Page 25 of Heir of Autumn
Evander sniffled again. “Really? Are you really so sure of that, Locke? And how long will it take before you muster up enough energy to do that?”
No. I wasn’t going to let this despondent version of the evil twink drag my spirit down with him. I clenched my fist, surprised that I could already clench my fist. See? Vindication. I was right.
“Any minute now, Evander. It’s just a matter of time.”
He cleared his throat, collecting himself. “Thank — thank you for the reassurance.” He brought his hand to his face, wiping at his tears.
“See? There you go. You can move your hand again.”
Evander smiled.
“Gods above and below, this love fest is grotesque,” Namirah grumbled. “Any minute now I’ll have enough strength to turn into a bird and fly far away.” She paused thoughtfully. “Or I could turn into a lion, eat one of you, and replenish my energies even faster. I haven’t decided which one yet.”
“Very funny,” I said. “Start with Evander. He’s properly moisturized and tenderized.”
“Yes,” Evander purred. “Start with me. Locke is only a little bit older, but I imagine he’d be very tough and stringy.”
Namirah laughed and shook her head. Evander turned his head to the side, waggling his eyebrows at her.
“You know, I might not understand how transforming into animals actually works, but I do respect you for it. I hear it’s hard as nails.”
“Thanks,” Namirah said, her curved lips and bared teeth actually resembling a smile this time. “It’s why we put in so many years just to master one form. Lots of anatomy and biology to study. What if you shift one part wrong and the bones get twisted out of place? What if you shift too far and too deep and forget you were ever human at all?”
Goosebumps rose all over my arms, the little hairs standing on end. “I couldn’t possibly imagine. I mean, summoners have to learn about all the dangers, too, but that’s different. You don’t want to rip open the wrong portal and accidentally summon a mad elder god.”
Evander snorted. “Which is almost as bad pissing off Doctor Euclidea Fang.”
The two of us chuckled, but I stopped first, horror washing over me in a cold, prickly wave. Was this bonding? Were we bonding, Evander and I? Staring up at the same sky, telling the same stories about our same teacher? I would have shuddered if I had the strength for it.
And then I did actually shudder. I rotated my wrists, pushing myself off the ground. I sat up.
“Hey, you guys! Look what I can do.”
After exchanging bemused looks, Namirah and Evander sat up themselves. Namirah dusted the grit off her hands. Evander even pulled his knees up to his chest. We were getting there, slowly, but surely.
I reached over my shoulder for my backpack. My movements and my muscles were still heavy and sluggish, and my fingers fumbled with the clasp, but this was a huge step up from lying in the sun and baking to a crisp.
“Oh, gods,” Evander groaned. “I didn’t think I’d be so famished.”
“Hang tight,” I said, feebly scooting myself closer to our little circle. I dumped out a pile of jerky, trail mix, and chocolate, then passed around some water.
Evander scarfed down his share like he hadn’t eaten in days. Namirah and I gave each other wide-eyed glances, but said nothing. Evander had always struck me as the type who would pat his lips with a napkin after every bite. Maybe that leech really had sucked the life out of him.
“You know,” I told Evander, “I’m kind of surprised that essence leech sapped so much of your energy. You’d think it would have died on impact, like, as soon as it touched your skin.”
He lowered his bar of chocolate, a glossy smear in the corner of his mouth. “Oh, what, because I’m empty on the inside, or because I’m a leech, too? Haha, Locke, very funny. You mouthy bitch.”
I puckered my lips and blew him a mocking kiss. “Right back at you, leech-lips.”
Evander gasped and wiped at his mouth. Namirah took a pull of her bottled water, swallowed, and sighed in satisfaction.
“Right,” she said. “Now that we’re all the best of friends, maybe we can work on actually finding a way off this pebble.”
“Let’s see here,” Evander said. He extended his arm, palm turned up, fingers beckoning. “Come to me, my pretties.”
A hot pink butterfly materialized in his hand with an accompanying smoky poof. Kind of like the kitchen imps, actually, except these things were somehow meaner and deadlier. Evander groaned.
“One measly butterfly? That’s it? I’m barely recharged. This is going to take forever.”
