With my heart still racing, I cracked open the door. Lemon-yellow hall light spilled across my face. Not Xan—just Winston. My heart sank, Ezra’s anger and Xan’s indifference slamming into me again.
“Is this a bad time?” Winston asked.
The third of Xan’s monsters held his stubby hands out in front of him. His brown robes and balding bowl cut still reminded me of Friar Tuck from the old Robin Hood movies.
“No, yes. Ah, I don’t know what time it is,” I rambled, cursing myself for making assumptions that only led to disappointment.
The man held up his hands innocently. “May I come in?”
I wiped the tears from my eyes before they could fall. Brit would be ashamed of me for crying over a jerk. I was better than this. I pulled myself together. On one hand, if Rowan and Cayden were sound enough asleep, a conversation wouldn’t wake them. On the other hand, Winston could murder them and me with no one the wiser.
“I assure you, I intend no harm,” Winston said, easing back a step. His voice held the weight of sincerity, tempered with patience. “All I wish is to speak of what has transpired. And, of course, your rather curious new pet.”
I looked down. The very solid, detailed dragon, which should be a byproduct of my magic, had its nose half out the door. Its forked tongue flicked out as if tasting Winston.
“Is it Professor Holiday?” I asked before I could stop myself, curiosity mixed with a healthy dose of fear.
“It seems I share your question,” Winston said softly, my emotions reflecting in his gaze.
I swallowed. Winston had cleared his schedule to test my magic, guessed I was a time traveler, and treated me like a curiosity under glass. He’d pushed me to ‘make the right friends,’ but beyond a few polite words, he’d kept his distance and let me come to him.
Until this moment.
I made assumptions so fast, and they were always negative. I didn’t want to be that person anymore. Stepping back, I opened the door and then opened it a little wider when I realized Winston’s girth couldn’t quite fit through.
Winston’s gaze swept the room.
“Ah… I see your hesitation now.” His gaze shifted from Cayden to Rowan, lingering only a moment before dismissing them. “They are dead to the world. My purpose lies not with them.”
The blood drained out of my face.
Winston lifted his hands in protest. “No, no, that is not my meaning.” He studied the dragon, its rainbowed spines faintly aglow in the dim light. “It is early yet. Put the kettle on, and I shall see to your… pet.”
He lunged. The dragon let out the tiniest roar, more like a slightly deeper puppy howl, and darted for the chair, Winston lumbering after. Watching the chase, I almost laughed—hard to believe this sleek creature could be Holiday. The chase toppled Cayden’s chair. Rowan only snored louder, rolling over. Cayden still hadn’t moved. The blood caked all over his face and clothing made my heart pinch. I didn’t let my gaze leave his chest until I saw it rise and fall.
They hadn’t even slept while searching for me; and now they were here. No more tears for Xan. A bubble of love burst into existence around me. I swear my crystal locks sparkled more. With renewed confidence, I sifted through the disaster Erick’s failed coup left behind and found two mostly unbroken mugs and some tea.
The collar no longer blocked my magic, and though I wasn’t sure of the extent, it somehow connected me to Alex. He’d even said something about tethering, which wasn’t reassuring. The old mentalist had tried to trap me in an alternate life, but he also helped us take down the Prophet. I bit my lower lip. That didn’t mean he wanted to help me. As long as I lived, he could still attempt to change my future.
As if hearing my thoughts, a wave of approval washed over me. A cold spike of fear seized my heart, and the invasive emotion vanished. Alex was still with me, not changing my reality… or maybe he was.
My gaze locked onto a sharp piece of a shattered plate.
‘Please. No. Don’t hurt yourself. I’m not using my power. I’m not.’Alex begged in my mind.‘Please, I just wanted a friend. You’ll be my friend.’
I tore my gaze from the sharp edge, and Alex’s voice stopped.
His last words echoed—part plea, part threat. I forced myself to breathe and control my fear. I needed to talk to Xan. It didn’t matter if he liked me or not. I needed his help.
The water boiled, and soon enough, two steaming mugs of tea and a temperamental dragon sat on Cayden’s square kitchen table. Since Winston’s attention turned to the little creature, he barely spared me a glance, which put me at ease.
Winston picked up his tea and took a sip. After setting down his mug, he cupped the dragon a few inches from actually touching it on either of its sides, and his lemon-yellow Majekah spilled out of his fingers.
The dragon let out an annoyed snort, and a puff of flames engulfed Winston’s hands. The portly monster started to pull back before stopping his motion.
“It is scarcely warm.” Winston leaned forward, studying with quiet fascination. “The fire feels less like heat… and more like magic itself.”
I leaned forward, but before I could stick my hand in, the little dragon cut off his flames and adorably curled his tail around his body. My heart cracked a little, and I prayed this wasn’t Professor Holiday.
