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.”

  “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.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “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.”

  After checking on Bell and finding her sound asleep, Zane and Tarni quietly slipped out of the room. They walked down the sterile hospital hallway in search of Lily, needing to let her know they and Kai were heading home.

  Kai had gone to collect his bags from reception, where he'd left them earlier in the rush to see their mum.

  They eventually found Lily and James at the administration centre, both looking visibly upset. Lily was speaking to a staff member, her brows furrowed and her voice tight with frustration.

  “What’s going on?” Zane asked, stepping up beside her.

  Lily turned, clearly trying to hold her composure. “They’re saying Mum’s transfer home isn’t covered under her health plan. It’s going to cost over thirty thousand dollars.”

  Zane’s jaw tightened. “Thirty grand? You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “And they want it upfront,” Lily added, clearly stressed. “Or else we have to take out a hospital loan at 21% interest. That’s robbery. I know you don’t have that kind of cash lying around, Dad. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  Zane felt the weight of it immediately. He couldn’t bear the thought of delaying Bell’s transfer, not when every moment counted. His mind was already racing through bad options—banks, favours, selling something—when Tarni stepped forward.

  “I’ve got this, Lil,” he said calmly. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Lily blinked. “What?”

  Zane turned to him. “Tarn, what are you talking about?”

  Tarni was already pulling out his wallet. “I’ve got more savings than I know what to do with. You think I spend my nights at the pub 'cause I’m broke?” He offered her a reassuring smile. “It’s not even a question. Bell’s family.”

  Lily looked stunned, her mouth opening and closing for a moment before she said softly, “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely,” he said. “Let me handle it.”

  Despite protests from both Lily and Zane, Tarni insisted. Eventually, they relented, watching in disbelief as he filled out the payment forms with his bank details. A quick call later, it was approved.

  Zane still couldn’t believe it. “Mate… thank you.”

  Tarni just shrugged. “You’d do the same for me.”

  After that, Zane filled out additional paperwork giving Lily the authority to act on his behalf while Bell remained in the hospital.

  With the administrative chaos finally behind them, Zane and Tarni pulled Lily into warm hugs. Zane held her for a second longer, his heart swelling with pride and worry all at once. Then they shook James' hand—firmly, maybe a little too firmly on Zane’s part—and said their goodbyes.

  “Look after her,” Zane said to James with a quiet nod.

  “I will, sir.”

  Leaving the admin centre, Zane and Tarni made their way outside to meet up with Kai and find the car. The full moon was rising over Sydney, casting long white rays over the concrete.

  They were heading home again—this time to clean up the blood, the broken things, and prepare for what was coming next.

  But for now, there was at least a little peace in knowing Bell would be home soon.