The air was still warm with toast and jam when we stepped through the portal into Elliot’s house. The smell of coffee and syrup hit first, then the sound–spoons clinking, kidsughing, the scrape of chairs. Elliot, Macey, and Elias were bunched together at the table, tes still smeared with breakfast. Crumbs everywhere, faces sticky, the picture of childhood chaos.


    Reina was already clearing dishes with quick, nervous movements, her eyes flicking to me the moment I came in. “You’re early,” she said, though her voice softened when her gaze dropped to my


    bump.


    “I wanted to ask something.” I stepped closer,ying a hand on the back of Elliot’s chair. “Would it be alright if I took them to see Felix today? He’d like thepany. Elias cane too, if he wants.”


    Elias’s head shot up, eyes wide. “Really? Me too?”


    “Of course,” I said with a smile. “If you’d like.”


    Reina’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Envy…” Worry painted her features in. “After everything…”


    But George leaned over from his chair, interrupting gently. “Rein, maybe this is the perfect chance. Didn’t we talk about that date? Just the two of us? You deserve that.”


    Her brows pulled, torn between fear and longing. Elias bounced in his seat before she could answer. “I’ve never been through a portal before!” His grin split wide. “Can we really?”


    Elliot and Macey exchanged a look, equal parts smug and excited.


    I reached across the table, brushing Elias’s hand with mine. “Yes, really. Today, you’ll see.”


    “If that’s okay with your mum, of course,” I added gently, looking at Reina.


    Her eyes darted to George, searching his face like she always did when she was weighing the hard choices. For a moment, silence stretched in the kitchen, broken only by Elias’s impatient foot tapping under the table. Then Reina exhaled, slowly, shoulders lowering just a fraction.


    “Okay,” she said atst, voice soft but certain. “You three can go.”


    The kids practically vibrated in their chairs, Macey already reaching for her little bag as if she’d been packed and ready for weeks. Elliot’s grin was smug, and Elias bounced in his seat like he’d just been handed the moon. But before <b>I </b>could thank her, George cleared his throat and leaned forward, palms


    <b>10:33 </b>Mon, Sep 15


    t on the table. “Actually… maybe they should stay the night.” His tone was casual, but <b>his </b>eyes were steady on me. “If we’re going to get into the habit of sharing them<b>, </b>I’d like it to start now. Before I’m handed another four magicals to juggle.”


    Heat crept into my cheeks, and from the corner of my eye, I saw all four of <b>my </b>mates tense with varying shades of smirks, groans, and wide–eyed stares.


    “George,” Reina muttered, half exasperated, half amused<b>, </b>but she didn’t tell him no.


    Elliot’s grin only grew, Elias nearly toppled his chair with excitement<b>, </b>and Macey pped like she’d just won something.


    Iughed softly, pressing a hand to my bump. “Fair enough. Tonight, then.”


    The kids lined up at the threshold like soldiers about to march into battle. Elliot stood tall and smug, like he’d done this a hundred times (he had). Macey clutched Fergus under one arm and Elias’s sleeve in the other, already bouncing on her toes. Elias, though, his wide eyes drank in every detail of the shimmering air as I opened the portal. The circle of light rippled, colours sliding like cil on water, and he leaned forward so far Xavier had to gently put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from face–nting.


    “Is it going to eat me?” Elias whispered, half thrilled, half terrified.


    Macey snorted. “No, silly. It just tickles.”


    Elliot rolled his eyes. “Don’t close your mouth or you’ll taste metal. It’s gross.”


    “Elliot,” I warned, though I couldn’t quite bite back my smile.


    “I’m just preparing him,” Elliot muttered.


    Haiden bent down so he was eye level with Elias. “It’s just a step, kiddo. Like walking through <i>a </i>doorway. Only this one’s cooler than all the others<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Elias took a deep breath, squared his small shoulders, and announced, “Okay. I’m ready.”


    Macey tugged him forward, Elliot slipping in beside them, and together they vanished into the light.


    On the other side, they stumbled out into the familiar halls of the Tris infirmary, where the <b>air </b>smelled faintly of herbs and disinfectant. Felix’s room <b>was </b>down the hall, the door cracked <b>open</b><b>. </b><b>I </b>could already hear the low rumble of Zion’s voice inside, murmuring something <b>steady</b><b>, </bforting<b>. </b>


    <b>10:34 </b>Mon, Sep 15


    “See?” Elliot said, brushing his hair out of his face as if it was nothing. “Told you.”


    Elias’s eyes were enormous as he spun in a circle. “That was awesome! Can we do it again?”


    “Later,” I said gently, my hand resting on his head. “Right now, let’s go see Felix. He’s been waiting for you all.”


    And with that, I guided them toward the door.


    The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and peppermint, thetter thanks to the half–empty bag of sweets Theo must have smuggled in. Felix was propped up in the bed, his face pale, the lines around his eyes deeper than I remembered even yesterday. But when the door opened and the kids spilled in, the weariness dropped from him like a cloak.


    “Look who’s here,” he rasped, his voice tired but warm. His eyes shone as Elliot stepped forward, tugging Elias with him like he was presenting a treasure.


    “Felix,” Elliot said, serious as always, “this is my brother. Elias.”


    Elias hesitated, hanging back half a step, but Felix’s smile grew so gentle it softened all the harshness of his age. He reached out a trembling hand, and Elias stepped closer, cing his smaller one in Felix’s palm.


    “My boy,” Felix whispered, his thumb brushing across Elias’s knuckles. “Your eyes… gods, you’ve got your brother’s eyes.”


    Elliot leaned in, chin high. “We came to make you feel better.”


    Felix let out a softugh that turned into a cough, but his joy was real. “Then you already have.” His free hand tapped the paper bag at his bedside. “Now… you three like candy, don’t you? Theo thinks I’m going to eat all of this myself, but I was waiting for reinforcements.”


    Macey darted forward like a shot, climbing onto the edge of the bed and digging eagerly into the bag. “Best reinforcements ever,” she dered, mouth already full.


    Elias’s face lit with a shy grin as Felix pressed a wrapped sweet into his palm. Elliot took one too, though his expression was more solemn, as if candy was secondary to making sure Felix smiled. I stood back with my mates, watching the scene unfold, my heart aching and easing all at once. For a moment, there was no battlefield, no witches, no grief waiting in the wings. Just children at a bedside, and a man who loved them with everything he had left.


    <b>3/4 </b>


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