Chapter 645: Optimism

Maybe I shouldn't have been so optimistic, but knowing Mom was going to be okay, that she was finally herself, went a long way to making me feel better.

While I still didn't believe she would be able to save me from being condemned to death, at least she was whole and could help Gram. And Shenka when the time came I had to release the family magic.

I kicked myself for not filling Mom in on everything that happened, but since she seemed to think I had to stay quiet in order for her to do what was necessary, spilling the beans would have to wait. I could only hope Demetrius would think to warn Sunny about Alison. If his brain was even firing on partial neurons at the moment.

I paced, struggling with the knowledge it was likely Margaret Applegate never really left the control of the Brotherhood. I certainly wouldn't put it past them to try to snare her again and piled on another coating of guilt I hadn't checked in.

You do realize most of what you're beating yourself up about really i