Andwhatwas that noise?
Mom leaves the bed. “I have blueberry bread in the oven. It should be ready in about ten minutes. Why don’t you get ready and then come join us for breakfast?”
“Okay.”
She turns to look back at me from the doorway, concerned. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Frowning, she nods, closing the door behind her. “I’ll make some coffee. You look like you could use some this morning.”
The moment she’s gone, I scramble over to the other side of the bed. “Rowan?” I whisper urgently. “Rowan!”
A shrill, startling screech comes from under the bed, chilling me right to the bone. I lift the dust ruffle and come face to face with a very small, very startled-looking owl.
We peer at each other—me lost for words, him unable to use words.
“Rowan,” I say dumbly. “You’re a bird again.”
Chapter 15
So Good He Doesn’t Even Need a Wand
Rowan replies with an agitated flap of his wings.
My eyes fall on his clothes. He managed to drag them under the bed after he changed, probably just accomplishing the task when Mom looked down.
“How…?” Baffled, I look at his wand across the room.
But Rowan can’t answer without his amulet, and as far as I know, we left it at Ansel’s after the reversal.
Ansel.
“Don’t panic,” I say, though I’m definitely panicking. “We’ll go to the rock shop right now.”
Using his wings in the tight space, Rowan hops out from under the bed and then flies to the bedpost.
“Oh, gosh, I wish you could talk.” I wring my hands, trying to figure out what to do.
Knowing he’ll need clothes when Ansel turns him back, I snatch up his things and toss them on the bed. “I have to put these in something.”
I find a tote bag in Laverna’s old wardrobe, shove the clothes into it, and then open the window. “Meet you at Ansel’s, okay?”
Rowan flies out, leaving me alone so I can get dressed.
I make an appearance in the kitchen five minutes later. My hair is up in a messy bun, and I’m wearing shorts and a pink T-shirt. I look like I’m going to the beach.
My parents exchange a look when they see me, concerned.
Mom carefully says, “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
“I didn’t sleep well,” I admit. “And I need to take off because I have an errand to run before the shop opens.”
Mom rises from the table and hurries to the quick bread cooling on the counter. “At least take some breakfast with you.”
Nadine sips coffee at the table, looking perfectly put-together. “I can open the shop if you want.”
“You’re sure?”
