The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania 3)

“I’m not going to let that happen to him,” I said fiercely. “I won’t let Ryan be taken away from me.”

Randall shook his head. “I will go to him. To the Great White. I will find him. I will convince him.”

“Are you sure?” Morgan asked. “He said he never wanted to see your face in this life again. How will you find him?”

“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeves yet,” the old wizard said. “Sam, you promise me you’ll stay inside the castle until I return.”

“But—”

“Sam.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

“Morgan, you make sure he keeps that promise.”

“Hey!”

“Go,” Morgan said. “Return when you can. I’ll handle things here.”

There was a sharp crack and Randall was gone.

“Well,” I said in the silence that followed. “That was certainly enlightening. Can I go back to bed now? Or is there any other secret I should probably know about?”

Morgan eyed me warily for a moment. Then, “That’s it.”

I snorted as I turned toward the door. “Why do I have a hard time believing that?”

RYAN WAS sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for me when I returned to our room. He looked up as I shut the door behind me and leaned against it.

“You ever get the feeling that people know more than they’re telling you?” I muttered.

“With wizards? All the time.”

I winced at that. “Yeah. I deserved that.”

He shrugged. “Probably.”

“Would it make things better if I apologized again?”

“Have you apologized at all?”

I blinked. “Haven’t I?”

“Don’t think you have.”

“Oh. Um. Sorry?”

“Heartfelt.”

“Dude, you know I am.”

He sighed. “I know. But it’s still nice to hear it every now and then.”

“I didn’t mean it. I just—I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“You always think you’re doing the right thing.”

“Yeah, but I’m awesome like that, so.”