Belladonna

even want to admit to himself that they had changed.
    She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
    "Glorianna?"
    She held up a hand to signal Lee to wait.
    Distractions. Lures that tugged a person away from the path she needed to follow. Or signposts that confirmed the way. Were these thoughts about kisses and age a signpost warning her to turn away from a man who could easily distract her, or a lure nudging her away from a person who could help her fight the Eater? She didn't fit into this landscape, and the Dark currents were working on her in ways they couldn't in her pieces of the world.
    She opened her eyes and looked at Lee. "Do you trust the Magician?"
    "If you're asking if I think he'll act responsibly with regard to the world, then, yes, I trust him. Do I trust him with my sister?"
    Lee patted her cheek. "Not a chance."
    Should have known better than to ask a brother.
    But the answer felt right and steadied her.
    She tugged the lantern out of Lee's hand. I'll go with Caitlin to take a look at her garden. You're going with the Magician."
    "I don't think that's what he had in mind."
    * * *
    Michael watched Caitlin and Glorianna head in the direction of the hill that would take them to Darling's Garden, then turned to look at his remaining companion. "Tell me again how I ended up with you?"
    "You make my sister nervous," Lee replied.
    He snorted. "That one has more brass than an orchestra and more nerve than a sore tooth. So I sincerely doubt I make her nervous. Her brother, on the other hand ..."
    Lee just grinned, and that made him like the man even more, despite the feeling that neither Lee nor Sebastian was pleased by his interest in Glorianna. But she was a grown woman, and what she did with a man behind closed doors was none of their business, was it? Not that he'd say that to Lee. Or Sebastian.
    So he sighed for show and said, "Come along, then. We'll go to the harbor and see what news is to be had, then find out where my aunt Brighid has been staying."
    He struck out for the harbor, settling into the easy stride that covered ground but let him keep the pace for miles. A couple of minutes later, his conscience pricked him. He'd wanted to discomfort Lee, but he didn't want the man pulling a muscle in the effort to keep up.
    But when he started to suggest they slow down, Lee just looked at him and smiled. That's when Michael realized the other man had settled into the same rhythm.
    "Travel on your feet a lot, do you?" Michael asked.
    Lee nodded. "A fair amount. Depends on how far I'm traveling and where." He stopped suddenly and pressed the palm of one hand against his forehead.
    "Is your head troubling you?" He hadn't noticed Lee indulging to excess last night, but drink took men differently.
    "Something is," Lee muttered.
    Now Michael focused on the man — and on the music inside the man. A good tune, solid and steady. Reminded him of his friend Nathan. But there were sharp riffs now that hadn't been there last night. As if the song that was Raven's Hill was working on Lee.
    "Maybe you should go back to your little island."
    Lee lowered his hand and shook his head. "I'm all right."
    No, you're not. If something about Raven's Hill was so troubling to Lee, what might it be doing to Glorianna?
    "It's not much further." With luck, he'd catch Nathan before the work day started. Whenever he felt ragged during a visit home, a few hours with Nathan settled him again. Maybe the same would be true for Lee.
    They both lengthened their strides, moving with purpose until the harbor was in sight. Then Michael stopped sharply enough that Lee took several more steps before realizing something was wrong.
    "That's Kenneday's ship," Michael said, pointing. "I came up with him before things ... happened. He should have set sail by now." Unless the ship no longer had a captain. Kenneday had been standing near him when that monster rose out of the water. "Come on. They ran the rest of the way, travel packs bouncing against their shoulders. When they neared the water, Michael veered toward a tavern that was favored by captains and merchants who wanted a drink and a meal while conducting business. Even now, with the sun barely lifted above the horizon, the tavern was open for business and filled with customers.
    And there he found Kenneday, sitting alone at a table, looking ashen and years older.
    Michael strode up to the table. Upon seeing him, Kenneday cried out and stood up so fast the chair toppled.
    "Ah, Michael,