Tally had practically floated back to Sekhmet. She was grabbing most of her clothing and then going straight back to Sarah's, after filling Raelle and Abigail in.
"There you are!" Raelle greeted, relieved. "We've been waiting for you to get back and spill."
"Did Izadora figure it out?" Abigail asked.
Tally's smile lit up the room as she nodded. She took a seat next to Abigail on the bed.
"She talked to Adil, actually" she told Abigail. "He taught her this seed that Sarah or I would have to sing for the connection to be seen. Well, it worked and apparently we are songmates."
Raelle's eyebrows scrunched together. "What's that?"
Abigail, however, her eyes were wide. "Songmates?! Tal, do you have any idea how rare those are?"
"Um excuse you," Raelle interjected. "Explanation?"
Abigail looked at her. "Songmates are soulmates but for specifically chosen witches. It's a blessed witch's one true mate, their perfect match. There's only been like…14 cases ever recorded."
Raelle's mouth dropped. "So you were literally destined for each other."
Tally nodded, her giddy smile on display.
"This is…huge…Tal, I'm so happy for you," Abigail pulled her in for a tight hug.
"Yeah and way to land the witch of witches," Raelle congratulated. "And Alder landed the most talented Knower in over a generation."
Tally blushed. "Thanks guys. Anacostia thinks they'll be ready in two days. So I was hoping you both would come? The Imperatrix will have to be there so I figured you'd like the added bonus of her getting pissed off. Your mom will also be there, Abigail…and I have a bit of a bone to pick with her myself."
"Abso-fucking-lutely," Raelle readily agreed.
"My mom and the Imperatrix taken down a notch in one go? Count me in." Abigail nudged Tally's shoulder playfully. "Why the bone with my mom? Not that I'm complaining."
"The scold's bridle…Sarah's been very clear about anyone using them—that they are banned, actually. She thinks they're dehumanizing and I completely agree…I mean…I had marks from only wearing it for what? Two hours if that?" Tally grimaced. "It was…"
"I'm so sorry, Tal," Abigail told her sincerely before she pulled her in for a hug.
"Me too, we should have realized," Raelle agreed as she moved forward and joined in the hug.
"I don't blame you guys. Nicte was convincing," Tally said as they parted.
"Still," Abigail urged. She held one of Tally's hands.
"Also…" Tally chewed on her a lip a moment. "Sarah said that they might insist on a handfast but that she'll fight to make sure we don't have to until I graduate."
"Holy shit seriously?" Rae questioned. "I mean good for Alder but do you really think they'll insist?"
"With the Imperatrix? I can guarantee it," Abigail answered for her. "How do you feel about it?"
"I actually really would love it," Tally admitted with a shy smile. "If they refuse to allow us to wait I told Sarah I'm in."
"Our little girl is all grown up," Raelle mock cried.
"I fully expect a full day of looking for a dress," Abigail insisted. "But are you sure you're okay with this all? It seems fast."
"If the Imperatrix wants them handfasted, Bells, I don't know how much pull Alder will ultimately have."
"Yeah but handfasting is primarily done so that more witches can be born," Abigail retorted.
Tally's face fell. "I am a little disappointed about children. I always wanted a daughter."
"I mean…you could always get inseminated, right?" Raelle tried to reassure.
"I guess," Tally replied before she shook her head. "Okay the talk of kids is definitely too soon." She laughed. "The important thing is that if we do have to handfast I've already agreed to do it. I don't need time to think. I want it—all of it."
Abigail smiled and wrapped an arm around her. "Well, whatever they decide, Rae and I have your back."
"Absolutely," Raelle agreed.
Tally laughed jovially as some tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you guys. You're the best. But um, there's one more thing…well two."
Raelle and Abigail waited expectantly as Tally gestured to the new braid.
"Ohhh a new courtship braid. What's this stand for?" Rae asked.
"Sort of an engagement without an engagement. Wholly spoken for and promised," she answered with a light blush.
"I still can't believe Alder is such a romantic." Abigail shook her head in disbelief.
"What's the other thing?" Raelle asked.
"Sarah and I are going to have a date tomorrow night. Technically our first date. She's planning it as we speak. Well I think. We closed the connection some so I wouldn't ruin the surprise."
"Where's this date going to be?" Rae asked.
"No idea, all part of the surprise," Tally answered with a giddy smile. "I just…I can't believe this is happening."
"Honestly? I wouldn't be able to either if I haven't actively seen the two of you together," Raelle told her.
"Same. Honestly I'm surprised no one else has noticed it," Abigail chimed in. "I mean, Tally's always looked at Alder with heart eyes—but Alder isn't as subtle as she thinks either."
Tally's eyebrows rose. "Really?"
Raelle and Abigail shared a look before looking back at Tally.
"Uh, yeah," they said in tandem.
"And now that the cat is going to be out of the bag, I'm looking forward to seeing how Alder will be," Raelle said with a smug smile.
Tally suddenly blushed crimson.
"Ohhhh, details." Abigail poked her side.
"We had sex in the warding circle," Tally blurted.
Abigail and Raelle laughed before Abigail put her arm around Tally again and squeezed.
"You guys are incorrigible, and I am so proud," Abigail teased.
"Good for Alder. I hope I'd still be able to have sex at that age." Raelle cracked herself up.
"How is the sex?" Abigail asked curiously. "Obviously good enough that you almost destroyed the base but…"
"Sarah said Beltane is going to kill her, and she's going to have to have warding put up so that she doesn't destroy it then…so…really fucking good," Tally told them with a red face and giddy smile.
Raelle whistled. "Good for you."
"So," Abigail began, switching the subject back to the date. "What do you think she's going to do for your date? I mean…are you going to stay on base or go off base?"
Tally shrugged. "If I had to guess I would say we will be on base because of ease and it's not public knowledge yet." Her eyes bugged. "Shit I need to grab my things."
"Alder's room again?" Abigail asked.
Tally turned and said softly, "Actually it's our room now."
Rae and Abigail's eyebrows rose high.
"Don't worry I'm just sleeping there, I'll be with you guys for classes and we are still a unit—"
"Of course we are, Tal," Raelle interrupted with a smile. "Honestly it's not a huge change. You've been sleeping there anyway, and honestly I'm glad you're getting rest."
"Yeah, you were really rough there for a while."
"Wow thanks guys." Tally snorted.
"I mean, you did look bad," Raelle agreed with Abigail.
Tally threw a pillow at her head before she finished packing. After a few more hugs she finally darted from the room, heading straight for Sarah's.
That was when she nearly ran directly into Petra Bellweather just outside the office.
Fuck.
Tally panicked slightly. "General Bellweather," she greeted formally.
"Cadet Craven," Petra returned, eyes flickering down to look at Tally's items in her hand. "Going somewhere?"
Oh this can't get worse.
"Craven," Alder's voice barked.
Tally thanked the Goddess as Petra turned at the sound of the General's voice.
"General," Petra greeted with a nod of her head.
"Did you need something, Petra?" Alder asked as she called for Tally to come to her through the link while she handled Petra.
Tally did as told, slipping around Petra and moving to the General.
"I was hoping to speak to you about the Batan mission. You'd mentioned you wanted to speak to me privately and I've finally had some time free up in my schedule."
Tally scoffed internally. As if Petra had more on her plate than Sarah, unless her scheming was taking up all her time.
Sarah chuckled in the link at that—and Tally used the opportunity to quickly duck past Sarah into the office.
"Actually you've arrived at a perfect time then," Alder told Petra, a wicked glint in her eyes.
Tally wasn't about to head to their bedroom while Petra was here, so she moved toward two of the biddies.
They were playing chess but had ceased and were already standing to take Tally's things from her and hiding them away in their room before Petra entered the office.
"I see that Cadet Craven will be joining us again," Petra noted tersely.
The biddies hissed in unison before ceasing at a wave from Sarah. She had moved to her tumbler of whiskey and poured one for herself and for each of the women.
"She will because she is in part what I need to discuss with you regarding the Batan mission." Sarah walked to Tally first and handed her the glass of whiskey, brushing her fingers against Tally's in a silent hello.
"Ah," Petra commented knowingly. "Nicte's unfortunate impersonation." She looked to Tally. "I'm sorry that she put you through that."
"Nicte isn't wholly to blame," Sarah replied immediately as she moved to hand Petra her glass. Once she had, she stepped back around her desk and took a seat.
Tally could feel Sarah's anger stirring in her stomach as she sat down next to the two biddies playing chess, watching the standoff between Sarah and Petra.
Erin, the biddy to Tally's left, patted her leg knowingly and offered her a look of sympathy, which Tally appreciated immensely.
"In part, Petra, I blame you."
Petra's eyebrows nearly went to her hairline. "Me?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes. The use of scold's bridles are outlawed." Sarah's eyes were cold as she spoke.
"General—"
The energy shifted in the room. Tally could feel the hair on her arms stand up from the electricity swirling, and Petra seemed to realize the precarious position she was in. Alder looked cold, calculating—as if one false word from Petra's lips would be her end.
"Outlawed," Alder said coldly. "Have you ever had one of those on, Petra?"
Petra merely shook her head.
"Would you like to?" Sarah questioned.
Tally sent her a questioning gaze but Sarah remained undeterred.
"No, of course not."
"Then why would you think it would be okay to send your daughter along with one?"
Petra had seemed surprised by that information.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't ask the Bellweather unit where they acquired a device that I have outlawed? That has been outlawed for hundreds of years?" Alder was furious as she spoke. "That I would ever allow the use of one of those devices on a fellow witch, no matter she be Spree?"
Petra remained silent.
"So explain to me, Petra, why you felt the need to not only go behind my back not once, but twice?" Alder stood, a snarl etched on her face.
Tally threw her whiskey back as she waited. Even the biddies seemed to be holding their breaths—unusual as they normally would be hissing by now. It seemed Sarah had ordered them to stay quiet.
At Petra's silence she pressed on, her voice softer, "I had to tend to the wounds of a cadet. Someone who has never known true persecution. Someone who is innocent of the real horrors of war and battle and the burning times." Her voice grew as she continued, "I send a unit of cadets, formidable and powerful—but cadets, nonetheless. One of which was your own daughter, and you have the fucking audacity to hand her a device that is so barbaric that even The Hague will not use unless absolutely necessary. I don't give a shit how many witches and civilians Nicte has killed, no witch deserves that device." Alder's upper lip quivered with her rage and the lights flickered dangerously.
Tally was starting to grow concerned now. What if Sarah lost control and fried Petra on the spot.
"I am aware you couldn't have known Nicte would impersonate one of our own. I know you meant for that bridle to go on her and her alone. But it didn't. You took that risk. What if it had been Abigail?"
At that, Petra actually seemed ashamed—truly ashamed.
"You intended it for Nicte but it didn't end up on her," Alder practically growled. "It ended up on Tally, after she saved your daughter from Nicte's mind games. That was the repayment she got? A fucking scold's bridle?" Her hands gripped the desk harder. "I suggest you have a long think about your insubordination and where you want to go from here."
The room was as tense as Tally had ever experienced. She knew if Sarah had ever reamed her out like that she would have sobbed on the spot long ago. Hell, she was sure even Raelle would have cried at the lashing.
"Get out of my office," Alder growled lowly, voice vibrating with a low vibrato that signaled the presence of an oncoming seed—as she leaned forward on her desk, knuckles turning white against the wood as if she was keeping herself from lunging across and throttling Petra.
The High Atlantic swallowed her whiskey in one gulp, sat the empty glass on the desk, and promptly turned and left the office without a word.
Tally was on her feet the second Petra left, moving straight for Sarah where she had slumped back down into her chair. She reached out and touched Sarah's cheek as she sat down in her lap.
"Look at me," Tally requested softly.
Sarah's eyes met hers, and where there was previously anger, there was now a tiredness that spanned centuries.
"Nothing but betrayal," Sarah murmured. "Three hundred years of service to this nation and I have to deal with my own…" she trailed off and shook her head.
"Petra is ambitious. These old lines…" Tally began as she stroked Sarah's cheek. "They've forgotten how they've come to be. They forget who they owe their family lineage to. They forget that you have been fighting since before this land was the United States. Despite all witches here knowing our history…they forget that you lived it. They hear stories…" she shook her head. "And that's all it is to them…stories. They can't understand."
Sarah couldn't help the love that swirled in her chest. She wanted nothing more than to say the words, but she wanted to wait just a little longer. She wanted it to be just the two of them, in their own bubble, not tainted with the remnants of her anger and heartache.
"The Goddess has truly blessed me with you, Tally Craven," she said affectionately. She reached up and grasped Tally's neck, pulling her in for a gentle kiss. "I am sorry you had to see me so angry."
Tally shook her head. "You don't need to apologize. Believe me I wish I was able to say half of that to her, and even if I could I probably would've started crying before I finished," she said with a light laugh.
Sarah chuckled. "Well I am glad I could do that for the both of us. I have been meaning to do that since you returned from the mission…"
"I know, things have been insane." Tally understood. It had been a very very busy week. "But, on a positive note," she began with a wry grin, "we get to sleep together in our bed tonight, and tomorrow night we get to have our date."
The weariness in Sarah's eyes had dissipated with those two mentions. "Indeed we do," she said softly with a smile. "I do enjoy the sound of that. Our bed."
Tally hummed and leaned in for another kiss. They kissed slowly, in no rush for it to end and content to bask in the moment with each other. Tally could hear the biddies carrying on with their projects in their seats throughout the room, and she suddenly remembered her belongings.
"Oh, Erin!" Tally yelped when she pulled back from Sarah—who was looking a little dazed at the sudden loss of lips on her own. "Where did you—" she began to ask.
Erin stood from her chair and vanished behind the door to the biddies' rooms, reappearing a moment later with Tally's belongings.
"Thank you so much," Tally told her as she brought them over and sat them on the General's desk. "I am really glad Petra didn't question my things."
"Well, in two days' time it won't matter," Sarah pointed out.
"True. What would you have said if she had asked?"
Sarah hummed thoughtfully. "I probably would have just told her it had something to do with the biddy link and you not sleeping again…it's not like she needed to know that it had been remedied."
Tally gave a light laugh. She then grew serious as she remembered her and Sarah's earlier conversation.
"You mentioned wanting my advice about what to do about Nicte," Tally broached.
Sarah nodded. She really did want Tally's advice. She knew that she would give her honest opinion on whatever she said.
"I do. I'd like to leave it for later, if you agree. This day…I'm tired," Sarah told her honestly.
Tally could feel it in their connection—not only tired physically, but emotionally and mentally. It was wearing her down to the bone and it pained Tally to know Sarah was feeling that way.
Tally smiled softly. "Of course. We can talk about it whenever you'd like," she told her.
She stood then and pulled Sarah's chair closer to the desk as she leaned against it. Wordlessly, she reached for Sarah's braid and removed the tie at the end. She silently requested for Sarah to lean forward so she could begin undoing it. Slowly, she worked her way from the bottom to the top, undoing the braid and massaging her scalp to loosen the strands.
Sarah moaned against Tally's stomach as she worked, and Sarah couldn't help the wave of exhaustion that crashed over her at Tally's ministrations. The head massage was doing wonders, and she could feel the tension leaving her shoulders.
Tally looked over her shoulder to a couple of the biddies, who were watching with soft, affectionate expressions. Tally could tell they were waiting for Sarah to dismiss them, so she nodded to their door and smiled to let them know that she had everything from here. It was getting late and she knew the biddies especially needed their rest.
When they were the only two left, Tally continued to massage Sarah's scalp for a few more moments before she reached down and pushed the uniform jacket from her shoulders. Sarah's head remained pressed against her stomach, unmoving as she allowed Tally to do what she liked. Once free of the jacket, Tally slid her hands to Sarah's neck to massage the tight muscles there.
"Take a deep breath in for me, and then slowly exhale," Tally requested softly.
When Sarah did as asked—Tally pressed down on a knot at the exhale. She had Sarah repeat the motion until her neck was looser beneath her fingertips, and then trailed to her shoulders. She massaged them and asked Sarah to do the same, breathe in and out, and Tally would work the knots until they dissipated.
By the time she finished, she wasn't totally sure if Sarah was asleep or not. She was practically dead weight against Tally's stomach. She ran her hands up her shoulders, then her neck, and then massaged her scalp again.
"I'm awake," Sarah mumbled against Tally. She was barely awake…barely. Tally's ministrations had her more relaxed than she had felt in years.
Tally hummed knowingly. "You're trying to fool a Knower."
Sarah chuckled. "I am barely awake, sweetheart," she corrected.
"Then we should definitely go to bed," Tally said.
With much difficulty, Sarah rolled away on her chair and then stood. Her eyes felt heavy and she glanced around the room with some confusion at the absence of her biddies.
"I sent them to bed," Tally told her as she gathered her belongings.
"Thank you," Sarah said as they moved to the bedroom. "I hadn't even realized they left."
"You might have dozed off at a point," Tally admitted.
They readied themselves for bed and crawled beneath the covers. Tally took up residence in her spot on Sarah's chest, their legs and hands tangling with practiced ease.
"Thank you," Sarah said softly. She placed a delicate kiss to Tally's head.
"What for?" Tally asked before she yawned loudly.
Sarah's chest rumbled as she laughed. "For being you. You never cease to amaze me with your compassion."
Tally was already drifting off. She was more tired than she realized and had barely caught what Sarah had said.
"It's easy because I love you," Tally murmured before promptly passing out, not realizing what she had said either.
Sarah's eyes were wide as she looked down on Tally's sleeping form. They softened and she eased away from the connection some, just in case her elation would wake Tally. She swallowed shakily, tears threatening to spill as she kissed Tally's head; then inhaling the smell of her shampoo.
The urge to whisper the words into the silence of the room consumed her, but she managed to restrain herself. She wanted to make sure Tally was wide awake when she told her—but the sleepy confession from the young witch had certainly been just what Sarah needed to hear after dealing with Petra. Tally had taken care of her, relaxed her with her touch and her words, and Sarah couldn't have been more grateful.
When Tally awoke, she was surprised to find Sarah still deep asleep—a rare occurrence. The General was usually always the first to rise, and Tally couldn't help but smile as she slowly propped herself up on her arm to take her in.
Goddess do I love you, she thought to herself as she watched Sarah's chest rise and fall slowly.
She laid back down and kissed Sarah's chest and looked over at the nightstand, noticing her journal of poetry sitting there. The page she left off on, near the end, was marked carefully.
Tally felt herself blush a little. Her poems…especially the ones she'd written since the Tarim…
Well they were mostly about Sarah. They progressively became more…emotionally charged as everything developed between them. Hopefully they weren't too much. She didn't want to overwhelm Sarah or accidentally do something that would be too much, or upset her.
"My darling," Sarah murmured as her head lolled to face Tally. Her eyes blinked the remnants of sleep away as she fixed Tally with a sleepy gaze of adoration. "What are you thinking about this early?"
Tally chuckled and nuzzled in close to Sarah, both women humming happily as they got closer.
"You," Tally answered as she pressed a kiss to Sarah's neck.
Sarah hummed. "There is more to that though."
Tally sighed and tucked her face between Sarah's neck and the pillow. "I saw my journal on the nightstand and how far you've read…it's going to get sappier. So…I'm just worried it might be too much or something."
"Tally," Sarah addressed as she reached down to tilt Tally's head out of her hiding spot. Once the young witch met her gaze she stroked her cheek with a single finger. "Sweetheart, I've already finished it."
Tally's eyes went wide and Sarah couldn't help but laugh at the comical display.
"Yo-you read it already?" Tally squeaked out.
Sarah couldn't stop chuckling. When she finally had, she stroked Tally's hair. "Yes, of course. I missed you quite desperately when you were gone for break. Reading poems that you wrote was an effective band-aid for the distance."
Tally blushed. "So you're re-reading them?"
Sarah nodded, a twinkle in her eyes.
"And…you've read them all?"
Another nod.
"Did you like them?"
"Immensely," Sarah replied immediately. "I am rather jealous though of this woman you write about…the one with 'eyes that carry a storm with the fury of Poseidon and the blue ferocity of Zeus' lightning'," she quoted. "If I remember that correctly."
Tally went bright red but she smiled at the affection rolling off Sarah through their connection.
"They're beautiful. I am certain that no one has ever…ever described me the way that you do. If I couldn't feel your sincerity through our bond, reading those poems would have sufficed for me to understand the depth of your feelings," Sarah told her honestly before she rolled them over to be on top of Tally. "And I want to assure you that I feel as you do."
She captured Tally's lips in a kiss, content to lazily make out and touch for some time. Lazy morning kisses were one of Tally's favorite things to do with Sarah. It was peaceful, without their duties calling for the day, just the two of them basking in their private bubble. Tally wasn't sure how much time had actually passed but when they parted, it was only because of the biddies calling Sarah.
"The biddies call?" Tally asked at Sarah's disappointed sigh.
Sarah nodded. "Yes, they're reminding me of the time. I have preparations to finish for our date tonight."
Tally's eyes brightened. "Is that so?"
"Uh uh," Sarah warned as she threw up a mental block. "No snooping, my darling Knower."
Tally pouted, and gave her best puppy dog eyes.
Sarah slowly reached up and simply covered Tally's eyes with her hand, making them both laugh until they calmed a minute later.
"Patience is a virtue," Sarah told her before she kissed her again.
"It isn't one of mine," came Tally's rebuttal.
Sarah kissed her again, chuckling against her lips before she glanced at the clock. "I really do need to get up and get started, it's already nearly 11:00."
Tally's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"It would seem that yesterday was rather tiring for us both," Sarah commented. "How are you doing? I know that learning of the connection was rather intense…along with what happened with Petra…"
Tally cupped her cheek, stroking it softly with the pad of her thumb. "I'm good. I'm…honestly still a little in disbelief that you're…mine. I mean, even before we knew about the extent of our connection, it felt so surreal that you wanted me of all people. You could literally have any man or woman you want."
"But I wanted you," Sarah countered softly. "You are the woman I want. Not anyone else. Even before we knew we were connected I wanted you. I told you yesterday, sweetheart, I want you. Simple and honest as it is."
Tally smiled up at her, catching Sarah's own wonderment and thankfulness that Tally wanted her too.
"I do want you. Have wanted you," Tally breathed. "Simple and honest."
They kissed again for another moment before Sarah groaned.
"I do love my biddies, but they can be quite the pain in the ass," Sarah said. She placed a quick kiss to Tally's lips. "Feel free to tell Abigail and Raelle what I said to Petra."
Tally laughed. "I will do that."
They reluctantly rose and readied themselves for the day, exchanging a few more touches and kisses before they had to part.
Tally practically skipped back to her company. She managed to grab some breakfast before linking up with Raelle and Abigail, who were wearing very satisfied smirks and civilian clothing.
Tally took a bite of her muffin, eyeing them suspiciously. "What?"
"We are going out," Abigail told her. "So, get changed into your civvies and meet us out front."
Tally's eyebrows rose. "Okay," she drawled. "Why?"
Raelle rolled her eyes affectionately. "Just do it, Tal."
Then they left, leaving a confused Tally Craven in the room.
She shrugged it off and quickly put on some jeans and a sweater, and her favorite pair of brown boots before heading out the door to meet her unit. She still needed to grab the rest of her belongings and move them into Sarah's room—but she figured once they met with the brass she would grab everything to move then.
When she got outside, her eyebrows went to her hairline at seeing them standing next to Anacostia, Adil, and Gregorio.
"Okay what is happening?" Tally asked with a laugh.
Anacostia smiled knowingly. "We are under strict orders from General Alder to keep you busy until tonight."
Tally couldn't help but beam and sent a wave of giddiness through the link, pleased when Alder returned the sentiment.
"Is that so?" Tally questioned with a smirk. "She really doesn't want me to know what she's up to I see."
"Not even a little," Rae confirmed with a snort.
"So you all were told?" Tally asked. "When did she even have…oh my god she sent the biddies." She laughed at her own realization.
Anacostia nodded with a smirk. "She's had them very busy since she asked you."
Tally then realized Sarah had planned all of this carefully so that when she awoke everything would be in motion. It was incredibly sweet and made Tally swoon.
"I can't believe they roped you two in," Tally told Adil and Gregorio.
"Well," Gregorio began with a shrug, "I was certainly surprised when I got a visit from one of the biddies with General Alder's request."
"She also said that we all needed a break, especially with what will be coming with the Camarilla," Adil added.
"And there is one more thing," Raelle said as she brought her hands around to the front and held up a sketchbook.
It was clearly a modern one, and Tally immediately reached for it. She loved seeing Sarah's past drawings, and had been privileged to have gone through a few sketchbooks since. This one though, seemed to be the most recent and she was excited to see the dates and the people and places within.
"So," Abigail began as she opened the door to the SUV that was waiting for them. "In we go."
When they all filed in, they began chatting about aimlessly until something involving alcohol was brought up, and Anacostia started telling them some of her drunken stories.
She noted that one night when she got back to her dorm, Alder was there waiting with a disapproving look…but still took care of her after she threw up on her shoes.
Their group had erupted into a fit of laughter as they pulled up to their destination.
They had been brought to Salem, and all hopped out from the vehicle to explore the town.
Tally loved it there, especially in the fall with the leaves all changing as they fell to the ground.
"So what time am I supposed to be back for my date?" Tally asked as they were in line for some mulled cider.
"Sunset," Anacostia answered easily. "Can't tell you more than that so don't ask, Craven."
Tally rolled her eyes but agreed.
They spent the day strolling around the town, ducking into various shops and entertaining themselves until they had to leave.
It was a perfect day. Her friends all seemed to relax, something that made her smile after the craziness their lives had been. They all got to just…be. Not witches, not soldiers, just people.
Tally sent her gratitude through the bond, smiling when Sarah answered in her mind.
"Everyone deserved a day. They've done much these past weeks," she told Tally.
"Well, it was perfect. Everyone seems to be in better spirits."
"I am glad that I was able to help," she paused, "I need to focus, darling, I'll see you soon."
Then the connection closed and Tally was left perplexed.
"Alder?" Raelle questioned at seeing Tally's confusion.
"Yeah. We were just talking and she said she needed to focus and would see me soon."
Anacostia shook her head. "Don't think about it," she chuckled. "I know exactly why she needs to focus." She laughed again.
Tally crossed her arms and sighed.