X: Valet

(20) I decided to help from the outside (if earlier - 12)

But, of course, I had to check the situation first. I didn't care if the guys thought I was leaving. The main thing is that they won't guess where I was headed. And, as it turned out, they had absolutely no time for me at that moment.

Apparently, Seth has voiced one of his next brilliant – read as "reckless" – plans.

"I don't even have magic to protect us!"

Too many emotions. I've never seen those in Magic's, so I was just drowning in them. It made me feel more than I would like to.

"You don't need to protect 'us'!"

And Seth... at that moment, he just felt guilty. We could have gone to Wirtjorn. We could have been there. And they could get the artifact that would restore her strength.

"Hey..."

His voice softened as he took a step toward her... no, not like that. He became gentle, soaked in love and warmth – everything that is possible. I knew that such a bond – the one they had – was forever. After death and in other worlds. Everywhere. And anywhere.

Magic stopped talking, but her breathing was still deep. Noisy. Her hands were on her hips, and she was looking down. I don't know if it was concentration or an attempt to distract her.

"I'll fix it."

Seth's hands closed around her wrists.

Magic squeezed her eyes shut.

"Don't even think about risking your head for nothing again."

Her chin shot up sharply, and her voice was stern.

"It's not for nothing, it's for you."

...although, let's be honest, almost everything Seth did was for her. Except for the revenge part, of course.

"I don't need it."

Magic continued to insist.

"I'm not my magic."

"I didn't say that."

Seth spoke very softly, almost in a whisper.

"I just want to do it right."

His hands instantly cupped Magic's face, and his head moved closer so that their foreheads touched.

I could still be there, though, when did I need permission? There was no romantic subtext in this scene. Direct, at least. And at that moment... they wouldn't have given a damn if I was in the same room with them.

They both closed their eyes for a few moments... and then Magic put her hands on top of Seth's, her eyelids lifting.

"Then you should have done things differently from the beginning."

And so she got rid of his hands. Her words brought Seth to his senses.

I knew what she meant. And most importantly, he knew.

Seth wasn't annoyed or furious. I think he even partially agreed with Magic. Or else he understood perfectly well why she was saying it right now.

When Magic stepped back, her gaze was full of sadness, because she wasn't trying to hurt Seth. She was just desperate.

"Are you finished?"

Despite the fact that Hunter's appearance was quite sudden, I didn't even flinch. I was so overwhelmed by all the bitterness that spread through the room.... I stopped caring about anything else.

"Leaving?"

Magic wiped her eyes with her wrist.

Hunter glared at each of them in turn. And I don't know why, but right after that, I backed away and went to the exit to the backyard. Going unnoticed, as it seemed to me at the time.