Vadoma had looked like she didn’t know what hit her. Which, to be fair, most people looked like after having dealt with Gary.
But I remembered the look on Kevin’s face as he stared down at Gary, that expression of wonder, like he couldn’t believe someone would speak up for him like that. If Gary hadn’t, I would have, but I knew he’d do the right thing. Gary always did. He just had to be loud about it. I knew those two crazy kids would make it, once they stopped being idiots.
Kevin lay on his stomach, wings at his sides, h
ead on his hands, taking in low, rumbling breaths and huffing them out in little snores. Gary was sprawled out obnoxiously, tongue lolling out of his mouth, legs and hooves pointed out in all different directions, head on Tiggy’s lap. The half-giant was propped up against Kevin’s side, rising and falling with the dragon’s breathing.
Tiggy opened his eyes as I stood in the doorway. He smiled when he saw me, nodding when I brought a finger to my lips.
“All right?” he whispered.
“All right. Just… checking on you.”
“Good. We good.”
“I can see that.”
“You good?” he said, brow furrowing.
I pulled a smile out of nowhere and said, “Sure, dude. I’m good. I’m gonna head back, okay?”
“I walk with you?”
“Nah. Get back to sleep. We gotta long trip ahead of us.”
He blinked sleepily at me. “Castle Freeze Your Ass Off?”
“Castle Freeze Your Ass Off,” I agreed.
He yawned, jaw cracking. “Okay. G’night, Sam. Love you.”
“I love you too, buddy. Night.”
And I closed the door behind me as he fell back asleep. I thought about going back in, letting Ryan hold me close, of being surrounded by those I loved, but the hook was pulling me harder now. It was pulling me away from them.
I left them behind and moved deeper into Mashallaha.
It felt like a ghost town. Like everyone had disappeared and I was all that was left.
I thought about using the summoning crystal to call Morgan, but I’d left it in the room with Ryan.
Besides, I told myself. Morgan would be asleep right now. Like a normal person.
Sam.
My hands shook at my sides. I balled them into fists.
“Who are you?” I said through gritted teeth.
Oh, Sam. I’ll show you.
Come to me, and I will show you everything.
And I did the only thing I could.
I went.
I didn’t have—