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He caught my arm and turned me to him, cradled my head in his hands and touched his forehead to mine. “Be well and be strong, Kara Gillian.”
Tears pricked at my eyes. I gave him a quick hug, then gathered the last of my things and headed downstairs.
Eilahn had slipped down to the basement while I wasn’t looking, and was crouched quietly by the wall with a small bundle atop a cat carrier containing Fuzzykins. I’d roused Eilahn early from stasis, and though she assured me she didn’t need to return, she would need more rest than usual for a bit. Ryan sat cross-legged on the floor, not far from my storage diagram. I double checked that I had everything, all the while hoping to hell there was still a demon realm to summon Mzatal from.
I stepped forward and examined my chalk and blood diagram, assuring that every sigil resonated properly. Shikvihr, here I come. Satisfied after a few adjustments, I glanced over to Ryan. “Remember to stay away from the diagram. And it’s best to just sit.” I dismissed a flicker of worry about whether it was a good idea to have Mzatal and a suppressed Szerain in the same room. Zakaar was a heartbeat away.
“And I might stay as well, but no promises,” Ryan said, grinning, though there was an anticipatory tension about him.
I rolled my eyes, smiled. “That would be a really really good idea. Sit and stay.” His only answer was a snort. I turned my full attention back to the diagram and the task at hand. Drawing power and focusing aspects, it only took a few minutes to get the portal set. My pulse quickened.
“Mzatal.”
A cold wind arose, bringing with it the scent of sulphur and ozone. The diagram flared, and the air seemed to shiver and compress, as if an unheard sonic boom passed through the room. The sigils went dark, and a heartbeat later I saw a figure with a long dark braid crouched in the center of the diagram.
Mzatal drew a rasping breath, a shudder passing through him as he lifted his head. He looked like hell. That was honestly the only way to describe it: pale, disheveled, and wearing the same clothes he’d had on when I last saw him, blood and all. But the relief that flowed across his face as his eyes rested on me wiped away some of the exhaustion and strain.
“Kara.”
“Hey, Boss,” I said with a smile as I grounded and closed the portal, and dropped the protections. “You look like shit. Miss me?”
Mzatal drew another deep breath and stood. “Much, zharkat.” His eyes went past me, and I realized Ryan had stood and taken a step forward. I looked back at him, frowning.
“Ryan?” I said, calling to that part of him.
Mzatal’s gaze remained on him. “Peace, Ryan,” he said, name flowing like a command. “Peace.”
Ryan visibly settled, and I hoped that meant that everyone was nice and chill. Ryan looked from Mzatal to me. “You’re really going,” he said.
I stepped to him and pulled him into an embrace. “Yeah, it’s time. I’ll be back before you know it.”
He wrapped his arms around me, held me close. “Don’t get yourself into too much trouble, okay?” His voice broke a bit on the last word.
“Who me?” My voice seemed to have the same unsteadiness. Must be something in the damn air. “I never get into trouble. I’m boring.”
He snorted and buried his face against my neck. “Right. And I’m never moody.”
I hugged him hard, then kissed him lightly before letting him go. “You’d better write. Tessa has her instructions.”
He very reluctantly released me. “Yeah. Write. I will.” His eyes went to Mzatal. “Don’t you fucking hurt her.”
Mzatal gave Ryan a sober nod. I hid a smile as Eilahn and I gathered our things, including a disgruntled Fuzzykins, and moved to the center of the diagram. I trusted Zack to take care of everyone and everything. I looked up at Mzatal. “Missed you, Boss,” I murmured.
He smiled, but there was a strained and worried edge to it.
“Mzatal? What’s going on?” I asked. “The destruction stopped when I was summoned, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” he said. “There are still residuals. But the unraveling ceased.”
I didn’t need my cop-vibe to know that something was seriously wrong. Unraveling of the world ceasing sure sounded like a good thing to me, but Mzatal wasn’t exactly jumping up and down about it. Tension hung over him like a cloud.
“Mzatal,” I said in a low, urgent voice. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“They have Idris.”
I felt as if I’d been doused in ice. I didn’t need to ask who They were. The Four Mraztur.
I reached for Mzatal’s hand and gripped it tightly. “Let’s go home, Boss,” I said, lip curling. “We have work to do.”
