Page 48 of Lost and Bound

The cheeky grin on his face has me grabbing my device off my bed. Rodderick walks closer to Bugby while I search. I split my focus between the screen and watching him, to make sure neither of them does something to the other. The results show up quickly. I read the first, then work my way through all the other search results, but they all say the same thing.

“You knew, didn’t you?” I ask, satisfied by my findings, which all confirm that any being can have a familiar.

“I had an inkling. Only because I’ve read those rules maybe a hundred times or more. And with that resolved, let’s get you two moved.”

“Sounds good. Though your diversion didn’t go unnoticed, by the way. Were they really supposed to come and help me move?”

“I focus on you and me catching up over everything else, Maya.”

“True. Though I don’t get why I have to take everything with me if it’s only for a few days,” I grumble.

“Ah, that’s because no matter where you are, opportunity often brings out the worst in individuals. This way, your possessions remain your own.”

“Can’t argue with that logic.”

Rodderick wheels in a hand trolley, parking it in the middle of my room.

“Why did you replace those old chests with these cardboard boxes?”

I look up at him and then stare down at the old chests he’s referring to. Before I can say a word, Bugby hops to the biggest one, the one filled with all the old relics and books. It takes a moment to register, maybe because everything I see is now outlined in shimmering colors, but now that I notice it, I can’t look away. My ‘boxes’—aka, my ancient tea chests—share the same deep blue pulse of energy as Bugby. I’ve been here long enough to recognize magik at play. It feels both right and important that I continue the illusion.

“They weren’t really matching the shabby-chic vibe I was going for in here. And in all honesty, I thought if anyone saw them, I’d have a lot of explaining to do.”

Bugby taps a foot, also making a small cawing sound, and Rodderick nods at my explanation.

We load his trolley with my tea chests that now look like cardboard packing boxes, along with all my bedding. On top he balances my clothes, which I wrapped in a sheet off my bed. I grab everything else I’m taking, including Bugby. I sit him on my shoulder like a pirate does a parrot. He takes offense and flies off, waiting for us on the balustrade.

“Will my mattress be okay? And my desk and side table?”

“Debatable. But if they’re gone when we get back, we’ll worry about it then.”

I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. “You know, you sound like my dad.”

“Is that a good thing?” he asks, and I feel him tense up under me.

“The best.”

Before it gets weird, I straighten up and step out of his space. “Lead on, because I have no idea where we’re going.”

He chuckles and pushes his trolley out of my room. With a final look, I close the door behind us. I’m a little surprised by how nostalgic I feel. The crappy dorm room was starting to feel like home.

Getting down the stairs is an act of patience and strength, but we finally manage, no thanks to the guard who sits in his chair and does nothing but watch.

I hold the front door open for Rodderick. “Holy crap, it’s getting cold.”

Bugby flies outside, disappearing into the shadows, before Rodderick pushes the trolley through the doorway. I guess he’ll catch up—or not—I’ve never had a pet bird, so it’s hard to know what to expect.

As soon as we’re on the paved path, I muscle in on Rodderick and hip-bump him out of the way.

“Pushy, aren’t you?”

I waggle my eyebrows. “If I had asked, you would have said no.”

“True. Give me your bags then. I’ll get in trouble if you’re carrying everything and I’m empty-handed.”

“No, you won’t. We both know you’d get into more trouble for being seen helping a Nom.”

He scowls, and I know I’ve hit close to the truth.