“I just got done talking with Nico and Luce.” More so, they bickered, giving me pieces of information between snips at one another.
Luka took a seat on the bed next to me and I filled him in on the updates. I’d be glad to be reunited with them soon. I was tired of communicating through a mirror.
“What do you think that means for Luce?”
My body tensed. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Not one fucking bit.” I knew as much as anyone Luce wouldn’tstop practicing Ichor magic because we asked her to, but it didn’t stop me from worrying about what that mark on her arm meant—and how it was spreading. Nico had forced her to show it to me. She had forbidden him from telling Caterina. I knew she’d have words with Luce when she found out.
This magic was dangerous. And we might find out the effects of using it sooner rather than later.
“I told her to stop pursuing any of the spells that use Ichor Magic.” Whether she listens to me is another story.
“Does that affect any of the spells she’s working on for battle?”
I flopped onto my back on the bed. “She wouldn’t tell me.”
Luka hummed in response as he lay next to me. “Have you heard anything from Nol?”
“More of the same.” He had been checking in with me every few days, per my overprotective request. “He seems to be doing well. I just worry about him being lonely. He spent so much time alone and now?—”
“But he chose that—he’d rather be there and be lonely, than here. He needs to heal.”
I worried my bottom lip between my teeth. “I feel like we switched rolls. He used to always be worrying about me and now I’m the one worrying about him.”
“Must be payback.” He pulled me to his side and kissed the top of my head.
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I gave him the information of someone he could talk to. I don’t know if he’ll use it, but I hope he does. I know he’s not ready to talk to me or Kara, but I wish he’d talk to someone.”
“Did you talk to someone after your parents died?”
“No. But I should have. I might not have listened, but I wish someone would have tried to get me to talk about it.”
“And you’re doing that for Nol, you gave him theresources he needs, it’s up to him to decide if he wants to take advantage of it. He’s an Adair, after all. I can’t imagine he likes being told what to do.”
I huffed a laugh. “He’s the most agreeable of the three of us.”
“I noticed that.”
“I just—I feel so guilty. He was out there for three years. Three fucking years he was a captive and I didn’t know. I went on with my life while my brother was out there being—who knows what was being done to him.” I had to stop myself from going too deep down that hole. My mind was already dark enough after what I endured during my short time there—when I started thinking about Nol being there, I had to shut it down before it got too far.
“You didn’t go on with your life. You thought he was dead. You had no reason to believe he wasn’t. You grieved him. You need to stop dwelling on the past and focus on the fact your brother isn’t dead. You got him back. It’s a fucking miracle, Lennox. And you need to treat it as such.”
“You’re right.” I wiggled closer to his side, resting my head in the crook of his neck.
“I love it when you tell me I’m right.” I poked my finger into his side. “Have you talked with Kara about this?”
“A little, but not really. Preparing for war doesn’t allow for a lot of time for in-depth personal conversations about our trauma and our newly resurrected brother.”
“Promise me you’ll talk to her, when this is all over.”
“I promise.” I snuggled in closer. “Now no more talking.”
“Thank the fucking stars.”
I abandoned the group of soldiers I’d been training withand took off toward the convoy breaching the entrance to our camp.
I headed straight to the dark-skinned witch at the front, with her curls blowing behind her.
I threw my arms around my cousin and embraced her before she could protest. Luce hesitated for a beat before hugging me back.
