Page 154 of Shades of Silver City

My thoughts race.

Dreamdust needs to get off the streets completely, but with Arlo gone and my blood as the remedy, we stand a chance at turning this city around.

Archer shares a look with Scathe, who whines excitedly.

“What are the chances?” I say. “The entire time you were looking for an antidote, it was me you were searching for without even knowing it.”

Archer bows his head, his shoulders relaxing. For a moment he stays like that, his hand squeezing my thigh. “I always knew you were special.”

After a moment, I glance around the warehouse, realizing it’s still only the three of us in here. “How long was I out? Where’s Godric?”

“Not long.” Archer lends me a hand, helping me to my feet. “Godric got caught up in a security check in the inner city.”

I had a feeling your little plan was going to go awry. I took things into my own paws. Got to Godric in time to snag the dreamdust and veilwalk back here, Scathe says.

Of course the crazy ol’ mutt can veilwalk. Typical hellhound shit, I suppose? There’s so many questions I still need answers to.

“You did good,” I tell Scathe. “Just don’t ever put yourself at risk again.” Scathe bares his teeth, pinning his ears back, but I shake my head. “Nice try. I’m serious.” I turn to Archer. “What about Arlo? Where’d he go?”

“Pixel’s running his face through the system. She’ll let us know if the cameras flag him anywhere in the city. So far, nothing at all.”

“The drug was affecting him, Archer. I saw it. His pupils were blowing out; he was panicking. If he survived it…”

“Based on what we’ve seen, I don’t think he could’ve.” He clears his throat. “And even if he did, we’ll be ready.”

“He’s a powerful fucker.”

“He’s also by himself,” he says contemplatively. “We have the advantage of knowing what he wants. We know what he’s capable of. We also have each other, and Scathe, and Godric. And Pixel.” He grunts. “Zeke, too.”

I nod, thinking of my two ex-roommates who proved to be even kinder than I expected, despite their prickly exteriors. Once I recover from the chaos of the past few days, I plan to make an effort with them. We might never be friends, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

“We have a lot of people who would support us, I think,” I agree.

Arlo wanted to take the city back for the fae. He failed spectacularly, and it’s safe to say his intentions were misguided.

“We’ll win, either way,” I say, steeling my shoulders.

“We will,” Archer says, his expression shining with unwavering certainty. “After we get the fuck out of here.”

My brows rise at his cursing, and I exchange a look with Scathe.

The hellhound tilts his head, and his tongue lolls to the side as he says, You are a bad influence, woman.

Snorting a laugh, I shake my head. Gods, I am so glad to have your judgmental ass back.

Archer and I walk out of the building hand in hand. I can’t help but glance back at Scathe every so often, ensuring he’s truly okay. His tongue hangs out of his mouth as he trots. Slowly, my shoulders relax.

“Arlo said some things about my dad…” I pause, trying to gather my thoughts. “If my dad was truly obsessed with his work as a faeologist, do you think the dreamdust resurgence is his fault?”

Archer squeezes my hand. “I think everyone’s responsible for their own choices, regardless of their personal history.”

I sigh, disappointed by the betrayal from the man I’ve regarded so highly all these years. A new wave of grief rattles through me, shaking my bones—grief for my dad as I knew him, as I thought he was. Even if his intentions were good, his impact was awful. And if his intentions weren’t good…

No.

I can’t think about that.

“I still don’t understand what exactly Arlo wanted,” I say.

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