Asterion was quiet. “Alright, I accept.”
“Great. We can?—”
A sharp giggle cut across the room.
He was at Korinnae’s side in three large strides, one hand on her shoulder, scanning her face. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
Korinnae leaned away from him. “Uncle Asty, I’m fiiiiiine,” she said, her tone like an embarrassed teen. “Ria’s kit opened by itself.”
Ria pressed her lips together. “She’s doing good. Resilient,” she added with a lift of her dark eyebrow. “More than she gets credit for.”
The minotaur’s nostrils flared. “If your magic hurts her in any way?—”
“My magic saved her,” Ria replied, her tone matter of fact. “And I will find a cure.” Lifting her head, she met the minotaur’s gaze, her expression steely, never breaking.
So, the friendly, sunshiny witch had nerves of steel.
Interesting.
Asterion straightened slowly. He looked at his niece, then back at the window, which he returned to without a word.
Korinnae watched him go, then looked at Ria. “He does that,” she said quietly.
“I can see that,” Ria said warmly. “Okay, hold out your hand for me….”
Maldenis caught Liora’s eye. She was biting back a smile. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who found this interesting.
Later, when they returned to Liora’s room and she had fallen back asleep—truly asleep this time—Maldenis sat in his chair and let himself think.
He was still sitting there when his phone buzzed on the nightstand. Grabbing it before it could wake Liora, he slipped out into the hallway, pulling the door behind him.
His mother’s face filled the screen. “You look terrible,” Melora said by way of greeting.
“And good morning to you too, Mother,” he replied sarcastically.
“Have you been sleeping?”
“Enough.”
Her slitted golden eyes did a quick, assessing sweep of his face that told him she did not believe him. “How is she?”
“Better. She woke up this morning, then argued with me.” He leaned against the wall. “So, basically herself.”
Something shifted in Melora’s expression. It was brief, but he had spent his entire life watching his mother’s face for those small movements. “Good,” she said. “That is very good. Hecate’s little witch was well-trained.”
“Ariadne knows what she’s doing. She’ll help find a permanent cure.”
“Still, I called in a few favors of my own,” she continued, her tone businesslike once more. “I’ve reached out to three of my contacts, one in the eastern archives, one who owes me a significant debt in the lower regions, and an old acquaintance who specializes in curses of this particular nature.” She paused. “I expect to hear back within the week.”
He exhaled. “Thank you. Seriously.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” she said, which was probably as close to‘you’rewelcome’ as she could get.“May I see her?”
He blinked. “She’s asleep.”
“I won’t wake her. I only want to—” She stopped. “Never mind.”
“No, hang on.” Pushing off the wall, he eased the door back open, heading to the bedside and tilting the screen carefully toward Liora. She was still curled on her side, one hand tucked under her cheek, eyes closed.
