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Pearl was sure he knew there was a potential third option, but she appreciated that he didn’t bring it up. “Do you want to see if these two even notice if we leave? I bet we could walk out and they would keep arguing for at least 20 minutes before they realize they’re alone.”

“I’m afraid Pru might murder him if we do that. I’d hate to have to get Fred’s blood out of the carpet.”

That brought out a full belly laugh from Pearl, which had the unfortunate consequence of drawing the attention of an irate Pru.

“And just what is so funny? Are you gonna help me out here or not, Pearl?”

Raising an eyebrow, Pearl said, “Why don’t you just ask Corvus how he felt about it before you go to war for him?”

Pru scoffed loudly. “I don’t care how Corvus felt about it because that would require me to have any warm feelings at all towards Corvus. Which I absolutely do not. It’s the principle of the matter.”

Sitting up and leaning back on his hands, Corvus seemed unbothered by this pronouncement. “Prudence. A pleasure as always.”

Pru’s lip curled in disgust. “Wanker. The pleasure is all yours cause it certainly isn’t mine. Pearl, it seems you’ve got this under control. I’m off to finish my day at my excellent and very important job. Unless you need my assistance with these two miscreants.”

“Right. Your excellent and very important job that you love that you definitely were not complaining about earlier.”

Widening her eyes and throwing out her hands, Pru expressed her disappointment in her friend’s unwillingness to back her up in front of an ex without saying a word. “Seems like you don’t need me here anymore. Best of luck to all of you.” And she marched out the door with the confidence of someone who is entirely sure of the world and her place in it.

Upon her exit, Corvus lay back down. “I’d forgotten what an absolute force of nature that woman is. I feel like I need to sleep for a couple more days. Should I be concerned?”

“I still can only heal minor cuts and scrapes. I’d say it wouldn’t hurt to get a magical doctor to check for anything deeper or more worrisome.”

Corvus laughed. “Well, I guess it’s good Fred came after all.”

Incredulous, Pearl turned to Frederick. “You’re a magical doctor?”

“I’m going to pretend like you didn’t say that with such disbelief and share with you that my father was convinced I would never amount to anything, so I decided to be successful in one of the most difficult magical fields to spite him and almost never use my very expensive education. You should have seen his face at my graduation. He couldn’t decide if he was proud or disappointed. It was a glorious day.”

Pearl opened her mouth to respond, and realized she didn’t have any idea what to say to something like that. Frederick blessedly directed his next comment to Corvus and saved her from having to formulate a reply. “Come along, invalid. Let’s get you checked out and make sure you won’t need any more kissing.” He was teasing, but when he put his arm around Corvus and Pearl opened the door for them to leave, it was obvious how much he cared for his friend. There was gentleness and patience, and it made Pearl wonder just how much of the Frederick she had always seen was just the facade he had thrown up to protect himself from people he didn’t trust.

When she made it home that night, predictably, Pru was waiting for her. “Ok, spill. How is this really going? How are you feeling about Corvus?”

“Not tonight, Pru. I promise I’ll talk about it at some point, but not tonight, ok?”

And bless her, Pru didn’t push it. “Ok, come over to mine. Oliver is making his carbonara, which as you know only grows as you continue to eat it, and we need your assistance making a dent. He swears he doesn’t use magic when he makes it, but it’s always enough to feed a small army.”

“I will accept your challenge with pleasure.”

Oliver was very used to Pearl’s comings and goings, he loved feeding people, and he was genuinely the most pleasant man she had ever been around, so he didn’t bat an eye when Pru appeared with her friend. “Hiya, Pearl! How’s your new job been?”

Pearl could almost feel Pru doing the throat cutting motion behind her, and Oliver transitioned smoothly to his next question. “I mean, how is Mercutio? Did you bring him?” Hearing his name, Mercutio popped up out of Pearl’s bag and trotted over to Oliver. Oliver adored her familiar and spoke to Mercutio as though the fox could speak back. “And how was your day, friend?” Mercutio made small chittering noises, and Oliver nodded along sagely. “I see. Pearl didn’t listen to you, eh?”

“Stop communing with my familiar. Get your own.” But it was said without heat.

“Ah, I see I’ve upset your mistress. You can tell me more later.”

After dinner, Pru tried to convince Pearl to stay for a movie, but all Pearl wanted was to go home and crawl into her bed.

Pearl had just pulled up the covers and settled in to do a little reading when her phone dinged on her bedside table.

Unknown: I still hold that these machines are ghastly.

No name as she hadn’t saved his number in her phone despite telling him he didn’t need to sign his texts, but it was obvious who the luddite was on the other end.

Pearl: No one’s forcing you to text, Corvus.

Corvus: But, as you said, I need to practice. I wanted to thank you for rescuing me today, even if that rescue came in the form of a kiss from Fred, which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.