I deserved what was given—if I was in either of your shoes, a stake to the heart would have been a fair option for what I have done. This token will not change our past, but I hope you will accept it and beae no ill will toward the kingdoms I hold an unsteady rule over.
My friendship will remain if you ever choose to claim it.
Kindest Regards,
Magnus
I fold the letter and toss it on the floor. “I told you. Magnus is so pathetic.” The room lets out a collective groan.
“And you said I had a flair for the dramatic,” Moth grumbles.
“Yeah, he’s a lot.” I shake my head. “So, you clawed his face up?”
“I merely picked up where you left off.” He shrugs. “As he stated in the letter, his actions should have earned him much worse.”
“It sucks.”
“What does?”
“Is it terrible that I hope he does find happiness—or deserves it, at least?” I frown.
“Heather!” The group shouts in unison while Moth lets out a chuckle, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Really though. Even with everything that happened, I don’t think he’s all bad. Misguided, terrible priorities, sure, but he was so, so lonely.”
“So, send him a barn cat, not an olive branch,” Clara huffs.
That’s not a terrible idea. Magnus does seem to be a cat person and it would be more practical than… what did he say his favorite animal was? A hedgehog, maybe? I don’t remember, and it doesn’t matter, but the point is: he did seem to like cute, fluffy things. He’d protect it—and it would destroy the hell out of his castle.
“Your heart is too big for your own good,” Moth says, calming the chaos of our friends’ voices. I nod. That’s a pretty diplomatic response considering everything that’s happened. “He can have his happiness, so long as it is far away from you.”
“You are not the only one who has made questionable choices,” Moth huffs. “I hope you can forgive me for accepting information from the hunter.”
I shake my head. He explained it all when we walked last night; we had so much to catch up on, and even in my exhausted state, I’m just happy he kept looking for me.
“There’s nothing to forgive.” I shake my head, looking from him, to Rosie, then Clara. “Thank you for having my back… all of you.”
Chris wanted to hurt Moth—and he didn’t care if he hurt me in the process.
Magnus never wanted to hurt anyone, despite how selfish and messed up he was for holding me captive.Why am I defending him again?
“I know it’s probably not fair, considering what I said about Magnus, but you were right. When it comes to Chris, I just—”I never want to see him again.
And I’m glad Moth and my friends know me well enough to support that.
I can’t even bring myself to finish the sentence. Moth takes my hand in his, placing our hands on top of my chest. The warm feeling of his flesh encompasses mine makes my heartbeat steady. I exhale.
“Heather, he’s mybrotherand this still hasn’t wiped the slate clean,” Rosie says. “He’s grown though, and that’s something I didn’t count on. I might let him sit on the porch at Thanksgiving this year.”
“Maybe in the middle of the yard, if he’s lucky,” Clara jokes.
Moth brings me back with a squeeze to my knee.
“Just because you have a big heart doesn’t mean you need to allow everyone inside,” he says, and the feeling of his fingers across my skin is just as much a comfort as his words. He can meet me right at my most flawed and forgiving (or unforgiving) and accept everything he sees.
“You know it’s yours, don’t you?’
“And I am lucky to have it.” He kisses my hand. “But the next one who tries to steal you away from me will have their skin turned to ribbons.”
