I sighed again—another sign that the attachment was already getting to me, as I was not one for melodrama—and rubbed the back of my neck.
I swear I heard Jade’s delighted laughter, the feeling of her warm hand in mine swamped me, and I knew my decision was inevitable.
I frowned as I once again strode down the sidewalk watching for one of the Drake’s black SUVs.
I wasn’t looking forward to what was coming next, but it was necessary.
EPILOGUE
Jade
Iviolently shook my smoothie—trying to make sure I’d properly blended all the cucumber bits and frozen mango chunks—when my phone chirped with an incoming text message.
My guts churned, and I slowly turned the phone over terrified to see what message was waiting for me.
It was my older brother—Peri, short for Peridot—texting in our sibling group message.
Peri
There hasn’t been any yelling, so I assume you still haven’t told the parental units?
Not yet.
I set my thermos down and held my breath, waiting for an answer. My phone immediately chirped again, this time with a message from Jasper.
Jasper
Jade. The only reason we agreed not to tell Mom and Dad is because you said you would. It’s almost been a week. Tell them!
I guiltily tapped a button on my phone to lock it.
They were right, I needed to. But I was waiting for one last piece of info that might help smooth this situation over: Confirmation that Gisila really had left Magiford.
After getting discharged from the hospital, I had immediately called my older brothers to tell them about everything: Gisila, Considine/Connor, the mercenary wolves, all of it. Having Considine be the one to drag my unconscious carcass into the hospital had been a wakeup call to the danger I’d put myself in by not telling my family.
Over the phone call, my brothers had… listened. Furiously.
In the end, they’d agreed to stay silent until I had a chance to tell our parents—and grandparents—but I’d wanted the chance to fortify my situation and get a couple of work items crossed off to use as evidence for why I could and should stay in Magiford, specifically that Gisila had indeed left Magiford. (There was still a very real chance my parents would drag me back home after learning about everything unless I had a strong defense.)
I scooped up my thermos—reassured that I’d blended it well enough. I swapped the blender blade secured to the thermos for a to-go lid—then did one last inspection of my apartment.
My windows—which reflected all the lights I had on, since it was pitch black outside due to the much earlier sunsets—were locked, and the fae defense spells I’d paid a fae to create for me were active and humming. My apartment was safe—a very real concern because despite Gisila leaving, she’d proven she wasn’t above hiring goons to carry out her dirty work.
I have my keys, wallet, everything I need for work…I took a sip of my drink and shook my head. The watermelon flavor of the potion I’d mixed into my smoothie—the one additional requirement my brothers had demanded—that I take daily potions for the next week even though I was perfectly fine—wasn’t the greatest match with the mango-cucumber base I’d blended up.
A tap on my front door had me pausing, my heart twisting in my chest.Maybe?
“Jade!” Sunshine’s voice was muffled through the thick door. “We’re going to be late for work, let’s go—and I brought breakfast-egg muffins!”
“Coming!” I glanced one last time around my apartment, then flicked off the lights and slipped through my front door.
Sunshine stood in the hallway wearing her work uniform of a white lab coat, slacks, and a bright pink collared shirt, and holding two egg muffins that were basically quiche in a muffin form.
I smiled at her and juggled my thermos to my left hand so I could lock my door. “Are you really sure you want to work the night shift?” I asked. “I feel really bad that you put in the change request because of me.”
“Use that feeling of guilt to inspire yourself to stay alive during your patrols,” Sunshine dourly said. “And this is a temporary measure—until I’m certain you aren’t going to get yourself killed while on the clock. Besides, don’t you want help with your paper?”
“Yeah,” I sighed.
