His eyes flick to Dakari, who shakes his head. “Your family searched for you all that time. They won’t care, Jas.”
“Do you want us to come as backup?” Eddy offers. “Or not. If you want privacy, that’s cool, too.”
“I’d appreciate the company,” Jasper says, though the way his eyes flick to Dakari makes me think he’s just inviting her along to be polite. Evidently Eddy thinks the same, because she waves them on.
“Actually, you guys go ahead. North said I was better off staying away from the wizarding family drama.”
So her twin does have some common sense, after all. Although I wish he’d stop calling us wizards.
Jasper shoots Dakari and me a questioning look, and I’m nodding before I realise what I’m doing.
“I’d be remiss if I allowed you to meet them alone. We still don’t know how you were taken before.”
He was a teenager, so it’s not entirely impossible that the Carltons simply waited for him to go somewhere alone and seized the opportunity. But it’s equally likely that he was taken on their behalf by someone he trusted.
Dakari stands, silently offering his presence as well.
“I’ll meet you both down in the Rotunda,” I say. “Take your time.”
I linger above the gathered McKinleys while I wait, hoping to hear something, but they have the good sense to keep their thoughts to themselves and the discipline not to speak until Jasper steps into the room.
His mother is the first to break ranks.
She shoves past the others, eyes wet with tears as she throws herself at him. The second she touches him, she breaks. Her sobs fill the room, her hands fisting in his clothes as she holds him like he might be stolen again if she lets go.
“My boy,” she whispers over and over. “My son.”
Jasper looks alarmed at first, glancing back over his shoulder at Dakari before wrapping his arms around her in return.
“Hey, Ma.”
She breaks down in another sob, and his father joins them, wrapping them both up in an embrace while his sister looks on, a little awkward in the way teenagers often are, before she’s dragged into the huddle.
Jasper belongs with them.
I don’t realise that I’ve lost my hold on my invisibility until Halinor turns to regard me.
“You have our gratitude for his safe return, Librarian.”
“It’s not me you should thank,” I reply, evenly, inclining my head to where Dakari lingers.
“A Talcott?” Halinor’s brows rise.
I say nothing, uncertain of whether Jasper wants his friendship with Dakari to become common knowledge.
Halinor hums under her breath, watching with me as Jasper’s father gently peels away his wife—who’s started mumbling words of love in both English and Turkish—and pulls his son into a hug. His sister hangs back until their mother drags her forward, murmuring words too softly for me to hear without being intrusive.
“He’s not safe,” I tell Halinor. “Nor is he healed. The Arcanaeum will provide Sanctuary as long as he requests it.”
Her neck straightens at the implication, and I grimace as I remember the fierce pride her clan is known for.
“We’re more than capable of caring for our own.”
I have the irrational urge to warn her about the Carltons building alliances, but it’s not my place. I’m impartial, and besides, what is it to me if the houses finally kill one another off?
Except…Jasper is a McKinley. Jasper who has been nothing but unfailingly kind and sweet since he entered the building.
“I’m sure you’ve heard from other sources,” I begin, lowering my tone as I edge closer to her. “But Isidora Carlton was here a few days ago, with both the Ó Rinn and Talcott parriarchs.”
