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The rapid patter of steps indicated that Elise had made a break for Robert. He knew real combat workings, and would have used them in fights when he served as a battlemage. Larger was unlikely to pry Dmitri away from him.
I still stepped in the way to be sure Elise made it.
“Doctor Larger.” Dove cleared her throat.
He frowned at her.
“The owner is on the comm; he wants to talk to you.”
My heart jumped. Maybe he’d come back soon. In that moment I admitted to myself that the feelings I didn't think would ever happen for me were really happening, like an unbearable itch, he’d become a healing wound.
And wasn’t that a romantic way to think of it… but it hurt being away from him.
Larger’s expression shifted to puzzlement. “And why should I speak to him?”
“It’s Mr. Hónágháahnii, sir.” Her voice was a picture of deference, but she offered her comm. Larger eyed it like a venomous reptile before he put the attached earpiece on. Who the hell was that?
I ignored Larger’s reaction as he listened, and walked to the little cluster of Dmitri, Elise, and Robert. Carl had positioned himself between them and Larger.
We needed to come up with a plan so that this never happened again. As much as I wanted to just watch over my son night and day, I have a mission to go on. For all his faults, Silver wasn’t a liar. There was a chance to get the geas and the gem removed, and I was going for it.
“Is there anywhere that you can avoid this while I’m gone?” I asked.
“I’ll take them on a cruise,” Robert answered. “I can stretch it to two weeks. In the meantime, I’ll work on getting the order rescinded. Cohen doesn’t like bad PR, and Walker will let me have the home security recordings of this testing to release to the media if we don’t get cooperation.”
Why was it always cruises? Why couldn’t they find a way to vacation that didn’t involve deep water? Mountain climbing, hiking, something else? But at least on a boat, random assholes wouldn’t pop in and terrify my boy into calling to the elves.
It would still be better if they did it on dry land, though.
Larger approached us. “I’m leaving, but I’ll be back if the order stands.”
The curt nod Robert gave him in answer was sharp enough to cut.
As his steps faded, I held my arms out, and Elise handed Dmitri to me. “Little man.”
He wrapped his arms around my neck.
“If you let all the magic in you out, one day you’ll just be the magic, not Dmitri. You’ll forget everyone, me, Muffer, and never want to see us again.”
His fear jolted through me, and his lip trembled.
“I love you, baby. Push the magic away when you can, okay?”
He nodded.
Robert’s glare all but sizzled, though he said nothing.
“Why?” asked Elise.
“Because it’s true. That’s the key. If he uses all his magic, we’ll lose him.”
Already pale, she managed to lose color. “I see. Then he won’t be put in a position where he does that.”
Robert’s expression had shifted to thoughtful stillness. “Truth, Alys?”
I cuddled Dmitri closer and nodded.
Robert approached us, and a web of magic bloomed in his hands. Dmitri laughed and reached for it.
