20
GRAYSON
Magic gets what it wants.
At least, that’s how the saying goes.
That said, I wish magic would share exactly how the getting part works. Sure, Dex and I just saw a bunch of paintings. Now, we’re witnessing a ceremony between Ishir and Xao. That said, the way forward remains pretty vague.
Before us, Xao and Ishir share a long look. All the love in the world shines in their eyes. The pair press their foreheads together. An electric kind of magic fills the air. A pool of pale light shines around the two of them.
“We saw this in one of the paintings,” I state.
“Yes,” confirms Dex. “This is part of a pack mating ceremony.”
Awareness crackles between me and Dex. My heart seems certain that we’re both thinking the same thing, this could be us one day. Meanwhile, my mind screams,
