“Maybe the other horseman can save her,” Mickey says.
“I have my doubts we’ll get anywhere near him,” I state, having the feeling that his free will has been stripped by the god. So I set my hand on Riley’s. “Maybe now is just not yet the right time. This magic seems to be disconnected from you. Maybe you’re just not powerful enough yet.”
Riley looks down at his hand that’s hidden beneath the glove and laughs. “Any more powerful and I doubt there’ll be much left of me.”
I reach out and tug up the leg of his pants, finding that the stain has crept up as far as I can see. I stare at it for a second before dropping the fabric. “Let’s try again when you’re not so drained.”
He nods as he stands and looks toward the spot where the Door stood earlier. “How long before he returns?”
“I don’t know.”
“The better question is… how many worlds are already gone?” Mickey asks. “Can we warn other realms?”
I look over at him. “I have no idea where they would target next.”
Mickey’s quiet for some time before saying, “Yeah? I might.” And then he claps his hands and Tommy rushes forward to try to carry him off. It’s very unsuccessful while he struggles to pull Mickey away.
“Is… is this what they call secondhand embarrassment?” I ask Riley.
“Sure is. I think he thought he was going to be super cool dropping that bit before being whisked away… it’s very embarrassing.”
“I can hear you guys,” Mickey yells.
“Good,” Riley calls back.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Riley
It’s hours before we’re allowed to leave, but at last we’re left standing near where the Door was earlier with hundreds of orbs still swarming around me. A few people asked why they were so fascinated with me, but I just brushed them off by saying that I must have touched the horseman and they’re drawn to the magic I borrowed. I’m not ready to announce that I play a much bigger role in this than I ever imagined. Will the Magical Interference Unit still trust me when they find out? Will they believe me when I say that I don’t know anything about what’s happening?
“Let’s go home,” I say as I eye the bow Conquest left behind. While there’s been interest in it, it seems like no one has wanted to pick it up. The few who touched it quickly drew back, stating that the magic rippling through it made them uncomfortable.
Yet when I slide my shaking hand around it, it feels comfortable, like it’s right where it belongs.
“Go… home… our home?” Torin asks, sounding hopeful. I think he’s still afraid I’m going to turn away from him. The real question is why he hasn’t turned away from me. What have I done to deserve his kindness?
“If you’ll have me.”
Torin smiles as he pulls me in closer and kisses my forehead. “Of course I’ll have you.”
The soft kiss makes my aching body feel a little better. “And my souls,” I add while I look at the souls bobbing around, far too interested in me.
“Can we get a pizza first? And lobster.”
“We can get anything you want,” I tell him, pulling out my phone to order a variety of food for Torin, Mickey, and me. “I’ll have it delivered to Mickey’s house.”
“Perfect,” Torin says as we walk out to the waiting car where Joy is in the driver’s seat and Mickey is stretched out in the back. I wave Torin to the front seat before climbing into the back and sitting down on Mickey.
“No! Dammit. What the fuck? My body,” Mickey cries.
“Move your ass,” I order as the car takes off before I’m even properly in the seat. The roads are still mostly clear of anything other than emergency vehicles, so we’re making pretty good time.
“Horseman, huh?” Mickey asks while I continue to squish him. He seems to like it.
“Don’t mention it to anyone yet.”
“Where’s your horse?”
