Page 95 of Misfit Monsters
Is he offering to carry me there? He trusts himself enough not to hurt me all that way?
The thought lights a warm glow inside me. Iamtired—from grappling with the power that surged out of me, from my headlong hurtle through the woods, from the hike that brought us to the rift in the first place. My feet are aching with little jabs racing up my calves.
In Raze’s embrace, the tension melts enough that I can nestle my head beneath his chin. His hold tightens just a little, as if to reassure me that he’s got me.
At the edge of my vision, I see Jonah nod. “We’re going to have to make the trek back anyway. Peri can take the time to rest and decide the best way to tell her story.”
A rough laugh hitches out of Mirage. “Story time. Gather ‘round.”
He comes up next to me and brushes gentle fingers over my shoulder. “You don’t owe us anything, Rainbow.”
The nickname reminds me of the brilliantly colored illusion that flooded the sky just minutes ago. The beautiful image he created to call me back.
Simply because he wanted me here, safe and sound.
I half expect Hail to grumble a protest despite his initial apology. Instead, the winter fae shrugs. “We’d better get walking, then. The longer that degenerate sorcerer has to plot his next moves, the harder he’ll be to tackle.”
He hefts the bag of damaged equipment without complaint.
We set off between the trees toward the distant spot where we had to leave the van. For the first few minutes, I’m lulled by the heat of Raze’s body and the rhythm of his steps. His scent, tart but musky, wraps around me.
I can’t completely forget the conversation we’re going to need to have soon, though. The commitment I made to revealing all the awful things I’ve been a part of.
This might be the last cuddle I get.
A lump rises in my throat, but a more urgent concern dislodges it. “You found evidence that the sorcerer was nearby. Did you figure out where he went after I blasted him?”
“It seems clear he was injured,” Jonah says evenly. “But not so much that he couldn’t run off—by whatever means.He might have had shadowkind under his control close by to help him.”
That remark sets an idea pinging through my brain. “That butterfly-bird that attacked you—do you think it was one of his?”
A moment of unsettled silence follows my question. Jonah’s tone turns grimmer. “It could have been. Like a sentry. It only attacked me, and when Mirage got close, it flew off. He might have ordered it to divert any humans who came close to the rift and alert him to new shadowkind in the area.”
I frown. “A crazy butterfly alarm system.”
Unfortunately, a very effective one.
Raze’s rumble of a voice reverberates from his chest into my body. “I followed the man’s trail to a dirt road a few miles from the rift, one that wasn’t on any maps so we didn’t know we could use it. There were fresh tire marks. He must have driven away—as soon as the road connected to a paved one, I couldn’t tell where he went from there.”
“Then we still have no idea where he is or where he’ll turn up next.”
To my surprise, it’s Hail who speaks the next words of encouragement. “Maybe your story will help us with that, Cream Puff.”
He says his silly nickname with a lilt that sounds more amused than disdainful. Like he thinks I might actually be delectable.
His new friendliness sends a pang of guilt through my gut.
Would we have ended up in this much trouble if I’d spilled the beans from the start? Or at least back when we found the cabin and I had my first outburst?
I was so afraid of what they’d think of me, of revealing the villainous things I’ve done, that I might have laid out ared carpet for the real villain to hurt us. If they’d had the full picture from the start, we might have put the pieces together as a team.
They might have been holding me up like they are now, so I wouldn’t have exploded with anguish yet again.
Imagining telling them everything makes my stomach churn, but I know that I have to. After all the mistakes they’ve given me a pass on, I have a very large bill to pay.
It’s a good thing talking is my best currency anyway.
By the time we reach the van, the sunlight is starting to dwindle. Only a faint twinge shoots through my ankles when Raze sets me down.
