Muriel thought about the surge of power, the visions, the way theCodexhad made itself known. Put together like that, it did seem like an unlikely string of coincidences.
“It's not coincidence, Muriel. TheCodexwas waiting for you, until you were ready.”
The words made her stomach clench. She let out a nervous laugh. “Then it screwed up big time, because I’m not ready to handle any of this.”
“We rarely believe we’re ready for the things that matter most. That’s why fate takes things into its own hands sometimes.”
Another wave of unexpected emotion washed over her, this time a tangle of regret and soul-deep longing.
What regrets did he have? What did he long for?
She looked over at Brandon. His jaw was tight, and his hands were gripping the wheel hard enough to turn the skin over his knuckles white. His voice had soundedpained, and for a heartbeat, she could have sworn she felt the echo of it in her own chest.
Then it was gone, and it dawned on her how selfish she was being. She’d been so wrapped up in her own problems, she hadn’t considered anyone else’s.
“Areyouokay?” she asked.
“Peachy,” he said, echoing her earlier response with a slight smile. Unlike her, however, he didn’t elaborate.
Muriel let it go. She’d respect his privacy. Digging into things he didn’t wish to share seemed like a poor way to repay him for everything he’d done and was continuing to do for her.
They reached the town proper and cruised the main street in silence, the streetlights casting golden pools on the sidewalks. If she looked closely, she could see shadows moving beyond their reach, nothing but patches of denser black in the darkness. The quaint town had a more sinister vibe at night than it did in the daylight hours.
Brandon pulled his car into the garage, and she sighed in relief as the comforting wards settled around them.
“Thank you,” she said, impulsively placing her hand on his. “For everything you’re doing.”
His gaze softened, the look in his eyes warm as he gave her hand a brief squeeze. “You’re welcome.” Just that quickly, he released her hand, the warmth receding behind that frustratingly blank wall that he put up more often than not lately. “Are you hungry?”
She blinked at the sudden chill—not just his withdrawal, but something else. Another pulse of emotion that wasn’t her own. It had to be his, right? Was the resonance bond allowing her to pick up brief flashes of his moods beneath that calm, controlled mask?
“It’s late,” she said.
“Mack’s is still open. I could run over and grab us something.”
Muriel recognized the desire to flee and the need for distance. It was the why of it she didn’t understand. Maybe he, like her, was feeling overwhelmed by everything they’d learned tonight, and this was his way of dealing with it. “Okay. Sure.”
He saw her inside, then left, leaving a strange but familiar ache in her chest.
She stepped farther into the apartment, breathing in the scent of old books, earth, and Brandon. Plants now dominated the space, something she knew he’d done exclusively for her.
A week ago, this had been his space. Now it felt like... theirs.
Muriel set theCodexon the kitchen table and filled the kettle. Her nerves were frayed; her thoughts, scattered. It had been a hell of a night.
The door opened fifteen minutes later. Brandon entered carrying a bag from Mack's Diner, the scent of grilled meat and fresh bread making her stomach growl.
They unpacked the food in comfortable silence. Brandon had gotten her the club sandwich—herfavorite, though she'd never specifically told him that. He just seemed to know things. He paid attention to what she liked, what made her smile, what made her magic hum.
It was like being seen—truly seen—for the first time in her life.
“How was your time with Ana and Ryssa?” Brandon asked once they'd sat at the table with their sandwiches, his mask firmly back in place. “While we were examining theCodex, I mean.”
Muriel paused mid-bite, considering. “It was nice. They're both very kind.”
“But?”
Of course he'd caught the hesitation. “No 'but.' It was nice.” She set down her sandwich and met his eyes. “They think very highly of you.”