Chapter 302: Moromonds

"You okay?" His voice was a mellow, deep river, a welcome change from Gram's grating tone in my head.

"I will be." I drew a breath, held it a moment, let it out slowly until my entire body felt deflated. Immediately my anxiety returned, the intensity of the last little while gone, allowing me to slip into fear all over again. My fingers tightened reflexively on his. "On second thought..."

Quaid leaned close and hugged me, the scent of his warm skin and the subtle touch of earth magic in his clothing helping to ground me. I'd forgotten Louisa's habit of calling up power to do laundry. His foster mother lovingly placed a little piece of her gift in every article of his wardrobe.

The Vegas. I promised myself the moment I arrived home I'd head right to their place.

Promised.

"I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it's all going to work out." Quaid's voice rumbled in my ear where it was pressed to his chest. "We both know this could go badly. But Syd, whatever you need, whenever, I'