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She poured a little into the lid and drank, then pulled out the chair opposite him.

“There. Hello, Leo.”

“Hello. Can you look at this?”

The pouch slid across the table. Nate sat beside Leo while his mother opened it and shook the ring into her palm. For a moment, she looked so miserable that he wanted to take it away again.

She must feel just as betrayed by Caleb as he did.

“I can’t believe he kept this from us.” She looked up at Leo. “I wish I’d known.”

“So do I.”

Miriam set the ring on the table and held a hand above it. Nate felt her attention settle. Leo watched closely, as though there might be something to see.

“I can feel you in it,” she said at last. “Caleb had better explain to me how exactly he made the binding, but I think we have something we can work with.” She drew her hand back. “Now I’d like to examine you. Would that be all right?”

Leo was already moving his chair around to hers. “Yes.”

“You don’t have to sit quite so stiffly.”

“I’m trying to be helpful.”

“I appreciate that. You can be helpful with your shoulders down.”

Leo lowered them a fraction, and Nate almost smiled.

He remembered how his mother’s expression had changed when she’d first found the damage. He watched for it now, but as she worked, the crease between her brows eased.

“Nathan, come here.”

“What’s wrong?” He came around the table.

“Nothing. I’d like you to feel this for yourself, if Leo doesn’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.”

His mother shifted to give Nate room. “Reach out with your gift. Gently. Feel for the edges of the damage.”

Leo’s presence was familiar, but with her attention guiding his own, Nate could feel where Leo just... fizzled out.

“A lot was taken from him,” Miriam said. “But he’s much stronger than he was the last time I looked at him. I think we can attempt a restoration.”

Nate withdrew carefully. “You can put him back together?”

“I believe so.”

“I’ll get my memories back?” Leo asked.

“Yes. With some preparation, I hope we can do it tomorrow.”

Tomorrow.

That was so soon.

“You’ve both done a great deal already,” she added. “It’s helped more than you may realize.”

Leo’s small, disbelieving smile made Nate want to kiss him so badly he briefly forgot why he couldn’t.