"I think so. I've never had a clear time frame in one of my dreams..."
"Other than the one with the newspaper," he countered.
"Hmm. Yes, you're right. But that was different. This time, my dream started with the knowledge that it was going to happen today."
"That's good, though," he assured me, pulling back slightly so he could look down at my face. "That means your gift is progressing."
"I hope you're right. I'm completely in the dark at the moment. Did any of your contacts tell you anything about seeing the future?" I didn't find it likely, considering he hadn't been able to get hold of any of them for a while.
"I'm sorry, Kelis. I've been cut off from them since I asked them to look into it."
I sighed loudly. "That's all right. I kind of expected you to say that. If it was something people had common knowledge of, then I'd probably have heard some of it myself.”
"Or I'd have been taught about it at the university. I imagine it would be very sought after magic if anyone knew it existed."
"You're right about that," I agreed.
A knock on the door sounded, and a moment later, a servant came bustling into the room with a trolley laden with breakfast.
Topher and I pulled away from one another and made room for the man to set things up on the small table. It only took him a few minutes to have it all off the tray. He bowed gracefully to each of us and then disappeared back into the hallway. Probably, so he could deliver Father his breakfast.
The two of us sat down opposite one another, unable to keep our eyes off each other. Topher poured us both some tea, while I buttered some of the toast and slipped it onto each of our plates. It suddenly felt very domesticated to be doing this, but I didn't care. Far from it, I found myself enjoying a moment of normalcy within our last few strange weeks.
"I take it you're going to be traveling with the golden-eyed people?" Topher asked, then took a bite of his toast.
I nodded and swallowed my mouthful. "I'm certain they have the solution to Mother's curse. And maybe they know something about my birth, too. I have to try and find out more about both of those."
"That makes sense."
"Are you going back to the university, or are you going to stay here?" I knew which I wanted. If he was here, then Father's men could keep him safe, and he could keep my parents safe in return.
"I don't think the university is open again yet," he admitted. "The Urbis gates are still shut."
Oh. Right. I'd forgotten about that somehow.
"So, that means I'll be staying here." He smiled at me reassuringly. "But I won't go back to university until you're back from your adventure. I promise I won't leave them to fend for themselves."
A warm wave of affection swept through me at his words. I genuinely felt better knowing he'd be here and helping.
I reached across the table and rested my hand on top of his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"It's no problem, Kelis. So long as you're not going to run off with one of the golden-eyed boys and abandon me."
I chuckled. "I don't think that's likely," I assured him. "For one, you're the only person I'm thinking of like that. And two, the golden-eyed people feel more like cousins than people to fall in love with." I had no idea what made me say that, but it felt true.
"Is it bad that I'm relieved to hear you say that?"
"Not at all. We haven't exactly had very long to explore what this is between us." I picked up my teacup and took a sip. The hot tea both warmed and refreshed me. It was a shame I'd have to get used to tea made over a campfire while we were traveling. Unless there was a spell that could boil water I didn't know about. "Is there a book I can take with me that has instructions for spells like those to boil water?" I asked Topher, knowing he wouldn't judge me for not knowing how to do that.
I truly wished I'd taken more of an interest in magic at a younger age. But I supposed that everything happened for a reason. If I'd done that, then I wouldn't have gotten so close to Topher now and wouldn't have fallen in love with him.
"Yes. I can go find you a copy once we're done with breakfast," he offered.
"Thank you, I'd appreciate that."
"I'm guessing you'll want me to keep an eye on Rhi too? Though, I don't think she'll need it with Adam around to protect her."
I snorted. "Maybe she needs protecting from Adam." I had no idea what my cousin was like in romantic relationships. For all I knew, he could be like Jake and not take them seriously in the slightest.
"You don't have anything to worry about," he assured me. "Adam is loyal to a fault when he's seeing someone. I don't think he's ever broken up with anyone. The few girls he's actually dated got bored with him and ended things themselves."
"Hmm." Did Rhi need protecting from that? It was hard to tell.
"I promise to keep an eye on her," he said. "And to make sure Jake doesn't cause any trouble."
I grimaced. "I'm not sure he's capable of staying out of it."
"He definitely isn't. I keep hoping he'll suddenly grow up, and we won't have to worry about the womanizing, or the drinking, or the sore loser in him, but it never seems to happen. I live in hope." He drank some of his orange juice.
"I hope you're right. And that he doesn't stay too angry with me." My eyes widened. "Or you." It had only just hit me that perhaps his hostility the other day had more to do with Topher than
