Chapter 39
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
Leo hunched forward on the chair before the fire. He let out a slow breath. He held one of Percival’s large orange feathers in his hand. He turned it, watching the golden light from the fire dance on the iridescent feather.
Will I ever see my firebird again?
He almost laughed. No doubt he would. Because already he wanted to go to Percival. So he’d go to Percival.
He’d probably beg. He had no idea for what. To be remembered? To be loved again? He doubted it would do anything.
Still, he knew he’d seek Percival out. Even if he knew Percival would scorn him and turn him away. Because he couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing the phoenix again.
“Here you go, Leo.” Jasper handed him a cup of tea made from rose petals, lemongrass, and chamomile.
“Thanks.” Leo put down the feather beside him. He took the cup, inhaling the steam.
His twin wrapped a blanket around Leo’s shoulders and sat beside him.
Jasper didn’t speak. Nor did Leo. Jasper had been already filled in on everything that had occurred. There really wasn’t anything else to say.
Nothing could make this right.
Jack had not yet returned. Leo hoped he’d come back with some sort of solution to restore Percival’s memories. For now, all Leo could do was drink his tea and replay in his mind Percival sneering at him.
Leo rubbed the back of his hand. Percival had slapped his hand away. Then Percival had shoved him.
Will that be the last time Percy ever touches me?
Leo blinked rapidly.
“Me? Happy here?” Percival’s words carved into Leo. “Just a cocky little shit. I buy pies from you.” Leo pulled the blanket tighter around him, as if he could protect himself from the pain of those words. “You and this place are nothing to me.”
To one side of the room, Uzoth and Grady spoke, voices too low for Leo to hear.
The door opened. Wulfric and Briar entered.
“We closed up the bakery,” Wulfric said.
“But we left the windows open to air the smoke.” Briar looked to Grady. “We put the burnt furniture out into the alley. I doubt it can be repaired. We cleaned up. It’s not too bad now.”
“Thanks.” Grady inclined his head.
The two took a seat by the fire, watching Leo. Leo kept his head down, gaze on his tea.
He kept picturing Percival in his mind, smiling at Leo, loving Leo. But the Percival he knew was gone from the world. Leo didn’t know if he would come back.
Percy doesn’t remember me.
Jasper nudged him. “Drink your tea.”
Leo took a sip. It was part of being a hearth and kitchen witch, believing tea would fix everything. But tea wouldn’t fix this. It wouldn’t make Percival love him again. It wouldn’t change Percival back into the phoenix he’d been.
Still, he sipped his tea, trying to swallow the sob that wanted to escape his lips. He rubbed at his eyes. Jasper wrapped an arm around Leo’s shoulders.
Leo just wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.
Then he paused.
His heart rate increased and pounded in his chest. His breath came faster. His hands, holding the teacup, shook. He placed it down. A flare of adrenaline rushed through his veins. The adrenaline was not his own.
“Ebony!” Leo spun towards the window in time to see the raven land on the windowsill. “Something’s wrong!” Leo jumped to his feet.
TAP. TAP. TAP. Ebony’s black beak rapped at the glass. TAP. TAP. TAP.
Casting off the blanket, Leo sprinted to the window, throwing it open. He could feel the panic surging through her and into him. “What’s wrong? Ebony, what is wrong?”
She hopped on his wrist and opened her beak. “Percy,” she croaked.
Leo’s mouth fell open. Then he nodded.
Percy is in trouble. Percy needs help.
Her message was clear. He looked out the window into the snowy darkness.
“Has Ebony ever spoken before?” Briar asked.
“That’s her first time.” But there was no time to marvel. “We have to go. Now. Percy is in trouble.” Leo ran to the door and yanked it open.
Ebony flapped her wings. They brushed his cheek as she flew into the air. Leo ran down the stairs, following her, knowing she was leading them to Percival.
Footsteps pounded down the stairs behind him. He looked back to see Wulfric, Briar, and Grady coming down after him. They tugged on their coats. Uzoth stood at the top of the stairs. He stretched his wings. He flapped, taking off after Ebony.
Grady threw Leo’s coat at him. He’d forgotten to grab it. He tugged it on.
Jasper ran out. He sprinted down a few stairs. He panted, leaning against the railing.
Leo stared up at him. He could see his twin’s desire to come too. But already Jasper struggled.
“You stay here!” Leo called out.
Breathing heavily, Jasper sagged. He nodded. “Good luck, Leo.”
Leo turned and ran.
Ebony flew ahead. Uzoth followed her in the air. Leo, Briar, Wulfric, and Grady followed on foot.
Leo didn’t know why Ebony was panicking. He didn’t know how Percival was in trouble. He just hoped they weren’t too late.
Because even if Percival didn’t remember him, even if Percival didn’t love him, even if Percival hated him, Leo still loved Percival. And he would do anything to keep him safe.