Chapter 31
Ben squirmed in the backseat, fidgeting the entire drive to the hospital.
It helped that he had Sheamus nearby, keeping him calm every time Ben’s anxiety spiked.
I still wasn’t the biggest fan of the old hound, mainly because I ended up with most of the walking duties. Especially with Milo’s recovery.
Thankfully, we were here to bring Milo home.
I wanted to do this alone, have Ben see Milo happy and healthy—even if he faked it a little—but Ben insisted.
When I spoke with his therapist, she suggested this would be good for Ben.
Something about working through previous traumas and learning the dangers of magic weren’t always fatal.
Or something like that. Honestly, I tuned the woman out most days.
She rambled on about philosophy and intentions and blah, blah, blah.
I only agreed to the therapy because Milo insisted, and it seemed like the right move for Ben’s well-being. That didn’t mean I needed some so-called professional offering unsolicited advice about my emotional state, too. These sessions were just for Ben, not for me.
“All righty,” I said, pulling into a parking spot on the fourth floor of the hospital parking garage. “Let’s get going.”
Dread flooded my mind, making my veins run cold. I wobbled as I stepped out of the car, struggling to compose myself and shake off this fear oozing from Ben.
“I’ll just wait,” Ben mumbled.
“No,” I said, opening the passenger door. “We’re going inside.”
“I can wait here.”
“No, Ben.” I unfastened him from his car seat. “Milo is waiting on us.”
“Then hurry up.” Ben tried to fasten himself in again.
“Ben, come on.” I went to unfasten him yet again.
“No,” Ben screamed, snatching his seatbelt.
“Benjiman,” I snapped. “We’re not doing this.”
Sheamus barked. Ben cried. The parking garage turned into an overstimulated emotional rollercoaster with a tiny breakdown.
Running my hands through my hair, I yanked hard to bite back a scream. Anything to distract myself from the turmoil crawling under my skin. I wanted a cigarette. Needed a cigarette. Needed to cry, to rage, to roar, but I couldn’t. Not right now.
Ben had his fit, letting the tears flow heavily as he let the overwhelming sadness pour out.
Children never had a good grip on their emotional state, and Ben’s had been ricocheted every which way in the last year, so I understood.
Still, it sucked having to be the adult, be the strong grown-up, and maintain my composure while Ben released sadness.
I stood there, letting Ben have a tantrum, until he wore himself out. Sheamus whimpered a bit, tail wagging with frantic concern. As Ben calmed down, Sheamus rested his head on the boy’s lap.
“Are you feeling better?”
“No.” Ben sniveled.
“Me either.” I unfastened Ben from his car seat and lifted him out.
When I tried to set him down, he clung to me.
“Nooo,” Ben whined.
“Fine.” I repositioned him against my hip, gaining a better grip on Ben, then I snapped my fingers, directing Sheamus to hop out of the car.
Sheamus stood close to me, cautious not to stray far as we entered the hospital.
I double-checked my wallet, ensuring I had Sheamus’ familiar waiver, because I wasn’t in the mood for anyone’s bullshit about me bringing a dog into the hospital.
There were already a few minds giving me sour thoughts with their unwanted opinions.
They felt it was inappropriate to bring a beast into the hospital.
They assumed I was a bestial witch, something that came with many other assumptions about my lifestyle.
Christ, I knew people had weighted opinions about every branch of magic, but lately, I found myself encumbered by the hate bestial witches received.
When we reached Milo’s floor, our minds synced, and I swore he sensed my approach. It was as if my mere psychic touch was enough to alert him to my presence.
Milo stepped out of his room, ignoring the nurse insisting he sit in his wheelchair.
I released a bated breath, at ease seeing him well and eager to return home.
Admittedly, he looked silly in the short-sleeved undershirt and sweats I’d brought him.
But Milo wasn’t going to sneak away in one of his trademark suits, rushing off to save the day.
While I couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t have tried to escape solo, I figured keeping him in casual clothes lowered the probability.
After all, he preferred to save the day in style.
Milo smiled, completely carefree, and eager to get out of the hospital.
While he’d mostly recovered under Wadsworth’s care, the doctors insisted on keeping a close eye on Milo’s healed injuries.
Most rejuvenation came with limited capabilities, and severe injuries like those Milo had obtained had a tendency to open back up.
Thankfully, Wadsworth’s arrogance came with a plethora of expertise, and his rejuvenation didn’t falter.
Still, Wadsworth could only do so much considering the severity of Milo’s injuries. Two scars ran along Milo’s face. The first slash mark went over Milo’s nose on an angle, with a sharp cut over his cheek. The second slash mark followed the same angle with a jagged cut along Milo’s right eye.
Milo’s bright smile and genuine joy helped me bury my fears, my concerns. Those big, beautiful blue eyes smiled, too, and I was grateful Wadsworth had preserved Milo’s vision.
Ben tensed, breathing hastening as he absorbed Milo’s appearance.
“Your arm…” Ben choked up, staring at the many scars running up Milo’s right arm.
Enchanter Kingston’s punch had shattered every bone in Milo’s arm, torn through flesh, and created severe nerve damage. While the bones had been mended and the nerve damage had mostly been repaired, a lot of the skin held the memories of the damage Milo had taken.
“Looks worse than it feels, buddy.” Milo reached out, extending his hand to Ben, who hesitated for a moment.
Soon, his trepidation fell away, and he walked over with his arms held out. Milo, in turn, picked him up.
I resisted the idea, but Milo insisted. He held Ben with his formerly injured arm, showing the young boy that nothing was wrong.
“Your face.” Ben ran his fingers over Milo’s scars, processing the damage, trying his best to sort his confused and anxious thoughts.
“I like ‘em,” Milo said with a big grin.
“Please don’t make light of these injuries.”
“I’d never.” Milo shot me a look. “But scars are sexy.”
“Seriously?”
Milo’s gaze lingered on my neck, staring at my scar. The one that’d nearly ended my life, the one that brought Milo and me back together. Okay, maybe scars weren’t the worst thing.
After speaking with the doctors and searching their minds for reassurance on all my follow-up questions, I left with Milo, Ben, and Sheamus. By the time we reached the car, Milo was winded. He hid it well, but the fatigue ran off him in waves.
I fastened Ben into his seat and ushered Sheamus into the back seat. Then, I turned to Milo and pressed a hand on his shoulder.
Part of me wanted to steady him, another part of me wanted to shake him, throttle him.
“I know, I owe you a long conversation,” Milo said with a solemn smile. “A lot happened, a lot I didn’t fully anticipate.”
He meant Caleb’s kidnapping. He’d prepared for Tara’s abduction and tried his best to ensure the Global Guild would prevent Amara from taking her divine goddess to be. Still, so much unraveled in ways no one could’ve prepared for, not even the world’s best clairvoyant.
The weight of death cracked Milo’s heart. I didn’t want to pick a battle with him, knowing he silently grieved Campbell’s loss, mourned the deaths of the other enchanters who put their lives on the line for Chicago.
“You could’ve told me about the top ten,” I said. “About your perfected roots. About—”
“Tell a worrywart like you that I planned to fight the top ten Global Guild witches?” Milo laughed it off, giving me a sassy scoff. “Please, you would’ve worried me into the grave.”
“Jerk.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” I pressed my forehead against his. “But I’m not the only one who worries about you now.”
I let my gaze drift in Ben’s direction, whose focus had shifted to Sheamus.
“I know.” Milo’s bottom lip trembled momentarily. “I’ll do better.”
“I love you.” I kissed him soft and sweet, just enough to steady his nerves.
It wasn’t a long kiss. More of a peck, something to express my affection. How I’d changed, lost in this love for Milo.
“Love you, too.” Milo kissed me back, savoring the taste of my mouth.
We took shallow breaths, holding this moment alone in the parking garage for a minute. I let everyone else’s thoughts in the city wash away, locking my mind onto Milo’s entirely. He was my everything.
There was so much more we needed to discuss, things that’d happened, battles to come, but for now, I wanted to take my family home.
I took my time driving, allowing Milo to relax in the passenger seat.
The rest did him good, letting his muscles ease and his mind wander between sleepy half-thoughts.
I indulged in his soothing thoughts, allowing Milo’s comfort to ease my concerns.
Milo was my everything, and having him back kept me grounded in these terrible times.
Ben’s mood had lifted by the time we got inside the penthouse. He ran through the living room, screaming as Sheamus playfully chased him. The pair made a game of it, lost in silly thoughts and completely distracted from his earlier fears.
“All right, settle down,” I said.
“Let them have a little fun.” Milo gently nudged me, pressing his shoulder against mine.
The briefest contact filled me with butterflies.
“You know,” Ben said, hugging Sheamus’ neck and giggling as the dog licked his face. “You and Sheamus can be scar buddies.”
Sheamus’ patchy fur and missing left ear sent a shiver through me. It wasn’t the injury or appearance itself, so much as the pain this old hound had endured. As protective as Sheamus had become over Ben, I could only imagine how hard the dog fought to protect his former familiar bonded witch.
Those injuries were a painful, permanent reminder of the battle the dog lost in saving his partner’s life.
“Oh, definitely.” Milo knelt down, pressing his face against Sheamus’ so the scarred sides were prominent. “Look at us twinning.”
Ben giggled, holding his arms out so he could fly.
Sheamus barked, casting telekinesis meant to lift his favorite human.
Milo smiled, helping to steady Ben’s flight around the living room.
Charlie chirped, running over to join in the fun.
Carlie meowed, annoyed by the ruckus. I basked in the happiness of our home.
This family I’d built meant everything to me. I loved them all more and more every single day.