Moon Flower

She shuffled them toward the hallway, where the others had gathered but kept their distance, likely at her instruction. “You must leave Lunar’s Reach. Tonight. If he awakens, there will be repercussions.”

“Where will we go?” Azriel asked as Galen’s pulse roared in his ears.

She leaned closer. “To Mr. Blackburn’s cottage in Solar’s Edge. He has made arrangements for you—for your future. Plans have been put into motion, but I didn’t want to say anything yet, in case something went wrong or changed. I don’t know for certain if it’s all been…worked out, but at this point, you have no choice but to try.”

Galen was taken aback. “Mr. Blackburn?”

“The home he’s told us about,” Azriel said with awe.

“Now go, gather anything essential you might need, and meet me by the stairs.” She patted their cheeks in a motherly way that nearly made Galen sob. “There is little time.”

They moved to their beds to collect their belongings as if in a dream—or a nightmare, more like it—barely registering the others’ words of regret or encouragement as they shuffled back into the hall. There was fear in Wren’s eyes, blatant respect in Bellamy’s, but Galen wasn’t able to really process any of it.

He avoided glancing into the room where they’d left the constable, and steered Azriel away as well, lest he began hyperventilating over his actions—actions that had saved Galen from getting hurt, or worse.

When they met Madam Langley at the stairs, she pushed currency into Azriel’s hand. “You will purchase tickets at the railway station. Tonight is the train’s final trip out of Lunar’s Reach.” He knew it was the only way out of town, unless on foot or by stagecoach, which might be difficult with such short notice and would take far longer. “When you reach Solar’s Edge, find the apothecary. The owner, a Mr. Browning, will have instructions for you.”

“What of our work and violet fever?” Azriel sounded distressed, and Galen felt for him. He’d put so much of himself into the apothecary.

“You will find more than enough people to help in the country, if that’s what you desire.” Madam Langley gripped his jaw, her eyes growing misty. “You’ve been a wonderful understudy, and you’ll do an excellent job no matter where your travels lead you.”

“Thank you,” he said in a roughened voice. “For everything.” Azriel’s aura expanded in various shades of purple, interspersed with the lustrous blues of his melancholy and the fervent greens of his uncertainties.

“Now, you must go. Time is of the essence.” She squeezed Galen’s shoulder. “We will send word when we can. Use extreme caution. And take care of each other.”

They were only able to say goodbye to the rest of the lads as a group—which might’ve been for the best, given their swirling emotions—as Madam Langley nudged them out the door. She assured them they would all meet again someday, and that somehow helped assuage the alarm growing in Galen’s gut. Still, the twins broke away, unable to let them go without tight hugs, until Madam Langley scolded them.

They set off into the night, both numbed and overwhelmed from all that had transpired, Galen still in shock that Azriel had come to his defense.

Barely speaking, they walked swiftly toward the railway, until Azriel slowed and turned to him. “This is all my fault, but I couldn’t let him hurt you or anyone else. You shouldn’t have to pay for my—”

“I choose you, remember?” Galen said, and Azriel’s eyes softened. “And besides, we would both suffer his wrath. Madam Langley can tell him we ran off, and hopefully she’ll be spared.”

Azriel did not speak, only swallowed roughly as his skin paled. Galen wished he could reach for his fingers to offer him comfort, but it was impossible out in the open like this. He stopped short of telling him what he suspected. That Madam Langley’s tea was steeped with a greater potency and likely would’ve yielded the same result. “Come, we can speak more once we’re settled.”

The railway was packed, but they were able to secure tickets, and Galen breathed out in relief. He’d travel on foot if he had to, no matter how many days it took, as long as Azriel was by his side. They needed only wait for the boarding call, and for the first time, Galen felt…hope.

He still couldn’t believe Mr. Blackburn had made arrangements for them. Why hadn’t he told them, and why hadn’t he called on them again? He would be sure to ask all his questions later. Now was certainly not the time for speculation.

They moved toward the steps of the platform to wait, looking forward to finally having a seat—and a rest. When he didn’t feel Azriel beside him, he panicked, scared he’d lost him in the throng.

Turning, he didn’t immediately spot Azriel, but then he saw him on his knees, hovering over something on the ground below the platform.