Chapter 19
LAYLA
T he Mountain Circle medical center was swathed in white and blue. A light sheet separating the beds fluttered in the fall breeze from an open window, late-afternoon sun turning the light golden. It should have been comforting and relaxing, but I was strung tight.
I perched on the edge of a wooden chair, watching over Costi as he slept off a high fever. The medical staff had treated and bandaged the burn wound on his chest, gotten him started on antibiotics, and hooked him up to an IV for hydration. Already, his normal color was returning. I’d tucked a blanket over him, and his rest looked peaceful.
It was the opposite of how I felt.
When the nurse had asked what caused his injury, he told them—a spell caster . Casters could incinerate an angel with one shot. Grey could have killed him with a stunt like that if the caster wasn’t precise. I was livid, demanding to know why he didn’t tell the Arcaenum that Grey had not only commanded a caster to hurt a guardian, but that they had gone through with it.
Costi’s only reply was “He threatened you.”
Cedar Grey was using our friendship to try to control us. He was up to something, and I was going to find out what it was.
“You look ready to end someone,” Costi said. His stormy gray eyes were watching me, black hair a delicious mess. “I kinda like it.”
I wanted to say something playful back, but I couldn’t get past the question pooled miserably on my tongue. “What are we supposed to do?”
He turned his head, looking up toward the ceiling. “No idea,” he said. “This is so fucked up. Layla, what am I?”
My heart twisted with the desolation in his voice. “You’re Costi,” I said, swallowing back tears.
He closed his eyes. “They’re gonna make me leave.”
“No. I won’t let them. Besides, they need us.”
He shook his head. “Grey will make sure I’m gone to save his own ass.”
“Then I’m going with you.” I twisted my hands together, fighting the need to reach out to him.
“I’d get you out of here. I don’t give a fuck about the Arcaenum or what they want. But…” His throat bobbed. When he spoke again, his voice scraped out of his throat. “What if I’m… something dangerous? What if I hurt you?”
I bristled. “Constantine Blackthorn! I’ve known you my whole life, and that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
He turned back to me then, his gaze shining with something complicated.
Booted footsteps alerted us to someone approaching.
“We’re not done,” I told Costi.
“Oh good, you’re both in here. Saves me some time,” Daire said, appearing at the gap in the curtain. The security coordinator wore the uniform of the guardians, her silver- streaked hair pulled back in a neat bun as usual.
I pushed my chair back, ready to defend Costi. He’d worked hard to become a guardian, and I wasn’t about to let Daire kick him out for something that wasn’t his fault.
She glanced behind her. Another set of footsteps approached, this one with a marked thump between each step.
“Councilor Rhodes!” I started to pull the wooden chair around for the elderly witch to have a seat, but she waved me off, leaning on her walking stick with both hands.
“The Arcaenum adjourned just an hour ago,” she said, looking exhausted. “That meeting was far too long.”
I cringed. “I’m so sorry.”
“We did learn some interesting things,” Rhodes said. She didn’t seem inclined to elaborate.
“And me?” Costi’s voice was a rasp.
Daire cleared her throat. “One week medical leave. If you could quit getting injured, Blackthorn, I’d really appreciate it. You get more days off than days on. If I didn’t need every team I can get right now, I’d have them throw you out of the Circle for your antics.”
I blinked.
“I want you on rotation with Rosen as soon as possible. Are you going to need a second guardian while you cast? Because we’re already short.”
“I got her,” Costi said without skipping a beat. “I can do both.”
My heart panged with emotion.
“Weirdest damn thing I’ve ever heard of,” Daire muttered as she left.
That makes two of us.
“It looks like everything is all settled.” Councilor Rhodes gave us a rare smile, her face crinkling.
Everything was… settled ? What exactly—
“It would be very helpful,” the elder witch said with a twinkle in her eye, “if you two could figure out how to cast spells.”
To be continued...