Rick and Shelly both froze. I slid myself into a chair, knowing that the night was far from over, but I needed a minute. My throat was burning from Rick’s hands, but I couldn’t spare a drop of magic to heal myself. Everything I had was going to be needed.
Shelly and Rick launched themselves at Abby. Tears streaming down their faces. “Baby?” Shelly’s hands trembled on her face. “Is this real?” She leaned in and pressed her lips against Abby’s forehead. “Are you real?”
Abby giggled. “Yes, momma. I’m real.” She looked over at me. “Thank you for saving me.”
I smiled. “Of course.” I winked. “I told you I would.”
Shelly and Rick looked at each other, then over at me. I watched their faces go through a ton of emotions, but both settled on embarrassment. Rick pushed up from the table and turn
