Daniel took a deep breath—and glanced to the car. He hadn’t bought it just for fun, after all. “It’s best,” he said. “I shouldn’t hang around.”
James made a face. Leon was still busying himself with something inside the apartment, the front door hanging open. “But you said he died,” James said. “So why-”
“Kind of,” Daniel said. “Madis died. But…” He let his breath slide out, trying to piece together what Alexandria had told him, alongside what he’d read in the basement of the Library. “It sounds like...he’s not dead-dead. Not really. That book of his. It’s going to bring him back, through whoever has the book next. His knowledge, or something.”
“Like a lich,” Leon called from the doorway, wrestling with a backpack.
Daniel snorted. “I guess. Like a lich. So, on the off chance his next owner remembers me...” Rickard, his thoughts whispered. And Rickard would remember him. That much wasn’t a question. He shook his head. “It’s best I make myself scarce,” he finished. “I’m just headed home to grab a few things and trash the rest, then I’ll vanish. Got to keep a low profile now.”
A scowl curled across James’ lips. “But, if you’re gone, who’s going to-”
“I’ll still be watching,” Daniel said, leaning back against his car. “I can keep an eye on you from Alexandria and yell if it looks like someone’s sniffing around.” He shrugged. “I can’t do the same for me. If someone’s caught on to my identity, well, it’d be too late by the time I realized it.”
James still wore a scowl, but he’d started nodding somewhere in the middle of Daniel’s speech. “Fair,” he grunted.
Daniel arched an eyebrow. “It would be good for you to travel too, though. You’re a mage, now. The more you hang out in one spot, the better the odds someone does find you.”
“Does it look like I’ve got the cash to go world-hopping?” James said. And then he paused, glancing back to Daniel. “But, uh.” His eyes lingered on the car, then darted to Daniel’s face. “If you’re offering.”
Maya elbowed him. He grinned.
Daniel grinned, too. “We’ll see.” His coffers weren’t endless—but after getting his friends shot at and chased out of their own homes, a bit of vacation time seemed like a fair trade.
“Sweet,” James said. He glanced back toward the building. “Hey. Leon. Car’s leaving.”
“I-I’m coming,” Leon said, thrusting himself through the front door. “Wait up.”
As though he’d leave without Leon, Daniel thought with a chuckle. He hurried forward, though, snagging the duffel bag Leon dragged behind him. “You’re hopeless,” he muttered, offering his friend a sidelong smile.
“Ouch,” Leon said. “Coming from you, that hurts.”
“Oh, shut up.”
The trunk came open with a beep, and Daniel slung the duffel in. Leon’s backpack followed it. Daniel straightened in time to see Leon bear down on Maya and James, sweeping Maya up in a hug. She squeaked. He laughed, letting go of her, and clapped James on the shoulder. “Stay out of trouble,” he said. “And figure out that hammer of yours, okay? I’m going to want to see some cool shit next time we swing through.”
“Don’t worry about me,” James said. “You’re the one with the wimpy little flute.”
“It’s a pipe.”
“Whatever.” James pulled Leon in for a one-armed hug, still chuckling. “Don’t get shot.”
“You too.”
Daniel watched them separate. Leon backed away from his friends, toward Daniel’s car. He caught Daniel’s eye as he turned. “Waiting for something?”
Daniel shook his head. “Nope.” With a final nod to James and Maya, he climbed into the driver’s seat.
A moment later, Leon plopped down in the front, pulling the door shut. “Okay,” he said, stretching his arms out. “Let’s go. I get to see your house.”
“That’s all you’re excited for?” Daniel said dryly.
Leon grinned. “You’ve probably got this batcave deal hidden somewhere. How can I not want to see it?”
“It’s just a house.” Daniel watched James and Maya meander toward the door to her apartment, still chattering away to each other. “Hey.”
Leon looked up. “What?”
“You sure about this?”
With a snort, Leon grabbed his seat belt, buckling himself in. “What’re you talking about? Of course I’m sure.”
“Only…” Daniel glanced back to the apartment. “I can’t stay in one spot for any length of time, not if I’m going to make myself hard to track.”
“I know that.”
“We could be wandering for months. Years. I...It’s not like I’m going to be able to up and kill Madis, so there’s not exactly an end date on this.”
“I know that too.” Leon’s grin went crooked. “I’m down for you footing the bill for some long-term vacationing, yes sir.”
“But…” Daniel shook his head. “You’ve got school. You’re in college. You’ve got your own future to worry about.”
“Right, and they do remote classes. With you tutoring me, it’ll be a breeze.”
“And you won’t see James or Maya. Or any of your other friends.”
“What?” Leon laughed, hunkering lower in his seat. “You’re the damn Librarian. They’re just a sleeping pill away. We’ll see each other—and you would be helpless without someone to look after you. Can’t have my boy getting all lonely and depressed again.”
“Only-”
Leon’s hand snaked over. He turned Daniel’s face toward his, planting a peck on his lips. “Drive, idiot,” he said, sitting back with a chortle.
Daniel stole one last glance at the apartment. He could still see James and Maya through the window in the door, just shadows rapidly fading from view. He smiled,
