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Something Meredith said had left him uneasy. She’d mentioned a negative energy in his room. At first, Jack had dismissed it, but after waking up from a short nap feeling more tired, he began to think she might have a point. When he was at full power, low-level background magic wouldn’t affect him, and he knew that to be the case with most other magic users.

Ashley reappeared carrying a smoking chalice. “I’ve got a treat for you.”

“I’m not sure we share the same definition of treat, Ashley.” He struggled to prop himself further up on the pillow. “Based on my experience, I don’t drink things that look like they’re on fire.”

Ashley scoffed. “You’re such a grump when you’re tired. This is a nexus-level energy quench-thirst guzzler. I got the recipe from a nymph and brewed it myself.”

“You say that as if I should be grateful.”

Ashley placed the chalice on the bedside table, and Jack saw the surface of the liquid was a vibrant purple colour.

“Well, you should be. This is both a detox and a booster. I’ve been speaking to a lot of people who’ve nursed individuals through rehabilitation, and several of them recommended getting hold of this. It wasn’t easy to brew.”

Jack felt suitably chastised, and he knew Ashley only had his best interests in mind, and he was an excellent brewer. “Thank you. Sorry, I’m just tired.”

“But you’ve had a nap.”

He sighed. “Yes, we both know I’m not progressing as we hoped, and I was wondering if there’s something about this room. Meredith mentioned a negative background energy, and she might have a point.”

“A house like Crofton Hall is going to have all sorts of weird patches of residual energy. But I know there are a couple of neutral ones because Ben mentioned something to Catlin when she was considering changing rooms. Let’s move you into one of those. I can let Alex and Karl know later—they’re in with Ben discussing tonight’s party.”

He’d hoped to feel better by now and had wanted to be able to attend Catlin’s celebration since he’d been part of the rescue, but he hadn’t the reserves to survive the small talk.

Jack was glad Ashley hadn’t dismissed his concerns. He knew that many might think he was overplaying his condition as being looked after in a place like Crofton Hall was pretty awesome, but anything he could do to improve his situation was worth a shot.

“That’d be great. Now I think it’s an issue I might be making a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

“Let me text Ben and check I have the right room.”

As Ashley messed about with his phone, Jack reached out and picked up the chalice. “I’ll drink this for a pick-me-up, and then that should give me the energy to move. Although I’m going to sit out the party, I’m afraid.”

As magical restorative potions went, it wasn’t the worst he’d ever tasted, and he accredited the fact he didn’t want to throw up to Ashley’s brewing skills. There was a whole spectrum of these things, and he had seldom found them to live up to the hype, but as he drained the last of the dregs, he felt tingling through his limbs, and the sense of exhaustion began to lift. He wouldn’t say he was now the life and soul of the party, but he was back to not feeling wiped out, although he knew it wouldn’t last long.

“Wow, that stuff is great.”

“Unfortunately, you can only take it once a week, but you should have a couple of hours of perkiness. I had thought you’d like a walk in the grounds but maybe changing rooms would be better. Ben confirmed there’s no issue.”

“Oh, I can have a shower.”

Ashley chuckled. “You know how to live the dream.”

“I’ve been having sponge baths or cleaning spells. You don’t know what you’re missing until you can’t have one.”

“I’d have thought you’d prefer a bath.”

Now, that was a wonderful idea. “Do you think it’ll last long enough?”

“Maybe not for one of your longer baths, but you should get a bit of a soak.”

“I could have a milk and salt steep,” he said wistfully, his skin would thank him for it, and it might soften the current scale outcrops.

“Come on then.”

Ashley conjured a wheelchair, and for a moment, Jack thought to argue, but using it would conserve his strength, and he couldn’t risk using a portal. He got out of bed. His legs had none of the weakness he’d been experiencing, and he got into the chair. “Thanks, Ashley. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ve looked after me before, and I wasn’t about to let you recover on your own.”

Ashley and Ben had been quick to insist he stayed with them. Ben had surprised him, but as he and Ashley were getting serious, Jack suspected Ben wouldn’t want Ashley looking after his ex-boyfriend anywhere else. He could have gone to a rehabilitation centre, but he’d have hated being cooped up with strangers, and Ashley knew him well enough to have rescued him from such a terrible fate.

The room Ashley had mentioned was at the other end of the corridor, and as they wheeled into it, Jack could sense the energy was neutral. In terms of size, shape and furniture, it wasn’t much different from his old one, but there was a calmness that was difficult to explain.

“Oh, this is better,” Jack said as he moved to sit on his new bed.

“I’ll run your bath, and while you’re in there, I’ll transfer your stuff over.”

“Can I get some tea? Camomile, if possible.”

Ashley chuckled. “You’re so demanding. I’ll get Karl to bring some when he’s finished.”

It was saying something that feeling average was a brilliant step up from what he’d been through of late, and when he slid into the bathwater twenty minutes later, a cup of tea and book for company, he thought he’d won the lottery.

“I’ll leave you to soak if that’s all right? I’ve got a couple of things I need to follow up with for a research project, and then get ready for the party,” Ashley said.

Jack waved him off. “I’m good, and Karl is just a finger-click away. And he might think he was subtle, but I know he’s set up an emergency alert.”

Ashley pursed his lips, and Jack could guess what was coming. “We worry, Jack.”

He sunk further into the water. “I know, and I’m grateful. But now I’m going to immerse my scales and see if I can guess who the murderer is in my book.”

The water was wonderful. Jack hadn’t felt this much at peace for ages, whether it was the pick-me-up, the warmth of the water, or even the care from Ashley. He didn’t know, but he wasn’t taking it for granted. His scales had been giving him grief on and off. He saw one of the worst outcrops on his hip begin to recede, and he could tell another tricky patch on his shoulder was also on its way out. Sirens weren’t high on the list of any medical professional. With his warlock genes, he was a unique patient at the best of times, so add in magical disruptor spells from a thousand-year-old lich, and he was always going to be on the long path to recovery. But now, for the first time in weeks, a ray of positivity radiated through him. He put his book to one side and closed his eyes to enjoy the moment.