Page 8 of Cherish

Eden sniffs. “Well, she’s the only one we actually know has that kind of power. So I’m assuming it’s her until we know otherwise.”

“Maybe that’s fair, but we also know that in the Shadow Realm she only attacked Grace and me to save her people. She could have attacked at any time we were in Adarie, but she only fought us to the near death when we were trying to stop the mayor from resetting the timeline and freeing her people, even if he didn’t know that’s what he was doing in saving his daughter.” He pauses, holding my gaze steady. “Have I not done worse for less? Am I evil, Grace?”

My heart squeezes as I remember just how much that question tortured him when we were in the Chamber in the Aethereum prison. “No, you could never be evil, Hudson.”

“Then maybe she’s not, either,” Hudson says, his words hanging in the silence like a knife, each of us considering things we’ve done to save the ones we love.

Eventually, Heather asks, “So, what’s the plan, then?”

“I suggest we trade the antidote for helping free the Shadow Realm.” Hudson shrugs.

“Well, obviously that’s your plan,” Jaxon drawls. “Let’s just go destroy arealm.”

“I didn’t say ‘destroy,’ I said ‘help free,’” Hudson clarifies with an eye roll, as though that explains it all.

“I think everyone at this table is absolutely amazing,” I start, and Flint puffs out his chest, clearly liking where this is going. “But I’m not sure how we can just”—I make air quotes—“‘free a realm’ cursed by a god a thousand years ago.”

“You’re looking at the problem from too far away, Grace. Think smaller.” When I can do no more than blink in response, Hudson shakes his head and adds, “The Shadow Realm is aprison. And what do prisons have?”

“Walls. They have giant fucking walls,” I answer, not even trying to hide my confusion now.

Flint snaps his fingers. “Oh, and guards. And usually loads of weapons, too.”

“And really bad food.” Eden gets in on the fun before Hudson interrupts.

“Jaxon, can you help out here?” Hudson pleads.

“Locks,” Jaxon answers, and the two brothers’ eyes meet. “Prisons have locks.”

There’s a total shared moment hanging between them, which I’m loath to interrupt, but— “Sincerely, I still have no clue where this is going,” I admit.

“Locks can beunlocked, Grace,” Hudson says.

My eyes widen. “Or broken,” I add, and Hudson grins.

“Or broken,” he echoes.

“We don’t need to free an entire realm,” I say, awed at how simple Hudson has made the problem. God, I love how that boy’s brain works. “We just have to break a lock and open a door.”

We’re both grinning at each other now, my eyes one hundred percent sending the message I’m going to adore the brains out of him later if the slight reddening in his cheeks is any indication.

“As much as I love breaking shit, any idea where a master key might be, brother?” Jaxon asks, and everyone holds their breath, hoping beyond hope that Hudson has one hidden on him now.

“Not a clue,” Hudson replies, and five sets of shoulders sag as one. He leans forward again and picks up my hand across the table, rubbing his thumb over my promise ring. “But I know someone who does know.”

4

Block and Key

“Well, by all means, let’s add more drama and tell us slowly.” Eden rolls her eyes, and we all chuckle at Hudson’s unintentional theatrics. Heather is mid-sip when she snort-laughs—and nearly chokes on her coffee, until Eden reaches over and starts rubbing circles on her back to calm her lungs.

“I apologize.” Hudson offers Eden a slight nod. “I keep forgetting that you guys don’t know what Grace and I learned about the Shadow Realm. Let me speed this up. The Shadow Realm was built as a prison after the Shadow Queen upset a god. And, as Flint pointed out, this prison is like most and has very badass prison guards—called guardians, aptly enough. Therefore, it stands to reason that the god who created these guardians likely holds a key to the prison as well, so his guards can come and go.”

“Jikan,” I blurt out, then turn to the others and explain excitedly. “We were told the guardians, which are these scary-as-fuck time dragons, were created by the God of Time—we just didn’t know who that was while we were there. But we know now.Jikancreated them!”

Hudson adds, “Jikan might have even created the prison itself, Grace. Either way, I bet he has a key… And maybe, with a little luck, he’d be willing to give us the key to trade for the cure for Mekhi.”

Jaxon shifts in his seat and grumbles, “I doubt Jikan would give us the key to the bathroom if we were about to piss our pants.”

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