The annoying buzzing was getting louder. Larry shook his head in annoyance then covered his ears with his paws. A gentle hand removed a paw and stroked his head. The buzzing turned into words.
“Larry? Larry, honey, please wake up. Please be okay. I promise I’ll never not listen to you again. Please wake up, bud.” Jesse soft pleas continued as she smoothed Larry’s fur and massaged his ears.
Quiet voices in the background murmured, causing Larry to lose focus on Jesse’s pleas, his mind begging to return to the oblivion of sleep.
“Alright, lazy ass, get your butt out of that bed. Wakey, wakey, rise and shine! We’ve got work to do.” Midnight’s brassy, loud, mind-spoken commands rattled around in Larry’s brain, and his eyes popped open.
He gazed blearily at a blurry Jesse, who sat on the bed beside him. Midnight’s worried face peered down at him from her perch on the pillow above his head. He yawned widely and shook his head. “Wassup, everyone? Why the long faces?” Then he remembered. Shots and screams, icy betrayal, and heated escape.
Larry sat up gingerly, his eyes bouncing between Jesse’s tearful face and Midnight’s narrowed eyes. “Did ... did we lose anyone?”
Midnight jerked her head to the right, whiskers aimed at Larry’s far side. Feeling the bed dip as someone sat behind him, Larry swung around to face the new arrival.
“Hello Larry. Welcome back.” Cerri’s outwardly calm demeanor belied the swirling mix of emotions in her eyes. “May I take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the SBI and the goddess Cerridwen for your heroic actions. If you had not maxed out your considerable magical power by pulling us all into the ley line, we would surely have suffered more losses.”
Dread filled Larry, curdling his stomach. “Who did we lose?”
Cerri’s gaze met his steadily as she replied. “I’m afraid Risa remained behind. She was busy using her magic to keep the ice around the ship frozen, so the ship couldn’t pull away from the dock. Several powerful Fire mages attacked, fighting her efforts.” Cerri’s eyes darkened. “I’m sure you saw the steam from the melting ice, as well as the flames, when you jumped off the ship. Risa stayed to allow the rest of us a chance to escape.”
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Larry swallowed thickly. “Is she ...?”
Cerri shook her head. “Risa was captured and injured, but she’s still alive. I can mind link with her over great distances. She tells me she’s now imprisoned with Ted, which is a good thing. They can support each other until we rescue them both.”
Larry rose unsteadily to his feet, then shook himself from nose to tail. “Well, let’s go get them, then. Who is with me? I’m done with coasting along and ignoring danger.” Ears drooping as his thoughts turned to Mabel, he reiterated, “I’m so done with that.”
Jesse and Cerri shared mute gazes, then both smiled affectionately at Larry’s bold statement.
“Not so fast, Familiar.” Cerri grinned down at him. “It’s great that you are now primed and ready for action to protect those around you from danger—and thank you again for your valiant efforts to do just that yesterday. But wouldn’t it be better to have a plan to improve your—our chances of success?”
Larry’s eyes widened. “Yesterday? How long have I been out?”
Jesse replied tersely, “Over twenty-four hours.”
“Holy shit! There’s no time to waste!” Larry prepared to leap off the bed.
Cerri placed a restraining hand on his collar. “Not so fast, Larry. Sit down.”
Reluctantly, Larry complied with Cerri’s command. “Okay, okay. I’m sitting. Now what?”
Cerri’s lips curved in a scheming smile. “Now, you listen. While you’ve been napping, we’ve been planning. Remember, Familiar, while it’s good that you are now ready for action to protect those around you, perhaps it might also be wise to consider trusting those same individuals to help you.”
“I think I’ve been too trusting. That’s what got us into this mess in the first place.” Larry glumly considered his decision to trust Mabel’s assurances that there was no real danger lurking in the coven. His spirits dipped even further when he recalled Cleo’s smirking face from the night before.
Midnight brushed her silky body down Larry’s side before curling up next to him. “Listen, numb-nuts. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression trust, but verify. How about the one that goes there’s no I in team? Personally, I think the second one is corny as hell, but both fit this situation.” The cat’s chest rumbled with an impatient purr. “Yes, you need to trust those around you, but you also need to pay attention to your gut. That’s your biggest failing right there. Not lack of courage, that’s for sure. Trusting your gut and working proactively to ensure those around you are both trustworthy and safe are best, Larry. You really do need to have faith in those around you who prove worthy to work with you for the common good. However, you are not responsible for other’s poor decisions, or even their betrayal, bud. Mabel chose not to share the danger she suspected. Cleo chose to betray your trust, and that of the coven.”
Larry bit back a protest as the truth of Midnight’s words settled in his heart. Now, if only he could get his head on board with her wise words, he’d be good.
“So, what’s the plan, guys? And how can I help?” Larry’s determined gaze scanned the faces of those gathered around the room.