Beautiful Redemption (Caster Chronicles 4)

He gave Lena a squeeze and made his way over to me. I held out my hand to shake his, but he swung his arm around my neck instead.

“It’s good to see you, too, sir. We kinda wanted to talk to you and Aunt Marian.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Lena was twisting her charm necklace, waiting for me to explain. I guess she didn’t want to break the news to her uncle that we could make out all we wanted now without putting my life in danger. So I did the honors. And as intrigued as Macon seemed, I was pretty sure he liked it better when kissing Lena posed the threat of electric shock.

Marian turned to Macon, at a loss. “Remarkable. What do you think it means?”

He was pacing in front of the stacks. “I’m not entirely sure.”

“Whatever it is, do you think it will affect other Casters and Mortals?” Lena was hoping this was some kind of change in the Order of Things. Maybe a cosmic bonus, after everything I’d been through.

“That’s doubtful, but we will certainly look into it.” He glanced at Marian.

She nodded. “Of course.”

Lena tried to hide her disappointment, but her uncle knew her too well. “Even if this isn’t affecting other Casters and Mortals, it is affecting the two of you. Change has to start somewhere, even in the supernatural world.”

I heard a creak, and the front door slammed. “Dr. Ashcroft?”

I looked at Lena. I would’ve known that voice anywhere. Apparently, Macon recognized it, too, because he ducked behind the stacks with Lena and me.

“Hello, Martha.” Marian gave Mrs. Lincoln her friendliest librarian voice.

“Was that Wesley’s car I saw out front? Is he in here?”

“I’m sorry. He’s not.”

Link was probably scrunched down on the floor of the Beater, hiding from his mother.

“Is there anything else I can do for you today?” Marian asked politely.

“What you can do,” Mrs. Lincoln fussed, “is try to read this book a witchcraft and explain to me how we can allow our children to check this out a the public library.”

I didn’t have to look to know what series she was referring to, but I just couldn’t help myself. I poked my head around the corner to see Link’s mom waving a copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in the air.

I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. It was good to know some things in Gatlin

would never change.

I didn’t take The Stars and Stripes out during lunch. They say that when someone you love dies, you can’t eat. But today I had a cheeseburger with extra pickles, a double order of fries, a raspberry Oreo shake, and a banana split with hot fudge, caramel, and extra whip.

I felt like I hadn’t eaten in weeks. I guess I hadn’t actually eaten anything in the Otherworld, and my body seemed to know it.

As Lena and I ate, Link and Ridley were joking around together, which sounded more like fighting to anyone who didn’t know better.

Ridley shook her head. “Seriously? The Beater? Didn’t we go over this on the way here?”

“I wasn’t listenin’. I only pay attention to about ten percent a what you say.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “I’m ninety percent too busy lookin’ at you sayin’ it.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I’m a hundred percent too busy looking the other way.” She acted annoyed, but I knew Ridley better than that.

Link only grinned. “And they say you don’t use math in real life.”

Ridley unwrapped a red lollipop and made a show of it, like always. “If you think I’m going to New York with you in that rust bucket, you’re crazier than I thought, Hot Rod.”

Link nuzzled her neck, and Rid swatted him. “Come on, Babe. It was awesome last time. And this time we won’t have to sleep in the Beater.”