Page 107 of Trials of Dusk and Dreams
“Becky,” I point out softly. “You saw me with Bodin.”
Recognition flickers on her face, but then that shrewd viper returns. “You’ve hidden your relationship well so far. It’s no secret Dahlia fucks Ignarius. He protects her from punishment.”
I look at Bodin and hate how the stark fear in his eyes means Becky’s concerns are valid. The Six would destroy anyone threatening to end our relationship. But the difference between them and Ignarius is that they won’t—not if I ask them not to.
“Geraldine, Max, and Peggy have known for a while,” I point out to Becky. “They’re not dead.”
The nods of encouragement my friends give melt my heart. But then Bodin responds with, “Yet.”
Crickets chirp.
I laugh to fill the silence, as though it’s a joke despite knowing Bodin is deadly serious. “He’s kidding.”
“I’m not.” He glares at each dissenter. “If any of you so much as whisper a threatening word about our Shadow, you’ll be dead before the last syllable leaves your lips. Now, before I run out of patience, let’s go.”
I collect my sword, sheath it, and walk up to Becky. The little boy with webbed fingers looks up at me, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity. I kneel to his level.
“It’s okay,” I say, offering a small smile. “We’re going to help.”
The girl steps protectively in front of her brother. Her chin juts out defiantly, and her lower lip trembles. The children don’t return my smile, but terror leaves their eyes. They’ve grown up too fast, forced to be brave in a world that shows no kindness. I couldn’t do anything about the starving people in Crystal City, but maybe I can here.
“I’m Willow. What are your names?”
They look to their mother. She nods.
“I’m Ava,” she says. “This is Arthur.”
“Nice to meet you. Look. I’m a Nothing, too.” I swipe my hair from my face, intending to show them my scars. But my fingers brush the acorn clipped there. I haven’t taken it off since the ball. “Here—” I pull it out. “I stole this from Titania’s temple. I want you to have it.”
I sense Becky’s eyes widening . . . and Bodin’s pulse skyrocketing, but I press on.
“This acorn is magical. It brings luck to the wearer.” I hand it to the girl and tear up when she gives it to her brother instead. “I think you tap it three times and make a wish, but I’ll be honest, I’m not exactly sure if there’s another wish in there. It turned my dirty clothes into a beautiful dress?—”
“Like Cinderella?” Ava gasps.
I smile, although I don’t know who that is. “But if there are no more wishes, I’m almost certain it still brings luck to the wearer. I can feel the magic buzzing in there.”
“Can we keep it, Mama?” he asks.
Becky meets my eyes, then drops to hug her kids.
“Keep it hidden,” I warn, and Arthur drops it into his dirty pocket.
Ava and he start bickering over pretty dresses, and Becky explains the importance of keeping it a secret. I give them space and return to Bodin. He’s unhappy with me, but too bad.
The comfortable bubble of the Nexus has been shattered, and I can’t unsee the harsh reality of Avorlorna. I know I’ll never look at the exhibition, or my role in it, the same way again.
These people are desperate to win, each with a compelling reason. What makes mine more important? Why do I get to save Fox while they starve?
We makeit to our bedrolls—with Becky—just in time before the Hollow Hunt’s glowing form sweeps the territory above our heads. When it’s gone, I see Bodin slip into his tent, and I finally let my exhaustion in.
Geraldine’s bedroll is only inches away. I feel the weight of her eyes.
“You don’t agree?” I whisper.
“The opposite,” she replies. I open my eyes and make out her smiling face in the shadows. “Just when I thought your heart couldn’t get any bigger, you do something like that.”
“It’s what anyone would do.” I’m grateful her eyesight isn’t as good as mine because then she’d see my guilt, my fear. If she knows the truth about me, she won’t think that. None of them would.
