“That is Rogan Kendrick,” I start as I pull myself together and reluctantly let him go. “Grammy was supposed to help him with something, which means now I’m helping him with something,” I explain as I push my curls out of my face. Why does this day feel like it’s lasted for years?
I need a nap.
I purposely leave out all the details about Rogan making me his familiar and then knocking me out. I figure he’s earned a bit of hero worship for what he just did for Tad. I’ll have to burst their bubble about him another day.
“Rogan Kendrick,” Tad repeats quietly, his cadence saucy and a little awed. “I hope when you say helping him, it’s to your bed, because if not, then you, Leni, are a wasteful girl, and you know how Grammy Ruby felt about that.”
An incredulous snort sneaks out of me, and I roll my eyes. “Grammy Ruby was talking about us eating our vegetables, not getting freaky with every pretty face that crosses our paths.”
“Was she though?” Tad counters with a wag of his eyebrows.
“Trust me, he’s not my type,” I argue.
“What? You’re not into drop-dead gorgeous half-giants with a hero complex and lips that could steal your soul? Unless...does he play for my team? I wasn’t picking up any vibes… Oh fuck, did the hex destroy my gaydar?” he asks, panicked, which of course just makes me laugh. Stress and guilt roll off my shoulders as the mood lightens and relief works its way back into me.
“Language!” Aunt Hillen scolds, interrupting whatever conversation she and Rogan are caught up in. I don’t even know how she heard her son’s potty mouth over their talking. I smile.
Tad rolls his eyes and decides it’s time to get back on his feet. He reaches behind me and plucks the bone knife I used to cut him free, from where it must have fallen, and hands it to me. “I don’t know when you started arming yourself, but I’m glad you had this on you. That hex hurt like a bitch.”
A jolt of guilt strikes through me as we stand up, and Tad reaches out and pulls me into his side. “Don’t do that, Len. Ma’s right, this isn’t your fault. Don’t go getting ideas about distancing yourself for our safety. You’ll get better with the whole magic thing, and shi—I mean, crap—like this won’t be a big deal.”
I nod, but in my gut, I can’t help but feel responsible and seriously uneasy. This happened to him because of me. I push the guilt aside, knowing I’ll have to come to terms with it later. I stare down at the knife in my hand, my curiosity about it once again piqued.
“The knife was in the pouch,” I explain. “I have no idea how it got there. I swear there were only bones in the bag before.”
“You conjured it,” Rogan’s deep voice supplies.
“Say what now?” I ask, as my eyebrows shoot up with surprise, and I look from the knife up to Rogan.
“You...conjured it. We can all do it. We can think of something we need, and as long as you have some kind of connection to the item, you can magic it to you. You also magic it away by putting it back into the pouch.”
“Like that sack that Hermione had in...crap, I can’t remember which book it was?” Tad queries excitedly.
“No, not like in some kids’ books. It’s not magicked to hold whatever we want, it’s more complicated than that,” Rogan declares, a bite of arrogant irritation to the claim.
“Totally would have been a Death Eater,” Tad proclaims randomly, pointing a thumb in Rogan’s direction.
I chuckle, giving Rogan a scrutinizing once over before leaning toward Tad and whispering, “Called it.”
“It’s always the pretty ones,” he retorts.
“Just like your mama has always said.”
“Hate when she’s right.”
“Amen,” I agree without missing a beat.
Rogan just shakes his head, like Tad and I are too much for him. “We need to go,” he grumps. “Like I said before, whoever hexed this place wasn’t trying to kill you, which means they planned on coming back for you. We should go before that happens.”
“I think a better plan is to wait for them. And when they show up, we pounce and fuck ’em up,” I argue.
“Langua—” Hillen starts.
“They almost killed Tad, Aunt Hillen, I think we can let a couple f-words slide when it comes to whoever did it,” I insert before she can finish the admonishment.
She releases a deep, weary sigh. “Fair enough,” she concedes, and Tad’s mouth drops open in complete shock.
“What? She becomes the bones’ pet and suddenly gets a pass?”
Aunt Hillen playfully slaps Tad upside the head, and Rogan and I both snort out a laugh.
“Hey,” Tad objects.
“If you knew more about how to protect yourself,” Rogan starts, “and your vulnerable, magicless aunt and cousin weren’t here, then I would agree that waiting to see who did this would be a good idea, but that’s not the situation we find ourselves in,” he points out, and Tad rubs the back of his head.
I look over at my aunt and then at Tad and realize he’s right. I can’t let anything happen to them. “Is it okay for me to go inside? I need to pack a bag at least for...where are we going?” I press, realizing that I have no idea what the plan is.
“Blackbriar, Tennessee.”
“Well, that sounds ominous,” Tad observes, and I can’t say that I disagree. “What’s in Blackbriar, Tennessee?” he asks me.
“I’ll explain later, but Rogan is right, you and your mom should go. It’s clearly not safe here, and just in case anything else goes down, I don’t want the two of you getting caught in the middle of it.”
“What’s going on, Leni? Why would anyone want to hurt you?” Aunt Hillen questions, her brown eyes apprehensive.
“I’m not sure. That’s what Rogan and I are going to try and figure out. You two go, I’ll call and check in, explain everything when we get to where we’re going.”
She studies me for a moment, her gaze moving from me to Tad and back again. I can see that she’s torn about getting them to safety versus staying here to try and protect me.
“I’ll be okay,” I reassure her. “I’m not completely defenseless,” I tell her, referring to the magic I now have running through my veins, but she looks at Rogan for a moment before relenting.
“I hate leaving you, kiddo,” she states, her voice wobbling with emotion. “I know we’ll just get in the way, which is why I’m going to listen, but I hate the thought of you dealing with any of this on your own.”
I open my arms, and my aunt steps into them, quickly wrapping me up in a strong hug. A second later, I feel Tad encircle us both and squeeze. “I’m not alone, and I promise I’ll just be a phone call away. I’ll keep you updated about everything that’s happening. Hopefully, this will all be over soon.”
The words spill easily from my lips, and it isn’t until after they’re out that I realize that they taste a lot like a lie. Truth is, I have no idea how long this will take. Yes, Rogan is here, and he did help save Tad, but that doesn’t exactly make up for what he did to me. I’m nowhere close to thinking I can trust him. If I account for that and add in the scary taste I just got of how dangerous this all might be, I know without a shadow of doubt I’m in way over my head.