“Should you have shown that to her, Lioness?” Chad asked.
The remote viewing artist straightened her spine. “Absolutely. We don’t hide the truth from each other,” she bristled. “This is why we were worried about your romantic involvement. But you both promised you could be objective under all circumstances.”
Brianna released Chad and jammed her hands on her hips. “Did I rush in to help, Lioness? No, I did not. I was ordered to stay outside until it was over, and that’s what I did.”
Lioness nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Noted.”
Chad wondered briefly if perhaps Lioness was jealous, but he decided to keep that thought to himself. He also wondered if any of the witches had significant others. He had heard about Rayna’s man-pets, but he had the impression that they weren’t a sexual group.
Be that as it may, the battle was over. The library was being restored to its pre-battle condition, and they had won the day.
As the groupmade their way back to the L.A.W. mansion, still in Tennessee, a sense of relief mixed with lingering tension hung in the air. The battle at the Library of Congress had been won, but everyone knew this was far from over. The Aether Pirates would regroup and probably strike again.
Back at the mansion, Bas called an immediate debriefing session. The witches and Chad gathered in the grand war room, some still bearing minor injuries from the fight. Magda was cleaning and bandaging her fellow witches’ cuts and applying a poultice to their bruises.
"Well done, everyone," Bas began. Her emerald eyes scanned the room. "We've managed to repel this attack and protect thelibrary. But we can't afford to rest on our laurels. The Aether Pirates will be back, and they'll be more determined than ever."
“How do you know they’ll be back? Didn’t you banish them?” Brianna asked.
“These leaders are dangerous psychopaths. Those following them appear to be fanatics too. I cannot see them giving up.”
Dr. Emerson nodded gravely. "Indeed. And now that they know we've moved the Codex Temporis, they'll want to locate it. I think for everyone’s safety, I should keep it and not reveal its location.”
Brianna immediately thought about his death in three years. If he never revealed where he had hidden it, how would they ever find it again? It had barely revealed itself to her the first time.
“But, Dr. Emerson, I will need to study that text. It is, after all, supposed to help me understand and control my ability to time-travel.”
He nodded slowly, as if he were pondering the dilemma. “Yes, Brianna. You should be allowed to study the text, but I will ask you to do it only in my presence. I will hide it again after each session.”
She worried her lip. Figuring she would win his trust over time, and he’d share the book’s hiding place with her, she agreed.
Chad spoke up, his voice still tinged with adrenaline from the battle. "Dr. Emerson, I understand the need for secrecy, but shouldn't we have a contingency plan? What if something happens to you and we need to access the Codex?"
Dr. Emerson's eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "My dear boy, do you really think I haven't considered that? Rest assured, there are measures in place. But the fewer who know the details, the safer we all are."
Bas nodded in agreement. "Emerson is right. Now, let's focus on our next steps. Chad, your quick thinking in escaping Damienwas impressive. But we need to work on strengthening your Word Warrior abilities against these interdimensional threats."
Chad nodded, feeling a mix of pride and determination. "I'm ready to push myself further. But first, can you tell me something, honestly?”
“Any questions you have, you may ask,” Dr. Emerson said. “If there is an answer, you will get an honest response.”
“Good. Will it always be like this? Saving the whole world as we know it?”
The witches laughed. Bas recovered first. “No, Chad. We take all kinds of cases. From the mundane to the overwhelming. As long as it’s worth our time and energy, we do our utmost for each client.”
“Who was our client in this case?”
“It was me, dear boy,” Dr. Emerson said. “That’s why I was so closely involved. I may not always participate in future endeavors, but I’ll always be available to guide you.”
At least for the next three years…Chad didn’t voice his niggling worry.
After the debriefing,Brianna and Chad took a walk in the Tennessee woods. Brianna took Chad’s hand as they strolled toward the stream where they’d shared a passionate kiss only a couple of days ago. But it felt like a lifetime.
As they walked hand in hand through the lush Tennessee forest, the world around them seemed to come alive with vibrant energy. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves overhead, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air was thick with the scent of pine and wildflowers, andthe gentle babbling of the nearby stream provided a soothing backdrop to their conversation.
Chad marveled at how much his life had changed in such a short time. He talked about how just months ago, he had been a professor focused on his academic career, and now he was part of a secret magical organization, fighting interdimensional pirates and wielding the power of words as a weapon. But through it all, Brianna had been his constant, his anchor in this storm of change.
They reached the stream where they had shared that passionate kiss, and Brianna felt a flutter in her chest at the memory. Instead of stopping there, they ventured deeper into the secluded forest. A magnetic energy pulsed between them, setting her skin tingling with anticipation.
