Baz is slightly wide-eyed but has a smile playing across his features as River gestures wildly.
Ransom shakes his head, “Nah, something tells me that he’s going to be around long enough that he’s going to have to get used to River.”
“Besides, I don’t think Baz is minding that much,” Raiden grins. He lowers his voice, “Is it weird to anyone else that it doesn’t seem weird to have him amongst us and to be taking him back to House? I mean, we only just met the guy. We have no idea what kind of supernatural he is, and yet we’re showing him our home?”
I nod, “It has occurred to me, but the way I see it, all of our instincts can’t be wrong. Even River has clearly taken to him.”
“True,” Raiden agrees. His eyes suddenly widen, “You know the best test of whether he really is good or not will be Neith’s Voices, they always know.”
“That’s true,” Ransom agrees.
We catch up with River and Baz, and Baz shoots me a raised eyebrow look that makes me chuckle.
I shrug. There’s no point trying to answer him since River is still talking.
“I know it’s none of my business,” Baz finally manages to interrupt River just before we get to the tree line. “But you should be careful about who sees you in your shifted form with nine tails.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Coen
Ifreeze.
“Oh, don’t worry, this place is warded by Ransom, I’m completely safe here, so are you,” River explains, Baz’s words not fully sinking in. He stops and turns to stare at Baz, “You can see my tails?”
With a slight dip of his eyebrows, Baz nods, “Yes.”
River looks at Ransom, “Is the potion still in effect?”
Ransom nods, “Yes, it’s not due to wear off for a while yet.”
“So, I shouldn’t have been able to see that you had nine then?” Baz asks, getting to the same conclusion that we have quickly. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I owe you a life debt, and even if I didn’t, your secret would be safe with me.”
River studies him closely for a few moments and then nods, “Thanks, man.”
Baz smiles slightly, “Of course. You mentioned wards. How strong are they? It will take a while for The Hunt to find me here, but they are relentless, and I am certain that they will be coming for me.”
Ransom grins, “They can try. You’ve got backup now. The wards are strong. Reach out with your magic and see for yourself.”
Baz hesitates slightly, and I realize that he has got his magical signature on lockdown.
River grins, a mischievous light in his eyes as he says, “Come on, I showed you mine, you show me yours?”
Baz, fortunately, bursts out laughing along with the rest of us.
Suddenly, his power releases, he’s still holding back, but what he has sent searching toward the ward is immense.
As his power touches the ward in order to test its strength, there’s a boom, magic lighting up the sky for a brief moment before the ward settles again. Even I can feel how strong it is now.
“Did you just add your magic to the ward?” Raiden asks, his eyebrows raised with surprise.
Baz nods, looking shocked as he replies, “Not intentionally. My magic took over, and it hasn’t done that for years. Apparently, it deems this place a place worth protecting. That puts me at ease.”
“Good,” I reply, and then I offer because it seems like the right thing to do. “You have a safe haven with us for as long as you wish to be here.”
“Thank you,” he replies, seeming mystified by the turn of events, but then again, I am too.
I think we all are.
