Eldric stared ahead with a pensive expression before he shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
I balled my hands into fists at my sides and stomped a foot against the floor. “What is going on? What is this Veil stuff? What happened with my magic? How is it even in there without me singing?”
I immediately regretted my decision when all eyes fell on me. A gentle smile appeared on Eldric’s lips. He slipped around the table to me and set a hand on my shoulder. “My sincerest apologies, Miss Rose. I should have realized you were not a scholar of the magical arts.” He half-turned and gestured to the beaker. “Though your voice was silenced, a small bit of your magic lingered in the dust you had controlled. I used that ability to control and bind Marc’s magic to the dust. I will now use this magic to affix his patch to his unassuming face-” A snort came from Ramaro, “-such that he will never have to worry about the patch again.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Not even with what Jaeger was able to do?”
He shook his head. “Not even that, for know of few powers stronger than the Draconis Veil.”
“What exactly is this Draconis Veil?”
“For another time,” Marc spoke up as he tapped his patch. “This is a little weaker after your little fun, so let’s get on with fixing it.”
“Of course,” Eldric agreed as he shooed me to the door. “Gisela will see that you’re made comfortable while I perform the procedure.”
My pulse quickened, and I looked over my shoulder at uncle and nephew. “Is it dangerous?”
Our host grasped the doorknob and opened the portal. “No more dangerous than what was just performed, but I need all my concentration, and that means no distractions.” He whipped his head around and frowned at Ramaro and Theo. “That includes you two.”
Theo’s face fell. “But I only just arrived. Can I not assist you-”
“No, you can’t,” Eldric snapped as he stabbed a finger at the open doorway. “Now out. All of you.”
My gaze fell on Marc, and he flashed me a grin. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
I could only purse my lips and nod before exiting the room, my heart heavy with unease.
Chapter 13
Eldric leaned out and shouted loud enough to ring down the stairs. “Gisela! Where are you? Come up here at once and show our guests to some bedrooms!”
“Coooomiiiiinnggg!” Gisela sing-songed. Her soft pair of feet danced up the stairs, and she popped up in our hall. She waved her brush at us. “I’ll show you to the nicest rooms in the whole place.”
Eldric narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t give them mine.”
She sheepishly smiled at him. “But it’s the best room in the house.”
“No.” He ducked back into the room and slammed the door shut.
Ramaro wrinkled his nose. “He’s as polite as ever.”
Gisela hugged her duster against her ample chest and squealed. “He is the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen, isn’t he? I just want to hug him to myself every waking minute, and even in bed.”
I choked on my surprise, and Ramaro flicked out his tongue. “That was an image I didn’t want to see.”
Gisela clasped her hands behind her back and batted her eyes at us. “Well, why don’t we get you to some nice rooms? I could draw you a warm bath and clean your clothes while you scrub all that nasty salt air off your skin.”
I tugged at my heavy overcoat. “I could really go for a bath.”
Theo turned to me and bowed his head. “This is where we part. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Larkin. I hope we’ll see each other very soon.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t you sleep here?”
He straightened and chuckled. “No. The professor wouldn’t have it, and I have my own practice, which requires me to be in and out at odd hours.”
“Then you’re a medical doctor?”
His eyes twinkled. “Some people call me that, and others call me other things, but if you’ll excuse me, I really must be going. I dare only leave my practice for an hour or two before my clients might come calling.”
