Page 80 of Dreams Do Come True

“I know,” I reply, looking at them.

“Stinky Tus,” Lyric suddenly yells.

I snort out a laugh. Goddess, I love Lyric. I’m not the only one who laughs at that, and I feel the last of my anger fall away. “Thank you, little man, I love you, too,” I say, sitting down, Lyric snuggling in. “Thank you for coming,” I say, looking around the table. “You should all be at work.”

“No way bro. I don’t know about the others, but as soon as the magical call went out, I shouted to Elaine I had to go, and ran as fast as I could to get to you,” Temp says.

“Who put the call out?” I ask.

“I did,” Sly says. “I hated leaving you like that. As soon as you walked away, I called all the witches, then phoned Kean.”

“And I shouted to Adhan that you were in trouble. We were just leaving when Cam, Sly and River came back. Sion and Emily offered to look after the boys and Connie, so after making sure River was safe, we came running,” Kean says.

I look at Ernest. “That’s how you were suddenly at my side.”

“Yeah. I know you could have taken your mother on by yourself, but that’s not how we do things in this family.”

“Thanks, Sion, Emily,” I say, smiling at them.

“Yeah, thanks, Mum, Sion,” Kean adds.

“What I don’t understand is why Mother wants your boys,” Cassie says.

“That is the question, isn’t it?” Kean replies. “Whatever the reason, I can guarantee Molly will find out.”

“I would also just like to echo Sly’s comment from earlier,” Nix says. “Damn Titus. Remind me never to piss you off.”

“They were honestly words I never thought I would say, but I’ve never been that angry.”

“Well if you decide to go down that route, pretty sure Sly and I can inflict the punishment for you,” Justice adds.

“Yep, I’m totally up for that,” Sly says happily.

“What did you say to your mum? Emily asks.

“I threatened her with dark spells,” I say, not wanting to say the rest in front of Lyric. Something Cassie said earlier hits me. “Cass, what happened to Norris’ magic?”

Cass looks uncomfortable. “Nothing,” he mutters.

“Cass,” I say again.

“I took it from him,” Temp tells us.

I look at him in shock.

“You did?” Ben queries. “When did you do that, Tink?”

“Not long after we took the curse off Norris. I didn’t want him coming after Tie or Cass, so I took his magic and gave it to Cass. He didn’t know what I’d done until I gave it to him.”

I’m shocked, but also touched. “Thanks, Temp.”

“What if your mother thinks you have all the magic Tie and wants to use the boys as leverage to get it back?” Ebby asks.

I look at him for a moment. “It could be that. I know after our final visit to Halloween House, she was blowing up Cass' phone then mine, demanding we give her back her magic.”

“What happened to her magic?” Xander asks.

“Septamus and Tarek stole it,” I reply.