Page 40 of Shannon in Sombra

Still, you have got to be shitting me. “Are you saying that the only way to get around it is if Sierra, Billie, and Tandy sing a song and put it to sleep.”

He nods. “We cannot risk getting too close to it. They can project their voices, and with their combined harmony, the huigitz will no longer be a threat.”

Great. I’m going with it. At this point, I’ll go with anything.

As long as it gets me my baby back.

I turn to the members of Thr33peat—and that’s when I notice that the three of them are facing off, looking like a Thr33peat reunion in the middle of Sombra’s shadows is the last thing any of them want.

Oh, comeon.

“It’s just one song. I’d do it, but Lucian said three-part harmony, and I can’t hold a key in a freaking bucket. Please. For Alana.”

Sierra steps forward. “You’re right. It’s just one song.” She cracks her neck, rolling her head a few times before nodding. Then, to my amazement, she couches down a little, bending her knees and planting her palms on top of them.

Billie rolls her eyes, then moves to stand next to Sierra. Crossing her arms over her chest, she cocks a hip against Sierra’s shoulder.

With a blinding grin, Tandy bounds over to them. Her arms get folded behind her head, a pout on her lips.

Kennedy starts flapping her hands in excitement. “Oh my god, oh mygod. A Thr33peat reunion!”

Hope surges forward, standing next to her so the two have a front-row seat to what’s about to happen. And I know that’s exactly what they’re thinking because Hope squeals. “I can’t believe we’re getting a private Whiskey Rose concert.”

“It’s better because it’sThr33peat!”

Hope doesn’t argue. I guess she’s just excited to see Sierra sing. Me? I’m just kinda hoping they can get on with it before their squeals draw the huigitz closer to us before they get the chance to put it to sleep.

And that’s when Tandy switches her pose, moving her hands from her head to her hips. “One.”

Billie cocks her hip in the other direction, throwing one arm up in the air. “Two.”

Sierra pops up, landing in a wide-legged stance. “Three.”

There’s no music. Honestly, there doesn’t need to be. And as though a good twelve years haven’t passed since they performed this song together, Thr33peat begin to sing—and, okay, they sound awesome a capella.

Hope and Kennedy cling to each other, dancing in place as they sing.

When it’s Tandy’s turn to sing the chorus, I actually find myself singing along a little under my breath, remembering more of the hit than I thought I did: “...one look, one shot, can’t get enough… ooh-bop-bop, this is how we love…”

Kennedy gives me a warning look. Oh, right. Three-part harmony and Shannon sounds like a dying cat. Got it.

Halfway through the song, Loki and Dagon separate from the group. Within seconds, they’re back, and the look of relief on their faces tells me that, holy shit, this actually worked!

Still, we wait until they find their song, Kennedy finally losing the battle with herself as she sang out the last line with them. For a heartbeat, I worried that that might’ve been enough to wake up the huigitz again, but when I don’t hear a crank roar, I rush over and hug each one of them in turn.

Then, as Tandy, Sierra, and Billie hug each other, I start to back away from everyone else.

“Thank you so much. And I’m so glad you guys are friends again, but now that the huigitz is sleeping… Bye!”

And then I’m off again, with Mal never missing a step to stay beside me.

CHAPTER17

FLOWER

MALPHAS

Wherever Shannon goes, I will forever follow.

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