Page 116 of Dragon Unleashed

I have my allegiance. He’s alone.

We’re all huddled on my bed when Naeve’s father walks in, accompanied by the dean. Me, Chano, Zephyr, and Farrell. All lined up like kids, our backs pressed against the wall, legs out in front of us. He’s dressed all in black, a black armband cuffed around his shirt. He looks twenty years older than in Naeve’s pictures.

He takes one look at us all and turns to the dean. “Leave us.”

“I don’t know that I should. I’m not sure you know the story,” the dean protests.

“Then they will tell me,” Naeve’s father says quietly. “I’ve known two of these kids since they were shitting their pants. Out.”

The dean turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him. As soon as the latch clicks, Naeve’s father sinks to his knees and buries his face in Naeve’s knitting.

We sit, awkwardly mute. Eventually he asks for our side of the story. Between us we get it out, with false starts, tears, and difficult silences.

“No. Not the Virrey,” Naeve’s dad says.

My heart sinks.

Farrell pushes himself to the edge of the bed and stands. “Yes. My father. I saw him throw the lightning bolt.”

“H-he was my friend.” Naeve’s father rocks himself back and forward, tears spilling down his face. “My precious little girl, my Naeve.”

Watching him cry is too much to bear and I shuffle closer, tentatively touching his sleeve. He pulls me into a suffocating bear hug. After a few seconds Farrell, Zephyr, and Chano all join in. None of us can hold back the tears.

He pulls away, rubbing his face with his sleeve. “There won’t be a funeral. Not yet. The P.I.G. have her body. I’d like to take her things, to have something of her.”

The boys all glance at me.

“I guess it’s yours.” I shrug. Now I’ve met the man, seen how wrecked he is, what else could I say?

“Can I leave you anything?” he whispers.

“Just…take what you need and call me to talk, if you want? I don’t have a phone anymore so call Zephyr’s?”

He nods and starts to leaf through Naeve’s belongings.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Haliai, I—I can’t watch this. I need to step out. But please, call me sometime?” My voice breaks and I rush out of the room.

I’m calmer when I step back in after Naeve’s dad has gone. I told the boys I had to do this alone, but the room isn’t as bare as I was expecting. Naeve’s phone sits on my bed, with a note saying if I know her password then I’m welcome to unlock it and use it as mine. It’s thoughtful. Even though he’s hurting so bad, he’s thinking of others. He’s so like Naeve.

He’s left her bedding still on the bed, her schoolbooks on the shelf. I peek in the closet. It’s still overflowing with clothes.He took so little.I crawl into the closet and Naeve’s stupid talcum powder scent hits me. Curling into a ball, her clothes wrapped around me, I fall asleep.

Chapter Fifty-three: Lorelei

I push my breakfast listlessly from one side of my plate to another. Val and Hewie sit opposite, faces gray and drawn, neither of them talking nor eating either. The trickle of students traipsing past for their breakfast is gradually increasing. Some joke with friends, some keep their heads down in their phones, and a few are already sweaty from the gym.

How can everything just continue? People are still going to bed, waking, eating, studying, playing. Knitting. The hollow in my chest aches. After the first night I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t be in that room, with her ever-fading smell. I sleep at Chano’s, but every morning I force myself to go in there. To say good morning to her, and just sit and keep her memory company for a while.

I fiddle with the piece of paper on my breakfast tray again. I found it under our dorm door. The fae left and I missed it. I can’t even bring myself to care, not really.

Stay strong and stick it to the man—your fae friends.

I reread it, and despite myself the corner of my mouth pulls up.

“Nice to see you smiling,” Farrell says as he slides into the seat beside me, a breakfast tray clutched in one hand.

I scowl up at him.

“Oh, for Hades’ sake, Lorelei, youcansmile. Although you might not want to after what I have to tell you.”

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