Night Rune (Prof Croft Book 8) by Brad Magnarella (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

depression from which she was still recovering. Caroline had included a personal letter in the first package, thanking me for my trust in her and for helping to restore her husband and their marriage.

She smiled warmly at me now across the courtyard, her sentiments of friendship no longer being blocked.

The fae butler had come too. Sporting a silver tuxedo, Osgood was drawing a healthy amount of attention from the fifty-and-older female crowd. Above their table I could just make out the circling contrails of Pip and Twerk. The demon twins had recalled them that day, it turned out, not destroyed them. I told the pixies they were invited as long as they remained out of sight and didn’t prank the guests.

Carlos was fair game, though.

“Great wedding,” a barking voice said.

I turned to find Bree-yark limping up on a cane, Mae beside him. They had been seated on my side of the head table, but they’d gathered up Dropsy the lantern as well as the pet carrier holding Buster.

“Not thinking of bailing on me, are you?” I said to Bree-yark. “Best man?”

Though I winked, he gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Aw, we’d love to stay, but…”

“But,” Mae took up, “this old lady is pushing her bedtime, and Bree-yark is being a gentleman and making sure I get home safe.” Their courtship was still going slow and strong, and they seemed happier than ever.

“I’m so glad you two could come,” I said, standing. “Truly.” When Buster chirped and wriggled his tendrils through the mesh door and Dropsy set off a pair of flashes, I chuckled. “You guys, too.”

“It was beautiful,” Mae whispered as I hugged her over the table. “And I’m not ashamed to tell you I cried like a proud momma.”

“Thanks for all your advice.”

“Anytime, sweetie.”

As she turned to gush over how amazing Vega looked one last time, I regarded Bree-yark. He’d been in bad shape when the Order recovered him from the time catch. Heavily scored by infernal fire, his chances of survival were doubtful. But true to his warrior spirit, he clawed his way back from the brink. And now here he was, having my back once again, and on my most important day.

“Thanks for everything,” I said, the words barely making it around the knot in my throat.

“Aw, c’mon. I keep tellin’ you I’m fine.” He held up his cane. “Another few weeks, and I can ditch this thing.”

I pulled him into a hug. “Anything you need, man, just let me know.”

“Same for you, Everson. Anytime.”

They left, passing a mostly empty table I’d reserved for the Order. Following Malphas’s expulsion, the senior members had repaired a chain of ruptures before returning to finish work in the Harkless Rift. Though the major tears were sealed, it was the constellations of minor ones that were taking forever to find and fix. Knowing the importance of the work, I noted their absence with silent thanks.

Claudius was the only high-level member who could come. He’d brought a date, an older woman with a coif of frosted pink hair. The gingersnap lady. He smiled like a baby now as she spoon-fed him her coconut pudding.

Across from them sat a young man wearing a cowboy hat and a smart linen vest. James Wesson was the magic-user who had covered the city’s outer burroughs before the Order sent him to western Colorado. I’d gone out there when he was still getting his feet wet, and we’d had a few adventures. He looked from Claudius and his date to me with a wtf? expression. I laughed and shrugged.

James had also attended the Order’s ceremony that winter, which commended my efforts in repelling the demon Malphas and freeing them. Arianna hung a charmed medallion around my neck. Having insisted the honor be shared, I returned with additional medallions for Bree-yark and the Upholders.

I turned my attention to the latter’s table now. Glamoured as a tall, striking woman, Gorgantha had come down from the Maine coast, where she’d returned with her fellow mers to rebuild their pod. She was giving Jordan and Delphine her skeptical face, then said something that made them all laugh.

The druids had survived the collapse, save one. They journeyed back to their sacred woodland and tree in Harriman State Park. I’d gone up to visit once they’d gotten settled, and Jordan had delivered on the promised ale. It turned out he was a really cool guy when not stressed out of his head.

Beside them was an empty setting with a medallion and a Latin Bible to honor our fallen friend Malachi. The one who had foreseen the demon apocalypse in his visions. The one who had founded the Upholders. He succumbed to Malphas, but not before assembling those who would ensure the demon master’s final ruin.

Divine Voice, indeed, I thought.

But with devastating loss had also come surprising life. Everyone at the table now turned toward Seay, who was coming back from the restroom cradling a freshly changed baby boy.

Seay never mentioned the potion, and I never brought it up. Maybe she already knew I’d lied about what it could do. But against all odds, little Tyler had survived the transition, and that likely forgave everything. Seay had already sworn Vega and me to regular playdates when our daughter was old enough. She didn’t want to get stuck with the “yoga pants mafia,” as she called the mortal mothers her age.

Tyler gurgled now as the others shook his little grasping hands and wiggling feet. I was smiling at them when I caught a large figure lurking behind one of the plants in back.

“Mind if I step away for a sec?” I asked Vega with a sigh. “There’s someone here I want to talk to, and I may not get another chance.”

“Only if you leave some collateral to prove you’re not running.”

I kissed her. “I expect that back with interest.”

“Be careful what you wish for on your wedding night.”

“Ooh, wanna take Tabitha’s lead and ditch this joint?”

“I’ll tell you when you get back.”

With a laugh, I got