The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania 3)

“Mind games,” Tiggy said. “Mess you up in the head.”

“But then why did Morgan—”

“Earth!” Gary shrieked as Kevin set him down first before touching down himself. “Sweet and beautiful earth beneath my feet. Oh, blessed is this day, and I will never do anything like that again, I swear to the gods. Unicorns were not meant to fly! If they were, we’d have sprouted wings. But since there was already too much fabulosity just as we were, we didn’t.” He collapsed to the ground, lying on his side, rolling around in the dirt, legs flailing as he kicked up dust. “I love you, ground. And rocks. And grass. I love all of you so much, you don’t even know.”

“Gary so weird,” Tiggy muttered.

“You got that right, buddy,” I said as Kevin crouched as low as he could. I slid off first, my legs wobbly as I hit the ground. Ryan followed, and then Tiggy threw down our packs, which had been secured against one of Kevin’s spikes. Tiggy landed gracefully before he stretched and yawned.

“Mama okay?” he asked me as he stared at the gates to the city, which stood as they always did, large and forbidding.

“Think so,” I said, bending down and starting to separate the packs. “Hear everyone inside?”

“Yeah,” Tiggy said. “People loud.”

And that set me a little more at ease, because the sounds of the city echoed out over us, like they normally did. Meridian City had always been loud, and I would have thought that had they been under attack, the shouts would have been screams.

“You think Morgan and Randall are here already?” Ryan asked, hoisting his pack up and over his shoulder. It rested against the shield on his back.

“Maybe,” I muttered. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they got here before us. Seeing as how they’re both sneaky bastards who can do magic that they won’t even tell me about.”

“And that surprises you?” Kevin asked. “He’s Morgan. Even I know he’s a badass. And when I say someone’s a badass, you know he’s a badass. Because of all my badassery.”

I rolled my eyes. “Gary, come get your damn bag filled with scarves—”

“Darling ground, how I worship the feeling of you pressing against me!”

“Gary busy,” Tiggy said, grabbing his own pack. “Gary being wrong.”

“So wrong,” I said, picking up my own pack. I frowned, as it was heavier than I remembered it being. I untied the knot that held it closed as I heard the city gates begin to open. “What the hell?”

There, sitting on top of haphazardly folded spare trousers, was a familiar wooden contraption.

“What is it?” Ryan asked, peering over my shoulder. “Is that—”

“It’s Ruv’s sand sailboard,” I said, frowning down at it. “Why would he give it to me?”

“Probably to curry favor,” Kevin said. “It’s well known that if you want to get some dick, you need to give presents.”

“Except if it’s you,” Gary said, finally pushing himself up from the ground. “You give away dick like it’s free.”

“I believe in sharing my love equally,” Kevin said loftily. “You certainly didn’t have any complaints.”

“Ruv give you presents?” Tiggy asked me.

“It’s not going to curry anything,” I told Ryan.

“I’m not even worried,” Ryan said, that adorable scowl adorning his face.

“A little worried,” I said.

“Sam, if you were going to leave me over something as trite as that, then you two deserve each other. Some of us know that you don’t need material things to prove love.”

“It certainly doesn’t hurt,” Gary muttered.

“You can’t blame Ruv for trying,” I teased Ryan. “I am

quite the catch.”