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“That aloinniris a remarkable being,” he mused. “Colby’s love for Clay must have been etched into each stroke. She left a mark on him. On his soul. Not enough to override my father’s command, but perhaps it tethered some fragment of Clay’s consciousness to his body.”
“If anyone could do it, it’s Colby.” I never ceased being amazed by her. “She loves him as much as she loves me.”
“The reverse is also true.” Dad surprised me by giving Clay that much credit. “Her power, if that’s what caused this, couldn’t have stuck if he didn’t feel the same.”
“How do we move him?” I crouched next to Clay and rested my hand on his shoulder, tempted to follow Colby’s lead and throw my arms around him. “He needs to be kept somewhere safe until we can wake him.”
“I have an idea.” Marita had shifted back while I rode Clay like a bucking bronco. “You might not like it.”
Short on time and options, I spread my hands. “I’m open to suggestions.”
“We can schedule a pickup for storage.” She drew a hand through her hair. “Have him bubble wrapped for his safety and everything. He can be taken to a secure facility until you’re ready.”
The secure facility was where I had sent my collection of dark artifacts for safe keeping. I didn’t want them on me, and most couldn’t be destroyed. Like the Hunk. The best I could do was keep them out of circulation.
Never in a million years had I envisioned Clay joining those odds and ends in my personal vault.
“No.”Colby sent her antennae bouncing with the force of her head shaking. “You can’t do that.”
“He won’t know.” I rested a hand on her back. “He’s not aware of what’s happening now, and I promise we won’t fix hisshemuntil we can take him somewhere nice to wake up. Maybe even back home. Or on the farm.”
“You’re sure he won’t wake up?” She didn’t loosen her grip a fraction. “I don’t want him to think he’s alone or that we forgot him. He might get scared if he doesn’t know we’re coming back.”
The scars of her past, the reminder of what the Silver Stag had done to her, ached when she was upset. I could seethe similarities between then and now and why she wanted assurances Clay wouldn’t suffer as she had.
“He won’t even blink until you fix him.” I gently scooped her into my palm. “I don’t want to leave him behind either, but I would feel better if I knew he was safe.”
“You’resurehe’ll be okay?” She searched my face. “Youpromisehe’ll sleep through this?”
“I give you my word, little one.” Dad stepped forward. “Golems are empty shells without magic to act as a conduit for their energy.”
“He’snota shell, and he’snotempty.” Tears rolled down her furry cheeks. “He’s just sleeping.”
“I apologize.” Dad pressed a hand over his heart. “I misspoke.”
While Marita made the necessary arrangements, which entailed her and Derry hanging back until after a hauler arrived for Clay, Dad and I walked under a tree to discuss next moves. Colby, who hadn’t forgiven me for agreeing to send Clay away, sat with him while we waited.
Had she seen this before, she would understand this was his time of peace. It was after he woke, after he learned what he had done, that guilt and remorse seeped in until he drowned in his own helplessness.
“I saw someone.” I broke the silence. “He was spry for the director.”
“I don’t see the director allowing himself to be deposited into a field, so it must have been a driver who got spooked when I detonated the car.”
“That would explain the running away.”
“You didn’t pursue him?”
“Too risky.”
“You understand,” he said slowly, feeling out the words, “that what I said earlier…about you being defenseless against myfather…” His gaze swung to mine. “Your magic doesn’t define you.”
“Thanks, Dad, but no. It wasn’t that. Clay turned up before I got very far, and I couldn’t risk turning my back on him.” I stood straighter. “That reminds me. How do I look magic-wise?”
“The second anchor came free, but it cost you.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure we should proceed.”
A distant ringing noise clamped my jaw shut while I listened for its origin.
Before I could pinpoint it, Blay jogged over with Asa’s phone in his hand and passed it to me.
