Chapter 21 Chance
Chance
“Don’t worry, Booker. We’ll watch over you,” I said as Ego and I led him into the room that we’d designated for him.
My mom and Sky were downstairs with Rosie as she pored through the pages of the Nightwell Grimoire looking for what Sky would need to combat the mimic tonight, but for now, our guest needed rest.
“I don’t know about this,” he said as he settled on the bed.
Ego passed over the potion that Rosie had brought with her, prepared to give the young man some solid sleep without any interruptions. “All you can do is try. Rosie said it’ll only last four hours at most, so we’ll wake you up in three to be on the safe side.”
Booker didn’t look convinced, but he raised the glass bottle to his lips and took a sip. “Yuck,” he said, pulling it back and glaring at the vessel.
Ego chuckled. “I got a whiff of it carrying it up here. It doesn’t smell appetizing, but you can’t wait until tonight to sleep. You look dead on your feet already.”
Booker leaned back against the headboard. “I am. Between leaving Tahlia behind and this thing following me and ridiculing me each night with my stepmom’s words, it’s been hell.”
I sat down at the end of the bed and patted his foot. “I can’t even imagine what you’ve gone through. I’m so sorry, but we’re here for you now.”
“Even after…everything I told you?”
Ego climbed onto the bed right next to Booker, and I laughed quietly to myself.
He and his cousin were so much alike that they might as well be the same person.
Sky and I had been roommates for one whole night the first time he crawled into my bed next to me to chat like we were the oldest of friends.
It had taken me years to figure out just how starved he’d been for human contact—like real connection. I wondered if Ego was the same way?
“Listen, I know you think that when you get mad, you’re subconsciously cursing people, but I have a different take,” I said.
“Oh yeah?” Booker asked.
While Ego pushed the vial to Booker’s lips, I nodded. “Mhm. Based on what you said about Tahlia and her booboos, I’d say you’re definitely a healer. Would you agree with that?”
He half-nodded while shrugging one shoulder. “Sometimes. Maybe.”
“Definitely,” I said.
Taking the glass jar once Booker was done and holding it in one hand, Ego threw his other arm around Booker’s shoulders.
“You probably held little Tahlia in your arms and wished for her booboos to quit hurting, soothed her, and told her it was going to be okay. Am I right?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“So when you got upset with your stepmom, did you ever curse her, hope that she had an accident or that something bad would happen to her?”
“No,” Booker said, sitting up and glaring at me. “I’d never do that.”
Ego chuckled and yanked Booker back next to him. “We know that.”
Booker’s face twisted in confusion, and I laughed. “Ego and I are in complete agreement.” And wasn’t that something? How quickly this man, who’d just learned about magic, was not only accepting it but also logically looking at this situation for the young sorcerer. “It sounds like coincidence.”
“Or maybe karma,” Ego interjected.
“Whatever it is, it wasn’t your fault. Did the timing suck? Sure, but I can guarantee you that her company didn’t suddenly decide to replace her position with AI on that specific day because you were pissed at her.
“Is it possible that your anger caused the earthquake in your house?” I tilted my head, thinking for a second. “Yeah, that probably definitely happened, but that doesn’t mean you had any control over something that flew off the wall hitting her. It could’ve as easily struck you.”
“Mhm,” Ego agreed. “What did you do when the house started shaking?”
“I grabbed Tahlia and pulled her under the kitchen table with me.”
“And your stepmom?”
Brooker’s lips twitched. “She stood in the center of the room screaming.”
“Well, that about sums that up then. I think you very well may be some form of healer, but I’m not sold on the fact that you’re omniscient and can heal and destroy. I might be wrong, but…” I trailed off.
Ego shook his head. “I don’t think you’re wrong.”
Booker’s eyelids were starting to flutter, and he let out a loud, jaw-cracking yawn. Ego pulled his head onto his shoulder and began to hum. Five minutes later, Booker’s breath deepened with sleep.
“Poor guy. I’m so happy Kingston and Skylar found him,” I murmured, not wanting to wake him up.
Ego stroked his fingers through Booker’s hair and responded with his words sung in a soothing melody.
“Me, too, friend. Me, too.
“Hopefully, he’ll sleep so peacefully.”
“If you have other things to do, don’t worry.”
“I’ll be here. I’ll be here.”
His words slowed, getting quieter. I bit back a smile.
I didn’t think he realized how close he was to drifting off himself.
After the excitement of finding out about spirits, passing out a couple times, staying up late with Sky to discuss all the things, and then commuting and working for over twenty-four hours straight, it tracked that he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
I’d stay and watch over them both. Within fifteen minutes, the sounds coming out of Ego were their own little melody. He snuffled and then blew out a long breath, over and over. It was the same every time, which was kind of wild.
Criss-crossing my legs, I spent some time emptying my brain of everything else and meditating.
So much was going on, and it felt like each day brought new surprises.
I’d found my calling and my forever love when I’d bought this haunted property, and I’d been thankful since the beginning.
Who’d have thought that one decision would have a domino effect that now included a whole new life for Sky?
And now Ego and Booker were becoming part of it.
I felt a breeze and opened my eyes to find Harry standing next to the bed. “Hey, Harry. Do you need me?” I whispered, not wanting to wake the other two.
He shook his head. “No, sir. I thought maybe you needed me. I could hear you thinking all the way downstairs.”
Snorting softly, I shook my head. “Not me. I was meditating.”
He quirked an eyebrow, calling me on my bullshit.
“Okay.” Standing up, I went out to the hallway, leaving the door cracked open so that I could keep an eye on Booker and make sure he didn’t look like he was being tormented while he slept.
Harry waited patiently while I pulled my thoughts together. “I guess I’m a little worried.”
He glanced in at the two sleeping men. “I’ve been listening in on Sky’s planning session with the High Priestess and your mom. I think young master Booker will be fine.”
I felt my lips tip up in a slight grin. “I’m sure he will. Sky’s lived his whole life waiting for something like this to happen. I have no doubts that he’ll rise to the occasion. And Booker…I think he’s one of us now.”
Harry dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
“Right, so then he’ll be fine, too. Eventually. Might take a while to undo some of the damage that woman caused, but we’ll be here for him.”
“Then what has you concerned?” Harry prodded.
“Do you ever feel like we’re just at the beginning?
That maybe we haven’t seen anything yet?
” Folding my arms over my chest, I said, “Tell me the truth. In all this time you’ve been in Willowhope, before death and after, have you ever seen this much supernatural activity?
I know the pond used to have more spirits than it does now, but the rest? ”
He cleared his throat and smoothed his unwrinkled shirt. “There does seem to be an influx of abilities in town.” He stared in at the two sleeping men. “Imagine, a homeless sorcerer, with no connections to Willowhope, finding himself here. And Ego, well, if Sky has magic, then it stands to reason…”
When he didn’t finish his thought, I asked, “You think Ego has gifts, too?”
Buck was really rubbing off on the other man if his eyeroll was an indication. “Master Chance, sir. Think about it. Family lines are important, and Ego is Sky’s cousin. I think it’s very probable that he has some untapped ability.”
Walking back into the room, I watched Ego sleep, recalling everything Sky had ever told me about him and the things I’d witnessed myself.
My eyes widened with a dawning realization.
Was it possible that…? I turned to Harry, who smiled knowingly.
Wow. Ego was one hundred percent a witch, and he’d been using his power for good for a while now.