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Or this, she whispered gleefully, as warmth spread up my arms. I looked down into my lap to find a tiny glowing pulse of flame flickering against my palm.
I gasped, and the fire faded. I looked up quickly to find Theo giving me a suspicious glance in the rearview mirror. "Everything okay back there, unicorn?"
I gave a jerky nod, my attention already focused inward once more. Are you saying I can—
When Lilin spoke again, her voice in my head was as vicious as a viper. Don't worry, River. You and I together—we’re not helpless. No matter what happens, I promise you this: we will get them back.
41
"Not to be rude," Vanessa said, swiveling in her seat as we approached Kulmeira, "but, um, where are we going to put Julian? I don't think the university will be thrilled about turning one of their dorm rooms into a chicken coop."
Julian glared at her and tightened his grip slightly on the brown hen. "You have no concept of loyalty."
Vanessa's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?" she barked. "I have been in the car for sixteen hours to haul your asses back to civilization. I have not slept in two days. If that's not loyalty I don't know what is."
"Truce," I said, sticking an arm into the space between them. "We're all tired and grouchy. Vanessa, you're the pinnacle of loyalty. Your friendship is the crowning jewel in the tiara of my life. Julian, you can't bring chickens to the dorm."
Vanessa stuck her tongue out at Julian and turned back around. "Leave him at a Motel 6," she grumbled.
"There are no Motel 6s in Velarta," Theo pointed out, chuckling.
Julian grunted. "I will stay at Luca's."
"You know Luca's place?" I asked, startled.
"Of course," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I haven't been there, but he's my only peer. You think I wouldn't keep track of him?"
"Good point," I said. "Theo—"
"I remember," Theo said, flipping the blinker for a left turn.
"Um," I said, leaning across the seat once we'd arrived at Luca's place and Julian had climbed out of the car, his arms loaded with chickens and his few remaining belongings, "how do we communicate with you? You don't have a phone."
Julian gave me an odd look. "I have a phone."
"But—" I stared at him blankly. "You live in the woods. You don’t…you don’t have a bank account. You said you haven't driven in eighty years."
He shrugged. "I like the crossword," he said simply, and closed the door.
I watched him walk up the stairs, juggling his armload to dig Luca's keys out of his pocket.
"That is one weird dude," Vanessa said as he disappeared into the apartment.
"No argument here," Theo agreed. He put the car into gear. "Home?"
"Home," I said.
We drove in silence to the dorms. As we pulled into the parking lot, Vanessa yawned hugely. "If you have any more world-shattering news to share," she said, "tell me now, because it's T-minus ninety seconds until I pass out for fifteen hours."
"None," I said. "We're done."
"At least for today," Theo added.
“Good.” Vanessa unbuckled her seatbelt. “I’m leaving you to unload. I think I’ve sufficiently demonstrated said loyalty.”
“Fair.” Theo turned off the car and stood, stretching and grimacing. "Ow, my back."
"River can probably help with that," Vanessa said, her eyes sparkling.
