Page 118 of Amber Gambler

“Badb will lead.” Kierce’s sigh rustled her feathers. “We can pace her.”

“Excellent.” I exited at the same time as Carter. “Let’s get moving.”

Badb launched herself into the sky as soon as she had a clear opening. The first flaps of her wings lacked her usual grace, but as she worked out the stiffness, her movements turned fluid again. Kierce closed his eyes, his head downcast, his lips moving. I wondered if he was praying for her, or if that was how he communicated with his god. But I didn’t want to intrude.

Silver gleamed in his eyes when he lifted his head, and he set out at a brisk jog without a word.

I fell in beside him, forcing away the notion it might be nice to run with him sometime, and kept watch. I wasn’t certain how alert his other senses were while he was linked to Badb this way—I hadn’t known this was even possible—but if he couldn’t talk, I didn’t want to risk him getting run down by trollies, carriages, bikes, or cars.

This time of day, streets got clogged fast with tourists and the various modes of transporting them.

Little was too far ahead for me to get a visual, but I could just see the black dot in the sky that was Badb.

“That kid can move.” Carter brought up the rear. “She’s quick when she wants to be.”

“When you’re smaller than everyone else, the best way to protect yourself is to run away.”

“Ah.” Carter huffed out a laugh. “Is that the voice of experience I hear?”

“Hell no.” Harrow, who hung back behind Kierce and me, laughed. “Frankie ran toward the fights.”

Nostalgia, fickle thing that it was, threatened to loosen the angry tangle in my chest, but I held on tight.

“The fights ran toward Matty and Josie,” I explained, “so I did too.”

A stream of words passed Kierce’s lips that sounded like no language I had ever heard spoken.

He canted his head toward me and repeated himself, his eyes distant and unreachable.

“I don’t understand what you’re…” I rubbed the ear nearest him, and I understood. “Badb lost her?”

“She’s waiting for us at the entrance to a piercing shop.”

“I know the one you mean.” I called our destination over my shoulder. “You guys go around back in case she noticed Badb. Kierce and I will go in the front.”

“What?” Carter tilted her head. “I didn’t catch that.”

“Frankie.” Harrow sped up, grasping my elbow. “You’re not speaking English.”

“I can only speak English.” I let him drag me to a stop. “And very bad Spanish.”

Kierce didn’t slow down, and the shine in his eyes never dimmed. I couldn’t afford to lose him. I had to go. The second I tugged on my arm, Harrow released me and stepped back, but his confusion was evident. I would have to deal with the language barrier later. Little took priority.

Waving at them to follow and be quick about it, I caught up to Kierce. I waited until we reached the shop before pointing Carter and Harrow toward the rear of the building, hoping that made it clear. Their twin expressions of confusion struck a nerve, but we could hash it out later. The fruit glitterfying my blood must be to blame, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to explain that yet. For Josie’s sake.

As Kierce pushed into the shop, I could only hope Carter and Harrow were in position.

“Hi.” A short woman with curling purple hair rounded the counter. “Can I help you, sugar?”

Before I could fret her noticing his metallic eyes, I realized she wasn’t looking at him.

She was staringthroughhim.

To me.

“I lost my little sister.” I wished I had a photo of Little. “I thought I saw her duck in here.”

“We don’t pierce kids without a parent present.” Her smile lost some of its warmth. “It’s Georgia law.”

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