Keegan leaned forward again. “And where exactly is this stone right now?”
Gideon looked at him.
“It’s safe.”
“That’s not an answer.” Keegan shook his head. “We could have been annihilated today. Maeve got hurt over it. We need answers. Not just an evasive one.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting tonight.” Gideon kept his composure.
Keegan exhaled sharply through his nose. “Convenient.”
Gideon tilted his head.
“You invited me to tea, wolf.”
“I’m thinking twice,” Keegan said, and I reached my hand to his knee.
Nova rubbed her temples. “This conversation is exhausting.”
Skonk, who had been quietly listening from the edge of the table, nodded.
“I agree.”
Twobble lifted a finger like he’d been waiting his whole life for the moment. “Also, for the record, mysterious magical artifacts have an extremely poor track record when it comes to improving group morale.”
Nova rubbed her temple. “Thank you, Twobble.”
“You’re welcome. I live to contribute useful observations.”
I looked down at the compress resting against my shoulder and shifted it a little. The worst of the pain had passed, but the ache had settled in deep and stubborn.
Across the table, Gideon noticed.
“You’re running out of steam,” he said.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“Also true.”
He watched me for a second longer than necessary, like he was deciding whether to argue about it, but his eyes moved to Keegan.
It was quick, but I caught it. Something quiet passed between them, nothing anyone else in the room would’ve noticed if they weren’t paying attention.
It wasn’t hostility and not agreement either, just the weight of history sitting there between them.
I shifted in my chair and suddenly had the uncomfortable sense that whatever we’d just talked through tonight wasn’t the end of anything.
If anything, it felt like we’d just opened the door.
Because if Rendel had come to Stonewick looking for the stone…
And Gideon already had it…
Then what were we supposed to do next?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
