“Yes,” she said.“It doesn’t have to be human.”
“Got it.Give me a sec.Josie, a little help?”
“Sure.”She latched up the kit and took it with her to the kitchen.
I pulled out a chair and dropped down at the table.I felt like I was carrying a fifty-pound bag of sand on my back.
Lula slipped into the chair beside me.Lorde settled under the table, her head on my foot.
“So,” Cardamom said.“What did you do?Exactly.”
“We opened the book,” I said.
“I didn’t sense the book, but you reek of god magic.”
“It’s in the safe room,” Abbi said.She sat at the head of the table, Hado draped across her shoulders, her hair covering him so only his golden eyes could be seen.“I don’t think any of the magic got out.”
“It didn’t.”His tattoos flared, then dimmed.I wondered if he knew his magic was rolling over his skin.“What did you learn?What did the spells say?”
“I couldn’t understand it enough to learn anything.It was…” I just shook my head.“No.”
“Lula?”
“Blank pages.That’s all I saw.I could feel the magic, but I couldn’t see it, not a word.”
He took a moment to process that, scowling.
“You are both very lucky it didn’t permanently harm you.You can’t guess your way through god power.And unless you agree that you won’t touch the book again without me being there, and that you willlistento me, then our deal is off.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
“Come on, Card.”Pamela carried in a roast that smelled amazing and set it on a trivet in the middle of the long table.“They did what they did.We’re all still breathing, the roof hasn’t fallen in, and so far, there are no monsters at the door.I say we eat!”
She passed plates to me and Lula and Abbi, placed the rest by open chairs, then produced a goblet of what looked like red wine for Lu.
“This…I’m trying to keep you safe, right?”Card strolled over to the table.“Just promise you won’t open the book again without me.Not until we find a way you can use it without it blowing out your brains.”
“Next time we touch the book, you’re there,” I said.“Are we square?Because I’m starving and that smells like rosemary roast beef.”
“Good nose,” Josie swung into the room with more dishes.“Veggies and sides.”She deposited several pots and bowls on the table.“Get it while it’s hot.”
Card hesitated, rubbing his thumb over his left wrist.Finally, he sat and took the plate Abbi offered him.
“Thank you, Pamela, Josie.And thank you Brogan.Lula?”he asked.“Does Brogan’s promise cover you?”
She ran a discrete finger over her lips which were stained red from the blood she’d sipped.“I won’t touch the book unless you are there, Cardamom, at least while you are helping us.”
“Only then?”He scooped a rich yellow rice dish onto his plate.It smelled divine.
“You’re not going to be there when we face Headwaters.”
“Won’t I?”
“You’re only here until we figure out how to use the book,” she said.
“No.I’m here to use every trick I can to keep you both alive when you use the book.Especially when you confront Headwaters.”
Lu opened her mouth, shut it, then frowned.
