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Hours passed. Adam and I talked a little, but I wanted him to rest. We had no idea what was happening, and dwelling on it would
just lead to panic. Wait and see. It was all we could do.
A guard came by eventually with more water and energy bars. He gestured for us to stand in the back corner, unlocked a tiny grate and pushed the supplies through.
The whole time the guard was there, Adam talked. No threats. Not even questions. Just trying to talk to the guy. Making an impression. Getting him to see us as people, not anonymous prisoners. The guy didn't respond.
"Nice try," said our neighbor when the guard was gone. "But you can save your breath, boy. Deaf and dumb. They all are. Not too bright either, I suspect."
I walked over to the grate. I hadn't noticed it earlier--it looked just like part of the bars. I bent and jiggled it. Then I cast an unlock spell.
"If that keeps you occupied, have at it," the man said. "If you look closer, though, you'll see that you wouldn't get more than your head out."
He was right.
"Relax and wait," he said. "If you're right, someone's looking for you. If not, use the boy's injuries. Make them worse and he'll get medical attention. That would be a chance to escape."
Adam dozed again. I was sitting, arms around my knees, staring into nothing, when he sat up beside me, hand snaking around my waist.
"It's going to be okay," he whispered.
I nodded.
He shifted closer. "Worrying about your mom?"
"Trying not to. At worst, she dies and goes back where she was. It's only a matter of time before the Fates figure out how to recall her anyway."
"That'll be hard," he said. "Losing her again."
"At least I got to spend some time with her," I said. "Not exactly quality time. But she belongs over there. That's her life now." I gave him a rueful smile. "Do I sound all calm and mature?"
"You do." He kissed me. "Even if it's not how you really feel."
"I will. Eventually."
I leaned against him and closed my eyes.
"The rest will be okay, too," he said. "They'll come for us. Elena and Clay would have followed us to the airport. They'd take the Cortez jet. They'd have arrived at the same time and figured out where Josef took us. From there, it's just a matter of following their noses."
Still . . . so many connections to be missed.
"What if Elena and Clay are down here, too?" I said. "Somewhere."
"All the better, because that kitsune mojo of Jeremy's will find them faster than any werewolf nose."
A throat-clearing from our neighbor. "Excuse me? I don't mean to eavesdrop, but it's difficult for me not to. Did you say werewolf?"
I glanced at Adam.
"We aren't werewolves," Adam said. "If that's what you're worried about."
That chuckle again. "I know you aren't. Clay would be Clayton, yes? Danvers. And . . . the other one."
"Jeremy."
"Yes. You know them?"
"We do."
