“That’s oddly specific,” she muttered, but her cheeks flushed.
“Rule Number Twenty. Seri will not use her magic unless given explicit permission or in life-threatening situations.”
At that one, she looked up, eyes narrowing.
“That seems excessive. What if I need to use moonlight to see?”
Cas hesitated, and I jumped in.
“Amendment to Rule Twenty: Minor magic for non-combat purposes is permitted, subject to approval.”
“Doesn’t sound much better,” she grumbled, but added a tiny crown sticker.
“Rule Number Twenty-One. Seri will not touch anything with her bare hands. Even if it looks harmless. Even if it’s pretty.”
“Even if it’s just a rock?” She tilted her head to one side.
“Especiallyif it’s just a rock,” Koa jumped in before I could. “Zane nearly lost three fingers on a cursed stone once.”
By Rule Number Thirty, the rulebook looked like a craft store vomited on it. Cas had given up and was now simply reciting rules with resigned dignity. Ko had settled into a nearby chair, watching Seri with that adoring gaze that meant he was memorizing every detail of her happiness. And I was mentally calculating just how many rules Seri would break on our first outing together.
As Cas neared the end of his list, I could see the tension gathering in Seri’s shoulders despite her cheerful decorating. Each rule represented another restriction, another reminder that we didn’t trust her to take care of herself. I understood why. Hell, I agreed with most of the rules! But I also saw how it wore on her.
Thank the night, Casimir Cimmerian had moments of solid fucking gold. Notmany, but this was one.
“Last one. Rule Number Thirty-Two. Seri will remember that these rules exist because she is valued, cherished, and irreplaceable. These guidelines will act like safety ropes on a climbing wall: There not to hold her back, but to catch her if she falls.”
Seri’s pen stilled, her eyes fixed on the page. Then, slowly, she reached for a gold heart sticker, bigger than any she’d used so far, and placed it beside the rule.
“That one I can follow,” she said, eyes glossing over.
Ko moved to her side, his hand finding hers in that careful way that belonged to her and her alone. Cas’ rigid posture loosened just a fraction. And me? I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat and did what I always do.
“Well, that got mushy real fast.” I stretched as I stood. “If we’re done with the arts and crafts portion of the evening, I vote we grab dinner. I’m starving.”
“Me, too!” Seri’s hand shot up.
“Just remember, beloved,” Cas had to add, “these guidelines may be amended as needed for safety and efficiency.”
“Translation: Cas reserves the right to make up new rules on the fly when Seri inevitably finds loopholes in the existing ones,” I stage-whispered.
Giggling, she added one last sticker on the cover, a wolf that looked like Brumous.
“There.” She sat back to admire her handiwork. “Now it’s perfect.”
“This is a serious safety document, Serafina, not a scrapbook.” Cas stared at it, his expression hovering somewhere between horror and affection.
“It can be both. Besides, this way I’ll actuallywantto read it.”
“She’s got you there,” Ko chuckled.
“And don’t worry,” she said, meeting each of our gazes in turn. “I’ll follow the rules. I promise.”
Something in her tone made me wonder if she was crossing her fingers behind her back, but I pushed the thought away. This was Seri. Honest to a fault, loyal to her core. If she promised, she meant it.
Probably.
Mostly.
