I did as he said, but unlike the spheres used at the inns and the courts that simply cataloged identifying information, the feel of the magic in his sphere encompassed my thoughts. Power swirled through my mind and took whatever it wished.
Words flowed across the page, and my eyes widened as detail upon detail of my time with the semelees appeared before me. Every single second I’d commanded the fates was documented. It didn’t name me, and there was nothing identifying, but in the centuries to come, if a new lorafin was born and walked the land, if she came to the Isle of Song, she too could learn from the history books.
By the time the magic finished, it left me with an unsettled feeling. My mind had literally just been plundered, but it had only taken from my time with the semelees. No more. It was a small price to pay for all that Master Fistideeous had done for me.
Still, I shook the feeling off. It was definitely strange.
“Thank you,” I said, when the knowledge-sharing was complete. “If not for you, the prince and I would not be together right now, and a horrible plan that had been brewing on the continent would be taking form.”
The scholar’s smile stretched wide once more, and he twisted the scroll up and secured it with a leather strap. “I’m glad to hear that I tutored you well and that you were mindful of whatever you changed. And might I say, the pleasure was all mine, even if I can’t remember you, and I do thank you for what you’ve done.” He tapped the scroll with one of his claws. “The day may come when another lorafin will need our help, and what you’ve shared today may be exactly what she seeks.”
I leaned down and gave him a kiss, his skin cool and rough like stone, and I could have sworn a blush rose in him when I pulled back.
“We can’t thank you enough, Master Fistideeous.” Jax bowed toward him.
The gargoyle cleared his throat, hopping from foot to foot, then bowed as well. “I wish you both many moons and stars of happiness to come.”
We said our goodbyes, and then magic swirled around us, taking us back to the university’s front steps. Both Jax and I gazed upward at the ancient building that had changed both of our lives.
Silently, we said goodbye to it and then used a portal key to whisk us back to the continent.
We returnedto Jaggedston to find the others. It wasn’t hard. A dillemsill was waiting for us on the windowsill of Jax’s suite, letting us know everyone was waiting for us in Bastian’s enchanted chambers.
“I can only imagine what they’re all up to,” Jax said, a smile in his voice as the dillemsill began to spin with magic.
We headed to the third floor of Jax’s tower, using the magical lift he’d created within the walls. He let me operate it, so I closed the painting that covered the creation and then told the lift to descend. On the third floor, I tapped the button shining green, which indicated that the coast was clear. The portrait swung open, and the familiar third floor greeted us.
Out of the lift, the carpet made our steps silent as we strode toward the enchanted suite. Jax knocked briskly on the door once, then let himself in.
Bastian looked up from where he was sitting in the seating area. Everyone else was either lounging on the furniture around him or casually standing.
A huge tray of food sat before them, and from the looks of it, all of them were enjoying it.
“I hope those goblets aren’t filled with leminai.” Jax put his hands on his hips, his voice stern, but a smile tugged at his lips.
“Of course not. What do you take us for?” Trivan replied, lifting his glass. “Drunkards?”
“Bro, I can’t get enough of this cheese. Seriously, it’s the best.” Bastian picked up a thick wedge of it and placed it on a slice of bread before shoving the entire thing into his mouth. Beside him, on the couch, lay a looking glass.
I laughed lightly at the sheer joy emitting from him and had a feeling it was due to the males’ company and the fact that he could speak with Anna whenever he wanted. That, and he’d only been in this room for a day. He hadn’t been imprisoned for weeks in this reality, with Saramel caring for him while I studied furiously at the Isle of Song.
Chuckling, Jax joined Bastian and the others.
Bowan leaned forward on the chair across from Bastian and picked up a piece of cheese too, but Bastian swatted his fingers away. “That’s my breakfast you’re taking.”
Bowan grinned and popped the cheese in his mouth. “Yes, it is, and it’s quite delicious.”
Trivan snickered and also snagged a few pieces from the tray while Lars and Phillen stood near the door. Both held beverages.
Lander and Alec lounged near the wall, and Quinn was nowhere to be seen. One thing I was quickly learning about the crowfy shifter, he came and went readily within the group, and nobody seemed to think anything of it.
Jax dropped down beside his brother and clapped him on the shoulder. “Are you ready to go home?”
Bastian’s eyes widened, and his antler rack swung so quickly when he turned his head, that if anyone had been standing closer, they’d likely been knocked over. “Seriously?”
Jax nodded. “King Paevin’s dead. He can’t hurt you again.”
“I get to go home today?” Bastian leaped from the couch, a whoop of joy emitting from him. He did it so quickly that the tray knocked over in front of him, and cheese flew everywhere.
