Veda blinks back tears, scrubbing them away as they fall. “I don’t know how.”
Calm and controlled, despite the tremble of his own nerves, Hiram opens his hand. “Let me show you.”
A six-hour drive takes them to the coast.
The journey is quiet, easy, with soft music playing in the background and two stops for bathroom breaks. It’s the only time Veda lets go of his hand. When they arrive, it’s dawn, and they have an hour and ahalf before their water flight. Antaris is awake and confused about their whereabouts, but too hungry to squint. They eat breakfast at a diner with a view of the channel. The more he eats, the more fascinated Antaris seems by everything.
Veda is subdued but asks, “Your family has an island.”
“Technically, a few. My family has spent the last six generations collecting real estate like socks. However, we’re going to a cabin on an island that I inherited from my uncle Sebastian. He built the place with his wife.”
“Soyouhave an island?”
“It’s not entirely mine,” Hiram says casually. “There are year-round residents, but most are seasonal. I haven’t been there since I inherited the place.”
After breakfast, while Antaris and Veda watch a nearby ferry dock, Hiram calls Peter to catch him up, but his friend’s only response is: “What do you need?”
“A sitter for the nameless cat.”
“I’ll head over there in a few minutes. Cat carrier?”
“In the front closet.”
“Okay.” Peter pauses. “What else?”
“All your apothecary contacts and brewers in town. We’re figuring things out.”
“You’re with the best brewer I know.”
“She’s taking a much-needed break.”
Peter makes a small noise. “About time.”
“Oh, and don’t forget to water the herb garden, or it’ll disappoint your godson.”
“Consider it done. He’s only just stopped squinting at us. I’d hate a regression,” Peter laments. “Speaking of Antaris, when you get back, I’d like to have Khadijah give him a test. I have a few ideas that may help his socialization.”
“Okay, that’s fine.”
“Good.”
“What you need for Ariadne and the Sanguis Curse is in my office, if Gabriel and Francisco need to look,” Hiram says. “There has to be more information about her in the files. They’re enchanted. I’ll figure that part out once I get what I need.”
The pilot is ready when they arrive. Much like his last flight, Antaris looks like a baby owl just figuring out life while being strapped in. But this time, instead of sitting stiffly, Veda persuades him to look out the window after takeoff. At first, he shakes his head, covering his eyes, but then he peeks once. Then twice. It turns into a stare. Then he does something Hiram doesn’t expect. Without looking, without knowing Hiram’s already watching, Antaris taps his knee to get his attention.
“I see it.”
Veda observes him intensely, then looks away. Hiram doesn’t. Not even when Antaris falls asleep, leaning against Veda’s arm. He only glances down when she gently shifts the sleeping boy so he’s lying against Hiram instead.
“This isn’t a cabin.”
In Veda’s defense, it’s not. It’s a two-story house with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the waterfront and a private seaplane dock. They’re half a mile from the closest neighbors on either side, and behind the house is nothing but forests full of protected animals and plants.
Hiram’s Imprint recognizes him, and the house flares to life. A cleaning talisman rids the house of dust. The lights flicker on. Doors unlock. Hiram registers Veda’s and Antaris’s Imprints to the house, then tells Antaris to pick a room. Only then does he realize, in his rush to depart, he left Antaris’s lantern behind. Veda comes to the rescue, pulling hers out of her bag and offering it to him. Antaris accepts, but concern makes him frown.
“Don’t worry about me,” she insists. “I’ll sleep fine tonight. Take it.”
Antaris does, and Veda follows him to set it up.
