I could almost see her smile.
"My mom says the spell’s going unstable," I said. "She needs another witch to help undo it. She says it could hurt me if we don’t act soon."
Aurelia didn’t waste time. "I can help. When and where?"
I glanced at Eleanor, who mouthed,soon.
"Bryce has school all week," I said. "He’s got a routine. If this goes sideways, I don’t want him here to see it. Saturday, maybe?"
Aurelia agreed, businesslike. "Saturday works. Here at Beck Manor. It’s neutral ground, and we can keep prying eyes away."
Eleanor leaned in, voice pitched low. "Ask her if she’s ever reversed a suppression of this type."
I relayed the question.
Aurelia’s tone stayed light, but I could hear the confidence. "I’ve done it once. It’s not pleasant, but it’s survivable. I’ll need a sample of the original caster’s blood, and a focus object from your mate. And you’ll need to be here, Krystal. In person."
"Understood," I said, and meant it. "What about after?"
"After," Aurelia said, "you’ll feel everything at once. It can be overwhelming. But it’s better than feeling nothing at all."
A chill crept up my arms. "Great."
Zaden spoke up, his voice threaded through with concern. "I’ll be there, too."
Aurelia said, "We’ll handle the logistics. Come Saturday, ten a.m."
I said I’d be there.
Before I could hang up, Zaden added, "Krystal?"
"Yeah?"
"I know you’re scared. But you’re not alone, okay?"
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see it. "I know."
He hung up, and the phone went silent in my palm. I wanted to say more, tell him about Bryce’s joyful reaction to finding out Zaden was his dad, but I didn’t want to get into all that while my mother was sitting there listening to everything I said.
Eleanor watched me for a beat, then said, "He’s good for you. Even if you don’t want to admit it."
I rolled my eyes. "Don’t start."
She smiled, tired. "I won’t. For now."
When she left, Eleanor squeezed my shoulder. "I’ll see you Saturday," she said. "Rest up."
I watched her walk down the drive. The house felt lighter, like someone had opened a window and let the air change. I stood by the sink, rinsing plates, and tried to imagine what it would be like to feel everything at once, to be unblocked, unbroken. It terrified me.
But it also felt a little like hope.
Chapter 19
Zaden
At every stopsign on the way from Z's place to Beck Manor, I caught myself squeezing the handlebars until they creaked, rehearsing the same two or three sentences in a loop.Hi. I’m Zaden. I’m your…? Father? Dad? Dragon? Dragon Daddy?
It was Wednesday and Krystal and I took the night off so Bryce and I could meet officially now that she told him I was his father. The dragon in me hummed with anticipation, but the rest of me was less eager, braced for a punchline or a door slammed in my face.
