“We owe you a great debt.”
I turned to find Captain Mary watching me. She sent me a crooked smile. “I wasn’t sure about you lot when you showed up in my cabin, but you did right by us when it came down to it.”
“It was a pleasure,” I said, bowing with a flourish.
“I’m not sure about that, but at least Freya was able to repair the scorched deck.” She let out a breath. “If it’s all the same, we’ll be the day here unloading before our next load arrives in the morning. You might consider leaving Therese here while you’re in the city. She’s not exactly inconspicuous.”
I glanced at Therese, who was packing a small amount of food for our day while Freya looked on. I watched her throat bob, her wide eyes blinking in her frog face. “That might be for the best. You sure it won’t be a problem?”
She clapped me on the back. “Like I said, we owe you. I’ll make sure nothing untoward happens to her.”
“I appreciate it.”
The captain nodded, then hesitated. She grimaced. “I wish I could say what I’d like, Callum. But me and my crew are under a tight spell of silence when it comes to … certain matters.” She met my eyes meaningfully. “Be careful. Sometimes people are exactly who you think they are.”
I considered her words as Freya approached.
“We should go,” Freya said. “Waiting until the last possible moment would be foolhardy.”
I straightened, still unsettled by the captain’s words. I sent her another look before nodding to Freya. “Yes, of course.” I gestured to Therese. “She’ll be safe here until we return.”
Freya lifted an eyebrow, looking at the captain then back to me with uncertainty. “If you think that’s for the best.”
“I do.”
She nodded. “Then let’s not tarry. We’ll be back by nightfall if we get a move on.”
I turned down the gangplank and smiled as Auggie watched us descend expectantly. “Excited to see your aunt?” I asked when we reached him.
“Excited?” Auggie echoed. “I’m not sure what state I’ll find her in, if she’s hung on long enough for me to arrive, but my mother would have appreciated me being here for her.”
I nodded, something bittersweet fluttering in my chest. The time had arrived. As much as I was happy to complete this job, I didn’t want to leave Auggie’s side. I didn’t know what would happen to him after I delivered him to his destination. It made me anxious. Was I doing the right thing? What would Lucifer do to me if I simply didn’t carry out his directive? I shuddered at the thought. We had a rather civil working relationship. If I crossed him, he could make my remaining years painful, and he could draw them out for as long as he wanted. No, Ihadto see this through. I had to be free of the constant threat hanging over my head, of being owned by a sadist.
Before we hailed a coach, I sat in a quiet park to refill my magic reserves. It had been a long while since I’d had to rely entirely on my own body to replenish itself in order to work magic. It was frustrating. If an emergency had occurred during the remainder of the voyage, I didn’t know what I would have done. Thankfully, we had arrived without further incident.
I was expecting fanfare, or a challenge, as we took a carriage to the address. But nothing presented itself, nothing to put off the inevitable moment that I was coming to dread, as much as it would relieve my woes.
When the coach pulled up before a lovely sprawling building in a beautiful neighborhood blooming with roses and greenery, I couldn’t help but feel glad this was where I would be leaving Auggie.
I grabbed Auggie’s hand. I didn’t want my time with him to be over yet. I wanted to extend it as long as possible. But that was selfish of me, especially given his sick aunt was waiting on him. “Let me walk you to the door,” I said.
Freya was looking pointedly out the window to the street, while Narcissa watched us curiously.
“Of course,” Auggie agreed.
“It was good to meet you, Auggie,” Freya said, sending him a nod before returning her gaze outside.
“You too,” Auggie said. He smiled at Narcissa. “Don’t go giving your witch too much trouble now.”
Narcissa sniffed. “I’mnot the one who attracts trouble.” Auggie would be getting no sentimental goodbyes from her.
I stepped down from the coach and helped Auggie out. He looked up at the building before us, then smiled shakily at me. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” he said.
I squeezed his hand. “I think that’s normal.”
We walked slowly to the front door, and I lamented that the time passed so quickly. I wanted to linger, make this last moment with him last. But in less than a minute, we were standing before the door.
“Will I see you again?” Auggie asked, his voice quiet.
