Page 42 of Hex You

Her sister and Khenti huddled around the card, squinting the same way Hunter had when the foggy gray image ceased churning, offering the unreadable haze as answer to her question.

“I know I need to rest. I mean, that’s clear from the card, but I wanted to try and give us a head start.” Hunter stuffed her clammy hands into her pockets. This had been a terrible idea. She should have waited, asked again after a good night’s sleep, instead of stampeding downstairs to flaunt her failings. They were depending on her. This was the absolute best way to get an insight on what plagued Goodeville. After all, it had worked before.

“What is it?” Mercy asked, her brow knitting.

“My tarot. I’m a little disconnected right now.” Hunter stroked the end of her ponytail, which hung like a security blanket over her shoulder. “I just wanted you to see that I’m working on getting an answer about whatever’s come through the Japanese Gate.”

They need me, and I’m useless.

She took the card from Mercy and stared down at the milky white. “I’ll try again in the morning.”

Mercy and Khenti exchanged a glance, further proof of their deepening connection. Carefully, he turned the laptop to face Hunter. “We have found possibilities.”

Mag clasped her hands and nodded, straightening as if ready to deliver a speech. “We’re compiling a list.”

“Oh.” Hunter tucked the card into her back pocket.

They don’t need me.

“Guess you’ve gotten really good at researching,” she said, jealousy twisting in her gut.

“Learned from the best.” Mercy winked, an overdramatized motion that would have made Hunter laugh had she not felt so defeated.

Khenti spun the computer back around and resumed working,poking at the keyboard as if his index fingers were two sticks. “Your Google is a powerful sorcerer.”

“Search engine,” Mercy corrected, leaning into him.

He nodded. “Yes, and its magic is the only kind we require.”

“Rest, H,” Mercy said, the corners of her bright eyes creasing with a smile. “Khenti and I have all the facts. We’ll cross off possibilities until there’s only one left. It won’t take us long to figure out exactly what’s come through the gate.”

“You don’t need me,” Hunter murmured, but Mercy and Khenti were laughing again, pointing at the screen and whispering to each other.

They don’t need me. I can leave, and everything will be fine.

The balloon filled again, carrying her up the stairs and back to her room. She had an item of her own to cross off.

SEVENTEEN

Mercy had set her alarm to go off early the next morning, and even though she was tempted to pull the covers over her head and go back to sleep for that extra hour, she didn’t. She actually liked research, and she and Khenti had been onto something the night before, until they were both so exhausted that they had to go to bed.

She dressed quickly in her favorite pair of hand-embroidered jeans, a fringed belt, and a V-necked tee that was the same color as her turquoise-blue eyes. Instead of fighting with her hair to act right, Mercy pulled it back in a high ponytail that was more Hunter’s style than hers, hurriedly lined her eyes, and brushed on mascara, some lip gloss, and then carried her boots with her as she made her way quietly down the creaky staircase.

Khenti’s broad back was the first thing she noticed as she turned the corner to the kitchen and the coffee brewer waiting there to finish waking her.

“Hey, you haven’t been researching all night, have you?” Mercy asked as she entered the kitchen nook on silent socked feet.

Khenti jumped from the chair and whirled around, automatically crouching in a defensive stance as he raised his hand to summon his khopesh. Then he blew out a long breath and ran a hand over his face. “Mercy! You startled me.”

“Sorry.” Mercy lifted her boots. “I was being quiet on purpose because it’s early and I didn’t want to wake Xena or Hunter. I’ll make us a pot of coffee. You look like you need it even more than I do.Haveyou been here all night?”

He sighed heavily as he sat in front of the computer again. “Xena is already awake. She said she was going to hunt for her breakfast.”

“Gross,” said Mercy.

“She does love those sparrows.”

“Yeah, if byloveyou meanslaughter.” She shuddered. “I’m just glad she’s quit bringing them inside to devour.”