It would take time. The wounds between them ran deep, carved by years of neglect and disappointment, but healing was possible. Especially because two women had just become allies, both determined to heal the fractured bonds between the men we loved.
#
“What do you plan to do with Amabel?” Papa’s question cut through the comfortable silence that had settled between us.
His tone was carefully neutral, but his eyes revealed his concern. I set down my teacup and glanced at Koa, who had gone still as stone at the mention of Amabel’s name. The muscles in his jaw worked beneath his skin, a subtle sign of the fury he was containing.
“When Zane wakes up, he and Koa can handle it.” I paused, then added with deliberate lightness, “Iwill be busy doting on Casimir.”
“Priorities.” Kaori’s laugh sparkled in the quiet room.
The corners of Koa’s mouth twitched upward. Papa didn’t quite smile, but amusement flickered across his features like sunlight through leaves.
“Your dedication to my sons is admirable,” he said, and I caught the wistfulness beneath his formal words.
“He needs me. They all do. And taking care of him is far more important to me than dealing with Amabel.”
The conversation shifted as Kaori expressed interest in seeing the library, her eyes lighting up at the mention of our collection of magical theory texts and grimoires.
The library at Evermere was my sanctuary, a place where ancient knowledge and modern research coexisted in peaceful harmony. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined the walls, interrupted only by tall windows that would flood the space with sunlight during the day. Now, with night having claimed the sky, the room was bathed in the warm glow of reading lamps and the soft flicker of a small fire in the hearth.
“This is magnificent,” Kaori breathed as we entered.
“It’s my favorite room in the house.” I watched her reverently trace the spine of a leather-bound tome.
As Papa browsed the shelves with the quiet appreciation of someone who’d lived long enough to value true craftsmanship, I led Kaori to the desk where I’d been working.
“I’m working on something you might find interesting,” I said to Kaori, leading her to a small desk tucked into an alcove. Spread across its surface were my notes on protection wards, specifically, ones designed to prevent magical siphoning.
Her eyes narrowed with interest.
“May I?” she asked, gesturing to the parchment.
At my nod, she leaned closer, her finger tracing the intricate symbols I’d drawn.
“This is impressive work.” The respect in her voice made me stand a little straighter. “I’m no expert on lunar magic, but here,” she pointed to one area, “if you add a binding rune, I think you’d create a reflection effect.”
“Instead of just blocking the siphoning attempt, bounce it back on the attacker?” I tilted my head as I considered that.
“Not enough to harm them or siphon them, but enough to give them a nasty shock and break their concentration.”
“That’s a great idea.” I noted her suggestion in the margin. “I never would have thought of that.”
“Because you weren’t interested in attacking. You thought strictly defensively with this ward because that’s what you needed. Now, you can revisit it through a different lens.”
I was so engrossed that I didn’t hear Koa’s approach until he cleared his throat behind us.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, but the gleam in his eyes suggested he wasn’t sorry at all.
In his arms, he cradled a wooden box with three small drawers, the kind you might find on an antique desk, used for organizing correspondence. Curiosity prickled along my skin.
“What’s that?” I asked, eyeing the polished wood with undisguised interest.
Koa’s serious expression gave way to something softer, almost playful. With a dramatic flourish that would have made Zane proud, he set the box on the desk and slid open the top drawer.
“You mentioned needing some supplies for your research.”
The drawer was a riot of colorful treasures: Sticky notes in shapes of moons, stars, and apple slices; paperclips twisted into tiny bat silhouettes; highlighters in pastel shades, each topped with a miniature wolf paw; and a collection of glitter gel pens.
