Page 28 of Sorrow & Strangers

“Until our next race,” he says, dismissing me. I push into a run again, this time going toward Morningstar House. My legs feel like they’re wobbling beneath my weight, and I’m struggling to make sure I don’t fall over in front of Headmaster Emrys and completely embarrass myself.

When I walk into the house, Alice is still stretched out on the couch. She blinks when she sees me and then sits up suddenly. “Running?” she asks, surprised.

I nod and grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator, taking a deep drink. My body feels ruined, but my head feels clear, and I feel well.

Alice watches me for a moment, and I realize she was probably anxious the whole time I was away. Not only would she still be concerned with my sudden disappearance to Eden, but she is not used to me functioning without her.

She gets up and joins me in the kitchen. “Coffee?” she asks.

“I’m going to shower first,” I say, and she gives me a small but hopeful smile.

On my way to the stairs, I open the drawer where I tucked away my phone and take it upstairs to charge. Farrah needs to be able to reach me, and I need to be able to reach them.

I feel much better after showering and changing, and I skip back downstairs to join Alice. Not only has she made a pot of coffee, but also some sort of breakfast pastry. I sit on the couch, and she sits next to me, practically bouncing in anticipation. I glance at her.

“This place sucks without you,” she says. I can tell it’s not what she actually wanted to say, but she’s trying not to scare me. She’s treating me as if I am something fragile and easily broken. “Awful,” she continues. “And men are stupid, and I don’t respect them.”

“Well, that makes me wonder what you’ve been up to for the last two weeks. Fill me in?” I ask, pulling my legs up to cross them as I sip my coffee.

“Literally nothing. It’s been so boring.”

“You’ve not been out in almost two weeks?” I ask, a little surprised.

“I know. I’ve actually”—she feigns a gagging sound—“studied.”

My eyebrows inch up my forehead.

“Alice Legosi is in a party slump.”

I sit back a little, and Alice moves in closer to me, laying her head on my shoulder. We sit in silence for a moment before she asks, “You’re wearing his halo?”

I nod and look down at the gold bangle. I know this is probably what she wanted to ask earlier. “He wanted me to have it.”

Alice hesitates for a second before asking, “Will it keep you safe?”

It’s the same question she asked about the necklace. I lied to her then because I believed it would, but Aqua had outwitted it.

“I’m not sure,” I reply honestly. “I’ve not really done anything with it, but . . . it’s a piece of him.”

Alice tentatively reaches out to touch it, but stops as if waiting for permission. I hold it out for her, and she rests her fingers against the shining gold. “You going to keep her safe, birdbrain?”

The halo hums. It is very strong this time, and I know I’m not imagining it. Alice and I both jump a little and sit up, looking down at it with wide eyes.

“Did it⁠—”

“You felt that, right?” Alice asks at the same moment.

“I did.” I brush my fingers over the gold.

“Ask it something else,” Alice urges.

I take a breath. “Connor? Is that you?” I ask, hoping so fiercely that it is.

The halo hums once, strong and clear like the last time, and I gasp.

“Ask another.”

I swallow, emotions welling inside me. “Are you . . . okay?” I ask. It’s a stupid question. He’s dead, but if he’s in the afterlife, maybe he’s . . . at peace.