Page 85 of Cherish

For several seconds, none of us move. We just stand there, staring at the giant wooden sign with what I’m pretty sure is Hudson’s name on it. Vegaville? Have they seriously renamed AdarieVegaville?

I love Hudson more than anyone on earth, and even my mind is boggling.

“What the actual fuck?” Jaxon asks the question that begs to be asked.

“I thought you said this place was named Adarie?” Macy gives me a questioning look.

“It…was,” Hudson answers as he continues staring at the sign, unblinking. Ironically, I’m pretty sure he’s the most shocked one of all of us. “I don’t know what…changed that.”

“You did, obviously.” Macy gives him a good-job punch on the shoulder, which somehow only makes him look more bewildered.

I, however, am completely over the shock now and determined not to let this opportunity pass me by. “Go stand next to the sign. I want to take a pic,” I tell him as I pull out my phone and turn it on.

The look Hudson levels at me is one I haven’t seen since we were locked in his lair together. “I don’t think so.”

He starts walking—and not anywhere near the sign.

“What the actual fuck?” Jaxon repeats, still staring up at the sign like he expects it to spontaneously combust. Or maybe like he thinks it’s going to suddenly flash the words “Just Kidding” in really huge letters. When it does neither, he finally shakes his head and follows Hudson—as does everyone else.

We walk the outermost block of Adarie—excuse me, Vegaville—in silence, but then Heather banishesthe awkwardness when she says, “So, tell us more about Adarie, Grace. What’s your favorite thing about this place?”

“I’ve got a lot of favorite things,” I answer as we turn the corner. “But I think my absolute favorite thing is definitely—” I break off as we pass a souvenir shop—one with a giant poster of Hudson right in the middle of the front window.

“Is that…” Flint moves to get a closer look at the sculpted bust below the poster, then nods to himself. “Yeah, that’s definitely your face, Hudson.”

“It really is,” Hudson says, sounding at least as concerned as he is befuddled at this point. The concern ratchets up to alarm as Macy and I all but race for the door. “Hey! Where are you going?” he asks.

“Where do you think we’re going?” I call over my shoulder. And I know Mekhi and Lorelei need us to hurry, but we already decided this morning that we’d give ourselves a week to find the Shadow Queen. Time might work differently in the Shadow Realm—years here with Hudson was only months back at Katmere—but we don’t want to assume we have any extra time because of that. Lorelei will text us with an update when we leave this realm, but she assured us she could help keep the poison at bay for at least the next week and a half. Guilt aside, this is too good to miss. Way too good.

Hudson catches up with us in a few steps. “You don’t really think that’s necessary, do you?”

“Are you kidding me?” Eden squawks as she holds open the door. “Nothing haseverbeen more necessary.”

We’re rushing in just as a guy in his early twenties walks out. He takes one look at Hudson and says, “Dude, great costume.”

“What are you talking about?” Hudson answers in a very annoyed tone.

“Whoa. You’ve even got the accent down!” When Hudson continues to stare at him blankly, he finally says, “The H.V. costume, man. It looks totally realistic.”

“That’s because itisrealistic,” Hudson growls.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Totally believable.”

“H.V. costume?” Macy queries.

“Umm, yeah. Obviously your friend is rocking a premium Hudson Vega costume. One of the best I’ve ever seen, in fact.”

“Hudson Vega costume,” Jaxon repeats like he’s finally heard it all.

“Yeah, it’s, like, the most popular costume in Vegaville.”

“Of course it is.” Jaxon nods toward the store. “Do they sell them in here?”

“They sell everything in here. It’s like full-blown H.V. worship.”

“Hudson Vega worship?” Flint nearly chokes on the words. “I’m sorry, but did he just say Hudson Vegaworship?”

“Pretty sure he did,” Eden replies, and pure mischief twinkles in her eyes.

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