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Chapter 17

The Laird’s Return

~VELIS~

I begin the lengthy process of returning home at the next redeye gate. This isn’t the human world where we can just pop in and out at will. Sure, I can use our bond to pull myself to Dolly, but any travel between realms requires going through the proper gates—like we did when we traveled to the nymph world, when we arrived in the Celestial realm, and like Evaris has done twice in the last day.

I gather my travel paperwork, teleport to the nearest gate, and settle on one of the station bench seats, an empty bag on my hip, waiting for the portal to open so I can warp myself home. Dolly’s worry continues to reach me from the other side of this world. I shoot a message to Arrik, urging him to comfort her.

I don’t like the idea of her sleeping in his vessel. But it’s better than her sleeping in his bed.

I tuck the Ray away and wait for them to call my number. After checking in with the crossing guard and registering a round trip to Makaya and back, I step through the gate, arriving at a receiving station in Makaya, where it’s noon on a weekday.

I teleport home, diverting from my father’s office and instead materializing in the kitchen, which smells like dough and burning wood .

“Fuck, Vel!”

Bellamy jumps enough to knock the pastry wheel out of her own hand. Her apron is dusted with powder from the bread she kneaded earlier. She’s been crafting colored flowers to add to the top of her resting loaf. This is the smallest pantry, the one she prefers to work in.

“Sorry.” I hand her the pastry wheel I caught. “I knew you’d be here.”

“What are you doing? Where’s milady?”

“She’s with Arrik.”

Bellamy’s nose wrinkles. “Arrik? On your honeymoon with you? That sphincter .”

“It’s not completely like that. But there’s some shit I’m trying to figure out, and I need to find something—a leather-bound book. Is Cal back to work yet?”

“A leather-bound book? Hundreds of those around here,” she says.

“This one has a rose imprinted on the cover.”

“Oh. Afraid I’ve never seen one like that. And Cal’s back part days. They fixed him up, but mostly it’s the mental trauma. He’s been getting overwhelmed around people.” She adjusts the bundle of moon-purple hair on her head, then sets her hands on her waist as she examines the timepiece on the scullery wall. “By the hour, Cal may still be in the gardens. Yesterday, they were doing the jackdragons. He mentioned they’d have more to do.”

“Which garden?”

“The east, near that kelpie statue with the passageway, where you took me when we were children.”

It leads to a hidden observatory that was abandoned by the Reilhander family long ago. I kissed Bellamy there once in middle school. It’s possible she’s remembering it too. She swivels away to run her tool under the faucet. “So, what’s happening now? Is it Beckham?”

“Not that we know of yet. Speaking of, though, have you seen him? ”

Bellamy wipes her wet hands on her apron. “Hasn’t shown his face since what happened with Cal. Your father’s still looking for him.”

“And Jeb?”

“He and his human master left the manor shortly after you did. Rumors say they’re staying at Jebidirah’s dwelling in the city.”

“Ha. Right.”

Bellamy’s freckles spread as she cracks a charming grin. “Swear I’m not fucking with you. Wouldn’t do it, knowing you’ve got places to be. Never thought I’d see the day Jeb started twisting the thistle with a human, but must be what it is, right?”

“As in they’re living there together?” Technically, we always live with our masters, but not... here, in Makaya. “As in, the coronation wasn’t a one-night thing?” I have so much shit happening, I can’t even worry about whatever he may be conspiring to do. The whole thing is suspicious. “Can you keep an eye on that for me? Shoot me a message if you hear anything else?”

She notices me glance at the whispering maids in the corridor—purists, and not fond of me receiving the laird’s reins over my brothers. “Sure thing. Well , I can tell you don’t have time, especially with our lady in Arrik’s claws. But stop back if you remember, and I’ll have a basket prepared for you. Cheese. Fish. Spreads. Chocolate-covered berries. Things milady will like.”

Might be a good idea to come bearing gifts after shoving her off with Arrik with little explanation. Edible gifts usually land well with Dolly.

“Actually...” I retrieve my Ray from the void behind my leg and flip through messages until reaching the coordinates Arrik shared—the fucking Arrowhead , of all places—and transfer them to a scrap of paper I’ve just manifested. “Can you have it couriered there? Use portal postage and charge it to my account.”

“Even better,” she says with a broad smile as she eagerly takes the paper .

I know she enjoys doing shit like this. Dolly will like it.

“Thanks, Bell. Sorry to be brief. I’ll stop back if I have time.”

“Be briefer. And get Arrik away from our lady. This is supposed to be your honeymoon, isn’t it? Not a good idea to leave him with her, Vel.”

I’m aware.

The world spins, and I land in the eastern gardens, appearing beside the statue of the dark water-horse protecting a passageway to the abandoned observatory.

No sign of Caliko, but the plan is to borrow some luck before attempting to find my mother’s journal, which could be anywhere.

With the Makayen sun free of cloud cover, I pass into the shade of a long colonnade. A flagstone path winds through a garden of ferns and other shade-loving plants. A group of gardeners is off to one side, tending to some coral bells. Cal is not among them.

But Nan the gardener is.

“Laird Velis!” An elderly woman in a sunhat shuffles toward me. “What’re you doing home? Your father don’t expect ya for another—”

“Nan.” I take her shoulders, pulling her out of earshot of the rest. One of the gardeners is a newer retainer—pretty, young, and easy prey for Beckham. I always assume he’s tried to buy their loyalties. “I hate to be brief, but can you tell me where Caliko is?”

“Turned in. Wasn’t feeling well. Is everything all right?” She brings a dirty garden glove to her mouth. “Nothing’s happened to our la—”

Too loud.

I cut her off, whispering, “Our lady is fine. I... did forget to pack something she asked for, and this is me making amends. Caliko had it last I saw.”

“Well, what is it? Maybe I might’ve seen it too, then.”

What the hell would Cal have of Dolly’s ?

“Ah, I think I know what you’re after. What Caliko’s got. Not milady’s, is it? Could use some myself for my back.”

She thinks it’s one of the many imported ‘herbs’ Caliko grows in his room.

Fine.

“Please, keep this between us,” I tell her, conjuring a pad of paper. “Write down what you need for your back. I’ll let Cal know.”

“Oh, don’t bother yourself, youn—” She catches herself. “Laird Velis. Won’t tell anyone I seen ya. Imagine you’re eager to get back to our lady. Cal’d be back to his quarters by now. You should be able to catch him.”

I dissipate the pad of paper. “Thank you, Nan.”

I glance at the retainer. She’s got her Ray out—never a good sign.

The sooner I find the journal, the sooner I can get back to Dolly. I can teleport faster than I can walk. I rush through the justification that allows me to bend the rules of magic and warp myself away.

The servants’ quarters are on the first floor, tucked away in the southern wing. I land near the lion statue marking the junction and head toward Caliko’s room. This part of the manor is more stripped-down compared to the rest. I don’t come here often. It’s not about superiority. Mother always said that, friend or not, I’m still their work. And work? It has no business showing up uninvited.

I turn down the hallway to Caliko’s room, shared by Bellamy’s brother, Bellonis, who is part of the manor’s security. I rap on the door. “Cal? It’s Vel.”

No response.

If he’s not feeling well, he may be sleeping. I shouldn’t wake him, but I need his luck if I have any hope of locating a solitary object inside this manor.

I feel fucking bad. He’s still recovering from the mental injuries Beckham gave him. But even as a studied healer, there’s not much I can do about that.

The healing guild advises us against using magical healing for non-djinn and non-humans, anyway. Strange things happen when we break out of our natural role. Like what happened to my magic in Aphrotica. Even Célesteen’s atmosphere is being heavily modified to accept our magic. If I try to heal a greenie, I could blow him up.

“Caliko?” I raise my voice and knock again.

This time, the door opens.

Bellamy’s twin brother stands in the doorway, sweat-drenched in a tank top, his hair the color of an Earthen plum. He pulls a music stone from his ear. “My laird?”

“Sorry, is Caliko here?”

“Yeah. But he’s burrowed right now.” Bellonis nods me into the chamber. One half is messy, with random clothing strewn about, an unmade bed, and a set of weights he was in the middle of using. The other half is like a jungle, covered in vines, with a tree sprouting from the floor, fed by light from a wall of windows.

The ground is strewn with dirt where Caliko burrowed.

Crap. If he’s not feeling well, I shouldn’t pull him from his burrow.

But I need to get back to Dolly. I’m feeling friggin’ itchy about her sleeping in Arrik’s vessel.

I don’t stop Bellonis from knocking on the bark of the tree Father had imported when Caliko and his mother first sought refuge at our estate, having escaped a domestic situation. “Caliko! Someone at the door for you!”

Bellonis gives me another nod and shoves his music stone back into his ear, rolling out a stiff shoulder before returning to his weight bench.

A moment later, the soil around the base of Caliko’s tree begins to hop. Anticipating one of Caliko’s dramatic ejections, I take a step back, running a tired hand through my hair, feeling the strain of this never-ending day. As expected, the greenie launches himself from a hole too small to fit his body, flying meters across the room, arms flailing, and landing in a particularly dirty spot on the floor. He stands, shaking the soil from his hair. The rest of the dirt around the tree sucks itself back into the hole that just birthed a full person, leaving no trace of the burrow behind.

Disoriented, Caliko searches the room for Bellonis, but his eyes land on me.

“Vel? Oy! What in luck’s name’re you doing here?” He jostles over, looking even thinner than usual.

“Fuck, Cal.” I eye him over. “Are you okay?”

He’s always had a hard time keeping on weight, but now he looks downright gaunt.

“Eh.” He scratches at the back of his head. “Been better. Bit under the weather. Appetite’s been lean. Not important, seeing as you should be on your honeymoon with our lady. What’re ya doing here?”

I lower my voice, though Bellonis’s ears are clearly plugged. “It’s a long story, and I don’t have a lot of time. Of course, we fucking ran into trouble in the Celestial realm. I’m looking for my mother’s journal. I was hoping you’d lend me some luck to help find it, but seeing the state you’re in, I don’t think I can ask you to—”

“Of course. I’m replenishing slower than I should be, but I haven’t lent any out. I’ve got some to spare if you’d like it.”

He’s already pale for a part-djinn, but his skin is even lighter than usual. He’s in no state to be lending out magic.

But my master is the most important person in my life. I don’t think I have a choice.

I’m a terrible person.

“Are you sure, Cal?”

“What else am I going to use it for? Your affairs are more important than mine. Where’d you like it?”

He brushes his fingers over his mouth, and they sear green. After, he looks woozy.

I’ve already taken so much from him. He escaped one domestic trap only to fall into another, constantly punished for his loyalty to me.

“It’s fine, Vel. Who else am I going to give it to?”

“Or you could come help me look for it. Get some air?” I suggest.

His green eyes flick to the door. “I’d just slow ya down.”

I push through his aura to feel the truth. He’s afraid to even fucking leave his room. I was so consumed with Dolly. Getting her out of here was my biggest concern.

I’m laird of the manor. Caliko is now a domestic under my employment. And he’s living on my property in fear, despite rooming with one of our strongest members of security.

“Stop it, Vel.” His eyes momentarily flicker blue as he tries to read me back. “You’ve been through it too. Your happiness don’t negate mine. Bell visits nightly. I’m doing okay.”

“How about an extension on your leave?”

“Evaris’d not like that. They already brought in a new gardener to help cover the lapse in work. Snapdragons nearly died out. It’s one of your father’s exports, and I’m the best with them. They don’t respond to a normal djinn’s touch the way they do a greenie’s.”

“Fuck Evaris. The snapdragons will recover. How many weeks do you need?”

He blows air through his mouth as he considers it, softening to the idea of using his connections. Caliko’s never one to ask for things. He already feels indebted to the manor. But this isn’t about connections. This is simply good management. Evaris should have offered him more time.

“Not sure what’s appropriate,” he stalls.

“Take until we’re back. Then we’ll reassess, yeah? If you feel like stepping out, you can. If you feel like returning to the gardens, you can. Until then, Bellamy will deliver your meals.”

I sense a flurry of appreciation in his chest, though he warns, “They’ll see it as you favoring me. Won’t look good to the other staff. ”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I shift my gaze to the clock on Bellonis’s side of the room. “And I’ll take that luck if you’re still offering it.”

“Course.” Lips greened anew, Caliko brings his mouth to my forehead and sends greenie luck through me. I steady him afterward as his cheeks momentarily blanch.

“I’m sorry, Cal. I appreciate it. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need it. Get some rest. I’ll let Evaris know what we’ve discussed. Official word will be that you’re on a special assignment. No one need know what’s going on.”

Caliko shifts his eyes to Bellonis.

“Bellamy will make sure he stays in line,” I say, keeping my voice covert.

Caliko nods. “Appreciate it. Good luck finding that journal.”

With extra luck under my feet, I leave the battered greenie, hating my family for what it’s done to nearly every person it comes into contact with. At least I’m in a position to do something about it now. Without question, my master is my highest priority. She can’t be my only priority.

Out of the domestics’ quarters, I issue orders to Evaris, an additional note to be delivered to Bellamy’s quarters, and heightened security for Cal’s chambers.

Consumed in the light of my Ray, I’m not paying attention to where my lucky feet are leading me.

I round one hallway, past a library, and enter a vestibule showcasing an ostentatious crystal statue that was a gift from a visiting vampire before I was born, and I dip out of the way of—

My father.

And Amoira.

Speaking beside an indoor fountain decorated with lily pads.

What in the name of betrayal is this?