Are you well, Blessing?Robin heard Lucas asking, as he had kept asking, over and over.Are you all right, Blessing?
“And you would argue, insist you were fine, and leave me on the other side of the threshold.” Lucas exhaled heavily. “When Flint found a… when Flax appeared, I wondered again. I should have taken that sign as it was meant andinsistedin my turn. I shouldn’t have stayed as far away as I did. You needed me here,ushere.”
He didn’t say whouswas, his family or the familiars. But Robinhadneeded him, and them.
“You’re still meant for something special.” Yes,all right, Robin argued with Lucas sometimes. But someone had to be reasonable.
There was a suspicious crinkle at the corners of Lucas’ eyes. “Are you cold?”
Always asking after Robin. Robin scoffed but glanced down to acknowledge his bare legs. “I don’t have pants on,” he stated the obvious. “Or a shirt.”
“Just my coat.” The crinkle was going to be deadly by the time the rest of Lucas’ hair went gray. People would probably faint at the sight of him.
Robin fought the urge to do the same. Once was enough. “The coatyoushould be wearing.” He didn’t offer to give it back. “You should know that I was wearing it just now on the porch.”
Lucas did not seem terribly concerned. “Was that Lisbeth Hawthorne?”
“Of course, it was.” Robin grumbled, again, thinking of his coffee, forgotten because of that woman. Then he remembered what she’d said, or tried to say, and then whathe’dsaid. “Ah.” He glanced up. “I also might have presumed some things. And shifted the balance of power in the coven more obviously toward you, I suppose. I think I did. I was irritable.”
Lucas nodded calmly, as if Robin often said foolish things when irritable and Robin hadn’t done something too outrageous. “But you don’t want to go get dressed?”
Robin absolutely wanted to get dressed. He stayed put in the doorway and kept talking. “I know you’re already something remarkable with your family and a few others, and with the coven even when they don’t admit it, but you should be somewhat concerned about what I told her.”
“I have learned, painfully, not to doubt you.” Lucas reached down to the bottom of the coat and began to button it up. When Robin whined, “Lucas,” in protest, Lucas shrugged but didn’t stop his work. “What did you tell her?” he asked obediently.
Which was when Robin realized exactly what he’d done.
“I put my gift in your hands,” he whispered in shock, then raised his head sharply to see something like surprise on Lucas’ face. “I reminded her of my gift, and I told her if they wanted to ask me anything, they had to go through you. I yelled at her and the others for not supporting you and everyone else as they should, and then I said I would.Iwould! I threw out your name. They’ll think you’re against them and with me, or, or that we’re forming our own coven in opposition to them, or whatever they will think. Oh no. Ohno.”
“That is… both more than what I thought might happen and precisely the sort of sudden, dramatic move I try to anticipate from you.” Lucas was thoughtful.
Robin stared at him incredulously.
“Although I try not to expect anything too specific where you’re concerned. I can’t predict you.” Lucas did at least seem a little worried. But it was only for a moment. Then he straightened his shoulders, alarmingly resolute. “I should have accounted for your temper, which is when you speak the truth the most. Still… taking on the whole coven all at once, spinner? I’ll have to warn the others.”
Robin shut his eyes. “They’re going to let me burn now.”
Lucas came up the last step to loom over Robin and take his hands. “Why don’t you let me worry about that?”
Robin opened his eyes. “Why should you?”
Lucas tilted his head and, above him, the sun broke free of the gray even as clouds thick with storms and visible lightning rolled closer. On either side of him, a raven sat on a fence post, each bird watching Robin with gleaming eyes of onyx. Yet not even their feathers were as black as the clothing Lucas wore.
Lucas stared down from his great height and then said in his compelling, warm,Lucasvoice, “Because that is my service, Blessing. I’m here for you, and through you, the rest of them. Do you understand now?”
Robin didn’t have his hands free to put over his chest to hide his heart’s frantic beating or the tell-tale flush around his throat. Lucas hadn’t finished buttoning him up, distracted by the need to hold Robin’s hands, apparently. Robin didn’t mind. Robin possibly should mind.
His mouth was dry. “You’re not my messenger,” he protested in the barest rasp. “And you’re not my watch dog, and you’re not my…” Husband. Yet. Lucas had to feel Robin’s elated pulse against his fingers. “I’m not arguing,” Robin insisted quickly. “This is… Lucas, you’re marked for something important.”
The smile he received made his knees a little weak.
“Always smiling,” Robin complained. “Just when I think I….” He tried to rally. “You might have told me.”
Lucas inclined his head. “And you might have Looked.”
“But I was worried about it. Afraid.” Robin shivered, not with cold. “I didn’t want to know your destiny, what it would do to you, and what I would do when that happened. You’re meant for great service,” Robin told him, sad and careful. “Will it hurt you?”
Lucas tugged gently on Robin’s wrists to bring Robin’s hands to his chest. The store-bought sweater was not good enough. Robincurled his fingers into it and imagined the sweater that would be. He couldn’t help it. The threads would show themselves whether he willed it or not, especially with Lucas here.
