Safe

Chapter Eleven: Show of Strength | Part 9

“I… I don’t want to pressure him, of course, but… I’d really like to see him when he’s feeling up to it, if that’s alright,” Seerla continued. “Can you let him know I was asking about him, and I’m glad he’s okay?”

Thirtyx’s cheeks grew warm in anticipation of the reveal. “I don’t need to,” Rhea said with a wry grin. “He watched the briefing through us and he miiiiiight still be listening.”

Seerla pursed her lips but didn’t look nearly as embarrassed as Thirtyx had feared. “Oh, then, um… hi, Thirtyx.”

Thirtyx exhaled a sigh that unwound a great deal of the tension in his back. Let her stop by, if she wants. I’m up to it. If you don’t mind, Benn?

Not at all. I think I can magic myself out of this ridiculous garb without having to actually strip down.

Rhea beamed. “Thirtyx has extended you an invitation. Are you free now?”

The way Seerla’s face lit up made Thirtyx’s insides flutter with an emotion he couldn’t quite place. We’ll be up in a minute, Rhea said, then she severed the connection.

Thirtyx turned on the lamps and picked up the abandoned card game. He gathered Benn’s lesser-used clothing from where they’d strewn it in search of his royal uniform and packed it back into its trunk. He’d just managed to heave the trunk back into Benn’s closet when the door swung open. Seerla vaulted across the room and threw her arms around him.

The tears were back. “I’m sorry,” she sniffled. “I… this is so dumb. But I’m really glad you’re okay. I was so worried.”

Benn closed the door behind them, a mischievous glint in his eye. “You clearly didn’t need to be. The only information they got from him was the bit about Grimm being attacked before. Isn’t that impressive?”

Thirtyx didn’t have the mental or emotional energy for whatever Benn was playing at, so he took Seerla by the shoulders and met her eyes with a pointed fervor. “Thank you, Seerla. Really. Your note kept a lot more secrets from getting leaked and probably saved me a fair bit of pain.”

Her jaw clenched. “I hope Grimmary fries Azirenne for what she did to you.”

“Yes well, here’s the thing.” Thirtyx slid a textbook off the shelf with a smoothness that surprised even him. “If we pass our Comps and become successful lawyers, we can help make sure people like her do fry for their crimes.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Are you really suggesting we study? At a time like this?”

Benn scratched at the back of his head. “Rhea and I do still have assignments to make up from our absence after the first attack.”

“No,” Rhea snapped. “No, absolutely not. Today has tried my patience as much as it can be tried, and it will take me bars to get out of this fancy getup.” In emphatic illustration, she began ripping pins from her hair wherever she could find them. “If you’re studying, I’m going back to my own room. You three are nuts.”

Despite her outburst, she hung around for a few more bars, serving as a casual distraction while Benn claimed the desk to finish an essay and Seerla and Thirtyx settled on Thirtyx’s bed to drill more amendment sets. She rested her head on his shoulder so they could see the same textbook, and it made him feel unbelievably safe. Safer than the unbreakable seal Rhea had put on the door. Safer than the near-constant presence of the most accomplished young sorcerers the world had ever seen.

He’d never imagined that morning that anyone could ever make him feel safe inside this school again. And yet now, he knew for certain that he could handle whatever the next few days would bring.