Closing time came and I found myself with just enough energy to be up to magic practice for the first time in over a week. Derrick went to sleep on the floor in Milly and Hal's room (it was a bit larger than the little thing Gus and I shared), and Gus and I settled ourselves on the floor on the thin blanket that still smelled of man musk.
"Alright," I shook my arms all loose and closed my eyes. "Mind me."
"Actually, I think you should practice tonight."
"Eh? What gave you that idea? I can heal just fine."
"Not on healing. On protecting yourself."
I opened my eyes to look at him, perplexed.
"Is this another trip into your paranoia?" I asked.
I got the Gus original scowl for that--the default of his many scowls. "Another? I am not paranoid. You're an i***t to think that you won't eve
