“Azrael is with them,” Bastien added. “Headed right up when we heard the commotion.”
I turned back to Amelia. “It’s fortunate that you stayed, actually. We’ve come across a possible solution to wake the Greenes, and now we have them both in the same locale.”
Amelia perked up at that. “Really? Is that true, Bastien?”
“Indeed. I would have mentioned it sooner, but I was too distracted by projectile tea cups.”
Amelia seemed to calm at that, dropping the pillow to the floor and smoothing out the wrinkles in her floral dress. “Well then. I suppose that I may have been a tad bit rash. Once Lynette is awake, then she can tell that nasty woman that she’s not going to be anyone’s prisoner, and we can return to the city.”
“That sounds lovely,” I agreed with her. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to go check on them before preparations can begin.”
“Of course,” Amelia said, smiling sweetly. Her gaze fell to the mess around her, and she snapped her fingers, the door opening behind us to allow Winston in. “Gods above Winston, you’ve allowed this place to reach such a state. I shall have to take my tea in the living room while you see to this mess.”
“Very good, ma’am,” Winston replied with hesitation. “I shall escort you.”
The two of them departed the study while Bastien retrieved the compendium that he’d shoved under the sofa for safekeeping.
“What game do you think Wilhelm is playing at?” I asked when he’d returned.
“I’m not sure, but I have an uneasiness I hope proves false.”
Daring not to dally any longer, I followed Bastien back down the hall and up the narrow staircase, the door at the top cracked open. Azrael waited inside, knelt on one side of Tobias’ bed while the other had been filled with a fold-out cot on which Lynette rested.
He looked the same as the last time I’d seen him, frozen in time as though he’d only just drifted off to sleep. My own exhaustion was catching up, and I wanted nothing more in that moment than to curl up next to him and join him in dreaming, far away from crushing responsibilities or shadowy threats.
“He’s the same,” Azrael said as we entered, releasing his hold on Tobias’s hand as he stood. “What will you need for this cure, Bastien?”
“The ingredients shouldn’t be difficult to come by,” Bastien answered. “The library should have more than enough of everything I need in its storehouse, as well as the space we’ll need for the spellwork.”
“How long do you need to prepare?” I asked.
“I’ll go right away and get the space ready. It shouldn’t take me long.”
“What of Wilhelm? Shouldn’t we speak with her about what’s happened at the Cradle before we do anything else?”
Bastien shook his head. “I fear that it would only lead to more interruption. We’ve waited long enough for him, Cirian. I won’t make us wait any longer.”
I nodded, in no position to call out his selfish act. I myself was delaying the myriad of responsibilities that awaited me in the wake of Sancha’s departure. We were both doing what we thought was best for the man that we loved. And maybe for each other as well.
“How can we help?”
“We’ll need to move Tobias and Lynette when the time comes. Preferably in the least conspicuous way possible. Most of Paradise’s residents don’t know that they are here, and I’d like for it to remain that way.”
“That I can do,” Azrael volunteered. “I’ll have Kaine come grab Lynette so we can carry them both over at once.”
“Brilliant. As far as the process is concerned, I’ll need some assistance with the actual spellwork. Normally, I’d ask Wilhelm, but seeing as our friend in the other room has already had a run-in with her, I think it’s best that we do this as covertly as possible.”
“I’ll assist with your spellwork. I may not be the most adept, but I can follow directions.”
Bastien’s lips curled at that, his gaze falling on me with a lingering mirth. “Yes, you’ve proven that, haven’t you?”
Azrael snorted a laugh, and even I found myself smiling back at the typically brooding man. “Was that a joke, Bast?”
“I am capable of humor.”
“But most people find they don’t have to say it out loud like that.”
“I’m not most people.”
