Page 115 of Dragon Unleashed

“My father has his hands on all my finances. If I had a few weeks…”

“I might be physically a little broken right now, but that I can help with,” Chano says, and Tenebrae fails to muffle her angry huff.

Farrell turns to the dean. “Then I just need an extra week to get funds for Zephyr, please.”

Chano snorts. “I’ll cover them both.”

Farrell looks askance. “First you post the majority of her bail, then you pay two extra tuition fees.”

Chano shrugs. “It’s Maverik money. Lorelei is family, and we look after family. Zephyr, you’re family too. You too, Farrell. All my allegiance.” His voice breaks. “I never got to tell Naeve that.”

I slip my hand to his back and rub small circles there. “I think she knew.”

On the way to my dorm, it’s all too normal. Students going about their day, chatting and laughing. Laughing. How can they laugh? I step into our room and immediately realize my mistake.

I should have waited. Chano offered to come but he needed the infirmary. And I couldn’t stand around with Naeve’s dried blood on me any longer.

Naeve’s things are scattered around our room. Their very presence feels like an accusation.I didn’t do enough. I didn’t save her.I wish I’d asked Val to come with me. Being alone in here right now…

I slink into the bathroom, stripping off my destroyed clothes, and step gingerly into the shower. The warm water cascades over my body, the rhythmic pulsing easing my muscles. I reach automatically for Naeve’s shampoo. She buys the best shampoo.

Bought. She bought the best shampoo.

I inhale deeply from the top of the bottle, then turn it upside down, freezing before I squeeze any out. If I use it, it’ll be gone soon.

And she’ll never buy more.

My chest heaves as a giant glob of shampoo falls into my hand. I stare at it. I have to use it now. I can’t waste it. Between sobs I scrub my hair, then my body, climbing out of the shower only when I can’t cry anymore.

It takes forever to dress. I keep looking at her side of the room, seeing another thing that’s full of memories. Finally, I pull a hoodie over everything and drag my feet toward the door. I can’t wait in here. I just can’t.

The others find me in the common room, curled on a sofa in the corner, staring blankly at the wall. I wasn’t hiding deliberately. I just don’t have a way to message them anymore.

“We need to do this now. Before the Virrey gets to him,” Zephyr presses.

“Okay,” Farrell agrees, standing. “Let’s talk to Naeve’s dad.”

Zephyr whips out his phone and dials.

“Didn’t expect to hear from you, boy.” The man’s voice on the other end sounds thick, like he’s been crying. “The Virrey has spoken to me. Told me you all turned on my Naeve.”

I choke on my anger.

“It wasn’t like that, sir,” Zephyr says, only a slight wobble in his voice.

A long silence follows.

“I can’t imagine it was.” Naeve’s dad sighs. “I’m coming for her things. I need something of hers. The P.I.G. won’t release her body.”

My breathing comes quicker and quicker. I can’t get enough air in. I’m drowning. He can’t. He can’t empty Naeve’s things from our room. It’s too soon.

Chano clunks his cast awkwardly on my knee, patting it as best he can while I wrestle my body. Zephyr and Farrell stand in front of me, blocking the other students in the common room from seeing me.

“You got this, princess,” Farrell soothes. “Just one slow breath after another.”

Slowly, gradually, I fight my lungs under control.

Naeve loved her dad. She’d not only want him to know the truth about her death, she’d want him to have comfort too.

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