"When they make it to this floor, we'll get something for him," Liam promised.
"And Ivy suggested wiping her dreams."
Liam just looked at me. "Are you ok with that?"
Once again, I shrugged. "I kinda came over here because I was hoping you both could help me figure it all out."
Which made Bracken push to his feet. "I'm going to get nectar for all of us. Talk to her, babe."
Liam turned in his chair. "I have boxes and boxes of tissues. I have food for comfort eating, Bracken's getting nectar, and we even have some wine in there that you aren't supposed to have. How about we find you a coping mechanism while you tell me all the things you don't have words for, ok?"
"And get drunk?" I asked.
"And learn how not to," he corrected. "Relaxing is good. Escaping isn't. And you know what? Crying does not make any of us weak."
Chapter Twenty-Six
RAIN
Bracken had returned with an armload of stuff. I was given a potion to prevent dreaming that night. There was another to heal mental trauma. A third was for relaxation, and Jack took a sip of it too. Then there was the nectar.
Liam filled wine glasses with it, handing one to each of us. Once he got me talking, I couldn't quite figure out how to stop. Not until the potions kicked in and my eyes began to close. Bracken found me a blanket, Liam got pillows - one for me and one for Jack to flop on.
Then, just as I was almost out, I heard Bracken whisper, "I'm going to go check on Keir. I'm sure he's pushing himself as hard as she is."
"Check the twins while you're at it?" Liam begged.
"Always," Bracken said.
I didn't remember anything else until my phone began to beep and bop with the cheery little alarm I'd picked. Groaning, I rolled over - realizing in the process that I was on my dad's couch. Yeah, that helped me pull my mind the rest of the way from sleep, but when I looked over and saw Jack lying on his back, wings loosely spread, and sleeping hard?
"Hey, Jack," I whispered. "Jack!"
Caw.
His reply was the crow version of a whisper, so I'd take it. "We gotta get ready for school, Jack."
"Rain," he croaked.
"Imean, I'm sure my dads will let you crash here if you want."
"Jack-Rain!" he insisted, rolling over and ruffling his feathers.
I had a feeling that was the avian version of a yawn, but he was up. Next, I had to tip-toe into the bathroom so I wouldn't wake anyone else up. I made it, pulling out the toothbrush I now kept here and making myself presentable.
But when I stepped out, Bracken was leaning against the wall, still in his pajamas. "Ivy said she thought you'd choose class. I want you to know you're allowed to change your mind. Doesn't matter when, Rain. If it gets hard, come back here, or to your suite, or even Torian's, ok?"
"Ok," I agreed.
So he passed over one of my clean uniforms. "I had Aspen get this for you last night. Weapons classes are canceled, so talk to Keir about whether or not you're doing a session with him."
I nodded again. "Thanks, Zez."
Which made a little smile appear. "You're starting to make me like that word, kid."
"Humanizing you, Zez." And I headed back to the bathroom to get dressed.
I came out to a mix of coffee and cocoa in a school-branded coffee mug. Taking a sip, I tasted a little something different. Nectar, I realized belatedly, but it put a tiny spring in my step. Maybe too much of one, because on my shoulder, Jack wasnotimpressed.
