Page 64 of Dreams Do Come True

Sion looks at Cassie, looking hurt, but doesn’t say anything.

Adhan holds his hand out, and I pass him Cassie’s phone so he can see them.

“Cass, is this what you’ve been dealing with since before Halloween?” Ernest asks, looking at the pictures.

Cass nods.

“Cass, you should have told us,” Temp says, hitting him on the arm.

“Ouch,” Cass grumbles, rubbing it. “I tried blocking the number, but he keeps changing it. Short of changing my number, I’ve just tried to ignore them, but it’s hard.”

I look at Ebby, Sly and the boys. “Septamus is Cass’ brother and half-brother to Temp and me. Not sure Septamus knows about Temp though. He gave most of his magic away to Tarek Jolliffe. Then what was left I bound.”

“He’s the one that had the house ward tied to him, right?” Ebby asks.

“Yeah that’s him.” Temp confirms.

“Gah, the Jolliffe witches are pathetic. Tarek was the only one with any real magic,” Sly says.

“And Justice and I have Tarek’s magic now,” Sal says.

“So, the witches will redo the wards, Molly will update the town witches, and we all look after the children. Titus, Kean, Sal, Jude, when you take the babies out, make sure you have someone with you. No going out with less than two of us, and at least one a witch. Nora, I don’t want you going anywhere outsideof the house alone. I know you sometimes go to John and Jodie’s on your own, but I want someone dropping you off and bringing you home. I’ll talk to them later. Xander, Enoch, I’m certain Septamus doesn’t know you’ve joined the family, but again, no going anywhere alone,” Adhan says.

“We won’t,” they both promise.

“Adhan, if the town wards are going to be changed to keep this Septamus out, why do we need to be with someone when we go out?” Nora asks, looking confused. “He won’t be able to get in.”

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Adhan replies.

“Also, if he is using dark magic or someone around him is using it, dark magic can always find a way in,” Sly says.

“Like it did with that demon and the unicorn, or the stick and ribbon,” Nix reminds her.

She leans into Cam and fingers her necklace. “Okay.”

There is a sniffing noise by the kitchen door, and I look to see Lyric standing there, trying not to cry, and rubbing his eyes.

I’m up and out of my chair before Kean can even move, and pick him up. “Did you escape again?” I ask him softly.

He nods and leans into me. “Tus, I scar.”

“What scared you?” I ask, walking back to my chair and sitting down.

“Car bump, mama, dada cry.”

“You dreamt about the car accident?” Kean asks him.

Lyric nods and wipes his face on my top. I really need to break him of that habit.

“You and your brother are safe now,” Kean tells him gently, holding his hand.

“Mama, dada.”

“I know you miss them, Lyric,” I say, kissing his head.

I hear a chair move, and Xander is suddenly standing next to us, one hand behind his back.

“Der,” Lyric said, looking at him, with tear-filled eyes.