Celeste’s eyes widened. “Redirect?”
Gideon didn’t answer fast enough.
“To me?” I asked.
Gideon nodded. “If things don’t go well.”
Keegan’s fingers tightened around mine. “No.”
“You asked me to break it,” Gideon said. “This is the fastest way.”
Keegan looked like he might decide to throw Gideon through the nearest wall, which would have been emotionally satisfying but not especially helpful.
I turned toward him. “Keegan.”
His gaze met mine, and all the fury in him turned into something that hurt far worse.
Fear.
“I can do this,” I said softly.
“I know you can.” His voice was rough. “That doesn’t make me like it.”
“I don’t like it either, but time isn’t on our side.” I shifted closer, careful to keep my body between her and the rest of the room, as though that could shield her from a tower built to hurt us. My thumb brushed over her knuckles, slow and steady.
“Look at me,” I told her.
She did.
“Do you remember when you were little and had that nightmare about the closet door opening by itself?”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Mom.”
“You made me sleep on the floor beside your bed for three nights and we got it through it.”
Keegan’s lips twitched while his attention stayed on the cuff.
Celeste gave a tiny, strained laugh, and her breathing eased a fraction.
Gideon clutched the cuff and murmured deeply as his body stiffened.
The cuff dimmed slightly, and Gideon glanced at us. “Keep talking. It’s channeling the energy away.”
I swallowed and nodded. “And then you decided the only way to defeat the closet monster was to tape a picture of a dragon on the door.”
“It worked, though.” Celeste grinned as if she’d been transported to that very age.
“It was a very intimidating dragon, if I remember.” I laughed. “It had extremely judgmental eyebrows.”
“I’ve always loved dragons,” she whispered, and I so wished I could tell her about the very ones under Stonewick.
Celeste’s mouth trembled, and I felt the tears rising in both of us, dangerous and bright.
I squeezed her hand. “No crying.”
“No crying,” she repeated.
“Let’s think some mean thoughts,” I offered.
