I stared at Auggie, wondering how quickly Lexi’s magic would work. “And how is he?”
As if on cue, Auggie’s eyes opened, and his dark brown eyes immediately found mine. I froze at the intensity of his gaze, his beauty taking my breath away. He struggled to sit up and look around. “Where … ?” he began, then seemed to recollect what had happened. “The coach overturned in the road. I … must have struck my head.” He tentatively touched the back of his head, then fumbled more searchingly, finding no wound.
Lexi had completely healed it, of course. He might find some blood caked in his hair later, but that would be the only remaining evidence of that injury. His eyes danced around the room, but didn’t linger on Freya. That was good. He clearly hadn’t seen her knock him out.
“There was an accident,” I said carefully. No need to upset the boy and scare him off. Nearly being kidnapped by a necromancer might have that effect. “I brought you to a friend of mine. Lexi was just making sure you were all right.”
Lexi nodded down at Auggie. “You’ll be all right.” She gestured to his ankle. “A wound like that might take a little more time to heal, but the toxins are gone, from what I can tell. Just tread carefully on it.”
Auggie reached down and ran a finger over a small, raised patch of skin. The cut was gone, however, and nothing was leaking from him anymore. That was a good sign.
“You should rest for a day or two,” Lexi added. “Your body needs to process the magic.”
“Magic?” Auggie echoed, eyes narrowing at Lexi. “You’re a witch?”
“A white witch, yes.” She sounded concerned. “Is it all right that I saw to your injuries?”
Auggie asked, “What do I owe you?”
“‘Owe you’?” Lexi blinked. “Why, nothing.”
Auggie didn’t look convinced. He turned to me. “How is the driver?”
I hesitated. “The driver … remained with the carriage while we saw you to safety.” Not a lie, really.
Auggie leaned back on the couch, eyes closing momentarily. “Thank you. I admit I am rather tired.”
Lexi placed a comforting hand on his knee. “You can take one of the guest rooms upstairs. Just sleep. I’ll bring you some water and prepare a meal shortly.”
“Thank you,” Auggie said, then turned to me and Freya. “All of you.”
I nodded, then offered him my arm. “Here, I’ll help you up to your room.”
“No, no,” Auggie said, sitting up. “I can …” But he grew tired from the effort and slumped back onto the couch.
I smiled. “Don’t be stubborn. I carried you up to the house; I can help you to your room.”
He nodded, and I assisted him in standing, allowing him to lean heavily against me as we ascended the spiral staircase. Auggie looked embarrassed the entire time. The first room we came to was crammed with skeletons of all sorts: birds, reptiles, snakes, armadillos, as well as with skulls of larger animals like horses and rams. Earthworms squirmed in a bowl beside a coffin, and I realized that this must be the zombie’s room.
“Okay,” I said, backing out. “We’ll just … try again.” I helped him into the next room, this one much more appropriate for a guest, sparse but clean. A vase stood on the nightstand with more of the periwinkles and baby’s breath that Lexi had threaded into her hair. With the sunshine pouring into the room, it looked like the perfect place for someone to repose and heal—provided the zombie next door didn’t visit him in the middle of the night.
Auggie sighed as he dropped onto the bed. I pulled covers up to his stomach, then sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry our trip met with some unpleasantness.”
“It’s all right. I’m just sorry I’ve been such a nuisance. I’m sure you have other things you’d rather be doing than whisking strangers to …” Auggie leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “You’re friends with a witch?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Is that a problem?”
“I don’t trust witches.”
I snorted, amused. “Yeah? And why would that be?”
“Because they’re only ever in it for themselves. And it usually comes to us humans at a steep cost.”
I let his words hang in the air for a moment. This probably wouldn’t be the best time to bring up that I was a witch myself.
“I suppose you’ll want to get a move on to New York,” Auggie said. “I’m sorry if I delayed you. I understand if you need to continue without me.”
“Don’t be silly,” I assured him. “Business can wait another day or two.”
