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When exactly has she ever seen me with a book?

I decide not to question it.

“Yes.”

I close Frankenstein and place it on the table beside me.

Mrs. Han smiles. “You should come with us. Socialize a little.”

“I’d rather not.”

Her smile falters. “You need friends.”

“I have two. One too many, if you ask me.”

Mika grimaces at Mrs. Han. “Pretty sure I’m one of them.”

“Unfortunately,” I mutter.

“I know you love me.”

“Wrong. I tolerate you.”

“Same thing.”

Mrs. Han sighs dramatically, giving me a look of unmistakable pity.

Pity?

How offensive.

There's nothing pitiful about me. Except, perhaps, my questionable taste in friends.

Before I can defend my dignity, Mrs. Han clasps her hands together.

“I need your help.”

I narrow my eyes.

In my experience, nothing good ever follows those four words. They're also the reason I'm currently trapped in a snow-covered estate with a tattooed brain parasite.

Lucky me.

“You can borrow Mika.”

Mika rolls her eyes and takes a bite of the egg Mrs. Han made her.

“I haven't told you what I need,” Mrs. Han points out.

“And you don't need to.”

She gasps as if I've just insulted her entire wardrobe.

“Stephen likes a traditional breakfast.”

I blink.

Congratulations to Stephen. Truly life-changing information.