Page 47 of Impawssible Magic

“Fine. But for the record, I don’t need a babysitter.”

His jaw loosens. Something curls in my chest at the sight—which is alarming, because I’m not supposed to feel warm about anything related to Aslan Nexis.

I finish my breakfast and try very hard not to think about how good his pancakes are.

(They’re really good. Damn him.)

That evening, the walk to Thornveil Apothecary takes us through the heart of Mistvale as the light fades. Past the familiar storefronts, the closing-up routines, the warm glow of shops I’m starting to know by heart.

Normal. Safe. Home.

The word catches me off guard. When did Mistvale become home?

Aslan walks beside me, silent and watchful. His shoulder brushes mine when someone passes too close. He doesn’t pull away.

Neither do I.

At the apothecary door, he stops. “Text me when you want to leave.”

“I will.”

He nods. Hesitates. Opens his mouth like he’s going to say something else⁠—

“Go.” I push at his shoulder. “Before you give yourself an aneurysm trying to articulate feelings.”

Something genuine moves across his face—brief, unguarded, gone before he can think to stop it.

Then he’s gone, disappearing into the mist like he was never there at all.

Thornveil Apothecary looks different after dark. Inside, Anouk has cleared a space in the back room—a circle of mismatched chairs, a low table covered in wine bottles and snack bowls, candles floating at head height. It should probably violate some kind of fire code. It looks as magical as hell.

Sakura is already there when I arrive, curled into an armchair with her legs tucked underneath her. She jumps up the moment she sees me.

“Leire!” She crosses the room to pull me into a hug. “I heard about the attack. Are you okay? What happened? Torin wouldn’t tell me anything, just that there was ‘an incident’ and I should stay inside, which⁠—”

“Breathe, Sakura.” I hug her back, harder than I mean to. “I’m fine. Mostly. I’ll explain when everyone’s here.”

The door bangs open. Zeph storms in carrying two bottles of wine and a paper bag that smells like fried food.

“Emergency girls’ night. I brought reinforcements.” She dumps everything on the table and turns to face me, hands on hips. “You don’t look dead.”

“High praise.”

“A knot tightened in my chest.” Her voice drops, serious for once. The chaos agent goes quiet. “When I heard there was a fight near the market... I know we haven’t known each other long, but you’re one of us now. That means something.”

“I know.” I squeeze her arm. “Thank you.”

Anouk emerges from the front of the shop, locking the door behind her. “We’re closed. No interruptions.” She surveys our little group with those dark, assessing eyes. “Wine first. Then we talk.”

Wine is poured. Snacks are distributed—fried mushrooms from The Den, cheese from somewhere fancy, bread that’s still warm. We settle into our chairs—Anouk elegant and composed, Sakura still vibrating with nervous energy, Zeph sprawled like she owns every piece of furniture she touches.

Three pairs of eyes fix on me.

“So.” I take a long drink of wine. I’m going to need it. “Where do I even start?”

“The beginning.” Anouk’s voice is calm. “Or the middle. Whichever makes more sense.”

So I tell them. All of it—the threats, the Preservers, the attack outside Thornveil.