Trey narrowed his eyes at his cousin. “We’re supposed topreventhim from using magic, not come up with new projects.”
“He doesn’t have to do itnow. I can wait until he’s better. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to check on Uncle Rick’s progress.” She dropped into a quick, mocking curtsey, then scampered out of the room.
Trey watched her, lips pressed into a grim line. He glanced back at me and said, “Don’t let her pressure you into performing magic.”
I ignored him and focused on eating. There was no point in making promises I didn’t intend to keep.
“Last to arrive again, I see,” Fitz called as we entered his sitting room. When he spotted the magical cuffs, emotions flickered over his face one after another, contorting the lines into shock, hurt, and finally, resignation. He adjusted his glasses, using the motion to hide his face for a moment, and muttered into his arm, “Well, that’s, hmm.”
“Wilde is like a little rabbit,” Delilah explained. “Likely to run when the big scary wolves start howling.”
I glared at her, but she didn’t even notice, her gaze locked on someone else. I looked in the same direction and tensed, exactly like the frightened animal she’d compared me to.
Maximus stared intently at the magical cuffs, like he could pick their lock with only his hazel eyes. Maybe he could. Some people could break wards with a simple touch. What would he do if he successfully tore me away from Treasure? Drag me off into another dark alley to finish what he’d started? Did I even have the strength to reset time again if he tried? My bones felt heavy, my muscles tired and swollen, everything weighing me down.
Trey’s hand captured mine, intertwining our fingers so that even if the shackles snapped open, he’d hold on to me. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “You’re not a rabbit who runs from the wolves. You’re the mage who fights them.”
No, I was the mage who had spent a year laying wards around the evil lair to keep them out. And had he already forgotten he’d told me to stop wasting magic?
“Has everyone gawked enough?” Angelica drawled. “Can we move on to the important part? Namely, when exactly are weleavingon this quest?”
“We’re all here, we’ve got all our supplies, I’ve plotted the route to the Grimnight Forest. Why wait?” Fitz said. “We could leave this afternoon.”
Last time, I’d had to disguise myself as the Good Wizard to convince them their quest was urgent. Now they wanted to leave after only a few days of plotting? If they’d been this eager the first time, I wouldn’t have taken so many risks.
“Yes,pleaselet’s get this over with,” Angelica said, hopping to her feet. “I feel like we’ve been dragging this out formonths.”
Fitz looked between Trey and I, keeping his eyes on our faces and not the cuffs. “Do you plan to be connected the whole time?”
“Only until we arrive at the forest,” Trey said, as if it was a perfectly reasonable way to travel.
“That will affect the room assignments.” Fitz walked off, muttering plans to himself.
I stared at his back, dread and nervousness forming a noxious mix in my stomach. Would I have to share a bed with Trey?
So much for doing things in order.
We’d barely been in Fitz’s sitting room for five minutes before everyone separated again to pack. I eyed the cuffs as we walked, an idea already forming on how to get myself out of them. “It will take us twice as long to pack if we’re connected,” I said. “We should—”
“Delilah can pack your bags,” Trey said.
Delilah plunked her hands onto her hips. “Why are you volunteering me?”
“Because you handled the shopping yesterday anyway, so you know what stuff is his.”
“Oh, good point.”
I glared at her.Of all the times you couldn’t be stubborn?That plan fizzled out before it could spark, but it would have required Trey’s cooperation anyway, something he always delighted in withholding. If I wanted out of these cuffs before this quest began, I’d need to find another ally.
When we reached the guest rooms, Delilah split off into our suite while Trey pulled me into his.
“Back so soon?” Brendon asked, glancing up from his paperwork. He blinked when he saw our linked hands. “Oh, is that where they went?”
“Sorry, but I need them more than you right now,” Trey said before tugging me into his room.
I looked over my shoulder at Brendon, who arched a brow at me. “What’s the—”
Trey shut the door before I could finish asking for the command word. “Nice try,” he said with a smirk. “But they’re not going to tell you.”
