe.”
A sigh dripping with resignation left him. “Have fun.” He reached for his book and cracked it open again.
Trying not to take his mood personally, I kissed him on the forehead and left to join the others.
CHAPTERTWO
My feet ached in the small boots Morgan had lent me for tromping through the muddy woods. “How much farther?” I asked, hoping it wouldn’t be long, and I’d be able to take the damn things off.
“A moment more,” Morgan sang back, her long, red braid swaying from side to side like a snake.
“She said that ten minutes ago,” Eva muttered.
“Right?”
“You kids are consumed by how quickly things happen,” Morgan replied without looking back. “Is this what everyone in your time is like? It’s a very unappealing trait.”
I pressed my lips together and stayed silent. If it were anyone else, I’d have retorted that they didn’t understand how painful walking in ill-fitting shoes could be, but that wouldn’t fly with Morgan. She would just suggest I take them off and walk barefoot. Like her.
My ancestor was an all-natural goddess who rarely wore shoes, andneverin the woods around her home. Pine needles, stones, and sharp twigs didn’t deter her from trekking miles barefoot. Or even climbing trees with her little monkey feet.
