A few others lingered behind her and Wolf, waiting for information or to receive orders to head to Pericius, no doubt.
“You’re okay? Everything’s okay?” Huntyr asked.
I swung myself off my horse, grunting as pain radiated through my sore ass. If I never rode another damn horse again, it would be too soon.
No, everything wasnotokay. Xavier nearly died. I nearly killed everyone with my freaky death magic that was supposedto be a secret. Jessiah and I kissed. And I managed to ruin everything.
Again.
But instead of letting that spill, I forced a smile.
“We’re okay.” The last thing I expected was for my heart to suddenly be flooded with warm emotions I hadn’t felt in years. But this was my best friend. My home.
I had never really felt like I belonged here before, but after seeing the relief on Huntyr’s face, I knew I never wanted to leave again.
A wave of nausea hit me. This was my home. I knew that. But why did my mind wander back to Cornelius?
What would he think when he found those bodies in the woods? What would he say about my magic? Would he be proud of me? Would he be waiting to see more of what I could do?
Huntyr pulled me into a tight hug. “I was worried sick about you. The second you all left, I regretted sending you out. I should have listened when you fought against my order.”
I hugged her back, holding on longer than I ever had. “It wasn’t so bad, after all,” I said. “We made it through without killing one another.”Barely.
She pulled back and looked at the guys.
Wolf was smiling just as widely as Huntyr as he greeted Jessiah and Xavier. The three of them talked in hushed tones, and when Jessiah’s gaze met mine, my cheeks warmed.
So, so much had happened to us during our time away, yet here we were. The same two people. I was still the fucked-up Rummy who couldn’t let anyone in.
And Jessiah was still disappointed. As always.
“Come on,” Huntyr said, guiding me toward the wall. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
The last time I had been in this study, I’d felt as though I was being suffocated. Strangled, like I was choking on my own secrets.
Today, I felt a million times lighter.
Jessiah did most of the talking—thank the goddess above—as we explained all that had happened in Pericius.
There came a point, though, where anxiety flared inside me. Because to tell the entire story, I’d have to explain Cornelius’s magic.
My magic too.
And his plans to use my magic.
The sun set as we talked, and after we’d filled them in on all the details, Huntyr and Wolf sat, as still as statues, gaping at us.
“There was no way we’d let him get ahold of Rummy’s power,” Jessiah said. “Not when he had already done so much damage. So now we’re here.”
My heart had pounded wildly for days, leaving my chest aching, making it hard to breathe as I waited for my best friend to respond.
Waiting for her to rail, to scold me for not telling her about my magic.
Instead, she and Wolf gave me understanding looks. Looks full of genuine care, not pity.
Damn them.I would have felt a whole lot better if they’d screamed. Yelled. Cursed a little.
They could have at least shaken their fists in the air, adding aRummy, you should have told us.
