Page 72 of Discovered Magic
“We must tell him!”
“The Goddess indicated I should wait for the right time, but I don’t know when that is.”
Wilder could almost see Evie weighing the pros and cons of revealing what she knew to Draven.
“He doesn’t remember his past,” she eventually said, as if seeking clarification.
“No. It explains why he’s so protective of Abbie in her state.”
“Yes.” She rose and patted his hand. “Trust Isis. She’s always seen our family through the tough times. She will again.”
“I know. But as someone who has missed his fiancée unbearably, I hurt for him.”
“Your empathy speaks well of you, my dear.” Evie brushed the hair back from his forehead, following it with a featherlight kiss. “I’ll find Nathanial and Damian, but you must remain here. Don’t go charging off alone.”
Although it killed him to agree, he did. It wouldn’t be smart to gad about when he could hardly walk and didn’t know where the hell to start.
“Is it like Jonas not to check in with you?” he asked.
“We’ve never been in this particular situation before.”
Wilder didn’t fail to note she avoided a straight answer. “So like Alastair.”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” she replied with a twinkle.
“Look at your husband and imagine your personality.”
Evie grinned. “That’s a terrifying thought.”
“Isn’t it, though? Al’s formidable and well-respected, if not feared.”
“Good. Now, is there anything I can conjure for you before I go?”
“I’m fine. Please bring Nate and Damian here, and tell the Aether it’s imperative he help Castor. He’ll regret it if he doesn’t.”
“He won’t like an idle threat,” she warned with a stern look.
“It wasn’t meant as one. Castor and Alastair turn out to be his best friends. He wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.”
“I see. In that case, I’ll make sure he joins our search party.”
In a flash, she was gone, and Wilder was left to stress out until someone returned. His inactivity lasted three whole minutes.
Throwing back the covers, he eased his legs over the mattress edge and used the side dresser to haul himself up. His body shook from the effort, and sweat pooled at his lower back as he straightened into a standing position.
“One step in front of the other,” he urged himself. Shuffling forward at a hundred-year-old tortoise’s pace, he reached the end of the bed. Thank the Goddess for the scrolling metal frame, because of a certain, he’d have been face down without it.
“For Abbie,” he chanted whenever his body wanted to quit. “For Abbie!”
He was halfway to the window when the door swung open.
There was no mistaking the black-haired man, despite his oddly arrogant attitude.
The Aether had finally arrived.
“Tell me about this Castor.”
Abbie was burning up. Her leg was on fire, and she felt suffocated by the heated weight encircling her. The instant she realized an unfamiliar man held her, she freaked, and her body’s electrical force field flared, but fizzled.
