The air was still warm with toast and jam when we stepped through the portal into Elliot’s house. The smell of coffee and syrup hit first, then the sound–spoons clinking, kids laughing, the scrape of chairs. Elliot, Macey, and Elias were bunched together at the table, plates still smeared with breakfast. Crumbs everywhere, faces sticky, the picture of childhood chaos.
Reina was already clearing dishes with quick, nervous movements, her eyes flicking to me the moment I came in. “You’re early,” she said, though her voice softened when her gaze dropped to my
bump.
“I wanted to ask something.” I stepped closer, laying a hand on the back of Elliot’s chair. “Would it be alright if I took them to see Felix today? He’d like the company. Elias can come too, if he wants.”
Elias’s head shot up, eyes wide. “Really? Me too?”
“Of course,” I said with a smile. “If you’d like.”
Reina’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Envy…” Worry painted her features plain. “After everything…”
But George leaned over from his chair, interrupting gently. “Rein, maybe this is the perfect chance. Didn’t we talk about that date? Just the two of us? You deserve that.”
Her brows pulled, torn between fear and longing. Elias bounced in his seat before she could answer. “I’ve never been through a portal before!” His grin split wide. “Can we really?”
Elliot and Macey exchanged a look, equal parts smug and excited.
I reached across the table, brushing Elias’s hand with mine. “Yes, really. Today, you’ll see.”
“If that’s okay with your mum, of course,” I added gently, looking at Reina.
Her eyes darted to George, searching his face like she always did when she was weighing the hard choices. For a moment, silence stretched in the kitchen, broken only by Elias’s impatient foot tapping under the table. Then Reina exhaled, slowly, shoulders lowering just a fraction.
“Okay,” she said at last, voice soft but certain. “You three can go.”
The kids practically vibrated in their chairs, Macey already reaching for her little bag as if she’d been packed and ready for weeks. Elliot’s grin was smug, and Elias bounced in his seat like he’d just been handed the moon. But before I could thank her, George cleared his throat and leaned forward, palms
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10:33 Mon, Sep 15
Chapter 171
flat on the table. “Actually… maybe they should stay the night.” His tone was casual, but his eyes were steady on me. “If we’re going to get into the habit of sharing them, I’d like it to start now. Before I’m handed another four magicals to juggle.”
Heat crept into my cheeks, and from the corner of my eye, I saw all four of my mates tense with varying shades of smirks, groans, and wide–eyed stares.
“George,” Reina muttered, half exasperated, half amused, but she didn’t tell him no.
Elliot’s grin only grew, Elias nearly toppled his chair with excitement, and Macey clapped like she’d just won something.
I laughed softly, pressing a hand to my bump. “Fair enough. Tonight, then.”
The kids lined up at the threshold like soldiers about to march into battle. Elliot stood tall and smug, like he’d done this a hundred times (he had). Macey clutched Fergus under one arm and Elias’s sleeve in the other, already bouncing on her toes. Elias, though, his wide eyes drank in every detail of the shimmering air as I opened the portal. The circle of light rippled, colours sliding like cil on water, and he leaned forward so far Xavier had to gently put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from face–planting.
“Is it going to eat me?” Elias whispered, half thrilled, half terrified.
Haiden bent down so he was eye level with Elias. “It’s just a step, kiddo. Like walking through a doorway. Only this one’s cooler than all the others.”
On the other side, they stumbled out into the familiar halls of the Tolaris infirmary, where the air smelled faintly of herbs and disinfectant. Felix’s room was down the hall, the door cracked open. I could already hear the low rumble of Zion’s voice inside, murmuring something steady, comforting.
10:34 Mon, Sep 15
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