Page 97 of Misfit Monsters
I open my mouth and then close it again, my gaze lingering on the device in his hands. “After… after we talk about all this, are we going to meet up with Rollick and Sorsha and the others to tell them what happened?”
Jonah hesitates.
Raze’s hand goes still against my arm. “It wasn’t Peri’s fault that the equipment got damaged. Shesavedus.”
“I know.” Our sorcerer rubs his hand over his face. Then he looks around at us. “Are all of you ready to be a real team? To go all in on working together, no sniping or second-guessing? Do you think you can trust the rest of us that much?”
A glimmer of hope lights in my heart, bright as sunshine.
“Yes,” I say without needing to think about it.
It’s Raze’s turn to hesitate, but only for a moment. “I trust that everyone here wants to crush that sorcerer more than anything else.”
Mirage grins. “I’ll give it my all with all of you.”
We shift our attention to Hail.
The winter fae grimaces, but I can only taste discomfort from him, not anger.
“I know I’ve been the least interested in buddying up to anyone,” he says, “but you have done some useful things.” He catches Jonah’s gaze with an arch of an eyebrow. “Even you, sorcerer boy. I’d rather take on this asshole with the bunch of you than with anyone else.”
A quiver of anxiety flits out of Jonah, but he sets his jaw defiantly. “Then I say we handle this problem ourselves and prove how solid a team we can be. That’s what Rollick sent us out here to do.”
36
Periwinkle
Iknow it’s only been half an hour since I last asked. I know Jonah will tell us as soon as he hears anything. But after he finishes his dinner of canned stew, I can’t help asking again, “Any news from your friend who knows how to dig up info?”
Jonah lets out a soft laugh. “Not yet, Peri. It could take a while yet. We didn’t have that many details, and this sorcerer is probably covering his tracks. Ruse doesn’t know how to search the online records himself—he’s just very good at persuading other people with the skills we need.”
I pace on the other side of the campfire, unable to contain my restlessness. Now that I’ve spilled my guts, there isn’t really anything for me to do. I have no idea how much use I’ll be in the coming confrontation—whether I can help tackle David Blaver, my former captor, without hurting my teammates and innocent bystandersin the process.
Whether my searing blasts are a gift or a liability comes down to my brand-new and incredibly shaky ability to aim them. Would it have been so hard for the shadow realm to bring me into being with an instruction manual in hand?
Hail went off into the woods as evening fell, saying he thought the mortal creatures of the forest might be able to convey something useful to him. As a fae, apparently he’s attuned to the natural world in ways he’s barely mentioned before.
Raze has been prowling beyond our campsite, keeping watch for sorcerer-controlled creatures. And Mirage…
The fox shifter walks over with his usual jaunty stride and catches my arm, his grasp gentle. “Why don’t we go for a walk, Rainbow? You’re having trouble staying still, and I’ve always got extra energy to burn.”
I hesitate, not wanting to be out of range if news does come, but Jonah waves us off. “Even if we get word back soon, it’ll take a bunch more planning before we can leave. Just don’t go too far.”
“We won’t wander right off the edge of the earth,” Mirage assures him cheerfully.
I let the fox shifter guide me toward the trees that surround this overgrown lookout spot. There isn’t much of a view in any direction now. The forested hills around us cast deeper shadows through the deepening night.
We’ve only walked for a few minutes when Mirage pauses, his head jerking toward me. His fox ears flick out and swivel back on his head. “Your feet—you said the sorcerer who tortured you would cut them—sometimes you’ve said they’re bothering you. Do they still hurt when you walk on them?”
His concern sends a tingle of warmth through my chest even though I don’t like acknowledging the weakness. “Only if I’m walking a lot, or moving around very quickly or inawkward ways. Most of the time it’s fine or so mild I can easily ignore it.”
The fox shifter hums with a hint of a growl. “I don’t want you to be hurt at all.”
I shrug. “It’s just… the way I am now. Everyone ends up picking up scars, right? I’d rather tune out a little pain and enjoy the world in all its wonders than stick to the shadows where the old injuries won’t ever bother me.”
“I guess that makes sense. But if it means they’ll hurt less, you can put a little weight on me.”
He eases closer so our shoulders nearly brush and tucks my hand around his elbow. The tingle of warmth turns into a waft of heat.
