His eyes lightened even more, a familiar spark of mischief touching them, something that made her heart give a pang of grief for how much she’d missed it, how much time they’d lost. But they were back together now, and that was what she would focus on.
“You can hug me,” he said, “but I can’t promise about the tears. We both know how dramatic you can be.”
Viri scrunched her nose but didn’t deny it, just threw her arms around him for the first time in seven long, painful years. Sure enough, tears leaked from her eyes, but she sniffed them back and held him tighter, only letting go when he made a wheezing joke about needing to breathe. That more than anything told her he was going to be all right. They both were.
“On the topic of hugs…” Braedan said after she steppedback again, his voice turning unexpectedly teasing, which only strengthened Viri’s relief. “You and Reeve seemed pretty cozy earlier. Anything you want to share?”
Her relief vanished instantly, replaced by a blushing scowl. “Definitely not.”
“Are you sure? Because it looked like—”
“It looked like ‘mind your own business,’ ” Viri stated firmly.
Braedan chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. But next time, get a room. I donotneed to see my best friend and my sister—”
“Don’t even think about finishing that thought,” Viri warned, her blush deepening.
Braedan grinned broadly enough to show his dimple, something she’d never imagined she’d see again. But then he sighed, his playfulness fading as he said, “We should go find him and come up with a plan. We might not be able to kill the Reaper Lord, but we sure as hell need to stop him.”
Viri wholeheartedly agreed, but the castle was huge, and it could take a while to hunt Reeve down—time she could use to get the last of her questions answered. “You get him, then meet me up in the Guardian’s tower.”
Braedan understood immediately. “Do you want us to delay—”
“No,” Viri said. “We’ve lost enough time already. Find him, then head straight there.”
Braedan nodded, his humor reappearing as he said, “Don’t get turned into a frog. I doubt even Reeve would kiss you then.”
Viri blanched. “Is that possible?”
Braedan scratched his jaw. “I mean, I guess it depends on how much he likes y—”
“No, thefrog,” Viri gritted out.
Her brother laughed and threw his arm over her shoulders, guiding her across the glowing courtyard to the tower she’d sprinted out of what felt like years ago. What he didn’t do was answer, but she shook off her unease as they parted ways, Brae heading in the direction Reeve had gone, while Viri retraced her steps through the double-arched doors all the way back up to Nevarnost Tower.
Part of her wanted to stop and admire the blue, silver, and gold castle furnishings this time, but she told herself she could come back again when everyone she loved wasn’t in danger. Another part of her—a very large part—wanted to duck into one of the many cozy-looking sitting rooms and take a minute to process everything she’d learned that night. Her head and her heart felt ravaged, and she desperately longed for a moment of peace to try and come to terms with her emotions. But with the comet nearly upon them, it had to take priority over all else. So she barricaded her feelings behind her mental wall and strode purposefully along the gilded hallways, climbing up the steep, spiraling staircases until she reached the Guardian’s circular stone room.
For some reason, she wasn’t at all surprised to find him in the same armchair before the green-flamed fireplace, a smile touching his lips as he caught sight of her.
“Welcome back, Viridia,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
31
Nerves bubbled within Viri as she walked past the wayportal toward the Guardian, barely glancing at the rare books and magical artifacts lining the walls, or the glass windows and ceiling that showed a starry sky that seemed to be oddly lightening. She frowned at that, before telling herself it must be a trick of the moonlight, then directed her full attention toward the purple-robed mage as she sat in the golden chair next to his.
She launched straight in.
“I know I’m the child you brought back to life.”
He showed no surprise at her statement. “I assume you have questions?”
Viri licked her lips, not having expected it to be that easy. “What can you tell me about the magic in me?” She couldn’t bring herself to say the wordsmy magic. “The story goes that you bound the chil—meto the magic of the isle, but what does that mean?”
The Guardian crossed one leg over the other, his robes shifting with the move. “That isn’t entirely accurate,” he said. “I didn’t bind you to the magic of the isle itself—that would have beentoo dangerous. Not to mention impossible. The Hallow Stream has been inaccessible since before the ancient mages left these shores.”
“Hallow Stream?” Viri repeated, having never heard that term before.
“One of three sources of pure magic that fuel our world with ellixen,” the Guardian explained. “Or it was, long ago, but now only a trickle flows from it, most of which lingers in untamed places like the Mistwood.”
