Page 88 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

And just like that, some of the tightness in my chest fades. It’s gonna be fine. This is all gonna be fine. I’ve got my monsters here with me, and we will get past this.

Hadrian

I didn’t sleep a wink last night, not even with Bluebell tucked against me in my nest. I’m sure it didn’t help that Petra was snoring on the sofa, and since my apartment’s one big room, I could hear every stuttered intake of breath…all night.

What I really wanted was time alone with my mate—we’ve got to figure out some better sleeping arrangements. I’m thankful the ranch has multiple bedrooms, and Petra can pick from any of the available ones. My timeline for completing renovations on the house needs to move up.

Fast.

I follow Petra, who’s got her arm looped through Bluebell’s, as we walk into the skyball stadium where Jasper’s master’s test will take place. Anxiety prickles across my skin, sending waves of uncomfortable heat along my wing bones. Those nerves poke along the bond, too, and I hate that Bluebell can feel it. Worry over his mindset is the reason we didn’t tell him sooner, and it didn’t work out well anyhow.

All I know is, I’m certain that not showing up would be even worse.

When we appear in the stands, his parents and the other Jays look up with concern on their faces. Jace waves us over, but the rest of the Tuckers look a little shell-shocked, especially when they note Petra holding on to Bluebell. I risk a glance at the field to find Jasper standing there with the test proctors, glaring daggers our way. I shoot him a quick smile, then look back at his family.

Taking our seats, we make small talk, but it’s awkward as hells despite how delighted Petra seems to be to see her “uncles.”

When my sister stops talking the Jays’ ears off, I tap Jack on the shoulder with my wing. “How was he last night?”

Jack shakes his head, running both hands through his black waves. “Drunk mess most of the night. Wouldn’t talk to any of us. He just went out to that old tree fort we built when we were kids and sat there ‘til this morning. He rolled in for breakfast, but he’s barely spoken two words.”

Oz, Lemon, and Furyon appear then and find spots next to us in the bleachers.

Jack waves at them and then shoots me a half-hearted smile. “How come you didn’t just tell us? We’ve always thought of you as our brother, but we’d have…tried to understand. I would, at least.”

I frown. “We would have, but we didn’t want to spring it on Jasper before this.” I wave at where Jasper’s talking to the proctors on the field.

“That didn’t exactly work out,” Jack mutters.

“Hush, it’s starting,” Bluebell says quietly, hands clasped in her lap as she leans onto her thighs.

“What’s gonna happen?” Petra asks loudly.

Just then, one of the proctors, a big troll male, presses his fingers to his ear and begins to speak, his voice echoing loudly toward us.

“Welcome to Jasper Alan Tucker’s third-level mastery of green engineering final presentation. This is the last step toward officially proclaiming Mister Tucker as a Master-Level Green Witch. In order to pass this series of tests, he will need to grow a field of local cacti, including at least prickly pear and spinystar. The second test is to grow the plants to a great size. He’ll then be required to transmogrify them into anything of his choosing, remembering any particular local celebrations or events where such magic could be used. The final two tests are surprises chosen by the proctors at the time, so details were not provided ahead.”

He smiles over his shoulder at Jasper, lifting his arms wide. “Let us begin with the first three bits of the test, and then we will announce the final two sections.”

I’ve never been to a masters-level green magic presentation before, although I’ve seen Jasper use his magic hundreds of times. Some of these skills are things I know he’s struggled with, although I know he’s been preparing for this day.

The proctor returns to Jasper, and the three speak together for a moment. Both proctors shake Jasper’s hand, and then he steps away from them, closing his eyes as he steps his legs apart and looks at the ground. My heart is in my throat as he opens his hands and flips them so his palms face the ground.

“Come on, Jazzy,” Elena mutters.

Next to me, Bluebell’s stiff and silent, eyes focused on her brother.

The ground in front of us begins to shimmy and shake, and a smile tips Jasper’s lips upward. Cracks streak across the dirt in every which direction, and pale green appears. Slowly but steadily the spots of green become small mounds, then larger mounds until miniature cacti appear. They grow larger and larger as Jasper remains focused on the earth at his feet.

I suspect we’re all holding our breath as the cacti shoot up and unfurl, spreading their arms out until they’re perfectly formed.

“Halt,” calls out the troll proctor. “Well done, Mister Tucker.”

Jasper looks over at us with a smile, but when he sees me, it falls, and he looks away.

“First test is a success,” the second proctor, a troll female, calls out. “Let the record show one of five is complete.”

The male troll marks something on a small notepad in his left hand.