NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Bloody miracle
Zane wanted to tell Lily everything—the System, the goblins, the potions, the strange new reality they were living in. But James complicated things. Zane didn't know this kid. Didn't know if he could trust him. And this wasn't the kind of secret you shared lightly.
Before he could untangle his thoughts, Lily spoke up.
"We rushed here straight from the airport. I need to go freshen up."
All four men just looked at her, confused expressions all around.
Lily sighed. "That means I'm going to the toilet."
"Oh," said Kai, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I need to go too," James added quickly.
Tarni pointed down the corridor. "Loo's down there, on the right."
As Lily and James disappeared from view, Tarni spun to face Zane and Kai.
"Alright, we need to talk. What's the plan? Because I don't know about you two, but I don't think we're ready to take James back to your place."
Zane frowned, arms crossed. "I could kick up a stink. Say he's not welcome."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"NO," Kai and Tarni said in perfect unison.
Zane raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just spitballing here."
The three of them huddled closer, lowering their voices.
They discussed options, everything from running interference to faking delays. The biggest issue was time—specifically, how much of it they needed to get back home and clean up the mess from Zane's leg bleeding all over the house…And the power problem.
Kai stayed mostly silent, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. In truth, he still didn't fully believe them. Magic systems? Goblins? Healing potions? It was all too much. He was waiting for it to fall apart—to see the cracks in their story. Then he'd confront them properly. Blow up, maybe. For now, he was watching, waiting.
Eventually, Lily and James returned.
Lily's face was tight with frustration. "We just ran into the doctor," she announced, planting herself in front of them. "She said you're planning to take Mum home?"
Zane nodded. "Yeah, it's the be—"
"She said it's a good idea," Lily cut in, "but it could take a couple of days to organise everything."
"Right, it—" Zane started again.
"And James and I are going to stay in Sydney until she's ready to be moved," she continued without pause. "Then we'll come home with her."
Zane blinked. Tarni's eyebrows shot up. Kai stared.
The three men exchanged a glance—one of mutual disbelief.
After all their frantic scheming, debating how to delay, distract, or detour Lily and James… they didn't have to do a thing.
It had sorted itself.
After informing her family of their plans, Lily took James' hand and walked off to find the Hospital Administration to start the process.
Tarni grinned and clapped Zane on the back. "Well. That's... convenient."
Zane just let out a long breath and nodded. "Bloody miracle, that."