5. Connected Minds #2
I didn’t even know what being careful meant anymore. I also wasn’t entirely sure how well I could keep Bones out if he really wanted to get in. Then again, that wasn’t particularly likely, was it? Bones hadn’t seemed eager to connect with me at all.
Forsooth wouldn’t know that, of course.
I hadn’t told him everything.
I told him Bones forced me out of his magic, but not what he actually said.
“Were all of your things moved over correctly from Valarian?” Forsooth asked next, his voice still polite. “If I need to contact you, I mean, should I assume this is your full-time residence now?”
I hesitated, then nodded without looking over.
“Yes,” I said, not wanting to tell him they’d forgotten my cat.
They’d brought her food and bowls, her two fluffy beds, her box of toys, and her litter pad, which worked to vanish her leavings with some kind of spell, but they’d forgotten the maddening creature that went with all of those things.
I’d go over there after I’d taken a shower, and look for Wraith.
She probably hid from them somewhere in the apartment, or else Jolie or Miranda had her in one of their rooms. I just hoped I could keep my eyes open long enough to walk over and back in the snow.
I knew I should probably try to talk to Miranda tonight, too, if I went all the way over there, but I honestly wasn’t sure I could handle it, depending on how she reacted.
Likely picking up on my uneasiness, Forsooth cleared his throat.
“I must say, I am glad you will be in the Mansion,” he commented lightly, rubbing a hand over the soft red leather of Bones’s chair. “I realize you were more or less ordered to move here by the Praecuri, but I hope it is agreeable for you.”
When I looked up at him, a little startled, he smiled.
“For security reasons, I think it is a good idea,” he added to clarify. “And for privacy, too. I imagine you’ll have cause to experiment with a number of different magics up here…” His eyes scaled around the stone walls up to the tall ceiling. “…other than tracking and locating spells, I mean.”
A subtle smile remained on his face, but his eyes looked deadly serious. “You’ll need your own space for that, Ms. Shadow-La Fey-Bones. And few distractions.”
I remembered what he’d said earlier about the effects of me and Bones’s magical connection on one another.
I couldn’t help wondering if that’s what he meant, and if he had a particular thing in mind he didn’t want to say aloud for some reason.
And would it really be safer for me in Bones’s tower?
It already crossed my mind there was only one exit, unless I figured out how to open his damned windows so I could use my wings.
To Forsooth, I only nodded.
“I’m happy to stay here,” I affirmed. “Honestly, I might’ve done it anyway. Assuming it was all right, of course.”
Bones smiled. “Good. And yes. Of course. You own it now, just as much as your husband does. I think it’s for the best that you make it your own.”
He cleared his throat.
“Well, I should go.” He was already rising to his feet.
I watched the bear stand up when he did, and stretch out its head and arms like a dog, yawning so wide its gold-pink tongue curled in its open mouth. Forsooth turned and set down his cup and saucer on the low table closer to me.
“You shouldn’t try to do anymore tonight, Ms. Shadow,” he offered next, his voice kindly.
“Rest. Let your magic and your body replenish themselves. I know that is easy to say, but I genuinely believe it’s necessary now, if you want to avoid an adverse health event.
You will need to keep your strength up. And I don’t mean because classes will start up again on Monday. ”
I grunted in dry humor, and his smile widened.
His dark eyes remained serious, swimming with those odd, starlike glints.
“I’ll contact you as soon as I hear back on the situation with the Praecuri,” he added. “I would not expect news until the morning, however, so you won’t be missing anything by trying to get some rest.”
I nodded again.
He was right. It was getting dark outside.
It was unlikely anything more would happen tonight.
If I hadn’t really wanted Wraith with me, I might have considered leaving her in the dorms for the night, and going to collect her tomorrow. But somehow, I couldn’t bear to sleep alone in here. I needed my cat.
Guilt hit me at the thought of sleeping in Bones’s giant, thick, soft bed with Wraith and a fire burning, a delivered breakfast waiting for me in the morning. It was impossible to ignore the juxtaposition in my mind, knowing where Bones was, and how he’d spend his night.
It was even more difficult when it occurred to me how different everything had been even just twenty-four hours earlier. At this time yesterday, I’d been sitting at a table in an expensive rooftop restaurant in Bonescastle, eating dinner with Bones.
“I’ll send up some food,” Forsooth added, almost like he heard me. “If it’s not enough, please order more. I’m quite concerned about you, Ms. Shadow.”
When I glanced up, he met my gaze, his eyes glowing faintly wth magic.
“And don’t worry about your cat,” he added kindly. “I have a feeling it might just turn up on its own before the end of the evening.”
I blinked in surprise.
Without waiting for my answer, he bowed formally.
I’d just started to get up, to walk him to the door, but he’d already turned on his heel and left the area by the fire. In the end, I only stood there as he walked around the couch and past the kitchen as he headed for the only door out, his bear padding silently behind him.
The bear paused on the green rug by the door and stretched a second time, yawning just as widely as it had by the fire. Did that mean Forsooth was tired? I supposed he must be, given his day had likely been even longer than mine.
The bear looked back over its shoulder and raised paw to me sleepily again. It waited until I waved back, then fell forward, landing on its wide front paws.
I watched it pad silently after its wizard through the front door.
I was still watching right up until the door shut behind them.