Page 26 of Zachary

I dig out the phone, look at the notifications on the screen, and groan.

“Is everything okay?” Zac’s voice is concerned, and I flash him a smile.

“It’s fine. It’s… Do you remember Fabian? My friend who was here when I first arrived?”

He nods. “Sure. Chatty guy with dark hair.”

“That’s him. He’s started this group chat and asked for suggestions on what to name it. And so far, they’re all… terrible.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?” He settles his feet slightly apart like he’s prepared for a longer conversation.

I look back at the screen. “Well, there’s ‘Dragon Wagon’ and ‘Teething Problems.’”

He laughs again. “Teething Problems? What kind of group is this?”

Before I can answer, there’s another ding.

“What’s that one?” he asks.

Fuck. “Uh…” I can’t think of anything made up. “Rescue Squad.” It’s actually “Ronan’s Rescue Squad,” but I’m not telling him that.

“Who are you all planning to rescue?”

I roll my eyes and try to laugh it off. “That was Hagen’s suggestion. I don’t know him all that well, but he’s got a reputation for being weird. Let me mute this. They could be at it for a while.” I tap out a quick message to say I’m working and will update them later, then turn the phone to silent mode and shove it back in my pocket.

Zac tips the cup to his lips, then says, “I’m going to get started on some stuff, but if you need anything, just yell out. Want me to let you know when it’s time for lunch?”

I hope the way my breath catches isn’t obvious. We don’t normally eat lunch together—I’ll come out of the vault when I’m hungry, and sometimes he’s already eaten, sometimes he eats later. This is an olive branch.

“That would be great. Thanks.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Zac

“And if you go this way,”I trace my finger along the map, “the terrain is a lot rougher, but when you get to this plateau…” Letting my words trail off, I spread my hands. “It’s one of the more beautiful views I’ve ever seen.”

This week has gone by in an odd combination of stilted conversations and completely relaxed chats. Sometimes it’s so easy to talk to him, and I feel like we’re becoming friends… or at leastcould. I really like those moments when Ronan is relaxed, his handsome face open. Other times, it just feels awkward, like we’re trying too hard.

But at least wearetrying. Even when we’re both working on our separate jobs and the cave is quiet, the silence is friendlier. And it’s nice to have someone to talk with over lunch—I really only like solitude when I’m out in nature and the planet and animals are there to keep me company.

Today, between bites of his sandwich, Ronan casually mentioned that he’s curious about the area. “I’ve never lived at this altitude before,” he said. “And I rarely visit anywhere mountainous—mostly I stick to where dragons have settled. What are some good places to explore?”

It’s one of my favorite subjects, and I pulled out a map so fast, he actually startled. But he was quick enough to lean in and listen intently to what I said.

“What’s the altitude like in this area?” he asks, using his finger to circle the trail I just pointed out. “Oh—what’s a safe altitude for you Earth species?”

That’s a weird question. “All the trails I’ve shown you are at a hike-able altitude for a physically fit adult, though I recommend taking it in easy stages and drinking a lot of water. But none of these trails are open right now. You need to wait until summer—late June at least. Some years, they wouldn’t be safe until July. If you want to hike while there’s still snow on the ground, there’s some trails closer to the village. Even in winter, it’s stunning around here. But you can’t go alone—not unless I’ve cleared you to do so. It’s a village by-law.” It’s just not safe for people to go wandering around in the snowy mountains willy-nilly. The council introduced the by-law forty-five years ago, after the third time we almost lost someone to frostbite and exposure. And those were adult demons capable of teleporting home. Now, if anybody wants to go hiking in winter, they have to have a permit issued by me. I don’t issue permits to anyone who’s not properly equipped, and I never issue permits to lone hikers unless I’m convinced of their survival skills.

“Oh, I wasn’t thinking of hiking,” he says absently, still studying the map. “This plateau… how big is it, exactly?”

I don’t answer. I’m too busy trying to work out why he’s asking if he doesn’t want to hike it.

He lifts his head to look at me. “What are the conditions like around the plateau right now? Are they the same as outside this cave?”

My jaw drops as my brain fits the puzzle together. “You want toflyup there?”

He nods, his brown eyes earnest. “I thought Zoe might like to see it while it’s still all snowy. She’s been really kind to me. But I don’t want to say anything to her and then find out it’s not a safe altitude.”

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