The last time Much had been here was at Hecate’s party, that masked ball, that solstice. The foyer had been overflowing with tables of drinks and nibbles and upstairs there’d been a weird statue that Marcie had dragged him away to show him. Much was supposed to be focusing on sneaking Marcie and Kaden out of the city, not focusing on remembering a silly kiss.
Well, no, not silly. It hadn’t been silly. And their kiss on her deathbed, that hadn’t been silly either.
He was silly. Come on Much, he told himself, pulling his thoughts into line. You’ve got a mission!
Cool as a cucumber he strolled in, spotting Marcie and Kaden well before Marcie spotted him. He couldn’t help looking at Kaden, who was very much engrossed in whatever he was watching on his phone, and very much alive. Much hadn’t doubted Marcie for a second but it was different, seeing proof that he wasn’t dead.
When she saw him she seemed to falter for a moment, and Much’s smile dimmed a little in concern but she recovered, so it wasn’t worth drawing attention to. Much beamed at her instead, wanting to discourage any smile-dimming, wanting her to be happy. “Hey you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her in a quick squeeze of greeting. Kaden looked up from his phone as he did, staring up at Much with a look of silent, suspicious regard.