tears from his cheeks as he steps back.
‘What… what are you doing up here?’ he asks again, clearing his throat. ‘Is everything okay? Is Callie alright? What’s happened?’
‘I needed to talk to Connor about something. That’s all. Everyone is fine, I promise. It was you and Connor we were worried about.’
The panic in his eyes is painful to witness. As is the suffering he still endures every day, haunted by the horrendous deeds of his Broken past.
‘W-why are you worried about us?’ he asks.
‘Because no one knew where to find you. You just took off.’ I give him a light smack on his arm. ‘Again.’
‘It’s just… just a bad couple of days.’
Connor stands at his side and rests his hand on Bias’s arm.
‘I sometimes invite Bias to come on trips with me when he needs some time alone,’ Connor tells me. ‘It’s no big deal.’
‘I wish you would have told someone.’ I take Bias’s hand in mine. His palms are sweaty and he’s still trembling. ‘Are they still bad?’ I ask. ‘The nightmares?’
He gives a little nod.
‘I had a nightmare today at the lake,’ I tell him. ‘I woke up to find the river and a dozen rocks floating above all our heads.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he whispers.
‘Don’t ever be sorry. You and I are haunted by the same monsters. It’s not our fault that what happened in the past happened. I wish you would stop blaming yourself for things that had nothing to do with you.’
I say the words I’ve heard spoken to me a thousand times.
‘I’ll stop when you stop,’ he replies, his body relaxing. ‘Pretty sure I’ve heard Gabriel tell you that exact same thing.’
‘Maybe we should listen to him then.’
His lip trembles. ‘I’m so afraid that he’ll come back. The thought of him here with you all… I would rather die than-’
‘He won’t come back, Bias. He won’t. We won’t let him.’
‘That’s right,’ Connor agrees. ‘We won’t let him, and neither will you.’
I glance at Connor as I notice that they’re holding hands.
Connor blushes as I smile softly.
I knew that they were close. I could see the strength of their friendship as soon as I arrived here, and Gabriel told me how wonderful an influence Connor had been for his younger brother.
Connor is such a calming soul. So patient and kind. Full of understanding and trust. It’s no wonder Bias gravitated towards him after they all arrived here.
Connor was there for me through so many hideous times. Like an anchor in a storm. He gets that from his wonderful mother, and I’m so glad that Bias finds some peace with him.
I rest my hand on Bias’s cheek. His lip trembles more as he leans into my touch.
I hate the guilt he carries. I loathe the misery he feels every single day.
‘You’re not going anywhere, Tobias. And you know what? Neither am I. Now come and have some of Mama Quinn’s pie and tell me all about Connor’s conquest for dragons.’
Bias slowly smiles. ‘You mean he didn’t tell you?’
I look between the two, both looking extremely mischievous.
‘Tell me what?’
‘I just… I can’t believe that you actually found one!’ I gasp, peering into the moss-lined box before me, admiring the tiny baby dragon curled up in a ball and sleeping soundly in the corner.
It’s barely big enough to fill my hand if I were to hold it. Its skin is a mix of deep blues and purples with a glimmer of silver speckling its tail.
‘How did you find it?’
Connor leans in and slowly runs his finger down its spine.
‘I was sure I spotted a couple of dragons around here, flying in and out of the cove. But every time I followed them here, I couldn’t find any trace. I started to think that they could somehow enchant their nests with something. The only real sighting of a dragon was on the day you returned to us six months ago.’
He shrugs and continues looking at the little creature, utterly besotted.
‘I found this little guy at the base of the cliffs. He wasn’t moving and was barely breathing yesterday evening. You see here?’ Connor gestures to one side of its body.
‘Oh… poor thing,’ I whisper, looking at the seriously deformed wing. ‘Was it in an accident?’
‘No. He was born that way. I guess that mum either abandoned him or tossed him from the nest. Animals do that sometimes when a child isn’t exactly how they want them to be. They leave them behind to die and move on to their next attempt at furthering their bloodline.’
‘Will he be okay?’ I ask, reaching in and caressing the little thing myself, unable to resist the urge to touch an actual dragon. Especially a cute mini one like this.
The creature gives a little trill and curls around my finger on contact.
‘Oh my goodness. I think my ovaries just vibrated,’ I squeak, watching it nuzzle against my hand.
‘Tell me about it,’ Connor agrees. ‘I think he’ll be okay. Bias caught some fish earlier. We gave it to him, and he perked up a little, but we don’t know how long he was out there on his own. We’re keeping a close eye on him, and when he’s strong enough, we’ll let him go.’
Both Bias and I share a look. I can’t see Connor happily releasing this little creature into the wild. Not without some severe tears and prising it from his fingers.
‘Lilly,’ Bias says. I look up at him and see the worry on his face once more. ‘I’m thrilled to see you. But why are you here?’ He asks the question with dread. ‘There must be a reason for your late-night trek all the way up here. And I can see that you’re magically exhausted.’
Connor and I share an uneasiness.
Bias was around before the loss of magic. He’s much more familiar with spells and potions than either of us.
Perhaps he will know something.
‘Something happened today,’ I tell him. ‘Maybe you can help.’
Bias listens as I tell him all that happened. The missing people from the village. The death of the unicorn. The mysterious cloaked figure and his knife.
He says the same as Connor. Dark Magic. But he will need to know precisely what was taken from the unicorn to have a guess at knowing the purpose of its murder.
‘I should really get going,’ I sigh. ‘It’s late.’
‘I don’t think that’s such a good idea,’ Bias tells me.
‘Why not?’
‘Because it’s late. It’s dark. And you have already stretched your body’s limit with magic doing your leapfrog over here. Your eyes are bloodshot, and I am concerned that you might not reach the destination you would be aiming for due to magical exhaustion and end up entirely elsewhere. Lost and alone. There is also a man with a scythe on the loose, missing witches and a dead unicorn.’ He raises his brow.
‘I don’t want the others to worry.’
‘Connor’s parents have gone to your house. They would have told them that you are with him. They know you are safe. Get some rest and we can all return together in the morning. What do you say?’
I hesitate.
‘I think he’s right,’ Connor agrees. ‘Mum and Dad are at yours. Jensen and Amara too. I imagine Gabriel and Collins are also back from their investigations in the village. Callie is well looked after, and no one will thank you for risking your health and safety trying to get back. Stay with us for the rest of the night.’
Their hopeful eyes shine in the light of the fire, and I know they’re right. A few hours of sleep will give me the boost I need to recover.
‘Okay,’ I agree, making them both relax into smiles. ‘I don’t suppose you have anything for a headache, do you? Preferably not from cat spit?’
‘As a matter of fact, I do,’ Connor declares. ‘Ginger tea. I’ll make you some.’
I sip on the tea he serves, nibble at his mother’s pie, and feel the pull of sleep weighing me down.
As my eyes start to close, a blanket is draped over me, and a makeshift pillow made from a folded-up jumper is placed under my head.
‘Thank you,’ I mutter, too weary to open my eyes.
‘My pleasure, Lilly,’ Bias whispers in reply.
I fall asleep to their soft voices talking late into the night. And it’s a wonderous soundtrack to drift off to.
To them happy. To them content.
To them safe.
