Well shit.
“Oh dayum,” Gary breathed. “I did not see that coming.”
I looked back toward the castle entrance. There, only a few feet away, stood Prince Justin of Lockes and Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. Justin looked regal once again, decked out in robes that were undoubtedly more expensive than my entire wardrobe combined. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else than standing here welcoming us home.
Ryan, though. Ryan, knighted out completely with his armor, shield attached at his back and sword sheathed at his side, looked furious. His hands were clenched, his shoulders squared and tense. He had dark circles around his eyes and his skin was pale, as if he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since I’d seen him last. His gaze was on me, and I could see the anger in it.
Which did nothing but piss me off even more because whatever I did no longer concerned Ryan Foxheart.
I looked back at Randall and shrugged. “A friend of mine,” I said. “Wanted a taste of magic.”
“Did he now?” Randall said, ancient lips twitching. “How kind of you to provide him with a taste. Of your magic.”
“Are they speaking in code?” Mom asked Dad, trying to be quiet but failing miserably.
“I don’t know,” Dad said. “I don’t speak wizard.”
“Neither do I. I feel like we’ve failed as parents.”
“Nah,” Dad said easily. “Look at him. He’s adorable and knows how to put on his own pants. We did good.”
“Those are some astounding qualifications,” Randall said. “Seems about right for you.”
“I am so happy you’re here,” I told him. “I promise to try and not make any part of you phallic in nature.”
“That would be much appreciated. I have a wedding to officiate, after all. Wouldn’t want history to repeat itself.”
I immediately made plans to turn every visible inch of his skin into penises. It was foolproof and I would feel better. Therefore, it was a good idea. “Wouldn’t want that,” I repeated.
And because Morgan had trained me well, I schooled my face and turned back to my Prince, carefully avoiding anything having to do with Ryan. It didn’t stop me from feeling his gaze boring into me. I bowed slightly at Justin. “I’m glad you made it back safely, my Prince. And I hear
congratulations are in order.”
Justin watched me coolly. “Yes. Well. I’m sure the next few weeks will pass rather quickly what with all the planning. It’ll be a wedding no one will ever forget.”
Rather than tell him that I would probably try and find a way to immediately forget it, I smiled thinly and said, “But of course. I am only pleased I was able to return in time to attend. I would have been devastated to miss the ceremony.”
“I’m sure,” he said. “And the gods only know that apparently nothing could get done without you here. It’s the only reason it hasn’t happened yet. Father insisted you be present.”
“He honors me,” I said, bowing my head again all the while wondering if there was a spell that would cause all of Justin’s bones to melt. I was pretty sure there was. I thought to research it more closely. For my own peace of mind, of course.
“Yes,” Justin said. “He does.” His tone implied he didn’t understand that in the slightest.
“My Prince,” I said. “I take my leave of you. I’m sure you understand how tiring it was, having recently made the journey yourself.”
He dismissed me with a wave of his hand.
I turned away without ever acknowledging Ryan.
“YOUR GRIMOIRE is sorely lacking,” Randall told me a few days later. We stood in the labs, Morgan silent at my side while his former mentor proceeded to berate me and tell me how disappointing I was as an apprentice. “Have you not kept up with it at all in the time you were gone?”
I forced myself to calm before I did or said something stupid. “We found ourselves quite busy, if I’m being honest.”
“That so.”
“Yes.”
“Because of all the times you got captured.”