“It’s not what you think.Iwas the one who convinced him to tentatively accept their olive branch and move back. It was the quickest way to secure custody of his son. If Hiram had his way, he never would’ve returned. Proventia isn’t a happy place for him. His father was absent at best. And his mother ... well, you’ve met Simran, she’s—”
“What?”Veda balks. “Simran?So Antaris is—”
“Hiram’s son.”
Veda’s jaw falls open. “And you didn’t tell me this earlier because ...”
“I’d rather you didn’t judge Antaris for a family he wasn’t raised in.”
“He’s achild,” she snaps. “Do you think that little of me?”
“No, I don’t. But you’ve got tunnel vision. You judgedmefor knowing the Ellis family, and you’ve judged Hiram without knowinghim.”
“I know enough.”
Peter looks unimpressed. “You’re better than this.”
“And so are you. Simran’s only compliment about you was that you’renot like other Seers. She sees you as a convenience, not a person, and worse,you let her. People like her don’t change.”
“Perhaps not, but I choose to hope, because giving up is not an option.” Peter sits beside her, silent for a moment as the air between them settles. “I didn’t let Simran treat me like anything, I just know how she is. Play her game, let her think she’s winning, and she’ll do what you want. That’s how I got Antaris enrolled in Weston versus a different Mage-only school across town. I’d rather have him here, where I can keep an eye on him, and help Hiram sort through all this.”
“But—”
“Antaris is my godson for a reason. If anything happens to Hiram, thelastpeople he wants to raise his son are his parents. He filed guardianship papers the moment he arrived.” Peter looks up as a bird flies overhead. “It’s not my place to explain to you who Hiram is. That’s for you to decide, though it sounds like you already have.”
Veda snorts. “I sure have.”
Peter shakes his head, faintly amused. “Trust me, he’s not the enemy.”
“He’s not a friend, either.”
Veda’s cottage is her fortress. Magic shields it from the outside world. Here, behind her walls, there’s no need to hide. The bricks keep her secrets, the mirrors see her pain. Living here is simultaneously comforting and suffocating.
After her talk with Peter, Veda returns to her fortress, sheds her jacket, peels off her shirt, careful of her cursed scars, and opens the window to let in a breeze to cool her inflamed skin. Too uncomfortable to apply salve herself, Veda throws on an oversized shirt and shuffles into the kitchen. Half-molding leftovers means she has only one option for dinner: noodles.
Her talisman activates, glowing a hazy orange. Someone is here, and she isn’t expecting guests. Veda flips the porch light on and peersthrough the peephole, relaxing at the sight of white braids and a familiar face.
Veda opens the door. “I thought you were busy.”
“Change of plans,” Khadijah says. “Peter is having dinner with his best friend and godson tonight, Marlene blew me off again, so I thought I’d come check on you.”
“Glad to know I’m your third option.”
“What do you mean? I’ve saved the best for last.” Khadijah removes her shoes and wanders into the kitchen. She looks fresh from meditation, dressed in sweatpants, a T-shirt, and wearing a serene expression, at least until she realizes what Veda is cooking. “Noodles? You’re supposed to be eating a lot more than this. Your curse consumes energy, even in its dormant state with the block on it. You need to eat enough to keep your strength.”
“These are nutrient-dense noodles. They have everything I need.”
“And bland. How you survive on the bare minimum, I’ll never understand.”
“It’s quick, and I don’t need more than what I have.”
Khadijah’s expression turns somber. “I wish you knew how wrong you are.”
The water boils. Time to add the noodles.
“Add a pack for me, too, and I’ll boil an egg. What else do you have to throw in?”
Veda doesn’t know why she asks—Khadijah does what she wants anyway. Twenty minutes later, they’re sitting at the table in Veda’s favorite room. The solarium is four glass panels long, four wide, with four overhead. It’s cramped, large enough for a love seat and a small table, but the scenery is unmatched. Tonight, the fairy lights are on, casting a soft glow over their plates.
