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Orcus squints at me, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to say no and carry me away, leaving me to never know what happened to Edgar, but he surprises me by nodding at Callum.
“All right. Only for a minute though. When you come back, I’ll send you to your cave.” Callum pulls his hands apart and the portal grows large enough for Orcus to step through.
Edgar is running from a group of folk. My eyes bug out of my head when the one at the front of the group launches an ax at his head. I start to shout to warn him, but Edgar spins around and catches it with a laugh.
“Good throw, but not good enough, Son!” Edgar launches the ax back and the group of folk all duck and laugh.
“See?” Orcus asks. “He’ll be fine.”
I look at him, forehead lining with concern. “What if they try to kill him in his sleep?”
Orcus studies me but then his attention strays over my shoulder and his mouth twitches. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”
Turning, I gasp when I see Edgar at the center of the group. His kids are all so different. Dark skin. Fair skin. Brown hair. Black hair. A little bit of everything must be Edgar’s type. There are tears and angry gestures, but no one is trying to chop his head off. Lines mar Edgar’s face, and he scrubs his hand over his cheek before holding his hands out to hug them. No one moves into his arms, and his face falls.
My chest aches, but I can’t even take a step before one of the kids carefully steps into the hug. Another turns and storms away. Edgar starts to cry. He’s dealing with the consequences of his actions. While hard, they’re not deadly.
“Maybe we should go.” I don’t want to intrude on his moment any more than I already have.
Orcus carries me back through the portal. Zyla is glaring at Callum when we return, but when she spots us, her expression smooths.
“So?”
“He’ll be okay.” I glance back at the portal with a frown. “He’s got some work to do to earn their forgiveness, but he can be charming in his own surly way.”
She nods. “With time, I’m sure they’ll come to love him.”
At the mention of love, Callum edges closer to Zyla, and there’s a subtle shift in her posture. A faint blush paints her cheeks. Oh, okay. Their tension is an I’m so attracted to you but I also hate yousort of tension. Zyla takes a step away from him and clears her throat.
“I brought you a gift.” She gestures to a witch carrying a bundle of fabric and a basket of supplies.
Orcus sets me down and takes the basket. Eyeing the clothes, I shake my head. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“You’ll need clothes for court.”
“Court?” I glance at Orcus.
Orcus releases a loud exhale. “My father knows.”
“He does.” Zyla says with a funny smirk. “And Hecate says you’ll be king soon enough or the world will live to regret it.”
“What, did the goddess text you?” I get three blank looks. “I mean, I guess it’s cool she sent you a prophecy.”
“I’m not going to court.” Orcus saves me from more awkward looks.
“Is that so?” She smirks.
“I thought Hecate brought blessings, not curses,” Orcus mutters after a moment.
“She had another message. You’ll know the exact moment to do the right thing, so don’t do it before then.”
“Well, that’s a lot of help,” Callum muses.
Her attention moves to me, and she draws me into a hug and ignores the warlock. “You’re the only one he’ll listen to,” she whispers. “Use that power for good.”
“He doesn’t listen to me,” I whisper back.
“Being naive never suited anyone,” she says, withdrawing to look me in the face. “I’ll see you soon.”
