“Like a disguise?”
“Yeah.”
“Is this new? Because you’re a wizard?”
“Nah. I could do it before.”
He scowled at me. “Then why the hell haven’t you done it? You always wore fake beards!”
I shrugged and averted my gaze. “Uh. Morgan, he—well. He called it frivolous magic. He didn’t like it when I did stuff like that. Said it was a waste of time.”
Justin sighed. “I don’t—okay. Look. Maybe that was the case then. And maybe he might have been right. The gods only know what kind of trouble you would have gotten into had he allowed you to do whatever you wanted when you were younger.”
“So many noses would have been turned into dicks,” I agreed.
“Right. Because you were a perpetually horny teenager lusting after my boyfriend.”
“In secret. And look how it all turned out! It pays to be creepy sometimes, I guess. Who would have thunk?”
He rolled his eyes. “How far can this go?”
“What? The modifications?”
He nodded, eyeing me curiously.
“Pretty far,” I said slowly, not sure where he was going with this. “Eye color. Facial hair. Beer guts. But reconfiguring someone can hurt. It’s not just the magic. You’re shifting the way they look.”
“But it’ll be enough,” he muttered, reaching up to pull on the beard again. “We can—”
“Sam,” Gary said, pushing a squawking Justin out of the way. “I have notes on your performance.”
“Oh boy.”
“Yes. Oh boy. Your delivery was wooden. Your voice was pitchy in the musical numbers. You interrupted my soliloquy. I mean, do you even understand the fine art of acting? I know you’re a forest person now, but my word. What is wrong with you?”
“I did the best I could!”
“An elderly man missing his arms and legs and voice box would have been more believable than you!”
“Well maybe if you’d given me advance notice, I would have been able to prepare better!”
“We literally just got back to Camp HaveHeart,” he snapped at me.
I frowned. “Really? It’s still the same day? Huh. Wow. So many things have happened, it feels like it’s been a week.” I gasped. “That means my eyebrows still haven’t been plucked! How dare you let me perform like—oh. Wait. Right. Shaping magic.” I waved my hand in front of my face and plucked a few. “Ow. Ow! Fuck, women who do this regularly are the true heroes, what the hell. Okay. Better?”
“Hmmm,” Gary said, leaning close and inspecting each eyebrow individually. “If you like looking perpetually surprised, then yes. That’s better. You look like you just walked into a party you didn’t know was being thrown for you.”
I shoved his face away.
Justin was still staring at me.
“What?” I snapped at him.
“Plotting,” he said mysteriously.
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“For you? Probably not.”
“Great,” I sighed.
“I need to talk to Sam,” Ryan said gruffly, coming to stand next to me. He gripped my elbow like he was getting ready to pull me away. I knew that look on his face, and I grinned because I was about to get licked.
“Absolutely not,” Justin said, pulling me back toward the table. “I know what you’re going to do. You put your godsdamn dick away. I need him.”
“Ooh,” I said, waggling my surprise-brows back at Ryan. “Sounds like the Prince wants to fight you for me.”
Ryan began to pull out his sword.
Justin looked back at him and rolled his eyes. “Knock it off, Knight Commander. You can trust me when I say I can do far, far better than Sam.”
“That was mean,” I told him. “But I can’t wait for you to find love so I can see who is better than me. That guy must be so damn cool.” I frowned when I thought of something. “But just because you find him doesn’t mean you can’t be my best friend 5eva anymore. That’s for life. You promised.”
“I promised you nothing. You forced that upon me.”
“Same thing.”
The others followed us and stood around the table again. Justin pulled out the map of Castle Lockes, and then another, which showed the City of Lockes. Tina stood at his side, peering down at them, eyes darting from one to the other.
“First things first,” Justin said. “Gary, I’m sorry.”
We all looked up, surprised. Well. Everyone else looked surprised. If Gary was to be believed, I was still there.
“Um,” Gary said, flustered. “Thank you?”
“You’re welcome.”
“And what are we apologizing for?”
Justin sighed. “I can’t—for as long as I’ve known you, you haven’t had your horn. And to be honest, before this whole… thing with Myrin, I never gave it much thought. You were always just Sam’s sidekick who—”
“That was the wrong thing to say,” I mumbled.
“Sidekick,” Gary said, eyes narrowing. The air around him began to sparkle. “Who you callin’ sidekick, you little piece of—”
“The fact remains,” Justin said smoothly, “that I didn’t take what you’d gone through into consideration. I can’t imagine the pain you must have felt. And that was wrong of me. I’m sorry for that and ask that you one day consider forgiving me.”
The glitter disappeared as Gary blushed, looking down at the table and giggling. “Oh, you. As if I could ever stay mad at you.”
I glanced between the two of them. “What is even happening right now?”
“Don’t look so surprised,” Gary said like an asshole. “Just because the Prince of Verania wants to get up all in my bidness doesn’t mean you need to be jealous. You already have Justin’s castoff. What more could you possibly need?”
“Castoff?” Ryan exclaimed.
“Whoa,” Justin said, looking alarmed. “That’s not—”
“You trying to get yourself some ’corn?” Kevin asked, tongue flicking out dangerously. “You must got some big ol’ hairy balls trying to do that in front of his husband.”
“Ex-husband on a trial reconciliation,” Gary reminded him. “As far as I’m concerned, if a better deal came along, I wouldn’t say no.” He batted his eyes at Justin. “And it looks like one just did. Tell me, Justin. Just how rich are you? Not that it matters, of course. Except for how much it matters to me.”
“I have nothing,” Justin reminded him. “Because it’s all at the castle. Remember the escaping and the running and the hiding?”
“Riiiight,” Gary said. “Well, then. Justin, I’m sorry to say that we won’t work out. I ask that you respect my decision. Kevin! Good news, I’m considering you again!”
“Oh, happy day! Suck it, Justin!”
“You know what?” Justin said. “Doesn’t even matter. The point I was trying to make is that no one should ever have to suffer like you did.”
“That’s very kind of you, Prince,” Terry said. Such a kissass. “If only others felt the same way. There are people out there who don’t care. They try and take what isn’t theirs because they get all crazed with power.”
“I didn’t trust humans,” Kevin said quietly. “Not after what they’d done to me. Trying to take my hearts or my blood because of my magic.”
“People like Ruv,” I said bitterly.
Everyone turned to look at me. Vadoma’s expression was troubled.
“What about him?” Mom asked.
I looked down at the table at the map of the home that had been taken from us. “That day…. Shit.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “That day. In the house in Lockes. With Caleb. And Ruv. And Myrin.” I glanced at Lady Tina, whose eyes were wide and fearful. “I never said anything because there were other things more important going on.” Like the death of my mentor, but I didn’t say that aloud. “But that’s how I was trapped. Why I couldn’t fight back. Ruv had stolen dragon’s blood from Zero. There were… symbols. In a circle, written in Ze
ro’s blood. The moment I stepped inside, I was stuck. Ruv had taken something from Zero and used it as a weapon against me. I couldn’t stop Ruv from… when he—and Myrin—”
Ryan’s hand was on my shoulder, squeezing tightly, grounding me in a way that I’d missed. It felt different than it had before, but that made sense. I wasn’t the same person.
“And I know you’re asking me to trust you all, and I do, but what happened that day, what was taken from me, that’s…. I won’t trust her. She might stand at your side, but I’ll never let her have my back in case that’s where she decides to stick the knife.”
Lady Tina’s face hardened. “I don’t know how else I can—”
Justin held up his hand, and she fell silent. She looked frustrated and a little scared, but she appeared to listen to the Prince. “I get what you’re saying, Sam,” he said. “I really do. And I promise you that I’ll listen to your concerns. Always. But I need everyone here for what’s ahead. Okay? I asked you to trust me, and I meant that. I would never do anything to put those you love in harm’s way.”
I almost believed him. It must have shown on my face, because he sighed and shook his head. “We’ll come back to that. But first, Gary. Who was it that stole your horn?”
Gary looked a little startled. “Oh. Keith.”
“Keith,” Justin repeated.
“Keith.”
“And this… Keith. Where is he now?”
“Dead.”
Justin squinted at him. “Accidental?”
Gary smiled. “Yes. He was accidentally trampled to death. Quite tragic.”
“Trampled.”
“Oh yes. That… team… of horses just came out of nowhere.”
“And you just happened to know that how?”
Gary shrugged. “You know? I can’t quite remember.”
“So bloodthirsty,” I whispered.
“Right,” Justin said slowly. “And your horn?”
“Gone. Either stolen or he sold it, or—”
“So then what was the point of that entire production you just put on?” Vadoma asked.
“Bitch, I did it because I wanted to,” Gary snapped at her. “Gods.”
“Yeah, bitch,” Tiggy said. “You be trippin’.”
Vadoma wasn’t pleased at that.
“And that’s the only lead you had?” Justin asked, sounding aggrieved.
“We’ve been looking for years,” I told him. “Every bit of information we had was checked and double-checked, but every time we thought we were close, it turned out to be just another dead end. And unless anything happened while I was gone, that’s still the case.”
Gary shook his head. “Nothing. There hasn’t been time to look anywhere else.” He sniffled. “And we asked my parents, but they were too busy getting laid with strangers to give a damn about me—”
“That’s not true,” Terry said. “Gary, they—” He sighed. “Why do you think they joined the swingers tour right after you told them?”
“Because they didn’t want to think about my pain and instead wanted to focus on object insertion?”
“No, you idiot. They joined because they figured it was the best way to travel and search for your horn.”
Gary gaped at him. “Mom and Dad went searching for my horn under the guise of having partner-swapping sex?”
Terry nodded. “They used the tour to track down leads. Especially since they would be dealing with… less reputable creatures.”
“But—but they never told me.”
“They didn’t want to get your hopes up in case nothing came of it.”
“That’s true love,” Dad said. “I don’t know that we’d do the same for Sam if he lost his horn.”
I glared at him. “I’m your son—oh. Right. I don’t have a horn. Still. Rude.”
Gary sighed. “For all we know, it’s not even in Verania anymore—”
“It is,” Terry said quietly.
We all turned slowly to look at him.
“What was that?” Kevin asked.
Terry shuffled his front legs nervously. “It’s still in Verania. Or at least it was.”
“And you know that how?” Gary asked, taking a step toward his brother. His tail was twitching in that way it did when skanks were about to get shanked.
“Because six months ago, it was given to me.”
“Twist,” Tiggy said. “Oooh.”
“What?” Gary shrieked. “And you didn’t think to tell me? Terry, I swear to the gods, if you don’t fucking give me my horn right this godsdamn second, I am going to end you here and now.”
Terry took a step back, snorting anxiously, nostrils flaring. The sparks that came out were goldenrod and olive. “I don’t have it anymore. And I couldn’t just give it to you. I was told not to. I kept it safe until he returned for it a month ago to take it back. I told him it wasn’t fair that you didn’t have it, because regardless of what you think of me, I’m not that big of a jerk. I mean, jeez, Gary. You’re my brother. We might not always get along, but I don’t ever want to see you hurt. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to not have your horn.”
“I’m going to hurt you, you fucking pile of dicks!” Gary bellowed. “Tiggy, hold me back!”
Tiggy grabbed his shoulders. Gary immediately started struggling, snapping and snarling at his brother, glitter sloughing off him as thick as I’d ever seen it. I hoped Tiggy wouldn’t actually let him go, because Gary had his murder-eyes going on, and that never ended well.
And while I thought he had a fair point and deserved to kick his brother’s ass, I was stuck on the one little detail that didn’t make sense. “Who?” I asked Terry, and the room immediately fell silent.
“What?” Terry asked, watching Gary warily.
“You said he gave it to you. He told you to keep it safe. He told you that you couldn’t give it back to Gary. He took it back from you. Who is he?”
“Oh, right. Well. I’d never met him before, mind you, but I’d heard of him. I mean, who hadn’t? You live in Verania, you know who he is. His name is just one of those things that all people know. I’ll admit I expected him to be… I don’t know. Taller? Certainly less eyebrows. I offered him a place to spend the night because he looked like he was ready to drop, but he declined. He looked even worse when he came back last month, but he was gone before I could even ask anything about him.” Terry frowned. “Not that I would question him. I’m not an idiot, after all.”
“Godsdammit,” I snapped at him. “Stop being vague and just tell us who it—eyebrows. You said eyebrows.” I clenched my hands into fists at my sides as I took in a shuddering breath. “Terry, was it Randall?”
That got everyone’s attention.
“Yes,” Terry said, looking a little put out. “The Head Wizard Randall came to me with my brother’s horn and asked me to keep it safe. And then he came and took it away again. He’s the one that told me to keep quiet about it. If you’re going to be mad at someone, be mad at him.”
“Thank the gods,” Justin breathed. He placed his hands on the table, palms down, and hung his head.
“Randall has my horn?” Gary demanded, starting to get worked up again. “What the hell is he doing with it? Why would he not just bring it back? He better not be planning on using it in some kind of spell. I don’t care who he is. If he refuses to give it back, I will rip out his stomach and then shove it down his damn throat.”
I couldn’t even take the time to be awed by his unnecessary savagery. Too many thoughts were swirling through my head, most of all that Randall was alive, that he’d been seen. I cared, yes, that he had my friend’s horn, and was irritated that he was being so fucking secretive about it, but he was alive. He hadn’t been imprisoned or, worse, consumed by Myrin. After he’d shown up in that house after Morgan had died, it was only seconds before he’d disappeared with Myrin. That had been the last time I’d seen him. Apparently he’d been busy.
“Sam?” Ryan asked, and everyone turned their attention to me. “Ar
e you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said hoarsely. I coughed, shaking my head. “Yeah. I just—it’s good. You know? I mean, it’s—it’s good. That’s all.”
“What do you think he could be doing?” Justin asked me. “You knew him better than any of us.”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But Randall doesn’t do something without having a reason. Ever.” I looked at Gary. “And even though he’s an asshole, he would never do something to intentionally hurt you. That’s not who he is. If he has your horn, it’s part of a plan that we don’t yet know about. He wouldn’t be using it for a spell. It’s not his. It’s yours. He knows that.”
“Still gonna stomp over his old ass,” Gary muttered. “Hiding my horn and shit. Gary’s gonna bring the pain, you mark my words.” He leaned up against Kevin as the dragon whispered something in his ear. Gary nodded tightly before sighing, his shoulders slumping.
“So, what,” Ryan said. “We just… wait? Until Randall decides to let us in on whatever he’s planning?”
“Looks like,” I said. “I tried summoning him on his crystal the last night before I left, but I got nothing. I can try again later, but I think he’s gone underground.”
“What about the dragons?” Justin asked. “The Great White. Could he find Randall?”
I shook my head. “Not if he doesn’t want to be found. And I really doubt that Randall wants to be found by anyone, much less the Great White. We just have to hope he’ll reveal himself soon. We don’t have much time left, whatever he’s planning.”
Justin looked resigned at that, but I thought he’d expected the answer. “Okay. We’ll table that for now. Gary, I’m sorry, but we have to have faith that Randall knows what he’s doing.” He swallowed thickly as he looked down at the map of Castle Lockes. “Now we need to talk about my father.”
I wondered at the toll the past year had taken on Justin. He’d grown up knowing one day he would be king. He’d trained for it, done everything asked of him—the lessons, the training, the diplomacy. And where he’d once been cold and rigid, he’d now become less so, and I knew that one day he’d make a great king I’d be honored to serve, and not just because he was my best friend 5eva.