Faelan’s eyelids fluttered. His breathing was deep and even, like he was completely at peace.
I wanted to shake him awake just to make sure he was still him.
Bethany set the book down between us. “Okay. Let’s figure this out.”
The leather cover creaked as I opened the book. The pages felt dense, and heavy with age, with words formed in ink that had refused to fade.
Bethany sighed. “I’d been hoping it was Randy’s reading comprehension at fault.”
Callie leaned closer and tapped a line. “But doesn’t some of it look like English? Or, maybe…what Englishusedto look like?”
She wasn’t wrong. A few of the words almost made sense, but they didn’t quite click. Like staring at a reflection in rippling water—recognizable, but distorted beyond recognition.
“This is like trying to decipher a Shakespeare play after four glasses of wine,” Bethany sighed.
I flipped another page, scanning for anything that looked like a reversal, or a counterbalance, or maybe a way to undo what had been done.
Nothing stood out.
And the last thing we needed was to screw this up worse.
Callie yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I may be too tired for ancient druid homework.”
Bethany slumped against the wooden frame, resting her head back. “Yeah. Just give me five minutes.”
She was asleep in less than two.
Callie stretched her arms overhead, then curled into herself and drew up her legs to settle her chin on her own knee. She wasblinking slower now, exhaustion pulling at her, but sleep hadn’t taken her just yet.
I hesitated, then gave her leg a little shove. “Hey.”
She hummed in sleepy acknowledgment.
“I just…” I shifted, picking a stray leaf off my jacket. “Thanks for sticking with me through all this. I know I came in here acting like I was on some kind of rescue mission, ready to drag you back home, and you could’ve told me to screw off.”
Callie smirked. “I mean, I thought about it.”
I huffed a quiet laugh, but my chest felt tight. “Still. You didn’t have to help me with Faelan. But you did.”
She finally looked me in the eye, her expression sincere. “You’re my best friend. You needed backup. That’s it.”
I nodded, exhaling slowly, but before I could change the subject, Callie shifted.
“While we’re having this little heartfelt moment,” she said, her voice lighter but still careful, “I guess I should say…thanks. You know. For being cool about things.”
I frowned. “What things?”
She gave me a flat look. “Sam.”
Realization hit. I hadn’t known she was into women.
“Oh,” I said, glancing at Bethany. Then, firmer, “Callie, what the hell? Of course I’m cool about it.”
She shrugged. “I only just figured myself out. You’re the first person I’ve really told, and I don’t know, I guess I worried it might change something. Between you and me.”
I shook my head. “You’re Callie—that’s all that matters.”
She nodded once, like that was all she had left. “Glad you’re on my side.”
